Hit by Tsunami

That's what happened to the Milan team on Saturday in the Division Championship soccer game! Michael's team (the Tsunami) swept them clean 2-0 to clinch the well-deserved division title! They had a 5pm game, in about 25 degree weather, and they pulled it off! Michael's team tied this team during the regular season - their only "non-win" - and it was so AWESOME that they came back to shut them out!

Unfortunately, I was on the road to Seattle for a concert, but received updates from Chris every time something happened. I bawled in the driveway as they pulled away - it killed me to have to miss that game for a dumb concert. But I made it clear that I was there in spirit, and Michael was almost glad that his mom was NOT standing on the sidelined screaming her brains out (how embarassing!).

I am so proud of Michael and his team. They were truly FABULOUS this year! Let's see if we can take it again next season! GO TSUNAMI!!!!!!!!!!

The Loss of Innocence.....

Well, it finally happened. The moment I have been dreading since my first child was born. Last night, Michael, Chris and I had "THE TALK".

You know, the one about Santa? Chris said he had made a little comment the other day about it being your parents, so we decided it was time to 'break the news'. He stood there grinning from ear to ear, using his fingers to pinch his cheeks together to stop smiling...too funny. It was such a bitter-sweet moment. I am amazed that we got this far with it. I got all teary-eyed, because I looked at my baby boy who is growing up so fast, and I suddenly became so sad at the thought of how much he is changing and how soon he will be heading off for a mission and college (only 7 years!). At the same time, it was so sweet to watch him get so excited about becoming another Santa in our house, and about being one of the people who gets to help create the magic for the other kids (at least that's what we told him so he wouldn't blab it to the others, LOL). It was a much-dreaded, but sweet moment.

What made the moment even sweeter was watching him realize just exactly WHO has been giving him all of the COOL PRESENTS, tooth fairy money, and Easter candy all these years! LOLOL! That was the best part!

I wonder when the others will figure it out...hopefully not for a long time. I don't think my heart could take it! :)

I love my kids

As much as I can complain about the messy rooms, bickering with each other, not doing chores, etc., I have to say I have great kids. Thanksgiving evening, we got back home from a family dinner, and I began feeling sick. By 3am I was well into the stomach flu. I was so worried about how I was going to take care of 4 kids while being down with the flu. Michael woke up first, and I told him what was going on. He proceded to take over everything. He made breakfast (and most of lunch) for everyone, unloaded the dishwasher with the other kids, had everyone clean the house, took care of Katie the whole day, and attended to me. They were all troopers, and Michael was the leader of the pack. It was so interesting to me, that as they united in service and love, they did not fight or quarrel, there were no problems, no disagreements. There was simply the spirit of love and peace. I am so grateful for them. (And now that I know the place won't burn down if I stay in bed for a day, I might get "sick" more often...)

Can't-cha take a joke???

Ok, people, here's the scoop.......NO, I did not quit Seattle Opera (see post below). I was just making a joke that, being the Coke-snob I am, I could not work for Seattle Opera knowing they sold Pepsi products (it's against my religion). All you poor blokes out there with no sense of humor thought I was serious. :P:::::::::

Sorry for the scare. Next time I will be sure to dumb it down for y'all! LOLOL
(just kidding!)

(you all know I am just teasing, I just had to give everyone a bad time for being so gullible - tee hee hee).

Soccer news!

Well, Michael's last regular-season game was today. Up until today, they were 8-0, with the majority of the games being shut-outs. They have played fabulously! We knew it was going to be a tough game today; we played a Hispanic team, and they (any Hispanic team) are notoriously good and hard to beat. The boys went in really determined to beat this team. Our team (the Tsunamis) scored in the first 3 minutes of play, which was exciting. They dominated the game, and kept the ball on their end of the field almost the entire time. The other team was playing really rough, and one of their kids even got a yellow card (for swearing, of all things...the least he could've done was swear in Spanish! LOL). Anyway, during the second half, the other team scored a goal......OFFSIDES.....but the ref let it stand. :( So, after the closest near-goal I have seen yet by the Tsunamis (right at the end of the game), we ended up tying 1-1. The boys were really steamed that the other goal counted, when it was clearly off-sides, but their coach handled it well. He said even with the tie today, our team ranks 1st in the division! Their final count is 8-0-1, and better yet, their point total is 55-5, meaning we scored 55 points this season, and only let 5 goals be scored by the opponents! Only 5 points in 9 games! THAT is an awesome record!

Next Saturday the Tsunamis will play in the semi-finals, probably against the same team we played today. If we win, we go to the finals. So think good thoughts for the Tsunamis!!!!! KILL EM, GUYS!!! (ooops, did I say that out loud?) Their team is also playing a tournament that goes thru mid-December (yes, December), so we'll have more reports to come!

Nicholas had his team party last night, and he was recognized by his fellow players as the "best goalie on the team". That made his day, to say the least. I am not sure if he will play goalie again or not; the pressure got to him a little at the end of the season, and he also really wants to score. We'll see what happens next year!

WAY TO GO, SOCCER BOYS!

I'm quitting Seattle Opera

That's it. After only two rehearsals, I have discovered I just can't hack it. I cannot be a part of a group that condones the kinds of things I have seen already. I mean, yes, it was a great opportunity and all, but any decent human being would do the same thing if you had seen what I discovered tonight during the break...it's deplorable and vile...wanna know what I saw? .
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:D (ha ha)

Crazy-exciting news!

I have been preparing to do the Seattle Opera Chorus Auditions that are held every two years (which are happening this Saturday, Nov. 8). Since July, I have been studying with a woman (Elizabeth) who worked as a vocal coach/accompanist with the opera for 20 years (and who has since become the biggest angel in my life). She encouraged me to go coach with a couple of people at the opera, just to have them hear me sing, and to get some additional feedback. Two weeks ago I sang for the Chorus Master (Beth). She seemed very excited by my singing, and said if she had an opening in the regular chorus (there are three "tiers" of chorus members)she would put me right in. I was so surprised, but excited by, her enthusiastic reaction. Yesterday I also sang for the musical director of the opera, who is more knowledgeable about music than anyone I have ever met. My one hour with him was *amazing*.

Well, Friday afternoon (Halloween) I received an email from Beth saying that there was a sudden soprano vacancy in the chorus for the production of "The Pearl Fishers", and she wanted to know if I was available to sing!!! Needless to say, I completely freaked out! This just doesn't happen. Elizabeth told me that in the years she was at the opera, she could only think of a couple of times something like this had happened. I haven't done any sort of audition for them, formal or informal, and they just don't cast people without having heard them. Beth said she went the director of Seattle Opera, told him about me, and he approved my participation. Normally when a regular chorister cannot do an opera, they fill the vacancy with someone from the other two tiers of choristers, not fill from outside. This is just so huge, and I am totally dumbfounded that they're giving me, inexperienced me, a chance like this. YIKES!

I begin rehearsing with the chorus on November 10. The opera runs January 10 - 24, so it is a long, VERY busy couple of months for me, especially because I also have the rehearsals, dress rehearsals and concerts with the Seattle Choral Company, and the choir is singing with the Seattle Symphony in their Holiday Pops Concert featuring Marvin Hamlish (go Marv!) I hope the kids remember who I am come late January, and forgive me for being gone for most of three months. They are being very supportive of the idea, but we'll see how long that lasts once I am M.I.A.! I am so excited to be singing this opera in particular, since I sang the role in college (a concert-style performance, not staged), and love the music! I saw the show on their seasons schedule over the summer and thought to myself, "What I wouldn't give to sing in that show". I knew I wouldn't even be able to see it, with tickets being what they are. Now I get the best seats in the house! Woohoo!

This is really a dream come true for me. I have wanted to sing opera since high school. I chose to be a mother, and I wouldn't change a thing; but it certainly didn't erase the dream, you know? I can honestly say that Heavenly Father has been guiding my path the last five years. We moved to Puyallup (where I didn't want to move at the time); I moved in to a wonderful ward; met my best-est friend Carol, who turned out to be my life-saver for many years; had a tenor-friend call me out of the blue to do a recording session, which led me to the Seattle Choral Company, which led me to Elizabeth, whose guidance and connections have helped open the door to Seattle Opera. I am so amazed, because I haven't sought after any of this - I have just been guided and blessed. Chris and the kids have also been greatly blessed during this time as well. It makes me appreciate even more that our Heavenly Father knows us, knows our needs, and wants us to be happy.

Thanks to all of my family and friends who have always supported and believed in me- you have had faith in me when I had none in myself, and that has made all the difference. (and keep havin' it, cuz I am a little scared and overwhelmed!)

Soccer, Singing, and Such

I thought I would update on the comings and goings of the kids (since that's WAY more interesting than hearing about me,right? LOL)

First of all, last spring the boys took the WASL standardized test (B-O-O WASL!)We just received the results in the mail yesterday. Both boys passed with flying colors; Michael in reading, math and science, and Nicholas in reading and math. The best news, though, is that not only did Michael pass his reading portion, he received a PERFECT SCORE -475 out of 475! The WASL requires that you answer things the way they want them to be answered, whether it makes sense or not. Each answer is worth multiple points based on the way the answer is constructed and detailed. It's tricky to get all of the points on each answer. So, we are VERY impressed with, and proud of, Michael, for his great performance!

Soccer - both boys had games last Saturday (and will til the end of time!), in the rain, I might add. I am happy to report two landslide victories (unlike some presidential candidates I know, but I digress)! Nicholas won his game 6-1, and played an awesome game as keeper!!!!! Uncle Dave would be so proud of his goalie-nephew! :) Michael also won his game 10-2, although the opponent's second goal was scored off-sides, which even I could see, but the ref never called....grrrrr.....he let them have the goal since we were so far ahead, I think. Anyway, Michael's team is undefeated after 5 games, and Nicholas is 3-2, but his first two games were against insanely good select teams, and there was no chance for anyone to beat them. So, we consider them to be 3-0! :)

Emily was invited to sing with the 4-5-6 grade choir at Wildwood, as a 2nd grader! She is SO excited, and leaps out of bed on the mornings she rehearses. They have to be at school at 7:30, and she is always ready to go. Yesterday she came home from school looking gloomy. I asked her how her day was, and she said "Fiiiine", in a ho-hum voice. Her cheeks were droopy, eyes half open, the whole dramatic gloomy face going on. I asked her how choir was, and you'd think she'd suddenly won the lottery. A huge smile spread across her face, her eyes brightened up, and she started talking...and talking....and talking...and talking...about how fun choir was. She loves to tell me of the silly warm-ups her director does. It is pretty cute. Her first concert will be in December. I can't wait! You think I am a proud soccer mom? Just wait to see me as a proud CHOIR MOM!!! Do they make bumper stickers for that? LOL

Katie continues to get into EVERYTHING and talk CONSTANTLY. 'Nuff said. :)

So all's well in our neck of the woods. I am blessed to have great kids - they really are the best!

It's never too early, right?

I hope you all like my new look and my new music! I love Halloween and couldn't wait any longer! I beat you to it, Carol! :) I have never gone with a purple Halloween motiff before, so we'll see how long this lasts! The best thing about Halloween for me, truthfully, is that once it's over it's time to gear up for my most-favorite-est holiday of all . . . . . CHRISTMAS! Someone once said they wanted their house to look like Christmas had thrown up all over it....my sentiments exactly. I can't wait to do my Christmas blog! But for now, enjoy Halloween, and send me all of your mini-Snickers bars. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL

(Michael, age 7)

Ok, so I am the worst mother ever, and didn't post anything to my baby boy on his big day. This is a day late, but with much love...

My baby, my first, was born on September 11, 1996 at 4:50am. He weighed 7lbs 15oz and was 21-1/2 inches long. He made mom labor for nearly 20 hours, but who's counting?

Fun fact about Michael - his first given name was Hunter Glen, but after 24 hours of living with that name, we knew it wasn't right. The name we came up with - Michael - wasn't even on our list. But it was perfect. He is SO not a Hunter! My friend Jackie had made him a cross-stitch wall hanging, and had to go back and re-do the name at the bottom. We also have a few cards congratulating us on the birth of Hunter!

Michael is now 12 years old and will be ordained a Deacon in two weeks. He had his interview with the Bishop last week, and came out of his office with a huge grin on his face. The Bishop said "Tell your mom what we just discovered". Michael turned to me and said, "Mom, when Katie is 8, I will be 17. I can baptize her!" He was so excited about that. I think in that moment, the Priesthood became something personal and meaningful to him, instead of just something the old(er) men had and he didn't understand. It was a wonderful moment.

I cannot believe that he is 12! Where has the time gone (besides marching across my face and hair folicles)? He is changing every day, and I am sure in another 7 years I will be writing with the same tears in my eyes as my baby boy is ordained an Elder and leaves on his mission. I can't even think about it.

I love you, Michael, for all that you are, and all that you are becoming. I love your spirit, your intelligence, your compassionate nature, your talents, and the maturity you have always posessed. I also REALLY love your cheeks, your eyes, and that hairy back you've had since the day you were born! (Can you hear him saying, "AWWWW, MOMMMMMMMMMM!!!)

HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY TO MY LITTLE SUNSHINE! WE LOVE YOU!

My Soccer Heroes

Saturday the boys both had their first regular-season games. Their games overlapped, which meant that Chris and I had to divide and conquer; Chris went with Michael and I went with Nicholas.

Michael's team won his game 3-0! Two of those three goals were scored by Michael! One goal was shot right-footed as a forward, the other shot was made LEFT-footed as a mid-fielder (which he is SO pleased about - he's been working that left foot a lot, and most of the boys on his team STILL won't use their left foot to shoot...grrrr). He actually made another goal playing defender, but they didn't count it due to another player being offsides. Anyway, his playing this year (as always)is outstanding. He is really honing his skills, and handles the ball with grace and finesse.

Nicholas LOVES, and I mean LOVES, to play keeper. Wonder where he gets that from.....(Uncle Dave!)? It is his favorite position, and he is recognized by his team and coach as being the BEST goalie on the team. He dons his goalie shirt and gloves and crouches ready to make the save (meanwhile his mother sits on the sidelines having a coronary every time the ball heads his way...which reminds her to fill that prescription for Valium.....). His team was dubbed last year "The Crack Kids" because there are a number of boys on the team that just goof off the whole time, and they are so hyper and uncontrollable. Nicholas and a couple of the other boys are the only ones who take it seriously....but I digress...

On Saturday Nicholas played a team that has been together for 5 years, and is coached by two semi-pro soccer players. Can you guess where I am going with this??? Nicholas played keeper for the first half of the game. This other team was on fire, and took 4 shots on goal within the first minute of the game. Nicholas saved every goal. During the first half, this team basically ran over our boys. They didn't know how to play their positions, how to throw in, how to do anything. Nicholas was blocking goals right and left, while directing the other boys on where to go and how to set up. He ended up having 5 goals scored on him, but with no one playing defense or helping him at all, and with the skill level of the opponents, he couldn't have saved them all;it was a Herculean effort on his part. He saved upwards of 30 shots, only letting 5 get through. He was awesome. At half time, he came off the field and I went to console him. He buried his head in my side and cried. The team rallied around him, as did the parents and coaches, telling him how awesome he played. Even the boy who bullies Nicholas a lot said "Nic, you kicked butt!" (Same kid played goalie second half and got his butt kicked! Ha ha!). Nicholas quickly wiped his tears, gave a couple of grunts and knelt with his team to set up the rest of the game. I told Nicholas the best way to get over his disappointment about the first half was to go out angry and take it out on the team with some great fielding. :o) He did just that. That boy played his giant heart out. He ran, slide-kicked, shoved (ok, not great but that's the way you play!) maneuvered the ball all over and around the other team, defended and had some great shots. He was SO GOOD. If you know Nicholas, you know he takes everything very seriously and gets really emotional. I have never seen him focus in and put those emotions to work like that before. I cannot tell you how proud I am of him.

The team went on to score a goal at the end of the game, and they felt really good about that. The opponents have been undefeated for 5 years, so our team didn't stand a chance. But they played their hearts out, Nicholas above all the rest.

I am so proud of my soccer boys!

Beach Memories!

Please help baby Mia

A family in our ward has given birth to a baby girl with a severe heart defect. She has been in the hospital since she was born, with the exception of a few short days she was well enough to come home. She is now in the hospital, waiting for a donor heart to come availble, and then she will have a heart transplant. Although the family has insurance, it covers only a small part of the medical bills they will end up with. A blog has been set up to share their story, and to give those who want to help a means of contributing. Please check out their blog, and if you are able, help out this wonderful family. Prayers for Mia, her parents, and her brother and sister are also welcome!

I have a link to the blog to the right of this post, under the heading Special Blogs and Websites (I can't figure out how to attach a link...must run in the family, right Sarah?), or you can cut and paste this address into your browser. Thanks for checking it out!

http://www.helpbabymia.blogspot.com

What's YOUR favorite song???

If you know me, you know I could never, ever choose just one song to call my favorite. Too many genres, too many choices. I go through music phases, though, where I listen to the same few songs over and over and over and over and over and over and..... well, you get the jist. Right now I am in the love/mushy/sad/mellow/make-you-think-about-life phase. What's your favorite song in that category?

In addition to all of the blog-stalking I waste time on, I also playlist-stalk, stealing (shamelessly) songs I hear on other people's playlists. Save me the time of having to stalk your list, and just pick your favorite song and post it in the comments. Maybe your song will appear on my playlist (isn't that exciting????). :o)

(this is assuming that anyone actually checks my blog......)

Nope, it's just me that's stupid after all

I figured out my template issues, and wouldn't you know it, it was right after I decided to complain to all of cyber-space about it. Well, you all know me, so I guess this isn't a shock, right? (off to hide in a corner now...)

Blogs are stupid.

OK, so I was getting bored with my background, so I started changing things up. I even found a new site that had the CUTEST backgrounds, but the way you had to upload them was totally ridiculous. I completely messed up the whole blog, and thought I had lost everything. Somehow I managed to retrieve things, and went back to the other website to just stick with their backgrounds. Only now, I am getting the border of the new background and the middle of the default background, and have no clue how to fix it. So if any of you blog geniuses out there know how to fix it, please comment. I won't even say how many hours I spent on this stupid thing yesterday.....

Countdown to the O.C.

We're counting down to the highlight of our year - our annual trip to the Oregon Coast! We leave eleven days from today - woohoo! The weather has been really mild for us this summer, so we're hoping for a heat wave in the next week or so to warm up that beach! I personally love our time there, as it is the only place I've ever been where I can completely forget about my life, and just be. No cell phones, no phones in the room, a few tv channels (but who cares about tv when you have the beach?), no place to go, nothing to do but sit and stare at the ocean. Ahhhhh...can't wait!

The picture to the right is the exact spot on the beach where we sit every year. :o)

Online auction - Kids for sale!

We went to the dentist this morning for the bi-yearly cleaning and check-ups. I have finally learned my lesson about taking all four of your kids at the same time (only took me like 4 years). They actually did pretty well - it was just me who was tired at the end from keeping everyone in line! LOL

Anyway, Michael and Nicholas already have a consultation with an orthodontist set for mid-August. Michael has some severe crowding going on, and absolutely NO room left for all of his adult teeth to come in. He loses his teeth late, so he is behind in the # of adult teeth in, and there's not a millimeter left in there for more. He will probably have to have a couple of teeth pulled soon (that was the dentist's prediction). Luckily, our Stake President is an oral surgeon, so maybe he will be nice and let us make payments for eternity...cuz Michael isn't the only one who will need surgery. Michael will also need a palate expander and braces at some point, and we'll find out more from the orthodontist as to when that will all happen.
$ $ $ $ $ $ $
Nicholas has overcrowding in his mouth as well, especially on the bottom. He also has one incisor that has been trying to come in for over a year and a half, but it can't descend at all. So he may very well have to have a tooth pulled and have the incisor pulled down...and then the braces, eventually.
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Emily had her first panoramic x-ray done today. The dental assistant took one look at it, and turned to me and said "Oh, no...". She'd already been through the boys' "good news" with me. It appears that Emily never even grew adult incisors (upper), on either side. They just aren't there. She has canines, but no incisors. So, the dentist explained that it could go a couple of ways - when her canines come in, if they are close enough to the front teeth, they can reshape them to look more like incisors. If they come in with too much space around them, they will make her a retainer with two teeth attached that she will wear until the rest of her adult teeth come in. Once she's got all of her teeth, they will put in implants. This would be in addition to straightening everything else with braces first - it looks pretty certain that she will need them also, as her palate is really narrow like the boys.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

So here's the deal. We will NEVER be able to afford all of that, so we thought that we will just auction off the kids to the highest bidder, and take the proceeds and get nice porcelain veneers for ourselves!

Starting the bidding at $1.00...............any takers?

Cash donations will also be accepted, and you can drop off checks at any local Wells Fargo - just ask for the "We's Po" fund.

Haven't we paid our dues (and enough of the medical community) with our ears and throat stuff? Gimme a break!

Ok, done ranting.....off to sell my soul to the devil!LOL

Sarah tagged me!

Ok, so I was informed by Sarah that she tagged me and now I have to answer these questions on my blog. I am not a big email-questionairre-answer'er-type-person, but I will humor Sarah on this one because I love her! LOLOL

#1 Where were you ten years ago?
~~~~~~~I was living in Everett with my one-year old Michael, teaching some piano lessons and doing some conducting at Edmonds Commmunity College, and serving in the YW as a teacher, and later as a counselor in the presidency.

#2 Five things on todays to-do list:
*Teach a whole bunch of lessons
*Find something for lunch and dinner
*Fill out a bunch of paperwork for studio, etc
*Buy Michael new soccer shoes
*Work on new blog for music studio (aka - waste a lot of time on the computer)

#3 A snack I enjoy :
~~~~~~~I am really into homemade salsa and chips right now. Trouble is, my digestive system doesn't take too kindly to all of those tomatoes, so I have to pace myself, or I pay for it in the end (pun intended).

#4 Things I would do if I were a millionaire:
~~~~~~~Travel to Europe (Germany, Italy (food!), France (pastries!), Spain, etc) and to somewhere seriously tropical; bay off bills, buy a nice home, pay for kids college education, help family, donate to charity, save the rest...

#5 Places I've lived:
~~~~~~~Only two states for me, and I 've been in a student apt, a basement bedroom, my moms, a tiny apt, a bigger apt, an above-the-house apt., a nice big house, my MIL's rodent-infested house, my moms house, another apt, my dad's house (duplex), the other side of my dad's duplex, another apt, a house, and now another house (that I really like most parts of). Is that enough?

I guess I will have to tag Carol - answer these questions on your own blog, dearie!

Blessings

I just have to "put out there" my gratitude for friends and family, and for all of the many blessings in my life. Being the pessimist I am (sorry Carol, the "poptomist" was short lived...) I tend to dwell on all of the things that aren't going right, rather than to aknowledge the things that are. So I just wanted to publically express my gratitude for my loving and supportive family, a truly wonderful and devoted sister, for friends who stand by me through the thick of it all (and still love me once I emerge from the other end), for colleagues who have faith in me (often enough for the both of us, when mine is lacking), for my children, who daily make me want to be a better person, and who are living proof of my Heavenly Father's love for me - He chose to send these sweet spirits to me, of all people. I am so blessed.

I have to share something that happened last night, as I would be remiss not to be grateful and to share the little miracle that happened in my own life. I went to the temple with a friend (45 minutes away, not across town like most of you blokes!), and we sat in the car talking for a few minutes before going in. We headed in and stopped at the front counter, and I was promptly told that my recommend was expired; needless to say, my heart sank. I really needed to be at the temple last night, and it was the last night they were open before the summer closure for repairs and cleaning. Another brother was called up to the desk, and they asked me some questions and said they could call my bishop and see if he would "vouch" for me. I just knew that the bishop would be gone, given the tragedy that just hit our ward. Just then, my friend let out a gasp, and I turned around to see the bishop and his wife standing behind me. I started crying as he gave the temple patrons the "ok" to let me in. He and his wife were, in fact, late to the session they had planned on attending, so the fact that we were all there at the exact same time was nothing short of a mini-miracle for me. If we had even been 10 seconds off, we would have missed them, and not been able to reach them. So, off I went into the temple, with an enormous sense of love from my Heavenly Father, feeling like he was truly aware of me and my needs - He took care of me. It was a wonderful evening, and am grateful for it.

Sad news

It seems our ward has had its fair share of trials lately....big ones. Yesterday we lost two members of our ward in a horrible car accident. Craig Walther and his daughter Allison Van Geison were killed in Idaho on their way to a family reunion in Utah. Craig's wife (Ali's mother) and Allison's three young children were also in the car, but thankfully survived. Craig is a counselor in our bishopric, a wonderful human being, the best bass in the ward choir (what a beautiful voice!), and dearly loved by all who knew him. Ali is a beautiful young mother, a warm and loving friend, a great YW leader, and a tender, spiritual person. Their loss is felt deeply by our ward and by many in the stake. It is a difficult time - many, many thoughts and prayers to the Walther/VanGeison families as they grieve such a huge loss.

Some pictures of the kids

Here are a bunch of pictures of the kids. The pictures of the girls are from April of this year. The pictures of the boys are from their respective sports season in 2007 - I can't seem to find more up-to-date pictures of them, but will work on it. I also threw in one shot of a rainbow out in back of the house. We frequently see brilliant rainbows right overhead, and we never tire of it. I was also trying to find a good picture of the spectacular lightning storm we had the other night. Chris set up the camera and took a ton of timed-release shots, but I couldn't find the really good ones. Anyway, these pics will have to do for now, until I learn how to use a stupid digital camera all by myself (the one downfall of having a "techie" for a husband is that you never learn to (or get to) do it yourself! :o) I also want to figure out how to put this text before the pictures, but I don't seem to be smart enough to solve that one yet! Anyway, enjoy lookin' at my babies!

Welcome to our blog!

Well, here I am attempting to join the ranks of fellow bloggers. The catch? I am 100% computer illiterate! This will take somewhat of a Herculean effort to figure it all out, but I am so jealous of my friends and family with cute blogs that it has driven me to spend countless hours doing and re-doing things so I can look like everyone else. Hopefully it will be worth it in the end!

I will soon figure out how to add pictures so you can see how big the kids are getting, and I will have to add some of my favorite music, too. For now, check out the links I have posted for the Seattle Choral Company and Rainier Family Opera, the two performing groups I am currently affiliated with.