Kaylee's Party and Frontrunner Trip

I was so happy when my friend Rachel Y. (Kaylee's friend Makenna's Mom) said she would send me pictures she took for the Kindergarten Spring Party and the Frontrunner Field trip!  I wasn't at either of those and so I was a little sad, but she knows me well and knew I would love pictures!  So here they are!  Kaylee's class had a spring party on the 18th. Kaylee came home wearing these cute bunny ears and also brought home her cute milk carton bunny basket.  They had a fun egg hunt and she got a LOT of candy!  

On the 23rd, her class took a trip on the Frontrunner train up to Farmington station.  They visited Harmon's and enjoyed a treat and I also believe they went to a petco or something like that too!  We love that the frontrunner station is so close to the school.  It makes little fieldtrips like this so fun!  Again, I was so I couldn't go, but there were a lot of volunteers from her class that helped out.

Speaking of field trips, her class is going to the ZOO tomorrow!  I didn't sign up for this one either because I wouldn't know what to do with the two babies ALL day!  I am sad I haven't been able to do as much with her class, but when you have young kids at home, it can make it hard.  I can't wait until they are all a little older so it is easier to help out that way.  She is so excited for her fieldtrip tomorrow.  They are leaving at 8:45 and won't be back until 2, so she is excited to take a lunch, ride a bus, and be gone all day.  The weather should be perfect for them too!  I am sure it will be a busy place tomorrow.  This morning, I decided at the last minute to take the three kids to Discovery gateway to play for a bit since I had us all ready by 9:30 this morning.  We played until 11:30 so we could make it back and get Kaylee lunch before she left for school.  It was a busy place there since there was a Kindergarten field trip there.  Luckily the last half hour we were there, they were gone so we had the place to ourselves almost for at least a little bit.  Preston was not happy about leaving and was such a stinker leaving the place.  He is exhausting some days.  He has such attitude and has started biting when he gets excited or mad.  It drives me crazy.  I don't think he is "Horrible", but he sure isn't super easy either.  I get very mad (or maybe jealous) when other mothers tell me how wonderful and easy their kids are.  Like really??  So am I a bad mom or do I just have crappy kids because they throw fits, whine, cry, don't listen, make messes, or do other peoples children do that too?  I would really like to know!  :)  Anyway, enough about that.  I am excited that Kaylee gets to do so many fun things in Kindergarten, and I can't wait until she can enjoy even more things being in First grade next year!  She is going to love it!

Retirement Weekend....Sunday Luncheon

We got back to Woods Cross shortly before 12:30 and got everything set out for the luncheon, which was super easy since most of it was done on Saturday.  We presented my mom with a blanket I had ordered online with a bunch of pictures of the choir and her.  It turned out really neat!  I had also made a DVD of all the pictures I was sent from Deb Gehris, who works with the Choir and takes pictures and attendance for the choir.  She was so great to email me hundreds, yes hundreds, of pictures!  I got a list of my mom's favorite songs and put them as the music to the picture movie.  We served chicken salad croissant sandwiches, fruit, chips, and salads.  We topped it off with a yummy whipped cream cake that said "Well Done Joy" on it.  It was all delicious and the company was fantastic.  It was so great to see family and friends there to support my mom and her big accomplishment.

 We had decorated the garage since we knew we couldn't all fit into the house.  We borrowed chairs from the church, centerpieces from the RS president, and made balloon flowers to help dress up the garage as much as possible.  Not the fanciest, but it worked great!

 Once everyone left we got to enjoy some one on one time with Chris and my parents.  Preston slept through the most of the afternoon which made it super easy to enjoy the luncheon, and Alivia wasn't too far behind him falling asleep on Chris's lap.  It was an early morning for everyone so everyone went to bed without a fuss that night.

 I am so proud of my mom and all of her talents, time, dedication, and sacrifice that she has made over the past 20 years.  Oh the memories I have being at temple square or at concerts.  I remember thinking Loyd Newell was so COOL and I got to meet him and get my picture taken with him while we were at a broadcast in Jackson Hole.  (I think that is where it was at).  I remember spending many Thursday summer nights wandering and taking tours at temple square while my mom rehearsed.  The best memories are the few concerts, broadcasts, and rehearsal we got to do together while I was playing with the Bells on Temple Square.  I feel so blessed to have been able to share that experiences with her along with playing with the Orchestra on Temple Square during the 2002 Olympics.  I couldn't ask for a better mom.  She really is the best!  I owe her so much for teaching me and giving me the gift of music in my own life.  I can't imagine my life with out her or music!  Maybe some day I will get the chance to follow in her footsteps and sing in the choir too, but for now, that is just too overwhelming to even think about!  Love you mom!!! You are amazing!

Retirement Weekend....Sunday Morning Broadcast

We got up bright and early (5:45) so we could be to Temple Square by 8 AM.  I took Carson with me and Nick and Justin took the smaller kids (under 8) later so they were there by 9 AM and watch the broadcast from the North Visitors Center.  We got there just as they were letting family members into the tabernacle.  When we got in we headed to the front and found just enough spots for us to sit on the front row!  Moms sister and Grandma & Grandpa Edstrom sat more in the back but still had good seats.  It was a crisp morning, but since it had rained ALL day Saturday it was nice that it was at least a little sunny Sunday.  

 I took some pictures during the dress rehearsal right before it started.  It was fun to have Carson there since it was his first live broadcast he has been too.  He loved it.  The broadcast that morning was beautiful and they had two guest conductors.  The music was just lovely.  Once it was over they had all 27 members who were retiring that day stand up.

After the broadcast, they set up the stage for the retirement.   We found mom and gave her this pretty corsage that Marisa picked up for her.  The neat thing about the retirement is that President Monson was there.  We had such a good view sitting on the front row of everything!

They had all spouses stand, then family, then friends of those who were retiring.  It was such a neat thing to see.  I think my dad was really trying to hold back the tears!!!  

The called each member up one by one and read a little note that each of them wrote about their experience being in the choir.  I was so proud of my mom for her being one of the 20 year retirees, which is the longest you can be in the choir.  She was just one month shy of 21 years!  It was just amazing.  It was hard not to shed tears during moments of the program.  Especially when they all turned around and the choir sang "God Be with You til We Meet Again".  That was amazing!

After the closing prayer, each retiree got to shake President Monson's hand and get their picture taken.  It was SO neat to watch!

 After taking a few pictures outside we all headed back to our house for a luncheon.  It was a wonderful morning and retirement program!