Eli's best day

So that snow storm came and it put a smile on a little boy's face!

That small person would be my Eli.

Good thing for me, I decided to put everything else aside, and go outside for some awesome bonding with my little guy. We went sledding to start out with, which worked out pretty good just right here by the house. I didn't even have to take him to the back of the property, he was that happy that his mom would come and play with him- Zero complaints. This is one time I can truly say I did exactly the right thing as a mom; those moments sometimes seem too few and far between, but I aced this one.

Joseph just happened to stop by the house on his way to the city (Mission KS organ instillation) when we started sledding, so he had to get in at least 1 run with Eli!

Eli really wanted to build a snow fort, so in between sledding runs we shoveled and piled snow until we made something that symbolized a snow fort. The temperature was perfect to be outside in the snow- sunny and 40's- it really doesn't get better than that. However, the snow was melting at a rapid pace as we were trying frantically to shovel and pile and assemble said fort.

It worked out to stop when we did- 2 1/2 hours later, because he really just wanted to sip hot cocoa, on his sled, in his fort!

Yes, we have weather!!

Well, we have been thinking that there is just nothing like the springtime; one day (like Thursday for example) you have a picnic in the back yard, and enjoy the first color you have seen in months and relish that the umbrellas can protect you from something other than rain, and best of all, having children delighted to do yard work just so they can be outside in all the loveliness!

Luckily the next day we got to enjoy an outing to the city, what a blessed event to get out of the house after a week of bleak cloudy skies, not to mention the fact that the kids have been out of school for Spring Break and were restless- there are only so many chores you can do and computer games you can play without the inevitable gloom setting in.

There were 2 whole days of sunshine- so much it almost hurt your eyes, a torture we were ready and willing to take upon us!

Then the white wickedness came in from the north and shared her fury with us..... (insert sad faces)-

We did end up somehow having the Christmas lights, that we never took down on the front porch, turned on just for effect. Kaija played a few Christmas songs on the piano- by default really, and then on Sunday when church was cancelled and we listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on I-tunes it ran through the gamut of CD's and ended up on the Holiday discs. Oh well, it was kind of like Christmas, Joe and I went out in the storm on Saturday to check out the new Menards store in Sedalia and came home, (after a very lengthy stay there and more supplies for household projects) to put up new light fixtures- well not exactly new, we actually purchased them on amazing clearance 2 or 3 years ago- but we finally have places for them to go!! So add a nice warm fire in the fireplace to that and you have a cozy, cold weekend to add to the nice warm days with sunshine! Aahhh, Springtime!! Now I must venture outside to go sledding with Eli- he begged all day yesterday, so I have to go now before the snow melts. I think he has about got the back porch cleared off from throwing snowballs, first at the windows, then onto the shed. Time to freeze, then we will thaw out this afternoon!

NO REALLY??!!!!! Kaija's Musings

So on Friday we decided to go to Kansas City and just hang....(you know) The weather was glorious..... As we were coming home the temperature dropped about a thousand degrees and some very dark clouds moved on in. (This is where the NO REALLY??!! part comes in) After weeks and weeks and weeks of snow, ice and rain we had 1 day of sunshine and heat. I was superrrrrrrrr tired of the cold and wetness *slow down here* and chores........ *resume desired pace* Just because of that the snow came back to bother me.. After about three inches of snow there was a slight pause then the real stuff came. (oh yeah ;P )By the time it was done snowing we had about 8-10 inches of pure boring whiteness. So absurd. Church was canceled because of it. It (in this case) =The road conditions ETC.... Anyway the snow is melting away now. (I don't even know the point of it coming here.) My mother bets we will have school tomorrow- I 2nd that motion, though I don't really want to say it out loud. School school school school school school school......

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Concert Recap and Time Torture

Well I never actually posted anything about the St. Louis trip and Joe's concert, so I guess that I should at least recap the highlights!

Well, long story shortened, kind of:

After many long years- let's call it 7- of random practice and a few times playing for church, he began practicing in earnest again, spending many long hours at the church and some on the piano here at home. All of this to bring us to this point. He did a trial run of his concert at the church here in the Burg, which went well and we were so grateful for everyone who took time out to come and hear him.

His confidence has skyrocketed and he has been playing better than he ever did in college. Honestly it still boggles my mind that he can actually play all of that. I had the torturous task of turning pages for him, one which I would relinquish to anyone (I tried Kaija but her arms weren't quite long enough, even offered to pay her). Poor guy has to do head flipping gestures to show me when he is ready. I try to keep up, really, he is just playing a thousand miles an hour and I can't read music that quickly- not to mention not knowing which hand is playing which line of music and where, sometimes I can follow the pedal, but alas it is not my forte!!

The concert in St. Louis was wonderful and couldn't have been played for a more grateful audience- they beam about their organ and love the fact that a little bit of Joe is literally there in the organ- as it has a rank of pipes (the green ones- for anyone who remembers our old friend!) from our very large musical instrument that was once housed in our basement!!

Share the wealth, that is what I say!

Anyhow, we spent all of Saturday night, OK from 5:30-10:30, at the church while Joe practiced and set registration. We the people spent our time in the church library (which is their favorite spot in the building) reading books, playing games and drawing. Funny we never actually took a picture at the church, oh well!

Sunday we lucked out and made it to Sacrament Meeting before Joe had to be at Trinity for their service. We dropped him off and spent the next 4 hours driving around St. Louis, looking at great architecture and walking around Forest Park. These pics are from the area around the Korean War Memorial, and the Jewel box. Luckily the weather cooperated for us to be outside!

So that was a great time to spend together- now we just have 1 more concert, same line up, just here in the Burg again at Mike Quimby's church (Joe's boss). That one is coming up on April 16th- then a small break, until he starts on new music for another concert!

And now we are back into the swing of things and experiencing the unfortunate reality that is known as the dreaded Daylight Savings Time. It has struck hard at our house- it is a gift and a blessing that it is Spring Break for us this week. Problem is: we always end up staying up later than usual and getting up later- we follow the Fall pattern each time instead of the Spring option; I mean really, who wants that anyway!!

The kids have been helping out with jobs around the house and any moment that jobs are not looming over their heads (also sometimes when they are), you will find them playing legos or marbles and very often reading a book.

Unfortunately everyday so far has been overcast and a little rainy- I am hoping for nice weather to get us all outside tomorrow!

Concert time

So, it has been a while since I seriously played the organ. I think I got burned out getting my degree at KU. Anyway, I started playing again, when Trinity Episcopal St. Louis- where we had installed a new instrument- asked if I could be on their concert series. This has been a new awakening for me, a journey into unmapped territory. Tonight I give a pre-recital recital at the church. I don't know how many will come, but I am excited.

Linda is busy baking really yummy treats for all those who come. She is awesome. I am pretty Lucky.

Hmmm!

I am sitting here wasting vast amounts of time trying to find a blog template that doesn't make me want to change it every other day. All the free backgrounds are not quite what I am looking for, hence the constant change.

Sometimes I change it to humor my children, but mostly I change it because I can't find something that I really like, they are just a little too gaudy for me, some days I like gaudy- not today, because today I am feeling that less is more.

Really what I should be doing is cleaning my house, but we all know how much I want to do that!

So for now I am going to step away from the computer and not get back on until the jobs are done and the kids have their work and homework projects completed! Really what I need less of are SNOW DAYS!!!! I fear that all desire for accomplishing anything useful is automatically flushed down the toilet, for all of us, including me! Good thing Joe has some ambition- he is working in St. Louis and practicing there for his upcoming concert on March 7th. Yay him!!

I am in dire need of spring, I could use some happy flowers and sunshine, perhaps a little green......

soon please!!!

The Heart Month

To get us in the mood, Zachary created this lovely mosaic Valentine- he is such a creative lad.

The month of February has blown right past us. Eli has had quite a time recovering from his surgery, though his tonsils (or rather the lack there of) have not been his main complaint, but rather the aftermath of the antibiotics- he is only now finally recovering, thank the stars! He has decided that he really wants to only wear pajamas now- he has loved this last month of "comfort".

This month has been a little crazy, so to help us take our minds off of the craze- we spent a night in face masks- that seemed to do the trick, or just added to the craze, it is hard to tell!

We also have birthdays this month- our darling Isabella turned 10 on the 16th. She is a real gem, and oh so funny. She still has a love of small things, but likes to snuggle in a big way. She shares her birthday with her Uncle Lloyd, which is always a cool thing. (Zach and I are the only ones who don't share a birthday with another family member- Joe and Jasmine are next on the 25th). She loves that her birthday is around Valentines Day and Presidents Day, since that means parties and holidays from school!!

For her birthday we actually went to a game night for the REM students and their families at the middle school. Eli and his friend Ava had a good time with Pictureka!

Then we came home for her requested DQ ice cream cake. She didn't want candles, so she tried to blow off some of the sprinkles.

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Luckily we could have our great friends come and join us for the yumminess!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISABELLA, WE ADORE YOU!

Now just to get Joe's concert over with!!!!! He has one here in the Burg on the 27th as a trial run amongst a familiar audience, then the one that really counts at Trinity Episcopal in St. Louis on March 7th. Should be a good time. Admittedly it is wonderful to have him playing again, and there will certainly be more to come. Oh, and we have to hurry and finish the Organ Room to house the new practice instrument. Truly never a dull moment around here!