Field Trip - MJ

Thursday, September 24, 2015

MJ's class went on a field trip to the Natural History Museum of Utah up at the University of Utah campus. I was able to go as a chaperone. I was put in charge of MJ and two boys from her class. The kids had to answer some questions about a few of the exhibits and we also ate lunch there. It was a nice place - I had never been there before.

Weber Review

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Since we have two different kids in different marching bands, I will be splitting my time volunteering between the two. The Weber Review is held each year on a Tuesday just before the competition season begins. It is the first performance before judges and then they give feedback on ways to improve the show. There are no place awards or scores given out.

I haven't volunteered at this one before because Tuesdays are hard when you have young kids and your husband is working. This year though I was able to go because the younger kids are getting older and able to watch each other. Luke's band was performing during the daytime so I went with M&M's band that was performing in the evening. M&M's show is entitled Dead Men Tell No Tales and is a pirate theme.

M&M is in the line on the left (to the right of the flags) - second person back.

Homecoming 2015

Saturday, September 19, 2015

I'll have to have M&M fill in the details on what they did for the date.

Taking some pictures while waiting for her date.

Attempting to put on the boutonniere - it is much harder to put on a shirt than it is to put on a suit coat!

His tie matched her dress perfectly! They were very well coordinated!

Wrist corsage

Here are some group pictures that were taken at her date's house:

M&M made the boutonniere - although apparently we didn't take a picture of it by itself... She added some jewels to it instead of using the baby's breath.

M&M's Family Night Show

Monday, September 21, 2015

M&M at her last marching band family preview show. :( She is loving playing baritone this year! Oh, and she is also the student band council president for this school year. She applied for it at the end of last school year and the band director and outgoing band council picked her from several other applicants. We're not quite sure what she has to do for that other than collect attendance rolls for all of the sections as well as attend band council meetings every other week. I think she is also the one in charge of putting together a slideshow at the end of the year for the annual end of the year party.

Blondie went out to the field to shadow M&M this year.

Luke in uniform!

Monday, September 21, 2015

Here is Luke in his marching band uniform! This was at a family night showcase that they did before the competition season started. (And M&M's band had their family night showcase the same night so I went to Luke's and everyone else went to M&M's - since this was her last one.)

Learning to ride a bike!

September 2015

Kay has been dying to learn to ride a bike without training wheels for probably about a year now. We have tried working with her here and there but with all of the other kids and our busy schedules, we haven't been able to spend a lot of time with her. The neighbor has even helped her out some but she has had a fear deep down that I think has been affecting her! Finally in September it looked like she was finally starting to get the hang of it a little bit - but she still wasn't confident enough to do it on her own. Then one day MJ hopped on one of the bikes and DH and I helped her a little and without much effort at all she was almost doing it on her own. MJ only problem has been learning how to steer and being aware of where she is and where she is going. Shortly after that Kay finally picked it up as well so now all of the kids can ride a bike! It is kind of weird how effortless it was for MJ and she is definitely the youngest in our family to have learned to ride a bike! It is interesting watching how everyone learns differently and some things come easy to some and not so easy to others. I think Kay was a little jealous that MJ learned to ride so quickly. She was so happy when she finally learned for herself!

This is MJ riding down the street - it is nice to live on a cul-de-sac! These pictures of MJ were taken on Sept 9.

Look at that determination on her face!

She's got it!

Kay is finally doing it! (Sept 28)

These pictures were taken Sept 29

Look at that smile on her face!

Ovarian Cancer Run

Saturday, September 12, 2015

September is Ovarian Cancer awareness month. Every year there is a 5K fundraiser that is held in Salt Lake during the month. I heard about it the first year after I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer but it has always ended up being on a Saturday that I have had something else going on and I haven't been able to attend. This year I was able to go and I took Kitty, Kay and MJ along with me - DH and the older kids all had something else going on.

The race takes place at Sugar House Park and you basically just walk/run around the loop of the park. It isn't really a 5K unless you do the whole thing twice - which most people don't do. It was pretty chilly when we first got there and the girls all stood around freezing, waiting for the sun to come out. We got these nice free shirts (although you have to pay to register for the run). And unfortunately the smallest size they had was an adult XS - which drowned the girls!

There were quite a few people there and I even ran into my doctor and the psychologist/social worker from the office. They were both there with their kids.

When it was finally time to start the run we went up to the starting line and they sounded the gun to start and MJ and Kay took off running! Kitty and I were trying to call out to them to slow down and we were trying to catch up to them! It was pretty funny. I guess when they heard the starting gun they just wanted to go and race! I was a little concerned of losing track of them with all of the people that were there. At one point MJ finally slowed down and turned around to look for me. I still couldn't get Kay's attention though and at one point we were at the top of a hill and she had already gone around the corner and was at the bottom of the hill when I was finally able to get her attention and then she climbed up the hill to us. And then what I suspected would happen did happen - they both ran out of steam and were moaning and complaining the whole last 1/3 or so of the race. At one point I had to carry MJ for a little bit until I was able to talk her into walking again... The girls did really good on the whole and they were very excited to finally see the finish line! They also had some treats at the end provided by Trader Joe's - bananas, oranges, granola bars and water bottles.

Before the race

If you look closely you can see MJ at the back of that pack in front of me - running her little heart out! Kay at this point is ahead of her somewhere.

MJ finally stopped and waiting for us. If I remember correctly she is eating a lollipop that she got before the race.

We finally got Kay's attention and she is running up the hill to join us.

At the end of the race - it was a little too bright and sunny for these girls!

More roses

September 2015

Apparently I did take some pictures of one of the rose buses I planted in the fall. Here it is, plus another picture of the pink/yellow rose bush with 3 different looking flowers blooming all at once.

MJ and Legos

September 9, 2015

I found these on the chair in our living room. MJ made them all by herself.

National Wear Teal Day

September 4, 2015

September 4th is National Wear Teal Day - for ovarian cancer. I took a picture of me and MJ wearing some teal.

Roses!!

Early Fall 2015

I love rose bushes! Especially fragrant ones! Our house had no rose buses in the yard when we moved in and it has been something that I have wanted to change! I found some amazing rose bushes at the nursery that I fell in love with. They are super fragrant and have huge blossoms! Here are some pictures of the 2 bushes I planted in the spring - apparently I did not take pictures of the ones I planted in the fall. I will have to remedy that once they start blooming this year. DH has started to not be surprised if I come home with a new rose bush! If it is a color that I like and is fragrant - I just might decide to buy it! Unfortunately I am running out of good spots to plant them so I may have to hold off for a little while! I just love the pop of color that they give to my yard and I love going up to the bushes and smelling them!

One of the most perfect looking roses I have ever seen!

Another perfect looking rose! This bush has the most amazing display of colors! The rose buds start off yellow with bright pink on the edges. Then when they bloom they either stay that brilliant yellow with the pink edges or go to all pink with a hint of white or yellow on the middle of the petals.

You can see some of the buds in this picture.

You can see the pink/yellow rose bush on the right side of the flower bed. The pale pink rose bush is behind the green bush that is behind the pink/yellow rose bush. If you zoom in on the picture you can see some of the roses popping out from behind.