The Cello

Before I even had a kid, I'd decided that if I had a daughter, I'd really like her to play the cello. I love that instrument. I've met a few teen girls in my life who rocked the cello, and I have admired them all. Now, I understand that Tessa may not take to it; she may want to play the maracas for all I know. And I'll support her fully in her choice. (I can't even play an instrument --do you like how I'm already pushing one on my kid?)
But a mom can dream, right?
Below is a music video from the Provo based band Book on Tape Worm. The cellist is the daughter of a good friend of mine. When she breaks out the bow for the end of the song..... I'm telling you --I love the cello.

Some Utah Pics.

Apparently I was a little one sided when I pulled out my camera, and I have no pictures of my side of the family! I believe Jake has some more pictures on his phone, though, so we'll get those and post 'em later.

We travelled to Utah at the end of May before Jake's parents took off the next week on their mission. The schedule was jam packed, and we certainly made the most of those family visits.

Here are a few photos of the park where we had the farewell luncheon (after Gma and Gpa M's talks and the family singing in church for the congregation --yes, me too. The things we do for family.) Also, it was actually sunny. Cousins playing:

Chatting with extended family and friends after downing some YUMMY food.
In between we spent a couple of days at my dad's and then at my mom's and had lovely visits with the parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, and nephews. I will not let the pictures fall by the wayside next time.

We had a couple of days at a cabin with Jake's side of the family. I called it a villa instead of a cabin, it was that amazing. No phones or computers --I loved it. We had such a good time.




I needed this trip so badly to step away and clear my mind. I came home refreshed so I could keep on keepin' on with Jubilee.

Our whole family needed it, even if it was freezing cold.

Highlights besides the general visits: the kids catching their first fish, movie night, Dutch the creepy full service gas station attendant, long quality chats, games, fry sauce, cousins and grands taking care of the kids, walks, Memorial Day in the rain, BBQ's, curling up on a chair to read in a cabin in the mountains.

Aaaaaand done!

Sunday evening (stake youth testimony meeting) marked the end of that great big Jubilee weekend. It was everything it was supposed to and needed to be for those teens and even the adults involved. What a cool experience --a blessing to have been a part of and to learn from in every facet.

I cried way more this weekend than I thought was possible --in a good way.

Love those youth.

Fun in the Sun

Cowboy

Easter --that's right, Easter.

We kinda lazed out on having our own egg hunt for Easter this year, so thank goodness our kids were able to participate in two of them on the account of friends. Here we are rewinding to Saturday, April 23. The kids have on a t-shirt from the Easter Bunny, but I'm not sure we got pictures with the baskets! I'll have to check Jake's phone.
We had been in sick kid lock down mode for at least a week when we were invited to this neighborhood egg hunt at a park. We had the occasional nasty sounding cough, and Cole was battling goopy eyes. I figured we wouldn't breathe on or touch anybody at the park, but we had to get out to do SOMETHING. And candy filled eggs --seriously, who can pass those up? Not us.



The kids were gearing up for an egg race. Tessa held hers tightly on the spoon the whole race and thought she won in her age division, so she apparently didn't listen to the rules. :)


Poor Cole's eyes! He looked terrible. Holding him down every few hours for eye drops would not be either of our fondest memories. He was happy to be outside, but he wanted to be doing his own thing.

Big sister is trying for a happy Easter pose. Not gonna happen.
He is outta there.

Finally content with his Peep.

The Worst Punishment

A couple of times when Tessa has gotten in trouble over the past week, she has started crying and lamented that, "Now I'll never get to go to Chuck E. Cheese!"

I don't know where she got that we were withholding a trip to Chuck E. Cheese. We've never been.