Monday, October 2, 2017

So much!!!

Last Monday evening, we rehearsed songs and monologues for the Beauty and the Beast auditions the next day. Daniel, Laney and Susanna were well prepared and we're so animated and energetic. Daniel sang Someone Else's Skin from Catch Me If You Can the musical, Laney sang Alone In The Universe from Seussical and Susanna sang Simple Joys from Pippin. Heidi, Gwen and Tori came over to practice with us. It was a fun night of musicals and karaoke.




The twins, just for fun, performed Magic by B.O.B. for us. It was hilarious! I am sad that this is the only picture I got  of Freddy and Andrew.

This is the next day at auditions. We were all eavesdropping while the kids took turns auditioning.



Freddy and Josh have really appreciated the relationship they have. It is always wonderful to walk in on a brotherly hug.



Josh is now licensed as an insurance sales man. He studied hours and hours over the last month and a half to be ready. Now he is officially working and getting paid!



Our home has been in desperate need of painting for several years. The paint had faded, yellowed and was splotchy. We finally found a good deal with a painter we trusted.

Before

During
Just getting started


It looks SO beautiful!!! I am thrilled!!
After


After the painters left for the day, Richard walked around the house to check it out and found that we had an injured horned owl in our back yard. At least one of it's legs were injured. It kind of crawled around using it's wings. 


Rich called a raptor rescue group and they sent a nice man out to get it. They will try to fix him up and set him free again.


He was BEAUTIFUL!!

KenaDee posted this sweet tribute to Tim this week on Instagram.



She also sweetly helped Drew with his Algebra. We love that girl!



Freddy and Heidi got to go with most of the Wrights and the Elys to Magic Mountain on Friday. They left early in the morning to drive to California, played at the park all day and then drove back home. It was a 6 hour drive each way and another couple of hours for Dandi to get to her home in Tucson. It sounded crazy to me, but they are all safe and had an incredible time!











They went to Olive Garden for dinner and then went back to the park.


At night they turn off the lights and make it spooky for Halloween. They had different characters all around the park to take pictures with and to scare you.





They were given Oreo candy bars to sample.

The black lights were super cool!

Front to back:
Justin and Tyson
Wilson and Freddy
Ella and Ben

Heidi and Madi

Front to back:
Strangers
Nellie and Dandi

Freddy and Tyson

Justin and Ryan

Ben and Ella

Madi and Heidi

On Friday evening Gram and Papa were over while working on getting Jessi a new hot water heater. The kids performed their audition songs for them and a bunch of other karaoke songs. There is nothing like singing in to a banana as your mic.



One of Sara's best friends, Makaila Lundquist, was in town this weekend, visiting from college. She came over Saturday evening with her brother Tommy. Brandon and KenaDee came over to see her also.

Brandon and Tommy


Sara and Makaila

We watch our church's General Conference this weekend.  There are 4 sessions we watch as a family. Lilli and Heidi came over to watch with us. In between sessions on Saturday, Drew and Heidi took a nap. I love that our kids get to be so close to each other. There is nothing like a nap with a big brother/cousin.


Here is the gang as we all watched. Leigh came over as well.

Sunday afternoon, Victor surprised us and came by for a visit. Everyone was crazy happy to see him!



The played Settlers of Catan and talked and talked. Victor is going to school at Estrella Community College and working full time. He is doing really well and is happy. We've missed him!


This morning they posted the cast list for Beauty and the Beast.
Daniel is Gaston
Laney is a Narrator
and Susanna is Flatware
 (she will be part of the castle people that were turned into dishes and such)
They are super excited!








Monday, September 25, 2017

Life is great!

Last Monday, Sara, Gram and I went to Gila Valley to tour the Eastern Arizona College campus. It was about a 3 1/2 hour drive each way, so we had lots of time to talk and sing and be silly. Sara isn't set on a school yet for next year, she's exploring her options and applying for scholarships. We had a lot of fun being together for the day. Sara enjoyed the tour and is considering the school.

Grammy feel asleep on the way home so if course we needed a picture with her snoozing.

We sang to lots of oldies, Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Dean Martin, The Beach Boys, etc, while Grammy slept.


Sara took 80+ ridiculous selfies on my phone as entertainment and a gift to me.  I told her that anything on my phone could end up documented here. She has such talent in taking awful selfies, on purpose. It is a skill that she has developed over the years. These are a few of my favorites.






She is still awfully cute!

Grammy woke up and we had more fun talking.


This is just before parting ways at the end of our adventure.


On Tuesday, KenaDee's brother, Mikael, came home from his mission in San Diego.  He and Josh were companions for almost 6 months, so they are pretty good buddies and were excited to see each other again. Wednesday night, Mikael and KenaDee came over for a visit. The kids were all eager to meet him and he has been welcomed to the family. They all love him! Josh got out some swords from his mission for the occasion. Of course there was a battle that followed. 



Josh knighted him "normal", back to real life.


Aren't these two just the cutest?!

And these two!


Andrew, Mikael, Laney, Susanna, Daniel, KenaDee, Leigh, Josh and Freddy


Leigh slayed Daniel, right there in the hall!


Everyone loves Mikael. He is super sweet and fun!


I'm not exactly sure what they were doing to KenaDee, but she was having fun.


Mikael playing Nintendo for the 1st time in 2 years!



Our family prayers have ended in giggles a TON lately. I love that they are such happy and loving kids! We are working on reverence. lol



Richard, Laney and Susanna went on a father daughter camp out this last weekend with our church group. They had a wonderful time. They played a bunch of capture the flag, sang lots of camp songs and built an awesome fort. They dads all helped. Rich even found a moment to sit down, cover his face with his "dad" hat and take a little nap with nature.

Lucy, Sarah, Averi, Susanna and Laney


Enjoying the fort. 
Mia, Zanna, Laney, Averi, Sarah and Lucy



One of Laney's favorite parts was the herd of cows. She talked on and on about it!


Saturday night we went out to dinner with Josh and Leigh and her parents, Malie and Randy Sasaki. We had Thai food of course!


Sunday for dinner I made Pumpkin Curry Soup! Drew was thrilled Pumpkin Curry is his favorite.  It was so warm, spicy and delicious. It's hard not to think of Tim every time I make soup. He loves all soups and always eats until his stomach hurts!



Freddy had to have it in a cup so he could drink it down easier. 


It was another action packed week at the Alger house. I have the best job!