Those that really know me know that I have a passion for music. I've been singing & doing solo performances since I was very young, but unfortunately don't get those kinds of opportunities very much since high school ended :( I would love if I could find more ways to add music to my life & especially to my business . . . ideas anyone?
Anyway, Jon Schmidt is one of my personal favorites to listen to. He is an exceptional pianist & I love the stuff he has composed. I just saw this video from him & had to share it. Hope you love it, too!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Trip to Gold Canyon Convention!
We recently returned from a trip to Arizona . . . yes, to visit family, but in reality, we plan the whole trip around the Gold Canyon Convention . . . its something we do every year & really enjoy! For more of our convention trip adventures, you can visit my other blog: gottahavecandles.blogspot.com And stay tuned to this blog for more details from our great vacation with our family!
One of the highlights of Convention is getting to spend time with the team members who are able to travel to Phoenix. This year, we had 9 of us from our team of nearly 200 who were able to make the trip & it was so much fun to get to spend time together laughing, crying, learning, inspiring & sharing with each other. My camera shy husband attended convention with us as well and opted to be the official photographer, so we could get some good shots of the whole team together. Here's a couple of my favorites:
Thanks, Ladies, it was a blast hanging out with you this year!
One of the highlights of Convention is getting to spend time with the team members who are able to travel to Phoenix. This year, we had 9 of us from our team of nearly 200 who were able to make the trip & it was so much fun to get to spend time together laughing, crying, learning, inspiring & sharing with each other. My camera shy husband attended convention with us as well and opted to be the official photographer, so we could get some good shots of the whole team together. Here's a couple of my favorites:
Thanks, Ladies, it was a blast hanging out with you this year!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Harvest Time
We only have a small outdoor space, a courtyard, really, with areas for planting on the sides. We're also limited in our gardening due to HOA restrictions that say "no vegetable gardens" allowed. But, we have managed to do a little something & here's just a sample. The squirrels are finally leaving our blackberries alone (they stole all the ripe ones at the first of the season). Our Rosemary is growing strong as usual & there's plenty there if anyone wants to stop by & get some. The Basil isn't doing as well as it has in past years, but its getting there & we look forward to cooking with it!
Yes, that largest blackberry is as big as a quarter . . .
that's the largest one we've ever grown!
that's the largest one we've ever grown!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Teaching Times
I'm having a lot of fun and feel like I'm getting back into the teaching world a little bit. For teaching Chase animal sounds, I printed out pictures of animals from the internet, Jeff colored them, and then I laminated them. We have them hanging on his wall and will pull them down to go over the different sounds once a day or so.
The next project was shapes & colors. That was much easier, since I just created those in Word (including the color) and printed them out, then laminated them. In hindsight, I probably should have printed on colored cardstock instead of using up my colored ink; oh well!
The next project was shapes & colors. That was much easier, since I just created those in Word (including the color) and printed them out, then laminated them. In hindsight, I probably should have printed on colored cardstock instead of using up my colored ink; oh well!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
A New Sense of Order
The parenting columns for Chase's age started talking about teaching your kid how to clean up their own toys a couple of months ago. I tried, but all he would do is grab stuff and spread it around more or throw it around the room. I was so frustrated & figured that I just didn't know what I was doing!
Then, suddenly, he just "got it"! Without me even working with him, Chase started to show a sense of order in things. He still likes to play with the empty macaroni & cheese box & tear the top into pieces, but now he puts the pieces inside what's left of the box, dumps it out & puts it all back in over and over again. He's one of the best helpers at Gymboree class for putting the balls back in the basket to be put away. He loves to hand me his clean clothes, one at a time, to be folded & put in his dresser drawers. To encourage him, I sometimes hand him trash & let him put it in the garbage can and yesterday, while I was washing doors (preparing to put our house up for sale), I let him "help".
Its so much fun & I guess I really shouldn't stress about stuff like that so much. Seems like there are just certain things that come naturally and in their own time.
Then, suddenly, he just "got it"! Without me even working with him, Chase started to show a sense of order in things. He still likes to play with the empty macaroni & cheese box & tear the top into pieces, but now he puts the pieces inside what's left of the box, dumps it out & puts it all back in over and over again. He's one of the best helpers at Gymboree class for putting the balls back in the basket to be put away. He loves to hand me his clean clothes, one at a time, to be folded & put in his dresser drawers. To encourage him, I sometimes hand him trash & let him put it in the garbage can and yesterday, while I was washing doors (preparing to put our house up for sale), I let him "help".
Its so much fun & I guess I really shouldn't stress about stuff like that so much. Seems like there are just certain things that come naturally and in their own time.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Head Over Hills for Pink!
The buying of "pink" started a couple of weeks ago after the first sonogram, with just that 60% chance of a girl. Just 2 pink outfits to start with that I figured could always be given away as gifts if we didn't end up with a girl.
A follow up sonogram yesterday confirmed that the chance of a girl is a pretty sure thing. We got a great view (several times) that showed no "boy parts" -- so we're counting on that girl now, even though there's always a chance that we missed something.
That being said, I am not going to be one of those mom's who refuses to buy pink. I've never understood that, though I've heard a lot of it over the years. I've definitely seen cute things in other colors, but we'll be having a lot of pink in this house. I don't know; I guess I kind of look at it as a way of celebrating girliness! And after waiting so long to get our kids, I am celebrating all that I can! We did tons of blue with Chase & will do tons of pink with our little girl to come!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Time to Think
I have been so exhausted with this pregnancy that I typically don't wake up until Chase wakes up - around 8am and then I also need a nap at his naptime. It doesn't leave much quiet time for me during the day! Chase is great & can entertain himself quite a bit, but there's always the sound of his feet running around & his loud voice babbling on & on. I love hearing him, but I've felt a lot like my head is just always clouded up.
I am currently reading a series called The Kingdom and the Crown by Gerald Lund. It is a historical fiction trilogy that takes place at the time that Jesus Christ lived on the Earth. It is so fascinating & touching and I am really learning a lot from it. In the 2nd book, there's a quote from one of the characters that reads: "I want to have time to think. I want to lay on my back and stare up at the clouds and ponder what Jesus is asking of us, of me." I was so touched by that comment and knew that I was definitely missing that in my life.
So, the quest begins to find that "time to think". Now that I have a bit more energy in this 2nd trimester, I've started waking up earlier (most days). And Jeff takes Chase out for a walk or to Gymboree a couple of evenings a week. Its amazing what happens on the days that I get that time to myself to think & work on projects. Not only do I get a TON accomplished, but my head just feels so clear and that feeling of a clear head has just made all the difference in the past few weeks!
I am currently reading a series called The Kingdom and the Crown by Gerald Lund. It is a historical fiction trilogy that takes place at the time that Jesus Christ lived on the Earth. It is so fascinating & touching and I am really learning a lot from it. In the 2nd book, there's a quote from one of the characters that reads: "I want to have time to think. I want to lay on my back and stare up at the clouds and ponder what Jesus is asking of us, of me." I was so touched by that comment and knew that I was definitely missing that in my life.
So, the quest begins to find that "time to think". Now that I have a bit more energy in this 2nd trimester, I've started waking up earlier (most days). And Jeff takes Chase out for a walk or to Gymboree a couple of evenings a week. Its amazing what happens on the days that I get that time to myself to think & work on projects. Not only do I get a TON accomplished, but my head just feels so clear and that feeling of a clear head has just made all the difference in the past few weeks!
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