A Day of Rest

Yet another bit of dialog that won't be forgotten. As we were on our way to my aunt's house for my grandparent's birthday gathering this evening (Happy Birthday Grandma and Grandpa! That's right, they share) Alyssa decides she wants some ice cream. Not just any ice cream. An ice cream cone from the Arctic Circle. The conversation went as follows: Alyssa: Mommy, I want an ice cream cone. Me: Sweetie, it's Sunday, we don't buy ice cream cones on Sunday. But maybe we'll have some at the party, is that ok? Alyssa: NO! I want it in a cone! Pleeeeease!!!! Me: I know you love ice cream cones Lys, but Heavenly Father and Jesus don't want us to go the store on Sunday. We'll have some when we get home. Insert a moment or two of silence while Alyssa appears to be thinking this one over. Alyssa: Mommy? Jesus said yes.

Because...

Because the camera loves her almost as much as I do.

Good-bye

I did it. Kicked it cold turkey right to the curb. It's only been a week, but that's the longest I have EVER gone without a Pepsi for at least 5 years. I don't even really miss it.

Knock On Wood

Dare I even say it? Yes, I believe I dare. Alyssa is potty trained! About three weeks ago I bought some play-dough (or "potato" as Alyssa calls it) at the store. I came home, put it on the counter and didn't say anything of it to Alyssa. Of course she found it, rather quickly, and wanted to play with it - NOW. I said something way clever, like... "you have to go on the potty before you get to play with the "potato." She looked up at me, kind like she was trying to figure out if it was going to be worth it. Off she went. Cruised in to the bathroom, dropped her drawers and did her business. Twosies proved a little more difficult. The first day was a piece of cake because she would get a bucket of play-dough beach accessories if she was successful. Day two and three... I scooped her up, told her if she did the job on the potty we would go to the store and buy her whatever she wanted. She asked for a pony. Luckily for me, she was talking My Little Pony. I bought her two of them. 1 trip to the mall. Multiple trips to grandparents and aunties. 3 restaurants. 2 Sundays at church. Several craft stores. The Target and the grocery store. A TRIP TO LOGAN OVERNIGHT!!! 21 days. 0 accidents. Good-bye diapers. Hello to the extra $40 a month. Ponies and "potatoes?" I love you.

Starting up again

I've decided to start teaching piano lessons again. I got burned out of teaching a while ago, but it's been long enough now that I'm actually excited thinking about it. I'm probably going to change up a bit of what I've done in the past, keeping it more interesting for both my students and myself. Lots of ideas running, need to get it finalized. I'm also thinking about taking lessons again myself. As we started ward choir a few weeks ago I noticed my sight reading skills have more than gone down hill, along with other things. Ug, that's disappointing. I didn't take piano lessons for 15 years to suck now. I think I'll give my mother-in-law a call. She's pretty stellar on the piano. Anywho, if you know anyone looking for a piano teacher, have them give me a call. ps I accidentally deleted this post while trying to delete the singing valentines post. Oops! So comments are gone, but I remember them and I'll be making calls.

A Little Face Lift

Remember back when I painted my bathroom? Well... I didn't stop there. Over the months we've decided to basically re-do the upstairs, minus the bedrooms.

I LOVE the backsplash. Tim did the tile all my his big boy self. And the cabinets aren't red like they are in these pics... they're brown. Totally brown. Don't know why they appear to be red here.

I also am deeply in love with my living room. It's my new happy place. This photo, my very favorite of us by the way, is blown up to 16 x 24, which I thought would be just dandy above the piano. But the wall is bigger than I thought, especially painted green. I've got to add something above it, next to/around it. Suggestions? I found these snazzy little vases at Taipan. This shelf has NEVER had anything on it in the 5 years we've lived here. Finally it can feel like a part of the house. And I love it too. Of course, since the camera was out and all... The part of our house I love the most.