meeting Alex

sounds of family life

Some of my very favorite days are spent at home...
catching up on laundry...
wiping down counters...
organizing the calendar...

and enjoying the sounds of family life.

Ellie was waiting for her ride.  She decided to pick up her guitar.  I just sat and listened and enjoyed every minute of it.

nine

the last day of school
the yard back in bloom
family and friends gathered for dinner and a backyard movie

lots of reasons to celebrate...
but you turning nine years old tops the list

happy birthday sweet Kate~

she came into the world

Rose Aponi

entered the world on December 29th

weighing 8 lbs 4 oz

adored by her mother Lilly, her father Paul and her big sister Sage

She has many adoring aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents too...

it's a gift

She takes after him...

she has his eyes

she is persistent

she plans ahead

she loves to work

she likes other people to count on her

she likes to help

she loves to laugh

...and she can touch her nose with her tongue. 

Overture of 1812

Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture @ Deer Valley

The cool mountain air, breathtaking vistas, energetic spectators, cuddled on our blanket eating a picnic dinner~
created an ideal atmosphere to enjoy the delightful Utah Symphony.

The concert was wonderful....

a highlight of our month...

A perfect summer night.

p.s.  Sorry Mr. Tchaikovsky.  Ellie informed me that the cannons were your least favorite portion of this overture...but we thought they were pretty great!

Halloween Masquerade

If it wasn't for the Passey's halloween party...

I would never dress up.
(Danny and I both loved thickening our tresses with wigs!)

I have never been a Halloween fan but these friends of mine are beginning to convert me.

I love not knowing what anyone is going to be wearing...and walk in on a room of surprises.

They are seriously some of the most creative people I know!

The only rule~

We had to wear masks for the masquerade...

Danny and I counted our eye patches but we should have done more :)

Some of the masks were my favorite part!

Heather and Kelly...thank you for a wonderful evening~

food, friends, and your beautiful home at Halloween is my F A V O R I T E!

(I want to wrap up your fireplaces and bring them home with me!)

xoxo

a quiet Sunday evening...

Danny was out this evening working with the missionaries from our church.  The girls and I had filled the evening with baths, a little hair trimming for Sophie and dominoes.  I needed to finish up the dishes so I asked the girls to get in their pjs and read on the couch.  Sophie grabbed some picture books.  Kate grabbed "Just Grace."  Ellie grabbed #6 in the Sister's Grimm series.  They were so quiet...and it was heaven.  The only thing that could have improved this for me---being on the couch with them,  a book in hand.

I am reading "A Dog's Purpose" through Alicia's encouragement.  I was nervous to read it.  At the end of the summer we found a new home for Charlie (our dog).  He had a miserable summer due to our busy schedules.  He was always home with a roof over his head...food, water and a dog door...and we were out...a lot.  As the summer went on he showed more and more displeasure.  We tried to increase his walks, have a scheduled play time each day and a more predictable routine for him.  He would do great if we stayed home.  Charlie loves adults and is such a great companion...but he wasn't a huge fan of younger kids...this home is filled with them on a regular basis.  We received some advice from several trainers...his personality wasn't the right fit.  :(  I know now there are different things to look for when you choose a dog for your family and we didn't go about it the right way.

The good news:  Charlie LOVES his new home.  He lives out in the country.  He is a house dog, like he was here...but the cute couple that have him now...are always home---and when they "go to town" Charlie sits between them on the front seat.  He is happy.

"and away she goes..."

"I'll tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world. I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes..."

- Susan B. Anthony 1896

We woke up early on Saturday morning for a charity 5k.  I left early...early to help set up the course.  Danny brought the girls for the starting time.  They arrived in casual clothes ready to run.  I should say...Ellie and Danny were ready to run and Kate and Sophie were excited to ride in the double wide jogger.  Kate was surprised to see a blow up house and lots of friends and people.  Ellie loved the bagels and fruit after the run...and Sophie loves any kind of party.  They all ran at least some of it while I helped stock the food table.  It was a really fun way to start our weekend.

The girls were geared up for more physical activity.  They would head outside whenever they heard any rumblings of cleaning the house.  Danny was cleaning cars outside.  The girls grabbed their bikes to ride in front of the house.  Sophie was tired of the limitations training wheels offer her.  She asked Danny to set her up on a two wheeler.  He had taken her pedals off a few weeks ago to help her scoot and balance.  She decided she was ready.  The pedals were on and SHE DID IT!  She taught herself to ride her bike.  She was SO HAPPY and we were all (even her sisters) cheering her on!

sunsetting on our summer

 kate, felicity and sophie

felicity and kate

Summer is fading fast.  

It is already so much cooler in the mornings and evenings.

We decided to squeeze out a bit more of our summer by eating dinner poolside last night with friends.

The water was so cold (73 degrees...brrr) due to a broken boiler---

that the playground, with the last bit of sun left in the evening sky,

was sought out much more than usual.

As I sat visiting across the other side of the pool I noticed the long shadows created on the playground wall by the setting sun.
Is there anything better than children hard at play!?

We are grateful for this three day weekend.

We have been working on several projects that have been on the "to do list" longer than we would like.

We are excited (by that I mean that I am excited and Danny is a long for the ride) about some rearranging of rooms and bedrooms to get a better set up for the girls.

The girls are excited about the playroom we are bringing back!

We hope to fill our evening with visits to grandparents...and even great grandma's home...tonight.

Amidst all of the "labor" going on around here---

we hope to capture as much of the joy of childhood as we can.
Happy Labor Day!

(The color was harsh when I took these with the dark shadows and light of the setting sun-
so I switched to the bw setting of our fujix100 and i liked the result so much better.
Other than minimal cropping on the bottom image these are SOOC- straight out of the camera)

a snapshot

a snapshot of the first moment you met our sweet Kate...

and the last picture we took of you.

i can't believe it has been seven years.

we miss you.

reading together

Sophie was sitting in the hallway.  She sat in front of their bedroom door...trying to get her message to them through the small gap under the door.  "Kate...I want to tell you something."  She repeated over...and over...and over again.  Her pleas were ignored and she kept persisting.

We have two of our bedrooms set aside for the girls right now.  Ellie and Sophie take turns sharing with Kate (she hasn't wanted her own room).  Having three girls---we have to be diligent in encouraging togetherness and avoiding the two against one scenario.

I waited, hoping that the two older sisters would come around and listen to the little sister pleading at their door.  They all continued.  I walked down the hall and invited them to head to Sophie's bed to read.  "If you aren't going to be nice---then you will stay together until...blah,blah,blah" I insisted.  They picked a stack of books.  They read...and read...and read.  They laughed, giggled and cuddled.  Although they were initially less than enthused as they were sent in together...they didn't want it to end when I called them for prayers.

There is a special magic in reading a book aloud to another person.  Especially to those you love.  I can't think of a better way to end a day.  They may not realize it now---but they are so blessed to have each other.  Danny and I are blessed to be a part of who they are together. 

happy...happy...birthday!

He flew in the night before.  He had been gone for nine days!!!!!!  We missed him and were so glad to have the day to celebrate his birthday.  All he wanted was to stay home THE ENTIRE DAY.  He wanted to work in our yard and in the house.  (Not many other people who genuinely want to work for their birthday!)  I bought plants for flower beds and our garden in preparation.  We also bought an ice cream cake!  We worked and worked and played.  We filled the tires on the bikes and hit the road again.  It was a delightful day...and I am really glad he just wanted to be here.

Happy birthday Love!!!!!!

xoxoxo

a violin recital

Sophie had her first recital.

She was not nervous in the least little bit.

She stood up as if no one else was in the room.

She loved every minute of it.

We love Mrs. Grover.

The patience she exhibits---

and the way she motivates them for learning inspires me!

(Just look at those four in the front...Ethan, Isaac, Sophie and Lucy...they are all is Sophie's group!)

a celebration...

We had been waiting to celebrate together~

a celebration filled with family and friends...

laughter

love

hot chocolate & hot apple cider

donuts

ice skating

long nights chatting

a visit that ended too quickly for us~

We are so happy they are Mr. & Mrs. Davis!

"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

say say oh playmate...

"Sophie did you know that Halloween isn't real!?"

The girls are apart now for the majority of the day.  They are all three at different schools, Sophie just in preschool.  There were play dates and music lessons that separated them longer today.  By 5:45 we were all under one roof---even Danny!

Once together---there were games of make believe-

• Ellie and Kate making secret potions with ashes from the firepit, twigs and branches.
• Kate telling Sophie "Halloween isn't real."  (If only that was true...hehe!)
• Sophie was the dance teacher and Kate and Ellie followed her performance.

They mixed in a little toy trading, swinging, and wagon riding/pulling too.  We finished the day off with a little Nancy Drew and "The Hidden Staircase" while huddled on the couch.  I wonder what the next few days will bring.  We have several days off for Fall Break!  I can't wait!  I hope I remember to take pictures along the way.  I have been terrible!

1st day of preschool

 
After signing you up for 3 different preschools and even canceling this preschool and then signing you up again---
(what is wrong with me!?)

you made it!!!!!!

You are an official preschooler!!!!!!

What I want to remember about this day...

You were so excited to get ready and chose the polka dot leggings all by yourself.

When your teacher instructed the class to trace the letters of their name.
You asked the teacher to do yours for you.
Your friend Sarah sweetly offered to do it instead.  :)

You asked me on our way how long I would stay with you...and I almost told you I would stay the whole time
(I really wanted to stay...and I secretly hoped you would hold my hand and never let go).
You were such a big girl and went in excited to start.
As soon as you came out---
you ran to me and gave me a big hug.
We were so happy!

You put your sandals on all by yourself when it was time to come home.
You put them on the least comfortable way,
some might say "the wrong feet."  :)

Your favorite part of preschool was getting to paint your hands for a project.
The first thing you said to me, "Mom, I painted my hands.  Is it ok?"
I found out later that you questioned the teacher, letting her know that your mom wouldn't like you to paint your hands.
My heart melted when she told me.

Ellie, Charlie and I walked you home.  You wanted to hold the leash.
You chose to wear a pin on your dress that Ellie made.  She felt so proud.

After I asked you your favorite part of the day...I asked who you talked to.
"Some of the girls." you responded quickly.
"What about the boys?" I questioned.
"Daddy says not to talk to boys."
His heart melted.

goodbye summer

This summer has taught me so much.  It was a summer of reorganization...literally and also mentally and spiritually.  In the literal sense, we redid the flooring in our home.  That project drew within it new trim, doors and paint.  Most of our belongings were packed and we were all displaced within our home for most of the summer. 

I am not drawn to chaos.  So to be living in chaos for these past few months was quite a challenge.  It is amazing how much we packed up that I didn't miss at all.  In fact, there were many boxes that once unpacked I realized I hadn't thought about or needed their contents once through out the summer.  How much of what I have around me is really unnecessary?

Although I will miss the warm summer days and fun at the pool, I am looking forward to September.  I am anxious for schedules and organization.  I am enjoying the process of finding a home for each object I unpack...and the reevaluation process to decide if we really want to keep it.  The summer has inspired the desire to simplify, organize and put in order my home, my schedule and our lives.  Goodbye summer...thank you for what you have taught me :)

CREATE!

In May I had the wonderful opportunity to attend Shannon Sewell's workshop!  She is amazingly creative.  (See here and here and here and here.  I could go on and on!)  I left so inspired to stretch myself to do more.  Make more plans and organize any artistic ideas that I might run into!  Thank you Shannon!  You are wonderful!  Shauna...you were a wonderful hostess!  Thank you for making this happen!