Happy Anniversary

Today Jared and I mark 17 years as husband and wife. I can't believe how fast time has gone! We celebrated by helping with our annual ward cleanup and trip to the dump, going to Sarah's dance recital, encouraging Will at the State Band Solo/Ensemble competition as he participated in a trombone choir playing "The Star Spangled Banner," going to a wedding shower for Jared's cousin's fiancee, mopping the kitchen, getting a new tire for the van, and going to Jacob and Sarah's violin recital. Not exactly a "romantic" anniversary as far as the world is concerned, but it was a good day for us. We love each other and we love our kids, and supporting each other in our different activities and talents is what we do. I am so thankful for the time we have had together and I look forward to many more great and wonderful years to come!

Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossoms are like a worldwide announcement that spring is finally here. What a beautiful way to welcome warmth and cheer after the dullness and dreariness of winter. I hear Seoul, South Korea has beautiful cherry blossoms. Jim and Kim and their family are enjoying them. Our neighbor down the street has a beautiful cherry tree, too. In the summer we sometimes get to snack on the sweet, juicy fruit. Right now the blossoms are in full bloom and the sweet nectar smell wafts down on all who pass by. Washington, D.C. also has great cherry blossoms. In fact, Will had the opportunity to visit our nation's capital with the Timpview High School marching band. They performed in the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade and at many of the famous monuments in Washington (including Arlington National Cemetery) and in Gettysburg, PA. The kids who went on the tour are a lot like the cherry trees--in the prime of youth, blossoming with talent, cheer, hope, and beauty. May they do all that is necessary to bring forth good, sweet fruit that will bring them lasting joy throughout their lives.

Will is on the left, posing with a few other band members

EW!! Davy, don't eat that!

I know he looks innocent enough sitting in his high chair, waiting patiently to get something to eat. Looks can be deceiving, though. In reality, David is a human vacuum cleaner, sucking up everything in his path. He sees, he tastes, he swallows--or he spits. Nothing is sacred--everything is fair game--unless, of course, Mom is trying to feed it to him. Then nothing can get past the iron lips, locked with magic that only the boy himself can undo.

Sure, our other kids have gone through this "oral stage" of child development. Kids put things in their mouths to explore and learn about them. David tops all the rest, though, because he has eaten something no one else in the family has--

A SPIDER!

One moment, it was living a blissful life in the dark reaches of John's bedroom. The next, it was sucked up by the human vacuum, tasted, and judged to be unworthy of digestion, summarily expelled in a pool of saliva, dismembered and entirely dead. I discovered the remains all over said vacuum cleaner's chin--under a VERY BIG GRIN.

Needless to say, David's brothers are all VERY impressed. Personally, I had the shivers for the rest of the day.

I love to Swing

When I was very little, about three years old, I remember going to the hardware store with my Grandpa and my Dad. I can still smell the musty, sawdusty smell of the store and I remember looking with great wonder at the large rolls of chain that looked to me like very, very long necklaces. We were at the store to get some rope so they could make me a swing. A simple board with a hole on each end for the rope to pass through, tied to an overhanging limb in my back yard.

That swing was my special place for many years after that. I loved to feel the rush of the wind in my face, the dizzying swoon of winding up the rope and unwinding faster than I had ever spun before. Sitting on the swing in the shade of the huge Mulberry tree I formed many thoughts, goals, and a vision of who I really was. I dreamed, sang, prayed, and relished life. When I was swinging high in the air, I felt more alive than at any other time. Spring was my favorite season then and the warmth, the green life emerging all around me, the beautiful clean earth smells brought me so much joy.

Ever since then, I have loved to swing. I don't know if it is swinging itself that I love, or if it is the journey back to my childhood that brings me a feeling of peace and happiness. Whatever it is, I can hardly ever refuse an invitation to swing my feet in the air and lean back, letting my hair fly as I touch the sky.

Cousins and Conference

For the last week, my parents, sister (Debbie), two nieces (Hannah and Rachel), and a nephew (Seth) have been visiting at our house. They came from California and Nevada for LDS General Conference and some fun cousin time. Despite a few sick days, we have had lots of fun!




The first day we had a field trip to the BYU Planetarium, where we saw a show about the solar system. Then we played with the science experiments in the lobby of the Eyring Science Center for about an hour. Everyone was begging to go back the next day!



The next day was Hannah's 5th Birthday, so we celebrated with birthday pancakes, an outing to Chuck E. Cheese, a butterfly birthday cake and opening presents.





The day after that was Friday, and my brother, Kevin, came down from Salt Lake and we spent a day at the Provo Temple. Then Hannah got to go to Sarah's dance class at BYU and they had a great time dancing.


Saturday and Sunday were Conference. My Dad had six tickets to three different sessions. Saturday morning everybody (except Will, who had a band practice) dressed up and headed up to Salt Lake City. Jared, John, Paul, Robert, Jacob, and I got to go to the first session while everyone else sat in the Tabernacle or wandered around Temple Square. Afterward, we had a yummy lunch at Cafe Rio. Saturday evening, the men went to the Priesthood session and on Sunday, Jared and I tended all the kids and my parents and siblings went to Conference.




Monday, we all enjoyed a rainy/snowy day by painting with watercolors, reading, watching movies, and practicing instruments. What a great way to spend a week!

Anatomy

John, Paul, Robert, and Jacob are taking an anatomy class from another homeschooling mom in our area. They have learned a lot about different body systems and with nearly each system they have done a dissection. This month the kids learned about the brain and had the opportunity to dissect a sheep's grey matter. I'm grateful I wasn't the one to host this class! They have also dissected chicken feet, pig eyeballs, and chicken bones. They have heard several lectures from professional health care providers. After every class the boys do a write-up in their lab books and they have plenty of cool facts to share with the rest of us.

Paul (right) and his lab partners

(Photo taken by Kim Kehrer)

Jacob, Robert, and John dissecting a brain

(Photo taken by Kim Kehrer)

Surprises at Hogle Zoo

Today was homeschool day at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City. We all got up early and loaded up in the car prepared for a chilly and possibly rainy day. It actually turned out to be the most beautiful day of the year so far. Instead of frostbite, I ended up with sunburn. No complaints here! It was a nice surprise. As we entered the zoo, we noticed that since the weather was so nice the animals were all active and entertaining. Many were still eating their breakfasts and even the giraffes were scampering around (I never even knew giraffes could scamper). Most of the projects that had been under construction the last time we went to the zoo were completely finished. What a difference! The area for the large cats was especially improved--I never even sneezed once. The best surprise happened when I got a phone call from Jared. He asked what animals we were looking at and I told him we were watching the cougars. I explained how they were really active and interesting and then I said goodbye and hung up. A few minutes later, I turned around and there was Jared! He had surprised us by coming to join our family for a few hours. What a treat!

Favorite things about our trip:

Dad--Surprising everyone by coming, enjoying my family in the sunshine for a few hours

Mom--The fresh spring air, happy kids

John--When Elizabeth saw the giraffes and said, "Dragons, guys! DRAGONS!"

Paul--Watching the penguins (we watched the penguins eat and fight over the food)

Robert--Everything

Jacob--The train ride

Sarah--The train ride

Elizabeth--The giraffes

David--Being outside, the birds, squirrels

The only thing missing from our perfect day at the zoo was William (who had school) and all of you!