Back Flips!!

Kendra has been begging for us to enroll her in a Gymnastics Gym for almost as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, we have not been in a position to fund these lessons. Bless Kendra's heart, she remains understanding and hopeful. In the interum, she LOVES using the trampoline to work on her flips, hand-springs, etc. With her dad's help, she has recently become quite good at nailing her back-flips, and back lay-outs. She has also become so confident in her back hand-spring, that she's trying to get her dad to help spot her on the ground. That worries me A LOT, but I figure if Lee things she's ready for it, then she probably is. Besides, it's Kendra. From the time she was tiny, we all knew that she would be able to do ANYTHING she ever decided to do in life! She proves to me that we were right, everyday!!

Remember when....

Do you remember when you were a kid and you got a new pair of tennis shoes?? I remember that I could always run WAY faster in my new shoes than the old ones. I also remember wearing them non-stop around the house for the first few days, and how COOL they felt on the different floor surfaces.... the carpet was always softer in new shoes, and the linoleum was strong and firm and made it possible for me to feel every new groove on my new soles!! Anyway, my older girls have apparently NOT grown out of absolutely LOVING a new pair of shoes... Ahh,.. it brings back memories!!

More Musical Talent...

I really feel like now would be a good time to add this to our blog. Although Leandra performed this last Fall (before I got up the courage to attempt the blog-world!), I really want to share it with our friends and family because I don't think anybody has had a chance to hear her perform it.

While Kendra has really taken to the the piano, Leandra LOVES her violin! In fact, she also had a pretty great Christmas when she received a new full-size violin. She's been playing on her 3/4 sized for a couple years now, and has really grown into needing the larger size. She's been playing with the school orchestra for 2 years now (after the 1 year I taught her at home).

Anyway, she is in 5th grade this year, and decided that she wanted to enter the Reflections contest at school with an original musical composition for violin. I was impressed with her ambition, but FAR MORE impressed with what she was actually able to come up with! Obviously, she has also received some of her father's musical abilities!! Her orchestra teacher at school was also very impressed. So much so, that she asked her to play her piece - solo - in front of the entire school at their school Christmas concert! Again, Leandra impressed me to no end by actually agreeing to do it!! Wow! I would never have been so brave when I was 11! Also, in the Spring, several elementary school orchestra's combine their efforts into one HUGE program which they call a "Monster Concert". Leandra's teacher has asked her for a copy of her song (which will be provided only after her father has it copywritten... :)... ) so that she can share it with all the other teachers and have the song performed by the entire group at this years "Monster Concert"!

So, here is her original song which she has entitled, "Roaming in the Meadow". I'm sorry I had to upload it in 2 pieces, but my camera will only record about a minute of video at a time.

Enjoy!!

Nothing like a Circus!!

For a long time, Kendra would come home from Primary every Sunday and sit down at the piano and start playing whatever new song they were learning. It was just the melody, but she obviously has been blessed with some of her father's musical talent. We decided, however, that we did not want her father's talent to be all that she posessed, because the inability to read music well is such a HUGE frustration for him most of the time. So, after some searching, we found a piano teacher close who doesn't charge a fortune, and Kendra has now been taking piano lessons for awhile. Guess what? No surprise... she LOVES it!

She was unbelievably excited this Christmas when we were able to get her a keyboard to practice on. (Now she's just as cool as her Dad!!) Since then, her practice time has been nearly non-stop since she doesn't have to fight with her siblings for time on the piano vs time with the TV on!

Her latest "favorite" song is There's Nothing like a Circus. I am very pleased to say that she's reading music quite well now,.... but she also let's her other talent kick in quickly and has her songs learned/memorized in no time at all - leaving the music books to serve as props only.

So, enjoy this quick trip to the Circus... we've been enjoying it for awhile now!!

Indoor Soccer Starts !!

Indoor soccer started today for the 1st of the Thornton Family Soccer Dynasty. Well, it actually was just a practice game but they are UNDERWAY !! Here is a little taste...

Laundry... This is how we do it!!

OK... so since today was President's Day, and the kids were home from school, I had them fold their laundry this afternoon, so they wouldn't get too bored! Anyway, my kids can apparently turn anything into a game....

I just LOVE doing LAUNDRY!

Valentine Boxes??

I can't think of many things I dread more than elementary school valentine boxes! Of course, the kids always LOVE and look forward to creating them... but, MY idea of a valentine box, and THEIR idea of a valentine box are NEVER quite the same! :) I remember pulling out an old shoe box, covering it with paper, and then covering THAT paper with lots of little paper hearts.... cut a rectangle hole in the top, and Vuuala.... valentine box! Not so, with my creative children.

Jordan was not so difficult, but he's only in 1st grade! He's not even supposed to have to bring a box from home yet!! His teachers are supposed to have big hearts cut out of colored butcher paper with little holes punched around the bottom of it for him to string together with some yarn... in class! Although, I believe all the OTHER 1st grade teachers followed the general "rule" this year, Jordan's teachers did not. Soooo, we found a wooden box shaped like a book which we painted and stained. Then we put a big "J" on the top and he was done! Not too bad... and he was cool with it.



Kendra, decided it would be AWESOME to build a box out of craft sticks! I have to say that I'm very glad we've taught her how to use a hot glue gun, because after we got it started together, I was able to leave her to it. She ended up doing a GREAT job... and it only took her a couple of hours!

Leandra..... ahh, Leandra. Apparently, HER class was having contests for their boxes and she was determined to win the "Funniest" category. Shall I just let the pictures do the talking??

Unfortunately, one of the BOYS in her class heard what she had planned and had his mom go out and purchase a blow-up toilet?? Anyway, there are 15 boys in Leandra's class and 12 girls... and the contest categories were decided by class vote. Any guesses as to how the "funniest" category ended up? Oh, well!! She had a lot of fun anyway!