Fluting and Violin away

This last few months have been full of lots of practicing and getting ready for Conrad and Samantha's Book Recital.  They did so much work to get ready.  Each of them played between 12-18 songs memorized on their recital day.  It was such a great day for them.  Here is a few pictures from the recital.  Their grandparents drove up to see them perform.  We had a tailgating party in between the two recitals which was a lot of fun.

That night we had our Annual Friends Halloween Party.  This year we did a Murder Mystery Dinner.  This one was called Death by Chocolate.  We had a friend who let us borrow her chocolate fountain.  Wow it was so much fun!  Our costumes were very interesting.  We are suppose to be french in the 1800's   

The kids had a great Halloween!  We told Traeden it was probably his last year trick or treating so he wanted to make sure he got all the candy he could.  =)
Introducing, Snow White, Socerer Conrad, Voldemort, and The Wicked Witch of the West.

Last night we had Pie Night at our house.  Who can really enjoy pie on Thanksgiving after you had such a huge meal so why not have a pie night where only pie is served?  We have a friend who wanted to do it and we offered to have it at our house because we could fit better here.  We invited 14 couples thinking about half would come and all but two came. Just look at the variety of pies, Egg nog, Pear, Pecan, Banana Cream, Coconut/Chocolate Cream, Peach, Apple, Chocolate, Lemon, Key Lime.  Every couple brought a pie to share and we had ice cream and whip cream to top it.   Oh the love!  It was a lot of fun.  I think we may have started a new tradition.  We also played some fun games after eating pie.  

We made Pecan Pie.  I need to figure out how keep the crust from shrinking!

Sunday

We had a good Sunday.  I'm trying to get us in a routine of getting up and going so we aren't late for church. It worked today!  I find if I have the kids dressed before breakfast then we are more likely to be on time.  The kids are motivated to get dressed quick and then we eat.
Our bishops son had his farewell today.  I remember when my dad was bishop and they really got away from having farewells but today was really a farewell.  The missionary invited everyone in the audience over to his house for lunch.  I'm not sure his mom appreciated that.  =)  I want to have a special day for my missionaries but I think I want to do it different so that Sunday is still a sacred day.  I think (I like to think of these things now)  we will have a friend party/open house on Friday or Saturday where he can really hang out and do some fun things with his friends.  They are still welcomed to come to hear him speak but we aren't going to have a huge gathering on Sunday.  On Sunday I would like to have a smaller gathering just for family that come but do it after the entire block of church.  I think it's important to come to all the meetings at church.
My friend Mandi had her baby girl this week.  Her baby is still in the hospital because she is on oxygen.  They are hoping to have her come home sometime this week.  I got to see pictures and she is adorable.  I was able to take her family dinner after church and it was fun to visit with them for a little bit.  Conrad was in charge of the Alfredo sauce which he successfully spilled on his church pants.  (I should have put that in a better container)  
Preschool is keeping me really busy.  The first of the year is just crazy in getting all the supplies ready to go.  I make a lot of things that we use all year round but it all needs to me made now so it's a lot of work.  I'm happy that all my classes are full and I even have a couple people on the waiting list.
I have six practicum students I will teach this semester from Utah State.  They will be helping run three different music therapy groups.  I'm excited that all my groups are with preschool age children.  Those groups are just lots of fun.  One group is 2 year olds, one is 4-5 year olds with cochlear implants, and the other group is my Play with Me group at Smithfield Rec center.  This group is ages 0-3 with there moms/caregivers.  I will have all three groups to do this week so it's a little crazy.  But once I get my routine going I should be OK.
We have stake conference next week, then I think it's temple dedication, and then it's general conference.  Because we won't be singing in sacrament in Sept or Oct we canceled ward choir for a couple months.  I need to get music ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  This is the best time of year for the choir because of all the awesome music!

Enough ramblings for tonight!  Love you all!