Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day started out with decent weather.  Decent enough to get out.  We went for a Sunday family walk up Thomas Creek trail.  It was pretty and we stopped at the rope swing for a bit:

 Clara slept well with her minions:

 On Monday morning we went with some friends to a shooting range.  Our friend recently purchased an entire arsenal, and it was good fun.  We aren't quite NRA card carriers, but it was a great way to spend the morning.  We had big plans for the day, like swimming with a bunch of friends, followed by a picnic.  However it was FREEZING and we ended up going to a movie.  Epic.  It really stunk.  Our friends took there kids to it and their 4 year old son kept saying, "I hate this movie.  Can't we go home?"  I was yelling that in my head, but I think the kids thought it was ok, so I guess it sort of made up for the dashed plans:

 Rob had Tuesday off.  We were going to take the kids out of school and head to 6 flags, but we had other commitments, so those plans were also scratched.  Some people were not happy.  But on the up side Rob and I went to for a hike up around Dry Pond Loop (and he broke his toe).  It was very pretty and the weather was cool enough for it to be really pleasant.  

Let Summer Begin

We have had moody weather, some days its nice, some days not so much.  Accuweather told us on Saturday that it was going to be cold, but we had planned an outing to Sand Harbor and decided to go anyway.  It was super nice.  Not cold.  It was a perfect day.  And not crowded.  We met several families up there, we picnicked, and hung out. Can't wait for many, many, many more Tahoe days.  It turns out, Tahoe is a pretty amazing place to live by.

2013 Piano Recital

Last Saturday the kids had their recital.  Whew, what an event.  They practiced hard, hard, hard.  A month ago they were supposed to have their pieces memorized and then have the month to polish them.  Anders did that, but Lucy and Tucker for various reasons hadn't reached that point.  I was feeling a little stressed out.  For the last three weeks they practiced every day for over an hour.  And honestly, the morning of the recital Tucker finally was able to get through his Anglaise piece with no mistakes.  It was a close one.  Miraculous was how his teacher described it.  At the next lesson they had a really good talk and made some goals about really putting in the time and effort to take their playing to the next level.  Can't wait to see how much they improve over the next year.

 All of the performers:

 Lucy and Ellie:

Here is the footage of the kids at the recital.  And then again when they are a little less nervous so that you can hear the songs without some of the mistakes caused by nerves.  I am proud of them:

Kindergarten Mother's Day Tea

The Friday before Mother's Day Clara's class had a Mother's Day Tea.  I cannot tell you how excited Clara was about this.  She assured me multiple times, "Don't worry, there won't be tea.  Just lemonade."  And she asked me every day if I remembered that Friday was the tea.  The morning of the tea, she put on one of MY favorite dresses of hers, because, "I know how much you love it."  When we arrived each child read the book they had written about their moms.  Then they made us lemonade in a bag and served us the lemonade and scones.  It was pretty much the cutest thing ever.  And just a few words about Clarice.  I sure do love her.  And she sure loves me, more unconditionally than any person ever has.  I don't know if that will last, but she really thinks I'm the best of the best.  Hugs, kisses, multiple I love you's on a daily basis.  For all her sass she is sweet to her very core.  I feel sick and sad that next school year she will be in school all day.  I will miss her company.  I will be on my own, for the better part of the day for the first time in 13 years.  It's not as exciting as I thought it would be.  Mostly I feel really sad about it.  I'm starting to regret not having 5!

Mother's Day

This was a great Mother's Day.  I slept in and then was completely surprised when I walked into the living room and saw the old desk that has sat in pieces in our garage for years, waiting to be restored, completely and beautifully restored.  Rob had a friend in the ward do it.  I was so completely surprised.  Awesome gift.  Then the kids gave me gifts.  Clara painted this adorable painting, Tucker wrote an awesome poem (the boy knows me well, I loved it), and Anders and Tucker make me super cool coasters.

Rob made an incredible dinner (I'm at the point of my homemaking career that if I never ever cooked or cleaned again I would be very very very pleased, so him making dinner is like the best best best best best thing ever) and this delicious peppermint chocolate cake.  It was delectable.

 It was a beautiful day and we took a drive up to Tahoe.  Spectacular as usual.  The kids had fun climbing around on the rocks, Rob talked to his parents, and I enjoyed the view from the shade:

 I love these people and am really truly blessed to be their mom: