April Pictures

The trio of couples--a great group of young people!

Austin Huntsman, Christine Richards, Tucker Hancock, Stefany Charpentier, Wikoli Ka'aihue, Elyse
The cute couple on their way out. This pose was after I told them to act like they were going out on a date with each other.

Neither of them knew what to do with the flowers. Good thing mom was there to help!

Wikoli and Elyse on Prom Night

You could cut the nervousness with a knife!

The kiddos at our Birthday Eatery--Cici's Pizza

Texas wildflowers--Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush. Elyse took this picture on our campout.

Happy Easter!

Remember when Mom Kalauli used to make Easter Bunny cakes every year? She even dyed the shredded coconut green for grass. Well, I made a bunny cake this year for my kids and they thought that was pretty neat! Thanks Mom K. for the great traditions!

Help!

Okay, I started the last blog on April 13 and finished it on April 27th but it posted it with the April 13th date. And I tried to add pictures but it didn't work so I need to figure out how to do that. Somebody help me! I don't have time to figure this out on my own. Tell me how to do this!

Birthdays, Parties, Camping Galore!

Wow! Another crazy busy three weeks! Austin's 7th birthday was three Mondays ago. This was his golden birthday, say his siblings, because your golden birthday is when you turn the same number as your birthday number. Hence, Austin turned 7 on April 7. Okay, just a little Oldroyd children trivia for you. Adam and I took McDonald's lunch to him at school (his choice, I got Wendy's for me) then we did the family birthday tradition of Cici's Pizza for dinner. It's an all-you-can eat where we always eat way more than we should. The kids love sitting in front of the bigscreen TV watching cartoons and then wasting quarters in the candy and game machines. We broke down and got him what he REALLY wanted--a Ripstik. I thought it would take him awhile to figure it out, but both he and Emilee had it figured out by the next day! I asked Emilee if she wanted a Ripstik for her birthday and she said, "I do, but then that's all I would get and I want more gifts!" Quantity over quality...that's our motto. I was going to do a birthday party for him on the Saturday after his birthday but only a few friends could make it so we actually did it this past Monday. We had 9 rowdy boys running around for an hour and a half.

But backing up a couple of weekends...we had our first Prom experience on April 12th with Elyse...and it was an experience. The very cool thing was that Wikoli Ka'aihue flew in from Utah to take Elyse to our Tri-stake Prom. The 3 Austin area Stakes decided to start a church prom to counter the school proms which have a very...how-shall-we-say...unacceptable level of standards in dress, music, and dancing. Last year was the first year to try this and it was very successful. So anyway, Elyse's date was Wikoli and they doubled with two other couples--Tucker Hancock and Stefany Charpentier and Austin Huntsman and Christine Richards. I ended up getting Elyse's dress on the internet because I couldn't find anything modest around here. The Saturday started with Elyse taking the A.C.T. for the first time and then I took her to get a new swimsuit and to get her hair and make-up done. Wikoli and the two other couples picked Elyse up at 5:30pm. It was soooo cute with the little brothers and sisters making silly embarrassing comments when Wikoli and Elyse were exchanging the boutonniere and wrist corsage. Then off they went to take pictures, then to dinner, then to the dance for an hour (which is why I said the prom experience since they didn't spend much time at the actual prom) and then they went to Tucker Hancock's uncle's and went swimming! I was a little ticked that Elyse's hair and make-up didn't last more than one day, but I look at it as a learning experience for me 'cause now I know how to do the fancy 'do and make-up for her next time! Elyse had a great time and the whole evening was one big party in a good way.

The next week flew by in a blur. Alex had a band concert and I have to admit that I am a band groupie. I love band music, especially when my son is playing. I figured out that I can call my mom on my cell phone and have her listen in on the concert to share the joy. It makes me think that Dad is listening in too if Mom can hear it. For my birthday on the 16th, I helped to teach our young women in our Ward campfire cooking and fire building for their Camp Precertification and learned that my daughters are bossy and loud just like me. What a shock! I was also in charge of our ward campout last weekend at Granger Lake. It ended up being a beautiful weekend with clear skies, low humidity, a nice breeze, and warm weather--perfect for camping. We had about 90 people who came out. The kids even got to go swimming the next day in the lake.

This week was Austin's birthday party on Monday, Emilee's birthday (and Ci-Ci's Pizza) on Wednesday (she got a Ripstik too!) and then her Party on Friday night. She had 5 of her closest posse over for food (she requested chicken nuggets, nachos, watermelon, and rootbeer floats), ice-cream cake, and fun. Emilee is my self-reliant list maker. She planned the whole night and all I had to do was supply the food! Excellent! I loved the girls who came over--well-mannered, fun, and sweet to each other. Interesting contrast to the boy party on Monday! I thought we were going to have to end the night hiding out in the tornado closet because we got a downpour and a tornado warning around 9pm. Nothing came of it but a great watering for my poor flowers and garden. I learned last week at a gardening enrichment activity that house water isn't good for your plants because of the chlorine. Duh to me... Two things I might try this year...a compost pile and a rain barrel watering system...maybe...in my two free minutes...

Alex and Elyse had youth conference this weekend and helped out at the Special Olympics. Alex had a Jazz Band Concert and when I figure out how to post video or audio, I'll have to put up one of his concerts. The Jazz Band is rockin'! And I'm not just saying that...they are really good. While Dan took the older kids to youth conference activities, I took the 4 younger ones to our elementary carnival. It was a hot humid day, but dry, so the the PTA was very happy that the carnival could go on as planned after the downpour the night before. Ashley and Emilee hooked up with friends and had a great time. Emilee said her highlight was the great (junk) food and riding the little train ride. I think Austin and Adam would agree with that too. Ashley just like the drama of being with her friends. Life is Great!

I don't usually say much about Dan in the blogs so I wanted to give him a little shout out this time. Some of the highlights for him this last month were: keeping his job at Dell after Dell continues their "Death by a Thousand Cuts" lay-offs, a compliment from the Vice-President of their area about his group's excellent marketing presentation, a fun and successful (i.e. they didn't go in the hole--har, har, pardon the pun--money wise) annual golfing tournament for the BYU Austin Management Society's scholarship fund, a killer sunburn from that same golfing tournament, his team coming in second in the tournament and winning me a $25 restaurant gift certificate, getting to go to endless church meetings and actually liking it, and running, running, running 'cause he wants to do the Provo 1/2 Marathon in August.

Well, my deep thoughts this time center on Pres. Monson's April 2008 Ensign Message: "Look to the Past, Prepare for the Future, Live in the Present." Look to the Past--A dear Mussi friend, Hannah Nez Valentine, sent me an article about a photo exhibit of Native American photos taken by Bruce Hucko, a professional photographer and an old yearbook advisor at Whitehorse High School in Montezuma Creek, Utah. (See his wonderful work at www.brucehuckophoto.com .) The memories flooded back and I was filled with gratitude for the things I learned from this dear teacher and old friend: finding beauty and intricacy in the seemingly ordinary, looking at something from multiple perspectives and appreciating each one, telling a whole story with one image, finding great joy in art appreciation, learning the importance of documenting history, making work fun! I loved this quote from his website: "Active seeing is not something I turn on and do only when holding a camera; it's part of the art of living." Prepare for the Future & Live in the Present: A friend of ours who used to live in Austin, Rich Lloyd, passed away this week at the age of 35 from brain cancer. He was an amazing person of great depth and talent. He leaves behind a beautiful wife and three young sons. His fight to live for the nine months since his diagnosis was courageous and inspiring and his motto through it all was "Live Rich!" Lessons I learned: Appreciate and cherish each moment with loved ones, express gratitude often, get and keep your affairs in order, share adversity as well as successes with others so that they can learn from you and you can lean on them, fight courageously & surrender graciously, ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING! I blog you!

I'm Gonna Try It!

Well, I've decided to try the whole blogging thing. I've fought any suggestions that I do a blog because I haven't wanted to think about trying to keep up with it along with every other unsuccessful effort I've made to do any kind of journaling, letter-writing, or emailing on a regular basis. I used to be good at this kind of thing, but that was several children ago and now I have to fight with my kids to even get to use the computer! "Why don't you use the computer during the day, Mom?!?" "Because I'm running around doing errands for you kids, trying to work-out when I can, doing all the Mom stuff I have to do, and trying to get a nap!" Tee, hee... I've also been afraid that I will get addicted to this fun thing and will spend too much time doing it...so no promises on some super-duper blog site from me. I'll just try and get a picture and a post up every once in awhile, okay? This could easily become a "see-Michelle-run" if I actually wrote about everything we're all doing these days so I'll spare you the boring details...or not, depending on how excited I get about writing.

It was a wonderfully relaxing General Conference weekend. I actually got to watch every session...okay, the Saturday morning session was DVR'ed and watched a little late as Emilee had a girl scout field trip to Sweet Berry Farm to do some strawberry picking and I had to drop her off at her leader's house. Then I had to drop Alex off to mow lawns. Elyse worked all Saturday at Target (she's been working as a cashier for two months now and it rocks!) I fit in a run between sessions (sorry, Jo, I'm only up to 4-5 miles...I've messed up my knees and hamstring/glute playing stupid church b-ball with the 20-somethings) then cut all 4 boys' hair during and after the afternoon session. Whew! Did I say it was a relaxing weekend??? Had to make a candy lei and run Elyse to a birthday. Ordered and picked up pizza because it was 6:30pm and too late to make anything but eggs or pancakes and we had had those the night before. Dan and Alex went to the priesthood session and I hung out with the four youngest. Austin and I played a round of Sequence, which Austin loves. And that was Saturday...but, my strongest memory of the day was absolutely feeling the spirit so strongly during the solemn assembly as we sustained Pres. Monson as the 16th president of the church and as prophet, seer, and revelator. Elder Holland referred to seeing the mantle fall upon Pres. Monson and I definitely felt it. I cried all through the sustainings. It was a very powerful thing to have each specific group stand and sustain the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. We all were right there doing it in our family room in front of the TV. Wow! It was awesome! And then Dan came home from the priesthood session and told about Pres. Monson wiggling his ears. From the serious to the hilarious--a well-rounded president...

Our Conference Sunday tradition is to have Sunday brunch of cinnamon rolls, omelettes, bacon, sausage, hash browns, juice, and hot chocolate. The nice thing is that the kids are old enough to help me cook now, which makes it much more fun. I loved all the talks, but of course, Elder Ballard was a favorite--I loved that he had suggestions for what mom, dad, kids and church leaders can do to help mom out. I told my kids that we would watch that talk again and they just rolled their eyes at me. Although I did hear a lot of thank-you's for the dinner. While it was a good day, by evening time we had all had too much of a good thing with being cooped up inside with each other all day long...we should have gone on a walk. It is good to have the house quiet now and all the kiddos in bed. I titled my blog "Michelle's Musings" because I was hoping to have some deep thoughts to share once in awhile along with all the happenings in our lives...so here is my attempt for the evening: I think what finally got me to start this blog today of all days was something someone said about how in the next life, we will enjoy the same socialities that we enjoy in this life with our family and friends. I began to wonder if I could do a little better now at really enjoying some "sociality" with family and friends in the midst of my hectic life. I don't get to see my extended family and friends nearly as often as I would like, nor do we talk or even email as often as we would like. We are all so busy in our daily lives, even overscheduled at times as Elder Ballard said. I am especially guilty of that so here is my attempt to be a little more social with those I truly love, but don't get to say it or show it that often. I blog you! aka...I love you!