The Epic Rag Doll Scene

Last Friday, Christian's band, The Epic Rag Doll Scene, had their first gig together. It was at That Music Store in Highland so it wasn't a huge venue but they had quite a few people hanging out to hear them. Let me paint the scene, high schoolers coming and going, dancing, hanging out in the front. Moms and Dads lining the chairs along the back wall. The two support systems--friends and parents. Heaven forbid the two should mingle ;-). But it was a lot of fun. Christian really is an impressive drummer and his bandmates, Trevor and Skyler, did a great job as well. Below is a picture. The quality stinks because it was taken with a camera phone. I considered taking the video camera or my digital camera along but somehow, that didn't say subtle. That said, "Somebody's mom is here" and Christian probably wouldn't have appreciated the humiliation. So we'll settle for this grainy photo. And did I say, Christian is a really good drummer? Well, he is.

Sunday Night and a Sleepover

I really don't like Sunday nights. It's not that the weekend isn't great, it's just that Sunday night means the end of the weekend. It means that tomorrow, the rat race of the week starts over again. I admit, I don't loathe Sunday nights like I did when I worked full time. But I still can't quite convince myself that they are something to look forward to either. So here I sit, late at night when I should be asleep, working on this blog. This is also a typical Sunday night for me--staying up late because somehow, it prolongs the weekend a little longer. And makes me tired and grumpy the next morning.

Kristina had her first sleepover this weekend. I have to say, she has made some darling new friends and I am so grateful to them and their moms for their patience with her. I know that everyone worries when their children go to school, especially at a new school in a new place. Will they make friends? Will they adjust well? But when you add in the fact that the new school is in a whole new country with a different language and a different culture, the worry is a bit stronger. But as I listen to Kristina and her friends laugh and giggle and communicate to each other in a mixture of English, sign language and just plain silliness, it warms my heart. This little Russian girl is going to be okay.

Here are Kaylee, Madison and Kristina.



Funny story--Madison and Kaylee are both tiny little sticks. We all went to Carl's Jr for dinner. All three girls downed quite a bit of food for such tiny things. On the way home, they were laughing in the car and Madison said, "Oh, it hurts to laugh when your stomach is so full." When your waist is as big as my wrist, of course it does. Okay, maybe you had to be there but I laughed out loud when I heard this.

These three even tagged along (in their pajamas) to hear Christian play this weekend. His band, Epic Rag Doll Scene, had their first gig on Friday night. But I'll post more on that tomorrow when I actually have a picture to share with all of you.

For now, I'm off to bed. Monday has to come sometime.

My husband's guitar obsession

Recently, I was reading my friend, Becky's, blog. She had bought a guitar for her 16 year old son, Skyler's, birthday. I was showing Dean the post and as I should have expected, he enlarged the photo to closely examine the guitar.

Yes, my husband loves guitars, sometimes more than me I think. He loves to play them, buy them and build them. It truly is an obsession.

A few years ago, when Sidney was about the same age as this little girl, this commercial came out. I remember laughing at the time because it struck so close to home. It still does. Enjoy and think of Dean.

Lots of Random Photos.

Happy Labor Day!

It's been a lazy day here at our house. It stormed so there wasn't too much we could do outside but it was nice to kind of kick back and just enjoy a day home as a family. I thought I would take the time to update my blog and post some pictures.

Dean is our expert milkshake maker. He hasn't made them for us in a while so were were excited when he offered to tonight. Peach and Raspberry were the flavors of the night.




"Nummy" as Kristina says.



I finally cut my hair. I've always wished for long thick blond beautiful hair but I finally realized that this was a pipe dream that was better put to rest. So I did it and thus far don't regret it. It takes me about 5 minutes to do my hair in the morning and that I absolutely love.





Okay, you are all going to look at this picture and say, "It's a toilet. Why on earth...?" We got all new toilets this week, industrial, "I dare you to clog me" toilets. Ever since we bought this house in 2000, we have fought the battle of clogged toilets. The tiniest bit of toilet paper required a plunger. After eight years, we finally decided it was time to give up the battle and go for heavy duty stuff. So, this, we are happy about.



You have to laugh at this shot. Spencer went camping and 4 wheeling with his friend Preston this weekend. And this is what he looked like when he got home. Gotta love this kid!



Here's some fun shots from Idaho two weekends ago when we were there for the Twin Falls Temple dedication. It was Masen's baptism so lots of family was in town. It's so great to have cousins.





I love this next picture of my mom and Spencer. It's not the best picture ever taken but I love it.



And since I'm posting random photos, including photos of my kids with their cousins, I thought I would post this photo of my cousins and I as little kids. You know, there is nothing better than cousins growing up. Cousins really are a blessing. You are thick as thieves, closer than friends, bound by blood.