Piano Recital 2010

Here are a few quick videos of the kids' piano solos and their duets with me. Their recital was last Saturday.

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Attic and Bathroom Addition

For the past (mumble mumble) years we've (and by "we" I mean "Brad") have been working on converting some existing space in our utility room and attic into some usable living space. We're adding a 3/4 bathroom and a really fun and amazing bedroom for Kate. (Technically it's not big enough and the stairs are too steep to really call it a bedroom, so the inspector has asked us to refer to it as a storage room in which we have chosen to store our children.)

Courtesy of a decent tax return and the knowledge that the Rose family reunion will be held here beginning July 1, we've really put the pedal to the metal and are nearing completion. There are still many little details to finish, but we've hired out the sheetrocking, mudding, and taping, which will speed the process dramatically. The sheetrock crew began work today, so I'll have some new pictures of the rooms later this week or next. For now, though, I thought you might want to see what Brad's been working so hard on!

Kate's Ballet Performance Awards - 2010

It's already May. Which means dance and piano recital time. Kate had both recitals on the same day this year, so last Saturday was jam-packed with clothes and hairstyle changes! Enjoy a few pics of her ballet performance. Her goal this year was to earn a gold medal -- which she did! Yea for Kate!!

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High Honors for Todd

Just have to brag a bit on Todd. He was honored for achieving a 4.0 and being a top 5th grade reader last trimester! He recently scored a 257 in his reading ISAT test (223 is considered 'advanced'! He reads over a 12th grade level. We're sure proud of his hard work and hope he can learn to be motivated and make the most of the great gift of intelligence he's been blessed with. No doubt Heavenly Father has great things planned for him in the future. We pray he will "hold to the rod".

Night at the Opera

Kate's 2nd grade Discovery group wrote an opera this year. They chose to research the Tlinkit Indians and then write an opera that teaches (through a story) the customs and culture of the group. They did an AWESOME job! Kate was the lookout guard in the story, so be sure to click on the video to watch her little solo. The kids are absolutely amazing! To see the other pictures a little better, just click on them and they'll be enlarged in the lefthand frame. Enjoy!

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San Francisco

Brad and I took a DREAM TRIP to San Francisco over Spring Break. Mom and Dad came for Jack's birthday party and then graciously took the kids back to their house for the next 4-5 days while Brad and I drove to SF. We had the very best time ever!!!! We drove the Insight, which only used 2.5 tanks of gas round trip. AWESOME!

The main event of the trip was the Saturday afternoon showing of "Wicked". It did not disappoint -- what an incredible show. If you have the chance, Go. See. It. I cried through the whole thing. I could have driven straight there, seen the show, and driven straight back and the trip would have been well worth it!

We did spend a couple of days in SF and were able to take a harbor cruise, walk the wharf, ride the cable cars, shop Chinatown, and eat ice cream at Ghirardelli Square. The Golden Gate Bridge is incredible!

Travelling is so much fun, but I was really missing the kids and my quiet life by the time we got home. It was hard to see all the homeless people and all the strangeness that seems especially prevalent in big cities. It sure made me thankful for my life and for the gospel and it's guidance.

This trip was a wonderful way to celebrate out 16th anniversary. I love my sweet, sweet, talented, kind, warm, caring, funny, love-of-my-life husband. He is the best thing about me.

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Jack's birthday

I always forget how quickly Jack's birthday sneaks up after Kate's. Only 11 days between them. I was preparing for a trip to San Francisco, Spring Break, recovering from Kate's birthday/baptism and was completely caught off guard by it! Luckily, we had made some plans for a birthday cake a few weeks before and Jack was pretty clear on what he wanted for his birthday. "Trains and cars" -- yep, we can do that!

What a fun, energetic, smart little whip of a 4 yr. old he is. He's a joy to have in our home and he completes our family in a way no other person could. We love you Jack-a-Boo!

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