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Ilah has decided to create a blog... She really wanted to to a web show, but this is the best I can do. She would love your comments!!!!!!



P.S. The link is over on the left under Friends and Family.

North Middle School's Jazz Band

Since I have been taking classes to get my masters, I have had to miss several concerts, games, awards nights, etc. I was completely bummed a few weeks ago when I missed what I thought was the last band concert. Lucky for me, the band was asked to play one more time after my class was over. Hardly anyone attended because it wasn't advertised, and the majority of the band parents/families had just attended their "last" concert. So about 10 people- including me and Taysom- were treated to a wonderful night of jazz. Tucker and his two buddies from church (Matthew and Sam) are the three of the four trumpeters. (Tucker is the tallest one.) Melia, also in our ward, is on the keyboard.
Our favorite song is "The Pink Panther."

The one below is the Pink Panther. If you only have time to listen to one, I suggest this one. Notice the steady metronome in the background. It was the self-proclaimed 'best audience member' clapping in time because Ms. Palmer asked the audience to participate. Taysom never lets down the band :)

Henry and the Terrible, Horrible, No-good, Very Bad Day

This morning Henry woke up a bit grumpy. After getting his church clothes on, he went downstairs to the kitchen to toast some Eggos. Unfortunately, Ilah and Tucker had just finished them off. It was going to be a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day!

He had to move Taysom's pioneer dress making mess on the table so he could sit up there and try to get his church shoes on. They are lace-ups, and he hates lace-ups. He was really having trouble with the left shoe so Ilah decided to help. She pulled out the laces to try and loosen the shoe. Henry yelled at Ilah for taking out the laces. Just then Mom came into the kitchen and got after Henry (she had woken up a bit grumpy herself). It was a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day!

As we were walking out to get into the van, Mom mentioned to Henry that he needed to go right to his room for a nap when he got home from church unless she saw marked improvement in his behavior at church. He glared at her thinking, "This is a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day!"

While sitting on the pew during sacrament meeting, Ilah asked Mike for a piece of gum. Mike gave Ilah his last piece. Henry became sullen and even grumpier. Mike had been at meetings all morning and didn't understand that Henry was having a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day so he leaned down and asked Henry what was wrong. Henry said, "They ate all the Eggos, now the gum... I bet I don't get any lunch either."

I hope he doesn't move to Alaska!

Henry Persuades Through Humor

A couple of weeks ago we took the family to Olive Garden in honor of Tucker's birthday. After our delicious dinner we were deciding who wanted to go to Academy Sports with Dad and Tucker to pick out Tucker's birthday present (a clay pidgeon thrower). Henry quickly piped up that he needed to go because he really needed new shoes. I had no sooner given the questioning look when Henry started explaining, "Mom, let me show you my shoes' new features, and they weren't included!"

That boy had us all cracking up :)

Easter Sunday

Ilah - made her own dress - Go Ilah!
Taysom - thinks she looks "chesty" in this dress... What are your thoughts :)
Henry - is trying to get into the Guiness Book of World Records for biggest smile!
Tucker - is holding his beloved "Frances" (the little zebra he got for his b-day... no relation to Grandma Wallace :)

My Dad - Talking 'bout My Dad

My dad is a super hero! Really - When I started doubting that fact, he was forced to show me his buttons... Who cares about his buttons you ask? Well, they have the Superman S insignia on them. Pretty cool, huh!? Everyone knows that only super heroes are allowed to buy the Superman brand!

Even though I haven't seen him do it, I know my dad can leap small buildings and all that other cool stuff because he proved his 'superness' regularly as I grew up. He can always bust off whichever child is hanging on for dear life during "Bustin' Bronco." He always knows when someone had used his brush/comb. He can clean a carpet better than anyone. He's never sick. He has a special money tree where he goes to pick bills when needed. He doesn't age. And I know that all of those Saturdays when he was "playing golf," he was really either training or saving the world!

As incredible as all of that is, however, his best super powers are things I've noticed as I've grown older and wiser. They are things like his testimony, his love and compassion, and his ability to connect with each grand child. Pretty powerful stuff if you ask me.

You are the best dad for me, and I love you!!!!!

Earlier this year I had my class write about a childhood memory. I wrote one with them as an example. I thought since it was about Dad, I'd share it here. Obviously I took some liberties with the details, but I'm sure all of you will have some form of this "Dad Memory" too.


Crosby Bed Time Routine

"No not the dryer, Dad," I screamed with laughter. Dad continued to lean toward the dryer until I was laughing so hard he began laughing too and asked again, "Where is your bedroom then?"

This was a weekly ritual that I enjoyed growing up. My dad loved to play this game with each of us kids. When it wasn't our turn, we still loved watching from the sidelines as he carried our brothers or sisters throughout the house guessing at their bedroom locations. Amazingly, it never got old!

Carrying me in his arms I felt safe, secure and loved. I knew that he would listen to my pleas and eventually find the right room. It's funny how I truly believed that I needed to help my dad find where my room was.

After the laundry room Dad walked to the kitchen and started leaning toward the dishwasher. "No," I shrieked, "I don't want to sleep in there." Smiling broadly, holding back laughter himself he simply asked, "Where is your bedroom then?"

I thought I'd given him the best directions... After all I knew how to get to my room, but without fail we would end up in the bathroom. Bending down to place me in the tub I'd flail my body yelling, "No, don't put me in the tub! This isn't my bed!!"

"Oh, it isn't?" he'd question. "You must have meant here." He’d say as he lifted the lid of the toilet.

"Agh… no, no, no... just go out to the hall and take me to my room."

My dad started getting better with my directions. We finally made it into a bedroom… it just wasn’t mine. I figured this out after I saw the John Stockton poster on the wall.

I gave him some more directions. I said, “Go down the hall to the right.” Thinking there’s no possible way for him not to make it into my room this time. A sharp knock against the head proved me wrong. I guess I meant left. Soon, my impatient mom would call out, “It’s BED time.” Some how my dad would conveniently remember where my room was and promptly carry me to MY bed. After I was tucked in, I would smile as I remembered the trip to my room.

It was a sad day, when Dad no longer carried me too bed. Being the oldest, I was always the first to grow too big for childish games. I still loved watching my brothers and sisters experience the fun… albeit a bit jealously. I couldn't stop myself from telling them that Dad really knew how to get to their room… spoiling just a little part of their fun.


Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

It's a Wonderful Life

Through the years we've gotten a little older, a little grayer, a little bigger and hopefully a little better.