{The Spew}

This week was another busy one here in Vegas!  The weather is cooling down though - which makes running errands with the boys so much easier!  It's always a plus when you don't feel like you're melting, am I right?

Mike's work was a little crazier than usual - so between lessons, church and social events, and finding time to run errands or exercise it felt a little like we were tagging each other out; almost like co-workers on opposite shifts! 

At the end of one very long day we were catching up with events - I had just poured myself a big glass of lemonade and Mike was drinking a chocolate shake.  As we were trying to talk, Calvin was running between the two of us - grunting to get our attention with his little outstretched hand - mooching off our drinks.  Finally one of us would get tired of sharing, and so, like the little parasite that he is, he would go to the other parent and repeat his incessant begging.  Kind of like a fly that won't go away at a picnic (*disclaimer* I love my son, but I don't love his backwash).  

Mike had just sent him my way when his foot caught on his blanket he had haphazardly left in the middle of the floor.  He slid and fell so comically - right as Daddy had sipped his shake - that his burst of laughter turned into an eruption of chocolate shake all over Calvin and the kitchen.  It was so disgusting while simultaneously hysterical that I fell to the ground in fits of laughter while Dad cleaned up his mess. 

Sometimes at the end of a long day you just need a good laugh!  These are the little moments that make every stress and struggle in life worthwhile. 

*Pictured above: Dad cleans up his chocolatey mess

{Calvin Turns Two}

I blinked and my baby boy turned two!

For being so tiny this dude brings so much happiness and joy into our lives!  

Some of Calvin's favorite things to do - sweeping the floor with his special broom, playing outside (he loves to throw rocks), getting the mail each day with Mom, being read to, watching Bob the Builder, playing at the park or playing with any type of ball.  

He definitely has his independent streak and likes things to be just his way - but as far as two year olds go I think he's pretty average in that regard!

He LOVES his little brother.  He will cover him with a blankie when he cries and I always have to watch closely to make sure his hugs are soft enough for little Wes (who seriously adores him).  I hope they stay that way forever! 

For Calvin's birthday we went to Calico Basin and took family pictures!  He loved running around the Boardwalk (didn't care to stop for pictures, the struggle was real) and seeing all the wild bunnies!

When we got home we let him open his special presents from Grandma and Grandpa and ate some cake!  We got him a soccer ball ... Lately he has been obsessed with a book on how soccer balls are made, he seriously asks me to read it to him at least 5 times a day.  So he was pretty excited about it.

He loved this tool kit from his Grandparents!  He's been carrying around the hammer all day today :)

This book has a little stuffed giraffe.  In the top picture he is giving it "loves" because he really loves soft things.

\

This was Calvin's favorite birthday wish from his cousin Saffron!  I thought it was so sweet and I am going to save it for him in his time capsule.  Calvin and Saffron are only three months apart so they will hopefully be close cousins. 

I am so happy Calvin chose us for his family.  He is such a sweet little guy and I hope we can be the parents he deserves! 

{End of Summer Recital}

One of my favorite parts of life right now is running my piano studio!  I look forward to lessons and love the look on a student's face when they nail a song.  Hopefully I am helping some of these kids start a lifelong journey filled with music.

As the great composer Sergei Rachmaninoff said - "Music is enough for a lifetime -- but a lifetime is not enough for music."

Teaching really pays off when I see my students perform.  It can be so intimidating for these young kids to get up and play the piano in front of a large audience (hey, it's still intimidating for me) so I LOVE when they overcome their fears and share their musical talent. 

This past week we had our end of summer recital.  They all worked so hard and you can tell by the smiles on their faces it meant a lot to them!  Or maybe they were just relieved to be done - either way - it was fabulous!  

Here are some of the pictures of my talented kids!  I consider myself pretty lucky to be their teacher! 

Cute Abi played "Give Said the Little Stream."

Trent & Rora - brother and sister duo - Trent composed his own piece that was SO impressive!

Anora memorized "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and can sing it while playing.

Ellie opened our recital by playing "Angel of Music" from Phantom of the Opera

Sisters Sophie and Liz.  Sophie did awesome (her first recital) and Liz wowed the audience with William Tell's "Get Away" song.

Sofia played "Twinkle Twinkle" 

These two take lessons together and have been with me since I opened my studio a year and a half ago!  They are so much fun and great friends

Serenity just turned four.  She played the "I Love You" song from Barney

This was Marcus' first recital - He did a wonderful job of "Old MacDonald"

Elijah also performed for the first time - he memorized a song called "Gee We're Glad" and played several different variations of the piece.

Garry is one of my most advanced students!  He combined two songs called "Hoe Down" and "Square Dance" - it sounded awesome!

Sweet Lydia's parents are away on a vacation to Scotland - and she still made the effort to be at the recital and perform BEAUTIFULLY!  

Rachel worked hard to memorize a song called "Waltz Time."  She has improved sooo much since she started lessons!  I love teaching her.

LOVE this picture of Kenzie taking a bow.  She knew she nailed her song ;)

Chase went the extra mile and learned a duet this time!  I loved to play the song with him. 

Some students got cut out.. oops! Grateful for all these fun kiddos!

{Idaho Trip}

This past week we were able to travel up to Idaho for the Thill's wedding!  

We loaded up the minivan (yes, we rented a minivan and yes, we LOVED it) and road tripped our way to Idaho! 

We went by way of Utah of course, spending Friday night in Layton and visiting with the fam...  This consisted of our family fantasy football draft, which was fun to be present for.  And I'm not bragging or anything, but I got a B on my draft report card and I'm feeling pretty good about my team this year.

Saturday we dropped Calvin off at Aunt Jana's... He spent the day with his cousins going to football games, the treehouse, and out to eat!  What a lucky little dude! 

Mike and I took Wesley with us to the wedding.  He is not a bad little traveling mate and he does look like a little stud in his wedding outfit 

I love my tiny human. 

The wedding was so beautiful.  The day was just a little overcast and it felt wonderful.  The setting was perfect... like, out of a fairytale.  It was on a farm which was super green and somehow it didn't stink like farms usually do.  I wish I had taken more pictures of the decorations and how beautiful everything was but there you have it, I forgot to get the camera out. 

Caitlin looked beautiful!  Her dress was breathtaking.  The ceremony was simple and sweet.  They had food right after.  We didn't stay for much after the food, as Wes was about to turn into a pumpkin but we really enjoyed the part of the wedding we were able to be a part of!  I love to see weddings and people making those promises to each other - it's beautiful and makes me feel nostalgic for my own wedding day (five years ago, what?) where Mike and I made those same promises.  

Mozart's opera The Magic Flute shows married love as a universal force through which "a man and a woman can become the most noble entity in the universe, capable of [together] attaining godhood."  The characters sing, "Love sweetens every misery... and there is nothing more noble than a wife and husband reaching upward to attain godhood.  And if a person has fallen, love leads him back to his duty."  I am so grateful for a loving companion, who consistently leads me back to my duty every time I fall! 

That evening we drove back down to Utah and had the joy of watching our much anticipated season opening football games (Mike watched Alabama while I cheered on the Cougs in the other room).  How I envy his ability to sit back, relax, and just enjoy a game as his team just steam rolls over nearly every opponent.  Meanwhile I need prescription blood pressure medication as I cheer for my team, who's victory or defeat is usually within a couple points and everything second matters.  It's a stark contrast.  But I love my Cougars!

Sunday we just relaxed and visited my parents ward for Sacrament.  Then Mom & Dad cooked a tasty meal for us and the family came over to visit.  We took it easy and enjoyed our day of rest from the road! 

Baby Wes and his cousin Lola enjoyed each others company!  They are just the sweetest little ninos.  

We drove back home yesterday and are back into the swing of things with lessons and Mike's long days at work!  Life is good and we are thankful for each little vacation we get :)