Teacher Swap

Breven and Sienna switched places today and took on the role as the piano teacher. As one was playing, the other would sit in the chair next to the piano and make comments. It made me laugh when I heard, from the other room, Breven say, "Well, you had some pauses, but I will let you go on."

Our practice routine is that they have to play each piece three times. Recently, we have added that if they play the piece perfectly, they only have to play it once. They usually still end up playing the piece three times, but they are motivated to try harder.

When they finished their practicing, they came to the other room and announced that they wanted to do that again tomorrow because they know each other's pieces now. I think, "YEAH!! Anything that helps them want to practice."

End of Baseball Season

This was the second season that Breven has played baseball, but first time doing Coach-pitch. He did a great job and had a lot of fun. Breven was number 14 just like Smokey when he played hockey when he was little. The number was just assigned to him. We did not get to pick it. Breven would hit left handed the first time up to bat and right handed the second time up to bat. Smokey would show him something new and Breven would pick it up very quickly. It was fun to watch, both father and son, be so enthusiastic about playing. Breven liked playing all the positions. He did a great job at catcher. He actually was able to catch some of the pitches. Coach Larry was such a nice man. He smiled and laughed a lot.

Thanks for the fun season.

Magic Mountain

We had some friends treat us to a day at Six Flags Magic Mountain before we left California. It was the first time for Breven and Caden, and Sienna's second trip. It was a fun day, and it was especially great to go with the Nelsons.
I was a little nervous how Caden would react to the log ride. He was getting more anxious as we waited in line, and I almost decided not to go when we got to the front. However, after the last big drop, he said, "AWESOME!!" I'm glad he liked it.
Goliath is Sienna's favorite ride. It has a 255 foot drop and you travel up to 85 miles per hour. She is only 52" tall and most of the big rides require you to be 54". She will probably love the park even more when she grows two more inches. Hopefully, the next trip we can go on Batman together (Cherlynn's favorite ride).
I love how Breven is holding Caden's hand to make sure he feels safe. He is a good big brother.

Before this trip, Breven was not a fan of roller coasters, but he loved it. He even rode it by himself a few times. Its too bad kids grow up too fast.

Thanks Friends!!

Chopped--Family Version

For some reason we like to watch Food Network. If the television is on, Sienna will often ask if we could change the channel to 55. One of our favorite shows is Chopped. If you have never seen it, four chefs are invited to cook three course: appetizer, main course and dessert. They are given a mystery basket with four items that must be used in the dish. After each coarse, the chefs face three judges. The judges eat the food and decide which chef is chopped and does not get to move on. The winner in the last round wins $10,000.

We've tried our own version a few time and love it.

First, a basket is prepared with items and then the kids can pull other things out of the fridge and pantry to complete their dishes. One time we played, the appetizer basket included apples, celery and peanut butter. Naturally, a variations of "Ants on a Log" were constructed. After the allotted time, the chefs have to face the judges to explain what they made. We encourage them to make up a name and explain their steps. Sienna gets into the presentation and decorating her plates. She would often take the sauce and add a smear on the plate for looks.

Even the blender had to be used in a few rounds because they have seen it on the show. One time, Sienna put jelly beans in the blender from the cupboard to make a powder to sprinkle on her crackers.

In the home version, we never chopped any chefs. All chefs moved on to the next coarse. They had a fun time because they felt like they had full reign of the kitchen.

Our Three Little Chefs

Pretend Play

I live in a house with a bunch of actors. This is all pretend sleeping. They played this game for about 30 minutes. When I realized what they were doing I took some pictures, and they all obliged.

Piano Lessons

Today, I taught my last piano lesson and I'm a little sad. It is strange to admit that because seven years ago when I started teaching, I actually had no desire to teach piano. A friend of mine asked repeatedly if I would teach her five-year-old son. I was reluctant because I am not an exceptionally skilled pianist, nor extremely knowledgeable in music theory. However, over the years I have taught 28 students. I've learned a lot about teaching, but I have enjoyed watching my students improve and flourish.

Thank you Didi, for helping me face a fear and take on a new challenge.

Three in a Row

Breven came running in and announced, "I just pulled my tooth out." That makes it that he lost two teeth in the same day, which is very exciting.

His two front teeth have been loose for quite awhile, and one has been hanging in front of the other for about a month. We have been able to see half the roots, but not brave enough to pull it out.

This morning when he woke up, his tooth was missing. We looked in his bed and on the floor, but we did not find a missing tooth. Breven is worried that he swallowed it, and that the tooth fairy will not come. We wrote a note to explain what happened and hoped for the best. With the other front tooth gone, he realized the second front tooth was really loose too, and so he pulled out tonight. Now when you look in his mouth, he has three missing front teeth on the top not just the usual two-front teeth.

A year ago, he lost his first tooth, his right-side incisor, and a permanent tooth has not grown in that spot. When we went to the dentist, we saw that it was the corner of his permanent front tooth that pushed the side tooth out. Now Breven says he has "three in a row, just like tic-tac-toe." He's a poet, and he didn't even know it.--he, he

What a Missionary Experience

Can you imagine being invited to sing at an NBA game on your mission? I wonder how that transpired. This definately does not happen to every missionary.

Cupcakes

Someone I admire wrote this on her blog. I had to copy to share with my friends, but also to remember the message. Have a Happy Easter! Thanks Cindy, you have a gift of making up analogies.



"We are all unique and beautiful---just like cupcakes; And, just as no two cupcakes are alike, they are all uniquely beautiful.

But, just as beautiful as the cupcake may appear, the cupcake is more treasured if it is delicious on the inside. Like cupcakes, our inner beauty is more important. You know, it was prophesied that there would be nothing attractive about Jesus and yet people drew near to him. Why? Because he was so good. Because he loved others, truly loved them, people wanted to be near him.

Another thing about cupcakes...without the rigid cupcakes tins, they would cook up to be nothing but a blob. Sometimes we view rules or standards as restrictive...and yet-if we live within these standards we will rise above and beyond what we could even imagine for ourselves...but to rise above, there must be heat...or trials...I know that Heavenly Father can and will make more of our lives than we can even imagine if we let him."

New Version of "Slug Bug"

Not too long ago, there was a commercial for a Volkswagen van. If you recall, the family drives around and watches the neighbors slug each other and say, "Gray one." Sienna inquired about the commercial and I told her about looking for Volkswagen Bugs while you're out in the car.

The other day, as we were driving home from school, Sienna said, "White one. That is 47." She and Breven have changed the rules of the Slug Bug Game and now they look for Sienna Toyota vans instead. It cracks me up because they are able to remember exactly what number they are on. Sienna is up to 167 and Breven has 88.

Surprise Grandma. . .Breven!

We spent Christmas with my brother in Arizona. My mom and dad came down too, and it was a fun time.

We arrived one day before my parents so we used the guest bed that first night because it was late, and we didn't want to take the time to set up the air mattress. However, the next day we switched rooms and my parents used the guest bed.

Unfortunately, we forgot to really explain things to Breven. In the middle of the night he went in and climbed in bed with Grandma and Grandpa thinking it was us. (Breven is a mover and not the best bed partner). Mom couldn't figure out why Dad was having a rough night. She was unaware that it was Breven.

The best part was hearing Mom retell the story. She could not share the details without laughing herself. I laughed out loud throughout the day as I remembered the story. My kids have great grandparents.

Horse Riding in Buckeye

Smokey's cousins, the Slades, live in Saskatchewan, Canada. They were able to work it out to spend the winter in Buckeye, Arizona. They arrived the week of Christmas and planned to stay through March. We were able to visit with them because we went to Goodyear, Arizona to spend Christmas with Steve and Karen. Goodyear and Buckeye are only a few exit away from each other on the west-side of Phoenix.

The Slades are ranchers and brought four of their horses with them to Arizona for the winter. On our way back to California, we stopped and visited with Kathy, Lon and their daughters again. They took us to the arena and let us ride their horses. Tara, Laramie and Colonna were so patient with my kids and willing to walk and walk with the horses to let my kids ride. Sienna could not get enough. Caden was scared and repeated, "Big, big." Smokey took Caden out for a run around the arena. He was close to enjoying it by the end. However, after being home he talks about the horses a lot. I think he will do better the next time.

One of the best treats was watching Laramie barrel run. They are awesome riders and can make the horses go so fast. Thanks for the fun day. We love you!!