My Brother, the Organist and other happenings

So, if you haven't heard this before, my little brother, Cory, is an amazing organist! I know, you're thinking, "organ, where did he come up with the organ?" But seriously, he has been taking organ lessons for the past 5 or 6 years, and has accomplished a LOT in that time! He currently studies with the organ professor at BYU-Idaho, and has been for about 4 years. He has played organ recitals all over Eastern Idaho and Utah, including playing in the Tabernacle at Temple Square! He just received a full-ride scholarship from a big foundation for "promising young artists" or something like that--and not only did he receive that, but they have paid him to play a series of recitals in Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Boise! (including paying for all trip expenses for him and my parents!) He won some big competition here in Boise last spring, and then went on to play in a bigger competition in Portland, where he got 2nd place. Recently, he won a scholarship to attend a summer music clinic at Rider University (in Princeton), which he will be doing this summer. As of right now, he's planning on majoring in Organ Performance. Isn't that amazing, and crazy!! I am glad that someone else in my family is pursuing music . . . and I don't know much about the Organ World, but his teacher and the organ community of Idaho in general seem to think he is quite the stuff! It's funny because my mom is often sending me articles about him that are in the paper, and just the other day I saw a poster about him in the BSU music dept. building! I guess it's important, whatever the details are of what he's been accomplishing!

Anyways, he did a recital here in Boise, at BSU this past weekend. It was fun to see him perform. Organ is HARD!! He does an amazing job and is really musical. Way to go, Cory! By the way, while we're still on the organ thing . . . I took organ lessons one summer (remember, Kaylin?!) And I HATED it! Anyone out there who thinks that just because you can play the piano, you can play the organ is WRONG! Organ is way more complicated, AND, you have to play with your FEET too!! I don't know how organists can split their brain that many ways, but it is pretty amazing.

So, that means the rest of the family was here, and it was conference weekend. Which means that we all say around for a LOT of hours in small quarters watching conference together! We split our time between our house and the hotel they were staying at, but it was quite amusing when we were watching conference here. This is me and the other girls--you can see by the looks on our faces how excited we were after we had been sitting around all day.
Then when I went upstairs, this is what I found! Cory and Alex had an "incident" with the yardstick and ?bike pump? so Dad had to go sit in between them to keep them quiet! Some things never change, like my little brothers being brats to each other when they're supposed to be good! :)Once Dad went up there Alex had no problem being quiet. . . (I especially like the look on Dad's face! ha ha!)
After the organ recital, we had treats at our house. The kids stayed late and we played some games--it is always really funny when we all get together. Here's most of us--the 2 missing are losers because they didn't come visit . . . (Sam & Tara)

Anyways, I'd like to point out that we are are cute bunch! :) Thanks for coming, guys, it was great!