Snowboarding

Everybody went snowboarding today. Don't you think Shonee is stylish!

Don't make the mistake of thinking they spend all their time on their behinds. They are all really good! I will have to see if I can figure out how to put a video on.

Slides, Slides, Slides

We had fun this week when Michael came up to visit. He had surgery on his foot a bit ago and he came up for a visit. Then he was able to stay with Sherrie and then us a few days. It was great to see him.

Trenna was up taking care of Sherrie after her hip surgery. We took advantage of the time to sort through the thousands of Oswald slides. We are sorting and dating them and then we will scan them in.....again. But I am so glad that for some reason we didn't throw them away like I thought. Question is what do we do with them after we scan them in again?

Happy Valentines Day!

We had a fun Valentines day. We had a nice fondue dinner. Katie Cheney shared it with us. While I was preparing the surprise dinner, the kids and Todd made a huge blanket fort in the basement. We ate fondue and then took the chocolate fondue to the basement to eat in the fort while we watched old home videos. Ah nostalgia, the kids were so little!

Ready for Sweet Hearts Ball

Doesn't he look nice! Sad thing is, when you have a son you usually don't get to see his date until they get their picturs back from the dance. This was a girls choice dance but his date couldn't drive so Ty picked her up. He said it was one of the funest dances he has been too!

Never thought I would be one of those parents!

You know one of those parents that can't stand the "new generations" music. Well I guess I have hit that stage. (but to my credit I haven't found much I don't like.) Tyson's band had another concert at Why Sound. Todd and I went to the concert late. We knew that Ty's band was the headlining band and that three other bands were playing before them. Cherry Strip, Rooftop Bandits and Priory played. I had looked the other bands up on Myspace and I wasn't too excited about hearing Cherry Strip. They looked like Alice Cooper and Poison had a love child. Anyway, on our way over Jessi confirmed that we were fine to miss Cherry Strip. She sent me a text that said "Good News! There is no way our boys are going to be worse then these guys! Now one thing you must understand is that Jessi is very open and tolerant to new music, but they were even too much for her. We got there as Cherry Strip was playing their last song. I couldn't differentiate between instruments and vocals. It was all just noise to me. I guess I am lucky cause Todd said that they just kept saying the F bomb over and over again. They had on a mixture of skirts (not a typo it is skirt not shirt) and ripped up jeans. All of them had on tall bright colored "go go" boots. They had long hair and blood running out their mouths. Their groupies (4 guys) tried to start a maush (sp?) pit, but with only 4 involved it was pretty pathetic. They tried to light themselves on fire and they ripped out a fake tongue ring and spit fake blood over the crowd. I guess it is safe to say that I am getting old, because I prefer This:

Over This:

Although they were the headlining band, our boy's went next. Raistlin's parents came but didn't want to stay the whole time so they moved up their show. When they got up on stage Tyson announced the band. He said "We are a ....little bit....different then the last band. Hope you like us." They had lost a singer three days earlier and gained a keyboardist at the same time. Even with all that stress they sounded pretty good.

Here are some of their "fans"

Close up (oops where's Matt?)

A new sticker their "manager" made. I don't know why blogger insists on showing it this way. It is strait in my file.

Todd and I left after the boys played. We had to get back to the American Idol party! But Tyson said that Priory was really good. They are on a cross country tour. They really encouraged Ty's band and told them that they were doing great! They told Tyson that he should be the lead singer. Tyson said they just got signed to a record label so maybe we will all be seeing more of them.

Last the Rooftop bandits played. Ty and the band missed them as well. They had to get their girlfriends home before curfew. :) I have heard recordings and they sound pretty talented instrumentally.

Happy Birthday Tyson!

My little boy turned 18 today! I can't believe how fast time flies! We started off the celebration with a birthday party at the Mendon Station two days before his birthday. He had a bunch of friends come. We set up the Wii on the projector and they played Just Dance 2. Tyson's favorite game. It was so fun watching everyone dance. I don't why, but the pictures look like it was snowing inside. They also played games, danced and ate!

The next day they went to the BYU - USU Hockey game. (see previous post)

Finally on his birthday, he opened gifts. A favorite was the guitar shirt. Yes it really plays!

Last, we ate cake. Eclair cake ofcourse!

Be Passionate or Stay Home!

One thing our family really likes is USU Hockey! USU vs BYU. Always a great game! USU won of course! The teachers and priest went from our ward. Jessi went with Cydnee Haws. Shonee and I were missing. We had a girls night and went to see Tangled!

7th grade is a Killer!

I just survived my 4th 7th grade book publishing project. Shonee had to miss the bus while we finished, but she made it to school and turned the project in! (breathe a sigh of relief!) For anyone that doesn't know, our middle school English students publish a book in 7th grade. We are not just talking about writing a story and stapling the pages together. This is a full blown, hard back, full color, published book. (I should have Shonee read that sentence...she is also studying adjectives :) ) Jessi caught the vision years ago. She spent a lot of time on her story and convinced me to illustrate it. I thought how hard could it be...right? Hours and hours later and many color pencils later, I was done. And "Frozen Paradise" was turned in. (It was a little late. I begged Mrs. Lyon for more time.) She turned it in and we waited. When we got the book back, I was shocked at the quality! Wow! I was glad we had worked so hard.....Little did I know.

Note to parents....Remember how many kids you have. What you do for one, you must do for another. I had completely forgotten the ordeal when Tyson entered 7th grade. I guess it is a little like Child Birth, you don't remember so you try again. After a little labor, it all comes back to you. Well that's what happened with his book. After starting the first picture, it all came back. I did finish however, and "One Wild Day" made it to school. It was a few days late, but Mrs. Lyon forgave me...She knew me.

When Justin entered 6th grade I started to panic. I still remembered! As his 7th grade year got closer, I got the chills. Was I up to another project? I did change out of my college art degree for a reason, right! But kids get older and he did make it to 7th grade. We started his project. Hours and hours later, we finished. I am sure Mrs. Jenks talked to Mrs. Lyon about this mother that was late with her sons book. But she let us turn it in late as well. "Running with the Pack" got published.

Of course I have dreaded Shonee's 7th grade year as well. But I started asking about the project early. "Are you doing a book?" "When is it due?" "Ask your teacher". The problem is Shonee often has no clue what she is doing in school. I don't say that in a mean way, she is just usually in a blissful state of obliviousness. She finally brought her packet home, just before Christmas......but she didn't tell me. When school started again after Christmas break, I told her to ask her teacher. She got a sheepish look on her face and retrieved the packet from her room. Panic...."When is it due?"..."I don't know?"......"Where we supposed to work on it over the break?"......."I don't know?"......"Do you have to take it back today?"....."I don't know?". I fired off an email to her teacher. She sent me back an email saying it was due on the 14th but Shonee could get extra credit if turned in on the 12th. I usually push my kids to do extra credit, but I knew there was no way. I was hopeful that I could finish by the 14th. (Mrs. Peterson doesn't know me). I worked and worked. I worked all day on the 13th, my hands hurt. Shonee came home and I was still working. Three hours later I was still working. I didn't cook dinner 'cause I was still working. Eventually Shonee came up to me and showed me her hand. Written in black permanent marker it said "Book due January 18". I was initially relieved......but then "You have been watching me panic, and feverishly draw and you didn't tell me until now?"......"I forgot, I just saw my hand". Then she hugged me, thanked me for doing her project and told me I was the best mom ever. How can you get mad? Eventually I finished. Like I said earlier, she missed the bus, (thanks Grandpa for taking her) but "Christmas Memory" did make it to school on time!

One more kid left. Maybe I can get Brecken to start in 4th grade. But seriously, I know my self. I will still be begging for more time in the end. Just like sewing prom dresses.....But that is another story.

Eagle Project

Tyson has been busy working on earning his Eagle Scout. He started his project last saturday.
There was a lot of work going on, but a lot of playing also. He is creating an inventory of all of the light and sound equipment that Mendon City owns. He will then create a manual so people know how to set-up, use, take-down, and put away the equipment. He just got signed off on his personal management merit badge last night. Now he just has to complete his Communications, and Citizenship in the World Merit badges and get his Swimming blue card signed.......This is going to be a busy month! I recommend to all parents and prospective Eagles.....Don't wait until two weeks before you turn 18!

Who cares if it is warmer!

Jessi got back from Houston yesterday. She had a ball and I had fun listening to her stories. It sounds like she had a great time. One problem. She kept mentioning gong back. It makes me sad. I know we have to all let go sometime. I know my kids aren't going to all stay here in my happy little valley. But I really don't want to hear how another place is better. It makes the inevitable seem closer. I want to remain in my happy little dream world of what I my future to hold.

But I guess we can't pass on our own dreams, we have to let them make their own!

Rockin out in Idaho

We had an awesome time in Idaho. We went to Briton's house and he got out his vintage guitars. Tyson and Justin were in Heaven!

This is a Fender Jaguar. I think it was valued at over $5000.

Tyson and Justin couldn't believe they were playing a Gibson Les Paul Custom 1957. Only 150 of these guitars were made. I asked Ty how a $250,000 guitar was to play. . . . He told me a lot better then his!

It was awesome to hear Uncle Leon and Briton play together! You can tell they have spent a lot of time on the guitar.

After Briton's house we went to Aunt Loa's and Arlen and Karla's. It was great to be with family and attend Kelly's farewell the next day. But I can't believe we didn't take one picture! What is wrong with us? Good Luck Kelly!

Knots in a Cherry Stem!

Tyson's band had their first real "Gig". They played an opening show for Me3 at Why Sound in Logan. They sounded awesome! They sang "Will you" (Lyric's by Todd, music by Tyson), "Thank you" (written by Raistlin), "Kissing in the Rain" (written by Tyson), "Drift Away" (This is a cover and I know I should know the band....but I can't remember), "Compatible" (written by Tyson), "Happy Now" (lyric's by Matt, music by Tyson) and "Julia" (written by Tyson).

They were great! Believe me! I have had them practicing in my basement for the last year and they are sounding great....Now!
They play another show on February 11, at Why Sound. They are the headlining band that day. I think they are going to sing two new songs they are working on called "Satan's Lie" and "Stay Gold".

Walkin' on the Wild Side

We have really enjoyed the wild turkeys and Phesants that have been visiting our yard this year. I counted 18 turkeys in our yard yesterday. Four were on our front porch. We have had as many as 15 Phesants and at least four on our deck eating out of the bird feaders at a one time.