My Piano Blog!!

I have been mulling over this idea for at least 6 months and finally decided to take the plunge...I started a piano blog. It's called www.pianochambers.blogspot.com. I'm hoping to create a fun, collaborative place where piano teachers (and students) can share ideas, techniques, and ways to have fun! Check it out if you are interested! I'm very excited:)

New Commitments

For Christmas this year, I gave Dave the "Total Money Makeover" book from Dave Ramsey with my commitment that I am willing to do whatever it takes to get out of debt. I'm sure if you know me well, you know that I love to save money. That has changed over the years with "I deserve this or that" or "This would be fun because..." and other justifications to nickel and dime us out of financial freedom. So I'm putting all excuses in the past and moving forward...
Here are my steps:
1. Get current with payments - I never thought I would have to say this! - and start tracking my money again
2. List my debts on a bright posterboard, so that when they are paid, I get to shout it out that we are one step closer to freedom
3. Plan out what to do with our money before we get it so that it doesn't dissappear when it comes.
4. Stay accountable with Dave. He is a very consistent accountability partner thank goodness!

I hope you are all enjoying the New Year! This is my favorite time to plan and create exciting futures for the upcoming year. We like to have themes for our years, and when it was Debt-Free in 2003, we actually achieved that for a month, so our theme for this year is "Feeling like Heaven in 2011."

December Celebrations

Aren't the kids talented? :) The one above is actually my amazing neighbor's creation! Yes, I attempted a "gingerbread house party." I found a good icing recipe from Allrecipes.com that worked like glue, and put together 14 houses for the kids to decorate. And they actually spent time and got really creative. It was so much fun, and really got us in the mood since there still is no snow on the ground yet.

We had a fun week last week. I went to MOPS (mom's of preschoolers group), and heard about "snowman soup". It's potato soup with croutons, a carrot, and breadsticks in the shape of arms. Fun huh. The recipe was DELICIOUS from ourbestbites.com. Isn't it cute, and the kids loved it!

So there's a little tidbit of our celebrations so far, I'm sure there will be more to come! Hope your holidays are just as fun!! If not more:)

Whoa Slow down!

OK, am I the only one who feels like the weeks are flying by in the blink of an eye? We have moved from Halloween to Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here tomorrow, and I don't have

anything besides the Christmas Cards and the tree up. No presents or even a list yet! But in spite of that we are still having a blast. I did get a pang of homesickness while talking to my mom and they were playing a game at Melissa's house. But that was it!

Halloween was a little scatterbrained, and I didn't get a good picture of all the kids dressed up, but there's one of Braden on an ambulance as a ghost...fitting huh? Then he decided to be "super Ronald McDonald" for school and then just a McDonald's worker - he's recycling last year's costume. Tina was Belle, and then a fairy princess. Brooklyn was a cheetah girl, and Cole was the standard Bumble bee costume. Dave and I just found stuff. I think the older we are the less creative we get!

Thanksgiving did turn up one stray for us to invite over. Dave's co-worker Melanie came and celebrated low-key with us. Then we all went to Harry Potter, and Braden spent most of the time on her lap:) There was a part where a snake jumped out, and Braden exclaimed, "That surprised me!" He sure cracks me up. I don't have a lot of pictures, but we did make "hand turkey cookies".

Now with December upon us, I was gently reminded by Melissa that I needed to update! It is crazy to see how fast time flies, but I am grateful for the season. I think it will be a little different that what we are used to, but as Dave loves to point out, we both enjoy change! This has been a big change, and our family has embraced it whole heartedly. I am so grateful to be a mom to such wonderful children. I am glad to have the gospel in our lives. I am the Primary Choirster now (I have been hoping for this calling for a long time!), and Dave is going to be the 16-18 year old sunday school teacher, and I know he will be perfect for the job. He loves teaching and working with the youth. Granted there are only 3-4 kids in the class, he will make it fun:)

The big move!

Welcome back!! I apologize for the delay in the pictures and updates. We just had our internet and phone installed, so we are back in business! I just wanted to show you some pictures of important events in October:

1. Tina got baptised on October 7th in Brigham City - the last day we were there. Everyone was able to come that lived close, so the love and support was felt by all. Tina is such an amazing girl. She knew all the answers when she was interviewed by the Bishop. The service was great and Dave was able to baptise her and confirm her a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. What a milestone!

Then came the move the next day. We left a little later than we were expecting and this was my view for 12 hours (The moving truck) it was a nice drive with beautiful views. We pulled in at 12:30 am so technically we got there on Dave's dad's birthday, October 9th - Happy Birthday Gary!

Generally the first thing I get set up wherever I live is my library card. I was in for a nice surprise when I found the library. It's only a year old. It was SO nice I had to take a picture. We lived on tons of movies, books, and tapes while waiting for the internet:)

Here is our church. I've noticed a common theme is triangular windows in Colorado. The building has them, but the inside looks like a normal church. The primary room is called "the children's meeting room". I love our ward. Everyone has been very friendly and nice. We have attended a RS meeting, Primary activity, and Trunk or treat all in a month!

We had to take advantage of our packing boxes and made a haunted house. Here's the kids pulling "scary faces".

This is the amazing school that the kids attended on their first day - October 14th. It's called Riverview Elementary. It is such beautiful scenery. You can see our church from the school too. Braden had a field trip in New Mexico to a pumpkin patch, and Tina has received 2 "eagle awards". If she gets 10 she can eat lunch with the principal. The school is very fun and it has an art room, music room, counselor's room, a built in preschool, and 3 playgrounds. We love it!

So there you have a glimpse of our life here in Colorado. We are really grateful to be here. Hopefully I can upload some videos of our house so you can get a better idea. We wish everyone well, and can't wait to get caught up with everyone else.

The Big 8!

I am now the proud mother of an 8 year old. She is such a sweetheart to put up with this time of craziness. I felt bad because we have been focusing on moving, that's right moving! Dave has flown the coop to work in Colorado, and we are trying to follow as fast as possible. So I have been focusing on that. Tina got really sad on Sunday and wanted to have her daddy back, so I had to think of something great for her birthday to offset the saddness. My solution was on short notice, get her cousins to join her at the roller rink. It was nice to have it with them. And Mindi played the gracious host to have everyone back at her house for pizza, cake and ice cream. I have the best family-in-laws!!!

She received a Barbie pool from Braden, a wii game from Cole, a Barbie dress from Brooklyn and an art set from me. She also got a gift card to Claire's and some $$! She wants a Nintendo DS, and has thought about saving up, but now she wants to save that one for Christmas, lol! (I don't blame her)...

In a way it feels like she has been 8 for a while. She is very mature for her age - maybe that comes from being the oldest? She is such a beauty, inside and out. I love when she gets excited for things. I have all the confidence in the world for her. I know she will achieve whatever she wants to. She is so smart. We talked about Baptism, and she is more ready than I was. She is actually excited to fast and repent! I admire this sweet daughter of mine. I am so grateful to be her mother. I think I have learned more from her than she will ever learn from me.

Happy Birthday Tina!, Love, Mommy (or should I say Mom now?)

Back to School

I have 2 kids in school now! I'm so happy for them. I LOVE school time. They are getting so big and smart:) Tina is in 2nd grade and really enjoys it. She has Mrs. Stangler who is great. Braden is in Kindergarten with Mrs. Holdaway (he calls her Mrs. Giveaway). They are so big. Here they are with their new school clothes and backpacks. I can't believe how fast it goes!

Catching Up

So working somewhat backwards, Here are the events of the last month:
Cole turned ONE! He is now crawling, babbling, eating like a big boy, and STILL sleeping in our bed. I've got to baby wise him! Isn't he a doll?
We went camping over the past weekend. We promised the kids, and Daddy knows how to deliver! This was a fun campsite, and we had a blast hiking, cooking, and just plain relaxing:)

I was looking for old "Saturday Adventure" pictures, and here is one where the kids each picked one thing they wanted to do: Tina: eat ice cream, Braden: Make a craft, Brooklyn: puppets...So what do we do? We got "ice cream popsicles", saved the sticks to make the puppets which also entailed the craft, and put on a puppet show! I know, I'm a genius!

My Grandma's big reunion was in July. We were in charge this year, and it took us 2 years to plan. They are big productions for over 100 people and 4 days of activities to plan, but it was SO much fun to see everyone, reconnect, and my kids had to show off. This is Tina gargling "row, row, row your boat" at the talent show. She did amazingly well. I think I would have choked from laughing!!

Here is another Tina adventure day. She chose to "eat ice cream" and play at a park...I see a pattern emerging:) Can you tell it was chocolate!??

Here are my wonderful kids at another park on another adventure day. I think this was Brooklyn's idea, and I don't remember if I have posted this one or not, but here is another picture of them actually posing for me.

Now for the big news...Dave just got a new job today! He is now going to work at Aaron's - a furniture lease to own joint. He gets to open a store in Durango, CO. And then he will come back and work closer to home. I am really excited and so grateful for the wonderful blessing this has been. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us. Our prayers have been answered! It's been such a great summer.

We have really enjoyed the time spent as a family and we are excited to start another school year. Braden is going into Kindergarten! His teacher's name is Mrs. Holdaway. He called her "Mrs. Giveaway" I thought that was so cute. Tina is going into 2nd grade, and is turning 8 next month! I can't believe how fast the time goes. I have collaborated with my wonderful neighbors a little preschool get-together for Brookie once a week, so she isn't left out...and Cole will still be my buddy probably.

I also will be involved with PTA, helping out in school classes, babysitting swaps, morning walks/bike rides to the school, holiday planning, piano lessons, home business stuff, devouring library books, and the general care and maintenance of our home. It looks like a lot now that I'm writing it down, but I sure love every minute of it! Although I haven't been up to date with our Saturday adventures, I promise they were held every week, and I will have to do it again next summer!

Adventure #3: Surprise!

For our 3rd Saturday adventure, it was Brooklyn's turn. All she wanted to do was go to Grandma's house, and play at the park. I thought I would spice things up a little bit and add a surprise birthday party for her. She turned 3 back in May, and I always felt bad that she never got an "official" party from her family, so we made one for this day. And then we made sure to go to Grandma's house, and play at the park...

I taped up yarn that spelled out "Happy Birthday Brooklyn" for her to see right outside her door when she woke up:)

She had to pick out her presents at Walmart the night before, because I didn't have the energy to find a babysitter to go to the store. But when I got home, I wondered if I had the energy to tackle Walmart with 4 kids...It's a toss up:) She chose Cinderella polly pockets and those nail toss things that show your hand when you turn it over.

Here they are being silly for the picture, and of course the funny one is the only one where they are all looking:) Gotta love these silly kids!

Adventure #2: Braden

Braden decided that he wanted to chase paper airplanes and then float paper boats down a stream. The only place we could think of was Merlin Olsen park, so we drove up to it, and then the activities began! Braden also wanted us to build a raft out of logs that we could all float on and be pirates, but we told him, that couldn't happen yet:) So we started talking like pirates off in our minivan boat to aquire the famed ice cream from Burrrrgerrr King:) That was the treasure. It was a good time, and surprisingly, the boats fared pretty well. They made it through about 3 or 4 runs down the canal without getting completely saturated. It was a fun, hot, and very happy day for my little pirate man!

First Date

Dave waiting for his entree:)

Enjoying dinner

At the movies

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Shake

Dave and I went on our "first date" with project 52: date night on Saturday (see link on right). Dave was in charge, so we did our traditional "dinner and a movie." We went to Cafe Sabor for yummy Mexican food, then saw Prince of Persia - great flick!, and went to Charlie's afterwards for a shake. We also reminisced about our first dates. Mine was going rock climbing with Nathan Orton in TX. He forgot his wallet, and I had read somewhere that it's good to be prepared, so I brought money just in case, and paid for the date:) Dave's was a girl's choice and he was still 15. He was in a group with his brother Mike, and the girl was cute and kissed him! She was blonde hair, blue eyed (his typical girl interest before me), and he can't even remember her name (lol).
It was fun...being traditional. I need to come up with some ideas for next week...It's my turn:)

Summer Adventure #1

Old time animation

Instrument room

Pioneers had pest problems


Giddy-up Cole!

Tee-pee

I loved the metaphor of a lily holding up a heavy rock...something about weak things stronger than they appear?? I dont' know but it caught my attention:)

Burger King playland

I hope you can hear my smile coming through the text. I LOVED this day. I forgot about the cleaning and we just had so much fun! We went to the museum here in town. I had no idea if it would be fun for the kids, but I've always wanted to go, so we did. And surprise, they have a whole kids section with old tools in the kitchen, and a shoe bench, and some farm equipment, and a cart to sit on. The kids had a blast and can't wait to go back again. They had "Eliza's attic" where you saw questions and had the answers in laminated cards. The discovery was different things about pioneers. What an adventure, and to top it all off, we went to Burger King, and wouldn't you know, they have a little play set! Next Saturday is Braden's turn to pick the adventure, so it should be fun! And the bonus is that Braden couldn't wait to see the pictures, so we prayed to find the cord to plug it into the computer, and then moments later, we found it under some papers. I love the faith of a child. He is the one who had the idea to pray in the first place! Good boy:) So enjoy the pictures, and look forward to next weeks adventure.

Saturday Adventures!

I'm so excited:) I talked with the kids today, and we came up with fun things to do this summer...We each get to take a Saturday and surprise each other with our own "adventure". I am the first one tomorrow, and I can't wait. I am going to take the kids to the local museum. It's something I have wanted to do for a long time and the kids have no clue!! It is something that the person in charge gets to decide! We have already written it on our calendar, and we are all really excited about:) I will make sure to take pictures, and find that darn cord, so I can post the results! I'd love to hear some ideas and if you want to implement it, please share!!

Speed

Wow, does time fly by when you are having fun?? Brooklyn celebrated her 3rd birthday in the traditional sense. We made cupcakes, and sang, and got presents from grandmas:) She is so cute when she tries to hold up her fingers to show 3 years old. She woke up and asked me if she was 3 yet. What a smartie pants. Cole is now 10 months old too, and he is starting to scoot! Yes, he is taking after Brooklyn, and will probably scoot to get around. I love him dearly and hold him so much to protect him from Brooklyn (she loves to lay on him, punch him in the stomach and other nerve racking things that usually make him belly laugh). I unfortunately do not have the camera hooked up yet...I can't find the darn wire, and need a serious overhaul of my computer cabinet, so I will indulge you with older pictures. the one of Cole has more of me in it, but you get the idea of his position most of the time:)

Pouring Rain

Life sure can get complicated...We are in the process of selling the restaurant. We keep getting further and further in the hole, so we are going to stop activity, since we have no more capital to work with:( Facing this mountain of debt with a job that makes $1,000 less a month is going to be tricky to say the least, but I do have hope that we can do it!
My friends have helped me so much and I am going to focus on the positive...I have a wonderful, happy family. I have a home! I am so grateful for the gospel! I feel so close to God when I pour my heart outin prayer desperately searching for answers to what I should do next. I'm sorry there are no pictures...I've lost the plug to attach the computer to the camera.
If anyone has some tips or tricks to saving money, I am very open to suggestions right now:)

Mother's Day Madness

I know you are out there, you mothers who dread the day that you are "honored" and you look back and wonder why? I dread this day, but I can't tell my kids that. There are expectations attached to this day. When you think that everything will go perfectly. That you will have one day where you won't hear kids fighting. You won't have to yell, or clean up messes. Because they are "suppossed" to be good for one day. The day you are honored right?

I will never forget the mother's day when I get out of church, and Dave has been working. I get to the car and notice glass on the ground and think, "that's funny, I don't remember that being there when I parked??" And then I look up to see the car window smashed everywhere and my purse missing in the front seat! That's right ON Mother's day.

Another Mother's day I thought I would be able to have go smoothly. I was worrying about making a lot of side dishes to bring up to dinner at my mom's house, when Brooklyn poops in the bathtub. It was crazy getting to church in the first place, and I had a meltdown on the way to my mother's place.

I did have a good laugh about it with Dave's mom and she remembered feeling the same way I was feeling that day. I'm so glad to share those feelings of guilt, joy, pain, frustration, embarrassment, silliness, and love that only a mother could recognize.

I have resigned myself to enjoy the day no matter what, and you know what, I bet I will!

Portraits

JC Penney called me and I thought I better get some pictures of Cole before he turns a year old, and there are some cute ones. Brooklyn also had hers taken too. I think they are so cute. It was amazing that they both did so well! I think they are so stinkin cute! Tell me what you think!