Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Classic Celestra

Last night Celestra was sitting on my bed reading a book, completely oblivious to the world. It was just such a picture perfect moment that I just had to snap a picture. The best part? She didn't even realize I had taken the picture until I showed it to her earlier today. That's my girl, taking after her mother, a complete bookworm. Of course it didn't hurt that the book she was reading was part of the Black Beauty series. Horses, of course!


She has parent-teacher confrences coming up tomorrow and they always send out preliminary reports so there aren't any real surprises for the parents. Well, she has done so well this year that she was doing the 'mom since I have done so well don't I deserve a reward?', after she had shown me her paperwork. Yep, once again proving that she really is my daughter, rather than wanting a new toy or candy, she wanted to visit the schools book fair and pick up some more books to read. She is completely addicted to the written word. How many other children out there would want books as a reward rather than chocolate or a toy?!

In other news, Celestra tried out for the opera this summer. This time it is not the university students putting on a production and needing children for the children's part, this is the Utah Festival Opera Company! She is stoked! We are pretty well assured that she made it in because her old choir director really wanted her to audition. I wasn't going to let her since we will be gone for a few days at the begining of the summer for my nieces graduation but the director said it wouldn't be a problem. This means Celestra will be extremely busy this summer. The performances run through the begining of July to the begining of August and the Opera choices that she has to be in are Carmen and two shorter Italian operas that the are doing as a double feature, Cavalleria Rusticana & I Pagliacci. How cool is that!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Great friends and good food

Today Celestra and I went out to dinner with some really good friends of mine, two of which I had not seen in quite some time. It was great to get together again and catch up. We should do this more often guys! And next time, hopefully have more time to spend together.

{Laura Hansen: the bride-to-be}

{Tiffany Smith: the former roommate}

{Kirianna Florez: The consumate English major}

{Celestra Anderson: The crazy child}

{Joy Anderson: (You decide what goes here)}

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Happy Music Days

This last week has been music central around here. Celestra had her weekly choir practice and I took my camera along and got some great pics of the kids. Being the parent liason for the choir has been a ton of fun this year. I love the kids! They are just so cute and full of energy. Now if only they would share some of it with me...

{The wide mouth belongs to cute little Jack Salmond}

{Two great friends Daniel Francis (left) and Jeremy Hardman (right)}

{Madison Beck and Bryson Hackler try to figure out the new music}

{Robyn Woodbrey hides behind her music just because she doesn't like the camera}

{Owen Sidwell studiously practices his sight reading skills}

I also got to go to a concert that some of my friends were in. It was for the choir I was part of last year, the USU Women's Chorus. It was great to see some of them again but it sure made me realize how much I miss being part of a choir. Sadly I just don't have the time for it, especially once I get back into school in the fall. One of these days I hope to be able to get back into it again.

{My friends Tonya and Jessica}

{The three of us after the concert}

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Many missed birthdays

I just realized that I have not posted birthday messages for people for quite some time. Bad Joy, Bad, bad Joy. *Slaps wrists and gets to work* Well to make up for all of those missed birthday's here are the family and close friends birthdays I have missed since August. Man this is going to take a while...

#1 My sister Alisha on June 20


#2 My friend Laura on July 29


#3 My sister Tonya on August 20


#4 My brother Scott on November 17


# 5 & 6 My sister Penny and 'Dad' Steven Brown on November 29


#7 My niece Brianne on December 4


#8 My 'Mom' Kaylene Brown on December 22 (I think, I always mix up the exact day)


#9 My friend Tiffany on February 5


and so I don't forget to mention it...

#10 My sister Desiree on February 17

There are probably even more that I have forgotten and I'm sorry but this is what I could remember off the top of my head. *ducks for cover and tries to find a hiding spot* I do love you all, I promise, I am just extremely forgetful. But then everyone on the above list is probably already well aware of that. *wink*

Monday, February 9, 2009

A baby shower and an old friend

Saturday Celestra and I made a trip down to Salt Lake to attend a baby shower for her Aunt Sarah and her new cousin Jackson. It was great to see that side of the family after such a long stint between sightings.

{Little baby Jackson}

{Big brother Brian is sleepy}

{The Paparazzi}

{The cousins Celestra and a sleeping Brian}

{Grandma Eiko, Mommy Sarah, and Baby Jackson}

{Most of us: Kristine, Sarah, Jackson, Skylee, Jennie,
Isabelle, Shannon, Me, Celestra, and Eiko.
Missing: Jacey and Brian}

After the shower, we headed back north and made a stop in Layton to visit with a friend of mine from high school that I hadn't seen since Celestra was about 2 years old. It was great to see her again and to meet her adorable little girl Ceiryn.

{My friend Melissa and her little girl Ceiryn}

{Celestra and Ceiryn}


{Me and Ceiryn. She really didn't want us to leave.}

All in all, it was a good day just rather tiring. It was good to get home and crash.