Stringfest 2026

2026 Stringfest featured two performances by the BHS and BWHS chamber orchestras. Corbin is so happy to be playing in the top orchestra this year.  8th grade is exempt from attending so Soren got off easy. Aaron took Bear to soccer and I greeted parents to Stringfest. 

Mr Juzeler, the jr high orchestra teacher, pulled me aside to tell me Corbin sent him a very nice email a week ago thanking him for teaching him and for believing in him. When Corbin advanced from 8th-9th grade, he was so disappointed to be placed in Philharnonic orchestra. In 2026, this is the highest orchestra a freshman is allowed to be placed in, but 4 years ago, he was hoping for Camerata after making all region and playing 1st chair all year. His buddy was given the spot and Mr J pulled Corbin into his office to deliver the news gently. I remember Corbin feeling strongly that this placement would set him back and it would be an extra year before he could play in chamber. (This theory proved to be correct). Mr J assured him that he would still progress and be a leader. 

Apparently, Corbin emailed his teacher last week to thank him for that humbling experience, and tell him he didn’t quit and is enjoying finally playing cello in Chamber Orchestra with his buddies from 8th grade again. 

Mr J said it was so complimentary and it is rare for a teacher to receive a thank you like this, especially at the beginning of the year, not the end. 

Corbin hasn’t mentioned a word about this email to me. I’m thankful for a little behind the scenes glimpse into his world. 

100s of students played the first 6 Suzuki songs together for the 6th graders to welcome them to the orchestra program. Esme’s violin teacher is a jr high teacher. She challenged Esme to learn the next Suzuki song from her book to play with the big kids. She did it! We arrived early so I could help the SBO board welcome parents abd direct students, so I just sent Sloane into the stands with friends to watch (she can play all these pieces, too, but 6th grade is supposed to be the guest regardless of skill level) and tossed little Esme into a sea of 7th grade violinists. It was a god experience for her to play with other kids. She did great! 

 

Just Serve: SHP Bunks Across America

Aaron took Esme with him to KC for the day to look at a boat, and I took Corbin, Soren, Sloane, and Bear to the annual bunks across America build for Sleep in Heavenly Peaceearly Saturday morning. Corbin worked a shift on Friday evening as well. We helped build 259 beds! 

Fillmore, Smallwood, Pezley, Johnston, Hess, Bingham, Castillo, Willardson, Fuhriman, and Ratsachack families all repped Sugar Creek Ward at SHP this weekend. 

Soren’s Birthday Party

 To celebrate his birthday, Soren asked for a sports night with pizza and drinks at Memorial park. It finally cooled off to a semi tolerable temperature, so last night I texted around 10 parents of boys Soren’s age and invited the boys to come play ultimate frisbee and nukem at the park. A few friends brought friends (there were two that Soren didn’t even know!) and 24 boys ended up at the courts to play, including a handful of buddies Corbin’s age. Soren has an old soul. For this many boys from age 12-19 to just show  up (on little notice) is so his style. He is so easy going. Soren just wants to play. That was the case for all these guys. They were all so kind and inclusive and it didn’t matter if they were a 7th grade cross country pal, a teacher’s quorum mate from church, or one of Corbin’s crodies (who brought such good hype for his little brother) who’s already graduated high school.

They just played and played. 

(L-R) Barret (a new friend of Corbin’s from ignite), Corbin, Dean S, Chase W, Marcus (Metfield Ward, Soren helped fellowship this buddy and attended his baptism a couple years ago), Neal R, Kellan W, Noah H, Dallin G, Lucas G, Tanner F, Mason F, Sawyer H, Bruce B, Soren, Tommy B, Emerson W, Trace B, Clark B, Jarom D, Titus G, Lucas A. Not pictured: Spencer O and Daniel S. 

They started with Nukem, ate pizza and cupcakes and tossed frisbees and footballs, then walked over to the basketball courts. I stayed back with all the random phones, Nikes, Invisalign retainers, and shirts/hoodies left on the bleachers, and cleaned up. 

At 9, the guys Corbin’s age left for hoops at the stake center, and the came back for a 2nd round of water and soda, then moved the party to the baseball diamond for kickball…which they hopped a fence to do. (My fave pic of the night is “Spence on the Fence”). Only one parent was semi upset about this. 16 boys playing kickball on a Saturday night until the lights shut off at 10 is so wholesome. There was a great amount of cheerleading and dog piles for days. It was such a mixed bag of kids, but with the camaraderie you’d think they’d all been best friends since birth. A great night. 

Happy Birthday King Saunch! You are loved mucho! 

Content

1) Wednesday morning I attended traffic court with Corbin. He rolled through a stop sign out on a county road and was busted by a state trooper. He had his phone in his hands. The officer didn’t attend but I’m proud of Corbin’s honest plea of “Hello sir, yes uhhh Guilty and Seeking Forgiveness??”

He got a $350 fine, enrollment in a driver safety course, and 32 community service hours. He left discouraged, but in family prayer expressed gratitude for court “going somewhat well” and then scheduled a shift at an SHP event and temple baptisms for him and Soren. 

2) I came home the other day from a dr appointment with Sloane to a bunch of furniture in the house rearranged. Corbin was not home. The crux were the teen boys napping in the basement…on the sofa from the loft. 

This kind of broke me, to be honest. I was so tired, and I’m usually ok with a prank, but this was one I had no capacity to fix or clean up. I had to take Bear to piano lessons, and asked them to put them back before I was home. The nappers went home, but shout out to Rich for staying and helping Corbin and I move the sofas back up two flights of stairs into the loft, and to Ryan for helping me move everything else back where they belong and the upside down couch right side up. At one point I was pushing a sofa arm above my head in the stairwell, and Rich goes “yo this is actually so aura” and Corbin said, “oh yeah my mom is lowkey jacked”. Feeling faint of heart, but grateful to be strong in muscle, I guess. 

3) Corbin placed third in an ignite sales pitch competition to Walmart this week. Well done Corbin! 

4) Soren is in the WJHS chamber orchestra group again this year. Mr J posted a video of them sight reading a piece yesterday. It’s easy to assume that Soren is naturally good at everything he does, but his ease comes with diligence and dedicated effort. He has a highly motivated personality and works hard to improve. 

5) I made the mistake of trying to keep up with Lisa Hill and went to a second class with her at the gym yesterday. It was not “so chill” 😂 . I also got a flu shot and a Covid vaccine afterward and felt wrecked by 10pm. I indulged in going back to bed this morning. It’s 9:30. I should get up. 

6) the Fam made a goal to restart the Book of Mormon and finish it before Ryan leaves on his mission. One of the younger kids suggested we begin in Alma and work our way back around. I don’t know why. Ryan responded with “I like it, let’s do it” and minutes later we were reading Alma chapter 1. We are currently on track and experiencing one of the more successful scripture study streaks in recent Willy history. 

7) The ducklings came over and I gave Hyrum a final fade before he was set apart Tuesday evening. I dropped of Swig drinks to him and Ammon yesterday. Zoom Home MTC hours were SO long for my girls. Hopefully a little treat gives a burst of energy. Hyrum’s mom, Kirsten gave me a thank you card last week with some of the kindest, most validating words in it. I love a hand written note. I love these guys. Corbin is absolutely in the depths of despair and his grief shows up in every aspect of his life right now, but he is managing the best ways he can. 

8) I love the affirmation in this poem by David Gate. 

There is so much love and beauty and honor in being a nurturer and homemaker. 

9) went to the cemetery with Ryan late Saturday night with flowers for Chris. (Purple and seafoam green—very Ryan core) The gate was locked. We opted to just go home and so the flowers are here in MY home and I feel all the beautiful and weighty things about that.

10) It actually rained real rain. Hallelujah. In preparation for the annual Meg energy burst (please show up soon?) / autumn home reset, I just ordered some wallpaper samples to cover a heavily damaged wall in my entryway. This will be my 2nd ever attempt with a super cheap peel and stick wallpaper. I am optimistic that the quality will better than reviews. Either way, I think a little creative refresh will feel so good. 

11) The younger kids and I read Little House in the Big Woods together and finished up this week. This is record time for a book with my crew. They are very excited about maple syrup and bear hunting. We skipped Farmer Boy and started Little House on the Prairie yesterday. I think a little field trip to the Laura Ingalls Wilder house in Missouri is in our future. I think there is a reboot of the tv series as well for winter watching. 

12) BIG congrats to cousin Preston Low for choosing to serve a mission! Back to Canada! 🍁 Love it. 

14) school pictures coming in hot! I never order them, but this pic of Soren gave me pause. I just looked through dozens of photos of him like a week ago on his birthday…how is this mug coming at me by surprise? Who is the man child in this yearbook photo?

 The kids described it as an “absolute mog to all other 8th grade photos.” What a cutie.

Trailblazers

We jumped on the trail for a Labor Day hike to blowing springs before it got too hot outside. Spoiler: every day is too hot outside. What in the eternal heatwave is happening? 

As always, we found done hearts. 

I came home to find some other trails. The children have a tendency to leave a trail of evidence showing everywhere they have been. It’s like Hansel and Gretel, but there’s no bread and no candy. 

Still a cautionary tale, I suppose, but more for mothers than children. People gave Jackson pollock a bad rap, saying “a 5 year old could have done this.” I present the argument that sons get messier with adolescence. They really lean into the whole “drip and action” expressive art movement. 

A masterpiece. 

We are calling this one, “It Wasn’t Me”  

Shaving Cream on Drywall, 2026

-artist unknown

The following installation, “Crusty Socks with Fruit Basket” is part of a still life series by Soren, better known for “Socks on Piano”,  “Socks in Backpack”, “Wet Socks Under Sofa” and the most memorable,

 “Socks in Dishwasher”. 

Socks are his most commonly used medium, and are a great inspiration to Esme’s current work in progress, “Shoes”. Neither of the artists are publicly supported for their work, and even face discouragement and  negative backlash for their nefarious launch into the art scene. Trailblazers, really. 

 

High Fitness

 There’s a weight class at the fitness center that I love to attend twice a week, but it has been booked at capacity the last few times I’ve tried to register. Today I was waitlisted, but didn’t get in, so I headed over to the track to go for a run instead. On my way there, Ashley Adams and Andrea Van Swerigen kicked their heads out of the high fitness dance class and coaxed me inside to join them.

I am so uncoordinated. But I do love to dance. Ashley Encouraged with “ Who cares what we look like?? And it’s going to be dark in here anyway today.” and Then the lights went out and the neon party lights kicked on. I guess it was glow day at high fitness.  Ashley and I got jiggy and totally killed it on the back row, not even close to keeping up with everybody else or even moving in the right direction a good percentage the time. But we went full send and died laughing at our lack of skills 💀

And Ashley was right. Nobody really cares. Everyone is just there to get a work out and have some fun. I can’t speak for how much Fitness actually happened but man I laughed so hard today. The cutie instructor, Anne, gathered everyone for a group photo at the end And Ashley and I both jumped. We cried when Anne sent the photo to us 💀. Bless Andrea and Melissa looking and being so normal when sandwiched by our chaos. 

Ashley said, “well look at that! We add so much value to this picture!” 

And that might just be my new motto for the week. 

Speaking of awkward faces and photos, I lifted with Corbin last night. I have never really bench pressed before. He started me at 75 pounds. It really pushed me, but I did a full set. I dropped to 65 pounds for the other three sets. Then I did some squats and Corbin worked abs, chest, and arms. 

Special Projects: the potato cannon

 How many dudes dies it take to change a lightbulb? 

I shall tell you. 

On Saturday, Aaron took the boys and Hyrum to get a lightbuld for the tail light that’s out on Corbin’s car. 

They came home with no lightbulb, but all the supplies to build a potato cannon. 

They made 3 more trips back to Lowe’s. 

They built the cannon. 

They used $30 hairspray from my mom’s house for fuel. 

The cannon shot a potato over our fence and intoț the woods. 

Word got out. More boys came over. 

On Sunday I smoked ribs and jalapeño sausages for family dinner and Ryan and Todd Mains, Kasey, Tiffany, Caleb, and Elder Ammon Johnson and Hyrum Johnston joined us. Corbin was extra funny that night. We had some good times and the potato cannon was used again.  

Elder Johnson had to stand far away to avoid risky behavior. 

Hyrum burned all the knuckles off his fingers. 

Potatoes were launched. 

Aaron is now drafting up modifications…and after Landan White and Riggs Bell came over on Monday for cannon play, he is insisting we do any future potato rocket activity out at Ratsachaks property. This is definitely not Bella Vista POA sanctioned.