Growing Gabe

 

We live in choo choo train range.  We hear a train whistle almost 3-4 times p/day.  Gabe loves it, and today he said “ooh ooh aaa” when the train went by this morning (making sure to hold the ‘a’ out extra long).  He’s into everything right now, and sometimes (most times) I want to pull my hair out, BUT he’s trying extra hard to be a big boy even though he does NOT like to be away from me for a second. 

I’ve been teaching piano lessons in our home since September.  I have almost 15 students and most of them come on weekdays between 6-7:30 am.  These time slots allow me to do something I love without interfering with my motherly duties.  As long as I go to bed at a good time (unlike tonight :P), I do just fine during the day, and it’s amazing how my little ones consistently sleep through lessons each morning.

Inevitably there have been a few times during my once a week evening lessons when Gabe has been in need of my attention, and even though my husband is here, he clings to me with a death grip that can’t be removed.  He’s going through some major stranger anxiety right now, and I’m not exactly sure how to help him other than to keep integrating him into normal every day encounters and to keep being patient with his uneasiness in regards to pretty much any social situation! 

In the meantime, we’ll keep helping him to discover the world around him.  He’s at such a cute age right now, and I love trying to see the world through his eyes.   

driveway graffiti & a smidge of sunshine

The sun decided to say hello on Tuesday.  It felt so amazing to bundle up the kids and send them outside - except for Mr. Gabe was being a stinker and kept taking his coat off every two minutes.  I really wanted to try out my new camera, too…which I did.  I’m so excited.  Cheers to learning a new device!  Yikes.

The girls are writing something like, “piano lessons available, only day to sign up is now.” 

Piano lessons are NOT available at the moment.  Funny girls.  This piano teacher’s cup over-floweth. ;)

These January skies here in the canyon have been soothing.

This is Gabe being 19 months old and being stressed out about it (j/k).  Our boy has a concerned look most of the time, but I’m hoping he’ll soon relax and enjoy himself a bit more.  I think a puppy might be in our near future. 

There’s No Place Like Home

Happy New Year!!  I’m so ready for 2014 it’s not even funny. 

I didn’t always love change, but all this change I’ve been through in my short married life has weathered a new me, and I can honestly say that I love the refreshment change offers. 

The winter months of November & December have quickly come & gone, and the fury of it all is starting to settle in.  Where did the time go?!  I honestly can’t believe that Thanksgiving & Christmas 2013 are a memory now, but oh, what sweet memories we made. 

Jared & I decided that we wanted to stay home…in our home…for the holidays.  It was so sweet to be together, and wow, how grateful we are for the family members of ours that made the trek up here to be with us.  My parents, little brother, big brother (and family), grandma, grandpa, aunt, and cousin drove all the way here from Idaho to join us for Thanksgiving dinner, and we had such…a great…time.  My grandpa’s little sister lives close by (blessing), and her & her husband were able to join us, too.  It was a full house on Thanksgiving Day – filled with love & laughter – and amazing that it was our house.   I’m so happy to know that we’re ingraining some memories into these walls. 

 

We had an early morning outdoor breakfast the next day…as if we weren’t still stuffed from the day before, right?!  But honestly, it was one of my favorite parts of the 3 days we had together. 

Jared + pajama pants + spatula (all on front lawn) = awesomeness.

Fast forward two weekends later:  I was the piano accompanist for a community Christmas concert two nights in a row, AnnMarie played in her first piano recital, and Jared’s parents paid us a visit.  It was wonderful to have them here, and I know AnnMarie was tickled pink to have her grandparents at her first piano recital. 

The warm-up:

 

My folks surprised me and came to the first night of the Christmas concert I was a part of.  :)  Talk about dedication - driving over 8 hours to see their daughter play the piano.  I have been spoiled throughout my life with unconditional support & love in ways that I can never comprehend, but I will always be grateful for their involvement and ‘thumbs up’ in all I do.

And of course…the Decking of the Halls, the lighting of the Christmas tree, the wrapping of the gifts, the honoring of our Savior’s birth. 

We enjoyed so many cozy nights with hot cocoa in front of this magic, and yes, I call it magic, because the majority of these gifts were delivered to us by loved ones (Santa’s helpers), and were not my doing. 

We spent the rest of our stay-cation being together – board games, movies, service projects (more on that later), ice skating, bowling, storytelling, reading books, taking naps, and feeling blessed for good health, peace here & there, and basically, just being together.

 

And of course, Sit and Be Fit, with Mary Ann Wilson on PBS.  I think my kids are ready to go back to school now.