Fiddlin' around again

Mady and Rachele as stand partners.

Deep concentration.

Mady announcing their ensemble.

The ensemble getting ready to play.

Last night was Mady's middle school orchestra concert.  I love to hear the orchestra's and bands play and love how much better they get every year.  Last night was no exception.  Mady played in an ensemble separate from her orchestra, playing a medley of fiddling tunes, and did such a great job.  All of the music was beautiful.  She was a stand partner with her good friend Rachele Nielson who is an excellent violinist.  They make a great pair! 

Chemistry Student of the year 2011

Congratulations Austin!    He received Student of the Year in Chemistry for 2011.  We are so proud of him.  He has worked really hard at keeping his grades up and it seems that it has paid off.  I didn't even know he liked Chemistry.  His good friend McCarty Amy also received Student of the Year in Chemistry.  Is it a coincidence?  or is it another kind of chemistry?   Anyway,  Congratulations Austin and McCarty! 

A "Toe Tappin' Time"

Cami in front of the elaborate stage decorations.

You should always stop to smell the flowers,
even if they are fake. 

Cami and her best friend Jessica Perry.

Dancing. . .

"Put another nickle in. .  in the Nickelodeon. . . "

Ta Da!!! 

Cami takes tap lessons from Bea and Sarah Stirland.  This performance was with the Adagio Dance studio in Hurricane.  The dress rehearsal lasted for 4 1/2 hours on Friday, and the performance lasted for 2.  It was so worth it to see Cami and her friends perform so well and we really love dancing with Bea and her girls.  Thanks Bea!!  Good job Cami!

Water, Water everywhere!

 Today I had the privilege to go on a field trip with Dalyon.  It is always fun to go with the kids and see what they do in school and how they interact with their friends.  It has been a while since I went with them (about a year to be precise) and it was good to spend the morning with Dalyon.  We went to the "Water Fair" at Dixie State College.  It is a big production put on by the Utah water conservation department.  We learned about the ancient people who lived here and how they made pottery, used water, and about their technology back then.  We went to a class that taught us about the Hurricane water system, where we get our water, who works on the systems and what they add to the water to keep it safe.  Our natural spring is in Toquerville and the water is treated and pumped into the surrounding areas.  We learned about the water cycle and the kids got a chance to act it out by being wind, condensation, and precipitation.  They danced around and were silly, some more than others.  Dalyon and I took a minute to go and visit Grandma Winn at the Institute of Religion next door, because we knew she would be working today (and we saw her car).  For Dalyon the highlight of the experience was the mini class that showed us how they predict weather and the teacher had a machine that created a little tornado in the  room.  He also had videos from storm chasers that showed Category 5 tornadoes.  They are crazy scientists we decided (the storm chasers are crazy).  He also had a lot of "destruction" pictures of severe weather around our area.  I realized that we have really had some damaging storms and floods come through lately.  Here are a few pictures of our experience today.




Dalyon is sitting in a classroom at Dixie State College.  The seats
were a very big distraction for the kids because they swivel. 




Chanting and dancing.  Wind (clap) Wind (clap)




Condensation (clap) Condensation (clap)




PALS:   Dalyon and Dallas Davidson. 




Dalyon was precipitation.  He was a good raindrop that fell
to the ground and laid there chanting precipitation (clap) precipitation
(clap) precipitation (clap).  What a silly kid. 



Mothers Day

Last week at this time, during our Family Home Evening business meeting I reminded everyone that "in only 7 days is Mothers Day".  We all laughed about the reminder and went about the week.  I must say, it has been a fabulous Mothers Day for me.  Friday night Doug came home with a very gorgeous bouquet of roses and Lillie's.  He said that every woman in Costco was envious as he purchased them, and they are beautiful. 

Beautiful pink tipped roses and orange Lillie's.  I love it!!!

This almost looks fake.  It opened this morning.  Nice!

Just turn your head to the side and you'll get the full affect. 

Saturday morning Cami surprised me with breakfast in bed and eggs that she had cooked herself (she is 8!).  It was delicious, and she couldn't wait to give me the gift she had made in school, a very colorful necklace and picnic plates. 
Sunday morning Doug, Cody and Dalyon again made me a very nice breakfast in bed with freshly squeezed orange juice!  They said it took six oranges to create 1/2 a glass of juice.  That was the best orange juice I have EVER tasted!  It was very naturally sweet.  At church they gave out king size chocolate bars (the ladies were soooo happy) and the boys made lunch today.

Nothing says "I love you" more than the boys cooking dinner!
And they cooked their specialty, tin foil dinners!  Thanks guys!

On my bed this afternoon I found a very special note from Mady, and lots of pictures and drawings from Cami and Dalyon. 
It has been such a special Mothers Day for me!  I thought it was funny last week when I reminded everyone of the holiday coming up, and now I'm so glad that I did because it has been a very special day for me.  Thanks to all my wonderful kids and super husband for all you did for me today!!  I really love you all!!  I am so grateful that you have all given me the opportunity to be a mom.  There is nothing like the joy I feel from being apart of your lives!  Thanks!

Cloggin' beats joggin'!



Cami clogging at her review.



When I was growing up I loved to dance.  My mom enrolled me into ballet at a very young age, and I evolved into tap and Jazz, and clogging.  I really liked it all, and especially had a great time clogging.  Since becoming a mom, I have enjoyed watching my girls get involved in dance too.  On March 26, 2011 Mady and her group the "All American Cloggers" competed at the dance competition in St. George and did a great job!  We found out later that they received a 1 in rating and won Grand Champion!  They got a great big trophy and everything!!  It was so fun!  Cami is a beginning clogger, and does a really great job smiling and moving her feet at the same time.  I think she is also going to enjoy clogging with us.  Her are some pictures of our performances.

Dancing to "Hand Jive" from the movie Grease.



Madi Clogging at the St. George Arts Festival. 

What a pretty smile! 

The All American Cloggers posing for a picture.



My friend Chad King and I clogging when I was
about 14 or 15.  Love the dress!  Ha Ha Ha!

We are sooooo looking forward to performing at Disneyland on June 2!  What a great opportunity for our girls, and a ton of fun for the rest of us.

Spring "Fooo-ball"

This year Cody has discovered something that he is really enjoying, and that if Tackle Football.  He is in the 6th grade, and was talked into trying it with his friend Carson.  He decided it was a really good out for him and I loved the fact that it is a healthy place for him to work out his aggression.   His coach called him again this spring to invite him to play spring football and he jumped at the chance.  He plays a lot of different positions, but really likes center and tackle.  He played in the Youth Football USA league for the spring.  I think he looks so tough in his uniform and its fun to see the Beutler name on the back of a player.  We are proud of you Cody!   Go Tigers!!!

Good Game!  Good Game!  Good Game!!