Pinewood Derby 2011

Another Pinewood Derby has come and gone.... Lucas got 2nd in his Den... Ian's car didn't place but it was a darn cute car, and they had a parents race, but Mike helped so many others with their cars this year we didn't have time to do our own - so we recycled and used one of Chandler's old ones!! All the wheels stayed on so it works.... good times

Move over Von Trapps

The Von Cranes are in town!

Last Thursday night was the school Spring Concert - it was a huge extravaganza of music! Our Winter concert was canceled due to the snowy weather we had this winter so they packed in a ton of performances in this one show....

The quality of music by all the kids was fantastic! They worked really hard and you could really see the difference even from last year.

I have some of it on video but I never seem to have luck posting videos on my blog. Both Tyler (vocal) and Chandler (Clarinet) had solos this year so it was extra special for the Von Cranes....it's nice being in a small school the kids have a few more opportunities they might not have in the big schools back home. It's all good for now :)

nIan playing the trumpet (you know brass is always in the back!)

Chandler's trio (violin, flute & clarinet spotlight solo)

The spectators

Day 18: Ian's Bday

Well the whole reason why we even went to EuroDisney was to celebrate Ian's 9th birthday. He is such a sweet boy and truly is very happy. Ian has been doing really well in school he has a teacher that is new to the school this year and she is a doll - she looks like Barbie.

Ian loves Football (Soccer) and he has become very good at it. Ian still loves to year - he is a voracious reader - I cannot get him to go to bed sometimes! He loves the color Orange - most of his clothes are either red or orange. We love having him in our family. We came home from Eurodisney late Thursday night so we were all exhausted Friday but he was a good sport and w just hung out and watched The Wizards of Waverly Place Movie for his bday!!

Baptism, Blessing & Pinewood Derby

We had a very busy weekend. The boys had their first English pinewood derby - very different than at home in that it seemed more dad's tinkered with the cars than at home - there were some great designs out there - but extremely unlikely 10 year olds and younger did the work "by themselves". Ian came in 4th and Chandler I'm not sure but they had a good time! There are TONS of boys in our Den so it was a very long day.

After we had Ian's baptism - he had a HUGE turn out! There were about 50 people there! I had made a lite dinner - it was like Jesus with the loaves of bread & fish - I was worried but we had plenty of food. We had to do everything - not like at home where the stake plans it all for you - it was really nice - Tyler gave a talk along with my FIL, and the kids along with our friends the Hamberlin kids sang I Am A Child of God. It turned out great - the only thing missing were The Smiths.....


Sunday we blessed Tristan - first time in ages I got my mom to come and stay at church with us. it turned out so nice - I found this beautiful blessing gown at a shop that was closing down in town - it's all raw silk and tulle -

My mom left yesterday then I took my in-laws to a "mall" - we actually have a few here - and did some Christmas shopping. Now just trying to get things done. Tristan is sleeping pretty well - she gets up around 12:30, 1AM and then maybe squeaks around 3:30 then she's out till about 6am.... she is so sweet - you really do forget the pain that you carried around for MONTHS and those last 3 hours of labor ugh! But what a prize!!