A sweet smelling ingredient for apple pie

This morning, Courtney found some old Apple Pie Filling in the back of the pantry and begged me to "please, please, triple please make a pie." I told her I needed to get flour from the basement. After listening to this exchange, Caitlin glanced at the table and said, "Just use the rose on the table to make the pie, Mom." I said, "What rolls? I don't see rolls on the table." Then she clarified: "No, the rose flower on the table." What a funny/punny miscommunication! By the way, I still haven't made a pie. I've never made a pie using canned filling before. I wonder if it would be any good. Well, maybe later. . . something about having to get flour from the storage room seems to prevent me from actually doing anything!

Rachel is the star of her Orchestra Concert

On Thursday, we went to Rachel's Middle School Orchestra Concert. Rachel is sitting second chair violin. (A 6th grader is first chair)

The music was absolutely beautiful. It was a very enjoyable evening. I had all the kids with me without Paul but I was prepared with coloring books and paper to draw on and we sat on the back row. It was a little stressful but we survived. When Spencer got bored, I gave him my ipod so he could listen to Star Wars music.

Here's the entire orchestra: 93 people

Rachel won the award for "Outstanding Musician" of the year. Wow! We were completely surprised when she received it! Her teacher said she has never missed a lesson, always practices her 150 minutes a week and is a real joy to work with. I am so proud of her! She is 1st chair violin in the 5th grade orchestra, and second chair in the 5th/6th grade combined orchestra. Considering how many violinists there are, that's quite an accomplishment!

We enjoyed listening to Rachel Dunne, Rachel Madsen and Eric Johnson playing the prelude music as we walked into the concert.

Happy Mother's Day

Scrumptious brownies baked and decorated by Paul

Here's my beautiful children who made my Mother's Day great!

Highlights from Mother's Day:

• Rachel and I sang "Teach Me to Walk" in sacrament meeting. Rachel sang the 1st verse as a solo (her first in sacrament meeting), I sang the 2nd verse and we harmonized during the 3rd verse. It was fun to sing together. Rachel did a great job and I was very proud of her.
• All the kids sang with the primary. It was cute! I particularly loved seeing the twins on the stand for the first time.
• Spencer said, "I know it's Mother's Day. So when is Brother's Day?" I thought that was funny!
• I got in a much needed nap :)
• Paul and the kids prepared and served a delicious barbecue chicken dinner (my favorite) including chewy brownies (see above picture) for dessert which Paul baked and decorated beautifully.
• Spencer ran out to the garden first thing in the morning to get me some asparagus because he knows I love it and stepped on a rusty nail from one of our pea fences that had fallen apart when Paul was tilling on Saturday. Luckily, he recently had a tetanus shot. After seeing the doctor twice and taking some high powered antibiotics, he's recovering well.
• I received a darling book from Spencer all about me. Caitlin and Courtney made me magnets with their picture in the middle of a flower which they painted. My mom even sent me some hand-dipped chocolates and a knife which makes cut veggies look beautiful.
• Paul and the kids bought me the most awesome gift: an ipod touch! I love, love, love it!
• We are so grateful for my Mom and Paul's mom. They are the best!!!!
  
  

Saturdays are Special Days!

Super Soccer Player Spencer!

Rachel and I watched Spencer's soccer game together. It was a humid but beautiful day!

They also had soccer pictures. The ball they are holding is Spencer's.

He thought that was especially cool!


After the game, they gave the other team fives.

There's my cute boy!

Spencer played goalie and successfully stopped everything that came at him. He blocked three very viable shots on goal! Yeah!

Typical division 2 soccer--four players crowding in--the kid was not hurt and Spencer did kick it!

The rest of the day was spent working in the garden. I also got a much needed haircut. Our garden is now ready to plant. . . sometime soon.

Barnyard Days

I chaperoned Spencer's kindergarten class to Barnyard Days yesterday. A local high school hosts it for pre-school and kindergartners in the area. At each station, high school students share information about the animals and the kids get to see them first-hand. Spencer had a great time and I enjoyed accompanying his class.

Spencer with Charlie, one of his best friends at school

Checking out the hens.

Spencer smiles as he poses with the velveteen rabbit

There's a nanny goat and her three week old baby

We love animals!

This was an angus cow.

This illustrates how tall Spencer is compared to the rest of his classmates. He's the tallest kid in his class.

Saying hi to the Oinkers

This is fun, Mom!

Recent photos of the kids

Rachel got her hair cut on Saturday. It's the shortest she's ever had it. Doesn't she look older? Notice the beautiful lilacs blooming! They're my favorite.
Courtney, dressed up as Minnie Mouse yesterday.

Spencer and his Dad were goofing around!



Caitlin looks cute in her braids!

Another weekend has come and gone and we're back to the school and work routine once again. Friday night was our adult session of Stake Conference. Unfortunately, I couldn't obtain one of our regular babysitters so I had to stay home but Paul was able to go and took notes for me which was very nice.

On Saturday, the kids had swim team sign-ups. I'm registering Spencer for swim team this year. It will be good exercise and hopefully, he'll enjoy it as much as Rachel does and learn valuable swimming skills. Spencer also had a soccer game Saturday morning. He played well and his team won again. After the game, I took Rachel to get a haircut and to get a few spring clothes (she keeps growing out of everything.) Her new hairstyle is much shorter than we're used to but I think it's cute. We spent the rest of the day playing outside when it wasn't raining and Paul grilled steak and hot dogs for dinner. Two things are now checked off the honey-do list: Paul finally fixed the disposal which has been broken and we replaced the safety net on the trampoline so now the kids are much safer and I feel better about them jumping with their friends.

Yesterday was Stake Conference but I missed so much of it while I attempted to keep the kids quiet and entertained. I hope the people sitting around us were able to tune out our children. We had a satellite broadcast along with the entire Northeastern United States. Pres. Monson, Elder Perry, Elder Jensen and Elder Beck (Gen YM Pres) all spoke. It was very good but I wish I had a transcript or could watch it another time so I could know everything that was said. Now it's a rainy Monday (recovery day) so I'd better get to work on the house as it is in shambles.

My interior decorators

My mantel normally looks like this

But I found it like this the other day.

I asked the kids who put all the stuff on the mantel. Courtney said, "The twins did it." When I asked why they put it there, Caitlin replied, "To make it like. . . beautiful." Yep, adding cans of spaghettios and peaches, an instant oatmeal packet, two plates, a toy walkie talkie, a toy pear, Goofy and a Lion toy made the fireplace look absolutely lovely! I thought it was amusing!