The Dancer and the Piano Player

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Halloween 2013

So many memories growing up involving fall.  Arizona isn't necessarily the mecca for seasonal changes, but we had huge trees that dropped leaves every fall.  We would spend hours outside.  It's one thing I miss about our house in Utah.  The big trees! I'm sure if we had them I would curse them, but I feel sad that my kids had to get excited about the leaves in our weekly journey to the public library! Collecting leaves in their McD's happy meal buckets to bring home and crunch around.

 Crazy Hair Day at school:)

 Carving pumpkins.  The annual tradition I probably dislike the most.  Maybe.  Getting dressed up and hopped up on sugar might come in a close second:)  Kade isn't about to touch anything about the inside of a pumpkin.  My little OCD clean boy.  It displays in his face right?!

 Reagan picked out her face and cut it primarily on her own this year.  Getting so grown up! (Kade's was a Ninja Turtle face.  Not sure why I was so lame and didn't get a picture after Mike worked so hard)

 Halloween Skate Party night for Reagan's school.  We had borrowed costumes this year.  It was the only night we agreed to dress up with the kids.  By then, the kids had worn their costumes to so many events they were almost tiring of them. But....I couldn't imagine a cuter Dorothy..or a more fearsome Lion!! Love these guys.

Halloween night.  Of course, kids are exhausted after a day of partying in school and being so excited for days on end.  It was freezing (of course) and sprinkling rain off and on.  We spent 30 minutes at the same place as last year and they kids had a full bucket, happy, and ready to be in a warm house.  It is a retirement development and the people are excited to see the kids and give out good candy.  Pretty sure this will be our annual Trick-or-Treat street.

Of course the Schwan's man needed to make an appearance this night.  My kids think he's like their long lost friend.  They just love him.

 Here's his pumpkin in the daylight I guess.  He's graduated from Woody to Donatello

 Ok, my pictures stunk this year.  But I had to post this one.  My kids ran from house to house. Reagan found a friend to move with, and left Kade in the dust.  Buckets kept dropping and this time he bit it.  I hurried and snapped a picture and then the cute little lady at the house said "Oh my gosh, did you really just take a picture of that" as he's sobbing...uh, yeah, I sorta did.

Welcome November!!

A Legacy

I don't think my parents have to worry much about what type of Legacies they leave behind.  Although, I would imagine that your kids are your most important legacies, but, there are other legacies you can leave behind.  Legacies of lessons taught, or sacrifices shown.  My parents will one day have great legacies they leave.  Things they have taught to their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  Examples of the way they lived or the way they tried to show us to live.  Those will hopefully live in future generations as well.

Currently, my parents have been in Durban, South Africa for just a few short weeks.  Sometimes, in the middle of the day, I find myself reaching for my phone to text my mom and then get a little sad and maybe a little choked up:).  My 70something old mother who was a master at texting!  Even if I didn't talk to my parents on a daily basis, it's still hard to think I can't just pick up the phone to text or call.  While it's only been a few weeks, it also seems like it's been a while!  They will be gone for 18 months.  My kids will be almost 9 and 5 when they return.  It's not that far off....yet it's so far away!

I whole-heartedly support this sacrifice though. I think just seeing how much their faces changed in the week they were at the MTC.  Their face the day they were leaving.  Although it should have been nervous of the long travel time, leaving family, etc., their faces shone.  It was excitement to serve and ready to begin a little adventure together spreading their love and service throughout South Africa.  I was comforted by this fact.  What a great example to show your kids and grandkids.  To sacrifice the life and luxeries you know to be of service to someone else.  To leave behind those you love, but to touch the lives and learn to love new people.  I have no doubt that my parents will change many lives while living there.  Not even necessarily the "gospel" aspect of it, but because I know how much love they have to give.  It's never ending.  My family has been on the receiving end of that all our lives and it's selfish to keep that among us.  They've shown undying devotion and love.  You meet my parents and you meet wisdom, comfort, happiness, and unconditional love.  It doesn't matter who you are, and they will spread this across the great city of Durban and further.

All of my siblings were there for a final goodbye.  The grandkids all had fun, and I admit, I did too :)  Family is family, but they are also yours, for the rest of your life!

 
This is a bear my brother picked up from road kill! Hey, we live in Idaho right?

This tree is awesome.  It sits in my parents yard and for the past few years my kids have longingly gazed as bigger kids climbed up and played on it, but always still a little nervous.  This weekend Reagan was fearless - and made me nervous!! She would climb up as high as I would let her and just love it.

 Cousin Olivia came all the way from Arizona

 This makes me miss them so much! Kids won't fit on their laps when they get home ;)

 How cute are they!

 I love this picture :)

And off they go!

Wanderings

How did it ever get to be the end of October??  Three months since I've put any pictures on our family journal.  It's a testament to how crazy life is and almost a little scary how fast time flies!  What a busy few months we've had.  Summer ended.  School began.  Cooler weather began.  Less sun, more rain.  Winter coats in the morning, short sleeves in the afternoon.  Leaves faded into beauty, grass faded into yucky.  Fall clean up, talks of Christmas preparation.  Piano lessons began, Halloween costumes came out.  It's been going by entirely too fast.  Slow down already!!

Is it redundate to say how much you love your kids.  Far from a perfect mother and many faults in our family, but we love.  That's what's important!

Cannot get enough of my kids sleeping.  It's just amazingly beautiful.

Cool as a cucumber he is

What a fun day!!  We went rock jumping and swimming on the Snake River in St Anthony.  My kids were so brave. There were high school kids not jumping.  The kids couldn't get enough.  While initially paid to jump, they went over and over.  I think this will be our fun spot next summer:)

Reagan has been wanting to play the piano forever.  We finally decided she was probably old enough, but after seeing prices of pianos we weren't ready for the committment until I stumbled across this ol' beauty on Craigslist for $150 bones.  It's seen better days.  The front legs need repair and it would have been nice to sort of refinish and spiff it up a little but, it was heavy as sin and Mike nearly threw out his back, but it is here, sounds beautiful, and aside from the redneck cooler piano bench in this picture, we love having it.  Reagan started lessons the first of September.  She has done awesome.  She's definately always had a little musical talent in hearing tunes, melodies, etc and being able to pick them up.  She's done the same with the piano.  My mom spent a few hours trying to teach her a church primary song.  She was not giving up until she had that sucker memorized.  She's now trying to play songs she loves from the radio.  While she only picks up a few keys, it's fun to hear her try.  

She had her first recital on the 26th.  So technically only 6 lessons and I think she did great. She loves going to lessons, loves practicing, and loves to have it in the house. 

Aunt Heidi came up for her very first recital.  

Reagan and I joined my friend Tracy and her daughter Stella for a fun day getting pampered.  Love these two girls :)

Along came the fair....ick.  But you know ya have to go just for the food, er, the rides?? Maybe just for the kids to get hot and sweaty and cranky and then the parents to remind themselves why they dislike the fair??
On a side note, look at that happy face!!

And then she was in 2nd GRADE!!  She loves everything about it.  Her teacher, reading, studying, homework, and succeeding.  We are having a great experience this year.

And this little man is off to preschool two days a week.  He talked about and wanted to go back to his school for weeks.  They do a great preschool program and he loves going.

Seriously can't say enough how much I love this little guy.  He totally photo bombed sister's back to school with buddy picture with a wide grin.  Just look at his eyes and the excitement that radiates!

Our Welcome Back School dinner of fondue.  Can never get enough fondue.  The kids love it.

He's such a crazy kid.  He loves to pick up our books and act like he reads them.  He'll say, "Now, where was I"? and flip through.

Dad teaching the kids leap frog.  This...is what makes him such an amazing dad

Sunday football fun

Reagan FINALLY lost her two front teeth.  She has been so jealous all the other kids have lost theirs.  She was late getting teeth.  Definately a late bloomer losing them!  It was quite tramatic and exhausted though.  It was a week ordeal with them needing to be out.  We were lucky though....the perm teeth were already through!!

Obert Skye is a child/tween author that lives here locally.  He does book tours around the schools and she was SO VERY excited to meet him.  We waited in line for at least an hour but it was worth it.  Look at her excited face!

Reagan also received a very awesome reward for reading.  Her school had a challenge for AR reading and point level system.  We didn't even know about the challenge but she came home with a request for permission to be able to ride the Ammon City Fire Truck.  She loves reading and this year has excelled in her testing of the books as well.  She was so excited for this day! Her favorite teacher rode with she and 2 other kids.  She was first to be picked up since technically we live only 2 blocks away, and she got to ride along for about an hour while they picked up the other kids.  Great reward and so very proud of her desire to read!

The last picnic in the mountains!  Sunday afternoon drives/picnics are the best.  Kids always have fun and the fresh air is great!

Trying their hand at Pine Cone Slingshot

 Looking like the Statue of Liberty??

 Kids wanted to have the picnic in the back of the truck.  Kade, who is know to periodically be a very picky eater, said "Dis is the best picnic ever!".  Soup in mugs and yummies to go around.