Timothy’s Reflections Entry

Timothy enjoys making little films. For the school Reflections contest he decided to show what it was like to explore the Secret Garden at Spring Lake. The theme of Reflections this year is “The Magic of a Moment.” The music he chose is from the 1993 soundtrack from The Secret Garden.

I think his little film is charming and it captures a really beautiful afternoon.

Timothy is such a sweetheart.

Ballet Recital 2012

Paige’s dance recital was a beautiful success. She received a trophy for dancing for 6 years with her studio. She joined the studio before they had a building of their own in which to meet. Over the years, she danced on wood, concrete, and carpet before her studio was able to build a facility with proper floors and mirrors. That’s what you do in a small town. You help build it and you always keep a dream of how it can be. I’m so thankful for Michele Igason, who took Paige under her care and helped her become a beautiful dancer. Her studio has not made a profit in the three years since her building was completed. Such sacrifice has blessed our life and we will never forget it.

The green costumes were for a number from The Incredible Hulk. Mark waited in great anticipation for this number, and when it turned out to be quite graceful, he turned to me and said, “This is NOT what I expected.”

Paige was in 7 numbers and the pink tutus were my favorite.

“Suits” looked like it was the most fun to dance. The girls had a great time.

Spring term Shakespeare

These last few weeks Paige has been studying Shakespeare. We began with tragedy.

And then we needed a break from tragedy.

Next, we read A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

She wrote and illustrated a children’s version of the story.

Then we watched the play.

It was a good time and now we’re studying Hamlet. She’s an old pro at Hamlet because we studied a children’s version several years ago when we performed the play with friends.

I’m a believer in helping kids discover simplified versions of the classics when they are young so they already know the plots and they can enjoy the language of the originals when they get older.

Good preparatory Shakespeare materials:

A picture book: A Midsummer Night’s Dream retold by Bruce Coville, illustrated by Dennis Nolan

For elementary grades: The Shakespeare Can Be Fun Series by Lois Burdett

For 5-7th grade: Shakespeare Stories by Leon Garfield and Michael Foreman

More here and here.

Art by Mark

Have you decided if you will watch a movie this weekend? If you were at our house, we’d at least discuss watching Star Wars again.

Here are some Star Wars scenes. Can you identify the films? Mark hasn’t seen all of the Star Wars movies, but he plays Lego Star Wars on the Wii each Saturday.

Obiwan (happy face) and Anakin (frowny face) by the lava

 

Death Star! Emperor shocking Luke, Darth Vader sans cape

 

Star Wars 2 gladiator battle with Jenga Fett in the center with serious flames from his jet pack

 

Ensemble 2012

Looking for a little entertainment? Here are the songs from the ensemble concert.

The first piece is Timothy’s Amen! and Kumbaya.

Audio Player

 

Next, we have Daniel’s Guantanamera. You’ll want to dance to this one.

Audio Player

 

And now here is Paige’s piece, Slavonic Dance. Yes, she really plays that fast.

Audio Player

Piano Ensemble 2012

We had three performers at the Piano Ensemble concert at Centennial Hall last night and I just felt proud to be related to them.

This was Timothy’s first year. Here he is on stage ready to take a bow.

Here is Daniel performing his piece, Guantanamera.

The above photo indulges my idea of how the world should view our children.

Here is Paige’s piano number and her little head.

Fashion is a big part of the evening. I enjoy seeing the pretty dresses each year.

Paige was just breathtaking and her piano ensemble number was, too.

Bristly

Some days I can’t think of anything nice to say. But here’s a cactus for you to look at until I am in a more agreeable mood.

Listing all the good things that actually happened today will just make me feel worse for allowing myself to be in a funk. However, I would like to thank Masterpiece Theater for the excellent cry it helped facilitate and I’m grateful for the leftovers in the refrigerator which meant I didn’t have to cook dinner.

Thank you.

Details, details

watercolor by A.

Earlier this month, I set up my visiting teaching appointments but forgot to prepare the message. I did a quick skim of the magazine article I was to share and ran to the first appointment and taught a lovely lesson about women being guardians of the health of our families. We discussed ways we could help our families improve their emotional and physical health. I walked away feeling pretty good about the appointment.

But when I got home and set down the magazine on the counter, I finally noticed that the message was entitled, “Guardians of the HEARTH” (not health)! I was embarrassed and had a healthy laugh at myself. Apparently I need to be more involved in the details. Skimming isn’t adequate when it comes to important things. Some activities require deep, concerted, and detailed effort. And good job to those of you who saw my mistake before you read the second paragraph. Way to go, visiting teacher supreme!

I decided to read a book by Charles Dickins last week because he is a master of details. Each description is so rich and essential. I can’t skim through Dickins. It was a good exercise in focus. I also enjoy how he can moralize about the shady characters with sarcasm and characterize the good with idealism.

So hooray for effort in visiting teaching, flawed as it may be. And hooray for my first watercolor in years. And hooray for people such as Charles Dickins whose detailed efforts show me that I can navigate through experiences with humor and idealism.

In what areas of your life do you choose to be gentle in your self evaluations, while still maintaining an ideal for yourself? Tell me, dear reader. I am curious to hear your thoughts.

Order

Salt Lake Temple
Oakland Temple

When I’m thinking hard about something, I’ll set out to do menial tasks. I’ll clean out a drawer or fold laundry, organize a closet or throw things away. Really big problems are best sorted with a paint roller in my hand. After some challenges this week (certainly nothing horrific!), I spent two evenings creating temples from the chaos of my thoughts and little bags of chipped tile.

I can’t say that it helped. My problems are still here, but I have two cute little temples to grout and frame so it’s not all bad.

A few snapshots of an unforgettable evening

 


Surrounded by friends, we watched Paige’s dance studio perform The Nutcracker this weekend. I decided that it’s better to watch her when I’m not looking through a camera, so I don’t have many photos, and I have no photos of three of her numbers. I lived the experience instead of trying to preserve it and share it, because ballet is very emotional and best enjoyed live.

 

 

We loved the snowflakes.

Paige closed the first act with this pose and snow falling all around her. The show could have ended there because it was so beautiful.

Richard and Daniel were on the technical crew this year. Daniel manned the spotlight and Richard filmed the performance.

Sarah and Bryan were able to come. It’s nice to have family to cheer you on.