Bonnie's Blessing

With Bonnie's blessing approaching, we were excited to take a trip to St. Anthony. They decided to have it over Easter so we could celebrate the holiday as well.

Adam brought his family as well!

Grandma and Grandpa came up from Salt Lake City.

Let's have an Easter Egg Hunt!

Is there an egg up there?

Grandma time.

Jim Visits

 Katie likes to visit once a week and let Jim play with us. It's fun to see him grow a little bit every time.

Rufus prefers to sit on Jim and he doesn't mind too much.

Early Learning

 I'm introducing Bonnie to Madeline. Perhaps she would like to go to a private school in Paris. If she wants to know what it feels like to have a ruptured appendix, she can chat with her Auntie Marnie.

Solo & Ensemble

 Every year about this time, we head down to Everett for county high schools to participate in Solo & Ensemble contest. I am always accompanying someone, but Marnie could be singing or playing any number of instruments. This time Marnie sang Scarlatti's Sento nel Core. Her dad recorded her performance a few weeks later at the high school. Those who participate in festival perform their songs at the next concert.

This year I'm helping Marnie's friend Josie with a Schumann piece, Adagio and Allegro. It's killing me to get it fast enough. I've even used white-out on some notes to keep me from trying to play them. I was passable and the adjudicator gave me a nice compliment.

Josie was sweet and gave me an Olive Garden gift card, which Marnie and I used to enjoy an afternoon lunch. It's very stressful to perform at different times during the day. The high school is full of music and nerves. I believe she scored very well. She is on her way to a university music program.

Disneyland with Marnie

The morning after returning from Rexburg, we left for San Diego and Disneyland. We start early and end late (and exhausted). Space Mountain is my favorite ride in the park, so we usually hit it first. The wrap-around line really gets you excited to be thrown around in the dark.

Marnie was a sport to do Splash Mountain since she doesn't like it much. I think I walked around with wet jeans for 2 hours.

Marnie knows her father will fling her around in this teacup.

We had a wonderful day together!

Bonnie Arrives!

 Howard and Pam welcomed Bonnie into the world at the beginning of the month. I couldn't get away until Valentine's Day, when the temple went on a 2-week cleaning closure. I decided to drive to Ellensburg after work and stay in a hotel by myself. This was something I had never done. The next morning I would continue the rest of the 8 hours to see Bonnie.

I was incredibly nervous due to the weather. Snow was really falling at Dead Man's Pass. But when I crested the pass, it was all clear on the roads and it was smooth sailing into St. Anthony.

I took this picture as soon as I arrived. Valentine's Day and all wrapped up in pink! I had a few babies in snowy weather and it is a little unnerving. Is it warm enough? Will I slip and fall outside? It all went well and I really enjoyed my visit.

On the way home, I ran into some really scary weather. But I had to keep going. We were flying out in the morning to San Diego to visit my parents. I said many prayers and sang my way through it. Even Snoqualmie Pass was doable. I had never driven more than 2 hours by myself . Funny what you will do for grandchildren.

Aspen Grove

 In the summer between 5th and 6th grades, my parents took us to Aspen Grove. We enjoyed a week at the LDS camp in the mountains above Provo, Utah. During the day the children would be in programs with activities to wear us out. At night we ate in the cafeteria with everyone and slept in rustic A-frames. It was a dream to a pre-teen. I had the time of my life. 

I learned to play volleyball and thanks to some perfect strangers, I could serve overhand. When we returned to Escondido, my parents sent me to a new school. Suddenly, I had athletic ability. It was a rebirth. From then on, I played every sport for three years.