Soccer

May 21, 2011

I'll admit that Taylor and I both have quite the competitive streak, so naturally, we assumed our son would be the same.  We knew he was fast and coordinated, and we were excited to see him Kick some bootie on the Soccer field...
Alas, it wasn't to be.
What you see in this first picture captures a lot of what Kellen did in his first soccer season.  His head was pretty much in the clouds.  He noticed puppies on the sidelines, people eating snow cones ("That looks yummy!"), and kids climbing trees.  He usually failed, however, to notice what was going on in the game.  He was much more interested in socializing and making friends with all the other kids, including those on the opposing team.   I'm proud to say that despite our competitive natures, Taylor and I managed to remain calm (for the most part) and keep it fun for Kell, with the hope that in a few years he'll understand the whole "be aggressive" thing.  He is only five after all.  We've got time. :)  And really, if soccer isn't his thing that's okay with me.  I am proud to be the mom of such a friendly and outgoing kid.  He is genuinely interested in other people and loves to make them happy.  I'll take that over a pro soccer player any day.

All the other kids had single digits, and Kellen was 79!

Corner Kick!

We he did get into the action, he was great!  He even scored a couple of goals.

I think he was being a stud in this one.  Ha!

This face cracks me up!

Go Bumblebees!

Mothers Day 2011

I had a wonderful Mothers Day this year.  Taylor was amazing!  He woke up at the crack of dawn to prepare a professional, food scientist breakfast.  It was to die for!  I wish I had a picture of the whole meal, but I at least got the best part... gorgeous blueberry-lemon muffins made from scratch. 

You're salivating, right?

Tay also gave me a bouquet of flowers and helped the kids make beautiful cards.  He is so sweet.  I could also mention that he got the kids up, got them ready, fed them, and packed the Sunday bag.  The only thing is, he pretty much does that every week cause I take longer to get ready, and he's just that awesome!
Church was bitter-sweet because the primary kids were doing their program.  My primary kids!  Did I mention I got released from my three year calling as primary chorister?  Yup.  They released me in April, one month before our huge program!  We have over 150 kids, so it's a big deal in our ward.  It was nice to sit back and enjoy, but also heart-wrenching and a bit frustrating.  I was the one who worked those songs with them all year, and then I had to sit back and let someone else take care of the final project.  I know that's the way things are in the church, nothing personal, but I couldn't help feeling let down.  The new chorister, as awesome as she is, just didn't know the kids yet and they didn't know her.  (I remember in the beginning it took us a little while to get comfortable with each other.) The kids were all a little bit timid, with the classic dear-in-the-headlights, glazed look on their cute little faces.  I knew I could have made them give me more.
Despite all these petty feelings, it really was so sweet to gaze up at all of those adorable faces I have come to know and love.  These children have made an imprint on my heart.  I don't know if I'll ever stop missing this calling, no matter how much I love another.  It was wonderful.
By the way, I am now a ward missionary, and I could go on forever about how awesome that has already been.  The church is great that way.  It stretches us.  As soon as I become a missionary pro, all comfortable and self-assured, I'm sure I'll be released so I can grow some more. :)

Kellen made this in Primary.  It had three cookie flowers, but Jane took care of one of them.

After church we went to a nearby park with our good friends, the Hornes, and took some family photos for each other.  Nothing professional, but at least it's something.  I need to be better at getting our family pictures taken. 

Little wind blown face. :)  So sweet.

Kellen was all about posing.  So typical of my little man. :)

After pictures, we went to the Horne's for dinner.  As wonderful as the day was, this little moment touched me more than anything.  I happened to take a peek during the prayer and beheld this angelic sight that took my breath away.  Luckily I had the camera around my neck, and captured it.  (I think Heavenly Father will understand. :)) Look at her reverent little face, with her eyes softly shut, instead of squinting as kids often do, and her delicate little hand, and the sun in her hair, and her perfect little chin!  I could go on!  Moments like these make the world fade away, and remind me how blessed I am to be entrusted with God's precious children.  No other call in life could mean near as much to me.

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THIS!!!

Tonight while I was cleaning I decided to pull out some of my old CD's from school.  Vocal Repertoire was the best class because it was all history, which I love, and listening to beautiful music, which I love even more.  During tests the teacher would play short, random excerpts of songs and we would have to identify the piece and the composer.  There was a lot of music, and we basically had to memorize every note to be sure we would recognize it no matter where it was.  It was here that I was introduced to some of the worlds most beautiful vocal music.  Aaron Copland's Pastorle is one of my favorites and I found it on youtube so I thought I would share.  Arlene Auger is the singer, and while she is lovely to look at, she is even more lovely to listen to, so I suggest just closing your eyes and soaking in this hauntingly beautiful music.  Go ahead.  Do it for me.  :)

Two things:
First, the main line is, "Since you love me and I love you, the rest matters not."  That is for all you picky people who just have to know what the high soprano is actually saying.  As far as I'm concerned, she could be singing about dental floss and still bring me to tears with her magnificence.
Second, in case you do peek at the pictures (after you've first followed my instructions of coarse, to close your eyes!) the bald one with the glasses is not Arlene Auger, it's Aaron Copland.  Just thought I'd clear that up for ya!  ;o)

Is it Summer Yet?

Nope, we are still in spring, but May is pretty warm here.  And as long as the sun is out, my kids are always up for a dip in our little blue pool.  I left it out for about two weeks and it got put to good use.  Jane is especially fond of anything that has to do with water.  She could play with the hose out back all day long.

With temperatures still in the low seventies, Kellen quickly got the shivers, but he didn't seem to mind them.

Diaper bum.  :)

Soul Sistas (May 2011)

Jane has a cute little friend, Macey, whom she just loves to play with.  The first thing they always do is put on something frilly and/or sparkly.  This time they also got out their mics so they could be superstars.  They were really getting into it, holding notes out for as long as they could, and putting lots of soul into it.  They are so cute together.  We all love it when Macey comes over.

Easter Sunday 2011

We are finally in April!  I know most people miss over half the posts because of the way I binge blog. Sorry about that.  I'm just glad I'm getting it done so I can make our yearly blog book.

This year Easter was very quiet and simple.  We missed all the big neighborhood egg hunts due to our new soccer schedule, but that was all right.  We just had our own little hunt at home on Sunday morning.  The kids thought it was great.

They each got a movie in their basket, as was a norm for me growing up.  Kellen got An American Tail and Jane got Tangled.

Kellen was most excited about his bendable bunny. :)

I'd been saving these for a while in my closet, waiting for an occasion to bring them out, so the kids also had this waiting for them when they came downstairs.  (Spoiled, I know!)

After church we had nowhere special to be, but it was nice just to relax and enjoy the peace of home.  We had a little lesson after dinner about the symbolism behind all the Easter things, then we dyed eggs.

Thunderboy!

Grandma Huish sent Kellen and Jane a butterfly chrysalis in the mail in fall of 2010.  We put it in a jar and set it on a high shelf in Kellen's room where it was pretty much forgotten for six months.  We would look at it from time to time, but never really expected anything to happen.  Well, at the beginning of April I was deep-cleaning the kids rooms, throwing things out, when I suddenly heard a rustling sound.  I thought there must be a mouse in the room!  I couldn't figure out where the noise was coming from!  Finally, my eyes darted upward and I witnessed a miracle!  A gorgeous butterfly was climbing out of it's winter home, and struggling to unfold it's wings!  I called for the kids, and they came running.  Kellen was especially excited.  He instantly named the creature THUNDERBOY!  Perfect name for a gentle butterfly right? ;) 

The chrysalis.  This is how it looked when it came, and this is how it stayed for about six months.

And this is what emerged!

After hanging in his jar for half the day, I Googled some butterfly info and learned that we could take him out and let him live in our house for a while.  He hung on our curtains (they have to hang for a while before there wings are stiff enough to fly) and we would take him down now and then to feed him by placing him near a cotton ball soaking in a little bit of water and freshly squeezed orange juice.  He would stick his little "nose" into the cotton ball and drink up.  Cool, huh?!! We thought so. 
Once he started flying around the kids got a little too excited, and Jane in particular wouldn't leave him alone.  It was windy and cold that day, and I worried that if I put him outside he wouldn't make it.  So, I let him live in our nice warm garage for two days.  Finally, the weather warmed up and we set Thunderboy free.  He immediately soared upward, and we lost sight of him after a short while. 
It was such a spiritual experience to have this little creature in our home.  He once was a chubby and awkward little caterpillar, struggling from place to place.  Then after a "death" he was reborn, and emerged a beautiful butterfly able to soar into the sky.  It made me cry!  I know I'm a cheese ball!  What can I say?
My kids look for Thunderboy now in every park, and have spotted him a couple of times!  Even down in Utah at Grandmas house!  Although Kellen thinks that must be too far for a butterfly to go, so it must be his cousin. ;)
On a side note, we've had a lot of thunderstorms lately and we like to sit out on the front porch and watch the lightning and listen to the thunder.  Every time the thunder rumbles Jane says, "Ooooh!  It's a Thunderboy!"

This picture doesn't show the beautiful purple and orange highlights near the bottom of his wings.

Here's a better view of his face and antennae. 

Strike a Pose (March 2011)

Check out Spidy's moooves!  He was work'n it! 

Is this a DIVA or what?!