Here is Elvis (rest his soul) basking in the sunlight!Friday, May 8, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Musical Family
Music has always held a special place in my heart. I have always tried to encourage ANY kind of music. Each of my children have had piano lessons...some more than others. All of my children have BEAUTIFUL voices (ok, I may be biased) I would like to brag about the musicians that my children are....
First we will start with Jessica...she plays the piano very well. I enjoy listening to her relaxing by playing the piano. I believe she finds that it is a "stress reliever". Recently, she has begun voice lessons. Now, I am graced with hearing an angelic voice practicing her music ALONG with playing the piano.
Ryan has always been talented when it comes to music. He started by taking piano lessons. While he could play it, there wasn't a "draw" to the piano. He has always LOVED the guitar. As a toddler, he would ask if he could have a "violent guitar". When he was around 4 or 5, we gave him a junior guitar for Christmas. I was amazed at how well he took care of it...I believe he still has that original guitar (minus a couple of strings). In 5th grade, the school offered free guitar lessons. We invested in an acoustic guitar AND a classic guitar. Wayne and Ryan went weekly and learned the guitar. It was quite the bonding experience. In the 4th & 5th grades, he was selected to participate in the Colorado Springs All Boys Choir. He also participated in the school's honor choir. Ryan has ALWAYS enjoyed singing. Once he entered middle school, the band took over. He began his "band career" by playing the French Horn (my personal favorite). Part way through his middle school career, he switched instruments...he then played the Tuba. He currently plays the Tuba in High School. Recently, he has returned to his guitar. He has continued to learn (on his own) how to read tablature (not sure of the spelling). He is able to play many songs. His favorite is to play songs from the band "America". Maybe one of these days, we will get him his "violent guitar" or electric guitar. I also love sitting by him at church and listening to his rich bass sound as he sings!
Christopher also started out with the piano. He was able to play, but like his brother, he wasn't drawn to it. He participated in the elementary school's honor choir also. Once in middle school, he took up the trombone. His talent was obvious. We had him take private lessons and Chris took off! He has been the first chair for most of his middle school career. He also tried out for the Jazz Band this year. He didn't expect to get in since the majority of participants are 8th graders and he was just a 7th grader. He made it into that band, but the teacher switched his instrument to the Bass Trombone. So, currently, Chris is playing 2 instruments...in band, the regular trombone and in Jazz band, the bass trombone. Chris is also quite the singer, however, with his voice changing, I don't get to hear it that often!
Tiffany started out with piano lessons like the rest. She has gone in and out of interest in the piano. It has been hard for her to stick with it. However, you can find her sitting at the piano playing and singing along. Like the majority of her siblings, she too has participated in the elementary school's honor choir. She has quite the mature voice for a child her age. I believe singing will be her strong point. The other day, we took her up to the middle school to figure out which instrument would suit her. She tried pretty much all of them. She could get sound out of all of the instruments, however, when she played the clarinet, it sounded like MUSIC! She is excited about starting this chapter of her music career.
Music brightens my day! It warms my heart that my children ALL have a love for it!
First we will start with Jessica...she plays the piano very well. I enjoy listening to her relaxing by playing the piano. I believe she finds that it is a "stress reliever". Recently, she has begun voice lessons. Now, I am graced with hearing an angelic voice practicing her music ALONG with playing the piano.
Ryan has always been talented when it comes to music. He started by taking piano lessons. While he could play it, there wasn't a "draw" to the piano. He has always LOVED the guitar. As a toddler, he would ask if he could have a "violent guitar". When he was around 4 or 5, we gave him a junior guitar for Christmas. I was amazed at how well he took care of it...I believe he still has that original guitar (minus a couple of strings). In 5th grade, the school offered free guitar lessons. We invested in an acoustic guitar AND a classic guitar. Wayne and Ryan went weekly and learned the guitar. It was quite the bonding experience. In the 4th & 5th grades, he was selected to participate in the Colorado Springs All Boys Choir. He also participated in the school's honor choir. Ryan has ALWAYS enjoyed singing. Once he entered middle school, the band took over. He began his "band career" by playing the French Horn (my personal favorite). Part way through his middle school career, he switched instruments...he then played the Tuba. He currently plays the Tuba in High School. Recently, he has returned to his guitar. He has continued to learn (on his own) how to read tablature (not sure of the spelling). He is able to play many songs. His favorite is to play songs from the band "America". Maybe one of these days, we will get him his "violent guitar" or electric guitar. I also love sitting by him at church and listening to his rich bass sound as he sings!
Christopher also started out with the piano. He was able to play, but like his brother, he wasn't drawn to it. He participated in the elementary school's honor choir also. Once in middle school, he took up the trombone. His talent was obvious. We had him take private lessons and Chris took off! He has been the first chair for most of his middle school career. He also tried out for the Jazz Band this year. He didn't expect to get in since the majority of participants are 8th graders and he was just a 7th grader. He made it into that band, but the teacher switched his instrument to the Bass Trombone. So, currently, Chris is playing 2 instruments...in band, the regular trombone and in Jazz band, the bass trombone. Chris is also quite the singer, however, with his voice changing, I don't get to hear it that often!
Tiffany started out with piano lessons like the rest. She has gone in and out of interest in the piano. It has been hard for her to stick with it. However, you can find her sitting at the piano playing and singing along. Like the majority of her siblings, she too has participated in the elementary school's honor choir. She has quite the mature voice for a child her age. I believe singing will be her strong point. The other day, we took her up to the middle school to figure out which instrument would suit her. She tried pretty much all of them. She could get sound out of all of the instruments, however, when she played the clarinet, it sounded like MUSIC! She is excited about starting this chapter of her music career.
Music brightens my day! It warms my heart that my children ALL have a love for it!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
PROM!!!
First, Jessica had to get ready. She started with Painting her nails...fingers AND toes...
After the shower, we started on the hair....
Here she is a good 30 minutes or more into the hair styling...
Here we are trying to add the finishing touches...
The finished product....
Here Chase is putting on her Corsage...it was BEAUTIFUL!
Here is Jessica pinning on the boutonniere...
The sweet couple...
Getting in the car...
Here is a close up of her corsage...
Once again, getting "tucked" into the car...
Almost ready to leave...
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
FLASHBACK FRIDAY
Here is my Mom, Dad and Me at Machu Picchu. My parents picked me up from Brazil after my mission. We spent a few weeks touring around South America. After leaving the state of Sao Paulo, we went to Rio de Janeiro; then we headed down to Iguacu Falls (we even got to go into Argentina) After that, we headed up to the Amazon and stayed in a "remote hotel". That was where mom stayed awake all night to make sure the cockroaches didn't eat us. We then headed off to Lima, Peru...then up to Iquitos, and on to Machu Picchu. It was a real fun trip for all of us!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Tiffany's Birthday Party
It was Tiffany's turn to have a birthday party this year. We enlisted her sister, Jessica to help out. Tiffany wanted a party like Jessica usually throws with her friends. So, we started out with PIZZA!! They ate and they ate and they ATE and THEY ATE!! There were a total of 11 kids and they went through 6 large pizzas! Did I tell you that they ate??
Then they played a couple of games. First everyone was given a name from a Disney movie on their forehead...they had to ask each other questions to figure out who they were....There was a lot of giggling going on. Then they moved to another room, where they played "Clumps". This is where the caller yells out a number and everyone has to get in groups of that number. Anyone who is not in a group, is out. They played SEVERAL rounds of that...it was humorous to see these kids GRAB each other so they wouldn't get out.
They took a break by eating from the chocolate fountain. This is when the "sugar high" began. They were able to dip strawberries, pineapple, pretzels, pound cake and bananas in the chocolate. Everyone had chocolate "drips" all over them...I feel bad for the parents who have to wash that chocolate OFF! Wait a minute...I AM one of the parents :)
They used the extra "energy" to play "Freeze Dance". I guess you dance to music until the music shuts off and they have to FREEZE. If you get caught moving, you must sit out. One kid was even doing the "worm". Once again, there was LOTS of giggling and noise going on! Then they did the limbo. Some got quite creative in how they would limbo. Ryan decided that it would be easier to jump OVER the limbo stick rather than go under! (CHEATER!) They did that for a while, and then took another break.
This is when they sang Happy Birthday to Tiffany. (I finally remembered to get the camera out)
Then came the opening of presents...
We'll have to watch this one...ha,ha (just kidding)
She has been asking for this game for quite some time! (please note the chocolate on the nose and shirt!)After all the presents were opened...it was time for more activity! We got out the Pinata. This had to be done in the garage due to the weather (rain/snow mix)
Notice the duct tape at the top? The little holder fell off (not breaking the pinata) so we improvised...isn't duct tape wonderful?
I'll give you 3 guesses as to what just happened and the first 2 don't count.
After that, Parents started showing up.
As soon as the last child left, clean up began. Too bad I didn't get pictures of my teenagers cleaning up the party mess...ok, I confess, I bribed them to run the party and clean up afterwards (Isn't that what parents are supposed to do?) All in all...it was a GREAT party!
Friday, April 10, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY TWO BEAUTIFUL GIRLS!
Yes, it is Jessica & Tiffany's birthday.
What a treasure to get to share your birthday with someone special!
I remember when I was pregnant with Tiffany, we couldn't figure out what we wanted to name her. We knew that we wanted the first name of Tiffany, but we both wanted different middle names. Lucky for Jessica, Tiffany was born on HER birthday! Jessica was so excited to FINALLY have a little sister. Since she was Jessica's "Birthday Present", we let her give Tiffany her middle name. It wasn't what either Wayne or I wanted, or thought of....however, it fits her PERFECTLY...Tiffany Rose! How grateful we are to have such a special child in our family! She is always happy, loves to play and is just a joy to be around! Today my youngest baby is 11 years old!
I can't believe that my first baby is 17! Where has the time gone? I remember when I found out that I was pregnant with Jessica. I was so excited! I had a really rough pregnancy. I was sick at the beginning, then ended up with a kidney infection...then the dreaded toxemia. I was put to bedrest at 7 months. We were in awe of this beautiful little girl when she was born! She had so much hair! It went to her shoulders. Everyone told me that she would lose that hair, but she didn't. I loved playing with her and fixing her hair up. She has such a sweet spirit about her. We are so glad that Heavenly Father gave her to us!
Even though it is her birthday, she still had to go to Early Morning Seminary. What wonderful surprises awaited her there.....This is what she found on her seminary table (minus the Reeses Peanut Butter Cup that couldn't be resisted!)
I can't believe that my first baby is 17! Where has the time gone? I remember when I found out that I was pregnant with Jessica. I was so excited! I had a really rough pregnancy. I was sick at the beginning, then ended up with a kidney infection...then the dreaded toxemia. I was put to bedrest at 7 months. We were in awe of this beautiful little girl when she was born! She had so much hair! It went to her shoulders. Everyone told me that she would lose that hair, but she didn't. I loved playing with her and fixing her hair up. She has such a sweet spirit about her. We are so glad that Heavenly Father gave her to us!Even though it is her birthday, she still had to go to Early Morning Seminary. What wonderful surprises awaited her there.....This is what she found on her seminary table (minus the Reeses Peanut Butter Cup that couldn't be resisted!)Then after seminary...she went out to her car to leave and this is what she found....isn't it nice to have friends who care about you!
We wish them BOTH a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
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