Music & More

I love music and I love that my children and husband do too. It is something we enjoy and is a big part of our family. This past week, Sadie played her violin at the Jubilee of Trees with the Zion Youth Symphony Orchestra. I enjoyed looking a number of custom designed Christmas trees. It was a fun way for me to start the holiday season.





Cari and Trevon both played their instruments in the pit orchestra for their high school musical, Beauty and the Beast. For family home evening on Monday night, we took the family to the show! It was fun to look in the "pit" and see Cari playing her flute and piccolo, and Trevon on the trumpet. They both enjoyed being a part of the play - heard but not seen!

"TWO" CUTE!

My baby is officially two years old! I love that I could make a "pink" cake and even use Christmas wrapping paper for his gifts. He didn't care about all the particulars!


Elise made this card for her little brother. In case you are wondering, she put a number two below the cake. I think she got carried away with all the candles!


He knew it was HIS special day and enjoyed all the attention he received. Well, mostly. He did NOT like the haircut that I gave him. Still, he looked pretty cute by the time it was done.




Grandma and Grandpa Ferrin gave him some pajamas that say, "CUTEST KID EVER." Of course, we have to agree with that! Papa and Grandma Beutler sent him a cute card with some money for his savings (THANK YOU BOTH!!!).



He absolutely loved a little airplane we gave him and was sure to let Cameron know that it was his.




We also gave him some new clothes that he needed, including socks, shirts and sweatpants. We took most of our family out to dinner to Golden Corral to celebrate ALL the birthdays we've had recently. Cari and Trevon were playing in the pit orchestra for their high school musical, "Beauty and the Beast."




We waited until we were all together Sunday to have cake and ice cream. His cake reminded me of frosted animal cookies. OOOOOhhh Boy! It was a strawberry flavored cake (Cameron's suggestion), with strawberry frosting. We had strawberries and cream ice cream as well. So far there has not been anything terrible about these twos . . . let's hope Corban stays "two" cute the entire year!

"Oh, SWEET!"

This week has been a busy one and there is still so much happening that I couldn't wait until Sunday to add a posting. On Monday, Cameron shared a report on the Liberty Bell. He stood next to his teacher and shared with his class the different facts and stories he learned about it. I had forgotten all about the story he decided to share. It involved hiding the bells (in haystacks and manure)from the British, who wanted to melt them down to use for their cannons!




Veteran's Day was an emotional one. The fifth graders at Three Falls Elementary school provided a wonderful program with spoken word and music. They also showed photographs of men and women in our armed forces, set to music. I thought of my brother Quinn and of the service he gave. I could feel how much I miss him. I also felt great appreciation for the freedoms I enjoy as an American citizen. I thank God for my country and those who have made our freedom possible.





Kristi sang beautifully and I enjoyed the songs of liberty and freedom she and her classmates shared. After the program, the veterans in the audience were invited to sign their names on a decorated bulletin board in the school's hallway.




After school, Cameron showed me his VERY loose tooth. It was his FIRST loose tooth. I took this picture and then, SECONDS later he had it out! He was so excited and then began asking all kinds of questions about the tooth fairy.





Wednesday evening, Sadie represented our ward in the Hurricane Stake Speech Contest. It was a night of Patriotism. On the Liberty Bell are imprinted the words "Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land, to all the inhabitants thereof!" (Leviticus 25:10) This was also the theme of the speech contest. Sadie titled her speech "The Flag," and represented our ward well. She didn't look nervous and spoke clearly and confidently. There were ten contestants and again, I was reminded of the sweet blessings I enjoy in my land America.



"Sweet" is a word Cameron uses a lot. When he woke the next morning, he found the Tooth Fairy had left him $1. (SWEET) After a little while, he said that he wished he had been at Grandma's house, because Cari told him the Tooth Fairy left her $5 once, when she was at Grandma's.



Today is Cameron's birthday. It has been a "sweet" day for him. I heard him say, "SSWWEEEEEET!!!," a few times. He helped frost his cake; the Tigers won their football game and are going to state; he got some cards (and money) in the mail for his birthday; and the LEGO Helicopter building toy he received was "sweet" too. He has had an enjoyable day. His teacher told him she was not going to be at school for his birthday. Cameron asked her if they could wait to celebrate it on Monday when she returned. He didn't want to miss doing the birthday dance with her. So, on Monday, Cameron will be celebrating his birthday again with his school class . . ."sweet!!!"

Fall Fun

Leaves are FALLING all around!!! The kids are taking advantage of the fun this brings. I know when they say they are going outside to rake leaves, they are really telling me that they are going out to play!

Halloween Spooktacular

What a week this has been! Most of our activities have been centered around the Halloween scene. Wednesday began with snow flurries. Cari and Sadie couldn't resist having a hot chocolate in the falling snow. That night, Sadie and Kristi had school concerts for orchestra. They were dressed in their costumes, Sadie being a "confused" teenager and Kristi, Little Red Riding Hood.
Friday was a marathon of a day. The elementary school day began with a parade. The kids were not allowed to wear make-up or masks, but enjoyed wearing their costumes and parading around the school grounds.





After the parade, I was responsible for Kristi's 5th grade party. The kids decorated sugar cookies, and played games. One game was a competition to see which group could make the best mummy using toilet paper.



Another game, called the Candy Bar Game, was a hit with the kids. To play this game, a big candy bar is placed in the center of the group (about 10 kids per group) on a table along with two table knives and a pair of work gloves. One child begins by rolling a pair of dice until they roll doubles. When they get "doubles," they pass the die to the next person who begins rolling, and quickly put on the gloves and use the knives to open and eat the candy bar before the next person gets "doubles" and ends their turn. Round and around they roll trying for a "stab" at the candy bar.


The party was fun but hectic too and I was so glad to head home for some rest and relaxation when it was all over!
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Sadie is a member of the Zion Youth Symphony Orchestra. They performed with the Southwest Symphony Orchestra in a Halloween Spooktacular concert on Friday night.
Mike was on his way home from work to pick us up for this concert, when he was rear-ended while sitting at a stop sign. Our dinner plans had to be placed on hold. I ended up dropping off Sadie in St. George, then running back home to pick up Mike and head back to the concert with him. We enjoyed the wonderful music of the symphonies and the great costumes the performers wore. Sadie's stand partner was dressed as the swine flu!



Sitting behind us for the remainder of the concert was Connor Lee and his mother. Connor carpools to rehearsals with Sadie each week.
Backstage, before the concert, Sadie was getting ready to play when the concertmaster of the Southwest Symphony Orchestra walked by her. His name is Dr. Paul Abegg and he was dressed as Legolas from Lord of the Rings. His bow ended up getting stuck in Sadie's BIG hair. He said, "Sorry," and got it out of her hair and walked away. She was thrilled this fine musician had spoken to her! Later, Connor asked Sadie why she was blushing so much. It was simply the result of her recent encounter. She has spoken of it many times since!





After the concert, we stopped at Del Taco for a bite to eat before heading home.


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Halloween day the kids carved pumpkins after doing their chores. Trevon decided to toast pumpkin seeds and they were a delicious treat! The kids enjoyed their different activities. Cari went to a dance; Trevon went to a Halloween party; and Sadie and the younger kids did some trick-or-treating together. Corban was a trooper and walked right along with them - in a warm chicken costume. Elise was a cat and Cameron was a Transformer.