I love music

I love music. I have it playing for a lot of my life. Cooking, cleaning, dressing, driving, gardening, on the computer, it's usually on. Music is such a huge part of life. It can up my energy to do things that are difficult such as running or cleaning. It can calm me down and help me relax. It can add to a mood or ambiance. I can hear songs from my past and they can take me right back to a single moment in time. Howard Jones - "Life in One Day?" Jumping on the mini-tramp on our covered deck on a summer afternoon. Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - "What I Am?" Driving home from play practice in 9th grade. Alphaville - "Forever Young" & Depeche Mode - "Somebody?" Many jr. high and high school dances. The Cranberries - "Linger?" Driving around Dayton with this cute new guy, Kenneth Rawlings.

Music remind me of my favorite movies or TV shows. Ferris Beuller - "Oh Yeah," by Yello. Say Anything - "In Your Eyes," by Peter Gabriel. Any John Williams music (Star Wars, Jurrasic Park) or any Danny Elfman music (Batman, Pee Wee's Big Adventure). M.A.S.H. theme, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," "I'll Be There for You," X-Files theme.

Let's not forget hymns that mean so much to me, "I Stand All Amazed," "I Believe in Christ," "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief," "Amazing Grace," "Lead Kindly Light," "As Sisters in Zion," "Called to Serve," this list could go on forever, so I'll just leave it at that.

Of course everyone has "their" song as a couple. Ours is "Dreams" by The Cranberries.

Music can have a downside as well. A new band formed just down the street from us and band practice can be super loud and super long. It's not that they sound bad, it's just that they sound loud and repetitive for long periods of time. My kids sound loud and repetitive on the piano, but I it doesn't last as long as band practice and we are usually the only ones hearing it.

Another downside to music is blog playlists. I have been guilty of this as well. Luckily someone told my husband how annoying it was and he passed it on to me, so I silenced mine. Now I find it very annoying. I don't mind blogs having the option for music. I want to hear what my friends, or people I'm stalking, are enjoying. So at times I will turn on their playlist, especially if they mention it. However, trying to find the location of the playlist and pause button on the different blogs that I have open in my tabs is really annoying not only to me, but to anyone else in the room.

Ok, those two things are really just minor annoyances. The real downside to music is basically the same power that makes it great, but used for evil instead of good. Lyrics that make you feel sad, bad, dirty, or angry. Loud, pounding rythms that drown out any hope of feeling the Spirit. Have you ever really liked a song and your singing along to it not really thinking about what the lyrics say until you have your parents or your kids in the car/room? I hate when that happens. I'll try to do better.

Now it's your turn. What are some of your musical memories? What's "your" song? TV or movie themes you love? Favorite hymns? Let the music play!

P. S. I did put some of the above songs on my playlist, so if you want you may turn that on while you are writing your comment.:-)

Enjoy This Male Perspective

My friend shared this blog of her friend, Ryan, who is a high school teacher during the school year and a "house spouse" during the summer. This is some really funny stuff. I love reading about a dad doing it mom style and gaining a little perspective. Start with the above link and then continue on, it just gets better as he tries to do it all, like we all do.

Catch up on Theron

May 2nd was the Pinewood Derby. This is not my favorite event. I know the boys love it, but the parents take it so seriously that it can get a little stressful. I was very excited that Theron's car did amazingly well. This was our first successful car. I must say that always makes it a little more enjoyable. All the boys received an award for their car and then they awarded the 3rd, 2nd and 1st place ribbons.

Theron's car took 3rd place! Let's just say he was much happier this year than last. I'm a den leader, so from the stand point of a leader I think the event went really well and I think that most people left feeling okay about it all.

Theron took his taekwondo belt test to become a senior blue belt. He did really well, and will receive his new belt next week.

Theron had a very successful school year. He loves school and learning. Theron is planning on spending this summer reading, playing, swimming, playing piano and hanging with friends. He is very excited for scout camp in a few weeks.

Catch up on Orion

I was able to go on a field trip with Orion's first grade class in the middle of May. We went to the Discovery Gateway and Clark Planetarium for a cool 3-D movie. First off, the kid I was sitting next to on the bus ride up was a talker. They were showing Cars and he just wanted to tell me everything about it. I had my iPod going listening to a book. So, please stop talking, Kid. I was tired and grumpy that day, it was a really hard day for me.

l-r Zack(a.k.a Talker), Sage, Hannah, Orion & Jessica

I look at those sweet faces now and wonder how I could not love being with them. This is such a cute picture. On that day though, I did not love it. Thank goodness my friend, Amber, was there to keep me sane or it could have been ugly. My favorite part of the day was the 3-D movie at the planetarium. The kids were just so excited and amazed trying to touch everything.

I love the look on Orion's face. It was a really cool movie. You felt like you were on the bottom of the ocean. I really do love going on field trips with the kids. I'm glad I went even though it was a rough day.

Orion is doing soccer camp with Dylan and cousins.

He finished off his swimming lessons where he almost passed level 3, so close. He will continue to work hard at swimming so that he will be able to pass it off in July.

He is very excited to go to Scout Day Camp this year. He isn't 8 yet, but he still gets to go. He can't wait for his birthday and his baptism this summer.

Catch up on Dylan

Dylan learned how to ride his bike at the beginning of May. Do you know what that means? That is another thing that I am not required to teach another human being ever again. I. am. so. excited!! I mean, I could teach someone, but I don't have to. He was a pro right away. I'm glad I finally learned the right way to teach kids to ride bikes. I wish I had learned sooner. The key is balance. I know you are saying, "Yes, and?" I will just say after running after Orion last year for hours, getting really mad, I finally did a google search and found this site. I didn't use all of it, but the second #1 under steps was the key for us. It was a miracle.

Then in the middle of May he lost his first tooth. He was so great about letting me pull it out. That's right, I pulled it out. Some of my kids are big babies and won't let me touch their tooth, but he was great about it. Pop and yank and blood, oh yeah. Luckily, the tooth fairy did remember since it was Dylan's first tooth. She gets really lazy after that, no guarantees.

He is currently working on his ABCs on a site called Starfall. He loves it. He is getting so excited for Kindergarten.

He is going to soccer camp this summer along with Orion and a bunch of cousins in Orem.

He finished swimming lessons in May and is doing so well at it. He will do another week of lessons this summer with Orion and cousin, Samuel.

I taught him a song on the piano and am now questioning the wisdom of that decision as I hear it 50 times a day. Dylan is great and so much fun.

Seriously, just catch up already!

I really just need to get caught up on my blog. I use my blog for both sharing family events and sharing my thoughts. When I'm not caught up on events I don't feel that I can just share my thoughts. Sad all the way around. It's a lot like my house. Little projects that I want to get done, but not until I get all the day to day stuff done, and if I don't get that done then ... well, you can come see for yourself.

That's not why we're here though, so lets get to it. Today I will use my blog to avoid cleaning my bathrooms. Shh, don't tell.