keepin' busy

In the last few weeks:

Emma played Minuet 1 as a duet in a recital. I was very proud of her because even though she messed up she kept going.

We enjoyed a Family Home Evening lip sync/karaoke event at Katie's.


Slade got his second set of casts. Purple the first time. Blue WATER-PROOF casts the second time.


We went swimming at our friend's house.

I took the kids to the park near our house to watch another friend's clogging studio's recital. Makes me want to dance.


We bought a zoo pass and took our first trip of the season with our neighbors. Keeping track of ten kids is not easy.


Emma did soccer camp for a week and has started swim team practice M-F mornings.

I performed in a string quartet for the first time in about twelve years for our stake's Fine Arts Night. We were the second number so we had tuned just before it started. When we sat down to play, we didn't tune again. Immediately, as we began our piece, I heard that my D string had popped way out of tune. I spent a measure or so trying to figure out how I could play without my D string. Couldn't. So I had to stop us, tune and then start again. It was a little embarrassing but better than playing a whole piece out of tune. Anyhow, after that it went well. In the lobby they had a visual arts display. I was asked to display several of my photographs. I didn't get a picture! Oops.

Last Saturday, Anne and I spent the day in Salt Lake City at the Utah Home Educator's Association convention. It was wonderful. The keynote speaker was Susan Wise Bauer. I use a lot of her work in my curriculum so it was great to hear her speak. I enjoyed all of the classes I went to and got to visit with my friend Tonya. Dave was Wonder Dad and took the kids both swimming and hiking while I was gone. And the house was clean when I came back. He is amazing.

Grandma and Grandpa Slade came into town for the weekend to celebrate my nephew Evan's graduation. Everyone came to dinner at our house on Sunday. We had great food (find the recipe here, Mom). Keri and I started and quickly stopped watching Lost in Austen (terrible!) while the others played Settlers. We finished the evening with banana splits with homemade fudge and strawberry sauce. Mmm mmm.

Now we are off to Boise to join Dave. This was supposed to be his last week up there but the transfer has been extended unfortunately. Still we will have a wonderful time swimming in the hotel pool, playing with friends and cousins, and then going to Lagoon on the way home. Wish me luck!