More Music...

Here are a couple of beautiful sisters singing, "Si Volvieras a mi." I always get chills when I hear them sing. They are also our nieces. I just love them. I also love music. It can be so powerful.

Performing 101

Here's a cover of Jason Mraz's, "I'm Yours."

Belated Boo's

This is a little late but I wanted to get to it at some point. Every October we make a Scarecrow. This is a tradition I started, thinking that the kids would really enjoy. Well, the younger ones do but, the older ones think of it as more of a chore. However, they humor me anyway and end up helping out. I always tell them that even the "crazy" or "boring" traditions I come up with will be a memory for them that they will laugh about later. It will go under "remember when mom made us do this...."


It was headless at first, as well as gloveless and bootless but we took pictures anyway. Don't our "pumpkins" look great?

Midnight Munchies!

I have been lingering around the kitchen, at first I was cleaning up a little and munching a little. Then it turned into a full, blown-out munch fest, ugh! I can't help it. I LOVE left overs and can't seem to put any distance between me and the refrigerator. Cold chicken is awesome! Let's see, what else do I like cold? I like cold Pizza, cold cuts, cold pasta salad, cold cereal (lucky charms), dang it, I'm out of milk, cold Reeces Peanut Butter cups, cold chocolate chips and cold doggie bags from ANY restaurant, no luck there either. Oh well, I should get to bed.

Choir Concert

Last night was Austin's first choir concert. He has always been in band so, I didn't ever expect to be going to see him in the choir. Everyone did a great job. Here he is in a tux!! He looks way too old to me, AAwww!


Austin is in the back row with the microphone right in front of his face.

Word of Wizzum

I just wanted to share an experience we had Sunday morning. My thirteen year old, Alex was assigned to give a talk on Sunday and we forgot all about it until Sunday morning at 6:00 a.m. I had a meeting at 7:00 so, I quickly woke her up and tried to get her some material. After giving her a couple topics to choose from, she looked at me and blirted out a completely different topic, prayer. I thought it was a great choice. I ran down to the computer and started looking up references for prayer. Well, she didn't come down for awhile. I ran back up the stairs to hurry her along and she met me with a "don't take over my assignment" look. We then proceeded to the computer where there were too many topics on prayer to her liking. By this time, I realized that she did not want my help and I was going to be late for my meeting if I continued prepping her. Both of our teenagers do not like our help when preparing for a talk, which completely baffles me because when I was their age, I very much wanted my parents help! However, Troy and I also think it's great because they are showing initiative, right? We also can focus on other things, like getting the other kids ready or going to a meeting.

I left the house for my meeting confident that Alex would be prepared. She always is.

After my meeting, I sat in a pew waiting for my family to arrive. Go Troy!!! I also knew that Alex does not like to be late, especially when giving a talk, like I said, no attention drawn to her. During the opening song, I quietly smiled when I looked up and saw Alex slipping through the door closest to the pulpit. She looked lovely, I thought. Soon after, the rest of them trickled in. Ellie even had her hair back in a great looking pony tail, Wooo Hoooo Troy!

Now it was time for the talk. She talked plainly and clearly, which I am always greatful for, coming from a teenager. But I was a little surprised when she proceeded to tell the congregation that her topic was the Word of Wisdom. Hmmmm, not what we had talked about but that's okay, another great topic. She touched on what we should stay away from and then starts to mention a popular, spoof movie, Sons of Provo. It's about a Mormon Boy Band that sings about gospel topics in a very modern, funky way. Now, when it's not my own children, I love when kids break from the norm and catch you off guard about what they relate to. However, when she started to recite the following lyrics from one of the Sons of Provo songs, Word of Wizzum, I was a little leary, just a little! IT's a RAPPING Song!! This is what she recited in a very monotone, serious manner:

Don't, don't drink. No, don't even think about it
Drinkin' stinks Stinky drink no doubt about it
O-val-tine better for you don't you doubt it
Keep yo body clean Let's shout it!

Go! Go! Go! Go! Stop!

Meats okay. Yeah, but only twice a day
Coffee? No Way! Pero, Postum, yes you may
Mount-tain Dew Tasty but no good for you
Too Too true at least I'm not sniffin glue!

Oh yes, it was the sniffin glue part that made me burst into outward laughter! I don't know which was funnier though, the fact that it was a completely different topic when I left home, that she recited a rapping song over the pulpit, or the serious manner in which she did it. The girl kept a straight face the WhOLE time! One lady next to me asked me who the Sons of Provo were, ha ha! I quickly told her that our children won't allow us to help them with their talks.

I love my kids, they keep life so interesting and fun!

Here's a clip of the song up above.

9 Lives?

Well, Genie Industries, my husbands employer just finished implementing another round of lay-offs this week. We feel very fortunate to have made it through another round, Whew! Troy counted up how many times he has been through this and it is 6, Six times! I can't tell you how blessed and lucky we feel. We really thought that this would be IT! I was mentally preparing myself for a lifestyle change, etc. We are hoping for at least three more lives. Troy has been with Genie for 14 years and has been curious at times to try other things but Genie has been so good to us. We have known others who have quit and moved on and it has worked out wonderfully for them, Yay! However, when you're a creature of habit and things are going well, it sounds difficult, maybe more to me than him. I do have to say though, I felt somewhat prepared for what seemed like the inevitable and yet here we are. That's not to say that we are out of the woods, if there is one thing we have learned during our married life is that NOTHING is set in stone and the most important thing is: Things can ALWAYS be WORSE! I want to thank all of you who were so kind to us and worried about us. We had several friends and family pray and fast for us and we are so grateful. So, regardless of how many lives we end up getting, we know that things will work out.