Concert Schedule

We just wanted to give everyone a heads up for Celestra's concerts for the rest of the year. Her first concert will be this Wednesday, April 21 at 7:30pm in the Kent Concert Hall at USU. This concert is actually a really neat experience. It will be directed by Craig Jessop and, along with Cache Children's choir, many of the valley's 4th and 5th grade children will be joining them. The kids have been working really hard for this concert and the theme is "The whole world is singing" and the kids are singing songs from all over the world. The concert is free to the public.

Her next concert will be on Thursday, May 6 at 7pm in the Morgan Theater (next to the Kent) at USU. This is the Choir's annual Spring Sing and, once again, it is free to the public. The kids will be performing some of the numbers from the concert with Craig Jessop as well as some of the numbers they will be performing on tour this year.

And that leads us to her final perfomances. We are headed down to St. George this year on tour. The kids will be performing at several schools down there and doing workshops and clinics with guest directors. This will be a great opportunity for the kids. It is a three day event and, for those of you down in that area, I will get you more information as it becomes available. The dates for the tour are May 20-22.

Highlights

I promised Cele that, as soon as I could find the money, I would let her get highlights in her hair. Well today that dream became a reality for my precocious 12 year old. And after 3 hours of hard work by the girl doing her hair, here are the results. I think it turned out great and Cele is super excited and loves it. Now if only she'd stop growing up on me...

I'm Free

I was just looking through old files on my computer and found this poem. I had to share it with all of you. I know some that were really close to my mom are still struggling with her death and I know I still have my hard days. Maybe this poem can give you some comfort. It sure seemed to speak to me because it's truly how my mom would want us to be and remember her.

I'm Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free.

I'm following the path that God has laid, you see.

I took his hand when I heard his call.

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day.

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

I found that peace at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joys.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,

Oh yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I savored much.

Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief.

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your hearts and peace be to thee.

God wanted me now;

He set me free!

A birthday weekend

What do you do for a young girl turning twelve for her birthday? Why a sleepover with her closest friends right??? (Not recomended if you want your sanity to remain intact) Well, that and a chance to go to see the latest movie on her list of 'must see', How to Tame Your Dragon. Then there is the ever present cake and ice cream right? But wait, what about the family. How do you fit them in to all these plans and ideas? Well by celebrating said young woman's birthday for an entire weekend!

So we embarked on this (absolutely insane) idea starting on Friday (the 26th) right after we finished with an insanely busy fundraiser for her choir. (thanks to all who helped and donated for that. It is much appreciated!) Thus begins the sleepover portion of the party.

Cele's friend Erika Larkin

Cele and her friends admiring one of her (many) birthday presents

Opening presents

A moon sand kit from Erika Larkin

More Pokemon cards from Katie

Chatting with Erika Larkin and Jade

Rayne Chillaxing

Erika Rassmussen watching the movie

hello Katie : )

Playing with moon sand

A jumble of sleeping girls and stuffed animals

the girls brought out Cele's entire collection to sleep with

more sleepers and stuffed animals

Those that were able to spend the night included: Katie, Rayne, Erika Rassumssen, and Jade. Erika Larkin joined us for a while that night but wasn't able to spend the night. She joined us again for a little while the next morning before the movie.

And now we enter phase two: Saturday, March 27

We are off to see How to Tame your Dragon

This time the contingency of friends has changed a bit due to other plans

and the inclusion of inviting some of her guy friends (though only one was

able to come).

The kids LOVED the movie and are still raving about it!

At the mall for cake after the movie

Cele gets more presents. This one is from Jason and

includes a dragon egg to be hatched and chocolate

Here we have Kelsey, Jade, and Jason

Cele and Rayne trying to eat cake while laughing

Erika Rassmussen with her cake

Jade and Kelsey have colored teeth, all thanks to the frosting

tornado simulator

The kids in the simulator

Phase three was spending Sunday with her dad so...

Now we have phase four:
Dinner with the family

We got to go to Grandma and Grandpa Brown's house

and I cooked one of Cele's favorite meals, Tonkatsu

Grandma made the cake (thank you SOOO much mom!)

Aunt Alisha, Uncle Kellison, cousin Ethan, Grandpa, and Grandma

were all there and we all had a great time!

Cele blowing out her candles

Ethan tries his hand at blowing out candles too

Soooo there you have it. An entire weekend, four days, spent on birthday fun. I need a break!

Meg has a new home!

When my mom died, Cele and I thought we would have to move so as to make a home for her dog Meg. However, that was not to be. My mom's friend Susan, who also uses a wheelchair (her daughter Hope and I are friends and our friendship back in Middle/High School led to our mother's friendship) had lost her companion dog about a year and a half ago. Meg is now in good hands and gets to keep doing what she loves. Working as a companion dog. Cele is also happy with the arrangement as she still gets to visit Meg any time she wants.

Alice in Wonderland

Wanna see an acid trip in the form of a movie but still have a good time? Well then, make sure you go see Alice in Wonderland in 3D. It definately fits the bill!
















Especially if you head to the movie with my crazy friends! This was a great break for Cele and I from all the hullaballoo of the last month.

Two years already

It's already been two years since I started this blog. In that time, many things have happened in our lives. Most good, a few bad, and some rather startling and drastic. Let's take a quick look back...

- My divorce (the whole reason I started this blog. So the family could keep up with our lives)

- Celestra has gone from this (age 10)

to this (age 12)

- Many, many choir concerts including the 20th anniversary celebration of Cache Children's Choir and a choir trip to Salt Lake to help the Salt Lake Children's Choir celebrate their 25th anniversary

- two visits to Spokane, Wa. The first to celebrate the marriage of our sister-in-law/aunt to Darryl Burgess and the second to watch our niece/cousin graduate from High School

- A trip to Seattle, Wa and Vancouver, Canada

- A visit from our favorite niece/cousin Brianne

- An emergency flight on helecopter by my mother to Salt Lake where she was put on a ventillator, allowing us another year and a half with her.

- My graduation from College (at least my 1st graduation)

- A couple more weddings, My baby sister Melissa and my friend Laura

- A couple reunions with old friends of mine from High School

- Cele performing in the Opera Carmen

- Cele starting Middle School and the flute

- A Christmas surprise for Celestra in the form of a trip to Houston

- The death of my Mother

What a ride. It will be interesting to see what this year will bring.