Rocking and Rolling: Soccer and Piano

Music is a big part of our lives.  Matt loves music, and is very talented when it comes to… well… All of it?  Playing instruments, having a great signing voice, and with perfect pitch and great rhythm, he's a natural when it comes to composing his own songs.

Isaac has been taking piano lessons for the last 3 months.  He's been really excited to learn an instrument and share in Matt's music love.  The two littles have taken a greater interest as well.  I've tried my best to expose them to music, but I can only take it so far (I much rather listen to talk radio/books on tape, or just have it silent.  I have to remind myself that playing music is an option).  With Matt around much more, so has music.

Isaac had his first piano recital, and he did really well!  After his duet with his teacher he asked if he could play Old MacDonald.  Sure, why not.  He was proud, we were proud, and his brothers were proud.

The boys have also been grooving with soccer.  

Soccer.  ALL THE TIME.  

We're over halfway through the season.  Which, to be honest, I'm grateful for.  Each of the boys play at the same time on the same big field.  It's a little exhausting, but that's what raising three boys at the same time is going to be like!  I suppose!  

Isaac is starting to be more and more comfortable in getting in the game more.  He's starting to take the lead.  He still hasn't scored a goal, but he's come mighty close!  

Eli is physical and has never minded getting in to the thick of things.  However, he doesn't pay attention to the ball, so he's never had an opportunity to score.  He's a lot of fun to watch, though. 

Titus has not improved.  He's just a happy little goof on the field.  He runs around, in his own world, giving hugs to friends and loves playing his own imagination game.  

Matt's been able to make it to more games, which has helped in being able to keep eyes on each of the boys during the games.  Though, to be honest, when Matt's not there I just have to hope that the boys will be mature enough to handle themselves when I'm not around.  It's a lot of walking around and spying on each of them as I go to different games!  Three kids, on three different teams, each playing at the same time.  Phew!  

John Denver Always on My Mind :: Idaho/Canada Vacay, Part 2

Oh man.  Yeah.

Just a few days in Boise, and then we were off to eastern Idaho to see Matt's brother Chase graduate from BYU-I.

It was a long and awesome day.  We left around 9am, got to eastern Idaho around 2.  We were able to see my sister Madison and her husband Spencer for a bit.  It was the first time Matt had been able to meet Spencer face to face--since Matt was deployed at the time of their wedding last August.

After the visit with my sister, we got all spiffed up and headed for some good pizza with Matt's family, and afterwards headed to BYU-Idaho's campus.  Me, Matt, and the boys were a bit early for the graduation ceremony so we walked around some of the new buildings/expansions.  Man!  The campus is awesome now!  An enclosed walk-way between the student center and the library, that's just genius! (Cause it's so bloody cold there 9 months out of the year, with snow and ice and crap like that…. Haha, don't miss that part of BYU-I in the least!)

Eventually we made it down to the graduation ceremony, and were able to watch him walk across the stage.  (Me and Matt ended up running into a few people we had known!  One person from our first congregation, the other an old family friend of mine from Bama.)

After the ceremony we got some JumbaJuice, said our goodbyes to Chase and Jenese, and went back to our hotel rooms.  For the next morning we started our drive to Canada!  Alberta, Canada, that is.  It was a long drive through the west, but I loved seeing it all!  Of course none of the children rode with me and Matt, since being with either Marcie&Tyson&Jackson or Nana&Mume was must more exciting.  Hey, Matt and I didn't complain.  Actually, the rest of the trip none of the boys rode with us, haha.

Anyway…. Loved driving through the west.  I had A LOT of John Denver songs in my head, so at one stop I downloaded John Denver's "essential songs" album.  It's VERY essential ;)
Feel free to click any song to hear (cause I know you're DYING to):
Wild Montana Skies 
Annie's Songs
Country Boy
Rocky Mountain High
Country Roads 

We made it to Canada that evening.  Crossed into a new country for the first time for Eli and Titus.  Then settled down at Deanne's Dad's home.  
And Post Number 3 will go over our adventures from there!

Matt's Music :: Afganistan Album, Track 3, "Titus' Song"

Matt wrote a song of each of the boys, and this is for Titus, our almost 3 year old.  He's our little tiny ray of sunshine!  

Grateful for Matt's talent.  His music soothes our souls as we ride around jamming to his tunes.  The boys especially love each of their tracks.

Matt's Music :: Afghanistan Album

My husband sings.  My husband play instruments.  My husband mixes music.  

Matt created a new album, full of new songs and recordings, for us to enjoy during this Afghanistan deployment.  

This is the first track, which is really a lot of fun!   

For some background:  the boys love this game on the iPad which they can shot dinosaurs, so that's where the dinosaurs come from.
And also Eli IS the Hulk, Titus IS Spiderman, and Isaac IS Captain America.  Got it? ;)

Growing Interests

I think it can be assumed that what you, as a parent, are into your children will pick up too.  This isn't the rule of thumb, by no means, but it's kinds of likely.  Don't you think?


The boys idolize Matt.  Because really, he's a cool dude.  And plays with them, and teaches them, and is overall a great dad.

Matt loves to explore his interests, finding new ways to do things, and perfecting the things learned.  He loves photography, music, and the military.
Hence the 5 cameras we own, the large quantity of musical instruments, and his job.

I'm pretty much used to being Matt's guinea pig when it comes to exploring the camera.
I just do what I need to do, and Matt takes all the pictures.  This is not uncommon:

Slow shutter, zooming the lens back while taking the shot. 

Probably trying to figure out low-light stuff.
Or composition?  For the isn't that bad of shot!

It was only a matter of time till Isaac started to get interested in the camera!  Matt was willing to work with him for a bit, taking turns on the camera, then letting Isaac have free rein.  I have to say, I think Isaac has quite an eye.
(Matt took the ones of Isaac, but Isaac took everything else.)

Isaac's interesting in taking pictures has continued.  I love his outlook!  I forget what it's like to be a kid, and his pictures help a lot.

AND...
... One other thing:  Isaac is starting to want to get involved with Matt and music.  They even recorded a few songs together :)  Isaac isn't really willing to sing parts, but he like to add words and noises here and there.  Little baby steps!