Ellie's Talent Show Audition

Here she is with some of the members of her Music Express group trying out for the talent show.

The Blue and Gold Banquet

Tonight was the Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet. The food was excellent and of course, the company was great, too. Griffin (I had typed "Ian" but an on-the-ball sister-in-law [and sister] brought the error to my attention noting that Ian could probably have brought a date and that his Eagle status was in jeopardy!) has a little more to do before he earns his Bear, so he's just in that nebulous area where he's not really earning awards, but will have a bunch of arrow points once he gets his rank.

Happy Birthday, Ellie!

At 9:25 on a Monday morning, Ellie made her entrance to the world. It had been a very long and painful night after an extraordinarily itchy pregnancy. She was the only one actually delivered by an O.B. and he stood there and watched M*A*S*H will I pushed. (Needless to say, I went back to using a midwife for Griffin!) Both of her sets of grandparents were serving missions--one in Mongolia and one in Sweden--and yet within minutes we had pictures up on the internet so she could be seen by all.

And then, two days after her birth, she was admitted to Primary Children's Hospital for not eating. She was diagnosed with ASD/VSD--big names for holes through the upper and lower chambers of her heart--and was in there for over a week. Each day, John and I would head over to the hospital to spend a little time with her and try to send our good health vibes her way.

A few years ago, John noticed that her name was spelled wrong. He had always thought that her name was spelled Elinor, after the flower in the Lord of the Rings series. I, having never read the book, spelled it the traditional way and after my mom's good friend, Eleanor Carney and my dad's sister, Lenore. Isn't it funny that we never actually talked about the spelling of her name, just what it was? Her name means light or compassion. Any who know her see that she was perfectly named. Sunshine seems to follow her wherever she goes. She lights up a room and yet has a knack for finding the person who seems to need a little lift. The most common compliment I receive on her behalf is how much people enjoy having her around, that she makes them laugh and smile.

We spent the evening enjoying her favorite meal--chicken, homemade mashed potatoes, and baby carrots. We then went off to Nickelcade for an hour or so (scoring almost 3,000 tickets!).

Then came the cake and presents. Ellie wanted a drizzle cake in the shape of a star (I wasn't sure if it would hold so I took pictures throughout the process in case it collapsed and I could then prove to Ellie that I had tried). After the blowing out of the cool black and white candles, we brought out the presents (which she'd been trying to get her hands on since breakfast)!

It was a "Littlest Pet Shop" bounty of presents along with some Granny Smith apples (she never gets them because I don't like them, so I don't buy them).

With one year left until she enters young women, I don't have much time left with my little girl. Happy birthday, Ellie!

The 3rd Grade Talent Show

Yes, there were the usual piano recital pieces and karaoke songs, but Griffin decided to show the ships he has made from Legos. Here is his presentation....



....followed by the question and answer period.

Courtney (Scurr) Fowler's reception

John, Ellie, and I--along with Patt and Malcolm--had the opportunity to go up to Farmington for Courtney's reception. (We met the Ringger's up there.) Of course the bride was lovely and the groom handsome, but the best part is always spending time with family. Ellie munched on the mini caramel apples and I enjoyed a wonderful piece of cake an an eclair. John took the role of photographer. Congrats to Courtney and Landon!

Another Wedding Cake

I had the opportunity to work with my friends Cherise and Carma on another wedding cake. Here it is!

I love this picture

I took this on Sunday as we gathered for Sam's "farewell."

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Maggie and her friends attended a multi-stake dance on Saturday, celebrating the "wearing o' the green." I thought that today was the appropriate day to post it. Tonight we will be diving into green stuffed crepes (I can't even express how much I dislike corned beef and cabbage). I've still got to come up with a green dessert (and I'm not referring to the environment!).

Hope you're wearing your green today so you don't get pinched by the leprechauns (i.e., Ellie and Griffin).

And here we are today:

STAY BACK! YOU'RE NOT MY MOM!

Today was the day Ellie's class faced off against the Red Man suit in their RAD training. (This is a program in the elementary schools that helps teach students how to defend themselves or escape a possible abduction.) Here are some pictures of Ellie as she went through it. I included a video of her experience as well.

Good Things Utah!

Since there wasn't any school today, the Mia Maid leader arranged for the girls to go to a local live show called "Good Things Utah." Unfortunately, they didn't have enough drivers (she was the only one) so I was asked to go along. It was an interesting experience being part of a live studio audience. The best part was that their guests today were the 5 Browns! Wow! They were absolutely amazing. To watch them--their visual clues and their hands--was breathtaking. When we got home, Mags and I saw that we were on-screen twice (certainly not for more than a second as the cameras panned the crowd of 50 or so). Here's a picture of all of us with the hosts.

The best news was that we made it back home before the snow hit.

"The Sickness in the Family Goes Round and Round..."

So let's see. In the past month we have had: 2 sinus infections, croup, bronchitis, the common cold, coughs and asthma treatments, and now, for hopefully our final number (with absolutely NO encores), strep. Maggie has been struggling with being sick off and on for two weeks now. Yesterday she crawled into my bed in pain, cold, and genuinely miserable. She told me she had a sore throat, a headache, and a then-fever of 103. I said that this was the strep trifecta and was sure she had it. She balked at the idea since she had her tonsils removed years ago, so I held off on the appointment. As she struggled into my room again this morning, I waited diligently until 8:30 when the pediatrician's appointment line opened, made the call, and had her sitting in the doctor's room by 9:00 a.m. By 9:15, we had a diagnosis and my suspicions were confirmed. She's still struggling with a fever and sore throat, but with some of the antibiotic in her system (and an extended weekend to recuperate), we'll hopefully have her back on her feet by Tuesday.

Now everyone get better! (And no, the strep didn't turn her hair red. We did that intentionally earlier in the week before she was bedridden.)

District Science Fair

We are proud of Ellie's effort in the science fair this year. Unfortunately she wasn't chosen to go on to the district level, but we think she did a great job anyway. To show our appreciation, John brought home a large and special box of gourmet chocolates just for her. We love you, Ellie!

Ellie Graduates from Croup to Bronchitis

We celebrated the Sabbath day by taking Ellie back to the doctor. After a course on antibiotics for a sinus infection (two weeks ago), prednisone for the croup, and nearly a week out of school, we realized that she wasn't getting any better and her eyes were starting to sink due to dehydration from the upset stomach/sore throat/cough. Now she starts on another round of antibiotics for bronchitis. The regional science fair is this week and she really wants to be well enough to go. Prayers on her behalf would be greatly appreciated.

This "stuff" that is making its rounds through the neighborhood is just nasty. I was out of work for 3 1/2 days and only able to put in a half-hearted effort on the two that I went. I had to teach all the young women today and have nary a voice to teach with. I still have a massive ongoing headache, full sinuses, and a nagging cough after a week. I guess that's just par for the course.

As the song goes, "You've got to be sick to appreciate health." Believe me, I appreciate it. So does Ellie.