TALENT SHOW

I wanted to write this blog post a couple of weeks ago... but I was waiting for a video of our family's talent...  I still don't have the video, but I want to share anyway.

Our ward talent show was two weeks ago.  We all participated.

Key Lime Pie and Kotten Kandy sang with their friend Raisin Bran "Harry Potter in 90 Seconds."  They really did a good job.  It was fun!

Kotten Kandy received a ukulele from her grandfather for Christmas.  She has been practicing faithfully and performed a medley of folk tunes for the ward.  She did a great job!  And she even gave a shout out to her Grandpa Mac for the inspiration!

Our entire family did a dance/lip sync to the Muppet's "Camilla and the Chickens."  It was really fun!  We had feathers and bright yellow shirts.  Everyone laughed.  I find it funny that everyone was surprised that Scott would act so goofy with us.  The whole act was his idea!  He really has a fabulous sense of humor.  I had a few friends video the act for us... but alas, I can't post it because no one has been able to download it for me.  Oh well....  If we ever get a copy, I promise to post it!

HOMESCHOOLERS: FREE TIME

Yesterday, Key Lime Pie, Applesauce, and Kotten Kandy had a bit of free time.  They CHOSE to write stories and journal entries, etc. during that time.  What a proud mama!

CREATIVE WRITING

For the past two months we have been doing a Creative Writing class. It has been super fun, and all of us have really enjoyed writing (even Key Lime Pie). Perhaps I'll share some of our other writing with you one of these days, but today I wanted to share our letters to inanimate objects.  We all enjoyed the assignment and laughed a lot.  (It was also quite therapeutic in a weird way.)

Dear King of the most uncomfortable Chairs!
I would like to express kindly how much you have ruined and hurt my tushy of late!  Not only have you ruined my beautiful backside, you don't scoot close enough to the desk, so I end up stubbing my toe.  You are a disgrace to all the chairs that ever have been made!  And... I feel sorry for you.
Mr. Chair, there is no doubt that you should feel ashamed.  Well, there is much more to say, but I fear that I will hurt your feelings more, so I won't say them.  Though I don't know why I am so nice.  So, I inform you in the humblest manner!
From,
Kotten Kandy

Dear Beautiful and Elegant Pencil,
I am writing this letter to inform you how much you mean to me!  Pencil, I didn't think you could do much for me when I first saw you, I must admit.  But now I regret those dreadful thoughts!  Pencil, I would just like to say a couple of words:  I love how you move so gracefully.  Oh, Pencil, words are too short to express what I feel for you!  I love you!
Love,
Your Beloved Kotten Kandy

Dear Pants,
Don't tell anyone, but I love you!  You are amazing!  You shield my hairy legs.  You shield them in the winter, summer, spring and fall.  I don't know where I'd be without you.  I'd have to shave!!!! And I'd have to wear shorts.  But I am glad that you are mine!  And I will love you forever!
Love,
Key Lime Pie (Your Secret Admirer)

Dear Dirty Dishes,
I hate you!  You get dirty every single time someone uses you.  So, can you be more like pants?  You can wear pants more than once before washing.  Or why can't you be more like dresses?  You can wear them once and they aren't dirty yet.  So, I say again, I HATE you!
Sincerely,
Angry Key Lime Pie

Dear Coke Icee,
Thank you so much for all the times you have come to my rescue.  When I am thirsty, you have helped alleviate my thirst.  When I am tired, you have woken me up.  When I am craving sweets, you fulfill that need.  When I am hot, you cool me down.  I am truly grateful for your constant companionship.  You don't judge me, and you let me use you without complaint.  I am sad when, on occasion, you are unavailable, but for the most part you are always nearby.  You should have seen my excitement when I learned you were moving closer to  my home (only 1/2 mile away instead of 4 miles away).  I was thrilled.  I've never been disappointed with our relationship.  I foresee many more years of friendship in our future.  Thank you!  I love you!
Love, Sundy

Dear Size 12 Pants,
Why do you have to fit so snugly.  Sometimes I feel like I can't even breathe when you are buttoned.  When I bought you two years ago, we fit perfectly.  I thought our relationship would last forever.  Now I am having second thoughts.  Our partnership is hit and miss.  Sometimes I still feel comfortable with our association but there are other times when I feel that you are smothering me.  Can't we make amends?  Can't we go back to the way things used to be?
Sincerely, Sundy

LES MIS AND MISSIONARIES

Our family LOVES Les Miserables.  And this version ROCKS!  Enjoy!  We laughed out loud.

THINGS I LOVE RIGHT NOW

Since it was Valentine's Day this week, I thought I'd share some of the things I love right now.  :-)

Scott - He's an amazing husband!  He is thoughtful, romantic, funny, and spiritual.  He's the complete package.  I may have married the only perfect man left in the world!  :-)

My Daughters - They are growing into BEAUTIFUL young women.  They are not only pretty on the outside, but they are gorgeous on the inside!  They love the gospel.  They strive to do what's right.  And I am truly blessed with my posterity!

Coke Icees - I LOVE them!

Once Upon a Time - This is the only tv show we watch (thanks to Chris who allows us to come over to his house every Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. to watch our guilty pleasure!)  We enjoy the fairy tales and the writers' creativity in making them all fit together.

The Nashville Tribute to the Prophet, Joseph Smith - I've owned this CD since 2006, but my daughters and I listen to it almost every Sunday.  It is so inspiring!

Coloring - Sometimes coloring a picture just makes me happy.  Key Lime Pie, Kotten Kandy and I colored the YW values today.  It was a great activity.  And now we have cute notebooks to take notes in for our YW classes.

Paintings of My Savior - I think Simon Dewey's depictions of Christ are my favorite!  But I love Greg Olsen too!  :-)

VALENTINE'S DAY AT THE DeGOOYERS

We had such a fun and wonderful Valentine's Day.  I have the best Valentines ever:  Scott, Key Lime Pie and Kotten Kandy!

We always try to do a little something for the girls on V-Day to let them know how much we love and appreciate them.  This year we got them a strategy game to play as a family!  Can't wait to play it tonight!

Scott gave me "Love Shots" filled with Skittles and reasons why he loves me.  I'm supposed to take a bottle every time I need some love.  This morning's note said he loved how I was a good friend to everyone!  :-)

I decided to be a bit more practical this year - so I got Scott seeds for the garden.  I gave him a seed packet everyday for 14 days!  :-)  I enjoyed being creative with my silly puns.

In case you can't read my puns, and want to know what I wrote (some of the seeds were really hard, like broccoli and tomato, so I had to be kinda creative):

Lettuce (Romaine):  LEAF it to you to steal my heart, Valentine!
Chives:  Let's CHIVE to our own music, Valentine!
Cilantro:  You SPICE up my life, Valentine!
Onion:  Don't make me cry, be my Valentine!
Carrot:  If you CARROT all, you'll be my Valentine!
Corn:  It may sound CORNY but I hope you'll be my one and only Valentine!
Watermelon:  Don't be MELONcholy, I'd love for you to be my Valentine!
Cantaloupe:  CANTALOUPE, we are already married... but I'd marry you again, Valentine!
Pumpkin:  Hey, PUMPKIN, will you be my Valentine?
Cucumber:  Let's make a DILL:  you be my Valentine and I'll be yours!
Lettuce (Iceberg):  LETTUCE be Valentines!
Radish:  I want to RADISH you, Valentine!
Tomato:  I love your TOMATO butt, Valentine!  (In reference to a story by Garrison Keillor)
Broccoli:  Broccoli says, "I look like a tree."  Walnuts say, "We look like brains."  A mushroom says, "I look like an umbrella."  A banana says, "Dude!  Change the topic..."  I love you, Valentine!

FAMILY TEMPLE DAY

We took a  break from school today.  Instead we went to the temple as a family!  It was wonderful!  We even took a few of our own names.  Kotten Kandy was baptized for my grandmother and Key Lime Pie was confirmed for her.  We each did 50 baptisms and 50 confirmations.  Scott performed all the baptisms.  (His arm was tired when he was through.)  We loved serving this morning.  And we plan to make this a family tradition.  The first Wednesday morning of each month we will be going to the temple together!  I love my eternal family!!!!!!!!!

THE WAY OF KINGS - A BOOK REVIEW

My family just finished listening to "The Way of Kings."  We LOVED it! In fact, we started listening to it again last night.  We couldn't get enough of Kaladin, the hero.  He has become one of our favorite, all-time fictional characters.

The Way of Kings is a rather thought-provoking, character-driven story that can stay with you for days after you've listened to/read it.  This book got our family thinking about what it means to be a leader, the importance of honor, the importance of learning and how to learn, and the importance of self-sacrifice.  A great part of the story is the codes that are meant for the knights.  They are great truths.  The codes are:

• Life before death - Seek to defend life, always.  Never kill unnecessarily, and never risk your own life for frivolous reasons.  Living is harder than dying.  Live free.
• Strength before weakness - All men are weak at some time in their lives.  Protect those who are weak and use strength for others.  Strength does not make one capable of rule, it makes one capable of service.  (The italicized part is my favorite!)
• Journey before destination - There are always several ways to achieve a goal.  Failure is preferable to winning through unjust means.  Protecting ten innocents is not worth killing one.  In the end, all men die.  How you live will be far more important to the Almighty than what you accomplished.  (This italicized part is Scott's favorite!)

Yes, we loved this book.  Yes, we recommend it.  Thank Ben for recommending it to us!  :-)