Feliz Navidad!

During our Family Home Evening lesson last week, Andy was in the middle of his lesson, talking about what it means to have "a house of order," and started into a sentence saying "kids, I just need you to know from the bottom of my heart..."

And Tay right on cue finished "Feliz Navidad!"

Um, ya we all started laughing, it took us a while to get back on track.  The kids all started in on
the song singing loudly and off tune, "Feliz Navidad!  Feliz Navidad!  I want to wish you a merry Christmas.  I want to wish you a Merry Christmas!  I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart!"

Sheesh.  Try teaching anything around here.

And speaking of Christmas...here's a picture of Taylor the goofball playing the part of one of the three wise men during our Christmas Eve Nativity play.  Actually...I believe he played the part of all three wise men.  Ha ha!

The Temple of Hephaestus

 

For her Social Studies class, Rachel had a project where she was supposed to build a replica of the Temple of Hephaestus, an ancient Greek temple in Athens.  She started out by trying to roll pieces of paper into columns and was planning on gluing them to a platform...but it wasn't working.  She was so cute, she painted the columns brown, and the base green.  I let her work on this for a day.  (This may seem mean to other parents, but I really encourage my kids to be as independent as possible on ALL of their school assignments, and so far it has taught them how to be "A" students without mommy or daddy doing the work for them.)  Win. Win. 

Well, after a day of her struggling, I asked her if she had ever seen a picture of the temple, and she said no.  So I suggested she do some research and showed her how.  Aha!  It was hilarious to see the lights turn on as she realized that she was going about this project all wrong.  She discarded her brown columns and green base...and we came up with a different plan.

After a short trip to the store...and a few packages of marshmallows and chocolates later, we came home with the supplies we needed.  (The chocolates, although a necessity, were not used for the replica.)  Saturday morning, she set to work with Taylor as her engineer/consultant. 

It is not an exact replica.  The number of columns is not the same as the real thing...

But I think it turned out really awesome! 

And I'm so glad that she has an awesome big brother who was willing to spend a few hours on his Saturday morning to help her bring her idea to life.

The other kids were really excited that Rachel had chosen marshmallows to use for her columns.  I'm glad we bought 3 big bags of them...they seemed to keep disappearing out of the kitchen.  When I looked out the back window, the younger 4 kids were having a "marshmallow picnic" out on the trampoline snuggled up in their blankets.  Too funny.  It's a good thing Andy's a dentist...our household seems to have an unhealthy obsession with sugar.

Bad Influences

Taylor and I should not be allowed to go shopping together.  Ever.  Never.  Ever.  Especially while I'm pregnant and already more susceptible to cravings.  I took him with me to run a short errand the other day...and as we walked into the store the Easter aisles were right there in front of us, the aroma of chocolate saying, "Hello!  Welcome to Walmart!"   

 

I looked at him, and said, "so does any particular candy sound good to you?"  He laughed and said, "Mom...you just asked a teenage boy if candy sounded good.  Um Ya!"  So this is what we came up with.  He chose his Rolo's and I chose my Kit Kat's.  Then we proceeded to get the other stuff on our list that we came for in the first place. 

We were really good though.  We did save a few pieces for everyone else who was waiting at home.  It was a sacrifice...but we survived.

Arrgh...Matey!

Matthew is so funny.  He came home from school Friday wearing this cute pirate hat that he had made in class.  I'm so glad that he has such a great 1st grade teacher (whom he still has a crush on) and that he loves school so much.  Following the suit of his older siblings, he is reading a grade level ahead, loves math and science...and his favorite "subject" is still recess.  Something that has been hard for me as his mother, and hard on Matthew as well, is his size.  Because he is so tall and big, other students, teachers, and other parents...even grandparents and other relatives seem to expect him to act older than he is.  It is sad to me because although they have a hard time realizing it, he is just my sweet little 1st grader who needs all the love and attention that a pint-sized 1st grader would need, but a lot of the time doesn't get because of his size.  I'm grateful that his teacher agrees with me on this and hasn't expected him to act the age that he looks.  He'll grow up fast enough in his own time.

If You Mustache...

 

I took Taylor with me when I went birthday party shopping for Matthew's party.  I should have known better.  Tay saw a package of adhesive mustaches and threw them in the cart saying they were a "must-have."  Well.  Party time came and we all forgot about them until later that night.

But its okay, us silly girls had fun with them.  Addy took hers off, she didn't like it, and Brooklynn was downstairs with the boys...but Lainah and Rachey and I had fun.  I especially like Lainah's little handlebar one...it suits her somehow!

Matthew Turns 7!!!

Matthew Talmage turned 7 yesterday!  It's hard to believe how quickly the kids grow up.  Matthew is such a sweet boy, he makes me laugh every day with his funny sense of humor and his quirky ways.  I love his hugs, and love how he still likes to twirl his chubby little fingers through my hair when we snuggle.  He has become an avid reader of nonfiction books.  His favorites are the Zoobooks magazines that we subscribe to, and anything about cars, trucks, or airplanes.  He loves to be outside riding his bike, digging in the dirt, or playing sports...and he has wanted a remote control car forever.  He is all boy.

 

 So what better cake for a through and through boy than one dealing with construction and dirt and rocks...

We had Uncle Kyle and Aunt Ashleigh's family over for cake and ice cream.  Matthew was excited to have his cousins over for his birthday party! 

 

Matthew had to work really hard to get those candles out.  For some strange reason (ha ha!) they kept relighting!  Carson was really getting a kick out of it!

 

I think my favorite part was the kids diving into the candy rocks in the dump truck after the candles were taken care of.  Yum...you could call this cake "death by sugar."  The "rocks and gravel" were cut up snickers bars, crunch bites, and Hershey's cookies n cream bites.   

 And it is our tradition to have the birthday boy or girl cut the cake...he's doing a great job.

 

We had fun watching Matthew read all of his cards and open gifts. 

 I took Taylor birthday shopping with me, and he chose this gift for Matthew, it is a catapult war kit.  Taylor graciously offered to help him build it.  Last night they came upstairs and had a catapult war, it was pretty cute.

 And Matthew has wanted a remote control car forever...he drives Andy's all the time...so we decided it was time for one of his own.  He also has a thing for Chevy trucks (much like his dad.)  So I saw this one, thought he might like it.  Um...he drove it until bedtime last night, before school today, and the first thing he did when he came home from school was to take it outside and drive it some more.  I'd say he likes it okay. 

Happy 7th Birthday to our Matthew Talmage Thuernagle!!!  We love you buddy!

Bits -n- Pieces

In the early months of our marriage, in our tiny little one bedroom apartment while attending ISU, I often had car parts in my living room.  We didn't have a garage living in apartments...so there just wasn't any other place to store parts.  Andy rebuilt several cars during those first couple of years...a couple cars he bought wrecked and rebuilt for us.  One of them, we actually still drive, our Honda Accord was a totaled car but he rebuilt it and it has turned out to be a great car. 

 

So during those first few years I had bumpers, dashboards, steering wheels, carburetors...you name it, sitting in my living room at one time or another.  I think I am a pretty patient woman.  I did draw the line at one point though.  It was when he was helping another person rebuild a car to sell, and he brought in a dirty, stinky transmission into MY living room.  At that point, I drew the line and said that if this person wasn't willing to store it in HIS wife's living room, then I certainly wouldn't be having it in mine.  So out it went.  Hey, even an extremely patient and sweet wife has limits.

 

Well, now it's MY turn.  Andy was going to tear my piano apart out in the garage.  But, I was worried about kids getting into all of the pieces, or moisture damage, or any number of things that could happen to the delicate components of a musical instrument so...I suggested that we just go back to "old times" and use the living room.  Ha!  He was VERY resistant!  It cracked me up!  I sweetly reminded him of how patient I had been all those years ago with his car parts shenanigans...and I think he saw my point.

 

 So here is my piano...all torn apart.  Even if this doesn't work to get it fixed, it's been pretty amazing to see how one is put together, and truly how intricate and precise it all is.  I think the "scientist" is coming out in both Andy and I...we're weird that way, we both like to see how things work.

So I have 88 keys on the floor in one corner,

 The hammers and action in another,

 with other cabinet pieces and braces against the walls...

 and one pretty cute husband with his power drill carefully taking things apart one piece at a time.  (I actually know that he likes this...he gets this funny little gleam in his eyes as he starts taking things apart...and if the stories are true...he's been taking things apart ever since he was a toddler.)

So...it's not a dashboard, or carburetor, front passenger door, bumper...or thankfully not a stinky transmission...but my living room is once again full of a project.

The Replacement

The cast iron harp in my upright grand Kawai broke last month.  I was devastated.  Not only was my piano very sentimental to me, (being a surprise anniversary gift from Andy) but it also had beautiful tone quality that can only be found in a full upright grand.  I also loved the beautiful deep burgundy mahogany gloss finish.  (Insert frustrated humph here.) I loved the way that this piano responded to my touch...it could be bold and loud, but could whisper for me as well.  It could be heavy or as light as a feather for me.  (Insert another sigh of frustration.)

We still have the old piano.  I couldn't bear to junk it.  Andy has been working on it, he has taken it completely apart exposing the harp, and we are in the process of figuring out a way to weld or repair the cracked harp. 

 

However...necessity called.  With 4 of my 6 children taking piano lessons, and with how much I play, and how much our family enjoys singing together...having a piano in the home was not a luxury, it was a necessity.  So, I gave in to my friends at Dunkley's and bought a replacement with the written agreement that I have 10 years to trade in this replacement for my full purchase price towards my concert grand piano.  I particularly liked how Dunkley's, even though they've been to my little house, didn't scoff at me when I told them of my definite plans for a grand in the near future.  I had a different piano technician and salesman literally laugh at me and say, "where would you put a grand?"  and then tell me that he had a few pianos that were "more suitable for me."  I have to admit, I was deeply offended.  There were a few seconds where I wanted to reach my hand through the phone and maybe squeeze just a little bit.  He has never heard me play, and has no idea of my expertise on the piano nor how many years I have studied and performed.  He judged me entirely on where I currently live, and it was obvious that my current home was beneath him and couldn't possibly house anyone with real musical talent.  Little did this impertinent little man know that we are currently in the process of building a home that will have a designated room for my concert grand piano.  Lesson?  Don't scoff at others...you NEVER know what their skills are...or what their plans are...or what their potential is. 

Dunkley's, on the other hand, has known me ever since I came to Boise 16 years ago as Miss Idaho...and even back then they gave me a brand new piano in my director's home so that I could have a piano to practice on during my year, with the stipulation that I come into their showroom every month to perform.  A chance to come in to practice on a 9 ft concert grand for as long as I wanted every single month?  What a great deal!  I helped them with advertising...they gave me a free piano for the year.  I sort of like the "deals" that Dunkley's music offers me I guess. 

 

So...although it's not ideal, although it's pretty puny compared to my old grand...although it doesn't have the sound or touch quality that my old one did...and although it's a pure black ebony gloss rather than mahogany...it will do as a replacement for now.  I suppose it's "suitable for me."

It sure has been great to have music in our home again.  I think the "replacement" just may grow on me.

Rachel Vocol Solo Festival

 

Rachel participated in the Middle School Vocal Solo & Ensemble Festival last Saturday.  Usually, it is only students with private voice teachers who participate, but because her teacher, Mr. Olsen, knew that I was a pianist, he allowed Rachel to do it.  I was nervous for her and felt a lot of pressure because although I know what sounds good, and what a great vocalist sounds like, I have no idea how to teach her the techniques of it.  Voice is a completely different ballgame than piano.  It was also difficult because we didn't have a piano in our home (because my piano's harp broke about a month ago) and so we had to find time to go up to the church to practice. 

But practice we did, and I was so excited and proud of her for how hard she worked to prepare!  She did so great that day.  She is a 6th grader, and only 12...but she sang beautifully.  I thoroughly enjoyed being her accompanist and performing with her.

The highest score you could get was a 35.  Rachel was the only middle school student from East Valley Middle to score a perfectly perfect score of 35.  They had to wait a few days to receive their scores and judging sheets and those days were like torture to her because she was so anxious to know what she got!   I was so excited for her when she came home from school just glowing with excitement as she showed me her ribbon and the judging sheet! 

She has a beautiful voice, I love hearing her sing, and I hope that she continues to work hard to develop her talent!

And It's A....

GIRL!!!

 

Taylor took a HUGE chunk of cake to show his support of the news!

 

To announce it to the kids, I made a cake, frosted it white, and then told them that they had to cut into it to find out.  Blue meant baby brother, and pink meant baby sister.  They were all really excited.  Notice the look on Matthew's face in this picture...so excited!  He was sure it was a boy.

We got them all gathered around, Addy just liked the frosting...didn't care much about the inside.  But watch all the other facial expressions...especially Rachel's.  Too cute!

 

and....

Yep...she's pretty sure, looks over at Dad to see if she's right...

And it's a GIRL!  Now notice Matthew's face.  Not so excited anymore.  He's still convinced that its really a boy somehow.  Too funny.  Taylor's a good sport though, the girls are excited, and Addy just loves the frosting.

So we're excited to be getting ready for our 5th baby girl.  I was always sad that I was an only girl and never had any sisters or even any girl cousins close to my age.  I've always yearned for that special, close female relationship and have never had it...so I am so thankful that Heavenly Father has sent me 5 beautiful daughters.  I love each one of them, yes, even this one that has still not made her grand arrival...she made it very clear to Andy and I that she needed to come and I'm so excited to finally meet her.  I am so thankful that I have the chance to have that special close relationship with each one of my daughters, I feel very blessed.  Sometimes we don't always get the thing that we've always wanted on our own timeline or how we imagined it should be, no matter how hard we try to make it happen...but it does come.  And my boys?  Well...they are full of enough energy, spunk, humor, grit, imagination, goofiness, and yucky boy habits to make up for the lack of numbers.  Our home wouldn't be the same without them, and I know they'll fall in love with our newest little princess as soon as they meet her.