Dan: Future President

Dan the Man
Dantastic
Danimal
Future President

Dan was blessed this year to have Mrs. White as a teacher.  She is really good at what she does, and really helpful to those who end up missing lots of school. She loves her students like they are her own children, and cried over them as the school year ended because she hates to say goodbye.  One of the things she did on the last day of school was to make sure every student heard something good about themselves.  She also gave them each their own unique award.  Dan got the "Future President" award.  He was really pleased with that.  He told me, "I did not see that coming."

On the way out to the car, He was telling me a story about a bomb, and an airport.  I can't remember the story clearly, but I don't think it ended well.  His point?  "What this country needs is better security".  He was already working on planning what he would do as President.  He was very pleased to show his certificate to all of the family.  He can hardly believe that some of his classmates thought he should get that award.

I liked watching him as he came back to his seat.  He went around giving people five and looking rather pleased and like he didn't quite know how to handle such good fortune.

4th grade program.

The fourth grade program was fun to watch.  Dan generally enjoys performing, and after they sang the songs at the beginning, he is the only one who took a bow.  It made me smile.  I love my Dan.  He is smart, and fun, and extremely wiggly.  I doubt he would hold long meetings as President.  He wouldn't want to sit down that long!  It is a daunting task to raise the future president.  Derek and I will do our best.

Flying

I wrote this song for my friend's son.  He turned 16 on the 16th and has been bravely battling cancer for years.  He likes super heroes (I haven't met too many boys that don't).  Most people love to occasionally escape into their imagination. You can go anywhere, and do anything in your imagination! This song is a mixture of both.  You can listen to me singing the finger picking version if you click here.  For the fun version where Tia and Kayli sing with me, and Connor does the video work click birthday video.  The words are below.

FLYING

(Q's Song)

The sun is shining in the sky

And lots of friends are walking by

Music's floating in the air

But I am far away

Flying through the sky today

Lightning flashes when I land

Wearing armor I take off again

Rockets that I shoot make rain

They will not cause you pain

They'll bring earth alive again.

I love flying

When the sun is shining

And when the night comes

I will fly

Way up to the moon

The colors are now bright and fun

From a tree I see everyone

Arrows arc into the sky

And rainbows they appear

Chasing out all doubt and fear

Running so fast no one can see

But good things follow after me

Bad things get pushed far away

As I go on my way

Running right through walls today

I love flying

When the sun is shining

And when the night comes

I will fly

Way up to the moon

I hear a sound that brings me home

I stop flying around alone

I lower the shield I hold

And all is safe and sound

Landing back on solid ground

But someday I'll take off again

Perhaps next time I'll take a friend

We'll take off into the air

And fly up toward the sun

To do good for everyone

I love flying

When the sun is shining

And when the night comes

I will fly

Way up to the moon

I love flying

When the sun is shining

And when the night comes

I will fly

Way up to the moon

Derek Turns 50

Derek's happy birthday was on May 5th.  Derek is thoughtful and fun.  I love him.

Derek and Dan and Jake.  I believe Derek had been teasing Dan about using the face clamp Dan is holding to clamp his face.  Derek wasn't really surprised by these presents that he bought himself, but they were just what he wanted.  He wanted a fancy sports car more, but we can't always have everything we want.

Derek and his presents and Dan and Jake

I think Kayli was extra proud of this picture.  Derek and I have matching weird facial expressions going on.  There are 5 candles.  One candle to represent each of the ten years since Derek was born.

Happy Birthday to Derek

Derek asked for kebabs for his birthday, but we both forgot and so he asked for chicken enchiladas.  I remembered the kebabs too late for Monday's celebration  so we had enchiladas that day, and kebabs the next.  It never hurts to have an extra day of birthday celebration!

Derek and Me: 28 Years of Awesomeness

28 Years ago yesterday (May 11), Derek and I were enjoying a beautiful, sunny wedding day.  One week ago today, on May 5th, it was Derek's 50th birthday. We have good reasons to celebrate in May!

I think every year I get to spend with Derek is full of awesomeness.  I am extremely thankful to be married to someone who is always inclined to think well of me, and who has a gift for helping me, and our kids, to smile.

On Derek's birthday we headed off to St. George for an anniversary trip.  Here are the pictures.

Derek in Kolob Canyon

Kolob Canyon

With a little resting and snack eating I made it to the end of the Taylor Creek trail in Kolob Canyon.  Yay!

I insisted we try a selfie.  This was the best out of three -- I looked more dorky in the other ones.

This is the end of the Taylor Creek hike in Kolob Canyon.  The picture is pretty, but everything is more impressive in person.

On the way back down the Taylor creek trail I had to have a picture of the tree that was growing right on top of a rock (yes the red thing is a rock and not red dirt).

This was the way they built a part of the trail so it wouldn't get washed out (I think).  I hadn't ever seen a section of trail like it and so I wanted a picture.

This was the next day, in Zion Canyon.  This is the upper Emerald Pools (I think). 

I had to try to get at least one picture of the really beautiful scenery that we enjoyed while at Zion National Park.

Derek and I also spent some time on our trip visiting family, or having them do all of the work by visiting us and bringing us food (thanks Quinn and Tonya).  It was fun to see how Jenny and Jeff's new house was coming along, and to spend time with my parents visiting and driving around.  We saw my Fuller Grandparent's old house, and the LaVerkin cemetery -- the "final resting place" of a lot of my relatives.

I'll put the pictures of Derek's belated birthday celebration on a different blog for you to enjoy :-)