May 2013

May 2013

May started out as a very busy month.  

Voice lessons, solos, ballet privates, in addition to Showstoppers Dance Competition.

Cymbre is finally officially caught up with all her absences for headaches, and I have written confirmation from the Asst. Principal, Mr. Chacon.  Now she doesn't have to go to tutoring unless she doesn't understand something.  I think she will continue to go for math for a few more times.

We had to take the girls to Austin for Showstopper this year, as they had to dance on Sunday in Houston, but in Austin they didn't.  They needed to compete because you have to compete to qualify for nationals, and we sort of were thinking about doing Nationals since it's Cooper's last year.  Terri and Morgan came and watched, and we had dinner together.  It's always fun to see them, and they really enjoy watching the dancing!

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Entouch came and hooked up the wireless burglar alarm in the new windows, and the guy to fix the water softener came and fixed it, and the Air Conditioning people came and services the air conditioners all on the same day.  A busy morning but now everything is taken care of.

We seems to be having lots of Doctor appointments...Cymbre for bronchitis,  Dad to get his medicines refilled, and Cooper to get her teeth cleaned.  Mom also got my teeth cleaned.

Cymbre's physical therapy continues, and Brian is helping a little bit.  She does lots of exercises at home, but still headaches daily.

Cooper went to the Dr. and got medicine for a sore throat.  I saw Dr. Ermac for medication renewals.

On the 3rd just as we were coming from dinner out, Guy opened the garage door and at the same time lightning struck just above the garage in a big ball and a VERY Big Bang!  We all just sat in the car looking at it.  Guy was angry.  This was the second time for lightning at our house, but when we went inside everything seemed to be in working order!  Thank goodness it didn't explode the garage just as we were pulling inside!!

On the 8th we discovered tiny black ants in the pantry.  What a mess!!  We took everything out, threw away all the stuff with ants in it, and sprayed and put everything back.  Then again a few days later we did the same thing again!  Needless to say, we are not stocking up!

We enjoyed FHE with the Maloney family, and enjoyed playing some get to know you games.  They are a new family in the ward, and their son is in my Sunday School class.  We've had to put off meeting with them two times, but even though Cymbre wasn't feeling her best, we went to night.

Cooper had Sister Gesserick do her hair all fancy, and her make-up for prom.  She looked so beautiful.  It was worth the money!  Her date was Landon Badoni, a fun young man she met at EFY.  The two of them had a group, and they took her Mini Cooper car, and had a ball.  Her dress was a royal blue with rhinestone trim we got from a website and I altered it so it be modest.

Her group posed for photos in one young mans house, and they had a ball taking photos.

Cooper attended friends graduation parties.  Seems like we never see her anymore, between all these parties, and dance classes, and dance teaching, and school.

I am in the midst of making decorations, and preparations for Cooper Graduation open house.  She's invited tons of people, and they will probably all show up making the house standing room only.  I probably should have used the church....but I just didn't want to clean it up.

We are doing her party the week before graduation, and ordered sandwiches from Costco, and we will made a fruit salad, and tons of cookies for a cookie bar.  Lemonade to drink and water.  

We've done all kinds of coordinating decorations, even decorating the bottoms of the candy hugs and kisses.

Cymbre got the VOE  (verification of enrollment) form from school so she can start Driver's Ed in a box with Dad....she will do the online classes over the summer, and then in July she will get her driver's permit.  Then a year from now, our final teenage driver!  WOOHOO, that means Dad and I can retire from chauffeuring!

Cooper and Cymbre helped Andee with auditions at Dance Central.  Andee is pregnant, and she is using them as demonstrators.  They LOVE it!!

The girls also had auditions for APAC Dance Company again....it's just a formality for them, they always are on the competition company.

As for Sunday school classes:

On the 10th the lesson was:  What Can I Learn From Living Prophets and Apostles?

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Guy and I made a Prophet Family Feud game, and the class really enjoyed the competition of the game.

The treat was a $100,000 candy bar...everyone got one for playing the game, and the handout was a prophet bookmark.

On the18th the lesson was:  How Can I Improve My Scripture Study?

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I took water color paints and had one of the students paint me a picture of a temple.  He did a fairly good job without practice.  The point of the lesson was:  scripture study takes practice, then we learn better what the scriptures are telling us, and see different meanings.

The handout was a set of water color paints and some paper for each of them with the tag saying:  Just like painting a beautiful picture, scripture study requires practice!

the 25th the lesson was:  What Can I Learn From President Monson About Following The Spirit?

ADD LESSON NOTES HERE

Guy and Cooper also made a quick trip to College Station for Courtney Whites graduation party.  She graduated from College.

I think that's about it for May...

April 2013

April 2013

Cymbre's headaches are continuing to be a daily issue.  She spends several hours doing exercises and stretching and we hold muscles and use heat and cold, and we are still having not much luck!  Physical therapy is still coming along, but its a very slow progress!  We will keep up the stuff!

Tap and ballet privates, and voice lessons are still happening every week, and somehow the girls are managing to keep track of everything and be where they are supposed to be.  Cooper is always so excited when she comes home from singing with Sister Pennington about what they did, and Brother Pennington says I should come over and sit in his office and just listen.

Ms. Andee is keeping them busy with their solos and duet for competition, and trying to throw in some harder tap steps in the private time she has with the girls.

We went to Thunderstruck Dance competition, and the girls did well again this year.  

Sister Margaret Mayo went to the competition with us, and we all had a tremendous time.  She's in her 80's and just enjoys life!  The girls duet won the whole competition!

MOVE competition was also this month, and the girls did tremendous there too.  Their duet, Mr. Pinstripe Suit is winning everything at every competition.

We went to Ladies Night at the temple bookstore, and as usual, I won something in the drawings.  It was a CD this time.

General conference is always a delight.  Jammie Church as we call it is fun to just listen to at home without the hassle of getting to church on time.

I returned again to the oral surgeon, and again he shocked my face to see how the numb nerves are doing.  Still numb, but it seems to be over a smaller space...more waiting, more slobbering, more funny words in Sunday School lessons!

Guy went to Norway for a week and a half on business.  I really hate it when he has to be gone that long.  Everything goes wrong, and everything brakes, and someone always gets sick.

Cymbre is carrying on with her tutoring before and after school.  If we can just keep up going in the morning and afternoon for a few more weeks, she will have her excessive absences made up and it won't be a problem.



On the 13th, I was trying to fix where a screw was coming out of the family room wall, and was trying to glue the piece of wall back on top of it.  Well, it didn't work very well as I super glued my fingers to the wall!  Had to rip skin to get it off...pretty dumb...just saying...



On the 17th, Cymbre saw Dr. Holick for a follow-up appointment.  Things are not worse, but not much better...continue physical therapy, and she talked about starting a daily preventative medication to see if that makes any difference.  We will decide next visit.



We tried to get Taylor Swift tickets, but didn't have any luck...I think they were sold out before the released them.



The girls had Young Women In Excellence and displayed some of their stuff...they both have their medallions but they wanted something from them.



 On the 23rd,
I went back to the Endodontist for a another root canal that was on a tooth with a crown.  He repaired it, and  hopefully, I don't have the same issue as the last time.



I took the girls to Raleigh, North Carolina for Tap University with Mark Goodman.  They love that man, and he loves the girls.  He does a terrific workshop thing over a long weekend, and the girls have gone every year for years.  They LOVE it!



On the 27th, we were coming  home from shopping, and just as Guy opened the garage door, there was a flash of lightning, and it was right over the top of our garage.  A loud boom, and we thought the garage had been hit, which would have made it twice for our house to be hit by lightning.  Guy was really mad, but we soon discovered that everything was ok...how it was is still a big question in our minds, but let's just say Heavenly Father was on our side that day!



Cooper taught some classes for Ms. Josie, and loved it.



We took the girls to Hall of Fame Dance Competition, and they always do well there!  That competition loves tap dancers!  And there is no fuss for not dancing on Sunday.  They work with a lot of Mormons when they go to Utah, so they understand.  The girls won First  Overall with their Duet yet again!




I went to the APAC Dance Company Parent Meeting.  There wasn't really anything new, but Traci always has the competition schedule for next years.  Then we can plan around dance things for the year.



The girls went to a youth dance, and as always enjoyed the evening.



The last day of ballet class for this year has come, and because the girls are not doing the recital in that class, they only have to attend the Saturday ballet technique classes for the rest of the year.

Pella Windows came to replace some windows in the sewing room and scrapbook room.  It's always a mess!




As for Sunday School lessons:



On the 13th the lesson was:  How Can I Liken The Events Of The Apostacy And The Restoration To My Life?



It was mostly using the story of the First Vision, and the class really enjoyed the part where I was describing the story and stopped and said to them "Can't you just see Satan sitting there on a log in the grove just waiting for Joseph to start praying so he could pounce on him.    Satan had to know what was going to happen sense it was a revelation being fulfilled straight out of the scriptures.  He knew that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were going to start the Restoration so there was no way he was going to miss out."



On the 27th the lesson was:  What Does Joseph Smith's Example Teach Me About Learning The Gospel?



We talked about how Joseph prepared himself even though he had no clue what would happen.  He read in the scriptures, pondered what he read, and then exercised his faith and simply asked Heavenly Father his question.  I asked them how being prepared can help you when you finally ask the question.  Are you more receptive if you've put some work into the asking, or is it easier if you just wing it?



Then we played a Joseph Smith Trivia game that Guy and I had made...always a fun time in class.  I always have to prove that I am still smarter than the kids in class, and they always think they will know all the answers...not true...just saying.



I know there are other lessons, so I will have to look them up on the big computer.



Tap University was also this month in Raleigh, North Carolina.  The girls LOVE to go because they get to see Mark Goodman and tap dance for a whole weekend!  They learn so much, and Mark is such a great mentor for them.



Guy spent some time in Utah seeing Caleb and Holly and the kids, and stopped by to see Shyla, Russell and the girls.



Guy has been published in the EAEG First Break Journal.  He wrote a technical paper.  I'm so proud of him.

March 2013

March 2013

This month is a busy one for Cooper, seems like she has something every day.

The girls have Tap Group for competition rehearsals.

Cooper is continuing her voice lessons.

Dr, Holick has decided that Cymbre might benefit from doing physical therapy for her headaches, so I am trying to get that set up for her.  They have a migraine therapist at Texas Children's, so we will see how long it takes to get a time to see him.   Maybe this will help!

We went to her physical therapy evaluation, and the man, Brian Scully, has said he can try to help Cymbre.  We set up therapy once a week for 12 weeks,, then evaluate to see where we stand.

Cooper seems to be teaching for Traci, Amy, and Andee on a more regular basis.  It's ok, she can use the money.

The girls have Spring Bread, but we are just sticking around home this year.  With therapy and such, we just aren't able to get away right now.

Cooper and Bella Cruz went to the Maroon 5 concert and had a great time.

Guy spent some time in La Jolla, California on business.

I enjoyed going to lunch with my visiting teachers and the other ladies they visit.  We sort of made a lunch group visit out of it, and we all enjoy it.

Solo and ballet privates continue weekly.

My face is still numb from the oral surgery last month...it get's old really fast.  Just saying!

We are having some new windows put in to replace the worn out ones we have and a broken one upstairs.  That's always such a mess!

The girls had Youth Conference.  They went to San Antonio to the temple and stayed at a ranch out there.  They spent some time in an old folks home putting together family history binders for the people, and both girls say they had a great time.

I took the girls to the Young Women's Broadcast, and then we went over to Maren Pearson's surprise baby shower.  She was surprised, and we enjoyed visiting with some friends there.

Cymbre's headaches are still a daily occurrence, and we are hoping this medicine will kick in son and start making a different.  She's missing seminary and school almost daily.

In Sunday School we did a few things of note:



the 16th was How Can Relying On The Savior's Grace Help Me Become A Better Teacher?

The object lesson was a broken clay pot....The Savior used us even with all our flaws to grow a thing of beauty.  Just like the clay pot will still grow beautiful flowers, the Savior uses us for His purposes.



the 22, How Can The Book Of Mormon Help Me Strengthen My Faith In The Atonement Of Jesus Christ?



I gave them a Meaning Of Easter FHE lesson to share with their families.  It contained scriptures and a carton of plastic eggs containing this of the Savior in each one.  Things like a cross, crown of thorns, etc.



The class obviously loved that one, as several parents emailed to comment on the wonderful FHE they had had from what the kids had brought home.



The 30th was How Can I Use Comparisons To Teach Others About The Atonement?



For this one I took all kinds of household objects and we discussed how we could use that object to teach someone about the Atonement.





For their treat I took Peeps Smores.  Then I found them in the kitchen using the microwave to make them before YM/YW.

Get out and find someone who needs you to serve them.

Love you.

Mom

February 2013

February 2013

The month started off with a bang with COOPERPALOOZA!  It's Cooper's birthday, and she celebrates for weeks!  She had a big party, went to dinner with friends, got presents,  and in general made sure everyone was celebrating and wearing their "Cooperpalooza" shirts.  

Cymbre headaches continue, and we are going to see yet another neurologist to see what can be done.  This time we are going to Texas Children's Hospital West Campus.  I've been leery about taking her there, as you hear horror stories of wait times and such and never seeing the same doctor twice, but I guess we will give it a try.  At this point, we are willing to do just about anything to get her some relief.

She will be seeing Dr. Holick a pediatric neurologist.  Guess we'll see...

The Doctor gave us some headaches medicines to try, and then call her to let her know how things are going.  Here we go again....

The girls went to the temple for youth baptisms again.  They love to go with their Dad.  He takes them to Burger King when they are finished.

Cooper has some things entered in an art show at school.  She's painted some pictures, so we will go see them.  I'll try to post photos here.

Cymbre has been missing quite a few of the first three classes with her headaches, so she is going to have to spend some time making them up in tutoring after school.  The AP at school and I are in contact, and we are doing what Mr. Chacon says to get the absences made up before the end of the year.    She struggles because she's in pain almost all the time.

There was a youth dance in Katy that they girls enjoyed.

Cooper has been doing some teaching for Andee so that keeps her busy, and she so loves the tiny ones.

The girls were going to go to the Move Dance Competition, but since we don't dance on Sunday, the competition will not allow them to dance on Saturday or Friday, so Traci pulled them from the competition.  We will go to a different one.

We got family tickets to go see Toby Keith at the Houston Rodeo.  It was a good show.

Cooper is starting her voice lessons in preparation for college.  

The private ballet and tap lessons are continuing as usual.

That looks like about all for the calendar stuff, so I'll have to do the Sunday School lesson stuff later as I don't have that stuff with me at the moment.

As for Sunday School Lessons:

One week was Why Is Learning An Important Part Of Heavenly Father's Plan?

I took the class outside and had them use sidewalk chalk to draw team plans of salvation on the sidewalks.  There were several kids on each team.  I told them they can't use their phones to look it up, use their scriptures, or as an adult for tutoring.  It was amazing to see the detail they included.  Then we discussed the need to be able to teach someone about the plan of salvation without scriptures, or an adult helper, and needing to be comfortable in doing so.

Another week it was:  What Is The Role Of Agency In Learning The Gospel?

We talked about the need to actively seek out learning.  The scriptures can't help us if we don't read them!  General conference talks can't help us if we don't listen to conference or read the Ensign.

The Holy Ghost is a great testifier of truth, but be need to be in tune to receive that revelation from him.

We talked about how we need to be better active learners, and some things we could do to do that each day.  Joseph Smith said that the best way to obtain truth and wisdom is not to ask it from books, but to go to God in prayer and ask.

I think that's it except for adding pictures.  I'll do that later.

Love you.

Mom