All City Singers

Our Beautiful Songbird

A few months ago, Ilah tried out for the Joplin All City Singers. Fourth and Fifth grade students from all of Joplin's elementary schools had the opportunity to participate. Ilah was one of the 89 that made it. They practiced every Tuesday after school for an hour and a half from October to December 12th to prepare for a special hoiday concert.

On December 2nd I snuck out of my masters class early so I could go to the concert. Mike had a basketball game and couldn't attend, and boy did he miss a fantastic concert. Henry and I had a hard time not singing along and dancing. (He wants to try out next year.) Our video camera wasn't charged up (of course) so I used our camera to try and capture bits and pieces of the songs. It really put me in the holiday mood!

I am so proud of Ilah developing her singing talent.

Last week the group went on "tour" to 4 or 5 of the elementary schools. Ilah (who was on the top riser) nearly fainted four times. She said it was soooo hot. In spite of that, she plans on trying out again next year.

The happy concert goers got Chinese food for dinner!!

Check out the cutie on the top riser 5th from the left!!!

The Grid Iron

I LOVE FOOTBALL!!!!

After Tucker's last middle school game the team ran the gauntlet of cheerleaders to meet the cheering crowd. We loved every minute of it - even when snowflakes started falling. It was COLD!

Tay and I congratulate Tucker.

(He really did enjoy himself -)





I have been begging Mike since football season ended to write something for the blog. Today he handed me this masterpiece:


Fall means football, and Tucker and Henry both engaged in grid iron battles this year.
It was Henry's first experience with football, and he loved putting on the pads and helmet (adorable).

His goal this season as he repeated frequently was, "I just want to hurt somebody!" Thankfully he was unsuccessful. Henry played defensive end and averaged about 3 tackles per game. He loved every minute of it, but is debating his future in the game. You see, games were on Saturday morning - so for 8-10 weeks he couldn't have any sleepovers. (His true passion!)

(Henry's team @ Webb City field)



Mike got to coach Tucker's 8th grade team this year, and they were phenomenal. They went undefeated (1st time for a Joplin middle school since 1975) and won the Tri-County Conference Championship. Tucker never left the field the entire season starting on the offense, defense, kick off, kick return, punt and punt return teams. He played left guard on the offensive line and right defensive end on defense. After every game the team would review the video tape and give helmet stickers for big hits, turnovers, touchdowns, etc.... only 2 or 3 helmets were more decked out than Tucker's.

Coach Pliler, Tucker, Mike

(The boys tried to dump a cooler of water and Gatorade on their coaches.)

Mike, who throughout September and October could be seen confidently smiling and strutting through the hallways of South and on the sidelines, is currently curled up in a ball, sitting in a corner, and crying. Yes, you guessed it. It's girls basketball season! The girls were much improved this year dribbling the ball clear to the half court before travelling, double dribbling, or simply dribbling out of bounds. Honestly though they have won 2 more games than last year for a total of 2 wins on the season. Boys basketball starts this week and hope springs eternal.

Nature's Red Carpet

This was written about a month ago as an example for an assignment for school.

Just thought I'd share it on the blog...

A couple of days ago, Tucker walked into my room to give me a beautiful maple leaf he had found on the way home from school. It was divided in half - one side a brilliant fire engine red and the other still kelly green. I haven’t seen anything like it - split down the middle in mid color change. Then yesterday while I was on a walk, Ilah joined me on her bike. She noticed an interesting leaf on the ground. It is a splotchy russet color, but almost fossil like is the imprint of a smaller green leaf on top outlined in yellow. Nature’s designers are amazing! Joplin is carpeted in a rainbow of leaves right now, and the trees are all dressed up in their Galliano or Valentino ready to walk that carpet.

Growing up I never got to watch the autumn ‘stars’ walk the crunchy, colorful carpet. Nope, we weren’t treated to the brilliant variety of leaf colors - the apricots, burnt siennas, various umbers, maroons, sepias, rusts, pears, ambers, persimmons, fire orange, pumpkins and vermilions. I guess that is why I had a hard time understanding why so many people loved fall. Sure I enjoyed trick-or-treating and Thanksgiving, but those were holidays. The actual season didn’t seem that great.


Now, though, as I feel that crispness in the air and notice the leaves losing their grip, I can’t help, but smile - because I know that the show will soon begin.

Our trees are bare now... Winter is on its way.

I Am Weird!! (6 Weird and Random Things About Me)

Okay Rach and Becca, I am sorry this has taken me so long - BUT this was extremely hard!

1. My favorite holiday is NOT Christmas.
It is way too stressful and busy for me as an adult. I know… I tell myself all of the time to “enjoy the journey” etc. but I CAN’T. Don’t get me wrong there are wonderful things I love about Christmas, but I don’t claim it as my favorite holiday. I don’t know about you, but I never have enough money or time.
I would have to say I’m more of an Independence Day kind of gal. Now that’s a holiday you can prepare for and enjoy all in one day. You still get together with friends and family. You still have wonderful food - although my preference is BBQ and usually the guys like to handle that. Guys also love to go purchase the fireworks and set them off. My responsibilities stop at purchasing some matching $5 shirts from Wal-mart and turning on the patriotic music.

2. I do NOT enjoy cooking… even a little - I would much prefer to do the dishes or clean a bathroom.
Even growing up my only responsibility was to prepare the ice water. NO joke! However, I am sure my mom would testify to the fact that I could clean/organize as good as her if not better.
After I got married, Mike would joke that I learned a new dish for each year of our marriage. Thankfully, Mike and I have worked out a deal. He makes all of the dinners and I do the bills. It works for us. Taysom, Tucker and Ilah all take after Mike and can cook and/or bake much better than me.

3. I do not enjoy watching cartoons - I don’t even know if I liked them when I was a kid… I also don’t re-watch movies. Once is usually enough if I can make it the whole way through without falling asleep.

4. My second toe is longer than my BIG toe.
My big toe is WAY fatter, but that second toe is longer with a hammer head tip - soooo attractive!!!

5. Mike can tell what stage of sleep I’m in by how deep I’m breathing (which sometimes sounds like moaning or snoring). It is worse when I have a cold.

6. I had an extremely hard time coming up with 6 random things about me…
Does that solidify that I am a boring individual?




I tag anyone who would like to torture themselves with coming up with 6 weird or random things :)

Need a laugh?

Taysom has recently started working on her oratory which she has been procrastinating for the past year. Her coach, friends and I have all been encouraging her to write her oratory which she finally did a couple of months ago. It is fabulous - she is quite the writer if I do say so myself. Since first competing with it, she has consistantly placed bringing home a couple of trophies. She earned 4th place at an all varsity tournament and 2nd at a novice/second year sophmore tournament. Both were extremely competitive, and she was happy just to make it to finals.

Her coach has also been telling her to do extemp. He used the logic that since he told her to do oratory and she has done well, she should listen to him about extemp. too.

At her first attempt doing extemp., she was able to make it to semi's.

Go Taysom!!!

Henry Starts the Cub Scout Trail

Thanksgiving skit...

Learning how to pin :)

He is now a Bobcat!

Tasty Tidbits

Happy Turkey Day!

It is so nice to have a break from the daily grind. Since we didn't have school Wednesday, I decided it was time to weed our planters and get the yard ready for winter so to speak. As you can imagine, no one (including Mike) was very happy about it... but the weather was beautiful and after about an hour, the kids quit complaining. Ilah put on some of her favorite music, and before long I think everyone was enjoying themselves. Mike and Ilah took a load to the dump while Henry, Tucker, Taysom and I bagged weeds and some of the leaves- then swept everything up. When Mike returned he even bagged the rest of the leaves. The bunnies are so cute checking out the fresh planters and jumping around the yard.

Later that evening Tucker made his frozen fruit slices and apple pie. I made Grandma Crosby's pumpkin pie (with homemade crust). Taysom is making fun of me for mentioning the fact that it was a homemade crust. I am proud of that crust though! Several years ago, my great friend Rose taught me how to make pie crusts. I never really attempted it on my own though. So hallelujah - the pie crusts were flaky and delicious. Since my children enjoy cooking and are much better at it than me, I have to celebrate when I make anything well.

Thursday Ilah treated us to cinnamon rolls, eggs and bacon for breakfast. Mike got the turkey in the oven and the rolls rising. After a leisurely morning, we headed to the park, checked out the new walking paths, tossed the football around, and the kids played on the monkey bars etc. At one point Henry caught a pass from Mike and started running. After he was about 40 yards away, he yelled over his shoulder, "Tucker, tackle me!" Right when Tucker was about to reach him, Henry spiked the ball and did his touchdown dance.

Earlier in the week Ilah and I had gone on a walk. I told her about the incredible Hinckley family Thanksgivings. She remembered me telling her that Grandpa Hinckley would design beautiful center pieces for the tables the morning of Thanksgiving all from nature. She noticed several things we could use to make a beautiful center piece for our table as we were walking. So Thursday afternoon Ilah, Henry and I took some clippers and "stole" some sprigs of holly, etc. Then they designed a beautiful centerpiece while I made the stuffing and Taysom made the mashed potatoes and green bean casserole.

I have to admit that I was a little worried about having Thanksgiving dinner with just our immediate family... that it wouldn't feel like anything but a glorified Sunday dinner. BUT - it was wonderful! Sooooo relaxing.... delicious... fun... We tried to have our extended family there through the recipes. The kids are great chefs- they must get it from their dad.

Henry even make the Kool-Aid!

Since there wasn't a movie that was beckoning us to come and see it, we rented Hoosiers instead. The missionaries stopped by in time for Foosball, ping pong, and dessert.

I look forward to having Thanksgiving dinner with lots of cousins, grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles next year (hopefully). But every now and then I hope we get to have just our immediate family surrounding the table where everyone had a hand in the dinner/dessert, etc.

I am very thankful for my friends and family. We love you!!

Reading with Mom

Several weeks ago Ilah started reading Cornelia. Every now and then she would ask Mike or I to read with her. I have to admit that the little bits and pieces I read with her didn't capture my attention like most books... until a couple of nights ago... You see, Ilah was near the end of her book and wanted to get done and take her AR test before the week was through. When we didn't finish Wednesday night, she begged me to read with her while dinner was cooking on Thursday after school. We read and read until dinner was burned, tears were streaming down our faces and the book was finished. That little Cornelia character really grew on me. I could see why Ilah enjoyed the book so much from day 1.

Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters - $12.44

Burned Dinner - $15.00

Watching your daughter connect with a character in a book where feelings are so strong it is like they are best friends - PRICELESS

This experience brought back memories of reading the Little House series with my mom. I can remember many a nights listening to my mom's voice describing the antics of Laura, Mary, Alonzo, Willie, Nellie, Ma and Pa and the gang. I also remember waking her up as she fell asleep mid sentence :) I don't know how she had the drive to do everything she did for us. As a mom myself I can honestly say that my mom is a Super Mom... I never saw her in a cape and tights... she must have hid them under her clothing... But late at night, after we children were finally asleep, she put her super powers to the test as she sewed costumes and special occasion dresses, worked on her artwork, put finishing touches on our school assignments, cleaned, did laundry, decorated, painted, etc. No wonder she would doze off mid sentence while reading us bedtime stories. We always felt loved by Mom - and still do to this day. I hope that even though I don't have the 'mom super powers', that my children feel that love from me just as strongly.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Some more Halloween pics...

Check out our friends the Tuckers-
Leslie defeated Mike in the corn bread contest. After 2 or 3 years of holding the title, he has passed on the honor.

Henry with his buddy Michael (the Jedi)

Continuing with the drama...

Taysom fawning over Michael Phelps

(her buddy Alaina)

Tucker with Sam (fire fighter?) and Trevor (the nerd)

Ilah and Lydia - the two scariest girls at the party.

The three cutest girls at the party!!

Look at the joy in Tucker's expression after a fun evening of tricks and treats... it says it all, doesn't it!?

Happy Halloween

Ilah planned out her costume a couple of months ago when Taysom was doing her make-up for fun one day and made her look like a vampire.

Putting on the finishing touches...

Tucker decided last minute to throw something on. The devil vampiress (?), the hillbilly, and the scary guy in front of the church before the Trunk-or-Treat.

Henry (our storm trooper) was a bit dramatic.

I Love a Parade!

I love sitting on the parade route on a sunny fall day.
I love listening to each band as they march along.
I love feeling that school spirit as either South's or North's band comes into view.
I love cheering for them as they pass by.
I love seeing the small smiles form on my students' faces.
I love embarrassing Tucker.
I love watching Ilah, Henry and whichever buddy has come with us as they scramble to collect as much candy as possible.

I love a parade!

(Sorry about the video... Does anyone know how to rotate an image? I can't seem to figure it out.)

A Walk Down Memory Lane Starring Taysom

Taysom's Top Ten

Top Ten Things About Taysom (according to her mother):

10. Her dimples and twinkling eyes

9. How she can still rationalize pushing the snooze for the 15th time even though she knows there is no way she can get ready in under 40 minutes. (okay, that is really something that drives me nuts, however, I know that in the future when she is no longer sleeping here, I will miss that... Right?)

8. Fantastic vocab: "Eperdermal"

7. Knowing how to laugh at herself ("this stays in the intermediate family!")

6. Knowing the power of prayer and being our constant reminder to pray and bless the food

5. Her "geeky" uniqueness (our little turkey vulture)

4. Her motivation and drive esp. with academics

3. Being steadfast and immovable (a.k.a. stubborness, in a good way)

2. Deep abiding faith/awesome scripture study habit!

1. Her competitive, fiesty nature - WE LOVE IT!!!!

Happy 15th! You are beautiful inside and out and the best big sister/daughter in the world!

As Grandma Hinckley would say, "Stay as sweet as you are." I love you so much :)

Sonic Cards Available Here

Taysom is priviledged to help out with fundraising this year for Speech and Debate. Right now she is selling Sonic cards for $5. These cards have $15 in savings. "And it's really yummy food. Please buy one today :)"

Mmmmm - Should I buy one???????

Yes, I should! Yay!!!!