Piano Recital

The girls participated in their second piano recital on December 15th.

Bella has been taking piano lessons for .....3 years now (?) and her progress has been amazing. Sister Bell only has good things to say about how she is playing. After almost every lesson, she tells me she's awesome. She even made mention of it before Bella played at the recital. One thing she's mentioned specifically is that when they are practicing flash cards, Bella can't necessarily tell her the name of the note... but she can look at the note and then go right to it on the piano. I guess that's a really good thing. I've noticed she can sight read really well and will practice the song a ton and will get where she plays it really well.

So, we are very proud of her as always!

 Aubree has been taking lessons for about a year and a half. And she definitely has an knack for playing, too. She's like her momma, tho... doesn't like to practice all that much. But we are working on that! Aubree is a very musical child... she loves to sing and can remember lyrics and tunes very well. She got a guitar for her birthday and keeps asking for lessons to learn how to play it!
Love that girl.
I especially love that they love music so much... music is so important, it's calming, it brings the Spirit into our home, and lesson taking helps them learn the beauty of practicing and how practicing really does make perfect.

 

Now, this kid...

We should put him in lessons soon..., maybe it will help him sit still.

We are very thankful for our piano teacher, Sister Bell.
She's kind and encouraging. I couldn't ask for a better person to teach them!   

Bella played The Ukrainian Carol of the Bells and Silent Night
Aubree played Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and Angels We Have Heard on High

Hopefully I can post the videos soon.

Bella's Baptism.

September 29, 2012

This was SUCH a beautiful and important day! 

I felt so grateful for the family & friends that were so supportive and for those that traveled a far distance! 

I know Bella felt the love that surrounded her on her birthday.

About a month before, I commissioned my friend, Danielle, to take pictures of Bella. We drove up to the temple and battled the wind, but oh my, these pictures were beautiful! I'm so glad we were able to do them, and even done early enough that I could put a baptism book together for Bella. 

 Bella is such a beautiful child.
I'm so proud of her every day.

 Bella was baptized and confirmed by her daddy.
 So thankful that he worthily holds the Priesthood, so he can bless our family.

 And I'm so thankful I was able to be standing there at the top of the stairs, waiting to wrap her in a warm towel.

 We asked Bella to decide who she'd like to have give the talks, prayers, play the piano, conduct. She put together the whole program!
She asked her Aunt Emily (sorry, no picture, lame!) to give the Baptism talk.
And then asked Uncle Topher to give the talk on the Holy Ghost.
They both did a spectacular job. Topher will be going on a mission in a few short months, so it was good practice for him to give a talk!

 You know me, I've got to decorate.
In the relief society room, where we held the main part of the service, I decorated all in white, to represent the covenants she made with her Father in Heaven. Read more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints here.

 Fittingly, it rained the entire day!
Cleansing the earth and feeding it all in one act. We needed that rain so much!

 Grammy and Papa gave Bella her first set of scriptures, and the cute case/purse is from Aunt Lisa and family. She loves being able to carry her grown-up scriptures to church!

 In the cultural hall, we set up for a luncheon after the baptism. The "theme" in here was rainbow-ish....building off of Bella's love of rainbows and her fave baptism song: I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain....and ponder on the beauty of the earth made clean again....

 I couldn't have pulled off such a wonderful reception without the help of my In"Loves" ...and wonderful friends who brought treats! Miss Karen made tie dye cupcake, just for Bella!

 I can never take good pictures in the church gym....gotta learn how to use this camera oneofthesedays!

 Lots and lots of family and friends!

 SO thankful that my family lives so close and could all attend. Their support is always so endless!

 Friends!

 Hud! How can one not take a picture of this curly-headed little gem??

 Emily! Bella's friend thru Activity Days. She's such a sweetie.

 Oh Jared. Yer a handsome fella.

 And more friends! {muah}

I couldn't have asked for a better day.
My dearest Bella,
I am so proud of you!! And looking at these pictures, all this family coming to support you....know you are loved by MANY! And especially loved by your Heavenly Father, whom I know is so proud of you in your decision to become a member of His church.
Love,
Mom

The day is fast approaching.

In just a few days, Bella is going to turn 8 years old. 

In our religion, we believe that the age of 8 is the age of accountability, when we are old enough to understand the concepts of faith and repentance. This is the age one can choose to be baptized. 

Bella made this beautiful decision and will be baptized by immersion on Saturday, her birthday.

I've been busy making plans for months. Bella decided on her baptism program, the songs, who would give the talks, etc.

Last night, I was going thru pictures to be scanned {since Bella was born at the beginning of the 'digital' age...can you believe that??}. I came across so many wonderful memories. Each one made my heart burst with happiness....I'm so grateful I am her mother.

She's grown up so much.
She is magnificent inside and out.

Picture credit: Miss Danielle. Thank you so much, sweets. 

Love, Bella

So.....{sigh}

I look forward to teacher appreciation week.

Really, I do.

Mainly because I like to make stuff, and lets be honest...I like all the "did you make that? oh wow!" I can get or the "these are so yummy". It's my vanity, I guess you could say.

But also....my child's teacher spends ALL day teaching my child. They deserve all that I can make them....and more.

This year...the stinking school did appreciation week on a different week than ALL the other schools I know of! URGH. So, since I put off making what I needed to make....I got a late start. Boo. OH well. Last year, I made little things and gave stuff to lots of different faculty members. I couldn't quite hack it this year....the overachiever in me was very disappointed.

Starting from the LAST gift...

I made this cute wreath, inspired by a pin on Pinterest, of course :), via Destination Craft. I adore the fact that its a chalkboard on the top! And the felt flowers were easy cheesy to make, and sporting school colors, no less!

 The second day...

Another idea {lets just say ALL my ideas come from Pinterest} from Pinterest...

Bella picked out a yummy smelling hand lotion, then I attached a cutout of her hands. Adorable idea!

That day, I also sent cinnamon rolls and muffins....talk about uber-productive that morning. Then I promptly rewarded myself with the leftovers ;).

 These last two pictures were taken with Instagram....I've mentioned that app before, but I love it to the point I'm obsessed....I take so many pictures because of it!

The first day....I decorated a Sonic drink carrier....and added a few treats. Simple, yet fun!
I swear...Sonic drink carriers are THE best way to give gifts!

Alrighty....so that was my 3 days of gift giving. If you're in the market for ideas for your kids teachers....Pinterest has you covered.
But here are some of my favorites:

I have to mention eighteen25....mainly bc I follow one of the girls on Instagram...and she mentioned me in her post! But she put together a great list of ideas. I can never get over how talented some people are!

I bought all the "ingredients" for this snazzy gift....to hand out to a few of the faculty.

There's even a free printable!!!

But I ran out of time....maybe for end of year??

Speaking of printables....

These cards are fantastic. And how easy to put together a little packet, tied with a ribbon?!

I love the idea of giving the teachers breakfast...

Little Pumpkin Grace is where I got my inspiration for the cinnamon rolls, etc.

What else? What else?

This is another "end of school" gift I'm excited to create and give...
Fun, right?

Ok, ok...that's enough....I could go on all night...sharing all the pinteresting things I've found! I don't know what I would do without that site!

Keeping it going...

I got a new iPhone. I love my new phone, like probably too much. It's so much fun.

Instead of toting my camera around....I just snap shots and use Instagram to filter it, making it look super cool. The only problem....pictures are on my PHONE, not computer, making it hard to get them TO my computer and uploaded onto blogger. And what is a blog post without pictures?! 

So I'm going to make the effort {to not be lazy}....and get these awesome pictures all loaded up!

Cause there are some good ones!

Like this of the family on New Years eve/day/week?? I'm not for sure.

Isn't Emily's smile so cute? And James covering his face there in the background....priceless.

 Hula Hooping has been all the rave over here lately....until we {we: as in my middle girl child} broke the darn thing all over the carpet. I need to go buy a new one {preferably one without water inside of it!} cause it's so fun to watch them hula!

 Our next door neighbor has chickens that used to come over and eat all the bugs in our yard visit, but we haven't seen them all that much lately. The other day, we were playing outside {since the weather has been goooooorgeous lately...} and this scraggly little chick comes wandering over.

The kiddos were quite enthralled....especially since the chick was so friendly and wanted to play! It almost let Jax pet it....crazy chicken.

Randomness at its best....



100th day of school

I got a note from Bella's teacher on Monday that said:
"bring all this stuff and have a collection of 100 things to show and have a shirt with 100 things on it by WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 2nd, you know, in TWO DAYS. Thank you, Imadumb Teacher."

{Ok, so that wasn't exactly what it said....I para-made-up-phrased}

Turns out....that date doesn't exist this year.

So...on Wednesday, the FIRST, I had her shirt and her project all done and sent her off to school.

Turned out I was a day too early, she was only one of 3 to wear a 100 shirt.

BUT IT WAS A DANG CUTE SHIRT!

{So, she wore it two days in a row, booyah!}

Oh dear, these two are trouble adorable.

Baller.

I find it interesting that "Baller" is the first part of "Ballerina"....anyone get me on that one?? Huh??

*Tap*Tap*

OH well.

We signed Bella up for basketball.

Good idea, bad idea...I dunno.

I want my kids to DO stuff....and they are. The girls are both in dance {thus the ballerina comment above}, but Bella likes her sports {she's obsessed with soccer atm} so since soccer isn't going right now, we put in her basketball. And in the spring, both girls are signed up for softball.

Well...she had her first practice and it went ok....

then she had her first game...

and you could tell she just didn't get it and she just wasn't having fun.

There may have been a few contributing factors:

a. she was kinda sick (turned out to be Strep when we took her to the dr, whoops)

b. it was loud, noisy, chaotic to say the least in that gym

c. she was the only girl, and very self conscious

d. the boys were a little rough

But...even with all that, she did fine. Even when she ducked when her teammate passed her the ball.

 She's so stinking tall...which is a good thing {or at least I will ALWAYS tell her that}

so I've decided to teach her how to post up underneath the basket. And to play defense under the basket. I LOVE practicing with her....and we're getting a basketball goal this weekend, so we'll be able to play big time now! :)

 I'm just so proud!

Even thru my nervousness {feelings from way back when I first started playing basketball...they were very traumatic times, so I remember them well!}

it's so hard to try something new!

But my Bellagirl is a brave one!

This is what tired looks like....

Our summer has been full of days like this.....
let me just say....Bella sleeps GOOOOOOD at night. That's what swimming and playing hard does to a girl.

Field Day

Our schools did not have off for Memorial Day....it was a make-up snow day. So that's when field day was held. The kinder classes got to have their fun in the morning {thank goodness....holy hotness}
They started their fun inside....playing a few relay races.

Then they moved outside....for even more fun!
There is one thing I can say about the kids in Bella's class....they truly loved her to pieces.

Bella, bless her little competitive heart, had a blast in the races....that girl loves to win and hates to lose...we're going to have to work on the "be a good sport" motto in the near future ;). All in good time.

The daddy's....being Memorial day, James had the day off (yay) so he was able to come and watch Bella participate in field day.

Probably the funniest game of the day....tug of war between Mrs Handley's class and Mrs Mangum's. The teachers even got into it!

.....and Mrs Mangum's won....booo!

Fail. Ha!

This is Scarlett....say hello to her. **HELLO** she's the sweetest thing. For serious.

They did a "who can kick their shoe the farthest" ummm....lame, much? But this is the one thing Bella did win. Go Bella!

Such a fun, fun day!

Now...more blogging to come! Woot! Gotta get back into this groove, yo!