The month of April

Meet Kate Vera Shelley.  She was born on May 6 and weighed 7 pounds and 6 ounces.  We all love her tons and tons!  Rakay was there to help with her birth which we were all very happy about!  Lily wasn’t too sure about the whole thing and wouldn’t let her mom out of her sight for a few days.  Now Lily is her mom’s biggest helper.  April finally got Lily to hold Kate a few days ago.  Kate actually let April sleep for 4 hours straight last night.  Ah, the joys of being a new mom!  I took a week off of school to help out.  That was pretty fun.  

This last week all of the kids had to take the AIMS (Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards) test which was not too fun.  Sam didn’t have to take the AIMS test this year.  The 9th grade took the Stanford Achievement test which he said was EASY.  We are coming upon the month of May which in some ways is busier than December.  Bring it on because then school will be out.  Sam performed in the PCC Gala which was a fund raiser for the choir so they got to sing for their supper (in a manner of speaking).  The Gala is PCC’s big fundraiser for the year.  I’m grateful to his voice teacher for hauling him over to Phoenix for all the rehearsals.  His next voice recital is May 5 which is the day before April’s birthday on May 6 which is the same day that Kate will be blessed.   She is wearing April’s blessing dress.

This weekend it has been HOT-- like 102 hot.  I am not looking forward to the long hot summer.  Sam and I went to a really great concert last night while Gary went to the ballgame.  We saw a group called, The Real Group.  They are a vocal jazz group.  He and I really enjoyed it.  It’s amazing to me how they make all the different cool sounds with just their voices.  Sam made the top two choirs at Mountain View for next year and he will only be a sophomore.  I know I am bragging, but I am truly amazed at the talent the Lord has given him.  It is pretty awesome. 

Our April Teachings for our Times lesson was Elder Holland’s talk, which I really liked a lot.  We have really great Relief Society teachers on our ward so Relief Society is a pleasure to attend.

Tax season is over.  I always wonder how Gary makes it with so little sleep and such long hours, but he does.  Now it is baseball season, so I guess that makes up for it.

Stephen and Chris are still working away.  Chris got his car fixed and new tires to boot.

Happy May.

March Happenings

Apparently, Kate could arrive at any moment.  She has, however, chosen not to, so we will have to wait until she is good and ready.  Kate’s room is all ready.  Lily isn’t quite sure about all of this.  She says the baby is going to live at our house.  I definitely don’t think that is going to happen.  Lily and April both have the stomach flu, so we hope they GET WELL SOON and please don’t give it to us.

We have had a wonderful March and I hope we can look forward to an even nicer April (weather wise I mean).  I have enjoyed walking and riding my bike and can happily say that I did not waste the good exercise weather this year.

Grandma and Grandpa were here this weekend.  Stacie and Boyd had dinner on Sunday.  Stacie made some scones that were pretty much to die for and Erin made some equally great rolls.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Yesterday I got a cortisone shot in my back to take care of a pinched nerve that has been killing me.  They said it might take 5 days to work, but I feel better already and am greatly blessed by modern medicine.  The shot wasn’t too comfortable but so far the result has been marvelous.

Sam is getting ready for the huge Phoenix Children’s Choir Gala.  The tickets are $125 a piece and they sold out.  It is supposed to be quite the grand event.  Sam has lots of rehearsals in two weeks to get ready.  Sam didn’t make all state this year, but just wait until next year!

Chris got rear ended on the freeway.  He said at least it was a nice day to be stuck waiting for the highway patrol.  The picture of his car didn’t look too bad.

It’s March so Gary is working every minute on tax returns.  I don’t know how he keeps the hours that he does, because I would be dead.  Baseball starts soon.

My Aunt ReNee died a couple of days ago.  She was one of my favorite aunts.  She tried to teach me to play the piano, without much help from me because I didn’t practice much.  She played the organ for Gary and my wedding and made the best dipped chocolates ever.  She was also quite the story teller.  She came to Arizona with my mom when Chris was born.  She was regaling us with hilarious story after hilarious story and making me laugh so hard things started to hurt.  I finally had to beg her to stop.  She had a wonderful life with challenges as we all have.  I’m sure she and my Uncle Ralph are very happy to be together again.

Only about 40 more days left of school.  Yes!

P.S.  Kate arrived on April 6 at 11:51 a.m.  She is beautiful and we love her.