Recitals

We've had a few recitals this last week.  First was Rachel's violin recital.  She started taking lessons in January after a year and a half break from the violin (she played with the school orchestra in Maryland, but unfortunately, the schools here do not have orchestra).  She played well, and I'm happy that she is playing again. 

Ben also had his house concert this week.  This is where they play, from memory, all the songs they have learned this year in their level.  We had a few friends over, Ben played his eleven songs very beautifully, and the we had ice cream sundaes.  He got a trophy for completing his level. 

Last weekend was the primary talent show.  I was in charge of the actual talent portion (not refreshments, decorations, etc.) and kept this responsibility even though I was released (it seemed mean to dump the entire thing on a brand new presidency--and they still wanted me to do it).  It was a really fun night and turned out even better than I expected.  We had lots of children participate.  Kate and Ben both played the piano, but the camera battery died after Kate played.  I had Sarah take pictures, since I was up on stage coordinating the children and announcing the acts. 

It was funny because Kate was so excited to perform, but not that excited to practice.  I got her to practice by pretending it was the real thing and announcing her name and clapping every time.  She is such a performer! 

Kate got another chance to perform during her ballet recital this week.  Here she is getting her make-up done before the show. 

Her cute friend came with us to see the show.

Here they are warming up and getting ready for the show. 

 Kate is so excited!

 She had a lot of fun doing dance this year, but mostly had fun getting to perform!

 Still more recitals to come...



Changes

After a year and a half of serving as primary president, I got released a couple of weeks ago.  David got called to be the Elder's Quorum President, which means he gets to start going to ward council.  In order to prevent church service from becoming too big of a burden for our family, they released me so that I can be home with the kids while David goes to ward council.  Being released was a little bit of a surprise, since I was in a good groove with primary and felt like things were going well, and I really hadn't been doing it all that long.  I loved working with three other wonderful women in my presidency and we had a lot of great things planned.  But, I suppose that is how it works--just when you are feeling comfortable, it is time for a change.  So, it is on to something new...

My new calling:  Cub Scouts.  I get to be Ben's bear leader!  I'm very excited!  We already have lots of fun activities and field trips planned.  I think it is going to be a lot of fun. 

Just a side note--I do think it is interesting that I was allowed to be primary president with NO husband around, but not with a busy husband.  Hmmm....interesting.

Gymnastics...and when should kids decide?

Kate started gymnastics right after we moved here--I think William was only a week old at her first class.  We took a few months off right as she started kindergarten (I didn't want to overload her at the beginning), but then started back up in January. 

She was pretty good at it and has loved it--up until a couple of months ago.  She decided she was tired of it and said she wanted to quit.  I made her finish out the session, and gave her plenty of chances to change her mind.  But she was certain that she wanted to be done.  This was a little bit hard for me--Kate had worked hard at gymnastics and excelled.  Her coach had recently told me that she had been selected for a more advanced group.

So, I was faced with a dillema.  Do I let a six-year-old choose to quit?  Or do I make her stick with it anyway, hoping she'll thank me later?  Do I make her do it to develop her natural talents?

Do I let her decide all her activities, or do I make her learn things because I think they are important? 

It wasn't too big of a decision for me to let her quit gymnastics--I don't really care if she is a gymnast or not, but the question stuck with me.  All of my kids are learning to play the piano, whether they want to or not, because I think it is important, and I think they'll be glad they play in the long run (so far so good on this).  But what if I came from a family of gymnasts, rather than a family of musicians?  Would I have let Kate quit gymnastics at age six?  Probably not.  And if I came from a family of gymnasts, would I care if she quit piano?  Probably not. 

I want my kids to be involved with activities they love and follow their passions and dreams--not just mine-- but do six-year-olds really know what their passions and dreams are?  Or is it our job as parents to help them get good enough at something to feel success and know if they like it?  Lots of things (think piano and waterskiing, and probably gymnastics) just aren't that fun until you get good enough to make it fun.  So do we let our children quit before they get to the good part? 

I don't know for sure.  I guess some things yes, and some things no.  They can't do everything of course.  I guess we just decide one activity at a time.

{I took these pictures of Kate on her last day of class.  She was mostly interested in posing for me and I had to keep reminding her to stay on task.  But I do love this final picture of her winking at me.}

So... farewell gymnastics.  I'm not sure yet if you will be missed.  It is on to soccer in the fall.

Mother's Day 2011

I got to spend Mother's Day with these great kids

and this super great Mom!  Thanks Mom for cooking dinner for us all and letting us come spend the day!  I love you!

And here's a quick peek at what her lovely garden is looking like this spring (photography courtesy of Sarah):

Embracing the Northwest

I was talking to a woman a few months ago and complaining a little about the weather in the Pacific Northwest.  There are lots of fun things to do here, but most of them are outdoors, and the weather is really only nice for about two months in the summer time.  The rest of the time it is cold and rainy--especially this spring...and winter...and fall....  She told me that I just needed to get over it, and start embracing the Pacific Northwest.  Go exploring anyway.  Do fun things--even in the rain.  Just accept the fact that it will rain, put on a raincoat, and move on. 

I've been trying.

So, as part of my attempt to embrace the Northwest, we stayed at a cabin for a couple days over spring break.  We hoped and prayed for good weather.  We didn't get it.  It rained.  Not just the drizzle that we sometimes get around here for days.  No, it poured.  And it was cold.  I think that while we were there it got to a high of 42 degrees. 

Thankfully, the camp was prepared for rain.  We played ping pong under the shelter and board games inside.

 And when the downpour lessened, we went outside and explored.  There was this cool giant swing,

a three-story tree house,

 and a lake to fish in.

We had a camp fire for dinner (under a shelter) and roasted hot dogs and made smores.  We were glad the cabin had heat--at least I was.  I finally got warm after being cold all day.  David was pretty much burning up the whole night, since I had been the one to set the thermostat.  I was also glad we had running water since William got sick and threw up all over me in the middle of the night.  Lovely.

The kids loved the triple bunk bed.

 Kate was thrilled she got to be on the top bunk of another set of bunk beds. 

 The next morning was cold, but not as rainy.  We tried archery (yes, that's me),

 and the rope swing.  Almost everyone managed to avoid falling into the puddle. 

David took the kids boating out on the lake.  William still wasn't feeling good and only wanted to me to hold him.  So we huddled under the umbrella and watched from the shore.  I tried to be a good sport, but I was cold. 

As we left, I tried to reflect how I had done.  Had I embraced the Northwest? Had we accepted the rain and had an adventure anyway? 

Well, yes.  I guess so. 

Would it have been ten times better in warmer weather?  Most definitely. 

I guess I still need to keep working.  And praying for summer to come soon!

Spring Break - Pacific Science Center

We had our spring break a couple of weeks ago.  We spent one day at the Pacific Science Center.

 We headed to the butterfly house first thing.

 William was very interested in the butterflies. 

David and the big kids played a game of chess.

 and everyone played in the tide pools.

 We also saw the cool Star Wars Exhibit. 

 Best thing about the day?  The sun!  Look at that blue sky!