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Monday, June 6, 2011
Ben's Graduated!!
Congratulations to my li'l brother, Ben. He graduated with honors from Sky View on Tuesday. I just look up to him so much... (ok, I literally look up to everyone in my family...except maybe Heidi and Mom who are a little more my height, but, I digress...). Ben is one of the most amazing young men you will ever meet. Besides his amazing saxaphone skills (classical and sa-weet! jazz), intense piano composing and playing, smart brain in both areas of math and english, he is also very tender-hearted in recognizing and meeting the needs of others. For example, he has heard his whole life how much us girls like to go to these school dances all dressed up and feeling pretty. He has always enjoyed dancing with us and has developed that skills very finely. But, month after month of school dance after school dance, he was not really wanting to go to another dance! Oh, they were fun and all, but what was the big deal? He told Mom once (I hope he doesn't mind), that he could live very happily and not go to one dance his whole high school career. Well, after Mom explained that he could probably live a happy life without going, but to the girls, these things are really important. Why? he asked. Because they get to look, be treated like, and feel like the princesses that they are for one night. And Mom added that especially for Senior Prom was it important to ask the senior girls so they don't have to sit at home while the boys all ask the younger girls to go. Well, I don't think Ben ever complained after that (not that he went to every boy's choice ... though I'm pretty sure he was asked to every girl's choice dance). And having the end of his high school days coming, and having many of his friends being senior girls, he did something that we all really admire him for. He asked all his buddies to be in his Prom group and to ask a certain girl to go with them, so that every one of his girl-friends would be able to enjoy their last high school formal. They had a great time, and Mom heroically fed all 14 of them when they came to our house for dinner in their gorgeous gowns and spiffy suits. Don't they look great?
On Tuesday, Ben graduated. He played the most soulful jazz solo I've heard from him yet during the Jazz Band's number. He even wore his Fedora. When they started their walk, I thought it was really neat how the whole class did a clap (just one) after every person's name was read. What a great class. The ceremony was held early enough in the evening that we still had daylight! So, we were able to take a few pics.
On Tuesday, Ben graduated. He played the most soulful jazz solo I've heard from him yet during the Jazz Band's number. He even wore his Fedora. When they started their walk, I thought it was really neat how the whole class did a clap (just one) after every person's name was read. What a great class. The ceremony was held early enough in the evening that we still had daylight! So, we were able to take a few pics.
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| Class of 2011 |
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| Josh, Becky, Heidi, Ben, Jennifer, Michelle, Mom, Sydney |
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| Mom, Ben, and Dad |
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| "And now it's my turn! Take a picture of me" Heidi! :) |
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| In all his tallness |
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| What a cute boy! |
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| No wonder he has scores of girls always hanging around him! |
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| Here's lookin' at you, kid. We LOVE you Ben! |
Catching up...Go Go-Karting!
On Friday (after Josh aced a test), he took me on a date. Love those! I guess we were a little bored with Rexburg after driving around and poking around at the Farmer's Market, so Josh started driving to Idaho Falls. But when he pulled off at Rigby, I wondered what was up... maybe he wants me to show him my bare classroom at school? Too hungry for anything but food, I took him to Papa Kelseys. Yummy pizza, sandwiches, salads, and breadsticks. Then he took me to "The Riot Zone" just along the highway. I've seen it a million times driving past; that US Space Shuttle always made me wonder what exactly they were rioting about over there. Well, we found out! There weren't hardly any people there, which was just fine for us! Josh was planning for go-karting and mini-golf. Since a few months ago, there was almost a bit of a riot over the fact that I hadn't been mini-golfing in many years (one of Josh's all time favorite thing to do :), I decided to make it a double riot as we walked to the kart track by letting him know this would be my first time go-karting! He just about had a fit, he couldn't believe it and almost went back for more rides for us. So cute.
Go-karting is a blast! There were two other young boys (I thought I'd barely make the 54" requirement) that were racing 'round the track with us, which made it more fun. I was making excited "whoa!" noises just about the whole time. I think I got a little bit of the hang of it toward the end and stopped letting the boys take the inside on the corners. Oooooh, I could be a really good race car driver, skidding around those bends like they were nothing. Hahah.
That great ride just put us into such good spirits as we began the 18 hole mini-golf. It's a beautiful course! Very fun with all the terrain challenges . . . We both liked how the challenges were less of the typical mini-golf obstacles and more about the pitch of the terrain. Josh was determined to show his actual skill since in our last game (you know my first one back after years and years?) I beat him rather soundly. He sure did awesome this time! He got a Hole in One on hole 5 where you can't even see kind of where the hole is or what kind of slope you're up against. That's my man, oh yeah. And as for the final score . . . even though on hole 16 it took me about a million tries to make my ball soar OVER the river and keep it on the same green (verses sending it flying over the side-bricks and into hole 17's green...good thing no one was in front of us ;) ), Josh was merciful and ended up only beating me by about 5 points.
What Fun! We'll definitely have to go again! They also have water go-karts, a climbing wall, big bouncy toys, and a teeter-totter thing where you race to hit a bell more times than your opponent. It was like going to the fair, only cleaner and less crowded!
Go-karting is a blast! There were two other young boys (I thought I'd barely make the 54" requirement) that were racing 'round the track with us, which made it more fun. I was making excited "whoa!" noises just about the whole time. I think I got a little bit of the hang of it toward the end and stopped letting the boys take the inside on the corners. Oooooh, I could be a really good race car driver, skidding around those bends like they were nothing. Hahah.
That great ride just put us into such good spirits as we began the 18 hole mini-golf. It's a beautiful course! Very fun with all the terrain challenges . . . We both liked how the challenges were less of the typical mini-golf obstacles and more about the pitch of the terrain. Josh was determined to show his actual skill since in our last game (you know my first one back after years and years?) I beat him rather soundly. He sure did awesome this time! He got a Hole in One on hole 5 where you can't even see kind of where the hole is or what kind of slope you're up against. That's my man, oh yeah. And as for the final score . . . even though on hole 16 it took me about a million tries to make my ball soar OVER the river and keep it on the same green (verses sending it flying over the side-bricks and into hole 17's green...good thing no one was in front of us ;) ), Josh was merciful and ended up only beating me by about 5 points.
What Fun! We'll definitely have to go again! They also have water go-karts, a climbing wall, big bouncy toys, and a teeter-totter thing where you race to hit a bell more times than your opponent. It was like going to the fair, only cleaner and less crowded!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Catching up... Jes for fun
We got Jenga for a good price a few months ago and finally played with it the other day. After we played a couple of rounds the right way, we decided to have more fun with the tall "dominoes" ... and with the camera.
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Perspective shot of the battlements. |
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From within (Josh's shot :) |
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Epicness... even withstanding the pressure of extra weight. :) |
Catching up... Pizza!
Josh is a marvelous cook and has taught me so many things about "wingin' it" and making it taste good :). So one day we were craving pizza and decided to make our own. First thing, we did what we always do when we have a hunch about a great dish . . . we called Mom! She gave us her famous pizza dough recipe and then we were off. Kitchen Aid (affectionately called the "Man-aid" by Josh), pizza stone, fresh tomatoes, Parmesan, garlic chicken and pepper-jack cheese gathered, we created one of the best pizzas I've ever tasted. Wow! And now all we have to do is put up a sign on the door out front and waft the tantalizing aromas outside and we'll be in business :).
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Oh, and we also made breadsticks... also delectable... :)
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| YUM! |
Catching up... EASTER!
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| Oooooh! So pretttyyy! We only had six eggs, so we boiled all of them |
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| Happy Easter! |
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| We went for the beautiful bold colors. |
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| Can you see Josh's J on the blue one in the middle? He put that there so we'd know who's was who's. :) |
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| It was a beautiful day. We had a nice picnic at the park next to our house and enjoyed the sun and kids playing. Then we came home and colored eggs. We are so grateful for the symbolism the eggs and new life are to the Savior's Resurrection. |
When Queens Ride By
There are times when you feel your work is worthless, the hope you have for the future is lost, and that it all doesn't really matter in the long run of reaching your goals. There have been a few things that I've come across in the last few days that have bolstered my resolve to keep being the best woman I can.
One of these was the little pamphlet of a talk by Sheri Dew called "Are We Not All Mothers?" It was about five dollars at Deseret Book and Josh got it for me for Mother's Day. There is no one other than women, God's own daughters, who can do the work of mothering, whether or not we have children in our homes. He has given us power and entrusted His children to our care. And if He has that kind of confidence in me, then ONWARD!
Another was the June Ensign that came this week. I read of the importance of the gospel as told by some valiant members of the Church who have not as yet married. Their courage and unfailing faith in the promises encouraged me to see my many many blessings and talents and look forward with faith to the responsibilities I have.
The last I just finished reading. It is a blog post a friend sent via email. I can very much relate to that woman on the dusty farm, doing her best, but in need of a redirection as to the real value of her mission. When she was awakened, I could see parallels to my own life and how I can work "womanly magic" on my own home to make it a place where we love to be, where the spirit can live, and where all the roles in a family can be played with success. It's a wonderful story: http://lilleysofthefield.blogspot.com/2007/04/when-queens-ride-by.html .
In our own divinely appointed and beautiful ways, we can make happen what we feel is impossible ... we don't all have to do it all. Just our best and it will be enough.
One of these was the little pamphlet of a talk by Sheri Dew called "Are We Not All Mothers?" It was about five dollars at Deseret Book and Josh got it for me for Mother's Day. There is no one other than women, God's own daughters, who can do the work of mothering, whether or not we have children in our homes. He has given us power and entrusted His children to our care. And if He has that kind of confidence in me, then ONWARD!
Another was the June Ensign that came this week. I read of the importance of the gospel as told by some valiant members of the Church who have not as yet married. Their courage and unfailing faith in the promises encouraged me to see my many many blessings and talents and look forward with faith to the responsibilities I have.
The last I just finished reading. It is a blog post a friend sent via email. I can very much relate to that woman on the dusty farm, doing her best, but in need of a redirection as to the real value of her mission. When she was awakened, I could see parallels to my own life and how I can work "womanly magic" on my own home to make it a place where we love to be, where the spirit can live, and where all the roles in a family can be played with success. It's a wonderful story: http://lilleysofthefield.blogspot.com/2007/04/when-queens-ride-by.html .
In our own divinely appointed and beautiful ways, we can make happen what we feel is impossible ... we don't all have to do it all. Just our best and it will be enough.
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