Piano Recital

Brooke had her first official piano recital the week before school got out. She did so great. Nana stepped in and played the duets with her at the last minute because her piano teacher had to leave out of town unexpectedly. All of us decided we would still do the recital. So Hedy played with Brooke. I have to say, an hour before the recital was not my shining moment as a mother. I was harping on Brooke so bad because she wouldn't practice, and hadn't practiced all week. (It was a stressful sunday, we had a lot of family coming for dinner, Ben had meetings, I had a meeting, I was bringing the refreshments for the recital and it was so blasting hot....). But after she performed, I thought again what  lesson it is that I need to just let Brooke do her thing, and even if it doesn't turn out how I had hoped, she will learn. But in this case, she excelled even better than she had been practicing the weeks before. So next time, no more harping from me.

Home-Grown

The girls were so excited to pick the lettuce for dinner tonight! And they even said they loved the salad. I guess it is paying off to have our own garden.

FHE

Yesterday we had a lesson in Relief Society about the importance of the temple. One of the questions posed was 'How do we help our children realize the importance of the Temple? And make a commitment to going there?' Among a lot of answers and discussion came the reminder of taking our kids to the visitor's center. So  I told Ben yesterday that that is what we were going to do for FHE. We kept telling the kids we were going to the Temple for FHE, but i guess i wasn't very clear. They grumbled when it was time to go because they wanted to swim longer with their cousins. But as we were driving there and talking about the Temple, Brooke asks, "Can we go to that place across from the Temple? With the video of the boy falling?" Ben and I both realized she was talking about the visitor's center. When we told her there was exactly where we were going she was jumping for joy! She said she loved that place. We talked more about what her and Livy liked about that place (as Livy fell asleep) and talked some more about the importance of Temples. We got there and were greeted by two exceptional sister missionaries. It was pretty empty, so it was great for the kids to have their own tour of the videos and exploring all the interactive things. It was such a great family home evening. I need to remember more often to take the time to go  there with our entire family, not just at Christmas time for the lights.

Father's Day

It seemed like Father's Day kind of snuck up on us this year. We went camping for the weekend and then ended it Saturday at a bonfire. And with traffic, even at 10:00 at night we weren't home until midnight. Since I hadn't planned ahead of time for a gift, I racked my brain for "coupon" ideas for Ben. So this year i gave him a two day motorcycle trip with my Dad and brother in Oregon (while we are there for a reunion). And even though he would've gone on the trip even if i hadn't "given" it to him, I specifically wrote on the gift card "No complaints about you being gone. No asking when you are going to be back. And lots of 'I am so glad you could go, tell me all about it.' " And all in all, i think it is one of his most favorite gifts.  We also made him a big banner of all the things we love about him! He gave his dad a once a month father/son lunch date and Brooke made lots of coupons for Ben- hugs, kisses, massage (I couldn't convince her to do no complaining when asked to do her chores...). I think it turned out to be a pretty awesome Father's Day, despite it creeping up on us!
We love you Ben! You really are the best DAD!

School Is Out!!

Yippee!! School is out and Summer is here! 

Joy School Graduation

Livia and I both thoroughly enjoyed Joy School this year. We had 7 kids in the bunch and they were so much fun. Livy was excited for graduation, but sad on the next thursday when I told her we weren't going to Joy School today. She learned lots of fun songs, did lots of great projects, and learned a lot about finding joy in life!

 We missed Ava for the graduation picture.

Family Reunion Funerals

We had to go up to Hayward today to look at some tile for a back splash. We had to stop at the light right next to the cemetery. And then they held us there while the Funeral procession went in. At first I started thinking a bit about my grandma's and grandpa's that are buried there. And then Livy started asking me questions about the man stopping traffic and I explained it was for the funeral. She immediately said, "Like Rebecca's?" Then she started talking about about how all the family was there when Grandpa Smith was there. She definitely remembers places, she was only 3 1/2 when we were there for Grandpa Smith's funeral. And we have only been back two or three other times to visit my grandparent's graves.  Then on the way back, she kept asking me, "Mom, have we passed the family reunion." After about the fifth time it finally clicked, she was asking if we had passed by the cemetery again. Shortly after I realized that, we passed it and I pointed it out. She made a cute comment about being their with cousins again and then talked about how we buried Rebecca, but not there.
That girl has a lot of things going on in her brain.