Daydreams & Dandelions

Daydreams and Dandelions is a talent contest for the elementary students at Three Falls Elementary. This year, on the day the entries were due, Cameron and Elise decided to enter the contest. I told her there was NO WAY she could paint a picture and have it dry in time for school, so she wrote a poem. Cameron drew a picture with magic markers of the Battle of Coral Sea (May 1942).  At the awards assembly, Elise was awarded a 2nd place medal (and a fruit roll-up) for her poem! She was so happy and anxious to share her success with us.

Cameron didn't win any big prizes but I was glad he wanted to enter and so impressed with what he knows about history. I admit that there are many things my kids know, that I don't. I'm glad they teach me just as much as I teach them.

A Valentine Surprise

by Elise Beutler

I woke up one Valentine's morning

And it was pouring

Pouring rain.

But there at the foot of my bed

Was a Valentine so red

Red and nice.

I thought and thought who was it from

Who in the rain would come

Come at night.

I picked it up and looked inside

It was so nice I cried

Cried out loud.

My mom came and whispered in my ear

She said I love you dear

Dear child.

SOCCER TIME

Cameron is playing in a soccer club and really enjoying it. He practices with his team twice a week and usually has a game on the weekend. He likes to be a defender, stationed near the goalie. He does a great job and it is always fun to watch him play.

Coach Lewis gives Cameron a high-five on the field.  He is really good about encouraging the kids and having fun while teaching them the rules of the game.

The team huddles for some instruction from coach before a game.

Lots of running and kicking and sweating!

The "Lobos" are supposed to howl like a wolf after they score a goal - - - so far, I think I've heard them

howl once. They are a new team, and are doing great! They are also a small team which means there is not a lot of time for resting during a game as there are only a couple to sub in and out with. Still, they're all smiles.

WHEW! Hot and tired after one of his games...thankfully it is not the middle of summer...yet!

National Honor Society

Congratulations to Sadie who was inducted into the high school National Honor Society on February 15th. She will be given many opportunities for service as a member NHS! We are so glad Sadie always strives to do her best and that she is willing to share her talents with others.

Creative Kids and A Few Cowboys

Valentines Day brought lots of fun. Sadie and Kristi went to a Young Women activity where they made some sugar cookies. They almost looked too pretty to eat! I "loved" seeing their creativity!

Sadie's Cookies:

Kristi's Cookies:

Cameron had a Cub Scout "Blue and Gold Banquet" on February 15th. Each of the Cub Scouts were asked to make a cake with their dad and bring it for the banquet. Cameron decided to make an airplane cake. Mike had just as much fun putting this cake together as Cameron did.

They made a chocolate P-51 Mustang with a chocolate candy bar tail and pretzel propellers and guns.

Cameron's cake won the "MOST UP IN THE AIR" award.

The Blue & Gold Banquet had a western or cowboy theme. I loved how a cucumber was used to make a cactus for the centerpieces...YEE HAW!!! Crushed Graham Crackers made the desert ground underneath them. If you look hard enough, you can see a paper gun and holster on the table that held the silverware.

Chili and Cornbread was the meal - served right out of a Dutch Oven!

There were "WANTED" posters of each of the scouts posted on the wall. Cameron was labeled "The Hallow Belly Bandit" because he is always hungry. Sometimes it seems that we barely finish dinner and he's asking for more to eat. He's just at that growing stage right now, evidenced by the high-water pants that seem to just appear in his drawer from one day to the next...

Cameron saw his wanted poster and thought it was so ironic that he was wearing a striped shirt for his picture. The Sheriff (Bishop Gardner) had some handcuffs and rounded up the WANTED when it was time to hand out their scouting awards. CAPTURED!!! We all had a fun evening together at this round-up!

Youth City Council Retreat

Yesterday, Trevon and Sadie went to Pine Valley with the Youth City Council for some leadership training. I was able to snap a quick picture of them when they arrived home.

The theme of the retreat was "Let's Rock the Bus." They left just after 7a.m. and were home by 3:30p.m., just in time to do some laundry!

At the retreat, three youth city councils from the St. George area were present (St. George, Washington and Hurricane). To begin, each of the YCC Mayors introduced their council members. 

They had speakers discuss the how-tos of having meetings and rules to follow. After lunch their pictures were taken and then they broke into their respective groups of responsibility (Trevon with the Mayors; Sadie with the Service Committee). Here, they received specific training for their position on the YCC. Then they all got back together to share and review what they had learned throughout the day before heading home.

They were given name badges to wear at the retreat:

 They learned that much can be done and liked seeing what the youth on other city councils are doing to help improve the cities in which they live. It was informative and I was glad they had yet another opportunity to learn some new things.

Unforgettable!

Legacy Music Alliance invited Sadie (and her parents) to participate in an event that helped launch their "instruments to students" sponsorship. Sadie has been given a wonderful opportunity through the Music Opportunity Network and LMA. You can read something about it (here).

Sadie was adamant about not missing more than a day of school, so our trip up north was a quick one. Still, it was WONDERFUL, FABULOUS, and just plain UNFORGETTABLE!!!

Sadie had a rehearsal for the St. George Youth Symphony on Monday, January 30th. When it ended at 6p.m. we (Mike, Corban and I) picked her up and headed to Provo, Utah. We arrived at Mike's brother Eric's house around 9:30p.m. and had a good visit with him and his family before going to bed.

On Tuesday, Mike, Sadie and Corban went to Eric's SLAB Pizza for lunch.

I met my good friend, Cheryl, for lunch at the Paradise Bakery restaurant in American Fork. I first met Cheryl when I was a teenager living in York, Pennsylvania. She was like a sister to me and I remember being so sad when she went away to college. I have not been able to see her very often over the years, but since we have both moved to Utah we have been able to visit a few times. I treasure the times I get to visit with her. She is a true friend and I enjoy every minute I get to spend with her. It took us about 2 hours just to eat our lunch because of all the visiting we were doing. Our meeting was one of the highlights of my day.

 When I returned to Provo, I found Corban playing in the snow with his cousin. Fun was just in the air!!!

Mike, Sadie and I then got ready for the big evening. We drove to the Hidden Valley Country Club (in Draper) where we met with Keith Sorensen and Gaylen Rust of LMA.

 

Sadie was asked to share her experience of having been provided a new violin with those who would be in attendance that evening. She got out her old and new violins and got situated on the stage.

 She met with others who would participate in the program as well. Mike and I hung around and were asked all night long if we were "Sadie's parents." It was like she was famous, and she felt a little bit special with all the attention too. We met William Joseph who was there to perform that evening. You can check out his talent (here).

We left Sadie "backstage" and she would mingle and eat with those who were on the night's program, including WILLIAM JOSEPH and his crew. They were served hamburgers, chicken and fries in a banquet room.

Mike and I "mingled" with the invited guests in the foyer area until our dinner was served. We met many people, including Craig Jessop who formerly directed the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The whole time I had appreciation in my heart for the people and donors who made possible Sadie's great music opportunity. We were directed to a room with nicely set tables and were served dinner. Salad first with rolls, then filet mignon or salmon, and finally a creme brulee for dessert. At our table sat the Orem high school choir director, Mr. Sterling Keyes with his wife Amy, as well as Floyd Rigby the director of St. George's Heritage Choir with his granddaughter. I was nice enough to give him our phone number in case he is ever in need of a soprano or tenor for the choir (secretly, I've thought about singing in it before)! Mike just gave me that "look."  Craig Jessop spoke about the value of music and then moved us into another room, for the awaited "program."

He pretty much directed the evening. First on the program was Sadie. He asked her to tell about her situation and how she came to seek help in getting a new violin. He handed her the microphone and she told her story clearly and confidently. I again, was touched with the fact that Sadie was given this great opportunity to help her increase her talent and, had a hard time holding back my tears of gratitude. He then invited her to play something on her "old" violin and on her "new" violin so all could hear the difference. Then, he asked her to share verbally what a difference it made to her. Sadie told of their differences and then said that playing on the new instrument made her feel better about herself, and more confident in her ability.

Next, Orem high school's director (Mr. Keyes) spoke about a piano restoration that the Legacy Music Alliance helped to fund. Then, the first student to play on that "new" piano, Nathan Smith, played an amazing piece for us. He briefly shared how nice it was to play on such a high quality instrument at his school and what a difference it makes to students.

Finally, we were privileged to hear from William Joseph. He gave an AMAZING "concert" playing piano while accompanied by a drummer and violinist. He also shared about the help he was given along his musical journey. It was a very inspirational evening.

After the program, we visited with a few more people from the LMA board of directors and with William Joseph again. Everyone present received autographed CDs from Craig Jessop and William Joseph.

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Asked to "Preference"

The girls in high school have begun asking the guys to their "Preference" high school dance. On Saturday night (January 28th), the doorbell rang and left sitting on the doorstep for Trevon was this:

We spent two hours trying to figure out if there was a hidden code or order to the fish to determine who sent this invitation. The fish had letters on them, and in the end it was just a matter of doing some unscrambling. Much simpler than he (and we) made it out to be!

MEGAN RANDALL!

To answer Megan, Trevon bought her a fish and placed it in her school locker (barely fitting it), so when she opened it she had her answer!

Megan is in a couple of Trevon's classes and he is looking forward to going to the dance with her, the beginning of March.