Violins

Our new big thing starting in January was Marcus and Cynthia taking a violin class taught before school once a week. A gal in my ward decided to offer a free class for children at the elementary school- and it has been AMAZING to watch them learn. She is an amazing teacher!

One of my absolutely favorite pictures is one we took in Spokane playing their violins with my Dad who has also learned to play just in recent years.


Last night they just has their first little recital. Sadly, Marcus was the one who had the stomach bug that day- so he had to miss it. Here are some pictures of Cynthia at the recital . . .



I now know why my parents LIKED going to all of our recitals and concerts growing up, I always thought they were pretty boring, and that they just did it because they loved us. My mom used to always say- "going to your performances is my reward! It is my payment!" Now I understand what she means!! Sure they are beginners so it wasn't like a performance at Carnegie Hall - - but it sure sounded that way to me - - who has put a lot of effort into helping the kids practice, acquiring and paying for instruments, driving them to their lessons, and been there to watch their talent develop! Sooooo exciting. Thanks to Lacey Lopez for her talent and willingness to volunteer her time and talents to teaching our children!!

Tumble Tots

Lillian just started Tumble Tots and Gymnastics Plus- - she is actually pretty good, like Cynthia was! She sometimes is a bit clingy and won't go out on the floor with her class without me, but once they get going she has a blast. I am proud of my three year old!

The busiest Saturday ever . . .

Last Saturday- phew! Most of this was done on my own since Jon was supposed to work a 24 hour shift into Sunday morning. By some MIRACLE he was sent home to take call from home later in the afternoon . . . more about that later . . .

To start the day- we went to the baseball fields to do the mandatory clean up. The kids just started baseball season- Marcus is in coach pitch and Cynthia is doing T-ball. So far they are having fun at practices which are each twice a week (meaning there is some kind of baseball practice every night Monday-Thursday!). After the clean up- we headed to a primary activity.

Here is a picture of my primary class- they are the best! They had fun with the missionary relay and other stations having to do with missionary work.


After the Primary activity we went directly to the Distric Pinewood Derby for the Grand Columbia Council. Marcus had come in 3rd at our Pack Derby, so he qualified for Districs! Anyway- his car did pretty good- but not in the top 3. The kids had fun mostly with the concessions . . . I still can't figure out what is so appealing about Air Heads (their favorite candy). . .



So- this is when things get really interesting. On our way home from the Pinewood Derby, I stopped by Big 5 to pick up some baseball pants for Cynthia. Normally I wouldn't attempt to do this with all my kids, but we were in the area and to be honest I think I was inspired. As soon as we all got out of the car, Lillian threw up in the parking lot. THANK GOODNESS it wasn't in the van! Needless to say, we didn't do any shopping. So- this was the beginning of the stomach flu going through everyone in our family throughout this week. Joy. The worst was Monday night when I got sick- - I was pretty much up all night. I felt better by morning, but the lack of sleep has really set me back this week! Luckily Jon took a sick day on Tuesday to help me out so I could rest.

Back to Saturday, I was thinking GREAT- there goes the rest of our day! We were supposed to head to an Elder's Quorum BBQ at Moxee Park, then I had a babysitter lined up so I could go watch "New Moon" with a bunch of my girl friends (it came out on DVD that day). Poor Lillian too- she was feeling pretty miserable! It is amazing how it just hits like that without warning- I felt bad if we had spread it to any other kids we had been around that day. One minute she is feeling fine, then next . . . .

So here's the miracle- on my drive home Jon calls and says he is coming home and just taking call from home because it wasn't too busy! Yipee- how often does that happen?? So- Jon took the kids to Moxee park for the BBQ, and later I still got to go to my girl's movie night. What a day!

Visit to Spokane

It had been way too long! We finally squeezed a little Spokane trip on one of the VERY few weekends Jon was not working. Saturday we went to the temple (long overdue), Jon and my Dad took the kids to Chuck-e-Cheeses, and I went out to lunch and shopping with my Mom. An evening of watching Psych, and playing our newest game "Stone Age" (acquired in Utah). What a WONDERFUL day! I LOVE spending time with my parents- my mom is my best friend. They day went by way too fast, actually. Sunday we headed off to church with Jon's parents and visited with them and his sister after church- including a nice Sunday dinner. Again- so wonderful to see family. Truly we are so blessed.

Us all dressed up for church!

Tyler's first solids

Tyler has arrived- - it is time for solid food. This helps since he is really picky about taking a bottle . . . he is such a momma's baby! I can hardly believe he is five months old- it went by REALLY fast. For the most part he is such a happy baby and so much fun- we just adore him. He LOVES to be around people- especially his siblings- they are the best at getting him to laugh (better than me)! What a joy he has been for our family.

I LOVE the range of facial expressions!

Random comings and goings for February

I know, I know - - I am behind on blogging! I feel like life is such a whirlwind ALL the time. Kids in sports, music, cub scouts . . . homework and just making sure everyone is clean, fed, clothed and happy is a lot of work. Topped off by Jon's LONG hours - - we are all ready for a little vacation. In fact we are getting ready for a fun vacation to California soon - - it is so needed! ANYWAY- - her are the random comings and goings for February!

The residency program has a "snow day" each year up at White Pass where as many of the staff and residents who can come up for a day of fun in the snow. Since Jon was on FMS (the hospital service) he had to do rounds in the AM and go back overnight at 5pm to the next day. So- we just went up for a few hours and had fun playing in the snow and hanging out at the lodge. Maybe next year we will go up to actually ski! It was a nice day and fun to get out.



Valentine's Day is always fun with kids- - they had fun making up their valentines for their school parties. We even did a little play group party with treats and had the kids exchange valentines. Lillian had so much fun picking out hers. I don't have any pictures, but the weekend of Valentine's day we had fun going to a ward dance/ party for adults- what a blast! We also got together with friends to have a fondue night and games - - it doesn't get better than that!!



Presidents Day I went with my good friend Tina Hersel and her kids to the Museum here in Yakima. They have a wonderful play area for children- they had a blast! It isn't close to how cool Mobius Kids or the one at the Gateway Plaza in Salt Lake City - - but for Yakima . . . I was pleased. Mostly the kids have fun playing with their friends. Tina's oldest son Ethan is Marcus' best friend, and Cynthia even has fun with her younger sons - - so it was a great way to spend our day off from school.





Speaking of best friends - - here is the cutest picture of Lillian and her best friend Caroline one day at our house, and a day with Ethan and Mia (some of Marcus' friends) over to play!



The Blue and Gold Banquet: Another great picture of Marcus and Ethan, and one of him getting his Wolf badge!


By the way, I was also released in February from being a cub scout den leader . . . I was sad- I love those little boys! BUT- honestly it has been a bit of a relief and I get to still be involved with cub scouts because my son is in cub scouts. I am now teaching the same age group in Primary on Sundays- and so far I am really enjoying it!

Last but not least- after many years, Jon and I had a night away! Jon attended a conference/ retreat in Leavenworth and Tyler and I tagged along. While Jon was in his meetings I browsed the shop virtually kid free (except for Tyler in the stroller). How often do I get to "browse" while I am shopping - - NEVER - - because I always have at least a three year old in tow! Leavenworth is so fun . . . for adults . . . Thanks to those who helped with our older children that weekend!!
My boys - - gotta stop by the hat shop!

Fire Girls

In January and February, Cynthia was on an AAU basketball team for 1st grade girls. Even though she was almost a full head shorter than many of the girls (especially on the opposing teams), she has enough energy and agression to make up for it - - she had a blast! It was amazing to see the skills of the girls on the team really develop over the eight or so weeks that they practiced and played games. They practiced Monday and Wednesday evenings and had games on Saturdays. It made for a really busy couple of months, but luckily I was able to car pool with some good friends of ours who had a daughter on the same team. Cynthia had so much fun being on the team with her friend Rachel, and some other friends from school - - and new friends. I truly enjoyed watching her games and the enthusiasm of these little girls!

Some of the pictures are a bit dark - - but here she is playing. Cynthia is number 20.



Tonight they had a pizza party for the girls. Here is her team!

A new bed . . .

We are moving up in the world!!! We just purchased our first ever queen sized bed, using some of our tax return. For the past 11 years, we have slept on the same dorm-quality "full" sized bed (which was the cheapest thing we could find- - we were both in school at BYU!). It has slept us for many a night through good times and bad . . . and even made several multi state moves. I even remember Jon practically folding the mattress in half to get it to fit in our moving truck from Des Moines, IA - - we were paying by the foot in the truck. It has lived in 8 different apartments/houses in Provo UT, Spokane WA, Des Moines IA, Sunnyside WA, and now Yakima WA. It has served us well- - the $125 we spent on it went to very good use. I think it is time to give those poor springs a rest- every time we moved they would pop and twinge. I am so excited to finally have a new bed- - and one that is queen sized. I think I am going to even splurge a little (out of our tax return) and buy some new sheets and a bed spread - - no more mismatched bedding!

The next item of business is getting our room cleaned up and better organized, so the bed will fit well in our bedroom. It has become the dumping grounds. You know, every house has a room where things that don't really have a home get shoved when company comes over . . . that, Jon's papers and books, clothing that doesn't fit in the dresser, books I have read over the last year - - clutter, clutter, clutter. When I clean the house- that is the room that gets left behind. My room is not a relaxing place and I plan on chaging things - this new bed gives me the motivation! Besides making a salad for a funeral at the church tomorrow afternoon, and brownies for the youth fundraiser dinner, and motivating the kids to do THEIR chores- my big job for tomorrow is to CLEAN MY ROOM! I want the bed set up by tomorrow night!


*** UPDATE **** (posted Wednesday March 10th)
Well- it happened! The room got cleaned and organized (it felt soooo good to vaccuum the whole room with the bed out!), and the bed was set up. Jon even built the bed frame out of wood he had in the garage late the other night after working until 10pm (it turned out GREAT- it also saved us $70). Since the matresses and bedding were less than I budgeted for, and we didn't have to buy a frame- we splurged and bought a bookshelf style head board. It is amazing to have something so much nicer than before. Not as fancy as other bed rooms, but perfect for us right now in this house.