2010 Piano Recital

I love my students! And I love the opportunity they give me to teach something that brings so much joy into my life! (l. to r. - back row: Bruce & Lovely Tukuafu, Tabatha & Ryan Luker, me; middle row: Alec & Keaton Woodruff, Gavin Tobin, Samuel Ericksen; front row: Maddie Walk, Brandon Bargeron, Tanner Woodruff, Ashlyn Otis, Halle)
I was so proud of Halle's performance this year. She did an incredible job! She played two songs, "Spinning Song" by Ellmenreich and "Sleeping Beauty" by Tchaikovsky. She memorized "Spinning Song" and most of "Sleeping Beauty" but at the last second chose to use her music for the latter. What made me beam with pride was the fact that even though she struggled with the Tchaikovsky piece and it was obviously difficult, even bringing her to tears, she didn't give up and continued playing. She was brave in the face of self-doubt and overcame. I wanted to stand up and shout, "That's my girl!"

Is there a level on the I.Q. test called "Kmart Smart"?

Tonight Carson said something brilliant (naturally) and I mentioned how smart I think he is.

His reply?

"Yep. I'm Kmart Smart."

Wha--???

His continuation answered my confusion:

"I'm so smart I saw that on T.V."

pretty sweet set-up

Sunday Carson wanted to watch a movie but of course a major golf championship was taking place on TV, so he and daddy compromised. He felt pretty cool with his own "table" and "TV"!

fun to do lunch, especially with dear friends!

To make my birthday EXTRA special, fate graced me with a visit from my dear AZ pal, Amanda. She is up for her sister's wedding and was kind enough to make time for lunch with our kids. It was a blast to enjoy a Rumbi salad then watch the kids romp through the Liberty Park at high play. (See the hat? Unfortunately with my new goal to exercise every day, the hat has become a permanent fashion accessory...)
Wyatt and Megan twirling round and round...

Halle and Taylor, the little monkeys!

My sweet buddy Emily - check out that grin! Lest you think I had anything to do with that, that adorable smile only came on because her favorite mommy was behind the camera making silly sounds!

Saying their goodbyes with hugs!

Now we'll have to plan a trip to San Diego to visit them in their new house...

And there's Carson, who played on the slide pretty much the entire time we were there.

let's get this POTTY started!

Carson [so far] has been our easiest potty-trainer. In a word he has been AWESOME! He's wanted to try for a while and out of laziness I have been putting it off. But it's been very successful and we're super-proud of him! I did it the same method I did the other two (Potty-Training In a Day), where you pump drink after drink into them basically watching TV, movies, and playing games all day, sitting on the potty every 20 minutes or so. Within the first two "sittings" he seemed to have nailed it and after that point was good to tell me when he had to "go". Sure he's had a couple accidents but only like one or two a week, and now it's even less than that. Way to go, Buddy!

So excited about his WONDER PETS underwear!
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Hanging out on the blanket until it's time to try again...
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When he had completed his sticker chart,
he'd earned his reward for being such a big boy:
a Scooter!

RAM IT.

We are so excited to announce the newest member of our little family:

our [new-to-us] white Dodge Ram.

We are thrilled to have this truck! The only drawback is it can't be parked in the garage, but it's a small price to pay to be blessed with something this beautiful.

Hopefully in a couple years we can show pictures of it hauling a trailer???

I need to get HIRED...

A while back I was craving, BADLY BADLY CRAVING, food from Hires Big H. So I finally stopped fighting it and at the end of April gave in, taking the boys there for lunch. I love their hamburger buns! So soft and fluffy! And my favorite thing to eat there is their Hires Veggie Burger with a tall frosty glass of Root Beer. I was even a good girl and didn't order onion rings for myself.

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F.H.E. brought to you by: WYATT

A few weeks ago Wyatt asked if he could present

the Family Home Evening Lesson.

So with some preparation, he delivered a great lesson

on the symbolism of the Sacrament.

Carson couldn't be left out, so he led the music while we sang
Wyatt and I worked together and wrote down his lesson.
Here he is reading it--we were so proud of him!
He did a fabulous job and was so adorable when he'd ask questions.
In that patronizing, "Can anyone tell me...?"
and if you knew the answer,
"Thaaaaaat's right! Good job, Daddy!"

pockets & popsicle sticks: the solution to all my parenting woes???

This was yesterday's project: Behavior Pockets.

I made it in an attempt to curb the yelling, sassing, whining, and negativity that has been present in our home a little too much lately. Anytime the kids are demonstrating poor behavior, their stick gets moved to a pocket to the right. If they get to a red pocket, they begin to lose privileges. If the kids can go two weeks without getting two reds, we do a family activity, such as getting ice cream or going for a family bike ride, etc.

So far it seems to be working. If nothing else it gives me something to fall back on rather than resorting to red-faced high volume or threats of eminent death. ;)

And a big shout out to my pal, Margaret, for letting me borrow HER idea in the first place and helping me with the details!

BLESSED. (turn off my music on the right)

I want to order this gentleman's DVD and show it to my young women.

And my kids. And my husband.

And pretty much anyone else who will watch it with me.