Fiddlin’, with a Bonnet

fiddle

Here’s the only picture we have of me fiddlin’ at the ward Pioneer Day celebration. My Richard called the dance on very late notice, once again proving he IS my knight in shining armor. I was the only one with a bonnet, which really is too bad because dressing up is so good for you. I played Turkey in the Straw over and over and we watched a big old Virginia Reel come to life, little legs running and little bodies twirling… I say “little” because it was mostly children who dared have this much fun.

Timothydaniel

…But I’m sure the old pioneers would have smiled to see the children thinking of them and having such a good time.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2rV0ey6Op0

My private celebration of Pioneer Day brought deep feelings as I played violin by myself, enjoying  my own arrangement of Come Come Ye Saints and letting the tears flow. Thank you, ancestors, for what you did for your family and for the gospel’s sake. Thank you, Dad, for being our modern day pioneer and being the first to accept the gospel in your family.

Sonoran Shakespeare Players

Sahuarita’s newest Shakespearean troupe is composed of children, ages 3-12. They have named themselves,

The Sonoran Shakespeare Players

Gideon, Tristan, Alfred, Virginia, Paige, Daniel, Timothy, Mark, Emma, Benjamin, & Hannah

I don’t have a lot of pictures because I was busy helping the kids read and act.

Ghost of King Hamlet

The Ghost of King Hamlet appeared, via an overhead projector and transparency drawn by Daniel.

Attacking King Hamlet's ghost

We decided to bring the ghost back over and over again. Great fun.

It was a day full of surprises. The excitement for the play was bigger than I thought. The reading and expression of the kids was more animated than I expected. Their understanding of the plot, characters, and themes was great. We didn’t make it through the whole play in a single reading; we’ll finish over the next few weeks. We also created a timeline of Shakespeare’s life, played a sequence game using events from the play, and ate pop rocks. I was supremely entertained.

Family Tree

Our tree

Richard comes home from work most evenings and looks immediately out the back window and makes a comment about the state of our crape myrtle tree.

This little tree has weeks when the blossoms wane and it looks more like a spent dandelion that has lost its fuzz. That little trunk and my thumb share the same diameter. But despite its small size,  this tree can blossom like there’s a party going on. And for some reason, Richard follows the ebb and flow of our tree with great interest.

I think it has a lot to do with the investment of time he puts into our back yard. After checking the tree each evening, he takes a walk out to the tomato plants, surveys the strawberry patch, adjusts sprinklers, and takes an inventory of  his kingdom.

Are you ready for my simile or metaphor? Faithful readers, surely you were expecting it.

And so it goes. Some weeks our family seems to be in sync with our moods and schedules and we’re in full bloom. Other weeks, we are stretched to the limit by our outside commitments and we feel like spent dandelions.

We’ve had a spent dandelion week. Even trying to pace ourselves, the stress of life has crept in a little and I am ready for a weekend break.  We look forward to a week of full-bloom soon… despite missing out on a Stewart reunion at the Weber.

Dear Weber family

The Play’s the Thing (Hamlet, 2.2)

Mark in armor

Ghost of King Hamlet?

This week we’ll start our reading of Hamlet For Kids with lots of friends in our house and probably a lot of sword play. The tricky thing about organizing this has been to narrow down the activities I want to do.

Should we build a Globe Theater? Make a timeline of plays and compare it to the timeline of Shakespeare’s life? Should we make illuminated manuscript letters? Or just try to write with quill pens? How important is it to learn to write in iambic pentameter? And then there are the roles to cast. Oh, I hope we don’t have an I-wanna-be-Hamlet-fight. (I promise we’ll take turns!)

Through all the wading through ideas, the best and most simple idea remains:

Read the play aloud. Let the kids learn to read with expression and add action and a few props. In other words, you are right, Mr. William Shakespeare,

“The Play’s the Thing.” (Hamlet 2.2)

I can’t wait until the grave scene.

Back Yard Boys

back yard boys 017

I feel some real satisfaction when I see my boys playing with army men outside in the dirt instead of watching t.v. or playing computer games. 15 minutes of computer time a day gives them plenty of outside play time.

back yard boys 027

Richard is finishing up our rain gutters. And just in time for all the monsoon rain.

back yard boys 020

Mark can do a somersault. Doesn’t it seem like it should be spelled “summer salt?”

back yard boys 030

Since we put the trampoline in the ground, it gets a lot more traffic. All the boys love it.

Paige took these photos. I was tied to the stove, but it was nice to be able to say, “Hey, those boys are looking cute out there. Can you go take some photos?” and know that she would do a good job.

School Prep

new books

It’s that time of year again.

Some new school books* to add to the old.

Paper…

pencils…

glue…

This little bit of excitement brought to you by many online textbook sellers and Wal-Mart.

*More to come!

Sunday

Sunflower watercolor by Paige

…a day of Rest.

A day to think, renew covenants, spend time with family, read, & make simple meals…

I talked to Grandma Ruth today. We cheered on our current political heroine and talked about happy things like our upcoming visit.

Now I’m off to bed, ready to start a new week tomorrow.

(Art by Paige)

What to do on a hot day

Pond work

Idea #1: Wear a big hat and wade in a pond. Look for frogs and prune plants. If possible, hunker down low in the water, so it looks like there’s a floating hat. Stand up suddenly when an unsuspecting maintenance man stops by. Double points if he yells. (Double points for Daniel today.)

Sculpey kids

Idea #2: Gather together with friends and create tiny animals using Sculpey clay. While Mom bakes them in the oven, eat Otter Pops.

Tiny mice

Idea #3: Create a house for your tiny mice friends, using odds and ends, such as an empty bobbin for a table, lego cupboards, stray golden beads to fill a treasury, and seeds for food. Don’t forget the trampoline, made from a broken leather doll chair. These critters are shorter than a penny.

Pooh and Piglet

Idea #4: Take a nap. That’s what I did all afternoon.

Princes among Men

Today I celebrate two special people, my grandpa and my dad. I am a little teary today over it all.

Ruth and John Sanchez 1947

This is my grandpa, John Sanchez. He passed away four years ago today. I still ache over it. I miss you, Grandpa.

Grandma Ruth looks just like my sister Sarah. I see Grandpa’s looks in my Dad sometimes.

My Dad 2008

Happy Birthday, Dad. I’ll see you soon for one of our late night chats about grand things. And maybe some jelly toast. With peanut butter.

I love you.

-A

My own brand of Motherhood

 

I am learning that Motherhood isn’t a narrow, restrictive road, and even more important, this path is full of vantage points to my own talents and interests. Overall, my experiences in raising my children have allowed me a greater outlet for my “self” than I ever imagined.

It’s all about making my Own Brand of Motherhood, and trusting that my particular talents and interests were taken into consideration when God sent these children to me. And trusting that He will guide me, often minute by minute, in this journey.

Mom and Mark Minerva Teichert ran a ranch and raised children. As a painter, she almost always had a mural in progress, hanging on her living room wall. She’d paint in her free minutes, many of which I am sure she had to sacrifice to find. As she studied the scriptures and church history, which were the topics of her paintings, she became a scripture scholar. She used this knowledge as she taught her children and grandchildren. Her paintings provided income, but also a larger legacy. Her paintings still help define Mormonism to the world.

In this stage of my life I am most fulfilled as I work in my own home.  As a wise friend commented this week, it’s not about finding fulfillment doing “grown-up” things away from home. It’s being centered at home that makes life most fulfilling. So, these days, I am defined almost always as a mother, but find adventure in incorporating my other interests into my day. These personal interests can actually enhance my ability to mother my children and be a good community member.

It bothers me that EVERY TIME I go to one of my doctors she asks in a very concerned tone, “So, are you still homeschooling?” and then seems amazed to hear that I play the violin (away from home!), pursue other interests, and I don’t feel wasted by my lifestyle, raising four children.

Mothering and Personal Happiness are not Mutually Exclusive, Dr. W.

This week, I have studied Shakespeare, read some Jane Austen, worked on food storage, laundry, and countless other things. I haven’t done my nails, whitened my teeth (the kit’s in the bathroom), or finished my book (which I began in June).

It occurred to me this week as I finished up some laundry and dishes that I am living the fairy tale backwards, becoming Cinderella after I met my prince. Studies show that women work more after they are married than before. You may be thinking I’m moving in a negative direction with these thoughts, but no, rest assured. I believe in the backwards fairy tale. Long live the Backwards Fairy Tale Life!

I believe in work, and the absolute necessity of it because it combats my selfishness. Of all the traits that I work hard to tame, vanity and selfishness are at the core. Being a wife and mother and loving it is so helpful as I try to improve my character and talents.

It also helps that Mark, Timothy, Daniel, and Paige are so absolutely cute and good. And these small people will do great things.

Mom and Mark

Post-Edit Addition:

I sweat bullets over this post, and I still don’t have it right. For instance, I didn’t fully express my innate fulfillment motherhood brings… even without the extra curriculars. Kids are so fascinating and enlivening. They make me want to be a better person. In my case, this means a person who doesn’t seek accolades or affirmation from anybody but my Heavenly Father.

Because He sees what I do and how I try.