Fun, Fun, Fun

Yesterday, Conner, Sydnee, and I attended the UNLV vs Utah game. Sheldon, his brother Jeff, and his dad each bought a couple tickets for six UNLV games this year. Because Dad Paul is still healing from his fall he wasn't able to go so we took his extra ticket. We arrived a few minutes late, and I don't think Sydnee has spent much time watching basketball. She easily became engaged and asked a few questions, but she wasn't quite sure about us singing the UNLV, Go, Fight, Win song... that was until the second half. In typical UNLV style this season, they came out and couldn't keep up with Utah the first half. Utah was playing incredible basketball and UNLV could only get a few baskets to drop. So at half we were down by at least ten (I sometimes forget all the stats). Much to our enjoyment, UNLV came out and played an incredible second half. They started running the ball and moving things along. As we were closing the gap I wished I could have captured Sydnee's excitement. We all had it, but she now understood why we sang the UNLV Go, Fight, Win song and she was doing it right along with everyone else. At one point we were just 3 points down and had the ball, Conner told Sydnee to yell and at the top of her lungs she was clappping and screaming for UNLV (she told me she felt like she was going to lose her voice - we all know how that feels). UNLV won by 10. It was a fun afternoon to spend with Conner, Sydnee, Jeff and Mason.

Music

Tonight as I was adding songs to my play list I was again reminded how much I LOVE music. As I was deciding which songs to add, I recalled so many great experiences in my life that involved music. Unfortunately although I have a deep appreciation and fondness for music, somewhere I missed the gene for rhythm. I have practiced and gotten slightly better over the years, but I still am usually just about a half beat off when leading or dancing. It doesn't stop me though... I'll "start at the very beginning", and I am sad to say I have probably forgot a few. My first memory of music was primary. I remember learning songs and I loved them. I was good at them too. I often sang louder than everyone around me. It made me feel so happy. I then took that knowledge home and used it in FHE (it may have actually been opposite, I may have first learned in FHE). We took turns at first leading the music, but over time I became the designated "FUN SONG" girl. I truly do not know how or why my family tolerated it but they did. Often I made up new "fun songs" and they mimicked me as I requested. I remember it being fun, but my family may not recall it the same way. When I was in Senior Primary I had an incredible chorister Viola Williams. I loved her and all she taught us. I asked her one day if I could lead the music in primary. She thought that would be great. She had me over to her home taught me some techniques. We practiced the song over and over and she even let me use her baton. That next week in primary led the song it was such an impressionable memory to me. My mom also tried to teach me to lead. I didn't realize it at the time, but this was when I learned I didn't feel the beat. My mom would say to me over and over you just come down on the down beat. Don't you feel the down beat. She never gave up. Always patiently trying to help me feel the down beat. It was years later as a primary chorister when I was memorizing the down beats that I realized I just didn't have that talent. I have also been blessed with the opportunity to be a primary chorister several times. Although, I have truly loved all of my callings, this is one of those callings that I can never get enough of. It is where I have begun to understand rhythm a little better. I love teaching the gospel with music.

Sydnee playing Tessie and Conner playing Rooster in Annie

When I was young my mom and dad took me to the DI and we saw "Annie" it was the best experience of my life. I still prefer Annie performed in the theater over the movie. Then Becky and I went to Music Man at UNLV and it is still my favorite production of "Music Man". My dad loved musicals and once we had a VCR we were exposed to several of them "Student Prince", "Showboat", "Oklahoma", "My Fair Lady" etc. I remember watching "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" with Cheryl over and over. Sound of Music was another favorite and we had the 8-Track often on Sundays we'd turn it on and act out the musical Our favorite was "So Long Farewell" we just couldn't get our brothers to participate. One summer we watch "Annie Get Your Gun" at Ricks, again I fell in love with the musical, my favorite song being "I Can do Anything Better than You". My kids have had several experiences being able to be in these musicals and it has been so much fun to watch them. My two new favorite's are "Joseph's Technicolor Dream Coat" and "Wicked". I can turn on the soundtracks to any of these and immediately feel joy.

A few years ago Becky, Julie, Debbie and I went and saw Celine Dion in concert. It still is one of the highlights of my life. I can honestly say it was the best show I've seen in Las Vegas. I couldn't get enough of the music, company, and choreography. They were all amazing. Then from 2003-2007 Christiana, Meagan and Loryn were able to participate in Choirs at Harney. The music they learned and performed was incredible. It was fun to participate with them by attending many many concerts.

I'll end with the music that moves me the most. This is the spiritual end. One of my most memorable music experiences was at General Conference October 2006. As the Tabernacle Choir sang "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet" it stirred me more than I knew was possible. I will ever treasure that memory. Then when I worked with Laurie and Liz in young women's in the East stake they exposed me to so much new Christian music. First we had Nashville Tribute to Joseph performed at part of our youth conference. That experience fortified my testimony of Joseph Smith, I will ever be grateful for Jason Deere and Dan Truman sharing their talents. Then we prepared music for camp and I learned so many great new songs that again bring me great joy when I hear them.

Good music is definitely a prayer to my soul. I love the thoughts from The Strength of Youth, "Music is an important and powerful part of life. It can be an influence for good that helps you draw closer to Heavenly Father"

 

Family Fun

Last Year 2007 We (The Sheldon Paul Family) fell in love with the movie "Ultimate Gift" (if you haven't seen we HIGHLY recommend it). We then learned there was an "Ultimate Gift" experience. Instead of buying it (my "frugalness" again took over) we decided we would create our own and use it as our goals for 2008. We did this, but did not totally complete it in 2008 -- so one of our family goals this year is to complete our Ultimate Gift Experience in 2009. For January each child wrote down two family activities that can be completed in two-three hours. Then each month we pick one and do it "spontaneously" (anyone that really knows me truly knows how much I have to let go of my "control" in this situation). Last year we only did two, but had a great time doing them. We wrote down new activities for this year and pulled on last Friday (January 16th). One of Meagan's was chosen and the activity was Pinic at the Park. Our time frame was right after lunch so I asked Meagan to come up with an idea we could do. She suggested Apple Shmear (something we thought was fun from the moving "Cheaper by the Dozen"). So we headed out grabbing only a tennis racket for our adventure. On our way we stopped and visited Grandpa Paul who had just arrived home from the hospital. While they were visiting I ran to store bought a few apples and some pints of ice cream that were on sale. We got to the park and discovered we had the really nice tennis racket that probably shouldn't be used for apple shmear. So instead we created our own games. Apple Toss -- which team could toss the apple the furthest without dropping it (Sarah and Conner won). Apple neck relay-- who could carry an apple between their chin and neck then pass it off to the next person -- then we had a race doing this (I think Sheldon won), then we had an ice cream race -- who could eat their ice cream the quickest but after each bite you had to go touch trees to take the next bite adding on bites each time. All of us except Conner gave up long before the ice cream was gone. Then we played how many times can you clap while the apple is in the air (Sydnee -5, Conner 9, Loryn 10, Meagan ??, Sarah 11, Marylynn 9, Sheldon 14), and we also had a race with apples on our heads along with how each person could be creative throwing an apple. We didn't realize how much fun apples could be. We decided we'd get a different tennis racket and play apple shmear Saturday Morning. So Saturday morning we headed over to our park for a real game of Apple Shmear. We had so much fun. We didn't know that we could actually hit an apple a good distance with a tennis racket. We made up some rules as we went along that anyone is welcome to use. It's a lot like baseball just with apples and a tennis racket not a baseball and bat. The bases alignment is the same. Three strikes is an out and if you shmear the apple it's a Home Run. If you start with only a partial apple and shmear it then it's only a double. If your fly apple is caught your out. We played "workup" and Edwards thing we used during wiffle ball. We also recommend using an older not very good tennis racket. You may throw the apple at someone to get them out but it has to be below the waist. It is always amazing to me how much happier everyone is as we play together. I love doing fun things and am so grateful I have a family to do them with. I believe that is part of our Heavenly Father's plan and we found this to be a great "wholesome recreational activity"

 

A New Year

I love the New Year. But before I share my loves of the New Year -- the last few years we have had such memorable New Years Eves, and this year was no different. Julie called me at the beginning of December to let me know she would be here for New Years. Last year we spent New Years with Julie and Chris. For dinner New Year's Eve we went to Tepanyaki (Japanese cooking at your table). We had such a good time I suggested we do it again this year (in fact our kids have been asking all year to do it again). Debbie made the reservations and we were all excited. (Just a side note Tepanyaki style of cooking has a lot of fire involved. As a child on New Years Eve we had fondue. My dad's least favorite part was the fire and oil on the table -- as an adult I have a greater understanding of this, luckily it seems at these restraraunts they have it under control and if not their of enough sprinklers surrounding to take care of any situation.
We did have a lot a fun again this year.

A few days before New Years Eve Meagan (aka The Wedding Planner who practices on home parties for now) decided that we needed to have a New Years Eve Party. She put on her wedding planner outfit and began to plan. Nothing can be small in her party plans, and boy did her imagination create a celebration. After the large banner was hung to greet the guests, the outside lighting and entrance were changed to "New Years Style", streamers, balloon arches, balloons, food, and games were all included in the night. Everyone had fun popping balloons, creating new M&M games (while keeping the dog supplied with endless M&M's), blowing New Year horns, climbing on the roof, drinking sparkling cider, and breaking the pinata, but I think all enjoyed the snowball fight the most (thanks Tammy).

New Years Day was just as fun having lots of friends and family over for a traditional breakfast of "Spam and Eggs" along with many other edible items (cinammon rolls, waffles, fruit, hot chocolate, bacon, sausage, and regular eggs.) We were ready for the New Year to begin.

The New Year reminds me I have just enjoyed a highlight of the year Christmas. That helps me focus on the Savior. This all helps remind me where I am going and what I want to be doing. With this in mind the New Year comes and I find it so natural to let go of what I didn't accomplish last year and start fresh. I love setting goals. I love looking at a new clean calander (usually because I don't buy one until the New Year is here). I love sitting down and trying to plan out the year. The birthdays, holidays, events, reunions, vacations, school schedules etc. I'm sure I learned this from a mother who was always organized. Who taught me how to set goals. So again as this year we sat down and wrote out personal goals along with family goals. Sheldon reminded us the goals help us become perfected. In D&C 67:13 we are taught, "13 Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected. I believe by setting goals we achieve what Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley constantly urged us to do, "Let us all try to stand a little taller, rise a little higher, be a little better. Make the extra effort." I love the quote but I don't know who said it, "A goal not written is just a wish".