Music is my LIFE!!

It's been a while....

Whenever I take a month or two off my blog, you can most defiantly rest assured that life is SO CRAZY! I want to post pics from all of the summer fun we have been having (D.C. trip, bear lake, family reunions...) but since I got a new camera back in June, I haven't spent the 10 minutes it might take me to figure out how to download them onto the computer....lazy you might say, well, maybe!

So back to music....my life is completely taken over by string instruments....I often sit back and wonder how this all happened....ya know, my quest on becoming a Suzuki mom! It's not a title to be taken lightly. As a Suzuki mom you are required to take lessons yourself, sit in at every lesson your child has (and take detailed notes)...while your other children are reeking havoc in the music teachers house. In addition to weekly lessons, you are required to practice with your children AT LEAST 5 days a week, and they have a group lesson once a month on top of it all (note taking require here also). I have done this quite valiantly for Clarissa (for 3 1/2 years), and Sam (for almost 2 years), and now Thomas is to join the ranks....officially...as a Suzuki violin student in the studio of Diane Austin! (we were on a 2 year waiting list! YIKES!) So, I am making it official, I have left the ranks of a somewhat normal person and have become a COMPLETE CRAZY MOTHER!!! If you want to see my children play there beloved instruments, they will participating in a celebration concert at the Conference Center on October 17th and 7:00 p.m....tickets are $8.00. I expect all grandparents to attend....Aunts, Uncles, and cousins are optional.

Weeding is the worst!

Since yesterdays post was quite short and sweet, I thought that maybe today I would enlighten the world on why weeding is the worst. I actually don't mind weeding. It's the spiders and other such creatures that get to me. Latley, I have been feeling much better (Thanks to Dr. Young!) and so I've been doing A LOT of weeding this past week. Yesterday was no exception. I got my gear on (gloves, hat, sunglasses) and set out to weed by my humongus driveway. But it wasn't until about 2 hours later that I realized why this is a bad pasttime...TICKS! Yes, you heard me right....TICKS! I can hardly spell the word without chills running down my spine!!!! I got in the shower last night and BAM....found a tick on the back of my shoulder...EW EW EW EW EW EW EW....luckily Dr. Rick was home (that's my hubs, he's not really a dr. but he might as well be) so he could pry the blood sucker off my flesh. Of all the years living in Utah and comming across these beastly insects, I have NEVER actually had one in my skin! EW EW EW EW EW! I am still totally grossed out by the idea. I may never weed again. There are also snakes and black widow spiders at my house.......I need to move!

June....it's practically over

Ricker's World comes to and end!

So, many of you may, or may not be aware that my husband...Rick....has been traveling the world these past 9 months for his job. You may or may not also be aware that Rick lives in an alternate universe that we affectionately call "Ricker's World". It's a magical place where everything seems bend in accordance to Rick's will. I'm not even kidding. Where else could one take a trip every month away from the crazy wife and kids. And on each and every one of these get-a-ways, you are able to do so many things that you love. Like...shoot guns of various shapes and sizes, ride in tanks, eat a lot of great food at someone else's expenses...the list goes on and on. I will not include a full diary of this travels, it will only make you jealous. So here are a few pictures from his last, but certainly not least, trip....BELGIUM AND GERMANY! A Castle

Shooting guns

happy to be shooting guns

having a date with Zev.....he is my replacement date because I had to stay home with the kiddos, but I heard it was very romantic!

Rick.... doing what a Ricker does best

In a tank, shooting guns

Serious Rick

You lucky man you!

This part was not so lucky. He had to get stitches in the middle of the night in Kuwait. Smacked his head on a locker....OUCH!

So there is the short version of the last 9 months. All I can say is, I made it!!!! But with only much help from THE BEST mother-in-law a girl could as for! Thanks Neta for treating me like your own daughter! I am truly blessed to be a part of your family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cool Cat, Terrific Trains, Merry Mother's Day, and Awesome Opera!

I love our cat. Our cat is one cool cat. So cool it doesn't even have a name. We got her fixed, so I suppose we will keep her. One fine Saturday in April, we found our aforementioned cat sleeping in the ice cream bucket we use for her water. And here she is....Cat (our 4th since we moved here 5 1/2 years ago. We go through cats like ice cream.)


Spring break...Ricker is traveling the world....what's a mom to do with 4 board-to-death kids. Train Museum! I was skeptical at first...I thought it was going to be lame, but lame or not, we were going. But it turned out to be a fantastic day!

Thomas on the train.
Clarissa and Sam enjoying their time on the caboose.

James is not feeling well....or someone spiked his bottle?

Trains are cool too, maybe as cool as our cat!

I LOVE THESE KIDS!!!

Below are some Mother's Day extravaganza pics. Notice that James in quite unimpressed over his plate from Kuwait....I'm glad that was his mothers day present and not mine!!

I got some pretty sweet gifts...marble chess set, chacos, a letter of love from my lover dover (aka Rick), kids hand prints in clay, more lovely letters, marble goblets from Kuwait (very cool!)

It's Opera time for Rissa in Tre-mon-ton! Clarissa was cast as knight in her school Opera. At first she was a little put out that she was not a princess, but when she discovered that the reason for her knighthood was due to the fact that they needed her loud and always in-tune singing voice to carry those knights through the finale....she accepted with a smile...as shown below.

Clarissa is second from the left.

Clarissa in the middle!

We have a good life...

Crazy Mayzy

The month on May (so far) has been challenging on many levels...

Level 1....my husband spent a week in Kuwait where he only called me once! I did not like this week so much. I think that if you are going to spend a week sleeping in tents with the military in the middle of a desert.....you should be able to call home more than once, but that's just me.

Level 2....Clarissa has spent the past 2 months getting her song ready for mother's day sacrament meeting. She played in a string quartet "Love One Another" and played beautifully as 1 violin....the hard part is that I get INSANELY nervous before she performs. I don't know why. She always does so well....just a mom thing I guess!?!

Level 3....Sam is preparing for his recital (cello) which is next week! Again....I get so nervous! I can't help myself.

Level 4...Rick is leaving AGAIN! He is preparing for a 2 week trip to Europe, mostly Belgium and Germany. have any of you ever spent so much time alone with 4 small children? I am in panic mode right now!

Level 5...I am getting a series of ultrasounds to figure out what the heck is wrong with me! My thyroid is not producing enough of the hormone it is suppose to produce, my iron is so low that I might need injections, and, well other things I'd rather not mention! HOLY MOLY!

Level 6...Meetings for church and Clarissa's school span the entire month.

I seriously do not have a clue how this is all going to happen, but I will make it through....somehow! If you need anything from Anna, please do not ask until June! My life is a little full at the moment.

Ducky Fun James Wames!!

I just had to share some naked pictures of James in the tubby, just chewing away on his duckies!

I love this one....it looks like another duck is perched on his head! haha

James....you are so STINKIN cute baby!