Cami's first bike ride to school

Cami has been asking me for weeks if she could ride her bike to school with Dalyon.  We have gone over all the safety rules, practiced riding on the right side, and got her helmet to fit so she can ride to school.  Today, the weather was clear and beautiful, no wind so I let her ride under the care of her older brother.   She was very excited.  We had to go and get her bike from the bus stop because Cody rode it up there, not knowing that Cami would need it today.  She was a little nervous, but did really well for as far as I could watch them. 

I haven't received a call from the school yet to tell me they didn't make it, so I believe the ride was successful.  After school she will get to ride to Bobette Greens for a haircut.  That should be quite an adventure. 

She made it from the bus stop OK, now she picked up Dalyon
and kept on going.

Here is my baby. . . . on wheels!

Off to school they go.

Dalyon is keeping watch over her.  Thanks Dalyon!

Those blessed couches!!



When we moved into our home almost 7 years ago, the previous owners had left some couches in the basement family room.  They were pretty nice couches, so we decided to leave them and not buy new ones.  Over the years the kids have really worn them down, torn them, and hidden lots of "secret" candy wrappers and other things in them.  Yesterday we decided it was time to get rid of them so we got all the boys together and we proceeded to haul them out, which turned out to not be an easy task.  We found out why the Drummonds left the couches. . . . . they don't fit through the door, or the stair well!  They weren't just being generous, but very very smart!!  We had to cut them into pieces to get them out.  I didn't feel too bad about this because they were already broken and torn, but hadn't expected to have to spend an entire afternoon "moving" the couches out.  The Drummonds must have built the house around them!  Here are a few pictures:

Austin tugging and pulling to get the couch up the stairs.
It just doesn't fit!



The only solution?  Tear it apart.  Doug is on the
inside with a saws-all.

Still working at it.  The couch isn't going anywhere!

A look from inside the house.  How did they get them in here
in the first place?

The couches made it to the trailer, in pieces.

I haven't seen the inside of a couch like this.
  It has definitely seen better days. 



Now we need a bon fire, and marshmellows.



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!