September 2009

Wow, September just flew by. B started preschool (same place as last year, new teacher). She is enjoying it. B is currently obsessed with High School Musical songs and watching HSM videos on YouTube. She likes to multitask and type at the same time, splitting the screen. S is doing well in school and loves to read, but is not enjoying (or doing enough of) her piano and violin practicing. M has been busy with Young Womens. Besides weekly activities (which I also attend....to the disappointment of my B), we recently had Standards Week where the youth had almost daily activities. Then extra Stake Activities and occasional firesides....

A couple weeks ago the youth had a tailgate party before a high school football game, then went to the game to watch several of the Young Men who are on the team. It was fun. The high school is really big (about 4000 kids) and the football field was recently redone and is beautiful. The following week M (along with the other junior high band members from her junior high and another) got to play the national anthem with the high school band on the field before the football game, then sit with the band in the stands. At half time the band performed their award-winning competition show. It was amazing! Not just the band, but the dancers, actors, props, and scenery that were included in the show.

M has been borrowing from my closet for a year or so now...shoes, shirts, earrings, and necklaces (although now my shoes are all too small for her). On Monday she needed some jeans to wear for a field trip and realized that she had outgrown hers....back to my closet...my jeans fit her perfectly! They were only a tiny bit too long. I am not used to all this sharing (although it seems like a good excuse to hand over my old clothes and buy some new ones).

I was recently called as the Young Women’s 2nd Counselor (over the Beehives - I used to be the Beehive teacher). They haven’t yet called a new Beehive teacher, so I am teaching, going to meetings, as well as planning and carrying out weekly activities. It’s got me a bit frazzled.

I had a couple more tests this month...a Field Test (vision) and a Tilt Test. I believe both results were fine. I NEVER want to have a Tilt Test again....they try and make you pass out. It was no fun at all. Despite consistent medication, I still have strings of good days and bad days.

Oh, and way back at the first part of the month, K’s mom came to babysit while he and I went to London, Pisa, and Florence. It was a nice trip. London was just a layover both directions, but we were there long enough to see 2 shows - Phantom & Mama Mia. We saw the Leaning Tower in Pisa, and Michelangelo’s original David in Florence.

Flying over the Swiss Alps.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Michelangelo's original David at the Accademia.

The Duomo in Florence.

A view of Florence from the Duomo.

The Author

B dictated two stories to me last week. The stories are based on these castle projects. She decorated the first one with stickers at a friend's birthday party. For the second one she insisted that I trace the first so she could color it and continue decorating. She also insisted that I find a way to put a stick on the bottom so that she could hold the castles up and they wouldn't flop over. I think she was a bit distracted by the end of her story telling, because it doesn't make much sense.

Once upon a fairy tale, there was two lovely princesses with their fairy friends. But then a witch cast another spell on their house and they said, “Witch! Stop doing that to us!” And then doggy and catty can make us go free. They know the only way is to find the colored crystals shaped like a heart or a line. Then the two princesses names was Emily and Kailey. And they said, “We have to type in a code to get out of the castle.” But the fairies was the only ones to know the code. The code is 963401138. But then they locked everyone in the highest tower in the lovely castle. They tried and tried to get out of the castle, but they couldn’t. The fairies knew the way. They did one of their magic spells. “Bibbity-bobbity-boo. Have a little sue. Bibbity-bobbity-boo.” But then another spell happened onto the fairies. “We can do it.” “Oh, yea.” “But I lost my wand.” But then a magic princess with her glowing eyes could help it and do it. “As you do it you’ll be able to get out of your new caslte.” “But we have to sneak out because our king and queen will not let us come out. We have to sneak out.” Then the wizard said, “I am watching you so you cannot get out of the castle.” “Help us get out.” “There are traps all over.” “You can do it, you know.” “This is the only way.” “Get your shoes, get your jewelry, get your wand, get your crown, get your bracelet, get your necklace.” “You’ll see the way to go.” “Of course we can get out and jump out your window.” “But I’m watching you.” “We can do whatever we want. We go jump, jump, jump, jump.” But then a evil evil aminals came to help him. And after that windows came all over. We yelled, “It’s time to go!” And then you say, “flaggy old!” And then we jump out the window. E End

One long time ago there was a king and a queen. Their princesses lived far far away. Then, of course, the king and queen is trapped in a castle. Then you have been stoled. A dragon tied you up and bringed him to where he lived and ate you all up. And then the glasses was the only one to help them. Bricks and stones kill everyone. It happened a long long long time ago. Then it really happened before you saw it be there. “As you type your code you’ll be able to get out of here.” “But the dragons might attack you if you get out of here.” “Well, I will try it my hardest.” He typed in the code then ran out. The dragon tried to catch him, but he was too fast. “But you and the castle been stoled for every night. Then you can be free if you know the way out. You have to go down down to the kitchen. Run run.” And they runned to the kitchen and got out. They were not trapped ever again. Then they got back trapped in there, so they said “Hey little one sing with us.” Then, of course, putted bushed that you would not be able to do. Wizards are at the princesses castle. “We’ve got to save them.” “Then let’s get check marks, bricks, stones, and papyasas.” “But you can escape if you be quickly and make sure they really don’t catch you.” “Windows are good. Hearts are good. Stones are good. And fall in love with the dragon.” Then we said, “Hey little one, sing with us every night, we can sing the words so glight.” “As you say, we should escape even before they eat us. Then inky dink, dinky pink, shinky link, dinky pink. What is the plan we got to do our best.” E End

Meet the girls...

So, do you remember the 80s? And into the 90s? These were the glasses to have. K decided that it was time to donate them.....but I couldn't resist a picture or two first.

The girls have been affectionately named by their father.....Fred, McGillicutty, and Gertrude.