ADDITIONAL JOY

Last Monday, I got to attend the choir concert for two of my talented seminary students, and to make it even more fun - they sang Broadway tunes (my favorite)!  I loved every toe tapping, energetic, sing-along song they performed.  

Emalene singing "Musical" from the show Something's Rotten.

Mason rocked to "Grease Lightening" from Grease.

The Abba medley from Mama Mia was a terrific show stopper.

Look how much fun Emalene is having!

The props for Grease made for a lot of fun!

Mason was a joy to watch.

My Girl: Emalene

My Boy: Mason

And then my dad decided to surprise my daughter by attending the Farmer's Market last Monday.  I asked for pictures.... and dad complied.  (Although I was hoping he would include himself in the picture.  I need to be more specific.)  Kiara was thrilled.  Dad also took my other daughter to dinner while he was there.  I asked her for pictures... and she just forgot.  (Insert my eyeroll here.)

Kiara with her little helper on the left.

My Red Skittle is absolutely one of my favorites!

And then here are some other random photos that bring me joy:

According to Skittles he walked ALL the way to soccer.

His mother tells another story.

Red Skittle's soccer team

He's the red head in the middle.

Two of my beautiful seminary girls sent me this picture.

I am glad they wanted to share the love with me.

I love you, Grace and Sariah!

Kiara is growing her painting skills.

And Skittles loves painting too.

Kiara, Cody and Skittles painted with friends on Sunday night.

Oops.  She accidentally painted her face?!

What a strange child I have.

Speaking of strange children.

I wanted a picture of Cody's new haircut.

This is what I was sent.

He's cute even if he's silly.

Like father, like son!

Skittles shows off his haircut too.

Sometimes Kiara still gets cuddles.

I'm jealous!

Skittle's primary teachers are AWESOME.

They made sugar cube temples.

It may have accidentally broken, but I'm sure it was tasty.

Skittles at the REAL temple.

How much joy I have!  I love my biological daughters!  I love my son-in-laws!  I love my grandson!  And I love my "adopted" seminary kids!  I have so much joy!

MOTHER'S DAY and PIANO RECITAL

It was a beautiful Mother's Day and a difficult one too.  I'm grateful for a wonderful family who loves me.  And I'm grateful for a mother (who is now in heaven) who loves me.  I'm also thankful for these two wonderful women who honored my mom since I couldn't be in Colorado.  (Thank you, BTB ladies!)  I miss her.  Here's some of our goings on.  

Scott spoiled me.

We played lots of games and he made dinner - steak, potatoes, and delicious homemade brownies!

Red Skittle was so excited to give his mom the flower and card.

And my final Kentucky Piano Recital was also Mother's Day weekend.  The performers were excellent!  I love and will miss all of them!  (One performer isn't pictured because he had a soccer game to play... and three other students were unable to attend.)

Wow... things are getting real.  We are packing, selling, getting ready to put our house on the market.  And it's sad to think of all the "lasts" in Kentucky.  But I'll definitely miss my piano studio.  These kids (and two adults) are some of my favorite musicians EVER!

GREAT

 A GREAT day begins with a GREAT seminary class, doing GREAT things.  And of course, celebrating the GREAT American Shelbyville Seminary First Annual Donut Shoot Out is... well... GREAT!  Here are the rules:  Competitors have a minute to eat as many donuts as they possible can.  They have to keep the donuts down (no throwing up).  And they have to wear crazy hats while competing.  It was soooo fun!  Here are the pictures of this GREAT event:

Boys Winner = Nate

Girls Winner = Grace

Me in all my cowboy glory!

(The movie in the background is the best cowboy movie ever made: Silverado.

It was on mute and was just for ambiance.  😂)

"On your marks!  Get set!  Go!"

David gave Nate a run for his money.

Go, Max!

Mason gave it a great shot!

Holding on to her hat while competing, Sariah ate as fast as she could.

Layne wore the mandatory cowboy hat OVER his baseball cap.

Jonah showed off the sugar on his lips.

Competition is a serious business according to Nate.

Emalene didn't agree.  She had a hard time not laughing.

Brett was pretty serious about it too.

Grace didn't think she could represent the women so well... yet she did.

Then this evening I got to go support three of my girls from seminary at their track meet.  I'm so proud of all three of them.  They are doing GREAT things.

Emalene ran the last leg of the relay.

She was FAST!  They came in 2nd!

I could never do hurdles!

Way to go, Grace!

Look at Sariah jump!

You go, girl!

And speaking of GREAT things... My daughter started a Farmer's Market business.  Today was her first Farmer's Market.  If you are in Rexburg, Idaho, please check it out.  She's really talented in the kitchen!

The cutest baker in the world!

So proud of this girl of mine!

Earlier this week I taught the Parable of the Laborers (or the Penny Parable) to my seminary students.  We held our scriptures out in front of us for over 2 minutes.  They were awesome!

They each got 2 Reisins for participating.

Even those who only held the scriptures for only 15 seconds.

MAY DAY - STAR WARS DAY - SKITTLE'S BIRTHDAY

Already May has been a delight and it's only day 8!  Tradition in our family is that May 1st is celebrated with May flowers.  (Grandma T shared this fun tradition with me and I shared it with my girls.)  This year, Spencer got in on the fun.  Of course, my daughters, being poor college students, couldn't afford flowers so I got pictures in the mail.  I loved it!

My son got in on the fun by posing for me.

Isnt' his smile perfect?!

Isn't Katia lovely?

Flowers make everyone happier!

Don't forget to smell the flowers!

Skittles thought they were just for him.

He had to share with his mom!

I took a picture with my own May Day flower.
Skittles said about the picture,

"It's my rose! Grandma loves me."

I do!

And I was super excited that Brett wore this shirt.  If you know, you know!  :-)

"I am a stick!"

Kiara is an AWESOME mom!  She makes life fun.  She didn't fail to celebrate Star Wars Day - ("May the 4th be with you!")

Red Skittles - He loves "baby yoga"!  Ha ha ha!

Kiara tried the Princess Lia buns.

And childhood isn't childhood without pretend games.  According to Skittles he and Peanut Butter were "tracking the dragons to get the money and the treasure."

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY TO THIS GUY!  He's grown up so fast!  He loved the robot dinosaur Scott and I got him.

And he's loving soccer.  Check out that smile and determination.

My baby girl got to go to BYU's Women's Conference this past week with her mother-in-law.  I'm so glad she loves Alisha.  And she LOVED learning at the conference.

Scripture study on campus

Service

Beautiful Girl!

Sweet Girl!

The group!

What a fun week!  Looking forward to more memories.  And sharing more with y'all!  Check out my other blog, if you are interested at:  THE WAY I REMEMBER IT... (lifelessons-howirememberit.blogspot.com)

And if you are interested in being notified when I update my blogs, please let me know.  I'll send you an email update.  I'm planning on getting off Facebook ASAP.  They won't let me share my other blog because "fake news?!"  I guess "The Way I Remember It" is controversial?!  Anyways... PM me or text me your address.