Shooting with the Derus

Tommy Turns Four

It's rough having your birthday the day before Thanksgiving. It's really difficult as parents not to combine his birthday and Thanksgiving presents. Tommy went to sleep after hanging his stocking by the fireplace and placing a tooth under his pillow. In the morning he took to the yard to see if the bunny had hidden any candy and hard boiled eggs. Nope.

Oh well - we'll just have to blow out some candles and eat some cake.

Lincoln Youth Symphony

Steven & Anna did their first performance with the Lincoln Youth Symphony this past Saturday. Steven has been named co-principal french horn, and Anna plays 2nd flute. Anna isn't quite old enough (or tall enough) to play with the symphony, but is doing a fabulous job learning the music.

The pieces they performed were very challenging, and we feel very blessed to live in a community where our kids have opportunities to play with a symphony orchestra.

Anna is the forehead wearing the cool glasses.

Smile Practice

I'm sure you all recall what Brigham Young said about smiling. "It matters not whether you or I feel like smiling, when the time comes to smile, smile."   Or something like that . . .


It was obvious from our last frustrating attempt at getting Thomas to smile for a picture that we needed some practice. It seemed every bit as frustrating this time, but I think the results ended up quite a bit better.

What follows is a more appropriate Hommage à Tommy de trois ans

Utah Wind Symphony Dress Rehearsal

Because of an Army Band rehearsal, we weren't able to attend the UWS performance on November 2nd. Steven, Anna, and I were however able to attend the dress rehearsal. Steven and Anna rode the Front Runner down to SLC and then off to the Rose Wagner theater.

Scott Hagen invited the students in the audience to come up and sit with the musicians so they could see the music and watch the conductor. It was fantastic!

The music was of course amazing, and Larry Zalkind made me partially rethink my opinion of trombone players . . . 

. . . but only partially. 

Anna's picture is currently being featured on the UWS Facebook page - here's the link. 

Real Men Winterize Swamp Coolers

We Went With . . .

The Bunny! (With a warm hat, and she was in the baby backpack.)

And she couldn't see most of the time

Thanks for your votes :)