Notice to all of my blog readers:
I went many days without writing and today posted 9 new posts. So, feel free to look at all of them, even though they don't all fit on this front page.
Thanks.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
In Memory of Brother Beeby
In Memory 1943 - 2008
Brother Joel Beeby was an amazing man. I met him while in my youth and he had a profound impact. He loved the youth. He had confidence in them. He listened and thought their ideas worthwhile. So profound an impact did he make that these many years later we still kept in touch.
I am grateful that I got to see him and his wife on August 31st of this year. We talked, I rubbed his back and head :), and had a good time.
I am privileged to have known Atilla.
Till we meet again...
Another Snow Storm
Today we had another storm. Here are a few pics of the kids.
Oh and by the way, another storm is coming for Christmas Eve!
A Visit to the Cemetery
After the ice storm, I was driving to the school. On the way I saw a tree down in a cemetery. It occurred to me that I didn't know how Rachel's cemetery fared from the storm. We went over and viewed the damage, but couldn't stay long that day.
After S. went to the Dr. this week, we stopped by the cemetery to clean up some of the downed limbs. I took only before pics and not after.
This is in front of Rachel's stone.
After S. went to the Dr. this week, we stopped by the cemetery to clean up some of the downed limbs. I took only before pics and not after.
This is the view walking into the cemetery.
This is in front of Rachel's stone.
S. and I cleaned up a lot. We also spent time conversing. That was awesome! I love my kids.
Ice Storm
We had an ice storm that left thousands of people without power. We were very blessed and only lost power about 6 times for a few minutes each time.
The trees out back were so heavy laden that they were leaning against our roof.
K. took the picture below while we were driving to a friend's house. I know it's not as clear due to the speed at which we were traveling, but I love the colors and the composition.
We did have a bit of excitement. The kids noticed a fire across the road from us. We called the authorities who sent people. We watched it quite a lot to make sure that the fire or sparks didn't spread. It didn't, but we did get to explain the different color of fires to the kids. It turned blue for a while.
This is our weeping cherry tree [it's weeping because it doesn't grow cherries! :) ].
The trees out back were so heavy laden that they were leaning against our roof.
K. took the picture below while we were driving to a friend's house. I know it's not as clear due to the speed at which we were traveling, but I love the colors and the composition.
We did have a bit of excitement. The kids noticed a fire across the road from us. We called the authorities who sent people. We watched it quite a lot to make sure that the fire or sparks didn't spread. It didn't, but we did get to explain the different color of fires to the kids. It turned blue for a while.
Allergy Testing
Earlier in the year I took J. in for allergy testing. He has loads of allergies which we are now dealing with. He had breathing problems, wheezing etc. What we learned there has really helped us help him.
S. had allergy symptoms as well. Runny nose, itchy eyes. She didn't have the wheezing or other major issues (ok, major to us), but somehow it clicked that she shared some of his symptoms, so maybe she had allergies as well.
I took her to the same wonderful place. She had 32 (I believe) pricks on her lower arms. This is before they had a chance to react.
After they did the testing on the lower arms, they did more specific testing on the upper arms. She had to have 16 shots (that is not the technical term, but there were 16 needles and they went into her upper arms.) The pictures show obvious reactions.
We discovered 17 allergies that day. There was 1 we already knew about for a total of 18 allergies. Poor girl. She's awesome!
So to sum up, S. has more allergies, but J. has a stronger reaction.
S. had allergy symptoms as well. Runny nose, itchy eyes. She didn't have the wheezing or other major issues (ok, major to us), but somehow it clicked that she shared some of his symptoms, so maybe she had allergies as well.
I took her to the same wonderful place. She had 32 (I believe) pricks on her lower arms. This is before they had a chance to react.
After they did the testing on the lower arms, they did more specific testing on the upper arms. She had to have 16 shots (that is not the technical term, but there were 16 needles and they went into her upper arms.) The pictures show obvious reactions.
We discovered 17 allergies that day. There was 1 we already knew about for a total of 18 allergies. Poor girl. She's awesome!
So to sum up, S. has more allergies, but J. has a stronger reaction.
Making Cookies!
On the seventh K and J worked together to make cookies of K's choosing. (She wants to give some to her teacher at church.) At the same time, S and I made cookies. Everyone got along and we had lots of fun.
Setting up the Tree
On December 1st, K. wanted to set the tree up and decorate the house for FHE. So we did. We had lots of fun. The kids hung up most of the ornaments. I love watching how they will decorate the tree and house every year. It is so fun to see what they come up with.
The kids after the banister was complete.
They all helped put the star on the top.
Here the kids are putting on the last of the ornaments.After Thanksgiving
We went shopping on Black Friday. We went to Jo-Ann's and helped Mom pick out fabric. She and Dad wanted us to make curtains for their stairway so all of their heat didn't escape up the stairs. This is the fabric that was chosen. I like it.
Wendy and I designed and made these curtains. I think they turned out really well.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Thanksgiving
This is earlier in Nov. at our house. Pictured is S., Jocelyn and J.
This is our Thanksgiving dinner. There was also another table with more food and places for the kids to sit. :) There were 15 people who needed seats at the table (+ baby who is in utero and eats whatever Sandy eats :)
Grandma and Grandpa
Sandy. Although this doesn't adequately show her size. The next day she wore clothes that showed off her pregnancy more! :)
Sandy. Although this doesn't adequately show her size. The next day she wore clothes that showed off her pregnancy more! :)
My sweet honey washed the dishes! He's so awesome! And no, there was no dishwasher there. He even did the dishes other times as well. 
J.
Jocelyn and Megan
While the kids waited for dinner, some of them went outside and played with Oma's & Papa's cats!
After dinner, Dan took the some of the kids (Jocelyn & S.) across the street and played with the neighbor kids in their yard. They had a great time!
J.
Jocelyn and Megan
While the kids waited for dinner, some of them went outside and played with Oma's & Papa's cats!
After dinner, Dan took the some of the kids (Jocelyn & S.) across the street and played with the neighbor kids in their yard. They had a great time!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Organ Playing
So last week at church I felt that I should play the organ this last Sunday. I have NEVER played the organ! I am not sure whether I was supposed learn to play only for this last Sunday or for other days as well.
Most people know that I have very strong opinions about the piano and the organ. They are completely different instruments and it is incorrect to think that just because you can do one, that you can do the other as well. The main similarity is that they both have keyboards; this is why I believe that most people think if you can play one, you can play the other. However, there are MANY differences, pianos have pedals that the organ doesn't. The sustain pedal affords many benefits that I personally enjoy. The organ has stops (and lots of them!), foot pedals, and lots of other buttons that can be changed. (More about that later!)
I am a piano girl. That's just the way it is. One summer, many years ago, I was going to take piano and organ. Every other week I would switch. I had 1-2 lessons on the organ all summer because I would keep coming back to the piano and asking questions. That is my true love (of instruments anyway!).
However, I enjoy the organ (to listen to) and totally respect people who do it well! I believe I am not coordinated enough to play the keyboard with my hands and play a separate keyboard with my feet all at the same time!
A prompting is a prompting and I had several thoughts. One is that I can't succeed if I don't try. The other is that a baby learning to walk will fall down many times before walking is mastered.
I also debated if I would be able to try it out this past Sunday as it was Ward Conference and I wasn't sure if I wanted to debut my organ skills (or lack thereof) in front of our ward and stake people.
(As an aside, I am not the ward pianist/organist. I have several callings, one of which is the ward music chairman. My organist recently had baby number 3 and needed a bit of time to recoup.)
Last Tuesday I took the girls to achievement and I went into the chapel to see what I could do. All of the stops were messed up! I took some time trying to figure out what I like and don't like. I have never done that before. Then I tried to play the pieces that were scheduled for Sunday.
The technique for playing the organ is different in that you need to make the notes sustain, even though there is no sustain pedal. This requires you to maneuver your fingers differently than you would on the piano with a sustain pedal. I believe this a good skill to have as some piano pieces you will have to hold down some notes and move your fingers and play other notes while still holding the first notes with different fingers than they were originally depressed with. (ie. Gymnopedie by Satie). Although this is still different from organ, there is a similarity.
I didn't do horribly, but neither was it wonderful. By the time I finished on Tuesday, I could play well for those hymns - without the pedals.....With the pedals it was plain disastrous!--No kidding!
I believed that I was supposed to play on this past Sunday. So I did. I didn't know that you need to turn up the volume to the point that OSHA would say I need ear protection! The organist in the ward told me that just before church. Apparently, whoever the genius was that designed the organ faced the speakers back at the organist and not towards the audience. That means that I had to lose some hearing so the audience could hear it!
After the first hymn, a different organist came up and told me that the tranpose dial was active! I didn't even know there was one on it! So, I fixed that and the rest of the hymns were relatively uneventful.
All in all, it was good to learn to play some, although I never expect to be an expert or anything like unto it. :)
Most people know that I have very strong opinions about the piano and the organ. They are completely different instruments and it is incorrect to think that just because you can do one, that you can do the other as well. The main similarity is that they both have keyboards; this is why I believe that most people think if you can play one, you can play the other. However, there are MANY differences, pianos have pedals that the organ doesn't. The sustain pedal affords many benefits that I personally enjoy. The organ has stops (and lots of them!), foot pedals, and lots of other buttons that can be changed. (More about that later!)
I am a piano girl. That's just the way it is. One summer, many years ago, I was going to take piano and organ. Every other week I would switch. I had 1-2 lessons on the organ all summer because I would keep coming back to the piano and asking questions. That is my true love (of instruments anyway!).
However, I enjoy the organ (to listen to) and totally respect people who do it well! I believe I am not coordinated enough to play the keyboard with my hands and play a separate keyboard with my feet all at the same time!
A prompting is a prompting and I had several thoughts. One is that I can't succeed if I don't try. The other is that a baby learning to walk will fall down many times before walking is mastered.
I also debated if I would be able to try it out this past Sunday as it was Ward Conference and I wasn't sure if I wanted to debut my organ skills (or lack thereof) in front of our ward and stake people.
(As an aside, I am not the ward pianist/organist. I have several callings, one of which is the ward music chairman. My organist recently had baby number 3 and needed a bit of time to recoup.)
Last Tuesday I took the girls to achievement and I went into the chapel to see what I could do. All of the stops were messed up! I took some time trying to figure out what I like and don't like. I have never done that before. Then I tried to play the pieces that were scheduled for Sunday.
The technique for playing the organ is different in that you need to make the notes sustain, even though there is no sustain pedal. This requires you to maneuver your fingers differently than you would on the piano with a sustain pedal. I believe this a good skill to have as some piano pieces you will have to hold down some notes and move your fingers and play other notes while still holding the first notes with different fingers than they were originally depressed with. (ie. Gymnopedie by Satie). Although this is still different from organ, there is a similarity.
I didn't do horribly, but neither was it wonderful. By the time I finished on Tuesday, I could play well for those hymns - without the pedals.....With the pedals it was plain disastrous!--No kidding!
I believed that I was supposed to play on this past Sunday. So I did. I didn't know that you need to turn up the volume to the point that OSHA would say I need ear protection! The organist in the ward told me that just before church. Apparently, whoever the genius was that designed the organ faced the speakers back at the organist and not towards the audience. That means that I had to lose some hearing so the audience could hear it!
After the first hymn, a different organist came up and told me that the tranpose dial was active! I didn't even know there was one on it! So, I fixed that and the rest of the hymns were relatively uneventful.
All in all, it was good to learn to play some, although I never expect to be an expert or anything like unto it. :)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Megan's Blessing
Megan was blessed on November 2nd. It was very beautiful and very special. I was very blessed to be there.
Here are some pictures (in reverse order than they were taken).
Here are some pictures (in reverse order than they were taken).
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