Finishing February

Since March is rushing by, it is time to finish up February.  We really enjoyed our Valentine's Day celebrations this year, especially making the Valentines.  Regan was home sick a few days during the week, and I put her right to work helping out.

We even made this amazing box for Jordan to use at her party.  Regan was so proud of it.

There were lots of Valentines to be made for all the different events.  Regan and I had a lot of fun at her Girl Scout party.

And of course, Baby Luke had a good time too.

A favorite Valentine arrived from Dad and Pat serving their mission in Oklahoma.  I loved seeing their happy faces.

I snapped these pictures before school on the 13th.  Darn it, I did not get a picture of Ashton. Valentine's Day is different in middle school!

Classroom parties are always so much fun, and I was so glad not to be working so that I could attend.
Regan's class had lots of fun and lots of treats!

I got one quick picture of my cool 5th grader...last Valentine party for her.  I was sad, she was not!

I visited Cole's class too, but did not get a picture.
Since Valentine's Day landed on a Saturday this year, we got to celebrate twice, and it was Ashton's turn to shine.  For weeks she and her friend had been talking about hosting a V-day party.  I told them I could help with the food but the rest was on them.  Well they really came through in a big way and planned a phenomenal party.  It was complete with decorations, contests, a photo booth, crafts, favors and a whole lot of fun.  I was so very proud of Ashton!

Jordan and her friend got to hang out at the party too, and they had a great time.

This boy terrorized the party guests in his Ninja costume...or bare chest.

I love this picture of Ashton's "Bishop" dad just returned from performing a marriage at a Valentine's Day wedding.

Not a great picture, but these girls are great.  I am so thankful that Ashton has them as her friends.

And this kid was a long for the ride the whole evening.

With Valentine's Day over, the girls were busy with some major events and projects at school.
Both girls performed in the district Solo Festival and did an outstanding job.  They were so nervous!

Ashton received a gold ribbon (superior) and Jordan received a blue ribbon.  There were some tears...but it was a great opportunity to be happy and supportive of each other.  Very proud of both of them!

Ashton spent hours working on her National History Project about Brigham Young.  Let's be honest...I spent hours on it too, along with my amazing neighbor.  It turned out really well.

Jordan researched Clara Barton and then had to dress up like her and perform for the other students.  She did a great job!  And we even pieced together a decent (slightly odd?) costume.

We had to take our traditional self timer picture before stake conference.  Absolutely love how these turned out!  So us.

And another great tradition...the 2nd grade celebration of the Chinese New Year.  Such a great celebration and finally Regan's turn to participate!

 Here comes the dragon!

Regan in the gray skirt.

Love her wonderful teacher!

And one other monumental thing about February...Tod's beard finally went bye-bye...not sad at all to see that thing go away.

February Memories: The Audition

When I was high school, I loved singing in the choir.  My mom also loved to sing and really loved watching each of us perform throughout our high school years.  During my junior year, it was time to audition for the next years choir spots.  Not only was I planning on being in the big main choir, but I had my eye on grabbing a place in one of the specialty choirs.  With my musical background and piano experience, I felt I had a pretty good shot of making it.  I will never forget the day I got the letter in the mail informing me I had made the main choir but not any of the other choirs.  I was absolutely devastated.

For days and days, I moped around the house and just felt that I would never get over the disappointment.  My mom did her best to cheer me and up and encourage me, but nothing worked. Then one day after I was crying to my mom about it again, she surprised me by bursting into tears, too.  Now my mom was a very emotional person, but generally she would just get teary eyed over things.  Seeing her sobbing really took me off guard.  And then she told me how she was just so sad for me and that there was just nothing she could do to make it better, and she would make it better if she could....I do not think she realized it at the time, but she did make things better, because she really got it.  She really understood and empathized with how disappointed I was...and then she told me to dry my tears, and move on enjoying the opportunity I had been given.  And that is what I did.  I am sure in her mind she may have been thinking that the whole choir thing wasn't really that big of deal ( and looking back it wasn't!) but she took the time to understand me by just crying with me.

A while back, one of my girls had a disappointment...instead of giving her a lecture on how it would all turn out for the better, I just let myself really feel her sadness (sometimes that is hard for me as I am not a terribly sympathetic person)...and we shared some tears together... and then we dried our tears and moved on...another lesson from my mama.  I am forever grateful to Mom...I just felt like she really got me, that she really understood me and was always there for me through thick and thin.  I think my siblings felt the same way.

(Now that the years have passed, we can joke about it now...my sister Mel really didn't have much of a desire to be in a specialty choir and tried out just for the fun of it...of course, she made it...and never was really sure how she felt about singing in that choir.  She and I always have a good laugh about that!  In this picture she is not in her choir dress, but it would have been taken around the same time)