Sunday, May 15, 2011

I got up & typed up the piano recital program & got things ready for church.  I take so many bags I could use a wheel barrow!!  (a diaper bag, keep-the-kids-quiet bag, my scripture bag, 2 primary bags--so I don't have to have one jumbo bag--and each of the kids have scripture bags.)

Rusty made German pancakes on the wood stove  (yes--we are still having fires in the morning).

Then church & home.  

After lunch, I copied all the recital programs and got the awards & treats put together.

Rusty decided to stay home with the 2 youngest & watch the video of the recital later.  Trying to keep Emmalee from bugging everyone, and Benjamin from running up to me or trying to play the piano is more than a full-time job & extreme work out!

I took the older kids to the church so we could move the piano into the cultural hall, set up the chairs and get the refreshments ready.

And then the piano recital started.

 Callum 

And Zane.  Zane was videoing for me,  but after his performance, the batteries died, so he put my regular camera on the tripod & used it to video.  So Brienna didn't get a regular picture of her playing the piano.  We did get a group picture though.

I haven't done much with the video, but if I get it edited, I might try to post the video in a week or so.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

what a busy day!

Callum had his shooting test for hunter's ed., so Ethan had to take him since Rusty & I had to leave for Morgan & Dusty's wedding.

They got married in the Idaho Falls temple.  It was a wonderful ceremony & I loved the advice the sealer gave to them (& everyone there).  One thing he said was to remember to have JOY:  Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last.

After the ceremony, I took the truck & drove to my Wood Badge training in Pocatello while Rusty stayed at the temple with his dad & Marge (while pictures were taken).  I got to the training at lunch (but it was working lunch) & quickly changed into my scout uniform.  (training had started at 8 am so I missed half of it).

When it was over, I changed back into my church clothes & since I had a couple of hours before the reception, I decided to go to WinCo & Wal-Mart.  I found a few things (snacks of sugar-snap peas, pepper-jack cheese sticks, oranges, chicken...) and then I parked at Burger King (just off the interstate) where I was meeting up with Rusty & the kids in the van later.

I read a book I brought with me until they got there.  Then we got food at Burger King & drove to the wedding reception.  When we got to the church, Benjamin had a messy diaper--only it wasn't an ordinary diaper.  It was a swim diaper (the kids had been playing in the little pool--after all, it was in the 60's!).  But no one had changed him.  And swim diapers aren't made to absorb, so of course it had leaked all over--and not a change of clothes for him.  So he went to the reception in a shirt, diaper & suit jacket.

And Ethan didn't "know" that he was supposed to dress up for a wedding reception (I guess I never "taught" him that) so he just had a t-shirt  & shorts on (but at least the shorts were nice ones).  

 Rusty, Callum & Zane

 Rusty & William (Clark) talking & Cody, Ethan, Tammie, Mike & Ken in the background.

 Emmalee was happy to be there!

 The bride & groom--Dusty (Michelle) & Morgan Stewart.  We said she should never forget our names:  Rusty & Michelle (Dusty Michelle)  

 Brienna caught the wedding bouquet.  She shared some of the flowers with the little girls that wanted some.

 Ethan helped decorate the car.  We weren't going to stay the whole time, but Ethan was enjoying some cousin time so

We ended up staying until Morgan & Dusty got into their car & drove away.  The Rusty & Callum took Ethan back to Rexburg  & I drove the van home.  We got home about 10:30.  Another long day!

Friday, May 13, 2011

(Sorry--no pictures)

I took Zane, Emmalee, and Ben to town with me.  Wow--what a combination.  If I have to have kids with me while shopping, I would prefer Callum & Ben, or Brienna & Callum.  But Zane and Emmalee are spoons (stir things up!).

We went to Rexburg (visited Ethan for a few minutes & a couple of stores) & then to IF.  We had to go to a lot of stores so by the time we got home, we had been gone 10 hours.  And I still had all the groceries to unload & put away.   I got things unloaded, but not put away.

Rusty & Callum had their field trip to Green Canyon Hot Springs (swimming) & bowling.  And Brienna went to Lagoon for the science convention & then to ride the rides.  They all had a lot of fun.

I was going to pick Ethan up to come home for the weekend (for his cousin's wedding), but his friend, Joey, was celebrating his birthday that night, so Joey just picked him up in Rexburg & they went to IF.  He didn't get home until after midnight, so I didn't stay up.

Change of Plans

I had planned on taking Callum & Brienna to town after school on Thursday (after the field trip) so Callum could get his allergy shot & Brienna could get shoes & shorts for her trip to Lagoon.

But my friend, Jill Grover, had asked me if I was planning on attending ward temple night.  She wanted to go, but didn't want to drive by herself & hadn't found anyone else that was going that night.

So when we got back to the school (after the zoo field trip), I talked to Rusty to see if would be willing to take the kids to town so I could attend the temple with Jill.

(We had thought about going to the temple early Saturday morning before the wedding--details to follow--but Rusty said that it would be actually be better if I just attended Thursday & then we wouldn't have to get up so early on Saturday since we'd have a long day anyways.)

So Rusty took Brienna, Callum, Emmalee & Benjamin to town (silly Emmalee just went to town & back going to the zoo) and I went with Jill to the temple.  It was a wonderful night for me--and Brother Hansen (the past patriarch of our stake) spoke at our chapel session.  He gave a wonderful message.

So that takes me up to Thursday night about 10:30 pm.

Emmalee's Field Trip to the Zoo

My friend, Stephanie, agreed to watch Benjamin for me (she has a daughter Ben's age) while I went to the zoo with Emmalee.

 After we got to the zoo, we ate our lunches (Emmalee trying to open her fruit snacks).

 The kids (18 of them) were all paired up, and 11 adults were also there to keep an eye on this very active bunch of kindergarteners.

 The Australian Outback--wallaby's & emus.

 Emmalee--watch out!  He might bite off your head!

 Good thing she got a drink BEFORE she actually saw the real lions.

 This day (Thursday, May 12, 2011) was the first warm day we have had since last fall.  No jacket needed and about 70 degrees.  So the animals were either out sunning themselves, or they were too warm (already) & in the shade trying to stay cool.

 At first Emmalee didn't want to sit on this lion--but I went over & touched it head & her "buddy" sat on it, so she climbed on too.

 The zebras.  Some of the animals were not in their homes yet, "due to cold weather".  We found this humorous since it was so sunny & warm.

 Emmalee's class.

 Me & Emmalee at the end of the day.

 The bus trip home--don't you love how the little boy is peeking over the seat!

Snacking on an apple on the way  home.

MIA=Missing In ACTION!

Action, action and more action.  I have been one busy girl!

It all started last Wednesday (May 11th).  It was test day for Callum for his Hunter's Education class.

 His teacher asked if I would come to the class in case Callum had a question & I needed to interpret.  So instead of cooking a nice dinner (chicken fried hamburgers, mashed tators/gravy, stuffing, fresh green beans...), I was off to Hunter's Education.  

Callum did great, passed the test, and had no questions at all.  Just as we were leaving, Rusty pulled up to relieve me since I had stake primary meeting that I needed to be at.

 So I quickly went home, changed my clothes, grabbed an apple & yogurt & headed to the church so we could all car pool to Terreton.

The meeting was wonderful & gave me ideas for what I need to do to be more spiritually prepared.  I got home about 10 pm, and sleepily climbed into bed.

Trampoline Fun

The kids love to jump on the trampoline in Grandpa's yard.

 I got some great pictures of Emmalee jumping.

I'm not sure how Zane's able to read with all the bouncing, but he did.

I love her hair!

 Emmalee was having such a good time, she didn't want to let Ben have a turn.

He tried, but Emmalee bounced too high.

 So Brienna finally had to hold Emmalee so Ben could have a turn.

 He had a fun time!

 Until I told him it was time to go inside.

Pig-Weigh In

We were a little nervous at the thought of trying to move the pigs...

 and at the thought of the pigs getting loose.  Or having to try to pick them up because they didn't want to get into the trailer/out of the trailer/out of the pen/into the pen.

 But all those worries were for nothing--because once we were ready & opened the gate...the pigs 

 just walked right out of the pen, into the trailer.

 And then out of the trailer onto the weighing trailer.

 They did wiggle just a little when they had to get their ear tagged (but then again--none of us girls have ever had an ear pierce either!!)  {giggle, giggle}

 Everyone had fun (even with the November-like north winds) watching & helping with the pigs.

 Callum's was a whopping 135 pounds.  And Zane's was 85 (or it might have been 95--I can't remember & no one is here to ask).

 When we got home, Rusty opened the trailer door,

 and

 they just walked right out of the trailer

 and into their pen.

 No squealing, or fighting them.

 I guess it helps to have Emmalee & Benjamin always trying to pet them & right by the pen talking to them.

 They are right on track for a good weigh in a few months.