My Monkey

Nothing quite like being greeted at the door by this.

Sisters, Sisters

There were never such devoted sisters...

They really are so sweet together.
Miss A adores her big sister.

and she wants to do everything Miss M does.

There is just something so special about sisters.

Hands On The Wall

Miss A loves to climb up on our table. She also loves to jump off of it, even if there is no one around to catch her. We taught her to say "one, two, three..." that way, when we hear her start counting we run to catch her before she jumps. However, standing and dancing in the middle of the table just needs to be nipped in the bud, so we have started time outs.
When Miss A needs a time out, I say "Hands on the wall." And this is what she does.

It's very cute. K and I laugh silently at this little site. She is so good about standing there until we say, "OK time outs over". Then she runs to us for hugs.

who'd have thought?

That there would be a street named after my daughter in Green Bay, WI???

My little Tree Huggers

I'm Glad That I Live in This Beautiful World

We couldn't resist being outside on Earth day and take in all it's beauty.

(my first dandelion bouquet of the season!)

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.




I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.



The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.



I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.

HAPPY EARTH DAY

(pictures of Miss M and Nipper the turtle taken by R&K)
(Pictures of whale Hanama Bay found via google search)

The Piano

Earlier this month R posted about her piano, "it is finally here", so this is just a follow up posting. This piano has a "pioneer" story of it's own, one that I asked R's mum (Corlyn) to write for us, especially since the piano was handed down from her mum to R. It is the cutest story:


The Piano

My story begins in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was the heartfelt desire for me to be in a home where children's fingers would loving and excitedly tickle my keys. Oh, to hear that first attempt at Mozart Melody, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." A dream for having me began in the heart of a young girl, Corlyn, as she beheld the beautiful French Provincial piano time and time again in the living room of her aunt, Irene. Corlyn desired that someday her children would delight in having piano lessons. Both she and I loved those early stages (and struggles) that come with learning.

My dream and Corlyn's dream took root in 1981 when she purchased me and I moved into her living room on Finger Road in Green Bay. I was so happy! Her children took lessons from Sister Case. After only three lessons, her eldest daughter entered a Stake-wide talent competition in Appleton, Wisconsin where she won first prize for playing "The Pink Panther" theme song. She was competing against many others who had had years of lessons. Wow! When I heard that all I could say was, "Yes!" That was my first triumph . How I loved it when she practiced. Her enthusiasm brought me such delight. While eventually, her son preferred the saxophone and daughter the flute, there interest in me waned. But Beckie, she was a champ. How well I remember her practicing over and over the song, "Green Gravel." She was so diligent. My owner, Corlyn, had a bit of trouble getting the timing right on her music, "Chariots of Fire." That was the first and last song she practiced. Sister Case had to stop giving lessons and there I sat.



In 1986 I found myself tied in a moving van and on my way to Nevada City, California. That was some trip. I bumped across prairies, over mountains, and finally rested in the living room of my new home on Red Dog Road. I wondered how I fared. But wonder of wonders! I was being tuned. That gives me tickling sensations and what a good feeling to know that my students will be able to learn correct pitch. I feel terrible when I am out of tune. How can I be of service when I sound flat? Beckie still loved to play me. She always composed beautiful left hand accompany to the right hand melody.

Now there were two new students. It was Ms. Breen who taught Beckie and Sarah and Jesica. I so wanted to have them play me for hours every day but maybe that was selfish of me. Then again that is my sole purpose and I am happiest when children's fingers are caressing my keys. It was Beckie who remained faithful to me. She would play for hours. How I happy I was when we made music together. Jesica also diligently practiced. Then one day there was a recital right in my living room. Ms. Breen played my keys while many kids sang or played instruments. Sarah now played the flute. Ms. Breen could really get the sound out of me. What a great feeling!

(Nevada City, CA)

Times changed and once again I found myself tied in a moving van and headed back over the twists and turns of highway 20, and over the mountain passes on I-80. I reached my destination in Utah. There I was brought out of the van and spent many a cold lonely night in a storage unit with boxes piled on and around me. I could feel that Corlyn missed me terribly. After all, her dream was dashed too. I missed being among children and even missed all the family pictures displayed above me. Two years was a long time to be alone. And now that I think of it, I was stored in Chico, California for two years. Wow! Those days were suffocating hot.

One day the shed door opened and men were pushing me outside and I was being loaded once again in a moving van. Where was my destination? Well, I found myself once again in a living room with family pictures above me in Salt Lake City, Utah. But where were the children? Those were lonely days. Time marched forward and one day in May the cover over my keys was raised and a beautiful little girl climbed on my bench and began playing me. How I adored that child! She wasn't with me for very long. I wondered where she went.

(Here is the piano in Salt Lake City)

Time marched on and I was moved to Sandy, Utah. The story is the same. A few more bumps and scratches and I am in a living room with family pictures above me. There are several of that brown-eyed beauty I heard called "Miss M;" the one I met in Salt Lake. Now she has a sister called Miss A and joy of joys - one October day Miss has climbed on my bench and is playing me. Miss A tries also. I love these beautiful girls. I don't want them to stop playing my keys. But they leave.

Oh, what is happening? I find myself strapped once again in a moving van. This ride is almost as long as the first. I am so cold and lonely. Where am I going? Well, the truck doors open and men are standing all around. By now I know the routine. I'll get more scratches. Wait! There is that Miss M again. Now I am resting very happily in her living room. And there is Beckie and little Miss A. They will love me and play wonderful songs on my keys. This is my family now, and I am thrilled! My story has a happy ending. I am now in my third generation of musicians and I am the luckiest!

(...as continued by K...) Thanks to the Elders (Adams and Stenger), neighbor Mark, and Unc, the piano is now sitting in our living room, it's new home until it's next trek somewhere in the world. Thanks to the recommendation of our friend, we had the piano tuned by Anika (www.precisionchicago.com) - thanks SOOOOO much!!! It sounds beautiful thanks to you!! If anyone needs to have their piano tuned, we would definitely recommend Anika!
Once it was tuned, she even played a little bit for us:




And Rebekeh even played a medley of church hymns, too!




Thanks Mum for the piano, and especially for the "pioneer story" that came with it. Miss A and Miss M already LOVE it and we will cherish it for years to come. I'm even inspired to take lessons, too! Give me a couple of years, or a couple of Groundhog Days like Bill Murray...

Here is the piano now, with new pictures hanging above it:

Earth Day - April 22

I would not call myself 100% green, but I do enjoy recycling, swapping clothes with family/friends (for my kids). I do like to shop at Thrift stores. You know the three R's song by Jack Johnson - one of our favorites reduce, reuse, recycle. I also like the "green cleaners" I have no idea if they really work because I don't take the time to research - but hey they label says green, they smell good so I use them.

This past year it seems Miss M has really become aware of not wasting, of reusing things, to clean up after ourselves (at the park, beach, etc). and she loves to throw out the recycling she is also very good at reminding what things should be recycled.

So, I should not be surprised that when Miss M was reading our family calendar and noticed that April 22 was Earth Day, she should want to have a party for the Earth. She then rattled off all these ideas she has for her Earth day party.

"We could make three bins, one for plastics, one for cans, and one for paper. Then we could go to the parks and put those things in our bins. When we get home, Daddy and I could plant flowers in our back yard. We could make pictures for the Earth, cause it is her birthday and hang them up so everyone can see it's Earth day. Wouldn't that be so cool Momma!?!?! I really think we should have an Earth day party! Well, Momma what do you think?"

I think it is a great idea, now I have been surfing the net as I so love to do to waste time.
Here are some ideas that I have come across via other blogs and google searches. I thought
I would share them with you.

Earth Day Activities
Kaboose Earth day crafts
DLTK crafts for kids
Create My Event

Happy Earth Day!

*all photo's found via google earth day search

Going Barefoot

I saw THIS on the parents Goodyblog.

and I am all about being barefoot.
So tomorrow, I will kick my beautifully manicured feet up and relax with no shoes!
and maybe join the walk...

and tomorrow you can meet
here and join others for a walk. (if you live in the Chicago - land area)

Evanston

Northwestern University

Meet at the Rock, walk around campus, 3pm

or go to the TomShoes website HERE to find out if there is a walk going on by you



plus, I just think this is great that TOMS has a One for One program.

Thank you Easter Bunny

I did get a basket from the EB this year (must have been good) and I LOVED what I got!

A few weeks ago I had read on my friends blog how she had tried the ped egg and LOVED it.

Well, I had been wanting to try it for some time and after reading her review I mentioned in passing one day how I would LOVE a ped egg for myself.

Well the EB must have been listening because I got it in my basket. AND I LOVE it! Wow what a difference it has made on my feet.
My feet that use to get pedicures every two weeks (before kids). My feet that have not had a pedicure for OVER a year. My feat that walk around in slippers most of the time (or barefoot). My feet are smooth and lovely (as lovely as feet go)
(and I will spare you the before and after pictures of my feet)

Everyone else was pretty pleased with their basket full of goodies too!

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail Part 3

April 12, 2009

As tradition goes we had our little egg hunt in our back yard. The E B left some eggs filled with goodies to be hidden. They both had a great time finding the eggs. And Miss A even held off opening them until they were all found. I think Miss M's favorite were the lighting McQueen and nail polish filled eggs. Oh and the pet shop toys. Miss A just wanted to open them all.

Waiting to go out side - Miss A likes to put anything on her head.

Love Miss M's shades (she picked them out herself and got them with her own money!)
they are so good at helping each other out. I hope
they are always good friends!
hmm, I think I need some better shades, Miss M's are WAY cuter!
(I had to go cheap because I went through 5 sunglasses in three months no thanks to Miss A)

Hooray, nail polish and it's YELLOW!
(later she did say she wished she would have gotten and indigo one too)


Thanks Miss M for taking this cute picture