senioritis

A friend of a friend was looking for a high school senior to shoot some photos for a training video called Photo Vision. Long story short, she hired Sarah for the job and these were some of the results.

This girl of mine has been busy applying for colleges, preparing audition pieces and dragging herself to school and seminary everyday. She's already been accepted to a few schools and is anxious to get started on the next phase of life. Me, I just sit back and hum the tune to Taylor Swifts new song, Never Grow Up as I watch my little butterfly spread her wings as she prepares to take flight.

I love you, Sarah!

because boys will be boys

Sammy's pumpkin just kinda rolled off the roof, but it was way exciting none the less.

music,music,music

The kids around these parts are always engaged in some sort of music study. Even Sammy chimes in with his harmonica now and then. On any given day, at almost any given hour, music can be heard emanating from some part of our home. Poor neighbors.

This fall brought with it a special focus for Joseph and Katherine as they were required to polish up some special pieces for the Suzuki Celebration event held at the Conference Center. Joseph, who has taken the slower route on finishing Book 1 in guitar (2 years and counting), was pushed to learn some more advanced pieces and Katherine spent hours perfecting Vocalise by Rachmaninoff. Matthew has been busy getting piano pieces ready for piano federation and was fortunate to jump in to the mix because he happened to know the Vivaldi piece they performed.

There were hundreds of kids involved in the event. It was really hard to spot my babes in the swarm of performers.


But as soon as Concerto in A minor began my mommy radar zoomed in and found Matthew, the boy with the dancing violin.


Joseph was easy to spot because his small group was featured on the Jumbo tron.


And out of the hundreds of kids they chose to zoom in on, our sweet Kate was featured on the big screen not once but twice!


The following two video's are of Matthew. In the first he is performing a Hayden Concerto accompanied by our own Analisa. A piece he felt was too "babyish". He was more than happy to put it to rest and has started full force into next years 17 page Mozart Concerto.

The second piece is a Chopin Prelude he performed up at Weber State yesterday. He said the piano was way too "bangy" and hard to shape phrases with. I thought he did great.

Halloween 2010

Introducing Frankenstein, Sassy Flapper girl, Crabby Patty and a Bloody Soldier.

Despite the very uncooperative weather, Halloween rocked at Comfy Chaos this year.

We had the traditional pumpkin carving fest.

The elementary school parades.

Even the teachers got in on the action. The kids (and parents) loved it!

Miss Kate and I spent the morning making popcorn balls and some pretty spectacular Brain Cupcakes. They were so gross it was awesome.

Later, Miss Nerd girl (yeah, right) and I made tortellini soup while make-up artist extraordinaire, Sarah, created her masterpieces. Grammy and Grampy came over for some hugs and to take some pics. Even Topher tried to get in on the love fest. Too bad he didn't make it past the wrapper.

The kids scattered in different directions but came back with company for all the good stuff at home.

You know you've made it big when...

Your picture is on the Rock' n Style Microphone box at every Toys' R Us worldwide. Come on, you know you want one? ;)

Best Waffle Recipe, EVER.

(take that Bisquick)

Because I'm crazy and have 6 children at FIVE different schools, mornings can be a little chaotic here on Sunnydale. I stumbled upon this fabulous recipe found at Annie Eats. It is meant to be prepared the night before so that in the morning all you have to do is flip the on switch to the waffle maker, throw in 2 eggs and a dash of baking soda and voilà! You've got piping fresh, hot waffles that put IHOP to shame. The best part for me is smearing on a little butter and apricot jam and handing them over to my teenage girls as they run out the door in three different directions. Your family will sing your praises. They are seriously that good!

Ingredients:
½ cup warm water
2¼ tsp. active dry yeast (I use instant – either is fine)
2 cups milk, warmed
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
¼ tsp. baking soda

Directions:
Combine the water and yeast in a large mixing bowl. (If using active dry yeast, let stand to dissolve 5 minutes before proceeding.) Add the milk, butter, salt, sugar and flour to the bowl. Whisk until well blended and smooth (you can also use an electric mixer.) Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature overnight. Do not put in the fridge!

When you are ready to make the waffles, preheat the waffle iron. Just before making the waffles, whisk the eggs and baking soda into the batter until smooth. The batter will be very thin. Fill waffle wells and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Cook until crisp and golden. Top as desired with butter, syrup, or fresh sliced strawberries, etc.

drama queen

On second thought, make that Lady of the Theater.

At the end of last term and as part of her theater grade, Sarah was "forced" to audition for Shakespeare Competition which her school takes place in every year. Belonging to an Arts school she felt pretty confident that the parts would go to the seasoned, thespians of the group. Not the opera loving, musical theater type of gals. To her utter dismay, she landed a role that would take her places completely OUT of her comfort zone. She would be playing Queen Elizabeth in Richard III soon after her husband and sons had been murdered. Rehearsals were held every morning in September beginning at 6:30am. Getting into this character was not her ideal way of starting the day! She fought against completely giving in to the process til just a few weeks leading up to the big day. The director called her bluff in front of the entire company which forced her to dig deep and discover ways to conquer the whole miserable experience. She spent hours in the basement, shouting out lines, mastering the iambic pentameter of the scene and lowering her voice to the right tone to fit the mood of her character.

Brett drove down to Cedar City to support the team and watch our baby girl in action. I held the down the fort on Sunnydale and got word through text on how she was holding up.

This was her a few hours before competition


This was her during rehearsal








The team took 1st place in their division. A great accomplishment for a work well done. But not one she'd want to repeat anytime soon!

chick magnet

I observed dozens of squealing girls chasing him around the playground today. And I must say, I did not like it. One. Little. Bit.

bitter sweet victory

If you get the Deseret News, you might turn to the sports section and see this!

Skyline's Analisa Nielson competes in the first doubles finals at Liberty Park, helping the Eagles claim the 5A team title.

I mean seriously. Couldn't she just she just quit tennis and get a few endorsements from say Nike or Wilson? Tough stuff, girlfriend!!

I am a fan of any sport that let's a gal get away with hair-bows, pearls and yes, even...

Gold Spanks

She and her partner, Syd, fought their way to a third set in the finals! As can be seen from their cried out puffy eyes, they came just a little short that day, and took 2nd, but boy were we PROUD!

Due to some amazing wins earlier that day on their part, Skyline took State which was a huge accomplishment in and of itself. Congrats on a stellar season Lady Eagles!
You AMAZE ME Analisa... just the way you are!

a true story

Once upon a time there was a little girl that loved tennis. At first, she admits, it was all about the outfits. But soon it became more than just the newest pleated skirt and more about how hard and fast she could wack the ball over the net. She spent tireless hours perfecting her strokes, moving her way slowly up the rankings when a silly fall down some stairs landed her with two fractures on her left wrist. "Who needs a backhand anyway," she thought. "I'll just work on my forehand and footwork and continue improving my game as best as I can." And so she did. Three to four hour work outs became her norm that summer. A dumb sweaty old cast wasn't going to slow her down. No sir-ee-Bob. The cast finally came off and life as she knew it was sparkly and new again. Til one day, the little girl who loved tennis, while in a third set tie break match, heard a pop on her right wrist which forced her yet again to the inside of an all too familiar Instacare. Severe tendinitis was the new diagnosis. "No more tennis til it all heals up. Could be weeks, could be months", she was told. With the start of High School tennis a couple weeks away her dream of playing Varsity seemed impossible. Driving to and from physical therapy with her love being put on indefinite hold she leaned over to put her broken little hand on her mother's hand and said, "Thank you. Thank you for driving me to and from all these visits and caring so much for me. I don't know what I'd do without you." At that moment, the girl who loved tennis and her mother just cried and cried. And her mother knew that even more than a love for tennis the girl had developed a grateful heart.

Her coach saved her spot on Varsity until she was well enough to hold a racquet again. Last week she and her doubles partner who went undefeated the entire season, won Region.

Tomorrow and Saturday... STATE!!