Happy Father's Day!

There are some special dads in my life who I get to celebrate today. My husband (dad to my kids), my stepfather (AKA, Grandpa Money), and my father-in-law, but there is one special dad who I won't get to give a big hug to on Father's Day, and he's a pretty special dad, MY DAD! So, I wanted to take a moment and send a big cyber hug down to my dad in Georgia.

Here are ten favorite memories I have of my dad:

1) The stories he would make up in the car and tell us about the Rain Man (a super-hero who could dodge raindrops, not an autistic Dustin Hoffman) and his nemesis the Umbrella Thief.

2) The time he was teaching me to ride my bike in our new home in Virginia, I got a really good momentum going, but I don't think that either us realized the ramifications of the fact the field we were practicing in ended in a steep slope (ouch).

3) Dad coaching my soccer team when I was in 3rd grade. He even allowed us to chose the name of our team and didn't roll his eyes when we voted on "Hot Stuff" as the moniker for the team.

4) Numerous, numerous times of getting Peanut Buster Parfaits with my dad after games or just whenever.

5) Praying with my dad at the sacred grove in Palmyra, NY.

6) Spending a summer with my dad when he was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. We got to see some really neat castles and other attractions. Also, my Dad has to get a gold star for trying to shepherd Michael, John, and I through New Amsterdam while only exposing us to the wholesome elements of the city.

7) The visits I had with my dad during car trips, something about riding with my dad just makes the conversations interesting.

8) The pair of dark-wash Levi's and the brown loafers that my dad would change into every day after work for what seemed like years on end. Every time I see you in casual wear I really expect to see that combo.

9) Great homemade pizza that my dad used to make and also visiting his old friend John's pizzeria in Kansas.

10) Spiritual discussions, shared scriptures, Father's blessings, my dad really is one spiritual guy, and role-model to me.

Okay, I have lots of other great memories, and I hope to make many more! I love you dad, and I hope you have a great Father's Day.

I DID IT!!!!

Well, I've now officially passed nursing school, and I will graduate next week. It has been such a long road that I can't believe it is over.

Now I just have to pass state boards, that will be another post....

Cooking with my kids

I thought I should actually post on the blog since the full three weeks has past since I posted about Juliet's leg and the cast came off today. I wanted to post some pictures of cooking with the kids. These kids sure love mixing stuff up with me, and if I'm organized enough, it is a great activity to get them involved and do something together. Juliet is always game, as long as she gets to wear that chef hat.

Well, I haven't posted in awhile, because this has been happening. Yep, Juliet broke her leg. She just came down on it funny while she was jumping on the trampoline at Grandma's house. We went to have it looked at at the emergency room that night, but the X-rays didn't show a fracture. We came home, but it was still hurting her, and she just wouldn't walk on it. We brought her back later in the week, the X-rays showed a hairline fracture, and the cast went on. We went to Children's Orthopedic today, and we are happy to report that it is coming off on April 16. Yay!!!

An End in Sight!

I am officially done with 6 out of 7 quarters of my nursing program. Now, only one left! There might actually be an end in sight.

Magical, musical Cole

When Cole was about 14 months old, we started to notice that his baby babble had a distinctly musical element. Suddenly, Charles and I looked at each other and said, he's humming Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star! This was remarkable to us, especially since this young boy was showing no inclination to say anything. He continued to hum Twinkle, Twinkle and then started to branch out to other songs. As his musical repertoire continued to grow, he finally began to pick up a little language around two. He continues to gain speech, little by little, but music is still his first language. He is always humming or singing a song, and not just children's songs either. He knows many, many classical songs (thanks Baby Einstein and Little Einsteins) and many Hymns. He just really loves music.

Recently, just as he started to pick up on humming songs at 14 months, he is branching out into another avenue, playing the piano. Occasionally, he goes over to piano, fiddles around with it for awhile and then starts to pick out a song. So far, he has played Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (of course), Row, row, row your boat, Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater, and Ode to Joy. He won't do this on demand, we just have to catch him at it, and he still only does it occasionally, but when we can catch him at it, it is so fun to watch. I'm hoping that he will start doing more of this and we can help him to develop his talent. Meanwhile, it is always an enchanting surprise when he shows us just how talented he is.

Ward Talent Show

Here is a clip of Cole singing at the Primary ward talent show. Not the most polished performance (He is singing the Spirit of God), but we thought he did a great job.