CDT on KSL

GO HERE to see a news story on Kensie's concert :)

Random Observation

The other night while at gourmet night with my friends I came to a realization. I am not capable of keeping both my eyes closed during a prayer. I'm pretty sure that I know the exact date on which this habit was formed....
May 14, 2001. The day I birthed my first-born. Since then I've always had my eye {usually my left one- it's easier to keep that one open} on the kids during prayers. Why? Well,

1. To make sure they're not pulling the hair of/driving a car on/throwing cheerios at the lady in the pew in front of us during the 4 prayers in Sacrament meeting.
2. To see if they are keeping their eyes closed during the prayer or if they are instead making silly faces at their siblings/seeing if they can eat their entire meal before the prayer is over.

The result is that I cannot pray without cracking my left eye open. Just a titch. Even if there are no children present. I'm not really even looking at anything. It just happens. When I notice that I'm doing it I try my darndest to close lefty, but he wins every time.

Will I ever be able to sit through a prayer in darkness? Only time will tell.

p.s. when I'm the one saying the prayer I have no problem with lefty- I trust someone else will keep their eye open for me.

The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

Unfortunately

it's sunday morning. i've been awake since 4 a.m. i first awoke thinking about the blasted visiting teacher cards i've been working on for the past week {and will never be done with}. then "pre-cruise" anxiety set in {so many things to be done before i can be okay with leaving the children for a week} and there was no going back to bed.

my insomnia led me to google this:

"Unfortunately, Natalie"

This is what I got:

Unfortunately, Natalie has other things going on besides Hep C.

Unfortunately, Natalie defied John's orders to throw the game for Flynn and as a result she was kidnapped by Flynn.

Unfortunately, Natalie had no other clothes with her.

unfortunately, Natalie was horrified to learn that she had won the award for Worst Actress for that year.

unfortunately, Natalie's voice isn't well-suited for the words she speaks.

Unfortunately, Natalie’s unerring ability to stir up secrets often leads her to veer off the beaten path.

Unfortunately, Natalie's response continues to be an annoyingly familiar "No".

Unfortunately, Natalie didn't see the public service announcement.

unfortunately, Natalie’s fluorescent red wig did not guarantee her a place in winners’ row.

Unfortunately Natalie & Matt couldn't make it to lunch.

In The News

Kensie's 15 minutes of fame.......

Dancers from left, Caroline Boyden, 7, Kensie Holbrook, 7, and Henna Inoway-Yim, 8, demonstrate the piece "Innocence." (Jim Urquhart/The Salt Lake Tribune)

If most dances tell a story, then the Children's Dance Theatre's anniversary concert is recounting a 60-year legacy.

Roots and wings are recurring themes throughout the Children's Dance Theatre training, aimed at inspiring its young dancers to stay grounded in the discipline of dance while helping to realize their dreams, said Tanner Dance director Mary Ann Lee.

Those themes inspired "Coming Home: Celebrating Our Roots, Strengthening Our Wings," the Children's Dance Theatre's Feb. 27-28 concert, which marks the 60th anniversary of the University of Utah's Virginia Tanner Dance Program. "We wanted to show the idea that the power of the mission is the reason the program is around now," said Lee, who took over as director of the program in 1979 after founder Virginia Tanner passed away.

On the bill are 13 short dances performed by the 300 students in the company ranging from 8-18, who helped develop the choreography with their teachers. One of the dances, "Innocence" by Tad Simonson, Francesca Sternfeld and the CDT second-grade class, is a whimsical piece inspired by a big, puffy, marshmallowlike gown Tanner made in the company's infancy....

By Alicia Greenleigh
The Salt Lake Tribune

read the entire article HERE.

read another article HERE.

we surround them

just e-mailed this photo to fox news. why, you ask? well, i believe in these principles:

1. america is good.

2. i believe in god and he is the center of my life.

3. i must always try to be a more honest person than i was yesterday.

4. the family is sacred. my spouse and i are the ultimate authority, not the government.

5. if you break the law you pay the penalty. justice is blind and no one is above it.

6. i have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.

7. i work hard for what i have and i will share it with who i want to. government cannot force me to be charitable.

8. it is not un-american for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.

9. the government works for me. i do not answer to them, they answer to me.

***

if you believe {in at least} 7 out of 9 of these principles...email your photo to wesurroundthem@foxnews.com

visit HERE for more details.

February Madness

This month has been pretty crazy around here. Matt's in charge of inventory, and thus is never around.

Kensie is super busy getting ready for her dance concert in a few weeks, which means I've been driving downtown 2-3 times a week for 3 hour rehearsals. Thank goodness for awesome grandparents who are willing to watch the boys so I can stay and watch. I must say that I LOVE being there for her rehearsals. It brings back so many memories for me and it's great to see Kensie making memories of her own that she'll have for the rest of her life. She was chosen to be a part of a photo shoot for the newspaper, so we're heading to Capitol Theatre tomorrow morning for her moment of fame!

We've also been having fun with Matt's parents. Lots of shopping for furniture, supplies, and decor for their new townhouse here!

Last week we managed to get to the Draper Temple open house. It.Was.Awesome.

We are so blessed to live just minutes away. The kids call it "our temple". I remember going to the Jordan River Temple open house when I was little, and I was glad that my kids could have the chance to make that memory, too. Lincoln's favorite part was the "big beautiful light" in the Celestial Room. Kensie loved seeing the baptistry and the bride's dressing room. She has been talking non-stop about how beautiful the temple is & she wants to go back again before it's dedicated. She even told me she wants to get married there. She's thinking ahead.

It was a wonderful event to experience as a family.

The rest of the month will be all about dance dance dance. Then I can start thinking about the cruise!

I ♥ U

♥xoxo♥

New Web Find

The LDS Church has created new websites for the Friend and New Era magazines.

The Friend website, www.friend.lds.org, is for ages 3-12 but also has sections for teachers of primary children and parents. Your children can find coloring pages, listen to stories, play games, etc.

The New Era website, www.newera.lds.org, is for ages 12-18. This is a fun site with talks, comic strips, videos, mormads, etc.

V-Day Fun

Honestly, we're not too big on Valentine's Day around here. No fancy chocolates. No flowers. Although, if I was feeling ambitious I'd definitely be making this amazingness from Bakerella. Yep, that's all cake- even the box! If you're feeling ambitious learn how to make it here.

Me, I stick to simpler things like:

Candy Cane Fun

We always have tons of candy canes left over from Christmas. This is the perfect way to use them up! I unwrapped large candy canes, placed them on a baking sheet and put them in a 350 degree oven for about 5 minutes. You need to watch these carefully so they don't melt too much. You just want them to be pliable. They're a bit hot at first, so test them before you begin molding {and especially before you let little hands help}. You can create whatever you want with them while they're soft, but hurry! They harden quickly.

I also used mini candy canes to make chocolate filled hearts. Just form 2 candy canes into a heart shape on waxed paper or parchment and fill with melted chocolate {I use chocolate almond bark}. Let cool and enjoy!

"Homemade" Valentines

I've never been a fan of the usual Spiderman/Princess/whatever valentines. This year I found a free download for these cuties here. I heart them.

When Matt & I were first married, I always did cute things like this:

Maybe one day I'll have the time & energy for that again, but for now he'll have to settle for some cookies.
Decor

We're severely lacking in the Valentine Decor category. This year we made hearts out of construction paper & hung them from the light fixture. That about sums up the decorating.