Back to school, already?

After a wonderful weekend in Marysvale... (Happy Pioneer Day!)
and on a get-away in Brianhead (ahhh... look at me enjoying myself- without the children!)

Monday was back to school! That's what we get with a year-round schedule... Here are the girls on their first day of 5th grade and 3rd grade. They are so excited to ride bikes/ scooters to school this year! We practiced locking them up a few times to get ready for the big 1st day.

Here they are at "back to school night" with each of their teachers. Allison's class is huge- 30 kids! I think her teacher is popular, she had an awesome slide show of the kids tonight! Rebecca's class is just right- 20 kids. We are excited for all the wonderful things they will learn!

Bribes work...

Why does Tommy look so satisfied? (And have a messy mouth?)
Because he was bribed! He wanted nothing to do with his swim teacher at his first lesson, so I promised him an ice cream cone if he would "swim" with her! Here's the result:

If you listen carefully, you can hear him say, "I get to eat ice cream, now, Mom!" and "I did it!"

By the way, the real definition of a bribe involves doing something illegal- so I have no guilt whatsoever with this parenting tactic!

Precious truth

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ with all my heart! I have learned so much since losing our little Matthew. This last Sunday was a Joseph Smith lesson. The title is "Words of Hope and Consolation at the Time of Death" The words were truly comforting. I'm so grateful the Lord has given us revelation to help us in these last days.

These are some of the things I learned about the resurrection of children:

"A question may be asked- 'Will mothers have their children in eternity?' Yes! Yes! Mothers, you shall have your children, for they shall have eternal life, for their debt is paid."

"Children...must rise just as they died; we can there hail our lovely infants with the same glory- the same loveliness in the celestial glory."

And, Joseph F. Smith said, "Joseph Smith taught the doctrine that the infant child that was laid away in death would come up in the resurrection as a child; and, pointing to the mother of a liifeless child, he said to her: 'You will have the joy, the pleasure and satisfaction of nurturing this child, after its resurrection, until it reaches the full stature of its spirit.'..."

These words have brought me such joy since I read them! I know that I will have my little Matthew again and be able to raise him until he reaches the full stature of his spirit, also! I hope for the same joy for everyone that reads and studies the gospel.

So Long, Farewell

So long, farewell!

The Sound of Music is now history :(
Allison's closing night was awesome! Thanks to everyone who came
and supported her! She said, "Wow, the audience was really great on
Saturday." I reminded her that the first two rows were family and another
row was our new ward supporting her! She got a lot of laughs- Maria said
she got a lot of laughs because she was with Brigitta!

Someone else observed that she got the biggest laugh from saying "No"
that they have ever seen! Here are some more of our favorite scenes:

Naughty Brigitta reading instead of listening for the whistle!
Straight line! (Look at that excellent posture!)
"I think your dress is the ugliest one I ever saw!"
"Tea, a drink with jam and bread...."
"You sang one word for every note? But what about when you sing, 'a-ny-thing', you sang 3 notes for 1 word!"


"Get cleaned up and report back here in your uniforms... at once!"
"Your face is all red."
We miss Maria, we can't sing without her!
The Festival- right before the escape from the Nazis!

Signing an autograph after the show!
Rebecca with "Maria"- we're big fans!
The girls with the Captain.

For those that missed the show! (Remember to pause music at the end of the blog

before you play this!)

We heard that 2,600 people came to see the shows! Isn't that amazing?

It is the most successful show that Herriman has ever done.

We had so much fun seeing the show! We appreciate all the wonderful

people that made it possible!

Float preview

Hey- this was really fun! I didn't even know they did this every year, but they have a "float preview" at the South Towne Expo Center before the parade and we went to check it out! Best of all, it's free. If you are able to make it, it's still going on tomorrow! (July 22) Here are my kids by "Noah's Ark."
This was Tommy's favorite- of course! A pirate float! Complete with skull, octupus, and two ships! Top it off with meeting a "Jack Sparrow" and getting to hold his pirate gun- Tommy was in heaven!

Yeah, Riverton!
My cute girls by the ants at a picnic.


The "sand castle" temple. There are many entries made by Stakes. Our favorite was one from Bountiful- seagulls having a cricket feast! There were crickets in the green jello, in the sandwiches, on the barbeque and jumping out of the picnic basket. It was all motorized and very cute! Have a wonderful 24th everyone!

This girl can act!

This is Rebecca and Tommy at on the set at Allison's first play. They have been so supportive of their big sister! Rebecca loves to run around at the end of the play and get everyone's autograph! She's done it twice now, I wonder if she'll make it a third on Saturday??
Thanks, Jill! My wonderful friend Jill did Allison's hair so cute for the performance

last night! I'm glad someone else is a professional. I stayed home with Tommy

last night, so John could attend. This is the girls when they came home

last night- they were so excited and full of energy!

Okay, I know that I'm highly partial, but Allison is so awesome in this play!

She really is a great Brigitta, just the right amount of sassiness! Wait until you see her!

These photos were taken at a "teaser" a few weeks ago at a Herriman event.

The kids meeting Maria!
This is Brigitta, Kurt and Gretl after a parade. They are wearing their "curtain" costumes.
This is Allison's BFF- Casie! Casie is a wonderful friend and has also been such a great supporter of Allison! She served as the assistant prop master in the play!
A photo of the real performance- I don't have many yet, because I had Tommy with me at this one... need I say more? I'll post some more later, but there is an awesome slide show of Allison's cast at this web address: http://www.herrimanarts.org/performingarts/tsom.htm I hope you enjoy! See most of you on Saturday!

Tommy is 4!

Tommy had a wonderful birthday! It started with finding his new bike in the garage....
Then a trip to the fire station, where he got to "drive" the fire engine and try on the helmet and jacket!

Then, he finally got his dream trip to "kid can be a kid" as he calls it- or Chuck E. Cheese!
Then ended with birthday cake and ice cream! What a dream birthday for a boy! We love you Tommy- you're so big!!