Karlee's Senior Recital

Last Saturday, my vocal student- Karlee performed her senior recital at the tabernacle.  She did a beautiful job.  I was so proud of her.  She sang a beautiful varied program of songs she's sung in the last four years- including Italian and Latin arias,  art songs, folk songs and lots of crowd pleasing musical theater selections.  I was her accompanist.  It was well attended by her family, neighbors, ward members, and friends.

When Karlee first started voice lessons with me four years ago, she was very shy.  Her mother would bring her to lessons and come in to listen.  When I'd ask her a question, she'd turn to her mother for her to answer it.  She was so shy.  Wow- what a change:   Saturday, she stood with confidence and poise and introduced each number with a story or interesting fact about the song.  Then she sang each beautifully.  What a rewarding, culminating experience for both of us!  I love what I do!

I was so surprised at the end of the recital when Karlee's Dad brought up a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me.  

Karlee plans to major in voice in college.  Congratulations, Karlee on a beautiful recital!  Good luck in all you do!

That's George! He's a Prophet!

When everyone was here for the reunion, Joan was playing with my grandson, Caleb in the living room.  She found the Teachings of the Presidents manual and showed it to Caleb.  "Who's this, Caleb?"  she asked.  Two-year-old Caleb surprised us both with his answer, "That's George.  He's a prophet."  I know all Grandmas think their grandkids are the smartest, but you have to agree that's pretty smart!

Tonight I Caught Grasshoppers

Tonight I caught grasshoppers with my grandson, Nathan in Wisconsin.  No, I'm not in Wisconsin.  But it doesn't seem quite so far away tonight.
First, I talked with Brielle on the phone.  We chatted about the book her mom's reading her and that I'm reading-  Heidi.  Then it was Nathan's turn.  First he read me his "word wall."  His mother is teaching him to read this summer, and he was anxious to read me the words they've posted all over his wall.  Then he read me his little book.  Then he took me outside with his cordless phone and we caught grasshoppers in the cool Wisconsin evening.  "I have one in my hand, Grandma!" He then told me how they would catch grasshoppers and feed them to the toad they caught.  "But my Dad let the toad go while I was asleep. . . and I'm okay with that."  And somehow I felt like I was right there with him.     I express humble gratitude for the miracles of technology that let me catch grasshoppers from so very far away.

Gabrielsen Family Reunion, 2012

The Gabrielsen Family Reunion, 2012 was held here in St. George this year- hosted by Pam and Roger.  It started Friday evening with everyone meeting at Paradise Bakery for dinner.  We sort of took over that place for a couple of hours.  I'm sure they were glad when we left.

Saturday morning was the Gabrielsen Open Golf Tournament for the guys.  The lunch started at 12:30pm.  We met at the Sunbrook Pavilion.  We had subway sandwiches, beans, chips, potato salad, fruit, pasta salad, krispie kreme doughnuts and snow cones.

Lily loved Pam's pasta salad.

Ami's little girl, Eloise

Lined up for the donuts

The snowcones were a hit on a hot day.

I wonder where Whitney learned her baby snatching skills?

Stacy and Whitney

Dr. Ryan and Ken

The siblings:  Pam, Patty, John, Kay, and Joan

Representatives from the Morris Clan

Gabrielsen Family

The Stratfords

Our Family

The Mickelsen Clan

Hal giving his "what this duck means to me" speech.

Hal relinquishing "the duck" to Ken as Ken won the Gabrielsen Open Golf Tournament this year.  So now the duck takes residence in our house for the next two years.  

Ken giving his "I don't deserve the duck" speech.

Fun and games for the kids.  The Candy Hunt.

Red Rover, Red Rover . . . 

Caleb's turn

Stacy's turn

That evening, we attended Maddy Young's ( Tom and Stacy's) baptism.  What a great family they have!  It was so fun to be there and see the pure excitement and joy on Maddy's face.  Then, they gave baby Charlie (Mindy and Jeff's) his blessing.

Thanks Pam and Roger and everyone for coming!  

Camerons and Morris's Visits

Right after Blake's graduation on Sunday, Brian and Michelle headed back to DC, the Cameron boys and Blake took off in the car and moving truck for Utah, and Shonna, Ken and the kids stayed in a motel near the airport.  In the morning, they boarded a plane for here.  It was nice Ken could help her with the kids and that they could come and stay for a week with us. We so enjoyed having Shonna and the kids with us all week (June 4-10th).  We went shopping Tuesday and got some water toys for the kids.  Wednesday, we tried them out.  

Caleb was fascinated with this ball shooting toy.

Lily just loves to be outdoors, though she's not too sure about the prickly grass.

Tom and Joan came on Wednesday evening.  They had spent the day in Bryce Canyon.  Tom was thrilled for the added amenities at the Hinton Hotel since his last visit.  He thought the wading pool was just for him and took a soak late that evening.  Oh, Tom.

On Thursday, we headed out to the Sprayground near our home.  The kids had fun in the water- once they got used to it.

Caleb loved the MONSTER truck spray.

We had a picnic there for lunch.  Yum!

On Friday, we took the kids to the downtown St. George water park.  The person who designed that park was one of two things: 1) a genius, or 2) a kid.  Since I'm neither, I wouldn't think of it, but kids LOVE it.  It's a river, I guess you'd say, that flows over red rocks. It starts wide and narrows into what Caleb called a raging river (that kids cracks me up with the stuff he comes up with.)  The kids LOVED it and didn't want to get out.  Even the enticement of going to ride the carousel didn't convince Caleb to get out of the raging river.  

Lily loved crawling around, splashing and pulling herself up on the rocks.

Caleb in the "Raging River"

We finally did get them out, dressed and took them to the carousel .

I think we completely wore little Lily out with all the fun.