playing hooky...

waiting for the next storm
(I am kind of excited...what has gotten into me!??)

waiting for friends from out of state...

WY, CA & AZ!!!!!

excited for family coming to visit too from VA!!!!

I am so excited for our upcoming days off...

why not take an extra one??  :)

The girls were easy to convince!

Happy day!

a lil' date night

Ellie and I went on a date night Saturday...

we invited a Nana, and 2 of Ellie's aunts, and a good friend to join us...

Have you heard of The Lower Lights??

Do you love them as much as we do?

It was a wonderful show...

It inspired me to tune my guitar this morning...

and to keep my girls practicing their instruments...

 they are so glad...hehehe :)

Happy Monday!!!!!!!!!!

"say it in music"

"If a composer could say what he had to say in words, He would not bother trying to say it in music."
Gustav Mahler

Ellie switched instruments this fall.

She has been playing guitar since kindergarten.

She decided that she wanted to try piano...

while still picking up her guitar occasionally.

She has loved it.

She loves her instructor and she is learning so much.

Although she has been playing less than two months, she prepared for the upcoming recital.

I was inspired by all of the students.

They played beautifully and showed such grace under pressure.

What inspired me most---

was my eight year old daughter...

preparing with enthusiasm and excitement.

She played as if there was no one in the room~

in fact, I think she might be happiest at the piano with an audience.

Bluebird on My Shoulder by Faber

Old Cotton Picker-Folk Song

the best friends in the world...

I have the best friends in the world.

I am not sure what I have ever done to deserve it.

This month I had friends....

• who stopped everything they were doing to help me
• who picked up the capes that I was making for a party to put letters on them
• friends who need to visit (from out of state) so we can go to Chipotle and Zinn Bistro :)
• who called, knowing I had a busy day, to see if Sophie could play
• who made GORGEOUS accessories for our outfits for pictures
• who made me laugh as we sat at dinner to celebrate a new baby for a friend
• who takes my pictures every fall for my holiday ornaments/cards
• who, at a moments notice, made time to take my pictures because of the storm wrecking my plans
• who know me and just listen
• who are coming from out of state for Thanksgiving!!!!!!!
• who call me when they need something, or are having a bad day...
• or just need to talk and cry.

I am SO grateful for these friends...

I count them among my greatest treasures.

Oh...how I treasure us.

Thank you Shauna for the pictures...I LOVE THEM!
 Thank you for thinking of this chair.
It was perfect!

You were a lifesaver today!!!!!

a better world~

Two beautiful daughters...a beautiful family.

They are wonderful friends...

who inspire me with their courage, optimism and love.

They fight everyday to make this a better world.

You can read more about them here...and here.

as the weather changes

This fall has been absolutely wonderful!!!!!!!

We are in the second week of November and we are now feeling a chill.

It has been so warm before this week.

To make the snow and cold weather more enjoyable we have done a few things that make it more fun:

• sweater shopping!!!!!!!!!!
• beef stroganoff at Zinn Bistro (oh my word...I can't even describe it!!!!!!!!)
• homemade tomato soup with grilled cheese on sourdough
• throw a few snow balls (that would be Sophie throwing them at me)
• reading new books on the couch
• practice Christmas music on the piano
• pot of beans with corn bread

We will miss the summer (we may or may not have driven out of our way to pass the pool today)----

but will do what we can to appreciate the colder weather.

not long enough

My little sister was here for a few days.

We had so much fun...it wasn't long enough.

My girls asked about her when they returned home from school.

Sophie talked about "Annie, trips and airplanes" all afternoon.

We even played the "hand slap" game she taught Sophie.

I learn so much from her whenever we are together---

and miss her when we are apart.

Love you Annie!

uggggggg....

TCU 47, UTAH 7

I think it was my least favorite game that I have attended.

The (pathetic) score doesn't even do it justice.

The fans (of which I am one of) were obnoxious.

Our team looked lost.
The poor friends we invited that had to sit through the whole thing!

The highlight was the military on the field who were honored that day.

fancy and four

"What should I write about Sophie's birthday?"  I asked your dad.  

"That she couldn't be any cuter if she tried!" he replied (adoringly).

We had such a fun day with you!

It began with your birthday breakfast.  

You chose:  cinnamon rolls (I added scrambled eggs and fresh fruit)

We opened presents:  a Fancy Nancy doll with her dog Frenchy from your dad and I & a FurReal kitty from your sisters

We went to your violin lesson...and it was so much fun!

Your teacher said you were ready to buy your real violin!!!!  

(You have been using a little box!)

We drove straight to the music store.

It is SO cute and tiny!

We grabbed a quick lunch (you wanted Nielsen's).

Then doughnuts for a treat to share at preschool.

Miss Brittany (your sweet teacher) gave you a 4 beautiful balloons with a bag of gumballs.

It made your day!

You wanted homemade macaroni and cheese for your dinner.

You put on an apron and took all of our orders. :)

(blowing kisses - your idea)

You are precious in every way.

You make us SO HAPPY!

I am honestly a little bit crushed when I think of my baby being four years old...

and then I see your face and the delight you feel as you learn and grown....

and I feel joy.

Thank you Mike and Annie for the beautiful necklace~  she felt extra fancy!

a Sunday walk

 left to right:  Madeline (doll), Kate, Ellie, me (camera), Sophie (in a stroller), Charlie (doggy) and Danny

It was GORGEOUS weather...

after a long, busy weekend...

a perfect day for a walk!

What beautiful views...

and so close to home.
We need to do this more often!