What a crazy weekend--

My baby shower specialty--baby feet sugar cookies.

Shanon - the guest of honor!

This was one of the craziest weekends we have had in a long time.  Tom and I embarked on fixing a water leak in our front yard which turned out to be an 8 hour ordeal!!  Yikes--it was such a muddy mess.  But, after taking Tom's entire Friday, we got it figured out.  That night we treated ourselves to quiet dinner at CPK then went to see Bye Bye Birdie, which one of our staff members was in.  Then, the next day, Kelsey had dance in the morning at 7:15 a.m. and Spencer had a football game at 9 a.m.  Tom and Kohler went to help a family they hometeach at 7:30 a.m.  They helped him fix a sprinkler problem and Kohler scalped their yard and laid winter grass seed down for them.  They were there a few hours--then Tom had to leave by 11 a.m. to head up to Lakeside/Pinetop to sing at a Tea Party where the Governor was suppossed to attend.  She couldn't make it but Tom said it was a great performance.  He didn't get home until after 10 p.m. 


One of my Laurels - Taylor, Shanon's niece

Meanwhile, I hosted a baby shower for a gal in our ward and over 40 people came.  We served lunch and everyone had a great time.  Then, after I got the house cleaned up, Kelsey had a party with her dance team friends that didn't get over until 9:30 so I had to drive clear up to Mesa to get her and got home a little before Tom.  Then, on Sunday, we had the missionaries over for dinner.  They are two sisters, both from Idaho, and full of the spirit and a passion for missionary work.  Kelsey and I made an all Chinese Food dinner for them.  We made sweet/sour chicken with jasmine rice, fried cream cheese wontons, sesame noodles, mandarin/pomegrante salad, and of course, fortune cookies! It tasted so delicious! 

Spencer still loves army guys!




Spencer's army guy and sword - notice the blood!


 After dinner,  Tom and the older kids had Standards Night while I played playdough with my little ones.  At the end of the day, we both collapsed on our bed!  It was a busy weekend filled with many good things.  We feel so blessed to do what we do.

Looks like Hailey collapsed too!

Let's Play Music

 Today is a half day which means my kids will be home early.  Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it's a crazy thing!  (usually it's crazy!)  But this morning was nice and quiet.  Hailey and I worked on her homework for her music class, "Let's Play Music."  I LOVE this program.  It has the unique ability to integrate fun and play with musical concepts.  When my older children were younger I tried other programs and it just seemed to be a lot of "fluff"--lots of songs but no substance.  This class even challenges me learning the solfeggio hand signs and trying to sing them in reverse order when we sing "Do Re Mi."  They expect a lot out of their students and they rise to the challenge!  Hailey loves the music on the CD and we are having a lot of fun doing this class together as mother and daughter.  My good friend, Heather Prusse, is our teacher and she is absolutely fabulous.  I knew from the first trial class she gave that this was a perfect fit for Heather.  She is always prepared and has a passion for what she does.  I am just so glad she introduced us to this program!


Hailey getting her musical puppet show ready!

Daddy and Kelsey watching her show, "Alladin and the Magic Lamp."

One of her favorite parts is the minor section of the piece where she gets to put on a mean "Genie" face!





Happy Rainy Wednesday!

Well, after getting my high school boy off to school and crying all the way home because some days he and I don't "click"---I called my husband and he gave me the best advice.  "Go hug your little ones, Tamara - they will give you strength."  Of course, Tom was right.  So I went and  helped Spencer work on a really tough piano piece that he has wanted to learn.  It's in Book 4 and right now he is in Book 1 so it's a challenge - but he is totally motivated and is actually doing a great job!  I sent him out the door and after about 3 minutes, RAIN came pouring down.  So, out the door I went, running in the rain in my flip flops praying I didn't slip and fall on the sidewalk---to give Spencer an umbrella.  When he saw me he yelled, "Mom--you brought me an umbrella!!"  He was SO happy!  I seriously love that kid!

Then, on the way home, a complete gift from heaven came in the form of a beautiful rainbow. 

I ran and grabbed Hailey to show her one of her most favorite things--but this time, in real life!  She always draws rainbows on her artwork and when you ask her what her favorite color is, she will say, "A Rainbow!" 

Last night, Kelsey played in a softball game for her YW Activity.  Our team won!  Hooray!  She got there late because she had dance and they ran out of yellow shirts for her.  Our ward is getting bigger each week--more families are moving in all  time. 

Last night I also caught Kohler doing something nice for Hailey (a moment when we "clicked" ha ha)  He read her a story so I could go see Kelsey's game.

Kohler's last football game of the season is tonight.  He said he was glad the practices will be over but at the same time he is sad it is all ending.  I think deep down Kohler has really enjoyed football.  It's just been a HUGE time commitment since last May.  It will be nice to have a break. :)

Conference Photos

Getting ready for conference

This helped keep the kids awake and alert. 

Kelsey adds life to any project she puts her mind to...

Kohler, Spencer and Rider enjoying conference (well, not sure about Rider). 

Posing for a photo during a session.

I know he can hear conference...but is he really listening???

Wow - what a week!

Wow - I haven't posted in almost an entire week!  I do have some great excuses though . . . Conference was this weekend and it was AWESOME!  I absolutely love General Conference weekend because it is a weekend of spiritual AND temporal feasting!  We had homemade cinnamon rolls and cheesy eggs for breakfast with strawberries and orange juice.  So yummy!  Then, my favorite talk was by Elder Uchtdorf admonishing us to SLOW DOWN and focus on what is most important.  I felt like he was speaking directly to me. 

I also was sick with a 101 degree fever on Sunday and Monday and felt like doing nothing.  I am better now.
Another reason why I haven't posted anything is that my computer, or this blog website, is not letting me post any pictures.  For some reason, the pictures I try to download are being rejected and it is SO frustrating because I did it just fine last week.  Why can computers be your best friend one minute then your worst enemy the next???

Anyway, life is good-----we are all doing well and hopefully I will get this picture thing figured out.  As for now, the best thing that has happened this week is that it RAINED and the weather is significantly cooler!  I think fall has finally reached the valley!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it stays nice--that makes me happy!