Summertime, and the livin' is easy Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high Oh, your daddy's rich and your ma is good-lookin' So hush little baby, Don't you cry

We started our first week of summer vacation with a special celebration for the best father ever.  Elijah is an amazing man, and even more so, a wonderful father.  He loves and cares for his children, and doesn't show it with only loving words, which are important, but also by true acts of kindness for each of his children.  He listens calmly to them and takes every possible opportunity to teach them kindly through his example, through the scriptures, and through hard work.  He shows his love and care for them by reading to them every night, by playing with them outside, by getting involved in all of their activities and interests, by having them work side by side with him, and by taking time on one on one basis.  Each of our kids have a trusting and loving relationship with him.  They love, respect, and adore their father.  How blessed they are to have such a pure and faithful man as their father!  Their faith and love for Heavenly Father is solid, because they've felt the love and care of their earthly father.  There is nothing better a mother desires for her children than to have an exceptional example of a father for them.  I'm grateful for you, Elijah.  My boys will without a doubt become great fathers because of you, and my girls will have very high expectations for their future husbands because they see what a good man, a sweet husband, and wonderful father you are.  Happy Father's Day!

On Father's Day, the kids helped cook breakfast, write heartfelt cards, and gave presents to their dad.  Here are some of the funny cards they wrote in Primary:

June 16 was the first day of our summer schedule.  We gave my summer itinerary a try, and we were all pleased with it.  The rest of the week worked great as well.  I know there will be exceptions throughout the summer to their assigned routine, but as long as they keep their regular agenda constant and going, we'll all be happy and engaged.  Here is what we are trying to do this summer:

Here are some of the things we did on our first week of summer vacation:

Ran for over 5 miles on our Monday Running Club

Attended our weekly pilgrimage to the library

Read and wrote book reports on art, science, history, and various biographies

Had a blast at the swimming pool with friends, good food, and great summer books

Read classics all week and wrote a report on them on Friday

Attended a very inspiring fireside with Clayton Christensen, who amongst many other beautiful things that he said that night, he brought a new perspective into my mind when he shared the thought that most people out there who have left religion, haven't rejected God, but false doctrine. 

We concluded our week by helping out at a baptism of a young boy whose mother had just been baptized a few months prior.  James was asked to give a talk on baptism, and boy did he shine!!  The Spirit was strong and the doctrine he shared went right to our hearts.  What an amazing missionary he will be!  Gillian was also asked to sing a special musical number, and she sang If the Savior Stood Beside Me, which bring tears to my eyes every time I hear it.  Her voice has matured a lot, and her presence while singing looks way more relaxed.  Jefferson and James helped with the chairs, and befriending the newly baptized member.  I was so proud of my children.

If this week was an indication, I think our summer is going to be brilliant!

Tenderly we enter autumn

Our first week of school was fun, busy and required a lot of organization. My kids love school and they rarely complain about homework, although as every kid they would rather have none. This week, my kids also started their extra-curricular activities with cross-country running taking three days out of the week. It's a bit much for my taste, however, knowing that my kids love it, it's good for their bodies and mind, and that it is only for two months, keeps me going. Jefferson added cub scouts to his schedule, with Gillian continuing choir and voice. This isn't much different from last year, so I know the drill. What has thrown me off this week was the piano practice. Gillian has been taking piano for a couple of years now, and I put Jefferson on hold till James was a bit older so they could go together. This semester they joined Gillian in taking piano lessons.

This is not only financially expensive, but time consuming. I've had to make daily individual schedules for the kids dividing their time between piano practicing, homework, chores, and reading without overlapping with each other. It has gone smoothly so far but I have to be supervising constantly. How do mothers with more kids do it?!

I have to say though that I've enjoyed seeing my boys wanting to play the piano constantly, and observing my daughter being a bit more diligent in practicing her piano as she competes with her brothers.

Charlton didn't like that his siblings were gone this week. Although he gets along better with Jefferson than with the other two, I think he missed James most of all. He kept thinking that we would pick up James earlier than the other two since that's what we did last year. The first couple of days of school were hard for me dealing with Charlton. He needed my constant attention, and I realized then how much my Gillian and the boys help me with the raising of Charlton. Those first two days, besides reading, cooking and doing laundry together, we made every puzzle in the house that were appropriate for Charlton's age. And then did them again.

When Tuesday arrived, we were both ready for some kind of outing. Fortunately, my friends and I just started a little joy school for our little ones, and off Charlton went with a new back pack, water bottle, and a refreshing excitement to attend his school. I missed my little guy terribly, but let me tell you, even though I was doing simple housework during those few hours alone, I really enjoyed the silence.
When he came back, he was absolutely thrilled to show me his art that he produced at preschool. They learned "all about me" and drew a portrait of themselves. My favorite thing was his hand print, tiny and chubby. My 3 year old cherubim!



On Thursday I hosted book club. The book I had selected to read and discuss was Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night. Not only I'm obsessed with Fitzgerald and his writing, but I'm fascinated by the Jazz Age that he so adequately described in his books, Tender is the Night being the most autobiographical one.
During my presentation at book club, I enjoyed talking about the history, art and music of this age. I touched lightly on many political and cultural evens, but I delved mostly into the issue of prohibition, which had the opposite effect on the younger generation as well as creating an even bigger thirst for alcohol in the general public that wasn't there before. This led to bootleggers, gang control, and an increase of bar and speakeasy attendance. Which in return help spread into the young and old of the American public an enjoyment of the music that was being played in those clubs, the Jazz music.
With the introduction of large-scale broadcasts over the radio, the Jazz music was spread through out America and knew no age limitations. The wealthy young New Yorkers were the ones that identified themselves with this music's free spirit improvisations the most, and they used it in all of their elegant and lavish parties. And here enter the flappers, the young girls who wanted to defy every conformity known to their Victorian mothers. Their disdain for rules and their passion for change was shown in their sexy dresses, heavy make-up, short hair, gorgeous hats, and in their uncontrollable behavior shown through their drinking, smoking, casual sex, automobile driving, and a constant desire for partying and enjoying life. Most of all however, the flappers represented a movement that defied the social norms of that period and served as a representation of women's liberation from her accepted role in the society. Like with every movement, it brought the good and the bad into the American mentality.
My presentation on the Jazz Age ended with a short intro of the first flapper, Zelda Fitzgerald, and the author who made this age unforgettable through his writings, F. Scott Fitzgerald himself. I really enjoyed myself, and I hope my friends had a good time too.

On Friday, Gillian had a retreat with her choir, so I asked Elijah to take her while I used the time to take my kids swimming. It's getting cooler in the morning and at night, but here it is still in the 90's during the day. My friends and I are trying to teach our little ones to swim so I'm taking every opportunity this weather is giving me and have Charlton get in the water. He has finally overcome his fear of going in the water, and so I'm thinking maybe it's time to teach him how to swim. His two other friends are already enjoying going under water jumping and kicking happily. Charlton still needs me to catch him when he jumps, but hey that's progress nonetheless. My friend taught him how to blow bubbles in the water and kick, and he is enjoying showing those skills to me. And of course, he always enjoys playing with his brothers.

I had to wake up earlier than my usual on Saturday; Gillian's choir retreat started at 10. When I got back from dropping her off, I was greeted by my own "gangsters of the 20's" My boys looked so adorable in their outfits that I had to forgive them for dressing like gangsters and take a few pictures before I had to tell them they needed to transform into FBI agents instead. They opted out for being detectives.


This week was full of activities for me. But whether it was taking care of the kids, my husband or projects around the house, I had at least one constant companion that didn't require any talking back or caring, instead gave and gave for as long as I needed. That special friend was music, and as you can guess, this week's obsession was Jazz. I loved listening to Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, and many more. But I of course have a favorite, and that is Sarah Vaughan. Her voice is like honey and her personality classy. Here is her rendition of Tenderly, but check her other songs on YouTube. She truly embodies all of the qualities of a Jazz singer. You feel the music swirling you around as the notes come out of her mouth. She brings magic to the room.