The Christmas Card that never was

This past Christmas was a bit crazy. We took some pictures mid-December with every intention of sending out Christmas cards, but unfortunately never got to it. So here is the picture that would have been sent out.

Lansdowne Lightning 2010



Matthew & Christopher wanted to do our community's swim team this summer. They have wanted to do it in past years, but baseball and swim overlap for about a month. We have not wanted to juggle two sports, so we've always said, "No." However, we learned a little bit more about the swim team and found out that it isn't required to be at every practice in order to swim at the meets. So we signed the boys up and decided we would swim what we could until baseball was over.


Can I just say, I am one PROUD Mother! Words can not describe, how proud I am of my boys! Their 1st practice we were hoping the boys could swim their requirement to be on the swim team which for Christopher was one length of the pool and for Matthew 2 lengths. Well, at the first practice they spent one hour swimming the length of the pool back and forth over and over again for the entire hour. Needless to say when practice was over the boys were exhausted and not so sure about being on the swim team. I made them go back the following day and they have been hooked on swimming ever since.
They have swim practice every day for an hour Monday -Friday with meets on Wednesday and Saturday. They are making and building some good friendships with other swimmers who attend their schools. Their swimming is getting better and better. So far they have participated in two meets and time trials. At each of their meets they are shaving time off of their strokes. I couldn't be more proud of them!


I think they look adorable in their swim trunks.

Cluster Concert Performance

Wednesday, March 24th Matthew participated in a Cluster Concert performance with his Elementary Chorus group. I dropped him off at Stone Bridge High School at 4:00pm. He met up with his chorus group and they did a rehearsal of their song that they would be performing later that night. Then they went on to rehearse a group song in which they would perform with all of the schools participating in the cluster. The Cluster included our High School, Middle School & three Elementary schools. From the Elementary schools you had the Chorus groups performing which consists of 4th and 5th graders. (Matthew actually goes to school at 7am every Thursday morning and practices before school with his Chorus group.) The middle and High school had their Chorus groups participating along with Band, Strings and Guitar. After rehearsing they feed the kids pizza in the cafeteria.

The concert began at 6:45pm. The performance was held in the Gymnasium of the High school. The gym was jam packed with performers and the audience. The concert was AMAZING! We enjoyed listening to all of the groups perform a variety of pieces. It was actually really neat to watch the string group from the middle school. Matthew chose to play the violin next year. Matthew and I are both looking forward to him learning to play the Violin.


(Matthew's Chorus group is in the top picture, far left. Matthew is up about three or four rows and is sitting in the middle.)

(My close ups of Matthew are on my other camera, I'll loaded them and add them later.)

After the performance we went out for Ice Cream. While we were eating our ice cream cones, I asked Matthew what he thought about all of the performances. I specifically wanted to make sure he was still happy he chose the violin to learn next year. (When we went to our orientation at the middle school to choose an instrument to play for next year. The band teacher talked about choosing an instrument in which you like the sound it makes. The reason being if you like the sound it makes then you are more likely to practice playing the instrument.) Well, Matthew responded to the question saying, "Yes, the violin is still my favorite instrument. However, Mom, I almost fell asleep during their performance." To which I responded that's not good. You can't be falling asleep during your class next year. Matthew responded with, "Oh, Mom it will be different when I am playing the instrument." It was a cute and funny conversation. Matthew loves classical music! He listens to it every night as he is going to sleep.

Cub Scouts

I officially have two in CUB SCOUTS! Wow!

Matthew is just finishing up his cub scouts as a Webelos. He will move out of Cub Scouts in April. Christopher is just beginning in the Cub Scout program as a Wolf. Christopher has looked forward to his 1st den meeting for months if not years. He is especially excited to finally race a car in the pinewood derby race this Saturday.



You know Christopher has a lot of determination! His determination has gotten him where he is today which is a good thing. Well, Ryan bought him his Cub Scout Wolf book and gave it to him during the Winter break. Christopher was so excited to have it! After his birthday he wanted to work on it every waking moment. Well, needless to say he has almost completed the requirements to earn his wolf badge.

I cannot believe this kid! He has such a passion for all he does!

Start your Engines!

The boys love their race cars!

They love to race them around the dining table.

Under the chairs is the pit stop.

MAX Loves Snow

Max has LOVED playing in the SNOW! He can play in the snow for hours running and jumping and chasing the snowflakes. It's been fun to watch him!

Christopher's Baptism

CHRISTOPHER was BAPTIZED on

January 2nd in the

Goose Creek Chapel in Leesburg, Va.

Christopher asked Matthew several months before his baptism to give a talk on Baptism. Matthew did a power point presentation. He did a FANTASTIC job! Several people commented on what a great job he did and how wonderful it was to have Chris' brother speak. I must say I was a proud mommy! (The things these kids are learning in school now days is amazing.)

I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Christopher's 1st choice was Grandma, but in the end I ended up giving the talk. I also think in the end Christopher was happy since I related the Holy Ghost to a football game. I even brought all of his football jersey's to use in my talk which were a surprise to Christopher. Christopher LOVED it!

Grandma & Grandpa Marcusen flew out for the baptism. We had a good turn out for the baptism by our ward family/friends. After the baptism we ate YUMMY cinnamon & orange rolls in the gym which were requested by Christopher.



Doesn't Christopher look HANDSOME?

I love capturing a picture of my children right after their baptism. They always have a sweet glow about them.