Oliver Family Adventures: 2008

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Erin's Recital performance

Yay! Success! Here is Erin playing "Scarf Dance". Enjoy!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Emily and Erin's Performance

The girls had a lot of fun practicing this duet. (I'm having a hard time with some of the videos. I'll keep trying!)

Katelyn's Performance of "Chimes"

Katelyn's very first Piano Recital. She is just too dang cute!

The girls had their Christmas recital with their new teacher, Darla Sewall. She is a neighbor and a dear friend, and of course a wonderful teacher! The girls are enjoying it and we are seeing progress that we weren't seeing before! I video taped their performances, so hopefully they will turn out. I'll give each one a new post, maybe that will help!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Christmas Acivities

Erin had a Winter Concert this month. Her favorite song (and mine) was called "African Noel". She did a great job. She even played the recorder and xylophone. What talent!

I also got to go on Katelyn's class field trip to see the Nutcracker! It was so fun. She loved it and would lean over and whisper the story in my ear. She is such a sweetheart and I loved going with her.

Thanksgiving 08--Yes, still catching up!

For Thanksgiving we went out to Sequim to Doug and Theresa's beautiful new home. They've been in it since the summer, but I had not seen it with them all moved in!!

We all had such a great time! This was at the kids table. I had the hardest time getting sweet, serious pictures!

Katelyn, Joey, and Ian laughing after their "serious" faces.

Uncle Doug promised Katelyn a fire, so out came the hot dogs and smores!

Cousins having loads of fun together on the trampoline!

We always love being together--Can't wait for Christmas!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Grandpa Moline

My sweet Grandpa Moline passed away the week before Emily's birthday. He was 83 years old. He was my last surviving Grandfather. I have to say a big "Thanks" to my sweetheart, as he didn't even bat an eye about sending me out to Utah. He was studying for his big CFP exam and had no time off available to him, but he just looked at me and said "how do we work this out for you?". I also am so grateful for dear friends who helped us with the kids. Thanks Jamie and Beth!!!

I always thought my Grandpa was such an amazing man. He was definetly with plenty of human faults, but he was so independent. He traveled, it seemed, wherever and whenever he wanted. He had lied about his age and joined the Navy at 17. He was on an ammunition ship in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. He met my Grandma at one of those Cantina type dance halls during the war (or was it after the war was over?). He owned a Beauty shop. He used to make jokes about perming my cousins hair and then dying the old ladies' hair purple. :) He was very talented. He loved to dance. Clogging was his specialty. He clogged with a Singles group for years! I remember him visiting us in Arkansas and we took him somewhere where they were playing some country or blue grass music and he started clogging in the back where he was standing. All of a sudden, he became the center of attention and was in the middle of the room with people whistling and clapping and cheering him on. I remember being so proud of him!

Family was the most important thing in my Grandfather's life. I think he struggled with our family a little as we were quite happy living away from the main group in Utah. He was always supportive of what we were doing, and when our family would come to town, the red carpet was always pulled out.

I was very lucky when Spencer and I lived in Utah, to get to be there for the family reunions, cousin parties, 24th of July parties, etc. But my favorite memories are of him being at all my special occasions. He was at my wedding in Logan and he was in each blessing circle for each one of my children. Quite a special moment for me when for Ian's blessing, I realized we had 4 generations in that circle.

I guess we all get a little sentimental remembering special people. I love my Grandpa and miss him! Here are some pictures of the weekend.

My dad giving Bella a flag to put on Grandpa's grave.

Our family: Chuck, Chris, Mom, Dad, Corey, Me, and Amanda.

Mariah and Abbey playing with Uncle Corey.

I didn't notice our hands until recently. Abbey was doing just what I was doing!!

The weekend of his funeral was another important date in our family. My parents celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary. We were able to all go out to dinner to celebrate. What was neat was that all of my brothers and sisterand I were able to be with them on this day. I'm so proud of my parents. For their commitment and example to us. I'm so grateful for their love for each other and that their commitment to each other and to Heavenly Father is still so strong!

Emily turned 12!!!

I can't believe that Emily has turned 12 on us. It has been wonderful to see her "assimilate" into Young Womens. (Hows that for a Trekky term! :) The girls have been so sweet and welcoming to her, it has been great! Last month was her last Primary Program and she just looked so out of place. Her height has always been an issue, but you could tell she was barely hanging in there during the presentation. She did a song with a special group and all of the kids were about up to her rib cage!! Fast forward to now, she just fits in so well with the youth. She loved getting her new ipod and getting such a big spontaneous smile made it so worth it! She is a great girl and I am so proud of her!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Twilight

Yes, I am a "Twighlight" fan! I loved all the books! So, of course, I went out with some friends for Opening Weekend! We had a great time. I've always found that the movies aren't ever as good as the books, but I enjoyed it and will definetly see it again. Here are just a few pictures- thanks to Emily Nedry again!!

Friends at Applebee's for dinner- preshow fun!!!

Waiting in line with Carlie, Brook, and Emily.

It's about to start!!! AAH!

The Forgotten Carols

This November was extra special for me, as I got to be a part of the production of Michael McLean's "The Forgotten Carols". It was a wonderful experience to work on the music with such a good choir and then to get to meet Michael McLean, Tyler Castleton, and the others involved in his show. For those who don't know the storyline, it is about a nurse named Constance. She doesn't really have any Christmas Spirit and is a very conscientious and perfect nurse, but isn't a very happy person. She is asked to take care of an elderly man, Uncle John, during the holidays. He teaches her the "Forgotten Carols" which open her heart to the spirit of the Season. These amazing songs can't help but touch each of us! (Thanks to Emily Nedry for these pictures!!!)

Here is the entire set, with Michael conducting us on during Handel's Dream.

Here I am, front row, second from the left.

My sweeties giving me hugs after!

Spence brought Emily and Erin to see the show! They loved it!!

I can't wait to do it again next year! It is the perfect way to bring in the Christmas Spirit!!

October Catch up!

Craven Farm

We went out to Craven Farm and had a wonderful time playing on everything and picking out our pumpkins for this year! Here is Ian on an old tractor.

Em, Er, and Ian in the pumpkin patch!

Katelyn with Jack Sparrow.

Erin and Spencer the scarecrows!

Here they all are in their costumes- Emily as Bella Cullen (recognize my madrigal dress anyone?), Erin as a Skeleton Bride (lookin' pretty scary-she did her own makeup), and Katelyn and Ian as Knights (they are so easy to make happy).