The Nutcracker

Last night Shelly, Becca, Sammi, Jessi, Elizabeth, Mandy and I went to have a yummy dinner at Pei Wei Restaurant and then all went to the Nutcracker ballet.  The girls are all getting older and it was a wonderful experience to be with them and enjoy the beautiful music and dancers.  We try to do this each year and I wish all of the girls – big and little – could go with us.  Wouldn’t that be fun! 

The only picture taken (I know we should be beaten with a wet noodle) was on Shelly’s camera.

Traditions are wonderful as they bring us together whether it is attending a ballet or going to the Temple together.  Daddy and I attended a sealing Friday afternoon of a wonderful couple and that got me to thinking about all of the wonderful times that we have been involved in a sealing.  The first one, of course, was when Glenn and I went to Salt Lake and were sealed as a husband and wife and then had the amazing experience of being sealed to our two beautiful daughters. Then the wonderful weddings of our children and then when we thought we were finished our adoption of Nathan and the wonderful experience with him, Mandy’s sealing and the wonderful experience in Nauvoo when Joy was sealed to Shelly and Jason and to all of us.

I am thankful once again to the two wonderful Elders that brought the gospel into our lives and set our feet upon an eternal road back to our Heavenly Father.

A perfect sunset

 

Tonight while stopped at a light I looked over and beheld a fabulous sunset.  The sky was shades from orange to mauve to blue with floating clouds of white tinged with pink.  In the middle of this picture was the American flag flapping in the wind and it was just beautiful.

I have not had any "what I am thankful for" posts.  As I looked at the flag and the sheer beauty of the sunset I am reminded of what a fabulous gift that God has given us.  This beautiful earth and the freedom we have in our country.  Long may she wave.

I do NOT understand the enigma that is

my youngest daughter!  I don't, I don't, I don't.  Mandy is a very talented little artist.  At 6 she can draw things that actually look like what they are supposed to be.  I think she will grow into an amazing artist and for you that ask - yes, I have told her that.

Mandy is a perfectionist which is not a good thing to be.  Nothing is ever good enough.  No matter how well she prints her letters or reads a book or draws a picture or play a piece on the piano - it just isn't good enough.  I have been trying to help her with this, well I guess since we got her. 

This year we have been having "art" class in school and I have tried to show her different art and that nothing is perfect.  Art is just art. 

I have finally found an art class for her and we have both been excited.  She much more than me.  Today was her first day and she was almost giggly and hopping around from excitement.  We went to her class and she had actually told me she didn't want me to stay so Nathan and I went across the street (literally) to Walmart and came back at the required time.  She had worked on several pieces and was very pleased with the class and when we left she gave a "see you next week" wave and we started to leave.  I needed to pick something up and as we went down the rows (Hobby Lobby) she was getting into everything - climbing under the artificial trees, handling all of the ornaments - and so I told both Nathan and Mandy to stand at the end of the aisle where I could see them.  It took me maybe two minutes and I came down the aisle to go and check out.  She had taken the picture she had just spent some  time with and crumbled it into a ball.   ??????????  I asked her tonight why and she said she couldn't remember.  That is her usual answer for something like this.

When she acts like that I honestly just don't understand and I would really like to understand.

Halloween 2009

 

The parents of one of Nathan’s baseball team had a party for the team.  It was quite a gathering with food, games and fun.  A little long at 6 1/2 hours but oh, well.  They live in a lovely acreage community and to trick or treat they go around the neighborhood in a hay wagon.  Our two trick or treaters went as:                             Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile

                                                and 

                               A storm tropper with light saber. I guess he was a good storm trooper.  Next we went on a hay ride -                                      There were 16 various “riders” in our hay ride.   Nathan doing battle for his lady fair, sort of.  Happy Halloween, all.

Living history

Nathan and I are working on American history between 1790 and 1900.  I have a book on different crafts done by people of that era.  I told Nathan to look through and see what activities he wanted to do and one of them was to hook a rug!  I was thinking of making a keel boat or something like that.  I took the easy way out and bought a hook rug kit rather than make our own.  I am applying Nathan’s rug for history and Mandy’s as an art project.  I told the kids that they could be prayer rugs. 

  Mandy with her rug and Nathan with his.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                              Sorting colors and working on our rugs.                                 We will let you know how they come out.