A New Park in Town

We've been waiting for the new park in Suwanee to open. Well, it's open! Stephen, Easton and I went to the park Saturday morning and had a ball. There are beautiful walking trails that go around a small lake. We brought Easton's bike so he rode as Stephen and I held hands while walking. It was a fabulous, cool fall morning. Just a perfect day. After our walk we let Easton explore the playground. It was buzzing with a bazillion children. So many fun things to try. Our favorite was this funky teeter-totter--not like the kind they had when I was little. This was cool. We'll definitely go back to this park.



A gentleman donated this land to the city of Suwanee to be used for the park. What a great man. His house used to be on this lake, but they tore it down when they built the park. These are some old steps that would have been in the backyard of the home. Of course Easton had to hop off his bike and go exploring.

Simple Beauty

There's always excitement and gratitude in Georgia when we get any amount of rain. Because of our serious drought we are thrilled at the sight of grey clouds and water coming from the sky. Yesterday brought us much needed moisture as it rained ALL DAY and night! We hadn't had rain for 24 days straight and the earth was so dry. Our lawn is burned and the flower beds are gasping because we are not allowed to water. This beautiful rainbow appeared right after dinner. The kids oohed and aaahed over it. It stayed for along time and Easton kept checking out the window to see if it was still there. The picture doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea. The earth was clean, the plants were green and happy, we felt blessed.

Sing your little heart out

Here's a little singing clip from Landon's chorus concert this week. It was a short and sweet concert for the middle school group. They did a nice job and the guys looked great in their fancy penguin outfits! Dallin also had a concert this week but I didn't capture the moment as I should have. Oh well.

The Boys' Club

Just look at my handsome guys as they head off to the Priesthood session of General Conference. I love that Stephen gets to go with his sons. They call priesthood session "the boys' club" in our house. I'm grateful for a husband who holds the priesthood, honors it and makes sure his boys are at the boys' club. He sets a good example for Dallin and Landon. Man, I love these guys!

2:57 am.....That's what time Dallin came in my room this morning to tell me he was ready to go to seminary. He always pops his head in my room when it's time to go at 5:55 am. Then I roll out of bed, put on my flip flops and jacket, grab my keys in the kitchen junk drawer and head out to the garage. This morning was strange when I glanced at the clock after waking up from my dream. It took me a moment to focus and then it sank in that it was only 2:57. Was my clock wrong? I yelled down to Dallin who was already in the kitchen getting his backpack ready. "Dallin, it's not time." "Ahhhh," he replies. I tell him to go back to bed. How crazy is that? And the funny thing is that it's not the first time to happen.

Later when I was driving Dallin to seminary at the real time I asked him why he got up so early. He explained that he had woken up and looked at just the minutes on the clock. It read 35 and he assumed that it was 5:35 so he jumped out of bed, showered, ate breakfast and was ready to go. He loves seminary so much that he wanted to be on time.

Slippers in the morning

It was a slipper morning. We awoke to a chilly house this fall morning. Easton grabbed his slippers and fuzzy (his fleece jacket). We've been calling them fuzzies every since Ashton was very little. Cool mornings are so refreshing to wake up to but they make you want to cuddle instead of getting up. I guess Easton was feeling the need for some warm comfort food so he requested toast along with his Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.

EASTON: I want toast, warm buttery toast. mmm... Buttery...

Two pieces of burned toast later...

EASTON: Why do you keep burning it?

MOM: I don't know.

EASTON: Here, turn it down. (Easton jumps up and turns down toaster)

MOM: Grandma would eat it burned.

EASTON: Why?!!

MOM: She would just scrape it off.

EASTON: Weird.

MOM: Grandpa wouldn't eat burned toast.

Third piece of toast pops up.

EASTON: Is it burned?

MOM: No, um....it's just beautifully crispy....(it is a rather dark brown)

EASTON: Ahh! I hate CRISPY.

Letters from the Past

Do these letters look familiar? I have been going through old boxes and came upon my box full of letters. I think I kept every letter I have every received in my life! It's been fun reading through them and I've been throwing most of them away except for the ones from family. These pictures show letters that I received from my cousins, Aimee and Cindi when I was up at Ricks College (Fall 1983). They were probably 5 years old or less. I thought they were so cute that I had to post them.

Mountain Biking

A beautiful, cool fall Saturday inspired me to gather the boys and head off to the Suwanee bike trails. We packed up the bikes and our water and drove to the trails. It was the first time we had used the bike rack and it was quite slick. The trails were so fun. Easton's little legs usually get tired when we ride in the neighborhood, but not this time. He was so inpsired to keep up with Landon. We headed off the paved trail onto some dirt trails in the woods that connected to George Pierce Park. Aside from some bumpy parts, we did okay. When we were done Easton kept saying, "I can't believe I went Mountain Biking!" A great family outing.Stephen works on getting the adult bikes off the rack. He bought a special bike for himself(the old fashioned kind) that allows him to sit up straight.Easton is ready to hit the trails. I love him in his cute little helmet.We had to take 2 cars to get all the bikes there. The bike rack only fits on the car and it only holds two bikes. Oh well. Maybe we should invest in a rack that will fit on the Expedition.
Look at my handsome guys! We took a nice water break about half way and enjoyed the scenery.

Helping

Looking out the window I noticed Easton trying to push the huge, blue garbage can up the driveway after getting off the bus. This has always been a job for the older boys, but lately Easton has taken on the task. The garbage can is bigger than he is and it's quite a challenge to control and manuveur it up our long, steep, winding driveway. I had to giggle and then grab my camera to capture the moment.

Crazy flowers!

I posted this picture in the spring of a new flower bed that I had been working on for my Mother's Day present. Notice all the new little plantings and my adorable birdbath? I don't know what happened, but my flowers went crazy! These flowers are just out of control. I have never seen Impatience look so large and tall. I have created an Impatience hedge! I can hardly even see the birdbath anymore and the perennials have been covered. That's what happens when you use the "good" dirt at Home Depot.

Help!

Life around the gas pumps have been crazy the last couple of weeks in Atlanta. We are having a gas shortage right now because the pipelines in Texas have not been pumping at full capacity because of the recent hurricanes. We have been very careful about keeping our cars filled and not letting them get down past a half a tank. Gas stations have been OUT of gas. You drive around looking and there will be five or six along the same stretch of highway that are just plain out of gas. When you find a station that does have gas you are usually waiting in super long lines to fill up. It's been big news here. They canceled Scouts and Young Women's this week because of the gas shortage. They also canceled fast offering collections last Sunday. People are telecommuting this week. The news says we should be back to normal by the end of the week. I sure hope so because this is stressing me out! I have taken my gas supply for granted. I now have a new appreciation for how dependent we are on gas. Happiness is a full tank of gas!

Happy Birthday, Landon!

Landon is 10 months old in this sweet picture.

Happy Birthday to our Landon! He is 14 years old today. What a special guy he is. We love having him in our home because he is a great brother and son. He takes great care of Easton and Dallin loves laughing at his random, goofey jokes and comments. He is helpful and kind(most of the time). Landon is a great student, reliable, responsible, plays the piano very well, and just loves life. He is a good friend to all and respectful. We are grateful that Heavenly Father sent him to our home--You're awesome Landon! Have a great year being 14.

My Cute Little Baby Boy

Hey everyone! My cute little baby boy is 16 years old today (September 26, 2008). He is one awesome guy. I am proud of him and love having him around the house. He loves singing(all over the house and especially in the shower), loves Cross Country, he is starting to love studying(doing good this year), loves his family, and loves life. Dallin tells me he loves me every morning when I drop him off for seminary and he always tells me thank you--what 16 year does that? He's a good guy and we love him. Have a happy day and year. We look forward seeing you grow into the young man that our Heavenly Father wants you to be.

Loss of a Friend

Yesterday I lost a good friend that has been in my life since 1968. My beautiful Wurlizter piano was sold to a friend and taken from my home. I played it one last time before the movers came and the feelings and memories of time spent with my friend came flooding in like a broken dam. I can't even count the hours that have been spent happily creating music and enjoying our time together.

It wasn't always a great relationship, there were some rocky times when I just didn't want to be together. It was not pleasant when I was forced to practice and had to sit for what seemed like hours. I would cry. I would sit and sit and sit without playing a note. There were many frustrating moments that we had together when I just couldn't master a piece or memorize a required song. Tears and pounding on the keys. Play it again! Count! Play softer. Practice!

Our friendship grew and strengthened through the years. When I was in Primary I was the Primary pianist and had to practice through the songbook a bazillion times. As a teenager we spent hours together with seminary songs, church music and hymns. Pop songs were fun to play as well. It was cool to be able to play songs that my friends recognized. Quitting lessons in 9th grade was very traumatic and I wasn't sure how it would affect our relationship. I broke down and cried in my last lesson.

After I was married we were separted for a time. I would play it when we would go to Mom and Dad's for Sunday dinner. When Stephen and I were financially able we purchased my childhood friend and have had it with us through our many moves. My brothers still talk about how many times they have moved that piano and I'll never forget seeing it sitting outside at the bottom of our new apartment stairs in a snowstorm because our apartment door was locked. Oh the good times we've had! Ashton, Dallin, Landon and even Easton for a short time have learned to play and have practiced on this piano. It has touched all of our lives.

We have stayed together through it all. I still love the piano and use my talents often from playing in church to accompanying various musical numbers. I have enjoyed playing for Ashton and Dallin when they sing. I teach piano lessons now and feel like I have come full circle with my piano. I still sit and play just for fun--it's great to bring music into my home. Thanks to my piano for the memories and all the good times we've shared. I hope the new family that my piano is going to will be able to develop the same love, respect and admiration that I have had for my friend through all these years together. You will be missed, my friend.

A Little Obsession

Those who know me well know that I love fall and I love pumpkins. I have been collecting cool, unusual pumpkins and Jack-O-Lanterns for many years. I try to ( and I always succeed!) pick up a new decorative pumpkin every year. It's fun to look around as the fall decorations come out and try to identify the most unique pumpkin. I thought I'd share my passion this year for those who live far away and haven't seen my growing collection. These pumpkins are all over my home--next week I will add the Jack-O-Lanterns to the mix. My piano students love walking around the house looking for every pumpkin and counting them. I didn't put them all out this year because we are moving and I just couldn't deal with it all.

These are the newest additions to the collection. My good friend gave me one of these for my birthday (thanks!) and then I found the others at a store. I just had to have them to complete the set.

This is another birthday gift. My friends always know what to get me, I'm glad I have a fall birthday.


I made these cute little guys a few years ago, back when I had extra time.