Tucanos March 2010: Sibling Bday Celebration

Bryson and Christopher both have birthdays in March and they were "big" birthdays this year. Bryson turned 16 and Christopher turned 25.

All the siblings decided to get together for dinner at Tucanos, a Brazilian Grill, to celebrate.

Here's a picture of the Birthday Club card Bryson received.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Bryson and Christopher!!

Bryson's 30-point Piano Solo Cup

Bryson decided at the end of school last year that he wanted to stop taking piano lessons. Larry and I weren't very excited about that, but after several discussions with him, agreed to let him do so, once he completed a couple of things. One of those was to earn his 30-point Solo cup.

Cups, in Federation Festival programs, are earned by performing in front of 3 judges and receiving a score from 1-5, with 5 given when the piece is performed as closely to perfect as possible. At the end of last summer, Bryson had 29 Solo points, earned over 6 years, which means he had received a 5, or "Superior" rating 5 years and a 4 or "Excellent" rating one year. A score of "1" is given when a student performs poorly, and our kids' piano teacher won't even let them participate in the Festival if they aren't prepared to at least a performance level of 4.

Bryson prepared his number, albeit with some foot dragging and grumbling - because he was SURE he wanted to quit piano, went to Festival, received another "5", and promptly quit. Our piano teacher is also a secretary at his high school. Rather than have him come back several months to an awards and recital night after he stopped taking lessons to "present' his cup to him, which he didn't want to do, she brought it to school and he brought it home.

So, finally...now...he has his 30-point cup.

He plays the piano beautifully. It is a joy to listen to his music, and at times he will also sing along, which we enjoy.

And last month, after taking some time on his own to reflect on what matters in his life....

he wants to take piano again.

(Can you hear the smile of both "knowing" as well as relief and gratitude coming from his mother's heart? He doesn't think he can fit it into his schedule right now, but I hope this summer he'll really try to make room for it. It is a talent that will bless his and others lives forever.)

Driving Lessons with Bryson

Bryson has his learner's permit for driving now, he's actually had it for a while - the kids can get it when they turn 15. I was primarily the one who took the older 3 kids out to practice driving when they had their learner's, so I excited to be able to go out with Bryson. This picture was taken the first and last day I took him out on the road. We'd already spent time during earlier days practicing in the parking lot and neighborhood. Bryson did such a good job. I was impressed with his calmness. H really is and will be a good driver.

It isn't his driving at all that causes me to stop driving with him. It's my heart. I wasn't really nervous driving with him, but because he's just learning and I was the one teaching him, I had extra adrenaline flowing in my veins - and that made my heart stress out. It calmed down easily once we came home and I was able to take my meds, but there isn't any reason to stress my heart when I can prevent it.

(I don't know why that first line is underlined, and can't figure out to to take it off - oh well. haha)

Christmas 2009

Bryson putting ornaments on the tree.










Cathi unwrapping bells and ornaments for Bryson to put on display.












Our Christmas animal collection.











My Christmas Village.















Just before turning out the lights on Christmas Eve.













Bryson's excited to open his gifts.











Larry laughing because Cathi gave him the exact same music CD last year: C.W. McCall's Greatest Hits - and he still hasn't listened to the first one! (Maybe that's why she didn't remember giving it to him.)













Cathi got a bird feeder that will hang from her bedroom window.

















Larry opening his book of letters.....













and realizing what it was.








Bryson gave Larry a gift certificate to Weapon Blender, so Larry could get his own airsoft gun and join Bryson in using them.

Bryson's Solo in "Miracle on 34th Street"

There was a pre-show act for "Miracle on 34th Street", the play Dustin and Bryson were just in. They had various groups sing Christmas carols to help create the right mood for the play. One of the pieces was a young man, dressed as a soldier, singing "I'll Be Home for Christmas". The person who was originally singing the solo had to miss two performances and the play director asked Bryson to fill in.

They included this song because that was the era the play took place in, but it seems equally as fitting for our holidays this year as well.

Bryson did such a great job!

Dustin is standing on the floor below Bryson, slightly to the left, next to the lady in the green coat. He is easier to recognize once he turns around and puts his black dress hat back on.

Enjoy!

The Many Faces of Bryson in "Miracle on 34th Street"

Newsie calling out the headlines.












Full view as a Newsie















A member of the Macy's Annual Christmas Parade Band















Caroler















Macy's toy department store employee

Too close to Call!

Who wins??? You decide and let us know :-)

Random July and August pics

Bryson participated in two soccer camps in July. The first was a ReAL camp, 5 days long - 2 hours a day and was held at Churchill Junior High.

He also attended a week-long BYU resident soccer camp.





















Christopher had fun using his engineer skills to build this Lincoln log tower, and then allowed Jason the honor of "blowing it up"!

Random Photos for May and June '09

It must have been funny, whatever it was!














Ostrich anyone?












Zoboomafoo Bryson!





Bryson and Cathi had a date to go see "Treasure Island" at Hale Center Theatre. Bryson had given Cathi the tickets as part of her birthday present. Cathi gave Grandma Lynn a ticket for her Mother's Day present, and Larry and Cathi gave Dustin a ticket as part of his birthday present. It was an evening of laughter and fun.










An exchange for an exchange...









On Mother's Day, Cathi received two copies of "Fiddler on the Roof", so she exchanged one for a copy of "The Sound of Music", which she had forgotten she had received the year before. Sio that was exchanged for "Somewhere in Time" and it arrived in the same box that Larry's Father's Day DVDs arrived in.







A moonlit view from our front porch.

A Change of Seasons

Where have the days gone? It seems that only yesterday I was standing in line with Dustin, waiting for him to begin his first day of kindergarten. Now we are finishing our last days of middle school with Bryson. Only 3 years of high school and all of our children will have finished their public education. It doesn't seem possible! I don't feel old enough to have all my children grown and on their own (almost).

I've said many times, "It's a good things mothers can't decide when their children grow up. We would have them jerky through time so unevenly. Stay little and precious for too long, race through the trying toddler years, stop, start, grow, stop growing. What wisdom their is in having one day follow another. Some days it is so hard to let the peace and joy and celebration go. Other days we don't think we can possible live through the first hour of the day - let alone the hours that follow."

These are a few random pictures of Bryson's last days in middle school.

Bryson was the Vice-President of the National Junior Honor Society at West Jordan Middle School. In mid-May, part of his responsibility included the induction ceremony of the newest NJHS members. This first picture is of his all decked out after that event.

"The Boyzz in the Band"

Then, of course, we attended the final band concert of his middle school career. Dustin, Christopher and Niki also played band during middle school. Dustin choose to take other classes beginning his 8th grade year. Christopher and Niki took band all the way through high school, including AP Music Theory - for which they both earned college credit. Bryson is focusing on computers in high school and would love to take band as well, but doesn't have enough hours in the day to fit it all in.

All of our kids participated in car pool for the three years they were in middle school, then took the bus to the high school.

Bryson's car pool group was pretty much the same kids all three years, or at least the same families. This picture was taken on the last day they all attended West Jordan.




And of course, any reason to celebrate is a Great Reason for ice cream!!!

Congratulations on a job well done!!!

Happy Birthday and Congratulations!

Happy 15th Birthday, Bryson!!!


What a terrific young man he is! He excels in almost everything he decides he is going to do. He is heavily involved in school, has completed his Eagle project, is looking forward to earning his last few merit badges and getting his driver's permit. He's thrilled that he keeps growing! When we measured him on his birthday, he was 5 feet 9 1/2 inches tall - still trying to catch and pass those older brothers.

Of course, the one thing that keeps him sane throughout his busy life - the thing he really has passion for is SOCCER!!!!

And that's what the congratulations are for: the day after his birthday, he found out he had made the high school soccer team - as keeper - just what he wanted! I don't think he could have gotten a better birthday present! (We tried to top that - by taking him to Golden Corral, his favorite restaurant, for his birthday - but I think making the team still won out.)

We love you, Bryson. Have a wonderful year!

A Father's Love

What else can we say? All is right with the world!

2008: A Year in Review

There were lots of changes and memory making events in our family in 2008.
Here are some of them:

Family
Christopher and Briana's wedding
Our trip to Disneyland in March (Larry, Cathi, Dustin, Bryson)
Nicolas - our foreign exchange student from France

Larry
Promotion to Manager of Refuse Collection for Salt Lake County Sanitation
Released as 1st Counselor in Bishopric
Called and sustained as High Priest Group Leader
Remodel of Master Bath and Bedroom - right down to the studs
Repainted Laundry Room
Purchase of new dishwasher, washer and dryer

Cathi
Going on dates to the plays at Hale Center with Larry and each of my kids.
4 hospitalizations in one year (after years with none)

Dustin
Moved home after ending his engagement to Emily
Moved to his own apartment in Murray
Promoted to 'Dispatch' and then 'Trainer' at IHC courier department
Beginning school at Weber (Jan 2009) - "Criminal Justice and Forensics"

Christopher
Married Briana Beatse on December 27, 2008
Became 'pepper spray' certified
Continued schooling at BYU
Switched major from mechanical engineering to manufacturing engineering
Continued employment as security guard at BYU Harold B. Lee Library and IHC courier
Served as ward activity chairperson
Moved twice

Briana
Married Christopher
Got to go to London to do study abroad over the summer
Continued education at BYU - Drama Education Major
Moved twice


Niki
Turned 20!!!
Continued schooling at UVU - majoring in Sign Language Interpretation and Deaf Culture
Moved apartments (they turned her 1st apartment into married student or men's housing)
Continued employment at IHC
Switched IHC departments from food prep to housekeeping in the nutrition offices
Highlighted her hair red
Pierced her ears
New clothes style, new makeup - blossomed!
Had both previous employers (IHC and Salt Lake County) say they HAVE to have her work
for them during the summer - they can't live without her. So...she worked long crazy hours for
both of them.

Bryson
Soccer!!!! Bryson has said several times that soccer is what keeps him sane. He plays year round
- indoor (winter) and outdoor (spring, summer, fall)
4.0 GPA for 1st quarter of 9th grade
Finished 8th grade as an SBO officer and Secretary of the SBO organization
Started 9th grade as a member and officer of National Junior Honor Society
Completed Operation DPC (Dry Pack Canning) - His Eagle Scout Project
Decided on his own to apply for a 'sweeper' position at Heartland Elementary - and got it.
Received "Excellent" for his duet festival and "Superior" for his concerto festival

Bryson's 9th Grade Science Fair Project

Bryson's 9th grade science fair project was on whether or not the location of the weights on a pinewood derby car would affect the speed of the car during the race.

He made a new pinewood derby car, made arrangements for Officer Jewkes from the West Jordan Police Department to come and test the speed with the laser gun, set up the track and ran the tests. As far as they could tell...the location of the weights didn't make any difference at all.

Bryson's Christmas Concert 2008

Here's a (2:30) clip of Bryson playing one of the songs at his Christmas Concert 2008. Hope you enjoy it.

Family Scripture Reading

Family Scripture Reading....



























College Age Style....

Trying Out for Something New

Bryson and Dustin both completed auditions for A Christmas Carol at Hale Center Theatre last Saturday. Neither one of them received a call back, so they won't be in the show this year, but I think it's wonderful they were willing to try out. The photos above were their 'head shots' which are required when you audition at Hale.