This, That and the Other

Last Monday night for Family Home Evening we were invited over to Leslie and Denny Hancock's home. They are a cute couple in our ward who run a shelter for women and children. Denny also is a fabulous musician who has written hundreds of songs and does firesides all over the area sharing his message of service and the Savior. He has built a theater room/recording studio up in their attic where he does all his work and he wanted to record our family doing some music. First of all this room is incredible. One day he opened his linen closet and saw that it has access to an attic, so he built this room from there. Now you open the linen closet to steep stairs going up to this big room. It has a stage with strobe lights and a glitter ball plus a big screen to watch movies. The girls were at home. It was their dream place of existence. If you pull back the carpet on the stage there is a big race car racing track which we couldn't Keep Kaden away from. Emmy brought her harp to play and everyone sang songs and duets. They all transformed to "American Idol" wanna be's. They were recording artists and loving every second. Leslie took pictures and sent us this collage.

I think Denny knew we had some talented kids but he was amazed at how they became one with their mics. It made it even cooler to have headsets and hear yourself on the playback. They like to saythat they are recording artists but unfortunately it only wet their appetite. They are salivating for more. The girls wrote them thank you cards today in hopes that they would get invited back sooner. I still can't figure out how to download music to my posts so I'll keep trying and let you know when the music is on.

Other than that things have been the usual relay of action packed fun. The weather has been fabulously beautiful which has made the kids quite wild running around like orphans in the street. Here's a run-down of all the little critters.

Emmy has been a story stretcher. She told her Primary teacher that I was pregnant and having a girl. (I might look pregnant but I'm not. The teacher had to check with me to find out the truth before she spread any rumors.) Emmy also told this beautiful little Indian girl in her kindergarten class that her dad wouldn't let her play with her because she had brown skin. (Not good. We got a call from the principal for that one.)

Kaden is in the process of being potty trained and depending on the day does pretty well. He does get to a point during the day where it's too much work and he wants to be "little and wear a diaper." I thought Spiderman, Diego, Mickey and Thomas the Train undies would work like magic... not yet. I just find it completely exhausting to be the trainer... it's hard to go anywhere and it's up to me to make sure he's constantly being reminded to go. I'd like to skip over this stage and move on. He's also perfected his scream that could melt the wax in your ears.

Last night Emmy was the only child to perform in the Stake's Cultural Night. She and I played a duet. There was a little girl who wandered from the audience up to the stage where Emmy was playing. Emmy didn't miss a bit with her fingers plucking the harp... although her eyes stared at that little girl and followed her until she got off the stage. The fact that Emmy could keep going and play without looking at her fingers impressed everyone the most. I guess she's used to playing with distractions but now we just have to work on not looking like we're distracted.

Maryn did awesome on a math test this week. That's awesome especially since we quit her math tutoring. Yeeha! Maryn also has babysat officially twice this week. She did great and especially loved the money that came with it. Go Green!

Adyson and I got to go to a Mother/Daughter tea party for the Primary Activity Day girls. It was fun for just me and her to be together. We went around the room with the Mom's saying why they love their daughters and the girls saying why they loved their moms. I said that I love Adyson because she makes our home a better place. She is a peacemaker. Some examples are: I played a homework game with her and she could have won but she let me win because she didn't want me to feel bad. When we were about to finish reading the Book of Mormon (just the kids and I) Ady said, "Let's wait and read it with Dad so he can be with us when we finish it. He'll feel sad to be left out." She's easily able to feel what others might be feeling. It makes her a great friend and a great daughter to have. Ady said that she liked me because I am nice and creative and I make her laugh.

Jeff's been coming home earlier this week from work which has been a treat for all of us.

There you have it. Never a dull moment. Always some chearleader high kicks and chinese spilts going on here with yodeling and clogging to celebrate life. If you are in need of entertainment or ear spliting noise come on over. Life just couldn't be better.