Name that Tune

I recently got called to play piano in Primary. Clearly, they are desperate for pianists, as my piano skills are moderate, at best. In an effort to not make a fool of myself, I have been practicing -- EVERY day! Just imagine how much better I'd be if I practiced that much when I was taking lessons!

I think the kids are a little surprised that I play the piano. Frequently when I practice, they'll come running into the living room and say, "Hey! I know this song!" Yesterday, Evan performed this little scene:

Evan: Hey! I know this song, Mom!
Me: Oh yeah? What is it?
Evan: Um... uh.... Stories of Jesus!
Me: Yep! Can you sing it with me?
(we sing the song)
Me: Ok, what is this one?
Evan: Um..........................................Scripture Power! (this is always his first guess if he's not sure -- its his favorite primary song)
Me: Nope, try again!
Evan: (thinking for a long time) I know! I know! I would like to see the temple!!!!!"
Me: (laughing) I LOVE to see the temple, yes!

Cute Clothes

We got a box from Grandma Rush last week with cute new clothes in it. The kids immediately changed into them and had a fashion show.

Emily has worn this outfit almost every day since it came. I'm goint to have to sneak into her bedroom and take it away so I can wash it!

I'm not sure what is up with Dani's pose here. I think she is doing karate. The look on her face is priceless though.

Evan asked if he could wear his hat for the rest of the day. And he did.
Brendan was mad that I made him change his clothes because he HAD been wearing a Superman shirt. If it ain't got a superhero on it, it just ain't real impressive!

Bargain

I'm not one to bargain shop. I do love a great deal, but I'm not patient enough to hunt them down. When one falls in my lap though, I definitely won't turn it down. Such was the case a couple of weeks ago when my neighbor down the street had a garage sale. I could see from my driveway that she had one of those big battery operated ride-on cars. I knew my kids would love it, but when I got down there it had already sold, and I was kinda bummed. Later that day though, another neighbor, who is moving, donated a bunch of stuff to this lady's garage sale, including another of these car things and she came down to tell me that she was selling it. I snapped it up for $25. I had to buy a battery and a charger, which were about $50, but $75 for a car that is normally around $300 is a good deal in my book.

The kids absolutely LOVE the thing. Even Emily gets in it and drives it around. The neighborhood kids drive thing thing up and down the sidewalk. My kids have never wanted to play outside so much before!

Things I learned on Trek

Jason and I were roped into -- I mean -- had to opportunity to be a Ma and Pa for our Stake's Youth Conference Trek last month. Neither of us had any idea what to expect, as we'd never been involved with such a thing before, especially Jason, who joined the church at 23 and has never had any expereince with Youth activities at all.


All in all, it really was a good experience. It was a great opportunity to gain an appreciation for the sacrifices and experiences of our pioneer ancestors. More importantly, for me, I have finally been able to admit that not all teenagers are rotten, self centered, spoiled brats. It has taken me two years of teaching seminary and 2 1/2 days of pretending to be a pioneer with a family of 9 kids between the ages of 14-18 to reach this conclusion, but reach it I have. And maybe now I have learned the lesson Heavenly Father wanted to teach me and I can be released as seminary teacher and go back to doing something easy... like ward chorister. Or maybe there is some more to learn......

I was really worried about how Jason would handle the whole thing, since he's not much of a camper and not real familiar with the Youth program. He was great though. He hated sleeping at night -- too hot and stuffy -- and of course, I forgot to bring pillows (hey -- it wasn't on the list! Just sleeping bags and I did bring those!) But the actual trekking was right up his alley. Especially with the group of boys we had. They had a blast seeing who could pull the cart by themselves, running with the cart, hauling it up and down and all over the place. In their eagerness, I once got my toe run over by the cart, but the toe and I both survived and the enthusiasm was not dampened!

Anyway, here are a few pictures of us on trek. Pioneer fashion does not flatter me at all, but I do think Jason makes a darn cute pioneer man.

Our family -- we were trying to look old fashioned and un-smiley here. Other than the tennis shoes we're all wearing, its almost authentic looking, eh?

Me and J inspecting our wagon. It was in need of repair when we first got there. We were a little worried that we were being set up to be the cart that fell apart on the way to Zion. Luckily, it held together.

The next couple are from the Women's Pull. I know most of you Utahans have been on Treks before and from what I have hard, the Women's Pull is a really long hill and the men have to stand back and watch the chicks drag the cart up the hill alone. Not in Illinois! They took the men away for an hour and a half and had them do a servcie project for the state park we were treking in and we women -- I should say Women, with a capital W -- trekked on our own in the muddiest terrain we encountered in the whole 2 days, downhill all the way, till we reached a stream that was too deep and fast to cross and then had to turn around and climb all the way BACK UP the muddy, slippery hill we'd just come down! My girls and I figured out that the best way to not get stuck in the mud is NOT TO STOP!