Looking Back at Summer: Part 1, Scera Shell

This is the second year we have had season tickets to the Scera Shell in Orem. It has been such a great way to attend a lot of plays and concerts for such a little price. I enjoyed the lineup of concerts a little more last year, but I enjoyed the plays more this year, but even more I enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with my kids and have them learn to appreciate a variety of music the most, ya I know that sounds sappy… but it is true. I grew up enjoying a variety of music and I think it is a good idea to appreciate all types, yes including country!

This year the season tickets included the following:

Staying Alive- A Tribute to the Bee Gees
I cannot tell you how this one was, I was seriously bummed I missed it, but I purchased tickets to the No Doubt/Paramore concert for Alexis (that is what she picked over a new bed for her 16^th birthday). The two of us had a great time at the concert, minus the stocker guy sitting next to me, and I heard that the Bee Gees were great too.

Beauty and the Beast
Kyle absolutely loved Gaston, to an almost 3 year old he has to be the "good guy" because the Beast, AKA "da Monster", is the "BAD GUY." During the fight scene when Gaston fell out of the window while fighting the Beast Kyle let out a loud cry "NOOOooooo!!" followed by a small whimper as he started to cry, until I told him that the Beast is the good guy, then he calmed down. He gave everyone around us for several rows a good laugh. After the play the actors line up near the exit, Kyle insisted on seeing Gaston, personally I think he wanted to make sure he was still ok.

Jim Brickman
I had heard of Jim before but had never actually heard any of his music. He is a pianist, and is amazing and absolutely hilarious. He was telling the funniest stories in between his songs. Between the piano, the fresh air and the guy that sang in Latin Cameron was fast asleep in no time. Unfortunately we had to leave early because Courtney had to be up at the crack of dawn for the Beacon Trek.

West Side Story

Alexis fell in love with the lead male, he was a cute guy and he could sing pretty well. Kyle was glued to his seat throughout the entire first half, what I did not realize was that he was taking in every dance move of the fight scenes. During intermission he jumped off his chair and started to reenact the entire first half.

Collin Ray & Restless Heart


I have always been a fan of Restless Heart; it was fun to see them in person. They sang a new song that had everyone in tears that is going to be on their next album. I could not believe my girls had not heard "If you get there before I do" by Collin Raye, I love that song.

Say Cheese Kyle, While my mom and Aunt Chris along with Isabel, Britt and Alexis enjoy the show.

Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

We made sure we watched the play a few times before we went so that Kyle would know the music when we got there, and he did. His eyes lit up as soon as they started singing the songs that he had heard. In Joseph fashion they had their own spin on the play; it was entirely set in "Las Vegas." I could have gone back to this one several times, it was that good.

Big Bad VooDoo Daddy

Ummm…. What, who? Apparently I don't listen to swing enough to know that these guys are the "It" for swing music. People were dancing all over the place. These guys are good!

Dancing Under the Stars

Many local dancers performed a variety of dances including ballroom, modern and hip hop. Alexis was spending the weekend with her dad so my friend Becky joined us. I had one of those moments where you realize the amount of talent that is in this area.

Lonestar
I was so looking forward to this concert. If not for the music, to just sit back and enjoy the view! Ok, their music is good too! Even Cameron was clapping his hands and doing his little baby dance, when he wasn't sleeping.

Take 6

With David Osmond opening for them the girls were excited to go to this show. When Take 6 took the stage they were amazed and the sounds that this acapella group could make that sounded just like instruments.

Medically speaking, 40 is old!

Apparently turning 40 is a big deal in the medical world. I guess it is the magical age when EVERYTHING starts to fall apart in some way.

A few weeks after turning 40 I had a sinus infection. I put off dealing with it and as usual I ended up with an ear ach that would only go away with an antibiotic. I broke down and made an appointment.

Turns out that the Dr I ended up seeing is one that treated me about 8 years ago for several things and after agreeing with me that I had an ear infection, and a sinus infection that I would need antibiotic. Great we are on the same page… I am good to go, but no there is more!

He pulls up my medical history on the computer in front of him and takes a look, then looks at me, back at the computer, and then back at me "Says here that you are 40 years old, but you don't look 40." "Why thank you, but it's true, I am." I replied with a big smile on my face. "Well then let's see..." He said and turns to continue looking at the screen.

The rest of the appointment went something like this:

When was your last tetanus shot? **NOTE: Never have a blank look in your face when this is asked! "OK, we will get you one of those before you leave here today." My smile is now no longer on my face.

"How about your Hepatitis immunizations, have you had that? Again blank look… and he adds that too.

"Mammogram, what is your phone number, I am going to have the hospital give you a call and schedule that for you." I reluctantly provide my phone number.

"When was your last PAP?"

Quickly I reply "Oh wait, I know this one, my follow-up appointment after my son was born in January." I said proudly knowing the answer. He smiled and said "Well then you're good on that one for now."

While looking at the computer screen he said with a concerned look on his face, "Says here that we had you on a prescription for depression medicine, how is that going?" I reply "I got rid of my depression." The Dr smiles and shakes his head slowly. Then looks up and said "did you get a divorce?" with a smile I answered "Yes." He returns to looking at the screen than quickly turns and says, "You know, we are not all like that, there are a few good men out there!" "I am sure there are, I just have not found one."

He smiles and goes back to the computer screen then slowly looks up at me, "You said you just had a baby?" With a shrug I reply "Parting gift." He looks down, again with a small smile on his face and shaking his head.

Not looking up from the screen he asks "I am going to guess that your cholesterol is down too, but just in case we are going to schedule you for a blood draw to check that too."

"Well Lore, looks everything else is good and it sounds like you are doing very well. We will get you that prescription for antibiotics, get you your shots, schedule you for a blood draw and a mammogram is there anything else you need while you are here? "With a questioning look I replied "Isn't that enough for one visit?"

So for all my younger friends I have a bit of advice. Try to make it to the Dr before you turn 40!

My Photographer and the Bus

I have been very impressed with some of Alexis pictures that she takes with her phone. Some are very artistic while others have a almost humorous side to them.

Today she had a chance to put her skills to work. She took a few pictures of an accident that took place in our neighborhood, she was quite the little photo journalist. And I let her use the big girl camera, not just her phone.

This is my neighbors BACK yard, and that is Alexis's school bus...

This is where Alexis sits when she rides the bus... next to the Emergency Exit, note the piece of fence that is stuck through the window and about 6 inches into the other side.

The absolute amazing thing is that no one was hurt. The bus had just dropped off the last of the kids, so he was the only one on the bus. He was dazed but appeared to be OK, no one knows yet what happened to poor Herold that caused him to do this. Jill Orton had just called her kids inside who were playing in that area, and Jennifer Crutchfields family was in the house, except for Kylee who was walking home with Brittany after school when this happened.

The bus just missed their home. What a mess, but what a blessing.

Courtney thinks the whole thing is cool, she said nothing like this ever happens in our neighborhood, this is cool, well cool cuz no one got hurt and they have a BUS IN THEIR BACK YARD!

Late Night Ninja’s

After returning home from Bear Lake we discovered that while we were gone we had a few new guests living on the property. A VERY large black wasp nest was hanging in our front tree. These are not normal wasps, they are FREAKING MEAN! I know because we had one several years ago.

When I looked them up on the web this is what I found:

The Bald faced Hornet is a black wasp with white lines across its abdomen. This wasp is also very aggressive when provoked. Bald Faced Hornets build their nests on structures or hang them from the branch of a bush or tree. The nest is a grayish paper nest that often is said to look like a 16" softball or in some cases a basket ball. The protective paper envelope contains two or three levels of egg chambers inside and numerous(150 to 300)workers. These nests must be approached with caution. Protective clothing is recommended when treating a nest. As with Yellow Jackets, a Bald Faced Hornets nest must be injected with an insecticidal dust or treated with wasp freeze to be effectively eliminated.

With that knowledge I made sure extreme caution was taken. We waited until around 11 at night, Brittany outfitted with a high powered flashlight and Alexis and I armed with 3 cans of Black Flag Wasp spray. We crept like 3 ninja's in the night up to the tree, Brittany flashed the light on the hive, with a bit of hesitation (she thought they would come out to get her) and then BAM! Alexis and I started to spray aiming for the hole in the hive. As bees started to drop out we knew we were doing our job. All three cans were unloaded on that hive. It is still hanging in the tree, as a warning to the rest of the bees.. Don't Even Think About It!

Kyle Quote of the Day

Kyle likes to have a bag of cereal for his ride to daycare. Yesterday he picked my Kellogg's Vanilla Almond Cereal. I warned him as I handed him his bag that he may not like it because it has nuts, he did not care.

I heard him behind me munching on that cereal most of the way to the daycare center. When we were a few minutes away he said "mom, I no like it, it has nuts" I told him to hold onto the bag until we get out of the truck, and then I would get it from him.

When we arrived at the daycare I opened his door, unbuckled his seat and picked him up to lift him out of the truck. To avoid hitting our door into the car next to us I held him against me and moved around the door and as I did he loudly exclaimed

"MOM YOUR SQUISHING MY NUTS!"

"What!? What did you say Kyle?"

"my nuts!" he said holding up his bad of cereal.

"ummm, oh, sorry..." What else could I say?

I have been a bit busy and I will post more about my summer activities later, but if you do not follow my sisters blog than you can read up on my summer on her site and see a few cute pictures of the kids as well.

Shameless: Summer Recap

Max

Yesterday I agreed to take in a beautiful Rag Doll Kitty named Max. He is one of Melanie's kitty's and he thinks he is the Alfa Kitty, and is beating up on the her other two. So I have agreed to, lets say, "take him off her hands" for a trial period of two weeks... or longer, if I can make it.
Did I say he is absolutely beautiful, and sweet, nice, well behaved, well he is, I keep telling myself that too.
But deep down inside I am not a pet kinda person. I like our rat, she is sweet, nice and well behaved too and even cute in her own way, she is also in a cage.
Max wandered through the house last night when he arrived and checked everything out. He appeared to be very content. That was last night.
I went to work and left Alexis at home alone with the big kitty, honestly how hard it is to get along with a new kitty?
Apparently harder than I thought.
When I came home at lunch Max was hiding under my bed, according to Alexis she vacuumed and it scared him. I called him a few times and he came out to say hi. I thought all is well and I returned to work.
I was there about 15 min when I got a call, "MOM! Max pushed Taylor's cage off the cabinet onto the floor and it is a good thing Taylor was hiding or he would have gotten her!" Ok, my first thought was actually... well good kitty! No worries about small critters in the house, but then I felt bad for Taylor. We are less than 24 hours into this little adventure and we have already had a CATastrophe, ok I know that was bad.

Wish us luck.