About that teaser the other day... {01 June '10}

So, here's the story:

About a month or so ago, my nephew Brant came to me with a very special proposal. He is a producer for the Mormon Channel.

The Mormon Channel is a radio station which produces several programs having to do with topics that are important to members of The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints (The LDS church also known as the Mormons). He asked me if I would be interested in hosting a children's radio program called "Scripture Stories". HECK YA!

So, after accepting the calling, I was then asked to choose five children as cast members. I really felt that I needed children I knew and felt comfortable with, and who felt comfortable with me as well. Immediately I thought of one of my current students, Katja. She is such a special little gal who is precocious and amazing. Along with Katja, I just HAD to have her little sister Chloe. What a cute little girl. She is only five years old but reads like a sixth grader with the sweetest little voice that sounds like a three year old. Absolutely amazing and so very adorable.

Next, I needed to think of three more children. I decided to just let the names "come" to me. I honestly couldn't stop thinking of three little children who attend my school. I taught two girls a couple of years ago when they were in first grade. They are sweet little twins named Emilyand Lizzy. Along with those two beauties it made sense to have their big brother, Alexas our fifth cast member. You can check out their beautiful family blog here. (I stole all of the photos from their mother. Thanks, Amy!)

What is it all about?

Well, if you check out www.radio.lds.org. On the top bar, choose "Programs". From there, scroll down and choose "Scripture Stories". Currently, there is only last year's recordings which were a study of The Book of Mormon.

This year, we are studying "The New Testament Stories". This is the program which I will be hostint. The program is set up for children at home to follow along in this book:

They are the Illustrated stories of the New Testament. The program is scripted...mostly. The part that is not scripted is the questioning part. I have specific questions I ask and then I direct a discussion with the children about the answers. There has been a lovely spiritual feeling in our little recording studio! I love these children who obviously love the Lord and have such faith. They are teaching me to be humble, faithful, and loving with each meeting.

I am so very new to the whole experience of production. Every script as well as every episode is sent to the church curriculum department for approval. It is a much longer process than I thought it would be. This is why the first New Testament episode hasn't been published yet...SOON though! I'll let you know. I am very blessed to have this opportunity to be a part of this special adventure. I'm on board for 40 episodes. The cast of five children are involved in 10 episodes each. Then, we switch. My second cast includes: Kate, Calvin, Talia, Ky, and Maya. The third cast is: Chloe, Julia, Charlotte, Dylan, and Alicia. (I hope) Then, for the last 10 episodes, we return to the original cast of Katja, Chloe, Alex, Lizzy, and Emily. I'm so excited yet humbled at the same time. The program should be ready for your listening pleasure (haha) very soon.

In the meantime, I can show you how it looks in the recording studio.

Here I am with my new best friend, Mike!

I love this round table...oval actually.

There are just the six of us in this little, quiet room.

Usually I am wearing earphones to be in contact with the engineer in the

sound booth. We are just having a little conversation before

the recording begins.

Here's our little cast.

Chloe, Katja, Emily, Lizzy, and Alex

This is how Emily looks from the "parent's side"

of the glass.

There are two large windows looking into the studio.

Behind one window is the sound booth and behind the other are the parents who can

watch and listen in on the recording.

The sound is piped into the hallway. If they move around, it totally

messes me up and I have to start again.

I guess I'm more distractible than I had previously thought.

Lovely little Lizzy.

(Emily is looking on in the background)

Cool Alex!

We got to go into the empty Conference Hall after the recording.

What a treat.

But, that is for another post.

So...what do you think of my new project? I can't even express how happy this makes me. I love every second of it. I can barely wait for the next recording.

Any questions?

Love {May 27, 2010}

I am feeling all kinds of profound love for my 24 ducklings tonight. They made me very proud today as they performed their Opera for their parents. It was a joy to watch my those proud parents as they watched their children. And...I KNOW they are the best parents of the best children in the best Provo school. BUT, nothing compares to my pride and pure joy and love for my little actors and actresses as they sang and danced their hearts out today.

Silly teacher that I am, I didn't take any pictures...guess I was too busy directing their performance. I did get pictures of the scenery though. Anyone who has pictures OR (especially) a video of the performance, please send them to me!

Straw house

Stick house

Brick house

If I could be six again...

The other day I was talking to my best friend, Kathe. We were driving somewhere (probably to eat :sigh:), when we passed a little girl who was about six or seven years old. She was wearing her bright pink swimming suit with her matching flip flops while riding her bike along the sidewalk. Not a care in the world. We started talking about what the world would be like if adults could do some of the things that children get away with on a regular basis and not have other people think you're crazy. If the world DID have that rule, here are 10 child-like things I would try to get away with at age 46. And, as an added bonus for you, try to picture yourself doing each one of these things:

• Ride a bike wearing my swimming suit and flip flops.

• Eat a hot dog and be totally oblivious to the fact that I have mustard all over my face.

• Walk on my tip toes whenever I go from one place to the other.

• Have a melt down, kicking and screaming, while grocery shopping.

• Draw on the walls.

• Stick my tongue out at bad drivers.

• Read. Word. By. Word. Like. A. Robot.

• Do cartwheels down the hallway at church.

• Run at top speed out the front door whenever I hear the ice cream truck. (I'd throw in a bit of SCREAMING, of course.

• Go to bed at 8:00!

What would YOU do?

And...I would totally do what this girl is doing in this video. I love her!

Teaser!

...of things to come...

I Live For These "Teacher Moments"

Sweetie-pie Daniela, showed up at school like this today:

Do you think her mother loves her?

I do! And I love her too!

Happy Mother's Day!

The Super-duper-never-believe-ALL-the-things-we-did Saturday Night!

HOLY COWBELLS! What a wonderful weekend! Not only did my oldest daughter graduate from University on Friday, but, we were lucky enough to have a sleepover with our twin grandchildren!

Milo and Isabel came all the way from Colorado to spend the night at our house (okay, maybe they came for Melissa's graduation but I like to think they came just to see me). Anyway...what fun we had. It would be pages and pages of pontificating if I told you every single detail about what happened so, I've decided to give you a short little summary of each picture and YOU can fill in the details.

Here we go:

1. Saturday around 5:00 pm in the car, headed to Provo.

2. Digging in the toy bins.

3. Swimming in Barbie HEAVEN.

4. Playing with Grandpa's new birthday Nerf machine gun. Milo's new nic-name? "Machine Gun Mike" (Can you guess who came up with that?)...there are also no less than 15 different pictures and video clips of this exact.same.picture!! If you'd like to see them, too bad!

5. Our quick trip to JoAnn's Fabric to find crafting goodies (like I don't have enough) and a little stuffed animal. Milo named his dolphin "Splasher" and Issy didn't pick one for her bunny. OHHHH! And, check out Isabel's lovely scarf (from the toy box) and gigantic bobble necklace. What a beauty, don't you think?

6. Dinner out at Noodles. This is of grandpa Terry acting like a walrus (?) and Issy ignoring him in order to look fabulous.

7. Milo eating his Macaroni and Cheese with chopsticks. (Issy used hers to eat her spagetti. Talented, no?)

8. Grandpa Terry acting like a...a...a walrus with tusks coming out of his nose? and Issy acting terrified.

9. Grami Tami getting her "sewin'" on. I made up the patterns for the gorgeous (hahahaha) treasures.

10. Milo helps to stuff his bear.

11. Milo's (hugging) bear. He picked the color, eyes, nose, and shape of the mouth. The first one I made was too big. That boy knows what he wants!!!

12. Top half of Issy's ballerina. When I first made up this pattern, I was worried about the extra big head. Turns out, we all LOVED the doll and the head turned out whimsical and cute.

13. A look at the doll's lovely pointed toes with her painted on shoes.

14. Apparently I posted this picture twice...shoot! I could have picked another one just like it only a bit to the right. (sorry)

15. Terry thought it would be so funny to set up Spencer's pants (it was my job to patch them up since they are his favorite climbing pants) with some other clothes on his toilet. Are you laughing yet?

16. Milo "fake" painting a cougar.

17. Issy "fake" painting an eagle. I actually really loved how excited they were to look around in Terry's studio.

18. First of all...this is NOT a giant bong! It is an elk noise maker. Notice that Issy only used one hand as she was clutching the ballerina in the other.

19. Milo gave it the two handed technique.

20. Alert: Look away Erin!! Here's Milo shooting the blow dart gun. He was pretty good too.

21. Isabel not really sure she "wants" to shoot the blow dart gun.

22. This is a bit out of order but I LOVED it. I was coming down the stairs and "caught" this sweet little angel reading "Lily's Purple Plastic Purse" all by herself in the front room. What a smarty.

23. Oops...I guess she finally dared!

24. Helping grandpa feed the dogs.

25. A close up of the fabulous scarf/shawl/headband.

25. Isabel setting out her sleeping bag. "Get off Leo you silly dog. He really likes me Grami Tami!"

26. Milo attempting to set up his sleeping bag but getting a bit distracted by the movie previews.

27. All settled in to watch "Aladdin". I love that movie.

28. What is a movie without popcorn??

********************************CUTE ALERT!**************************************

29. 1:00 AM finally asleep. They aren't faking either. Aren't they angelic. I love them so much.

30. "I love breakfast!"

31. Look away Erin!!! Every single cereal choice was sugared! Sorry...just kidding, I'm not sorry one little bit! It's a grandma's right. Right?? We did have soy milk though.

32. 10:00am Sunday: Boo Hoo Hoo! In the car headed back to their parents.

What a wonderful day/night/morning. We miss those two but live on the fact that they WILL be back.

XOXOXO

This Beautiful Girl...

...GRADUATED last Friday! Do you know how amazing she is? It is impossible to put it into words. In addition to all those beautiful features, there is an abundance of BRAINS! She now has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.

Wait, there's more. In addition to being physically attractive, and having loads of brains, Melissa has a tremendous spirit glowing from within. I love the look in her eye whenever she talks to me. She doesn't have a mean bone in her entire body! She is so kind. So generous. These are the things I love the very most about that girl.

Enjoy the pictures from her special day:

Auntie Melissa with Milo and Isabel

They traveled all the way from Fort Collins, Colorado.

(I still can't believe it!)

The reenactment of the graduation announcement

her dad drew here.

"See my fake diploma cover?"

The graduation attendees:

Erin, Spencer, Keeler, Me, Melissa, My Boyfriend Terry,

Erika, Tyler, Milo, and Isabel.

Check out the gloomy skies. It was windy, cold, and rainy.

But our hearts were warm.

Audience activities: Issy drew, Mily played games on my phone.

The fancy shmancy programs

(I really loved these)

Melissa's graduation gift from us:

An ORIGINAL pencil drawing by Terry.

The frame is gorgeous.