Splendid May

"The world's favorite season is the spring.
All things seem possible in May."
-  Edwin Way Teale

 We started this beautiful and tender month with a bang.  Both of my boys won 1st and 2nd prize (Jefferson and James respectively) in their pack's Pinewood Derby.  I wasn't able to attend, but from the comments I heard they made a name for themselves. My friends astonishingly said that my boys kept winning every race, and the only time one of them lost was when they raced each other in the end, and even then the difference of time and distance was very minute.  I was proud of both of them for coming up with their own model shape, for sanding those cars for days, for painting them, and taking care of the details all by themselves.  When a few friends asked what was my secret of having these boys be excellent in all they do, I just said that I demand the best effort, and both Elijah and I work hard alongside each of them to accomplish their best.  No magic, just time, energy, hard work, and encouragement.  I've noticed these past months when I haven't had the energy to give it all as a mother, they haven't given all as kids either.  Thank goodness, I've got Elijah who, as busy as he has been, has tried his hardest to compensate for my part.  Raising good children requires work from both parents, because they each play a different role in those kids' growth.

The reason I wasn't able to attend my kids' Pinewood Derby race was that I was helping out with a baby shower for our friend, Hillary.  And good thing we threw her baby shower when we did, because she gave birth to a beautiful boy just a few days later.  Next in line, my blond friend Tara, who also is expecting a boy.  So far from all the 9 ladies expecting these next months, I'm the only one expecting a GIRL!

All my kids are very happy to have a little sister, but Gillian is way more excited.  She keeps talking to the baby in my tummy, so, according to Gillian, when the baby comes out she will recognize Gillian's voice and love her forever! 20 weeks and counting.

The kids finished with their last California piano evaluation, the National Guild of Musicians.  They had to memorize 7-10 pieces, play them beyond well, paying special attention to rhythm, notes, dynamics, etc.  When Gillian, who was last, came out all three kids yelled: "Yes, no more mom saying 'dynamics, children, dynamics!"  The judges were pleased with their work, and I was glad it was just over.  Now, one more recital for the school year, and we will welcome summer happily!

Charlton also had his own graduation to celebrate.  He finished his two month swimming session with flying colors.  He loved swimming, playing with his friends, and diving into the water.  While he swam, I would socialize with my friends always wrapped in a towel because for some reason where we sat was always windy.  On the last day, Gillian begged to take a picture of me in my usual attire - glasses for sunshine and towel for the cool breeze.  Don't even try to understand the temperature fluctuations of a pregnant woman's body.

I also finished teaching art for this school year by closing with Charlton's favorite artist, Monet.  I even brought him with me, and sure enough he was the best and most attentive student there.  James's teacher rewarded him with a donut, because he was unbelievably good.  The kids painted with watercolor, tempera, and acrylic.  They used sponges, paint brushes, and I taught them to paint like the impressionists with several colors at the same time without mixing them, just dipping their brush into one color at a time and then painting.  It was the hardest project in the whole year, but their Monet gardens were beautiful.

Charlton was also invited in Mrs. Pike's annual Oregon Trail field trip.  I'm the school photographer, and James's teacher really wanted me to record these activity, but she didn't want me to be worried about babysitters for Charlton, so she invited him along.  Plus, she loves this adorable child of mine.

The field trip once again was amazing, but what made this particular time even more enjoyable was the brotherly love I kept seeing from my two boys.  They were always together, holding hands, or arms around each other, or helping one another.  I just about died seeing them so close and happy, and what a great example to the other kids. 

The various activities in this beautiful experience included walking and stopping on different parts of the Trail, and learning about those pioneers, trading with Indians, being ambushed by other Indians, burying and remembering the loved ones, learning to cook, clean, wash, make handy things, play pioneer games, and their favorite, digging for gold - we are after all in California!  My favorite, however, is always the Virginia Reel dance with my beautiful blondie leading the way.  What fun!

And here I thought May was going to be slow and lackadaisical, but don't let sweet aromas of the flowers, and bluest sky deceive you.  As Emerson says: ""What potent blood hath modest May."

A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life. - James Allen

This Sunday at church, during Sunday School, we were studying the words of Nephi as found in 2 Nephi 3-5. There is a very special line in chapter 5 verse 27 that says "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of ^ahappiness." I love that expression "manner of happiness." To me it doesn't mean that Nephi and his family didn't have trials, but despite of it all, they were happy because they were trying to do their best in following the commandments and living together in harmony with God and each other. Elijah and I discussed what that phrase meant to us, and we both felt very grateful that we feel we also are living after the manner of happiness in this stage of our life. It doesn't mean that we don't have trials and personal hardships to fight, but we are simply happy with our life and always wanting to be with each other and our children. It's a wonderful blessing to have harmony and love at home.

These past two weeks have been full of daily events and activities that although random and unimportant at times, intertwined together make up the tapestry of our life and add zest to our happiness.

Gillian had a voice evaluation with a professional voice teacher the other day. She is performing with a children's choir this semester, and seeing how well her voice was developing, I was in need of advice regarding Gillian's next step. The voice teacher told me on the phone that it was too early to start voice training at Gillian's age, but that she would be delighted to hear and evaluate Gillian. When we got there and after working with Gillian for several minutes, the teacher turns toward me and very seriously says that I did well in bringing Gillian over. She was utterly impressed with Gillian's characteristic voice, her musicality, her professionalism, the wide range of notes that Gillian could hit, and her very good pitch. After working with her for almost two hours, the voice teacher couldn't hold up her enthusiasm for having found such a talent. She politely demanded of me to find Gillian a voice trainer as soon as possible and start training her professionally. In my mind I was seeing Gillian on the opera stage singing Castadiva or Carmen. Of course, first we have to find a voice teacher that is professionally trained herself. The one that did the evaluation had retired a few years ago, and she had promised her husband not to take any more private students. I could tell her heart was broken from the fact that she couldn't train Gillian herself. She kept telling me not to lose time but help Gillian achieve her amazing potential. We are still on stage one: looking for a voice teacher. It's been hard because most voice trainers tend to work with pop music and superficial training of the voice, and not with the traditional method. And I don't want to compromise, so I'm still searching.

Gillian went to the dentist last week and was told she needed some orthodontic work done to improve her overbite. She'll have to wear metal braces under her roof for a while and then toward the end, after her jaws have been moved to the proper position, she'll have to wear braces. I was surprised to see how she didn't care much about the metal arch braces, which you don't actually see, but was very excited about braces on her teeth. The rumor is that braces are in vogue now.


Jefferson has been reading a lot of books lately, due to a change in our nighttime schedule. For his sake, and ours I should say, I changed their bedtime routine. Now we have to be done with reading and scripture time before seven. At 7 p.m., they are supposed to go to their bedrooms and read on their own. This schedule gives them time to read as well as go to bed early. Elijah and I are loving our extra time, but I have to say my favorite thing is the fact that Jefferson gets time to play with his brothers as well as read before he goes to bed early. Before, they were going to bed at eight, but falling asleep at nine or ten. Now they are winding down between seven and eight, and by eight thirty they are asleep. I'm very happy with this change. Little children need sleep.

Last week we went to support Jefferson as he raced his car in this year's Pinewood Derby. Jefferson had worked on his car with Elijah, but he was the one who had actually chosen the design, the color and had painted it. His car did very well, and won several races, and although it didn't actually win the Derby itself, we were very proud of him for giving his best. I can't wait for next year when I'll get a chance to prove my car making skills working with James's car. And then, we'll have a family race. Maybe we'll invite a few spectators to cheer us on.



James has been having a lot of fun going out and attending birthday parties as well as play dates. My older children are getting jealous of James's social life, which only a few months ago was directly connected to his older siblings' life. He has also helped me tremendously with Charlton. Because the weather has mostly been outrageously beautiful, they have read and played outside while I cleaned and cooked inside. Having my kids babysit each other is awesome!

Charlton has loved attending his first Story Hours at the library. I'm finally getting my act together and planing once a week to take him to story hour. I used to take my older kids twice or even three times a week to story time to various libraries and bookstores, but with Charlton I have been neglecting that part of the experience. At first he seemed a bit lost among the other children, but after a while he was enjoying himself and tried to be a bit more assertive. He still likes me to read to him, and when the older kids are home he demands that they play with him. He has also found joy in cards and dominoes, not in playing the games, but in playing with them and building all sorts of things. I encourage it, since that's way better than just letting him watch an episode of Curious George while I exercise. The latest thing that made us laugh was the other day when he strongly insisted to roller blade after seeing his siblings go outside without him and play a game that he couldn't be part of. Well, thanks to Gillian and her patience, he was able to try those rollerblades and understand from first hand experience that he truly couldn't be part of that game, yet.


Elijah has been a great example to me of setting goals and following up with them. Since we got our treadmill, he hasn't missed one day of exercise, except for Sunday and Temple night. I'm now exercising too, since that was our promise to each other. Exercise doesn't come easily to me; I would rather sit and read. But a promise is a promise.


Elijah has also had a fun time taking the kids on one-on-one dates in his new truck. Gillian loved being alone with dad and talking about everything under the sun. Jefferson got excited when he learned what the car's special features were, especially the satellite radio. He tells me now he is an avid lover of bluegrass music. James felt like a big kid sitting up front with dad and found it fascinating that you could control the radio from the steering wheel. I also got to ride in the truck when Elijah took us on our date. We joined another couple for dinner in downtown Walnut Creek and then together walked over to see a George Bernard Shaw play, Arms and the Man, at the nearby playhouse. The ride, the food, the play, and the company were sweetly enjoyed. Elijah and I had a good time.

Besides tending to the family, I have been busy with social activities and literary endeavours. I hosted book club this month, attended a Girls' Night Out last week, and had a couple of lunches with friends. This past Saturday, Elijah and I threw our annual Valentine's party inviting several couples to celebrate love and marriage with each other. As usual, it was a great success. The dynamic was fabulous and we had just the right number of couples to ensure everyone a chance to feel comfortable and enjoy each other's company without breaking into groups. (Elijah and I each year forget to have someone take a picture of us, but what can you do? We are busy hosting.)



These past two weeks, I have become attached to George Elliot and her works. I started reading Silas Marner one morning out of the blue, just randomly picking it up off the shelf. I remembered loving it when I was young, and so I just kept reading. After reading some of it, I wanted to see it adapted to the screen, so I ordered the movie on Netflix. The movie wasn't that good, but the story and the characters of the book still come to my mind and take me to other worlds at times. Last night I wasn't feeling like reading, a very rare thing that, so I started checking Netflix streaming and I came upon an adaptation of another George Elliot novel, Middlemarch. Although it was produced in the early 90's, the BBC TV series was artistically done, especially considering that the novel itself is over 800 pages, enriched by tens of characters and several plots and subplots.
In one word the book itself is a masterpiece, commentating on human virtues and vices, as well as delicately observing the line where destiny and agency meet. I was happy to notice that the TV production had not diminish the various moral, religious and social values that the book had to offer.

I was saddened by the news of Whitney Houston's death this Saturday. Bodyguard was a one-time favorite movie of mine growing up. And talent like Whitney Houston's doesn't come by often. I was happy to hear Jennifer Hudson paying tribute to Houston by singing the powerful and unforgettable song "I will always love you" at the Grammy Awards on Sunday. Although it wasn't a rendition that I cared much for, Hudson did an amazing job in singing it with love and awe remembering this great powerhouse diva.

Speaking of the Grammy Awards, I have to say they haven't disappointed me these past two years. Last year I was cheering all the way for Lady Antebellum, and they came out with five wins. This year, the one voice that truly had power and soul, that of Adele, was nominated for six awards and won them all.

I listened to Adele's album titled 21 all year long last year. It was an album with emotionally powered songs, and Adele's heartfelt voice gave them life. My favorite of the album is the song titled Set Fire to the Rain, followed by Someone like you, and Rolling in the Deep, which she so effortlessly performed at the Grammy's. Here is Adele astonishing her peers and the rest of us with her impressive voice, her first performance after having had throat surgery in November: