The Babies!

I wanted these two cuties in my blogbook too, so here they are posing in their . . .

Blessing Outfits!

Sweet Annabelle

and Darling Cole!

Harry or Henry???

Lissie was asked to make a dessert (for New Beginnings)
to go along with one of the YW value colors.
She chose white which corresponds with faith,
and then enthusiastically announced that she would be making a "Wedding Cake!"
With a little help, she created this miniature
three-tiered confection
complete with bride and groom topper . . .

She learned to make these flower fairies
right around the time Marie and Will were getting married,
so it was easy for her to put together this
ethereal wedding couple.
I know the groom looks like Harry Potter,
but I'm pretty sure his name is . . .

HENRY!

Lissie's Dream Come True--Taylor Swift Concert!

Here we are right before our three hour drive to Oberhausen, Germany.
I made sure I got a little nap that morning since we expected to arrive back home in the wee hours of the morning.
I think I still look sleepy!
Lissie designed and painted her T-shirt.
She even offered to crimp my hair,
but I was pretty sure that would give me a 'fro . . .
not exactly Taylor Swift style!

Here are Riley and Ellie (Lambson) and Lissie --
right after they got into the car.
It was just the beginning of the excitement!

I now know that 13 is Taylor Swift's favorite number, and blue is her signature nail color!

Glow sticks galore!

The clever posters!

And the ever lovely Taylor Swift!

This Night Was Sparklin'!

Super Moon -- Super March

Well, I should have known that March would be special,
after all, we did have the appearance (19 March 2011) of the

SUPER MOON!

A friend of mine posted a "Germany view" of the Super Moon (something I didn't think of doing myself) and I tried to retrieve it for my blog, but alas, there was something wrong with the format . . . so I had to settle for the ordinary picture above. But this whole moon business reminded me of an old John Denver song (from the chorus):

"And the moon and the stars are the same ones you see
it's the same old sun up in the sky . . ."

It's an old love song that used to be a favorite of mine, back in the 80s. I'm hoping you got a good view of the moon from your part of the world, wherever you were. We thought it was a spectacular sight, full and beautiful, and a memorable way to mark some of our fabulous happenings in the month of March . . .

For C, L and B . . . March meant more SOCCER! (German and HHS -- Bryant and Christian can now play soccer SIX times a week), a Taylor Swift concert (special blog post and pics to follow), pointe shoes, a dancing/singing role in Crazy for You, auditions/acceptance into a regional HS song competition (more to come in the April report), and an EKG, heart ultrasound, and new headphones -- Bryant's love for technology comes in myriad forms!

For Tracy, March brought a trip to the states with a stop in DC and an opportunity to visit Matthew for a couple of days.

Then he was on to Utah for the blessing of Annabelle . . .


And then to Texas for the blessing of Cole . . .

To think that March would bring all these memorable happenings and a SUPER MOON TOO!

Good Works!

It was my turn to provide the treats in YW last week for each girl that memorized the scripture and value statement that introduce one of the eight Young Women Values. Last month we focused on Good Works. Yes, we were well past Valentine's day, but still in the month of February, and I gladly took the opportunity to make some heart-shaped decorated sugar cookies . . . they take me a couple of days to make and are definitely worth a bit of memorization. (My kids say these are the BEST cookies.)

I think we're all ready now to go out and do some good!

Passing the (Meltdown) Torch . . .

Bryant, and his good friend Matthew Steffen, both passed their Eagle boards of review last evening. It is an ending of an era for me (my scout meltdown phase) and the beginning of a new one for Bryant and Matthew -- more prestige and responsibility in their scouting careers.

Here they are before they were called in for their interviews:

Undoubtedly they are wondering what questions they will be asked and if they will be prepared with a good answer. Br. Steffen prepped them by reminding them of some of their memorable scouting experiences such as overeating (and undereating) during their cooking merit badge phase, and Bryant getting sick at the veterinary science merit badge clinic . . . how could he forget??? Tracy reminded them both not to suck on their lollipops during the meeting . . . unless, of course, they were going to share with everybody! With such wonderful fatherly advice to put them at ease, how could they not be ready to face the board?

And here they are after they have both been informed of passing:

Yeah, they definitely look a little more relaxed . . . maybe even JUBILANT!

And a few more pictures of some of the immediate fan club:

Lissie made sure to share with them one of her favorite pick up lines: "Are you a BOY SCOUT ??? . . . because you have my heart all tied up in KNOTS!"

The one thing that I will remember most fondly about this evening is how Bryant seemed to radiate goodness.
I love this kid!

The proud fathers with their sons

And one last picture . . .

Matthew and Bryant . . .

trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. What a wonderful accomplishment.
Congratulations guys!

p.s. Marie, I'm passing the scout meltdown torch down to YOU!

A Bit of Crazy

CRAZY . . . the perfect adjective for some of the things the kids have been up to in the past couple of weeks:

Christian - climbed a mountain (with snowshoes) in Garmisch with his priest quorum . . . and then slid down on a sled. It was an all day, one time, ascend and descend!

This is a picture (not of Christian) off the zugspitze.de website:

Lissie - taking a "Crazy for You" tap workshop in preparation for upcoming Roadside Theater auditions. When she tap dances, she reminds me so much of Tracy. He actually tapped and sang for me one evening outside my Provo apartment when we were dating, and many times thereafter. Sweet memories.

Look at Lissie's new tap shoes!
(She actually wears about a size 4.5, but this pic makes her feet look gigantic!)

Bryant - went winter camping in the Black Forest (with fellow scouts) and slept outside instead of in the cabin . . . I guess he wanted the authentic winter camp experience.

Here he is with his soccer ball

(he can't leave home without it)

And here he is playing with fire, again!

And me . . . just going crazy until my new books arrive so I can begin my next BYU class which is about the history of The Family in Europe.

A sampling of the books I'm waiting for . . .

Crazy fun, I know!