Piano Recital

I had my Spring Piano Recital on Monday, June 6th. I had 13 students perform...one didn't make it to the recital because he was sick, one moved out of state a week earlier than they planned to, and one let her nerves get the best of her and begged me to not make her play! Most played two pieces, most were memorized, all did very well.

Gavin played "Cowboy Joe" and "Cool Dog."

Cameron played "Ogg (The Caveman)".

Spencer and I were very proud of our boys! They worked hard! I was proud of all my students. I've kind of taken it easy this year with piano. I've only had 13-16 students since the babies were born but I'm ready to add more to my schedule now!

Thoughts on Marriage

A couple of weeks ago I got a phone call from the Young Women's president in our ward. She told me that the Young Women were very boy-crazy and wanted to hear real life love stories. She asked if Spencer and I would be willing to be on a "Dating Panel" and answer questions about our dating story, getting engaged, marriage, etc. at an activity toward the end of May. I really wanted to do it but didn't know if we were the best couple to be asking since our entire courtship/engagement/wedding date happened in a short 9 weeks! She told me that the leaders were trying to help the girls know that because we are blessed with the Spirit to help us feel good about deciding who to marry, this important decision can be made in any length of time. That being said (and after quickly making sure Spence would be on board), I said yes!

We got to the church and were joined by a newlywed couple (married 11 months) and an empty-nester couple (married 40 years.) We were the token "middle-aged-with children" couple (though I don't think of myself as middle-aged...I'm 31 for crying out loud! But we do have 5 kids so I guess we were qualified.) Two of the older Young Women acted as the MC's and asked a series of questions to each of the couples. Some questions were directed to just the men, some to the women, some to the couples. We got engaged 11 years ago (June 1st) and it was really fun for me to hear Spencer answer some of these questions. I was told later that the girls said it was the best activity they had ever been to! So I guess it was a win-win for everyone.

Questions/Answers
Q: How long have you been married? A: Almost 11 years

Q: When and where did you first meet your spouse? A: We first met in March 2000 at work. I (Natalie) was his boss!

Q: When was your first date and what did you do? A: Spencer says our first date was April 26 but really that was just the first day we did anything outside of work. Spencer was in the process of training for a new position and he was supposed to come in for training but something came up and the trainer asked me to call and cancel with Spence so he wouldn't come in to the office. Spence & I had been casually flirting for a while and he was very interested in what I would eat. I was on a low-carb diet and he thought it was so funny when he'd ask what I was having for dinner and I'd say a steak or a pork chop. It just wasn't the typical girl response, I guess. I had told him the previous day that if he asked me what I was eating anytime soon, he could take me to dinner and see what I ate! Well, when I called to tell him not to come into work, I asked him what he was planning for dinner. He replied, "a hotdog." Then he asked me and I told him we were going to the Golden Corral (it was brand new) to celebrate a friend's birthday (Thanks for having a birthday, Esther!) He said how fun that would be and that he wished he could come, etc. I told him that if I could drive his NEW car, he could go with us. He agreed. When we got to the restaurant and went to pay, my friend Dan's card wouldn't work so I told him I'd just pay for him. Spencer quickly said, "If you're paying for him, you'd better pay for me too!" So I did. Unbeknownst to me, Spencer had told him roommates that he was sick of the dating scene and wasn't going to ask a girl out. He said that if a girl asked him out, then he'd know she was the one for him! So by having me pay for his dinner, he could later justify that he hadn't asked me out...Whatever!

Q: What was the first thing that drew you to your future spouse? Nat's answer: I first heard Spencer's voice before I remember meeting him face-to-face. I had just started working for the airport shuttle and they wanted me to know all parts of the job, even though I would be working in the office only. So they sent me on a shuttle with one of the drivers from Logan to Salt Lake. It just so happened that the driver was Spencer's friend/roommate, Wade. On the road, Wade used the CB radio (that shows how long ago it was, huh?) to talk to Spencer. This is the conversation as I remember it..."Mobile 23(Wade) to Mobile 21 (Spencer), What's your 20?" "I'm in Plain City." "And how is Plain City, Mobile 21?" "Pretty Plain!" At that moment, I remember thinking...that kid has a fun personality. I'd like to meet him.
Spence's answer: I remember meeting Nat long before she remembers meeting me. She was just starting at the shuttle and was the only girl employed there! I was working two jobs at the time. I worked 3 am to 11 am at Icon Health & Fitness and then went to work for the Shuttle in the afternoon. Often, I would go straight from Icon to the shuttle so I'd stop and get lunch on the way. I remember walking into the office and seeing the new girl. She had long, dark brown, curly hair and I've always been a sucker for brown hair! I sat at her desk and ate my lunch and did my best to flirt with her but since she doesn't remember it, I guess I didn't flirt very well!

Q: What is your spouses best characteristic? Nat's answer: On our first "date" I watched Spencer interact with all of my friends. Though he knew none of them before we went out, he easily talked with each one of them. I've always loved that he can get along with almost anyone and people (especially the elderly) are drawn to him. He makes everyone feel important.

I can't remember the wording to one of the questions but one thing Spencer said that I liked hearing is that he liked that I liked HIM. He lived with Wade, the all-American athletic type, Jon, who does stand-up comedy and is hilarious, and Beaver, his best friend and all-around good guy, when we first met. I knew Wade & Jon from work and Spencer says I could have chosen to date either of them...but I chose Spencer and he's always like that! I liked him for who he was and never compared him to his friends or roommates.

Q: When did you know that you wanted to marry your spouse? Spencer: I think I knew I wanted to marry Natalie before she knew she wanted to marry me. It wasn't a hard decision for me.
Natalie: After Spencer and I had already discussed getting married and were going to go ring shopping, he said, "When I tell my mom that we're getting married, she's going to ask if we've prayed about it together." So we knelt together and prayed to our Heavenly Father. We both felt warm & fuzzy immediately and knew that our Heavenly Father approved.

Q: How did he propose? (As a side note, the other two men on the panel were extreme romantics. Spencer's more practical so our story was the least fun, oh well.) A: Spencer picked up my ring on our way to his sister Kate's high school graduation. He didn't want to leave it at either of our apartments or in his car while we went to the graduation so he stuck it in the pocket of his cargo shorts. Keep in mind that the ring was in a box which was in a box so it wasn't very discrete. As we walked in to the gym, it was obvious that there was a BOX in his pocket and most people knew that the box was a special box by the way Spencer was acting. After graduation we went to his parent's house. He took his mom and sister into the other room and showed them the ring. I could just hear Ooohs and Ahhhs...I wanted to see the ring myself! We drove back to Logan and Spencer got really quiet. We were driving all over and he kept doing U-turns and backtracking. I finally asked him what was going on and he said, "I can't find the place!" (Spencer started talking from here.) I had found this little spot while I was driving the shuttle where you could see the Logan temple. I knew that Nat would either go through the Logan temple or we'd get married there so I thought it would be perfect! But for some unknown reason, I couldn't find it that night. We ended up pulling off to a little park where I asked her to marry me.

Q: What is the best thing about being married? Spencer answered this one: Occasionally we go to bed not very happy with each other. But every single morning, when I wake up and look at her next to me, I know I'm exactly where I want to be. I wouldn't change a thing!

There were other questions/answers but these are what I can remember at this point. Between doing this panel and talking about our engagement anniversary, I've been thinking a lot about marriage lately. I'm grateful to be married to my best friend and to be able to have five adorable children and many adventures together.

And it looks like we'll be having a wedding this summer...Callie & Mike are officially engaged and planning for a September wedding!

Memorial Day 2011

I have 43 first cousins on my mom's side of the family. Growing up, we were extremely close. My Grandma Marie loved to have her family nearby so we found a reason to have a family party every month. We had the normal family traditional get-togethers (Christmas, Easter Egg Hunt, Grandparents Birthdays) and we had a few of our own (Kite Flying, Halloween/Talent Show, Pioneer Day). After Grandma & Grandpa passed away, our parties became fewer and fewer. I mean, with 150+ people at each party, it's just not easy or practical anymore. We now have ONE reunion each year. Needless to say, we all look forward to it and most come. Our reunion is always on Memorial Day.

Spencer & I had purchased tickets to Les Miserables in Salt Lake City. The only tickets we were able to get were for Sunday night, the day before Memorial Day. So although we don't normally go places on the Sabbath, we had decided to make an exception. Callie & Mike were going to babysit all five kids so we were looking quite forward to it. Then I was reminded that the reunion was the following day and we'd have to drive there and back on the same day. I would also be preventing Callie & Mike from going to Idaho any sooner. After much discussion, we decided to sell our tickets to Les Mis, promising each other that we'd go at the next opportunity, so we could go to Idaho on Sunday. It was a wise decision.

We attended our Sacrament Meeting and then loaded up the car to head north. Traveling with five kids is not easy. When we go anywhere for longer than a day, we have to put a luggage storage thing on top of the car. I didn't want to have to do this this time. So we packed LIGHT and we were able to get everything we needed for our overnight at Granny's in 2 smaller bags which fit in the car! The drive to Idaho was pretty uneventful, babies slept, boys read, listened to iPods and played Leapsters. When we got to my parent's house, they were at church. Mom & dad had pretty much made dinner but we finished getting it ready and reheated so it would be ready to eat when they got home. Uncle Tim was visiting from Arizona and would be joining our family for Sunday dinner. It's always fun to have Uncle Tim at your table!

After dinner we sat and visited. Our "godmother" Kathy and her daughter, Amy, and granddaughter, Sari, came over to see us all. Uncle Tim shared some funny stories, cousins played and played, and we had dessert before calling it a night.



Monday was a cold, dreary day. Years ago, when my grandparent's headstone was first placed, we decided to paint the flowers on my grandma's side a light pink and grandpa's boots red. It just seemed to fit them better. I was the one who originally did the painting so when it's needed, I'm also the one who gets to touch it up. This year it was needed. Callie, Mom, and I drove to the cemetery after breakfast so I could repaint Grandpa's boots. I'm not really sure why but it touches my heart each time I do it and I usually shed a few tears. By the time it was finished, it was time to go get the rest of the family and get to the reunion.


Many of the things they had planned for the reunion were supposed to take place outside but since the weather didn't cooperate, we had more time to visit in the church. We had lunch, a short program, and lots of visiting. Some of the family members brought their guitars and had a "jam session" on the stage after most of us had left. I wish we could've stuck around for it because I heard it was a lot of fun and great music! A few things I want to remember about the reunion:

My Aunt Karen is our family historian. Her family was in charge of the reunion this year and they focused on things Hugh & Marie had taught us. My Aunt Sue shared a short memory of a time that she had overheard her parents quarreling, which all parents do. My grandpa left the house and she turned to her mother and said, "Are you guys going to get divorced now?" My Grandma Marie turned to her and said, "We did not get married to get divorced. We loved each other then, we love each other now. We were married in the temple so we could be together forever. Don't ever think we'll get divorced." Aunt Sue also shared a poem my grandma wrote called "Cows." My grandpa was a dairy farmer and grandma said when she married him, she also married cows! But between family, cows, and church they were happy.

Grandma played the accordion and taught many to play as well. My parents both learned and, in her honor, played an accordion duet of "Springtime in the Rockies". We all kind of giggle when they get out the accordions because, let's face it, they are funny! But it was nice to remember Grandma. If she and Grandpa had been there, they would have done the two-step around the Cultural Hall!


My boys and Ryan's girls, Abbie & Avery, then sang "A Young Boy Prayed." Jette couldn't be left out so she stood next to the kids while they sang. Aunt Karen read “Suggestions to the Boys and Men In the Family” written several years ago by Grandpa Hugh, and “Advice To My Posterity”, written by Grandma Marie. I wish I had a copy of both of those...someday I'll get them and post them.

There were 149 people there that day. We had a giant group picture taken by my cousin Ruth. She took two pictures and will photoshop them together. I'm anxious to see it. (My Uncle Tim wanted to be in both halves of the pictures so he will appear twice!) Then Ruth took a quick picture of my twins. I absolutely love them and look forward to doing an entire session with her!

A Hike, A Game, Some Yogurt, & Goodbye

In April, Jeff & Emily decided they'd be moving to Virginia Beach for the summer so Jeff could do an internship with his dad. We had mixed emotions about it. I mean, what an awesome experience for their little family?!? But we knew we would miss them...like crazy! And we do. So before they left we had to cram a few fun things into their schedule.

First off, a Boy's Only Hike with Jeff. Jeff has taken the boys out on hikes from time to time and he always carried a walking stick, which the boys would want to take turns holding. So he made them each one, with their names engraved and specifically for their height. When the day of the hike finally arrived, we met at a trail behind the Draper temple and off they went. They were gone for a good 2 1/2 hours and came back exhausted. The boys got hot while hiking, so Jeff taught them to dip their hat in the stream. He told Em that after he taught them that, they would run and dip their hat into every stream they passed by. Cameron and Gavin decided to get their heads wet one time, so Jeff held Owen by his ankles so he could get his hair wet too, without falling in. Jeff said that they all did really good on the hike and didn't whine at all! That, in itself, is a miracle!














Next, a ReAL Salt Lake soccer game! Originally, we were just going to go with the Petersbergers. Then we invited Callie & Mike. Then Emily & Jeff. Then my parents decided to make a trip to Utah and brought Avery. Then Jeff's brother, James & his girlfriend Jillian...In all there were 22 of us that went! It started out as a cold-ish evening but by the second half it warmed up a little and was a very pleasant night. Granny bought a bag of cotton candy to share amongst the kids, Avery pretended to take a nap during the middle of the game, there were CHURRO's all around, and Gavin, Jaxon, and Madison P. got to go out on the field in their soccer jerseys. This was the first of many games for us this season and it was fun to share it with the fam.













When I figured out that my mom and sisters would be in our ward on Sunday, I arranged for us to do a musical number. We sang "Here Am I", the same song we sang at Ryan's missionary farewell, September 1996. We were a little nervous Sunday morning but it turned out okay. We are blessed to have a sister-in-law who sings with us on a regular basis, who can keep her composure regardless of the situation, who has the most beautiful voice, and never gets nervous. We missed No'el that morning. But I was grateful to have the chance to sing with my sisters, regardless of our emotions. After church, we had a lovely BBQ, cousin Jamison came for a quick visit, and then our parents headed back to Idaho.


For FHE Monday night, we went to the Cam/Gavin's school. They were displaying a lot of artwork that the students had done and calling it "A Night at the Louvre." Every month they teach about a well-known artist and then the kids draw their interpretation of a famous painting. They call it "Meet the Masters" and my kids both enjoy art so they like learning about the different artists. After we had walked through the exhibit and had our "passport" stamped, we met Jeff & Emily & Miley for frozen yogurt. There's this little place near our house that features 8 (or is it 10?) flavors of frozen yogurt...they change the flavors daily so it's always a surprise! Then you can add unlimited topics (we, however, limited each child to three toppings) and you pay by the ounce! The boys have wanted to go for a long time so it was fun for them. And so nice for us to just sit and visit with Jemily.



I took the Hardings to the airport Tuesday afternoon. It was kinda emotional for me. Em & I have become close and I was sad to be losing my friend for the summer. Em made me say "See ya soon" and pretend like we'd see them in the next couple of days. She tried to make me promise that I wouldn't post all the fun things we do this summer because it will make her homesick. (Sorry, in advance, Emily.) We really are excited for them to have this opportunity but anxiously await their return!

Grrrrr!

I truly dislike seeing my blog on other's blog lists with the date of my last update as "1 month ago." I really am trying to stay on top of this family blog but some days, weeks, etc it is nearly impossible. So here we are again with a massive update. Feel free to scroll down because I am posting 7 new posts today! Insane! In my defense, Harrison has had 2 ear infections in the past month, I hosted book club, Gavin's soccer season is in full-swing, and I'm preparing for my Spring Piano Recital with 15 students!

I wanted to share this website that I found when blog-hopping. It is a site where you can download printable quiet books. You simply print them out as pictures at Sam's, Costco, Wal-mart, etc and insert them in to photo books. I printed out 3 different books and spent less than $10. We took them to Stake Conference and the boys were entertained for the majority of the meeting. Enjoy!

Field Trip

Cam's grade got to go to the Hogle Zoo for their field trip. When Cam found out that's where they were going, he came home and asked his dad if he could go as a chaperone. Their class only got to have 4 chaperones and when 8 parents agreed to go, they had to draw to see which parents would be the lucky ones! Spencer was chosen and boy, oh boy, Cam was excited. The weather was just right...not too hot, not too cold. Spencer especially enjoyed the bus ride! (Not really, it was super loud and kids were very hyper.) I'm just grateful that Spence was able to go and that Cam wanted his parent there...I'm sure that won't always be the case.

Triplets...sort of!

As I have mentioned many times before, Emily had her first daughter 3 weeks before the twins were born. Because we live close to each other, we often run errands together. Many times we get asked if we have triplets! We recently discovered that our baby girls had the same dress...hello, photo op! We had to dress Harrison up in a coordinating tie/onesie combo so he could be in the pics too. We couldn't seem to get them all to smile at the same time but aren't they absolutely adorable?