A long distance phone call...

from GERMANY! I was so excited today when the phone rang, and the caller id read, "International Caller". Email is great, but there's just something infinitely better about being able to hear someone's voice and have a two-sided conversation. Thank you mom & dad for calling...it totally made my day! (Renee was all smiles after getting a chance to talk to Grandma as well. Too bad Reed and Rose were gone. Maybe next time!)

Tag...

The Alphabet Meme

A is for age: 35

B is for burger of choice: plain...without a bun.

C is for the car I drive: a gold Chrysler Town and Country. Not the coolest, but sure is convenient for my 7:00 am carpool!

D is for your dog’s name: a yellow lab named Denver is on the waiting list...I can only handle one pet at a time and Gus the cat will probably live forever!

E is for essential item you use every day: the phone.

F is for favorite TV show at the moment: I don't have one that I follow religiously. I'd much rather read or clean.

G is for favorite game: Pegs and Jokers with my sisters-in-law, or Attack Uno with my kids, or Mexican Train dominoes with my family. I love games...but rarely have anyone to play them with.

H is for home state: Utah

I is for instruments you play: Piano.

J is for favorite juice: I'm really not a fan of juice.

K is for whose bum you’d like to kick: I seriously can't think of anyone.

L is for last restaurant at which you ate: Bryan took me to Denny's for breakfast yesterday...a rare novelty.

M is for your favorite Muppet: I don't know the names of the Muppets...but I did always find the two that sat in the theater box funny!

N is for number of piercings: Two - one in each ear.

O is for overnight hospital stays: A total of four times, three for new babies and one with Rose. Maybe it's 5...I did have to stay with Bryan in the ER for several hours beginning at 2:30 am until about 7:00 am once. Does that count as an overnight?

P is for people you were with today: Just my little family so far.

Q is for what you do with your quiet time: Read.

R is for biggest regret: I suppose that if I could go back and do something different, I'd not be so worried about what other people thought...then I might have enjoyed life and been more confident, which might have led to other choices. But then I wouldn't be who I am today, so really...no regrets!

S is for status: Tired!

T is for time you woke up today: 6:36 a.m.

U is for what you consider unique about yourself: The fact that I enjoy cleaning? I don't think I'm all that unique.

V is for vegetable you love: carrots.

W is for worst habit: spending money.

X is for x-rays you’ve had: other than routine dental ones, I've had one for my hand and one for my ankle.

Y is for yummy food you ate today: A no-bake cookie. Reed deserved a treat today for surviving his first week of middle school...so I got up early to make his favorite!

Z is for zodiac: Taurus.

Feel free to play...especially my awesome sisters!

Boys Weekend!

Bryan and Reed went down south for the weekend! They had hoped to do the subway hike but weren't fast enough to get permits. They did the narrows hike on Friday and Angel's Landing and the narrows again on Saturday. Reed was a trooper, didn't lag behind and wasn't afraid of the 900/1200 foot drop offs. He hiked in water and up steep trails. I am so impressed! Of course, the highlight of the weekend was getting to fly home in Uncle Tracy's airplane!

Just for Mom...Sorry I haven't done much blogging!

I should post more often, but life here has been so busy! I have 31 piano students on my schedule this year and have been busy making LOTS of copies for student binders, assigning recital groups so that I could hand out duets, reading a book on piano pedagogy, doing a lot of internet searches (I found a trophy company that still offers free engraving and will ship orders of $100 for free), thinking of fun ideas for theory and ear training activities and moving all of my files and books to the filing cabinet Bryan got for me. Lessons started this week and I've had to do a lot of talking...I think I've got chronic dry mouth! So far so good, the students seem pleased with the changes I've made for this year and I'm hoping that I'll see some great results at the (costume) recital this October. I've been giving some thought to trying to become a certified teacher through MTNA. The requirements look intimidating, but I may have time next year with Renee in kindergarten, to actually do all of the studying they suggest. What are your thoughts?

We Did It!!!

Last night, we sampled the first fruits (vegetables) of our labors in the garden. The cucumber was perfect and the green beans were divine! Even Rose, who doesn't eat anything said the beans were yummy. I can't recall ever having eaten fresh green beans...we were a Del Monte kind of family growing up. Seriously, it was a "treat" to have French-style green beans instead of "cut" ones. I was SO deprived! (Sorry Mom!) I am excited to see how the rest of the growing season goes, and am already planning for next year. (I've got to remember to plant peas early!)

Our sweet Rose!

How fast the time goes! Rose is now 11...has been since Wednesday. She is such a wonderful part of our family. We love you so much! Stay sweet!

Our Weekend

We had a busy weekend. Bryan and I started off at a BBQ/Pool party with some friends on Friday night. Can you believe the view?



Then it was a company party at the Hogle zoo on Saturday. Not a super exciting event for Reed & Rose, but Renee didn't want to leave. She had her arm painted (instead of her face) and loved looking at all of the animals...her favorites were the giraffes and the baby orangatan.



We finished up our Saturday with a visit to the "This is the Place Heritage Park". Bryan and the kids had never been there and I haven't been since I was a little girl. Renee loved the pony ride. Bryan loved the old buildings, but had a little trouble at school.






Rose & Renee put on a puppet show inside the Madsen Furniture Company.



This home belonged to my ancestor...Milo Andrus.



I found it ironic that there was an old piano on the first floor. I would have to guess that musical talent has been in the family for a long time!



It was great to spend so much time together as a family! We walked a lot, got a lot of sun, came home tired and slept really well!

Looking for a dentist!

Let me begin by saying that Bryan generally believes all dentists to be dishonest. (I think he feels the same way about doctors...he's very distrusting.) Anyway, he had a routine appointment yesterday that turned in to a confrontation when Bryan wouldn't accept the dentist's course of treatment (expensive and not covered by insurance) without receiving a second opinion first. Apparently it got pretty heated and Bryan ended up leaving. Up until recently, we've really liked this dentist, but lately he wants to do A LOT of dental work. Bryan and I both have relatively good teeth...I had my very first filling last year, and Bryan has had only one filling. I don't think asking to get a second opinion is such a big deal, but this dentist was mad! (Kind of makes you wonder why...afterall, if he is confident in his assessment, another dentist would concur. Right?) Needless to say, neither of us is comfortable going back so I'm now in the market for a good, seemingly honest dentist. Any suggestions?