Happy Birthday, Cortney!

Cortney is 23! Hard to believe she is that old! She is doing so great! She got a promotion at work and is loving it! And knowing how much she loves movies, it is probably the best job for her! (Although Ashley did get tired of the movies every now and again)

Her and Alex are enjoying married life and all of it's ups and downs. I am very proud of the woman she is becoming.

But she will always and forever be my little Cortiboo!

 

 

 

....From Boise

Another text from Boise, Idaho!

 

They are rolling out the door after Thanksgiving lunch to Thanksgiving dinner :)

Weekend Fun!!!

What a weekend! First, congrats to Brittany for a wonderful concert!!! Euporia performed last night and the dance classes got to participate. I thought her dances were the best, although I was told not to come because they were embarrassing. Hah! Not so! She was so cute! (not sexy, but I think that was her problem, lol!)

She asked me to record Tarod's number and so I did!

 

 

He had to wear a Mountain View Letterman's jacket so it did not stay on very long, lol!

 

All in all, I was very proud of my kid and I look forward to seeing next year's dance, as long as there is not vampire number.  That one was kind of weird!!!

Saturday morning started early with getting Britt, Zach, and Joey off to Youth Leadership traininfg first thing in the morning at the seminary building. Joey was worried he couldn't go because of the fall festival. But he did and it was good for him, although I am not sure how good for the leaders. I heard he raised his hand each time, and had a comment every other minute. Ah, the enthusiasm of youth!!!

Mackenzie had primary practice for the program on Sunday. Cannot wait! Our ward is the last one this year!!! and we are done!

We made it to the fall festival just in time for Joey's concert! Mr. Higgins did a great job! The music was awesome and Joey was able to do the cymbals, the triangle, the base drum, and even the snare!!! He was so proud!!!

 

He wanted two songs up so Ashley could choose which she liked best (please choose one! You know your little bro! There will be no living with him if you don't! )

I had to pick up Britt and then head over to decorate for the banquet. Wow! Those chairs are heavy!

 The program was very nice if not a lot long but that is expected every year. We gotta figure out how to make it a little (no, a lot) shorter. Zach got a letter in guard and I am proud of what he has accomplished this year! I was not sure this year would work for him but he did awesome!!!

They gave me candy, flowers, and a card and I was embarrassed and very appreciative. I think this experience as President has been good for me by allowing me the courage to talk to people in front of a microphone as well as talk to people whom I normally shy away from. And I have grown to appreciate Mr. Brooks as well as Dr Quamo a lot more. My band teacher years ago did what was required to because marching band was not his thing. These guys put so much of themselves into this program and you can tell by the quality and the loyalty from the students. That is above and beyond and I am appreciative of it. 

And the boosters! They are amazing! So much help and time is put into this program! Hours and hours as well as money, and I have developed wonderful friends and I am maybe even a little closer to my sister and I am so grateful for that!

Throwback Thursday

This time of the year what I am most grateful for is being a mom, especially those years when we were up at 3:45, strapped the girls into their car seats and took Travis to work, trying to beat the sunrise home. Then the kids would go back to sleep and I could get an extra hour or two before the chaos started. And if the sun beat us home, then all bets were off and the day had started.

And those days when I was in my pajamas all day, and one minute the house was clean and the next, forget it! And there would not be another adult in sight for a few days! And then we would pack the three up again when the sun went down and headed back to get Dad.

 (Overtime! A good word but a bad one at the same time!)

I never thought I would miss it but I do! And what fond memories I have with these three during that wonderful time of no school! We would find strange things to do, play at the park, and watch movies that involved a lot of Princesses.

 

 

 

Yesterday was Lois Cutler's funeral. She was 100, just shy of 101. I helped out. I was Ashley's sloppy second, and she was missed! Sister Moody said we can't have another funeral until she gets back! Hopefully God was listening to that demand, although I think he probably will do what he wants regardless. But it was a good wish!

I have decided that I want to live to be 86. My kids will be married with kids of their own, hopefully with kids of their own. And I might have most of my faculties! I will still be old enough to chase David around the block (even in my wheelchair) and blame it on being too old to know what I am doing. I can sleep in late and still drive my kids crazy with odd phone calls with no rhyme or reason. (haha, so not much will be different, lol, except for the sleeping in thing. Kind of looking forward to that one!) And everyone will be saying, 'it's about time' instead of 'how sad' when I finally pass.

Yep, that's my plan. Now, if I can only make it that long!

2nd place in Division II

The Mesa High Marching band took 2nd place in Division II! Not too shabby! What a year!! It has been a pleasure serving, hanging out with, and being around such wonderful kids! Marching band will always have a place in my heart! And the kids are a hoot to be around!!! And special thanks to Mr. Brooks and Dr. Quamo for their love and support of these talented kids who know how to put on a show!!! By the way, I was told that we received a standing ovation... the only school that did!

 

I also want to express my thanks to the many parents who helped make this year a success! It seemed like it was a lot harder and more involved than in the past years, but that might have been because I was president. Not sure I want to do that next year! The parents went above and beyond this year! We are a determined and service oriented lot! And they love their kids! That is what makes the difference!!

Sharing the Gospel

The other day I was coming home from somewhere, seriously cannot remember, and I saw some Sisters decorating the sidewalk with chalk. I was curious but in a hurry to get home so I let it pass.

I was picking Britt up for lunch later that day and I noticed that two other sisters had joined and they were having a picnic in the water retention area on Spur, right next to their completed artwork. Again, Britt was waiting so I didn't get time to stop and ask.

Well, I had forgotten about it until just today when I stopped to see what it was. It was a spiritual message

 

The one after this was completely erased.

 

 

I was sad that one block was erased but the whole idea was cute! And from what I could see the Sisters were having fun doing it! And I have it on good authority that Sister Missionaries have a lot of fun while sharing the gospel! And this was one unique way to do it!!!

Nothing is better than getting a hug when you are having a bad day.

Or a pat on the back for always being willing.

 Or someone telling you how wonderful you are even if you are not sure how right that statement is.

And nothing is better than getting a card telling you that you are not only a wonderful mother but have done an awesome job raising someone who is always willing to give service with a smile, no matter what!

Thank you! I really needed it!!!

And I love you too!!!

Suessical the Musical

The musical was fantastic! I only saw it three times. The last week of production I was busy with Roundtable as well as our trip to California with the band so I wasn't able to go, but I heard it only got better! I could tell you all about it but I heard a picture is worth a thousand words, or so I am reminded often by one of my best friends. So I have pictures!!!

 

You're welcome, David!!!

 

 Wednesday night I heard some girls talking behind us about what a good dancer Britt was. I tried to look behind us and I did not recognize the girls. I don't think they realized her mom was in the row in front of them. But it did my heart proud to hear such sweet words about my kid!
 

Tarod is lifting Britt! You can see him if you look really closely!

 

 

Taking a break with her favorite guys!!! Tarod and DJ!

 

 Wednesday night the girls from church came to support them! These three have been friends since they were in nursery! I love them so much!!!

 Britt and Grandma!

Grandma and her girls!!!

Sometimes it is hard to find one without the other!

 DJ!!

 Danni, DJ, Tarod, and Britt

Britt and her boyfriend!!!

 

 

I know Britt was not the star of the show but she was in my eyes! Great job, Brittany!!! I am so proud! You did a wonderful job and I loved watching you shine!!!

Help!

Susie Curtis from the Emerald Acres ward is going to Boise, Idaho for Thanksgiving and is offering to take up a package for Ashley for Christmas. She says she is hoping to run into her.  I am so thankful, but can I say I'm almost jealous too? I know I am not supposed to see her and I really don't want to (only because I would probably stalk her, pack her bags, and kidnap her in the dead of night and bring her home. I hear that is frowned upon in the church.) But maybe seeing a friendly face would be good for Ash.

 

So now I have to try and figure out what she wants in the next week. Oh, boy! And that Santa letter hasn't come yet. Wish me luck!!!

 

I know! Maybe I will get my cousin to take her and her companion out for lunch! (Instead of me stalking her, I send someone she has never met to do it for me! Yeah, that is not weird at all!)

So if any of the 3 1/2 people who read this have any ideas, let me know!

(Yes, David, I am still counting you!)

Happy HUMP Day to my kiddo!! You may not be counting down, but I sure am!!!!!!!

I love you!!!

 

9 more months!

 

 

Honors Band Help

Joey has tryouts for honor's band and he is so excited but there is a part he just can't master. He has tried and wanted some help on it so I thought, who do I know who will be patient and help the lad figure it out? Well, Shea Moore came to mind. He is one of our snare players and is one heck of a nice guy! He agreed to help him and he did! Joey is ready to go (If I don't attach him to that Velcro wall for annoying me too much)

Good luck, Joey!

And sorry Britt that he practices in the morning...around 5, lol!

Marching Band State Festival 2014

Our state Festival is over and we were one of two schools that received a superior with distinction! So exciting! We got all captions! But the other school did too. Our next big thing is going to Long Beach, CA and performing  in a Bands of America competition. This should be exciting! I get to be a chaperone and that is always fun! We are going to Knotts for a bit on Friday afternoon and it will be weird not being there without holding down Joey, afraid the ride will dump him out because he is so small (my blossoming daredevil) and watching Britt flirt with the ride workers. But I am sure I will find some friends who will be just as fun to ride with!

This last weekend was crazy and I hope not to repeat it for a while. We found out Friday night that shirts were missing. I told Mr. Brooks and he just looked at me, waiting for me to pull out my magic wand and swoosh the shirts into my arms. (Yes, I know. Too much fiction in my life) And funny, something just clicked and I knew what I had to do. Earlier that week I had been shopping for shirts for Rachel, one of the band members, and Jana had recommended Fallas, a store not too far away. They did not have what Rachel needed but I remembered shirts for $2.99 each! I double checked on sizes we needed during circle up and then Angela Sanders and I took off with the orange vinyl in hand. (I lost my keys. I know., no surprise there. But then, maybe that was a good thing considering I probably shouldn't have driven.)
We raced to the store, purchased the shirts, and headed to her house so I could trace and cut stripes while she heat pressed them on. We arrived back during the first quarter. (Thank goodness the security guards know me and let us in!) Kristi Tenney sprayed the sparklies on (that's what we are calling dot material now, lol) and then I was informed Mr. Brooks wanted the shirts shorter so we worked as hard as we could to cut what we could before the band headed down tot he field. We came so close to half time that I was slipping shirts on a few kids while they were lining up in the back of the football field and I still missed one! (In my defense, he was in the front of the field, in pit!)
We then decided we were going to sew the shirts to the butt capes. So around 11 pm, after the kids were putting away their uniforms,we took handfuls of butt capes and shirts home to sew.
Saturday morning I continued sewing! I think we finally finished at school right before they had to circle up. They look so much better and fit so much better than the ribbon and Velcro. Definitely doing to again that way next year! We fought it for so long. I don't know why!

Okay, short story long (sorry Ash!) crazy, busy day and I have such a great team of helpers! I would have been a puddle of goo if they had not stepped up this weekend and made my life easier and better!!!

So here is the show! Thanks to Kevin Smith, who is so great and keeps coming through whenever I am in a  pinch! So proud of these kids!!! They have been working so hard and they never complain, even when we don't give them enough water!

Big weekend for Travis!

Big weekend for Travis! He was ordained a High Priest and was put in as 2nd assistant in the High Priest Group Leadership! Travis' parents came down and my dad performed the ordination. It was very nice! And we had two Primary Presentations, Acacia ward and the Liahona ward. They were both great! I think this is my favorite part of my calling, scouts being the worst part, which I need to get better at. We have one more and that is our ward's! Yep, saving mine for last! Cannot wait to see that!
The kids had a Halloween party at Grandma's house since we are not going to be available for the actual day. The 31st is the last game and senior night. And they dressed up. It was great. Except Alex, for favorite son in law, came as an overworked, underpaid college student. I think his costume was definitely the most thought out!!!

 She would only pose for Ashley. She wanted nothing to do with a parade or a contest.

 She would not open her eyes and was cuddling with the spider. Silly girl!

He is a character from Dr Who again. And I still have know idea who...Not Dr. Who... making sure David doesn't confuse that last part as a 'Who's on First' kind of thing. lol

Oh, wait! He doesn't read the words... Never mind.

A mermaid!

 

And Alex!