ROTC & Band

Stuart, Raeleigh and Addi loved playing on the bands golf cart! They also enjoyed when dad took them for a ride.

Patrick and his friend, Gary Lynch, thought they were hot stuff and went onto the field and talked to the players. I think they both miss playing ball!!

I guess this picture is out of order. Howeve I love it. The flags are beautiful.

Samantha and her fellow cadets raising the flags while the band plays the national anthem. Samantha is in the back center, ready to raise the American flag.

Jordan waiting to play the national anthem before the game. Jordan is the only bass clarinet player in the band. He plays the tuba part for marching band. Below is a picture of the band ready to play for their first audience. They did a great job!!

Too young for makeup!

Addison got into Morgan's makeup while I was gone. So Morgan put the makeup on where Addi directed! Apparently Addi like the lip gloss, she licked it all off.

On a side note, Samantha is using this photo as a visual for her current art project.

Morgan's Piano

Morgan was given this Cherry Tiger wood piano last year. It is beautiful (on the outside). Morgan saved up money and then had a piano tuner come over. The piano tuner was so excited to see this beautiful piano, until she opened it up. Previous piano tuners or owners had ruined the piano. They painted over the identifying information of the piano as well as the strings. As well as other damage. There was nothing the piano tuner could do.

After that diappointing news, Morgan took months to decide what to do with the piano. She has decided to save the larger pieces of wood for a table or shelves to be made in the future. Also she has pulled out hammers and keys to make a piece of wall art for her future home! An art project to look forward to.

When she started to pull the piano apart, Addison wanted to be involved. So Morgan sat Addi up on the piano and and let her play with the strings. I think all of the kids "played" the piano strings.

Even knowing the piano was no good, it was very sad seeing it sitting by the street waiting for the garbage truck to pick it up :-(

Tarpon!

Samantha loves to be a Tarpon. Of course she will be as busy - if not busier than last year. She is a great leader, and friend. I love her happy smile and the comopassion she has for others.

Piano & Addi

Addi loves have the piano. We finally cleaned the piano off and moved it to a better spot so it can be played. Addi have enjoys hearing herself make music. She has taken the stool out of the bathroom and brought it next to the piano bench. She steps onto the stool and then climbs on the bench and plays her own music. Today she was playing the piano. She had dertermined look on her face, got off the bench. Took a story book out of her diaper bag and brought it over to the piano. She climbed back on the bench and set the book up (like music) and played a concert. (Notice the book is upside down!) I love it when she sings and plays.

Grateful

Morgan is preparing to go to college in a couple of weeks. I have been thinking a lot about her. I love her tons. She is beautiful in so many ways.

Morgan and I drove by the elementary school last week. Morgan's PE teacher was standing outside with her class. Morgan talked about how much she loved this teacher. The same day, Morgan went to her high school to "give back". When I picked her up, Morgan talked about the good people she knows from that school.

I am so grateful that there have been many, many great people that have influenced Morgan's life. I feel thankful to Heavenly Father for sending the right people into Morgan's life. She has truly blosomed into a confident, happy woman with a solid testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

After riding her bike home

R after riding her bike home. Look at the sweat dripping and the happy smile. She had a great first day!

School has started!

This is day four of the school year. So far so good! We have even kept up with homework :-)

Craig, Samantha and Jordan are already gone by the time Addi wakes up. On the first day of school Addi was watching the preparations for Stuart and Raeleigh to leave. She was curious what they were doing. When Stuart and Raeleigh got on their bikes and rode off, Addi stood at the window and said "No, no, no, no!" Addi was not happy to be left home with just Morgan and I. Having her own bike helmet to play with really helped. She is adorable!!

It has been awhile!

My friend, Melissa, reminded me that it has been a long time since I have written! Thanks.

The kids are starting school in 28 hours. So says Samantha! They are excited and I am too. Stuart and Raeleigh went with me to their open house & met their teachers. It was a great night. Both of them have friends in their classes and have great teachers.

Stuart will be pulled out for reading and writing. He has terrific teachers for these programs as well.

Jordan has had two weeks of band camp. He tells me that his marching is improving! He will play bass clarinet for marching season. He also attended his orientation. We are working on getting three of his classes changed. (They put him in three classes that he took last year.)

Samantha helped with ROTC bootcamp. She had a great week and is looking forward to working with the new freshman. She is a terrific leader!

Morgan will be going off to college soon. I am thrilled for her!!!

Addi is happy. She loves to wear everyones shoes! When she wears her shoes, she must have socks with them!

I love my family!!

Hats

53 of the 68 hats that I have crocheted to donate to All Children's Hospital. The other 15 I have already given to the oncology unit at the hospital.

Our ward started to crochet hats in January for a humanitarian project. We are collecting them on Sunday to donate. I am so excited about this. Addison was given a few hats during the month that she was in the hospital after birth. Then when Jordan was in the hospital a month ago I crocheted to pass the time. So I donated those hats to the kids on the oncology floor. A nurse told me that I had made "four little girls, without any hair, very happy." This is a service project that is very close to my heart!