Issue 156!

Today's edition marks the 3rd Anniversary of The Koru! Thanks for taking an interest in our attempt at family history.

Much Ado About Something!

Monday was the closing night of Steve's Shakespeare Troop's production of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." What an amazing job they did! They worked extremely hard for the last two months putting the play together.

Steve L. scored the lead role as Benedick. He was fabulous! They placed the play in ancient Japan and wore goregous hand sewn kimonos and samori make-up that really added to the production. It's amazing what a bunch of moms with sewing machines can do!

They pre-sold out their 3 shows and ended up adding a forth. The best part of the whole experience is the wonderful friendships they have made over the last 2 years!

Minuet #1

Thursday night was Janey's end of the year violin recital. She did a beautiful job playing Minuet #1 by Bach. I attempted to accompany her on the piano, which was not quite so beautiful. I did enjoy the opportunity to practice with her. I'm going to have to do a lot more practicing if I'm going to keep up with this musician! Well done Janey!

A Day in the Life

Saturday was a crazy, busy, wonderful day. It was the culmination of months and even years of hard work on so many fronts.

-6:30 am Woke up and got Whitney off the her last day of ACT Boot Camp. She is taking the test again in June and wants to do well.
-7:30 am Exercised while reading conference talks. Multi-tasking was going to be the only way to succeed this day!
-8:30 am We rushed through our morning chores.
-10:00 am Took the girls to the store to buy refreshments for the Court of Honor.
-11:00 am Dropped Ellie off at a friend's birthday party and then bought out 2 shoe stores of silver shoes in Whitney's size. One of them would have to work!
-12:00 pm Dad and Daniel arrive home from Camp Yougottawanna, the annual 11 year-old scout overnight camp. Steve had fun going as a Dad this time, instead of the man in charge!

-1:00 pm Ellie and Whitney arrive home and Mom and Janey head out for Janey's final dance competition of the year.

-1:55 pm Find out mid false eyelash gluing, that Daniel has left his sparing gear in my car!

-2:00 pm Dad takes Daniel to his Karate blue belt test and I arrive 20 minutes later with said sparring gear.

-3:00 Daniel has passed his blue belt test! Very few students make it to their blue belt. Way to go Daniel!

- 3:00 pm Mom arrives back at the dance competition in time to see Janey compete (with both false eyelashes!) in her first dance. They take second place!
-4:00 Arrive home in time to help Whitney with her hair and make-up for Prom and help Steve L. transfer his scout badges on to his new uniform.

-5:00 Dad madly tries to finish the awesome slide show we have been working on for a week. Technical Difficulties abound.
-5:15 pm Arrive at the church to finish getting ready for Steve L's Eagle Court of honor. It was a wonderful ceremony. Both Grandpas giving their scouting memories was a big highlight and Dad getting choked up while administering the oath was very touching. All of Steve's Shakespeare friends, mentors and many of their family members turned out, as well as family, friends, scouts, and scout leaders, which made it all very special! We are so proud of you Steve!

Proud Mama!

Steve gave his Dad the mentor pin, in addition to the Dad's pin, for all the help and support he has given him in Scouting!

Steve L. was given a beautiful neckerchief by the stake and a flag, that was flown over the US Capital in his honor, by the Ward.

The Eagles' Nest

6:00 pm We stall the Eagle Court of Honor proceedings long enough for mom and grandma to see Whitney and her date off to Prom and of course take a couple pictures! Doesn't she look amazing?

-6:30 pm Clean up Court of Honor and take the boys to their play cast party.

-7:20 pm Arrive back at the dance competition.

-8:20 pm Janey dances in her second number, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." Grandma and Grandpa came to watch too, and the team did an amazing job on their clogging number!

9:00 pm Ellie goes with Mom and Dad out to eat. We have some fun two-on-one time with her. Janey stays back to hear the dance awards.

10:15 pm Janey gets home. Her dance took High Points, First Place with a huge trophy! What a fun way to end the season!

11:53 pm Whitney arrives home from a wonderful time at Prom.

12:40 am Lying awake in bed, overwhelmed with gratitude for amazing opportunities, wonderful children and supportive family and friends. Today, as busy as it was, was a little bit of heaven. I can only imagine what next year will be like when Ellie starts dance and violin!

Issue 155

First 5k of the Season

Saturday was our 2nd Annual Relief Society 5k. It was a gorgeous day and a nice run. I took 1st place in my age division, but felt far behind the runners both younger and older than me. I improved over my time last year by 3 minutes, and hope to shave off a few more by next year. Steve and I have been training together and I look forward to doing my next race with him. He just didn't pass for a sister for this one!

Happy Mother's Day!

What a lovely day! Breakfast in bed, flowers, chocolate covered strawberries, an electric can opener (that I really wanted), kitchen knives (that I really needed), a beautiful needle felted bird, and an adorable apron sewn by Janey. She made matching aprons in her sewing classes with Grandma and did a wonderful job. It was nice to feel appreciated this holiday!

Issue 154

A Milestone!

Whitney got a nice new haircut, and an invited on her first official date this week. (Yes, I made them endure a photo!) I'm not sure if it was a bigger milestone for Whitney or her mom! Her date is a great young man and they had fun ice skating and playing games. I seriously can't be old enough to have a 16 year old!

Issue 153

Easter Memories

Noreen with Grandma's Easter Egg Tree (and a crying cousin) in 1978

Growing up, my Grandma's Easter Egg Tree was the stuff of legends. I loved each of the beautiful, hollowed out eggs, made into ornaments. Some were made into little baskets with flowers, and others held dioramas inside glittered backgrounds. There were jeweled eggs and scribbled eggs made by 2 year-olds. A class from the local Elementary would take a field trip to Grandma's house just to see the famous Easter Egg tree.

I remember my mom carefully poking small holes with a little nut pick in opposite ends of a washed egg and blowing the insides out so we could decorate them. This is the first Easter since Grandma passed away and I wanted to put up my own Easter Egg tree in her memory. I salvaged a broken tree limb from our corkscrew willow and secured it in a pot with Plaster of Paris. I was fortunate to inherit some of Grandma's ornaments that had survived through the years. It was like a treasure hunt to go through the eggs and see that some were made by my mom and aunts and uncles 50 or more years ago. There were so many eggs, I was only able to hang about a quarter of them. I'm going to have to get a much bigger tree next year!



Saturday we spent the day with Steve's side of the family and celebrated the holiday with a cousin's Easter Egg hunt and fabulous food.

Sunday afternoon we got to spend with Noreen's side of the family and had another delightful egg hunt and more fabulous food! This is the stuff childhood memories are made of!

Steve is always so wonderful every year to tell the events of the Savior's last week to the children, and remind them of the symbols of Easter. We are grateful for our Savior and his Atonement for us. Wishing you a wonderful Easter!

Issue 152

Biking a Marathon

Dad and Daniel went to scout camp this weekend. They found a great biking trail along the Jordan River in Utah County and biked around 26 miles. That equals marathon!

And She's Off!

Ellie took off in a big way this weekend! She's been determined to ride her bike without training wheels. She's braved late snow and taken anyone out that would hold her up while she practiced. Janey was the one with the magic touch, and Saturday the girls went out on a gorgeous afternoon and within minutes Ellie was riding on her own! Within a half hour she had upgraded to a bigger bike than the one in the picture and was riding all the way around the block.

Today, Sunday, Ellie begged dad to let her read something on his iPad. They pulled up the Children's Friend and much to our shock, she sounded out an entire big column of a story! You could almost see the light switch flip in her brain that turned on her reading. It was her shear determination that was the most impressive. Way to go Ellie!

Issue 151