Keddi's 10th birthday

Keddi gets a friend party this year, so we did family stuff last night for her 10th birthday. Like last year, Mardi had a band thing so we all went to enjoy the Jazz Band's music and the Olive Garden catered dinner. It was a fund raiser and Mardi had invited Wilson's. Desert was cake but I didn't bring a candle so after the event was over, we just sang and she opened the Wilson's gift (zoobles) and one of the gifts from Joel and I. (A journal and 100 piece puzzle)Joel has a trial today and headed back to work to finish preparing for it instead of coming home. Keddi opened a black comforter set (she asked for it!!) and a rock polisher that she can not wait to try. She likes rocks and especially shiny colorful ones. Now I need to see if I can find some way of displaying them.

Happy Birthday Keddi! I am glad you enjoyed your day.

Jazz Band Concert

Every year, Mr. Nakoba has the Jazz Band Concert catered by Olive Garden and the kids are asked to sell tickets. $8/person isn't bad for a full course meal and music! Anyway, the night was divided into two parts and we ate in between. After each song, he had the kids who had done solos stand or raise their hand to be recognized.

Except, Mardi's solo was at the end of the first half and he moved right into telling everyone how to get their food. When he was done, Tersa yelled out "Who did the solo?!" (I was so proud.) His eyes got wide and he apologized and asked everyone to wait a minute. He said that he had to force her to take the one solo (many of the kids did more than one) and that she had done it very well and didn't seem nervous at all. Then he introduced her and we all made quite the racket!
Several of the kids in the band are new to Jazz Band this year like Mardi. They did an incredible job. We were quite impressed and really enjoyed listening to the music.

Mardi

One of the first "parties" the girls had at our house was a photo shoot night with some girls in the ward. They had a blast. They did it again just recently. Tersa wanted to take pictures so she didn't have hers done. Bree did Mardi's hair and Mardi let Tersa put make-up on her. (She doesn't wear make-up and wasn't convinced to after this activity either.)

She's a beauty.

Mardi's Presidential Gold Award

Tonight was Mardi's 8th Grade Awards night. She received the Presidential Gold award for high GPA through all three years of Jr. High. Good job Mardi Beth!

Shinara's poetry recital

Today Mrs. Courtney's class had their poetry recital. Several weeks before, Shinara had come home with a poem that had four stanza's with four lines in each. She recited the 1st stanza to me and I told her that she would need to memorize one stanza each week as part of her homework. Well, after her homework was finished, she sat down and in 3 min. she memorized the 2nd stanza. So, I told her that she could just memorize them when she wanted and then practice the delivery. I was amazed!

She did a great job with her delivery and didn't bob her head or do the sing- song recitation that pretty much every other child in her class did! She had great inflection and animation too.