First post from HERRIMAN!!!

Okay, first of all, I have to say how pleasantly surprised I am. I absolutely LOVE my apartment! I guess I had sort of resolved to just "deal with it", and knew I was going to be cramped and claustrophobic. We lost about 400 sq ft and a garage moving here. However, I really can't get over how quickly we settled in, found a place for everything, and how "at home" I feel. Loving it! The floor plan is nice and open, we have a patio so the girls can play "outside" without me having constant supervision(yes!), the hallway is really wide, main bath is HUGE, AND I have a master bath (HALLELUJAH!), the girls' walk-in-closet doubles as a "play room", and with them being in a bunk bed now, the rest of their room has plenty of play space! As far as my little kitchen goes...yes, my pantry is smaller, but it's not going to get cluttered with "stuff", just because there IS space there. My favorite thing though? It's never taken more than 10 min to clean, and that's including doing dishes. MAJOR PLUS. I felt like I was forever cleaning my kitchen at our old place! More space means more places to stack/pile randomness, which all the sudden becomes these big, overwhelming mountains. lol. So no more of that! Let me see if I can figure out some pics here.....although, if you've seen my facebook, most of these are on there :) OH!! And did I mention that I am completely ADDICTED to our pool?!! LOL I'd say it's the best feature of our entire new lifestyle :) Already not looking forward to winter because we spend SO much time there! We're all looking nice and tan :) got some funky lines going on, but whatever. It's worth it :D So that's it for this post :) Have lots more to write about, but it'll have to wait. Hubby went on an all-day hike with his bro, took some AMAZING photos....I'll have to see if I can get some up here tomorrow....anyway, he's exhausted, so I'd better call it a night, too. Still got dinner dishes to do. I'll try to write some more tomorrow....have our very first get-together with some new friends tomorrow! Excited to do that part of "settling in" :) That's all for now! Later!

Hello 1 am :) So good to see you again! psht.

I know I should be in bed....tomorrow is going to be a long day. But my mind is going a billion miles an hour over this moving business. Thinking of all the things I need to do, vs. all the things I want to do, and where in the WORLD am I going to find time to do "that"?! :) I hope all of this planning and work that goes into a yard sale pays off :P I've decided to sell the girls' beds and get them a bunk. The rooms that we're moving into are smaller, and we're already wall-to-wall with all of their "stuff". It's funny the problem-solving that goes into just a little thing like this. I first decided just to move Afifa to a toddler bed because her crib is so big....it's one with a changing table attached with drawers and shelves. Then I thought, hey, maybe they make beds that are just a top bunk? Quick google search and, voila! Loft beds! So then I thought, Great! We'll get a loft bed and put the toddler bed underneath! But if you know me, I rarely pay full price for anything, and I wasn't finding a good selection of 2nd-hand loft beds. More people are selling bunk beds. So I thought, why not? I can just put a safety rail up for Afifa, Delia would love a top bunk, and there we go! So that's the plan. I can't believe I'm going to put my 17 month old on the bottom of a bunk bed. LOL It's hard to think of her as not even 2 yet, because she is insanely advanced right now. She repeats back most everything I say to her, she is BEGGING to be potty trained (she asks about 5 times a day to sit on the potty and I'm totally resisting with the move and everything), she follows instructions perfectly, most of the time I only have to show her something once and she is a pro, she feeds herself, she makes up songs....seriously. And it's hard for me not to expect too much from her, because she is so bright. I expect her to NOT get into my makeup drawer every. single. day. (Today it was RIP to my favorite tube of lipstick....the other day it was my eyeshadow) I expect her NOT to pull the wipes out of the container every. chance. she. gets. I expect her to stay out of the neighbor's dirt....what's wrong with ours?! lol But I have to stop myself, because what I start to expect is perfection. From my 1 year old. And if I don't keep my perspective straight (she is ONLY 1), then I turn into a punisher, not a teacher. Not even a disciplinarian. Just a punisher. And I hate myself when I get that way. Wow. I'm way too honest with myself this late at night. Hmmmm. Better not make a habit out of it :) But hey! It's me. Going to bed now. Missing my honey. Glad he's home tomorrow night to snuggle me! Here's a pic of my lil bug Afifa! Complete with wings from Aunt Jillayne ;)

I Confess.

As I have been packing up my house for yet another move (number 7 in the last 6 years), I find myself reflecting on this idea of a "start over" in the game of life. I live a charmed life, it's true. Happily married to my bestest friend, two amazing little people I'm honored to have call me "mommy", a great support system of friends and family, and a pretty good grasp on what life is all about. But knowing that last tidbit, and having it reflect constantly in my actions...I struggle. I yell too much. I'm short-tempered. I'm disagreeable over things that don't matter. I let meaningless details distract me from the "big picture". My biggest, and most destructive, downfall is stretching myself too thin. I think I do it to feel needed. But that doesn't make sense either, because WHAT or WHO could need love and gentleness and attention more than the man who works his life away to support and provide, or a couple little souls who need constant nourishment for their incredible minds, beautiful (and energetic....ha!)bodies, and sweet, sweet spirits? I've said "No, I'm busy" way more often than I've said "Yes, I'd love to do that for/with you". I've spent more time on the computer than I have loving my children on purpose. I say on purpose, because it's easy to confuse the routine "I do this because I love you" with "I do this because it's my duty"...change diapers, fix meals, get them dressed, take them with me on errands, make it to a park occasionally, get out the paper and crayons so they can draw pictures...But to actually spend TIME with my babies, doing things to teach them, stimulate their growth....this is going to be new for me. I want to play dress-up and make-believe. I want to draw WITH them. I want to teach them songs. How to tie shoelaces. Build something with legos. Be crafty. I'm not going to knock myself too hard, because I know it's a process. Evaluate, change. Evaluate, change some more. Climb higher. Tweak the steps to reach the goal. SET goals. So that is where I'll start. Goals. My goal is to be happy. Because if I can be happy, I can make those around me happy. And if there was one word that I'd like people to describe me in at the end of my life, it would be "She was happy". Not the fake-it-til-ya-make-it kind, or short-lived...but the kind that makes me want to burst. Eyes sparkle. The kind that makes my family want to be near me, because my happiness is infectious. There are a lot of changes that need to happen in order for this to be achieved, but the biggest, and hardest decision is made. That is to focus. Focus on my role as mommy over everything else. It's a hard thing to give up making money. Give up helping to monetarily support our family. But honestly, that is the last "support" we need to worry about, because I know with all of my heart that we are not in this alone. I hold to the promise that the Lord takes care of His own. And I want nothing more than to be just that. His own. I know what He expects of me, and I know what to expect in return. An easy life, right? lol Hardly. It's when life gets hard that I realize how much I matter to Him. He is only trying to mold me into the best me I can be. And sometimes it hurts. I also know that what he expects of me is not necessarily what he expects of any other person. That is why He is the Judge, and we are not. He can see the "big picture", where, even if we get a glimpse, we generally only have the capacity to see where we fit in, or our small circle on influence. Trust. Trust in the Lord, and be still. As far as a list goes for the goal setting, it looks something like this: 1) Close my teaching studio. 2) Quit facebook. It's an illusion, making me think I matter to all these different people, when really I'm ignoring the people who matter the most. It's mindless, addicting, and I have too much of a tendency to try to be what others think I should be, instead of being true to myself. I take full blame for this. It's a personality flaw. lol. But facebook fosters it. 3) Meal plan. Food makes the world go 'round :) I know it's a far-fetched dream, but I dream for mealtime to be an exciting, wonderful time of day, every time. Not go into panic mode when the kids start saying they're hungry and you realize they need food NOW, because they're already cranky, and there is no time to whip up a masterpiece in the next 5 minutes. Peanut butter and jelly it is. 4) Laugh with my kids every single day and show them I love them in everything I do. 5) Wake up before my kids. That way I'm ready for them :) 6) Exercise. There is just no excuse not to do this. Especially when I still have a napper. I will feel better, be stronger, and function better at everything I do. My body loves exercise, and with all the things I do to it, the least I can do is give back by exercising. And that is where I'll end this little post of mine...since it's almost 2am! lol Hubby is gone on a canoe trip. First night without him is always the hardest to crawl into that bed alone :( I'm expecting a lot out of myself, starting this blog again. But I feel confident that I'll actually keep up on it this time. Big changes happening! :D

In the Good Ol' Summertime!

Well I have to say that this summer is probably going to be the death of me.... IF you can die of fun and excitement!!!! :D A little catch-up first though...........

Our "Beauty and the Beast" production was AMAZING, and I miss all of my kids so stinkin' much! Teaching 4 weeks of vocal/musical theater workshops this summer, then gearing up for the fall theater classes, and really looking forward to helping direct "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" next spring!! I LOVE MYJOB!!!!!!!!! :D

CENTER STAGE YOUTH PERFORMERS!!!

GASTON and his SILLY GIRLS :)

Neal is in a total happy place when it comes to his job :) He has just enough responsibility, recognition, and fun to be completely satisfied. And MAN does he look good all dressed up and important-like! ;) He really is the best daddy ever, too. As soon as he gets home, I may as well not exist in Delia's eyes! She just follows him around and jumps/climbs/clings all over him. From the looks of it, Afifa is going to be JUST as much of a daddy's girl.....now how fair is that?! lol She gives him all her biggest smiles, and makes the cutest happy-noises when she sees him. She will dive out of my arms towards him, no matter HOW far away he is! We've had some almost-dropped incidents because I wasn't prepared for her launches :) lol These pics were taken in May....

My lil sister Melissa graduated from Star Valley High School the end of May, which I was so happy to attend, then moved in with me for the summer! We had a wild party at my house that consisted of my BIG sister Amy, Amy's bf, my dad, brothers Daniel, Aaron, Samuel, and baby sister Katherine (turning 9 TODAY, actually). We celebrated Aaron turning 13 and Samuel turning 11, AND I had my studio recital, all that same weekend! My excitement over being with so much family totally overruled any underlying stress, thank GOODNESS! lol

I'm going to have to post the rest in other posts....too much for just one! lol

Look for Summer: PART II :)

And.......a year later.... :)

Oh dear. A whole YEAR has flown by without me hardly noticing!

I'm not in a position to play catch up right now, but I'll throw up some pictures of our latest adventure in Goblin Valley last Saturday, March 26th.

If someone were to ask me to describe my life right now in as few words as possible, it would only take two: Practically Perfect :)

I live in Springville, Utah, with my amazingly talented and wonderfully loving husband, Neal, and my two gorgeous daughters, Delia (turned 3 on February 28th) and Afifa (almost 4 months, born on December 5th, 2010).

I am teaching private voice and piano lessons, keeping busy with my studio of 16 students. Also having the BEST time as the Musical Director for a youth theater in Pleasant Grove (25 min north) called "Center Stage Youth Performers". We are preparing for "Beauty and the Beast" at the end of this month!!! Love my 90 theater kids, and LOVE the awesome ladies I work with!

My hubby works for Veracity Networks (telecommunications, basically Comcast's local competitor) doing their graphic design and web-work. He started off last July as an intern, and was hired on full-time November 1st; February he got promoted out of a cubicle desk into a great office, and this month he got a raise!!! Great company, great environment, and nice salary! So proud of him!!!! He works so hard for us, and I love him so much for it.

Ok, I gotta get cracki-lackin on the rest of my to-do list (clean, clean, get gym membership, shopping, lunch, clean some more, compile my recital song list, ALL before 3:30 when my first student shows up!) So I'll get some pictures up, then REALLY try to make this part of my weekly, if not daily routine. Heaven KNOWS I have a lot to say!!! :D




Native American Pictographs


Afifa and I hanging out in some limestone!


Goblin Valley State Park













Delia's "nest" :)

Catch up time!!!

Wow. Ok. So it has been....3 months since I last posted. Ooops.

We spent a wonderful Christmas with Neal's family in Cody, WY, got to hang out with bro and wife (Mark & Jillayne) in Powell a bit, and also was happy to see Aunt Jen and her family again in Ralston, where I spent my Senior (and BEST) year of high school! Shortly after Christmas we met up with younger bros and sis in Otto and got to say hi to the Kelly & Terry family, and dropped in on the Jones grandparents. All in all, I'd say we almost made up for our 3 1/2 years in Georgia!

January 2nd we made it to Springville, UT and crashed at Neal's bro's, and turned in our U-Haul that was 9 days late, cringing at the thought of the overdue fees, but thankful that we detoured around the nasty snowstorms just before Christmas. However, we were ecstatic when the nice boy behind the U-Haul counter canceled all of our $200+ fees!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!

January 4th we were given the ok to move on in to our little "ski lodge". WE LOVE IT HERE!

Heber City is like a winter wonderland right now, and I am excited to experience ALL the seasons here, unlike in Georgia, where you got super hot & humid, or bone-chilling cold, and the occasional deluge. Oh how I have missed the mountains and the snow!!!

I truly honestly hope that we are here for the rest of our lives.

Delia turned her big 2 a couple weeks ago on Feb 28th, and since then has gone BACK to sucking her thumb, STOPPED potty-training altogether, and WON'T sleep through the night, like she has since she was 6 weeks old. REALLY?! ok.

On the other hand, she has an amazing imagination, loves to build towers, says "THANKS MOMMA!!!" to everything i do for her, and finally said, for the first time without any prompting, "I wuv you momma." YAY!!! Nothing better than that feeling, right there!! One of my favorite things about her is her energetic responses, like her "UH-HUH!!" with wide eyes and mouth in a big 'ol grin; her "OH!", really short and musical, like she has just discovered something incredibly amazing; and i love that she says "YES! Yes momma!"

She also loves to "help" with dishes, loves to "help" cook, and "help" crochet things when I'm doing a project. She can say almost every letter of the alphabet, biggest letter nemesis is "f", and somehow her "froggy" and "water" sound almost identical....
Her counting is really funny.....she can say them all when repeating after me, but when I hear her counting things on her own, it's always "1---2---3---8-9-10!"

D loves loves LOVES books and asks for them first thing in the morning (or at 3 am, whatever), at naptime, before bedtime, in the car, and at people's houses! Her favorites are "I Know A Rhino" and "Tumble Bumble" from her friend Katie in Savannah. She'll pick those over any of them!

Well i think that's about long enough for now.....gotta messy house calling for me and tummy growling that it's time.

Should have lots of adventures to post about next week as D's cousin Alex is coming to visit from Denver, and i can only imagine the fun times we'll have with him (3), D (2), Mel (5), and Ki (20 mo?)!

Peace OUT!

And we're........OUTA HERE!!!!!!!!!!! Almost.....

!

THIS IS MY NEW HOME!

Two days before Thanksgiving I got a call from Neal, telling me I needed to get to a computer, NOW! I was on my way to pick up Delia from the babysitter after teaching some lessons, so I asked to use their computer for a minute. He had sent me an e-mail attachment with some pictures of this cute little lodge in Utah. I called him as I was looking at and he said "Guess what? That's our new home!!!!!!!" It took a few minutes for everything to process in my brain, and as soon as it DID, I couldn't stop thinking at about a billion miles an hour!! He had landed a job with the Western artist Peter Fillerup in Heber City, Utah, about an hour out of Salt Lake City. As part of the job deal, Pete is letting us stay in this fully-furnished, 2 bd/2 bath lodge that he built onto his studio, originally to be a showroom for his artwork. He does custom furniture, lighting, and sculpting. It's INCREDIBLE!! We only get to stay there for probably the first 6 months, but it is RENT and UTILITY-FREE. How cool is that?! It will give us the chance of a lifetime to get on our feet, get a good start on our loans AND savings, plus time to look around for another place, instead of just having to jump into something out of sheer necessity. Hopefully we can find a cute little house somewhere :) So we are taking off next Sunday. I have a piano recital THIS Sunday (30 performers!), and then I am turning my studio over to Rhonda Bennett. I have had so many tears already from my kids AND their parents!! :( I'm really going to miss them all so much. Each student has taught me something new and all-in-all it has been a really great experience. However, I am so looking forward to turning the "bread-winner" title in and retiring :D I can't wait to be able to spend all my time with Delia now, and learn how to be a really great mommy. I have just had to divide my time too much, and she hasn't gotten her fair share so far. I am so excited. Don't even have any reservations about what I'm going to DO with all of my time now :) I do need to get something done today though....So tata, and more updates soon :) P.S. Delia has said 2 sentences so far: "I need help!" (we get that one about 3,000x a day) and then I was chastising her for spilling her water all over (on purpose) in the carseat, and she looked at me and said "It's just water." I looked at Neal and he burst out laughing! She is so right though. It WAS just water. *sigh* What do you do?