SENIOR PROM

Saturday, April 21st, was PROM. Trevon took Kayla Dennett. He and his friends decided they wanted to use our backyard for their dinner before the dance. That meant a lot of work for us, still it sure is nice to have a clean yard, a washed car and even some leftovers in the fridge. Do you think things could just stay that way until graduation? Trevon had ten couples participate in this group date. They decided to have a pickle ball tournament in the middle of the day. He got the equipment he needed (racquets and balls) from the city. The boys bought all of the fixin's to make sandwiches (on French bread loaves), and brought plenty of water too. Trevon made a playing bracket poster for them to follow so that by the end of their games they had an official winner. He had a fun time. I was hoping that he would make it home to help arrange the backyard for the dinner, but he arrived with less than an hour to get ready before picking up his date for dinner and the dance. His date lives about a half hour from our house, so he spent about four hours just driving back and forth. When everyone arrived, they first gathered in the orchard to take pictures.

We had the tables set just in time! I used the colors red, white and black.

I made white cloth napkins with a napkin holder that said "PROM 2012" on it. I made black place mats with a red center. Sadie and Kristi put Skittles candy in a party favor. I made twenty different masquerade masks that I placed in glass vases (with colored string beads at the bottom of them) that were a fun addition to the table. The prom was a masquerade dance this year.

I also put a cup of rice in a some mason jars, each with a votive candle, and put red scrunchies on the top for color. These candles were lit on the tables and added nicely to the ambiance.

Trevon hung lights on the gazebo that added a nice touch. Everyone seemed to enjoy the dinner. Classical Disney violin music played softly over the speakers. Mike, Sadie, Kristi and her friend Rachel Morgan helped to serve dinner. Cameron helped too. Mike and I stayed busy making and dishing out the food in the kitchen.

Kayla and Trevon enjoying their evening. Trevon's tie matched her dress perfectly.

The boys decided on the menu and divided it up pretty evenly. I was responsible for making the main dish, as dinner was at our house. They were served a salad first. Next came rolls and a chicken noodle soup. Trevon said some of the girls were full at this point. For the main course, we served Parmesan Chicken (with a cream sauce), a mushroom rice pilaf, and broccoli. After that, each was given a brownie with a scoop of ice cream, drizzled in chocolate sauce. I'm full just thinking about it. The dance was held at the Dixie State College Ballroom in St. George. Trevon said that he had a fun time. I spent the rest of the night cleaning up everything, right up until the time he got home!

Easter 2012

The kids had off of school the Friday before Easter and the Monday after Easter. It made for a very fun weekend together. On Friday night, Trevon, Cameron and Corban decided to have a campout in the backyard. They built a fire and pitched a tent and had a good time. When they crawled into their tent they found our male dog, Max, laying on top of a sleeping bag. He must have wanted to be a part of this male bonding experience. He was, as they decided to let him sleep in the tent at Corban's feet.

Cari came home for the weekend. While the boys played outside, the girls watched the "old" Parent Trap movie together. On Saturday morning, Trevon took Elise and Corban to the city's Easter Egg hunt. Candy and plastic eggs were scattered all over the elementary school yard. They had fun collecting all kinds of goodies - including free passes to the city pool.

The kids decorated our chicken eggs with paint and markers. I loved how they turned out! Corban painted one of his black and then got some gold paint on it and it looked like a beautiful marble design to me.

The kids woke on Sunday morning and discovered the Easter Bunny had left a FEW goodies in their baskets, hidden around the house.

 We attended church and I led the ward choir in singing "Love Is Come Again" and "I Stand All Amazed" in our Sacrament Meeting. Mike, Trevon, Sadie and Kristi sang in the choir.  Sadie also accompanied another ward choir on her violin while they sang, "Come Unto Him."  When we got home, we had an Easter BBQ with hamburgers, salads (potato, pasta, green, and jello) and some chips.

We enjoyed the beautiful spring weather, being together as a family, and reflecting on the wonderful gifts our Savior, Jesus Christ has provided for us.

 

Mike and I sang in two Easter Programs at the St. George Tabernacle on Easter Sunday with the Southern Utah Heritage Choir. The concerts were at 5:00 p.m. and again at 7:00 p.m. They were wonderful and the St. George Temple President and his wife (Brother and Sister Bruce C. Hafen) shared a message about the last week of the Savior's life and His glorious resurrection. We were filled with the spirit as we listened to their words and as we sang beautiful music about the passion, peace and love. The program was titled "Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer." The songs we sang included: Jesu, the very thought is sweet (arr. Mack Wilberg); Easter Fantasia (Mark Hayes); Even the Heavens are Weeping (Joseph M. Martin); Were You There (Raymond Haan); Come Ye Disconsolate (arr. Nancy Allred); He Is Risen, Alleluia (Eugene Englert); In Paradisum (Dan Forrest); I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (Benjamin Harlan); and Redeemer of Israel (arr. Mack Wilberg). We had also planned to sing That Easter Morn (arr. Brent Jorgensen) in the middle of the program, but due to the time we had to omit this number. We thoroughly enjoy being able to sing about Christ in the SUHC and are glad to feel inspired and lifted each time we participate in practice and performance.

The next morning, I slept in since the kids didn't have school. I really enjoyed waking without an alarm clock. Still, I had to start the day with a morning walk. Corban wanted to join me and so I let him tag along on his little bike. I loved having his company, and ended up walking/running with him several times this past week.

Monday morning he lasted 4 miles! I was so pleased. He made me smile so many times with what he said:
"I hope my bike has enough energy to make it up all of these hills."
"I love that man's house." (There was no man around - and the house was okay.)
"I feel like we've been running for a half hour!" (Well, actually we had been going for 38 minutes, but I was the one who was running!)
"Wait mom, I need to scratch my nose."
"You can be the leader now...Go this way."
"Watch out for the poops."
"Mom, maybe you're gonna get a ticket from a policeman 'cause you didn't stop at the right place. You need to stop at the stop sign!" (He was so worried that I ran past the stop signs and insisted that I stop with him AT the STOP signs, and not past them - I was glad he showed some integrity and made sure his mom was obeying the law!)
Needless to say, I was smiling a lot on our walk/run together. It was a nice way to start a Monday. Since there was no school, Sadie and Kristi worked on their Personal Progress goals. Sadie learned how to sew a skirt and Kristi (and her friend Rachel) learned how to make rolls.

Both items turned out pretty good. Sadie wore her new skirt to church today.

Symphony & Such

Sadie had a St. George Youth Symphony Concert on Friday night. The Symphony was led by four conductors from Dixie State College: Dr. Paul Abegg, Dr. Jim Hardy, Robert Matheson and Glenn Webb.
They played Carmen Suite No. 1 (George Bizet), Divertimento No. 1 in D-major, K. 136 (W. A. Mozart) which was my personal favorite of the night, In Memorium: Shostakovich (Glenn Webb), and Suite No. 1, Op.46 (Edvard Grieg).

On Saturday night she played at the St. George Tabernacle as part of the St. George Bach Festival (Celebrating the music of Johann Sebastian Bach).

 

As a side note, Kristi's hamster, Scamper, passed away on Saturday. He was two years old and we expected it would happen soon.  She was sad to lose her furry friend!