Last Day!!

Today marked the kids last day of school! Zachary and Emily both got 100% attendance in class for the year. We are hoping to have a great summer... the calendar is full of things to do and so there had better be no complaining of being bored!!

End of the Year Concerts....

It seems that the end of the school year brings about many concerts....
I posted Zach's concert and one of Audrey's recitals....(see below)

Audrey also had another violin concert, she is in the chamber orchestra at the Jr High.

Here are a few high lights from our week....






















Audrey is also in the show choir at the jr high and so we went to watch her perform.
















Emily's second grade patriotic program was fun to watch. Can you believe they teach the kids the songs like... My Country Tis of Thee, I'm proud to be an American, and many others I want my kids to know. It was a really good performance.

Kassidy has spared us going to any concerts.......she is very involved in National Honors Society, where she will be co-president, and then she is also editor of the school's newspaper next year, so no concerts for her!!!

Elder Hinckley

We had stake conference this past weekend where they divided our stake. Two members from the seventies came. I cannot remember the man's name, but he is from Uruguay. Saturday night session was good but the one thing that left an impression on my family is this.......
We arrived for the afternoon session on Sunday. We sat in the middle of the gym with about 20 minutes until it started. The AC was blowing right on me so we switched about 4-5 rows further back. As we were sitting there Elder Hinckley was shaking a few people's hands, not really talking to them, just shaking random people's hands. Kevin turned to Zach and told him who this man was, a general authority and President Hinckley's son. As we sat there he came to the people just in front of us. The mother told her little girls that this man was President Hinckley's son.
Now, this is what I wrote in my notebook as we sat through conference....
Elder Hinckley came to our row at stake conference, before it started, and shook all of our hands. Zach told him he was ordained last week and Elder Hinckley asked if he was a teacher. Zach told him he was a deacon.
Elder Hinckley asked Emily how old she was and she told him 8. I told Elder Hinckley she was baptized last week. Elder Hinckley told Emily it was going to be a long meeting and did she have a coloring book he could use?!
It was incredible to shake the hand of one of our church leaders. He is Predident Hinckley's son and last night at the stake meeting he spoke of his father in a different light, one of a father. It made me miss President Hinckley.
Elder Hinckley gave our family a little attention, but a strong impression he left on me.

Audrey and her violin, Belle.

On Sunday evening, Audrey had a violin recital to pass off one of her levels. Our very good friend gives her lessons, besides the fact she takes violin in school. Audrey said the school teacher didn't move fast enough for her so she asked for private lessons. She played a lot of songs, but this was my favorite.
Great job!!!!

Zach's Tavaci Program

As a family we went to watch Zach's spring concert! He did great. It is his last year singing with the Tavaci group, something he has enjoyed for 3 years. His instructor gave him a trophy at the end of the concert. Once you finish 6th grade you can no longer participate.
His class sang quite a few songs and they did great!! If you have a minute watch the video.....Zach sang a solo at the beginning of the song. He was so nervous, but did great!!

Awards TIme!!

Kevin went to the Jr High Awards ceremony this week........
Audrey got an award for 3 straight semesters of 4.0 (her last term will be the same!)
She also ranked nationally in the 10% of Reading, Science, Language, Total Core and Total Composition. Way to go!!!

A Big Weekend

Our weekend was great!!
My parents came to spend the time with us and to support the kids!
We started it out with the older girls going to do baptisms at the Temple.
In the afternoon we went to Emily's baptism. She was so excited and she looked so cute!!




Emily with dad!!




Emily with mom, I wonder where all of the time went. It doesn't seem like she is already 8. My baby is growing up!!


Emily and her best friend were baptized on the same day. They were able to watch each other as the mom's looked on. These two little girls were born on the same day, within a hour of each other and in two different states. Now they live across the street from each other and they are inseparable.
I was lucky enough to speak at the baptism. Audrey gave a prayer and Kassidy played the piano (not her choice but Emily's).

We all went to our house for a barbecue, there were over 40 people eating and having a great time. The food was fabulous and as you can see we had a pinata for the kids.

After the festivities, when everyone went home, we had some friends over to play the Wii with us and my parents.


Sunday morning we got up and got ready for church. It was another big day......our sweet boy was being ordained a deacon.....once again, where did the time go????

He looked so handsome, (I was also told this by someone so I am not totally bias!!).

Kevin and I spoke in church about mothers. I did not say half of the things I had prepared. I do not like getting up so much in church to talk and besides that my mom was in the congregation.
Anyhow, mom, I know you read this.....just remember I love you.....

My parents left just after Zach was ordained. It is always hard to say good bye, but we will meet up again in August when we venture to San Diego.

Mother's day was great. The kids made brownies and we played the Wii together as a family....had treats and just hung out!!!

It was a good day....yes, a good day in deed!!!!!

In a world full of uncertainties

When you think about your future, usually you don't perceive there to be complications along the way to deter you from your plans. Well, I do think of them and I try to plan out different scenarios of "what ifs". Usually when and if something happens, it is not at all what you thought could happen. We learn from them and we move on trying to be a better person because of the bump or ditch in the road. Am I making any sense here? I guess what I am trying to really say is we just don't have control of everything that happens in our lives. We must live everyday in gratitude for the life we live and to live it in a such a way to be a better person.

I just can't believe it!!!

I want to know how this happened???? I have always told Zach to stop growing and to stay my little boy forever.....he has so not obeyed me in this area.
Happy Birthday!!!

She can dance!!!!

Audrey went to her first dance on friday......now that she is 14 she is ready!!! She comes home friday night pretty happy! She said out of the 4 slow songs she was asked to dance 3 of them. She was pretty impressed. How fun for her. The fast songs everyone just dances in a group......not so much like when I grew up......lots of slow songs and we actually danced the fast ones with a partner. As long as she has fun and keeps her nose clean!!!