The Royal Family in 2008

Back Into The Groove

School started back the day after Labor Day and two weeks later we're back into the swing of things.


The Queen has just 3 kids in her Pre-K class. All boys. Two of them are from our ward and the other one is our Padgett cousins. She can take three more kids, but I think she wouldn't mind if she didn't get any more. Also, she was released last week from her calling in the Relief Society presidency and called to be the Den Leader for the Cub Scouts ... I think she's really excited to be involved in the scouting program.


The Princess is in the 6th grade this year and is attending a charter school downtown. Somehow the paper work for her to ride the bus got messed up, so I have been taking and picking her up from school and will probably have to continue to do so for another week or so. I enjoy taking and picking her up ... I usually drive her crazy with my choice of music on the way to school and then I drive her crazy asking her questions about how her day was at school. She seems to really like the school, which is great because she was determined to not like it when she found out last May that she was going there.


Prince 1 is back at the school in the dale. He's a big bad 4th grader this year. We were happy that he got Dr. Smart, the homeroom teacher that we requested. We really like her as the Princess also had her for homeroom in the 4th grade. He now changes rooms for each of his subjects. He's trying to get used to it and the extra homework he has.

Prince 2 is a big bad kindergartner. He has a great teacher and she has high expectations of her students. He's not used to having to do homework, so he's been a bit of a whiny hiney when it comes to getting it done. He is doing good work in class and the teacher said that he has been able to go around and help some of the other kids with their work.


Last Saturday the Princess and P1 started back with the youth orchestra program. P1 is playing in the 2nd violin section of the Debut program. The Princess is 1st chair in the first violin section in the Lyric Strings 1 and in the first violin section of the Lyric Strings 2 ... I am probably the only one glad about where the Princess is sitting, and only because it's proof that she's getting something out of the lessons we're paying for. They are still taking their piano lessons and are getting pretty good at the piano, too.


I'm working a lot more from home these days and that is really helping with the auto fuel section of our budget. I was finally released from my calling as Gospel Doctrine teacher last week. I had accepted a calling to be the 1st counselor in the Elders Quorum presidency last month and have been doing double duty.

Happy Birthday To Our Prince

Nine years ago today this picture was taken of our first prince. He was born just a few hours before it was taken. He had a rough entrance into this world but in this picture it's easy to tell that he was blessed with a peaceful, laid back, sweet disposition. That is not to mean that he is not all boy, for he is all that and more, but he is slow to anger and quick to share what he can. He adores his older sister, even though she doesn't suffer him well, and he loves his younger brother and can't stay mad at him even when he pesters the fool out of him. All of those nice things being said, he's not one to be pushed too far because he will defend himself and as Mr T. used to say, "I pity the fool!" He is athletic and can play any sport with all of the coordination necessary to be good at what game he's playing. He is a homebody ... he doesn't like to be gone from home too long and he doesn't like any family member to be gone too long either. When we went on our two week vacation last summer, we weren't even down the road 30 minutes before he asked me when we were going to get back home!! He has a beautiful singing voice and is quite talented at playing the piano and violin even though he detests having to practice. He is a natural performer and will volunteer to sing or give a talk in front of a group at a moments notice. Once in Primary one of the kids that was to give a talk didn't show up, so the Prince volunteered and got up and was able to give a talk on Daniel and the Lions Den, because he had watched the Liken video of it about 20 times the previous week. Here is an odd fact about him, he loves to watch videos with the captioning on. Here is just a fact, the boy loves to eat!

The Queen and I love our first born son and wish him many happy returns on his special day.

Music Man

The 3rd and 4Th graders of the school in the dale did their performance of scenes and musical numbers from Music Man. Prince 1 had a small part (Winthrop), and as always, did a great job. I'm always amazed when I watch him perform because he's never nervous. Here are a few pictures and videos from the performance.

This picture and the next were taken during the "76 Trombones" number.

He was playing air trumpet during "76 Trombones." You know, I don't remember seeing one trombone, real or fake.

Receiving their well deserved applause!

P2 in the yellow shirt running to give his brother a hug after the performance.

Next is a video clip of the song "The Wells Fargo Wagon." P1 is standing at the right of the stage with a straw hat on.

Sorry, I messed up again and turned the camera sideways, so you can either turn your head or close your eye and listen to part of "76 Trombones." P1 comes in at the end playing the trumpet.


This is a clip of the finale. It begins with P1 in the straw hat holding the trumpet.

The End!