The Sound of Music

Spring is making some teasing appearances here. I walked outside and heard a female "vibrado" voice in the flower garden. I snuck up and found Becca laying in the garden on her back - she was making up the words to her song, and had her arms spread open. I said "That sounds pretty Becca , what are you singing?". She said "I'm singing to my plants so they will come up. I'm in my garden" I went upstairs and heard more singing. Rhett has a falsetto voice he sings in too. He was putting on his tie in the mirror on his way to Bishop duties, and was singing the words to "People" (please feel free to sing along) It went like this: "People, people who need people... are the neediest people in the Ward. I just tell them.....pray and read your scriptures, and don't let in that grown up pride, hide what you feel inside... Just be people, needy needy people. " I'm sure he would be so thrilled that I blogged this - sorry honey! I've noticed lately that Rhett stares off into space alot more with a pensive look. Last night I him a kiss - the lips were there, and the brain was busy working out a problem. I realize this is part of the new burdens he is carrying, so I try and laugh about the "fish lips" part. He went grocery shopping for me this week - the first time in years. I tell you... greater love hath no man than to go grocery shopping for his wife. I was truly grateful.
Tomorrow is "festival day". I get tired out thinking of it. Livi has a piano Sonatina festival, and a Chorus Festival. Garrett & Madison have a band festival. Becca has swimming lessons and a birthday party. Madison has a volleyball tourney for the church, and, have I missed anything? Oh yes, a field hockey mom called and asked me to work concessions & bring pasta salad. I said "no" to that one. Whose idea was it to have all these children? It brings music into our lives, though!

Happy St. Patricks Day everybody! The Leprechaun came last night (I didn't realize he was obligated to visit our home), and he & Livi exchanged letters:

from Livi:
Dear Leprechaun,
My name is Olivia. What is your name? I heard you make fairy's shoes, is that true? I hope you like your milk and honey. I know some fairies What are the fairy's names that you know?
Sorry I'm asking too many questions. Do you know Kelsey Smith? Did you visit her or is there more han one lepehaun? Do any of these pictures look like you down at the bottom? I an't believe St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow. I'll rite to you next year or maybe even tomorrow again. I'll be HAPPY if you come!!!! I'll be SAD if you don't come!! Please circle one.
Love,
Olivia

Dear Olivia,
My name is Seamus (Shamus), the cutest wee little lephechaun in the fair isle of Ireland. Olivia - it seem to me that you like fairies and other magical creatures like me. Do I make
fairy shoes? Who have you been talking to? I thin you've been reading a few too many fairy tales you wee lassie!! That must be my bus-riding cousin, Shamrock.
I know some wonderful fairies my dear Olivia, but to name them all would give away their identity, wich I'm not about to do. I do date a fairy named Clover. She likes me fr my brain, not by pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!
I do know Kelsey Smith. What a bonnie wee lass she is too. I'm glad you have a friend like Kelsey! Hang onto her. She was visited by another Leprechaun, I do believe. The picture on the bottom that ooks the most like me is the one on the left. He looks like the happiest, and I am a happy fellw too. I also know Rumpelstiltskin. He is very misunderstood. Thank you for your note, Olivia. I hope you wear green tomorrow and run away if someone tries to pinch you - or pinch them back. I don't ever want to see you be sad, and I want you to know that I DID COME SEE YOU!
Love,
Shamus, the small and green

Confederates in the Attic

Our book group just finished reading "Confederates in the Attic" by Tony Horowitz, the pulitzer prize winning journalist - a non-fiction about the Civil War and how it is still being "fought" in the modern-day South. Part of the book has the author doing a whirlwind tour of the civil war sights. It's really funny, and the author tours with a hardcore confederate re-enactor who calls the back in time rush you get while touring the "civil wargasm."
The ladies in our book group kind of got inspired by the idea of a ladies tour of the civil war sights(we'll call it somthing else)-as many as we can do in two days and camping one night. One woman has a 15 passanger van, and another is starting to collect journal entries to read at each sight that we visit. We are even going to follow the sights in chronological order, starting at Harper's Ferry, then Manassas/Bull Run, Anteidem, maybe Gettsburg,Fredericksburg, Chancellor, Wilderness, Stonewall Jackson's & Lee's retreat, and then we'll end up at some restaurant /outlet mall and pig out on chocolate. This book group has a sense of adventure, and our husbands are supportive -if it's just two days, so we're going to plan it next month. I'm really looking forward to it, and am reading up some more on the Civil War. Anybody want to come out for it? We played doubles tennis this morning with some of the ladies from this same group. One player was really good, and I got caught at the net while she was just whaling the balls at me - I stood my ground, so now I have the nickname "Stonewall
Jefferies" - I like it!

Stripling Warriors, "Mama's Boys"

Garrett and his friends from church have been sending each other Book of Mormon - like writing. I thought it was really funny, so I'm sending you a sample. The friends written about are DJ, Matt, Seth, Michael, Lauren, & Madison - oh yes and Tony, an "emo" friend.
Oh yes - our ward is the "White Oak" ward.

The First book of Garylarrypumpkinberry
Chapter 1

1 I, Garylarrypumpkinberry being of the clan of Jefferies, the son of the King of White Oak and the land round about, and being the sibling of the daughters of Rhettmel do write this account in earnest.

2 And now I start with one, Mattharious. I being exceedingly wroth from being sent to the front of the battle did commence to pursue Mattharious insomuch that he did flee from my presence.

3 And he, being of the cross country combination was gifted with swiftness of foot and much speed, did escape into the wilderness.

4 Now I being exceedingly buff and large in stature could not keep up with this intruder and spared his life.

5. But he continued to use the secret combinations of Meth Hazelsen and laid eyes upon mine own sibling Madisonian.

6. And Madisonian, who was exceedingly fair and being frightened by the combination of stalking even that same combination used by Sethiha, did construct a bow made of fine metal and shot it even through the heart of Mattharious.

7. Now I commence with Mikelonigiodiha and Djdidoniha. They being very large and buff in stature like unto myself, were on the third and fourth lines of that very same battle against the emonians led by Tonyanton.

8. And the emonians did fight like dragons with their purple pants that were tight like unto a dish. Nevertheless the White oakians did prevail for they had the armor of god girded about their loins.

9. And now Laurenanton, being exceedingly gifted in the ways of harm of words, did stir up Sethiha and I to great anger insomuch that we did make an end of her ways.

10. For she did spread false witnesses saying that I, Garylarrypumpkinberry had made her weep several times.

11. And Sethiha, being drawn to the program of Guitar Hero 2, did commence to complete an important task to overcome Trogdor on the level of hard. He working diligently, even with his own hands did complete this task and saw importance in life and did walk in the ways of emo no more.

12. And thus ended the month of February on the day of twenty and eight.

Livi's blog!!!!!!

Well this is it a big hit for me to make my very on blog with my pictures and facts!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are some pictures of me the first one is me holding Cecily. Next is me holding jewels or shiny rocks and Becca took a picture of me so she can always see the gems. I never knew she toke that picture unitl now when I seen the photo. On to the next picture,now these two are in Florida, now I know that was a long time ago but it were some pretty nice pictures of me. Now here is a real story about me in Florida. Since we dove all the way to Florida is was long and I was bored and car sick. When we finally reached our cabin I looked around and toke a picture. Then I ran to the Beach barefoot and stepped into the soft sand and swan in the ocean with my clothes on and it felt nice adthen everybody else came and toke a picture of me. There were three other families that came with us also and one of my best friends (Zach Carver) arrived and I knew who he was but because I was covered in seaweed, sand, and ocean water he thought I was a stranger who knew him! I yelled,"HI ZACH!" Then I ran to him and as I got closer and closer he started to recognize me a little bit and then he said,"Olivia? Is that you?"Then we had the rest of the fn vacation and then one day we went on jet ski's, got crabs, roasted marshmallows, and went swimming. Next last but not least the two pictures of me and my friends Kelsey and Sarah with my dad at the church doing activities and it was a fun night. Now you now about some pictures here are some facts from Olivia:

favorite colors: light blue, turquoise, and lime green

favorite food: fish, potato w/ ham & cheese

favorite book/author: Mary Pope Osborne, Dave Barry, Dav Pilkey, Barbara Park, and Olivia Jefferies because I write!

favorite movie: I have a ton!!

favorite hobbies: playing outside or with my friends & family

When I grow up: teacher, author, illustrator, art teacher, or veterinarian

Now that you know you some things about me and I will publish more blogs but know Bye-Bye!

By: Olivia Jefferies

P.S. I actually posted this blog all by my self!

Becca's World

Becca turned six yesterday, and it was a family party at home. Those are my personal favorites, because the work load is so much less, and she still looks happy. She has wanted this book "Piratology" since she saw it a month ago. It's really cool, and has treasure maps, drawings of real pirates, ships, gold, etc. In Becca's world, it's time to search for buried treasure, and sees this book as a "how to manual". I told her she would have to learn how to dive, get on a big boat, and dive down to find most of the pirate treasure. She pointed to a map of an island in the book, and said, " No - Here' s the REAL map, and it's on an island, it's on LAND, so this is where I want to go." I hope that she gets to go there with all my heart! She also got some play money and a cash register. It's what she really wanted, I
wouldn't have chosen that. She also wanted this popcorn
cake in the kids cookbook, which was easy to make, but it
was so sweet - nobody wanted to eat it. I decided to throw it away this morning, but it won't come off the plate - it had

marshmallow cream and corn syrup in it. Pretty gross, actually~ Happy Birthday Cutie Pie!