Still Got It

I don't think of myself as 31, going on 32. Okay, sometimes I do, like when I try climbing up a rope on an cub scout day camp obstacle-course and can't make it past the first knot (that's what I get for showing off). Or when I try jumping on the trampoline with the boys and pee my pants. On those days, yes. I feel my age (not that it's a terrible age to be, because it's not).

But then there are days like this:

Where the competitive spirit returns (even if it is a three legged race) and I feel like I'm flying. Check out the air, people. Adriane and I rocked it.

Our ward had a super fun field day activity with different kinds of races: Like the Egg Push. Yes, we had to push eggs with our noses.

What I love about competition is it brings out the true nature of a person. It shows the people who are truly patient.Those who are determined, those who don't really care about winning but try any way, those who don't try at all, and those who love to win so much they cheat... Like our fearless leader himself here, Bishop Hall (I can give him a hard time because we're RV people. And RV people know what real competition is...)

And then there's John who is apparently better at running backwards these days than forward. Too much reff work I guess. In this race the rules were to run down backwards, then forwards coming back. He biffed it twice coming back... hard. Like somersault biffs...

The winners of the kids three legged race:

I'm so grateful for days like these. Sweet memories with family and friends to store in the back of my mind.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

There are so many great things about this film:

• The film gives an accurate account of how a child on the spectrum deals with emotional issues.
• And it gives such a beautiful account on how a mother has to find a way to understand her son's thinking to help him  find closure with his Dad's death.
• Many kids on the spectrum lack social filters. This film exemplifies that.
• People with ASD have individual, particular, sensory issues. And they are very real. We experience their realness with the main character, Oskar.
• What I love most about this film is the parents and grandmother's love for Oskar. They treat him with respect and understanding.

It's a beautiful story.

Watch it.

Learn.



The Theatre

I love going to the theatre. And that love started after high school when I left good ol' RV and the rockin' El Rio theatre that still stands today. Nothing beat sitting in one of those wooden chairs for two hours!

I love sitting down in a cozy chair with a dollar refill cup of Dr. Pepper, an unsalted pretzel to dip in cheese, and a bag of red vines purchased from Wal-Mart. And then to be desensitized for two hours with a story of my choice! Did I say it already? I love the theatre, even if it is way over priced.

So, here's me on my second go-round with my girls at Hunger Games. And no, it didn't disappoint. Loved it so much I saw it TWICE! Once with my fabulous friend Chelise and once with these lovely ladies. Not as good as the book of course, but still good.  And of course, nothing is more fun than comparing and contrasting book to movie on the ride home anyway.

So, for you readers and watchers:

Are you a Peeta fan? Or a Gale fan?

Why?

Did your Point of View change between the book characters and the movie characters?


On another outing, the fam went to see our first 3D movie. The Lorax. And seriously, I have no idea what the big hoop-la is about 3D. None of us were impressed, just more money out of our pockets. But hey, we sure looked cool!

Race sat through the movie with his fingers in his ears (my mom just got him ear-plugs for our Summer Movie Monday's at Harkins). He'd much rather zone out in front of our TV at home where he has control over the volume.

Witt wouldn't let us buy soda. So it was like my first time going to the theatre without filling my value cup with DP. Because did you know a bottle of water gives you one hour of energy where a juice box only gives you five minutes and a soda is less than that???? Just ask Witten, he learned it at school. Talk about laying on the guilt! He feels just as strong about recycling and sunscreen. But I'll save those stories for another post.

John slept through the movie. It was that good.

Lane, well as long as you keep the snacks coming, he's good.

And me? I was just super impressed we sat through the entire thing without one bathroom break! It was amazing!

But besides all that, we sure looked cool...

I love the theatre.

Easter 2012

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter.

After Race's baptism we had lunch and an Easter egg hunt down at our place. I'll post the pictures when I find them.

Anyway, I always love Easter Sunday. The primary children sang a beautiful Easter Song, which I led. In our small ward I am the first counselor in primary, a primary teacher, and the primary music leader. Yeah, Sundays are pretty busy. I love serving, I love teaching, but I have struggled being the music leader. I am not confident in my musical abilities. And I always felt there were plenty other ladies more qualified for the job than myself. I know, I know, we're not supposed to look at it like that, but hey...

Here's my big secret people:

I can't read music.

Never have.

So ask me, how come I was in Show Choir, Church Choir, choir, choir, choir growing up?

The answer:

I have no idea how I got through it, except I memorize by sound.

So now I sit at our piano and pluck out notes, and I get on the church website and memorize by sound. Being the music leader has taught me humility and gratitude. I guess teaching comes so natural to me that I never thought twice about how hard preparing to teach a lesson ever was.

Until I became the music leader.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve. I'm grateful for the opportunity to grow and gain a little more confidence in something that always scared me to death.

I'm grateful for my Savior and the love He shows me. For something so simple like helping me learn to teach music to the children. So they could stand in front of the congregation on Easter Sunday, and sing about Jesus Christ and the Resurrection. So the Spirit could touch hearts and testify of Him.

I'm so grateful.