We celebrated Steven’s 30^th birthday last weekend.  Thirty!?!?  First he and Tamara threw a fantastic Trivia Party Friday night and invited folks from KMIZ, the ward, and the family to participate.  He came up with some great questions to tax all our brains – well, all except for the Voldemort team (comprised of the Lambson family minus Steve and me who joined the KMIZ team) who pretty much nailed every category.  And he and Tamara had some great “door” prizes – wish I had won something.  

  

Steven with Tamara, drawing the door prizes

 

 Noah "helping" Uncle Steve with the trivia questions

 Team Voldemort

Beckie and Sarah 

 Gotta include a shot of Lucy

 Here I am feeding Lucy

 Emily and Lucy

 On Sunday, we had the family birthday dinner – omelets, biscuits, fresh fruit, and carrot cake.  

 

 Julina celebrated her 36^th birthday last week, too.  She didn’t get to be with family but she treated herself to a getaway weekend at a bed and breakfast in another part of Indiana. She will guest blog this weekend and share photos of her adventure.

We had stake conference last weekend.  And, we had a visiting authority – Elder Terrance Smith.  It was a glorious spiritual feast both Saturday and Sunday.  Steve spoke on Saturday – he gave a wonderful talk on reaching out to the singles in the ward.  Elder Smith spoke an hour each on Saturday evening and Sunday and he was so captivating and brought such insights to gospel concepts that it hardly seemed like he had begun and it was time for him to close.  A small luncheon is always provided for the stake presidency, the visiting temple presidency member and the mission president and whoever else is a visiting dignitary as well as the wives so it was really pleasant to get to know Elder Smith on a more personal level during that time.  The stake Relief Society presidency helped with both the larger meal for the priesthood leadership Saturday evening and the Sunday luncheon.  Plus, Sarah and I sang in the stake choir Sunday morning.  A busy but a great weekend.

 Tom Mingus, Richard Houseman, Elder Smith, Steve Lambson

Davy, our Frontier (truck) and I both were put to the test last Wednesday and I am proud to report that we both passed beautifully.  Davy had a safety inspection and I confess at 152,000 miles, I was a little worried he might have some repairs but thankfully, no.  And, I had a dentist appointment and my mouth was pronounced beautiful  J

We have a new dog!

Recognize her?????  Doesn't Trissy look amazing?  I giggled all the way home from the groomer.

May musings

Happy Mother’s Day!  So far, mine has been great.  Beckie made an amazing gluten-free peaches and cream breakfast cake for me.  Currently, there is a raspberry cheesecake baking in the oven that she has made for tonight’s dinner.  I am going to miss that girl when she moves to Hawaii……

We went to St. Louis yesterday – starting out at the temple and then going with Emily and family to historic Kimmswich, a little river town south of St. Louis that has cute shops and a lovely restaurant called the Blue Owl.  

 

 This is the bridge over a tributary that flows into the Mississippi River at Kimmswich.  Steve and I are looking over the bridge while Noah and Joe do some exploring.

 

Emily and Lucy waiting for our table at the Blue Owl.

 

Last two weeks were, typically for May, full of music-related things.  I had a studio recital on Saturday, the 29th of April.  CMU wrapped up the first couple days of May – I went there Tuesday to give the string tech final and again on Wednesday to accompany my applied students for their juries.  Done with CMU for the summer….well, except for getting some of their instruments repaired.  Our last errand in St. Louis yesterday was to drop off two cellos and two bows to be fixed.  CIS advanced orchestra played “The Pink Panther” and “Viva la Vida” for their peers Wednesday morning.  They were a big hit.  We also performed at the Candlelight Lodge Mother’s Day Tea on Friday.   My adult string group, the Da Capo Strings, had their performance at Tiger Place (a very elegant senior living facility) Wednesday evening.  Here we all are.

l-r:  Sandina, Tina, Kate, Sam, me, Virginia

Finally, on the music-related news, I bought a bass!   

 

 Ever since I took a semester of bass lessons while at MU and then played bass in CCO for a year or so, I have wanted one.  This had a really good price at a place that sells new and used instruments so I bit the bullet and bought it.  My dream of a family bluegrass band is getting closer to a reality…..

Last weekend was a big event for Melanie.  She graduated from Columbia College with her Bachelor’s degree.  Congratulations, Melanie.

 

 Steven, Steve, Melanie, and Tamara at the traditional ivy ceremony.  (if you look closely, you will note that it is NOT ivy over Melanie's shoulder but fern.....hmmmm)

Below is the Spriggs family who used to live in Columbia (now live in Wentzville) and are very good friends of Melanie.  They attended the commencement ceremonies and the celebration lunch at Golden Corral.