May's Fun Holidays

I actually remember celebrating May Day on May 1st in grade school 

by dancing around a maypole holding a pretty ribbon, 

but those days are long gone for us!

So the first holiday we get into every year is Cinco De Mayo!

While we really have no connection to Mexico or the Mexican heritage, 

it gives us a great excuse every year to have Mexican food 

and maybe a party!

This year we treated Jim and Kathy Jensen to Mexican food, 

then they treated us to a great comedy night at Tuacahn.

Brian Regan headlined and was hilarious, and just as funny was his warm-up act, Taylor Tomlinson.

They are both pretty clean comics and we laughed so hard our cheeks hurt!

They performed to a packed crowd in Tuacahn's beautiful outdoor amphitheater.

Just to throw in a little real life humor to this post, 

look who ambled through our backyard recently!

Roger always takes pics of me after church on Mother's Day.

Our meetings were extra special with great talks 

and a beautiful duet by two sister missionaries in Sacrament meeting, 

then a duet by our Relief Society teacher's daughter and granddaughter, 

accompanied on the cello by her grandson. 

It was all excellent music!

I got lots of lovely cards and gifts from my great kids and wonderful husband, 

then he made me a delicious dinner of shrimp cocktail, Alaskan crab legs, baked potatoes and asparagus.

He brought home my favorite 25 Main cupcakes for dessert.

Then the rest of the evening I spent chatting on the phone with each of my kids and families, 

my favorite part of Mother's Day!

I remember in years past when we were raising our kids, 

I used to feel somewhat guilty on Mother's Day while listening to the talks, 

thinking of all the things I hadn't done right. 

Now I just focus on the positive, feeling such gratitude in my heart 

for the opportunity that the Lord gave me 

to get to be the mom to 5 wonderful kids!

I think I must be the luckiest mom in the world!

Mesa Beckons Us

Time has rolled around again for this inspiring, mind-blowing concert.

I guess this will show our age, but while youngers buy concert tickets months ahead 

and travel distances to see pop and rock groups perform, 

Roger and I travel to Mesa 

to hear this concert of over 1500 voices. 
I told Ryan and Emily I would drive to NYC to hear it. 
It's that good!
Its purpose is to teach and encourage excellence in quality of sacred and classical music, 
with a focus on God and country.

Ryan and Emily graciously treat us to up-front tickets with them each concert.

A big bonus is our grandson, Ben, performs in one of the five choirs. 

Now in their tenth season, they do two concerts a year, 

at Christmastime and Eastertime, 

and they brilliantly highlight those seasons for us.

I got a quick hug from Ben before he left for the concert hall.
The time commitment for the kids and their parents, who help make the logistics happen, is huge!

The choir performs twice two nights in a row, and we arrived early for the 6 pm concert. 

Roger took a quick pic of the concert hall.

Here are the lucky family members who attended. 

We always come out of the concert nearly overcome with joy 

after hearing the beautiful music performed.

Ben's proud parents . . . 

. . . Grandma Pam and Grandpa Roger . . . 

. . . Cousin Maddy (Ben's Best Buddy) . . .

. . . .and Big Fan Aunt Stacy!

As luck would have it, this weekend it was also Pete's Junior Prom.

And as the Junior Class President, he was in charge.

He has been growing taller lately and is nearly the same size as his dad. 

It's a good thing because when he put his own suit on, it was too little, so he wore Ryan's.

Doesn't he look spiffy and what a pretty date!

Pete says she's a fun friend.

Emily's parents were on a tour of China, but they graciously offered their home for Pete and his friends 

to have a dinner before the prom there. 

Eight other couples were invited and their parents provided the food.

Emily, Ryan, Roger and I hurriedly drove to Scottsdale to set everything up. 

It was such fun picking out dish ware, silver ware, placemats, goblets and napkins from Susan's lovely cache. 

They celebrated with glasses of Martinelli's.

Almost all set up. 

Pete's cute little sister, Sarah Kate, came with us, and she thought a great touch 

would be to scatter flower petals on the table. 

She also made colorful hand-colored signs on the door and the pillar to the kitchen saying, "PROM."

One of the moms brought flowers.

I love their happy smiles!

Here are all eighteen posing in the backyard.

Such a nice group of kids!

I took this pic of the girls taking a selfie. 

I thought the girls all looked so pretty!

Roger was busy grilling the marinated chicken.

He is a Master Griller, you know!

The kids are enjoying their feast in the gorgeous dining room.

We didn't get to see him prom night, but Stacy and Tom's Jake, 

who is a senior and graduating from Mountain View High School this month 

and preparing for BYU summer school, then an LDS mission, 

invited this cute friend from one of his classes.

On Sunday, after Ryan's ward's three-hour block, Tom, Stacy and kids came over for dinner at Ryan and Emily's. 

After a tasty dinner, the cousins put on a little show for us.

Becca introduced the cast, who did some kind of spoof of Studio C.

Sarah Kate did some routine about, "Naw, I don't do mornings!"

I'm not sure who Max was supposed to be and Luke came bounding in as Spider Man, 

but they were having wrestling matches and giggling fits by the end of the show!

There are always so many things going on in our two Mesa kids' families' lives 

and it's such fun to touch in with them. 

This was definitely another great trip to Mesa!