Quilts

When Kara graduated from high school in 2003, I started the tradition of making a lap quilt for college. Kara's was the first quilt I made. I bought a book of patterns and created my own variation.



Erika graduated in 2004. She wanted happy, springtime fabrics in a simple pattern. Small buttons are sewed in all the corners.



For James, the chess enthusiast, who graduated in 2006 I made a chessboard. I also made foam chess pieces so he could actually play.



Then I joined a quilting group that meets twice a month. I learned a little more and did a log cabin pattern for Daniel who just graduated in 2009. I call it a jazz quilt. He requested bright colors, and the fabric with music notation reminded me of Daniel's love for music.




Two more high school quilts to go. Now I need to start on Julia's for next year.

Dan's Seminary Graduation

We attended Daniel's seminary graduation last night--without him. (He left right after high school graduation for New Mexico, where he is working for the summer.) He has attended seminary (a religion class) at 5:45am each school morning for four years. We're proud of the work he has done and for getting up and driving himself and Julia the past two years. His diploma includes the signature of Thomas Monson, the prophet and president of the church.

Daniel Graduates

On Thursday, May 28th, at 8PM, Daniel had his graduation ceremony at the Merriweather Post Pavillion.

Here he is receiving his diploma from his principal.

As a member of the National Honors Society, he got to wear this cool white collar.

Daniel sang in the Madrigals, although he wasn't able to play in the band and march down the aisle at the same time. Julia played 'Pomp and Circumstance' with the band for him and the other seniors.

Only Dave, Andrea and I were there to congratulate him, as Julia had to return on the school bus.

At home, we had a steak dinner earlier, and when we got back at about 10:30 we had a little party for Daniel.

Here is the quilt I made for Daniel. I began on it 2 years ago, and fortunately finished in plenty of time. One of the fabrics has musical notation as a reminder of the seven music groups he performed in while in high school.

It's possible that the quilt was overshadowed, though, when he was surprised to receive an i-pod Touch.

We are incredibly proud of all of Daniel's accomplishments and his tenacity to achieve accademically as well as in sports and music.

Spring Concert 2009

The Spring Concert was the last high school performance for Daniel who performed with the Madrigals, Men's Choir, Men's Quartet, Concert Choir, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and Orchestra. He directed the Madrigals, and was 1st chair and section leader in Symphonic and Jazz Band.






Here's part of the 'Star Wars' song he arranged for the Men's Quartet.


Julia performed in the Symphonic Band, including a clarinet soli with another girl. She sang with the Women's Choir, and was in the orchestra.

The Music Banquet was the next week. Julia was awarded the Band's "Most Improved" award for going from sixth to first chair this year. Daniel was awarded Choir's "Unsung Hero Award", band's "Director's Award, a medal for playing in the pit for the school play, and a small music scholarship from the music department.

Rocktagon

Daniel plays the trombone in a group called the Rocktagon. They played at his school for Wellness Day, and at the annual Main Street Festival in Laurel. Dan is in the shadows on the right. They had a lot of friends and family listening at the Festival.

Memorial Weekend in Cinti

We left at 4 pm on Friday for Cincinnati--getting in about 3am to see Dave's Mom and Dad.

Dave's sister Nancy and her children--James, Julie and Christine-- were there on Saturday. Her children are roughly the ages of Daniel, Julia and Andrea who were with us, so they all had fun with their cousins. They had a touch football game together with the Meiners' vs. the Byers.

Then on Sunday his sister Julie came. We had some yummy grilled food and a nice visit with family. Erika was in Milwaukee selling alarm systems door to door. We were glad to have Daniel because he left the next week for New Mexico.

Trip to Philly

Over Spring break in April we took a trip to Philadelphia to see Dave's sister Kathy (who lives about an hour north) and to see the historic sights.

The first thing that happened as we arrivd into the historic district was to look for parking. Not seeing any, Dave decided to drop us off right by the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. I told the kids to get ready to get out so we wouldn't hold up traffic. Dave stopped. The four of us (Danny, Julia, Andrea and I) were out in a flash. Suddenly 4 or 5 policement descended on us and yelled, "Back in the vehicle! Get back in the vehicle!" Flustered, we got back in and went together to park. We hadn't realized what a threat we were to national security by unloading there. That was our welcome to the city of Brotherly Love.

We saw the historic buildings where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were signed--at the one time nation's capital during the Revolutionary War. We saw Betsy Ross's house and the 'longest inhabited street in the US'. Most important to the kids was the Art Musuem--not for any actual art, but because 'Rocky' in the film by that name ran up and down those steps in his training. So, they've now put a Rocky statue outside the museum.

A picture of Julia and Andrea trying out an old 'dial' phone is at Aunt Kathy's--much more interesting than other historic relics we saw.

We had lovely weather to walk around in.

25th ANNIVERSARY!

This April 28 marked 25 years of being married to the greatest guy ever. This is a picture of us in April at the Washington DC temple--a reminder of the covenants (vows) we made in the Logan Temple 25 years ago.

Happy Anniversary to us!

That weekend we attended at stake dance at church called the Rose Ball. A local band played and we had fun with other friends.

Our annual anniversary getaway celebration will probably take place later his summer--due to a new grandchild, Erika's college graduation, a Marching Band excursion to Myrtle Beach and other things happening in the family this spring.

Myrtle Beach Music Trip

Daniel and Julia went on a 4-day trip to Myrtle Beach for music competitions. Dave was one of the group chaperons. Here is the scoop from the school newsletter on how they did. (I am only including awards that involved Julia and Daniel.)

1st Place with a Superior Rating went to the following groups!Symphonic Band, Jazz Band,  Orchestra, Concert Choir, Madrigals, Women’s Choir, Men’s Choir,

 Specialty Awards:
The Symphonic Band , Jazz Band, Orchestra,  Concert Choir, Women's Choir and Madrigals all won Best Overall for the festival regardless of group size or division.

Grand Champion Awards were presented to the Men’s Choir and Madrigals for the Vocal Grand Champion.  Symphonic Band and Orchestra received the the Instrumental Grand Champion for the highest overall score combining two performances averaged together.

Congratulations to Daniel as Madrigal's student director and Trombone Section Leader in Jazz and Symphonic Band, and Julia as Clarinet section leader in the Symphonic Band.

Baby Jacob

Kara's baby, Jacob Michael, arrived Wed, March 18th. I flew into Denver on Monday, the 16th. I was with Kara on Tuesday and she started to go into labor that night. We (Kara, Luke and I) arrived at the hospital at 3:20am. Jacob was born 9 hours later at 12:18pm. I was allowed to cut the cord.

Jacob weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces--just like Kara did and was 21 inches. He's healthy, cute, and doing well.

Make a Smilebox greeting

ART GALLERY

For our 'President's Day-Valentine's Day' long weekend, to combine our PATRIOTISM and LOVE of art, we went to our nation's Capital and by it's Capitol

to the National Gallery of Art. Daniel, Julia and Andrea went with Dave and I. I like being able to take pictures of the works. I felt like cropping some this time, and just collected my favorite women's portraits.

At the At the Modern Art building next door, we saw the Pompeii exhibit.
In college I studied art for a semester in London at BYU's center, and remember a Pompeii exhibit I saw then. I found it fascinating that the city of Pompeii, Italy, largely populated by the elite of the Roman empire was suddenly engulfed by the lava of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. This preserved things exactly as they were at the time.

An interesting but morbid detail is that archaeologists were able to shoot plaster into cavities in the lava where bodies had been (and have now deteriorated.) However the plaster casts accurately depict the people who were there.

Many artifacts like plaster paintings, tiles, mosaics, marble statues in courtyards and atriums, jewelry and glass bowls show the advanced civilization and love of the arts and lifestyle of the Romans as well as the culture of the Greeks who they conquered.

This is a mosaic of Plato and two closer views. The tiny pieces of colored rock are about 1/8 inch cubes!



Another reproduction depicted a mosaic that involved 1 1/2 million pieces!

Obviously the people of that place and era loved beautiful art, architecture, the Italian agriculture and temperate climate--all things that we value now as well. But it is a reminder to have our lives in order, because we don't know which day might be our last.

Wood Badge Court of Honor

Dave's Court of Honor for earning his Wood Badge was held on February 18 th, 2009.

It had to be completed in 18 months and required doing a lot of work at the District level to improve the program in our area. He completed 5 tickets in areas like increasing levels of community involvement, lleadership training, fundraising, etc. You can see the blog for June 2, 2007 when he started.



He got a new neckerchief, slide and other memorabilia.

He made his cool belt at Philmont last summer.

We're very proud of him!

Andrea's belated celebration

ALthough Andrea turned 11 on November 28, she just had a little get-together with a couple friends to celebrate. Julia and I went with them to see the movie, 'Inkheart'.

A 'Picture Perfect' 2009

We took some family portraits at home while we had Erika, Kara and Luke with us over Christmas break.

We had everyone but James, who is California on his mission.

Happy Birthday, James

To let James know we were thinking of him--while he is on his mission in California--on December 28 we made brownies, sang for his birthday, and we all helped blow out his 20 candles.

We also sent him some things to open--hoping it didn't blend in too much with his Christmas package which probably arrived at the same time.
Happy Birthday, Elder Meiners!

Our Bowling Team

Dave and I went bowling with Kara, Erika and Dan, Julia, Andrea during our vacation. We're pretty good bowlers--yup, we didn't even have the bumpers up. :)