Anyone else??

2010 is only half-way through and

8 months ago we added Olivia Claire to our family...

2 months ago we added Adam, Aaron's twin brother, to our family...

And 4 days ago we added Mimi (7 week old mini-dachshund puppy) to our family...

Let the good times roll!!! Anyone else?

Suzuki Soul

I began teacher training in June 2000. I became interested in teacher training because I've been raised as a Suzuki student my entire life and it's a part of who I am. The training I began 10 years ago has given me so many friendships, life experiences, people connections, and job opportunities. This year I decided to celebrate my 10 years as a Suzuki Teacher by attending the Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference. Held biennially, my dear friend Brittany and I went as newbie's to the entire experience, including the city!! Much was learned, enjoyed, inspired, taught, eaten, discussed, and critiqued. Dr. Suzuki has tried to pass on his philosophy of seeing the talent in every child and I am doing what little I can do keep his vision alive!


Hundres of Suzuki Teachers gathered together this weekend to learn and teach "teamwork" within our Suzuki studios. It was great to be with others like myself who have been impacted by the Suzuki method in their life. Those I learned from have studied directly with Dr. Suzuki in Mastumoto, Japan. So inspiring!!!!

Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, 1898-1998

I had the great pleasure of spending 95% of my 5 day trip in the luxurious Hilton Hotel. Can't beat maid service, fresh linens daily, and music geeks everywhere!

Brittany (middle) was my roommate-an awesomely talented cellist-turned Suzuki Cello teacher. We are ridiculously alike type-A personalities. Spending the weekend with her was like spending the weekend with a friend who understands me on many many levels-oh wait, that's exactly what it was! Becca is an extremely talented, and extremely humble violinist also from Salt Lake. She is the epitomy of Dr. Suzuki's philosophy-Beautiful Tone, Beautiful Heart. Together we took downtown Minneapolis by storm, one purple balloon at a time!

Doing my best impersonation of a mis-placed note within the giant mural of Maurice Ravel's "Gaspard de la Nuit" on the side of an old building in downtown Minneapolis. I owe Terry Durbin $5 for challenging him to "name that piece on the wall". I should've known he knew what it was!!!

Until my next Suzuki adventure, Intermountain Suzuki String Institute...a few weeks away! I am honored and excited to be in the faculty again this year teaching Book 1 & 2 Masterclasses.

Biggest Loser Results

BEFORE PHOTO, JANUARY 3 2010

GOAL: LOSE 19.5 POUNDS BY MOTHERS DAY 2010

AFTER, MAY 9 2010

GOAL ATTAINED!! TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS: 24 POUNDS

I am not authorized to post Aaron's before/after photos online, but they are incredible! We make an awesome team!!! Now...where are those brownies?

May Moments

Matching (my first "matching" purchase) Spring Dresses I couldn't resist started it all = $45
Coordinating Tie/Sweater for Mom and Dad = $ 55
Custom Hair Bows = $6
Accessories = $25
Moment photographed I will cherish forever = Priceless.

Option 1 & Option 2 of the best family photos we got. We are trying our luck again next week to see if we can capture everyone happy again (and have Aaron's tie showing, not Livi's hair-bow acting as a bow-tie). I have a few tricks up my sleeve for round 2...things I learned during our first attempt of family photos 18 months ago, and obviously didn't learn enough!!!!

Since these photos taken a couple weeks ago, Livi has already learned how to crawl. She is 8 months old!!! It'll sure to be a summer of grass stains & scraped up knees! All part of the journey! Bring it on!

This & That...

I feel like my blogs have been quite a melting pot of things-I guess that's what we are experiencing right now in life! Aaron's new job has gone well so far-he really enjoys the short 5 minute commute, nice coworkers, and most of all, a nice paycheck! Who can complain right?
I am enjoying the longer-daylight, 24 pound weight-loss so far, and my new calling teaching the 11 year old primary class.

Yes, we get to gaze into those sweet eyes every day, jealous? She's 6 months old, has one tooth, weighs around 16 pounds, sleeps well at night, rolls over willingly, and is in the 95% for her age in height, 60% for weight! She must be our baby!

Izzy is becoming quite the big sister. She loves getting reactions out of Olivia lately, they are having a blast as sisters!

Grandpa has made a few visits lately doing some handy-man work. I love that he'll take a few extra minutes to be goofy grandpa to his growing grand-daughters!!!

Izzy has 3 neighborhood boyfriends she has play-dates with every Tuesday. When we hosted it in March, they made fruit-loop rainbows using paper plates, white frosting, and you guessed it...fruit loops!

Aaron and I have a date-night co-op set up every Friday night. We take turns with 2 other couples dropping all our kids off at one house while the other 2 couples have a date night! For our time hosting in March, I gave all the girls pedicures!!! They absolutely loved it!!!!!!!

Hope all of you are having a great month, we are excited for what's to come in April--

General Conference

Spring Break from teaching

Adam arrives!

Family photos with warmer spring weather!

Lately...

Lately... Olivia has been smiling up a storm. We are all competing for her attention!

Lately... Isabelle is obsessed with taking over Mommy duties at bath time...

...Even when she's sporting a big--fat--pink--eye.

Lately... Izzy has been feeling a lot better and has been taking her favorite baby for some strolls.

Lately... we've been getting Izzy ready for her preschool photos coming up on Thursday!

Lately...Aaron and I are still working on our diets. Each of us have almost hit 20 lbs lost!! We're excited for spring, warmer weather, and watching the final season of LOST!!!

2010: New Year, New Stuff!

Yay! We are so excited to be in a new year! Although 2009 was very successful with Aaron's College Graduation and Olivia's healthy birth, and celebrating 8 years together, it's always fun to start a new year and look ahead at what can be accomplished! Here's to 2010!


Aaron is excited to be a full-time RN at the V.A. hospital in February. This hospital is going to be a great fit for Aaron. He did his capstone work there and it's only a few minutes from our house. Aaron might even brave the commute with his bike in the summer! Congratulations to Aaron!

"BEFORE PHOTOS"

Aaron and I are participating in a "biggest loser style" family weight-loss challenge. These are our ever-so-motivating before pictures. (I'll spare you the full body-shots) So far both of us have lost almost 10 pounds and are discovering new things to eat for dinner and to snack on during the day. We are getting our money's worth of our gym membership and we are both excited to continue towards our goals!

Isabelle

I feel guilty not posting about our girls. Isabelle is doing well. She is a new Sunbeam at church, seems to be making a new friend a week, and is working on getting dressed by herself in the morning. She's trying to learn her numbers & letters a little better and she has started to "read" books to Olivia.

Olivia

Sheis our little queen. She is absolutely adorable and is starting to discover that her voice can make other noises besides a cry. She laughs, smiles, coos, grumbles, yells, and make anyone melt. Her hair is starting to lighten a little, but she's still considered the brunette of the family.

Bless-ed Olivia

January 3 2010 Aaron blessed Olivia Claire Norton in our ward sacrament meeting. We are so thankful that Aaron was able to perform this sacred ordinance and many family members were able to participate. Thank you to those of you who took the time to support our family!

Olivia wore the same blessing dress as Isabelle did way back on August 5 2006. That seems SOOO long ago! Grandma and Grandpa Kunz were excited to be a part of both blessings and Grandma & Grandpa Norton were so nice to give a special blessing bracelet to both girls for their special day. Olivia was a dream during the blessing and the whole day was a huge success!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas 2009 has been so much fun!!! We are excited that Izzy and Livi were good girls all month and had a visitor on Christmas Eve bring them gifts galore!

When we got home from Grandma Kunz's house on Christmas Eve, we noticed Santa's elves had left the girls one gift each to open on Christmas Eve!!

Christmas Pajamas!!!!

I have to brag about Izzy, she took this photo! Talk about photographer in training!!!!

The whole fam ready for Santa's visit!

Izzy left a treat for Santa and Livia thought it looked really yummy!

Christmas morning! Gifts everywhere, smiles, bed head, what more could you ask for?

Mmmmm yummy ribbon!All of us on Christmas at Grandma Kunz's. Santa was good to us all this year. Thank you to the North Pole!

Ode to Olivia

Our Lovely Little Livi

Olivia turns 3 months on the 18th. She's as adorable as she looks!

Friends, Fall, and Fresh Snow!

Wow how time has flown by! I'm sorry if you've been watching for a blog update only to be dissapointed for a while! Here are some photos of what we've been up to lately. Our lives has been a little crazy, hopefully things are going to get better this week-we'll keep everyone posted. For now, enjoy these pictures. I'm also going to be a really good Mom this week and actually take pictures of our cutie pie-Little Livi. Sorry for the lack of them in this post. You'll see if you scroll down the reaction Izzy gets when she's not the one posing for the camera.

Love you all!
Izzy and I enjoy our ward playgroup. This was a beautiful November day that we were lucky enough to enjoy with friends and fall colors!

I'm sure everyone has a picture like this. You don't think the leaf is ACTUALLY going to end up in front of their face-and then it does. Typical!

This is Izzy's new best friend, Lizzie. They are two peas-in-a-pod. They will be sunbeams together in Primary in just a few weeks! This past Sunday they got to sit in Primary during singing time and I was told they held hands while walking into the primary room, sat next to each other, yelled their little hearts out to "sing" and left smiling. Wow she's growing up!!!

How cute are they with their matching sweatsuits and holding hands?

Izzy and her ever growing baby sister. Little Livi is just starting to debut her smile and laugh to those that she meets. She's also sleeping through the night most nights-It makes me feel like a new woman! Thank you Livi!

One of her first smiles-adorable!

What I mentioned earlier. Izzy's response when Mommy tries to get one half-decent photo of her sister. POOOOOOR IZZY! Look at that lip!

Here's Izzy showing us her candy house she made at preschool. She ate almost all the candy off of it in the car on the way home from school. Aaron was dissapointed that the actual cone-shape was made of paper and not more candy-dang it!

Welcome snow! Izzy and her friend Caiden made snow angels in our backyard. Caiden lives a few houses down our street and has been a really fun friend for play-dates!

Pink Puffs!

Izzy and Caiden posing on their sled next to their "SNOW QUEEN." Notice the queen's tiara.

We hope everyone is having as much fun in the snow as we are! And if you live somewhere without snow, I'm sure you're soooo jealous of our snow queen and snow angels right???

Bring on Christmas!