Eurovision 2015

Our friend Karen is a huge fan of Eurovision. And she's tired of being the only one she knows. So she's spreading the love of this HUGE European music performance contest to the rest of us. She threw a party yesterday, and gave us the assignment of watching the preview videos of a few countries, just to give us a taste. Caitlyn very helpfully, made a mash video of all our videos, highlighting our favorites (they're the longer clips).



It's actually a LOT of fun, and I've even bought a few of the songs (UK and Georgia and Iceland). I'm actually looking forward to the final on Saturday, and am curious to see who will win. You can find out more info here.

Sometimes My Job is Made of Awesome

Tuesday, Alison got to see and meet Ridley Pearson. He was a great presenter and a good sport about all the questions she had for him.

And then on Saturday, we had a local string quartet from WSU come and do their musical rendition of "Where the Wild Things Are." I just recorded bits of it, but the whole thing made me very happy.

If You're Watching This, You Should Take This Advice

The Lego Movie

We LOVED IT.

Happy Mother's Day!

A cute video Alison made for me.



And, from Caitlyn. Yes, we're all beautiful in our own way.

Cool Stuff for a Cold Sunday

Post by Sun Gazing.

Tumblr Has Ruined Us

Caitlyn found this there a while back, but I'd forgotten about it until it showed up in my blog feed.



I totally ship it.

For Those Not on Tumblr

And so I can use the bacon-flavored candy cane picture on my weekly letter post.

Four Chords Song

Caitlyn found this a while back (thanks to Mr. Goter?) in the original version. But I adore Vocal Point, so here's the a cappella version.

For My Dad.

The Japanese are amazing.

We're Not at Comic Con

That’s been a recurring lament all weekend.  We’re not in San Diego with the 80 bajillion other nerds and geeks and fangirls dressed up in some costume (I’d go as Mal from Firefly) sitting in huge auditoriums listening to famous people be entertaining and interesting. and funny. Sure, we get fall out from Twitter and  YouTube and Tumblr, but it’s just not the same. I think Megan and Caitlyn are planning something someday. But until then, we’ll just have to be on the fringes of the coolest nerd happening in the world.

That said, we did get out for our own nerdy event this week: Drums Across Kansas. Megan and I had such a great time last year, that I decided everyone needed to this year. We headed across town to Caitlyn’s boxing class (which turned out to be an EPIC failure), had a picnic, and then went to the show. It got started slow, but when the show really got going, everyone had a grand time. Kristen spent most of the show conducting and pretending to play, which was pretty cute. Our two favorite bands were the middle ones, and they put on a really good, fun show.

Alison spent a good amount of time with her friend Sophia this week. She had a great time, but after a while she said, “Mom, I’m done with Sophia for a while.”

Caitlyn acted in the library’s mystery play again this year, and for the second year in a row was accused of committing the crime, even though she was innocent.

Kristen got people to play several rounds of Harry Potter scene it with her.

Megan discovered that having money means that she can Buy Stuff which made her happy.

Friday, Alison, Kristen and I went around to a bunch of local shops playing a Where’s Waldo game. The idea is that there’s a cardboard cutout in each of the stores, you find it, have someone sign it, and then the bookstore’s having a party at the end of the month with prizes and such. Alison decided that she wanted to play, and Kristen didn’t want to be left out. We need 15 out of 20 to be eligible, and after 2 1/2 hours, had 13. Then the girls started bickering so we abandoned things. We do hope to get the last 2 before the end of the month...

We had a lot going afternoon as well. A friend’s son is leaving on his mission and they had  a farewell we went to (which was a lot of fun), and then a former colleague of Russell's had an 80th birthday party. We took Megan (the colleague is Indian and he wanted to meet Megan), and were only going to go for the food and to say hi, but got roped into a program honoring Chako, which meant we missed the ward party. Oh, well. Next time.

And I had to give a talk today in church. On pioneers. *groan* I complained and stressed (and cried a bit) about it during the week, but it turned out okay. I suppose I can get out from behind the organ once in a while to talk, but I really, really dislike doing so. At least it went well.

And that’s about it for us. Here’s to surviving the 3 1/2 weeks until school starts again.

P.S. We’re thinking of, after 7 years with them, AT&T as a cell provider. Caitlyn wants a phone, and we’re thinking that it’s just getting too unreasonable (with her phone it’ll be $150 with unlimited texting, no data). Is there a better carrier out there. More reasonable, anyway, with decent coverage, for four lines??

"Me" from Beauty and the Beast

I forgot that one of our favorite songs at the Symphony of Spring was "Me" from Beauty and the Beast. It's hilarious!

This Blog Needs a Nathan Fillion Moment

Just some stuff I've gleaned off of Tumblr lately. (No, I am not selling my soul to Tumblr, unlike some in my family. They know who they are.)

This one's just cute.



This one's old. But he WORE A KILT. And not just *any* kilt, but a LEATHER KILT.



And this one will have you singing afterward.

Or: it must be February, because our calendar has gotten crazy again.

Russell got invited to go out to Utah Valley University for some Mormon thing (I really should take the time to find out, if only to show that I care... even if I don’t...) and managed to squeeze it into his week. 

He left Tuesday late and got home Thursday after dinner. And had a great time. It didn’t go to badly here at home, either. It’s nice that they’re old enough to make things easier.

I worked. Which is no surprise. The girls went to school. Megan had All-City Band, and the other girls all had lessons. I stayed up Wednesday night doing a Heart Attack by myself for the girls. Alison’s Valentine’s box won Best Box in her class, but only got a mechanical pencil as a prize. Even I had to admit that’s a lousy prize. I’ve promised to get her a real ribbon, but have yet to deliver on that. I will.  Soon.

Yesterday Russell and I had a High Priest social/meeting, which was okay. We caught up with some people we haven’t talked to in the 6 months since they split the wards, which was nice. The meeting was... well... a meeting. I’m sorry, but I don’t get inspired to be better by talk about how wicked, evil, and awful the “world” is. It just makes me go AAAAAAAAAHHHH, which is the sound my anxiety makes. I keep those pesky fears under control most days by pretending that the Big Bad Wolf is Far Away in the Forest and that my friends, work, neighbors, children’s school, and husband’s commute is a Shiny Happy Place. It doesn’t help me AT ALL to bring the Big Bad Wolf and park him in my back yard. *sigh*

And today, well, was a day. Russell’s still gone to church doing Meeting Stuff. But other than that, it was okay. We even had a decent turn out for the choir, which we’ve been asked to attempt to have for Easter. And then Ward Conference. Which is a good thing. *trying to stay positive*

Oh, and Caitlyn and I watched Benny and Joon last night. It's still as adorably cute as it was the me I saw it. For the record: this is the best scene.

That's about it. Have a happy week.

A Couple More Songs

You may have seen this already, but I found this last week when I was putting together singing time, and I really like the arrangement. The video is nice, too.




This one came from a friend of mine, who linked to this one day when I posted that Caitlyn was having a tough time at school because people were making fun of her for liking Broadway music and being a Nerd. I love the message (but the video's kind of meh).

The Idea for Our Next Family Picture

Involves a DC/Marvel mashup, something like this:

("Because I'm Batman!")

Some Happy-Making (Sundayish) Things

Thanks to my wonderful nieces and nephews, I am  now HUGE fans of these guys:


This amazes me every time.

And I love what they do to Pachelbel:


and Caitlyn says this one is her favorite


And I found this one trolling the blogs today. Love this version. Bonus: man scarf. *double love*


And Caitlyn says that if I'm doing cool music, I have to put Lindsey Stirling here.

For the record

Here's where "Then everything changed when the fire nation attacked!" came from:

What This Blog Needs:

You're welcome.

Due to a Lack of Interesting Material

Three videos that made me/us smile:

The Lizzie Bennet diaries (it's Pride and Prejudice in the form of a video blog)


The best part of last week's Castle (what's a video list without Nathan Fillion?)


And a catchy book people song


Also, this (it's from a microfiber cloth) from the library volunteer's luncheon (in which I didn't network):

 

Lots of things, actually.  

(Well, we did go to Kansas City to the temple open house, but you can read about  that here.)