Sizzlin Summer

Summer!!! Woo Woo!!!

We love summer!! Yes we do! We love summer, how 'bout you?!
After a fun birthday party for Izzy! She's 4 years old, wow!!!

Precious moments!

Izzy and her neighbor boyfriend Pierce

Hiking with a friend and the girls...

Our little Livi-10 months old!

21 pounds

6 teeth

crawling, standing, walking with support

My girls with their older and wiser cousins Amanda & Anne

Kodak moment!

Izzy's 4th Birthday Party!!!!

Tons of fun!

12 friends, water balloons, swim suits, cupcakes, water slide,

pizza, candles, presents,balloons, prizes,

streamers, and great memories!

4th of July weekend. Aaron's family in IDAHO had a family

party for the weekend. Aaron had to work over the weekend,

so Adam and I drove Izzy and Livi up to good ol' Parma, ID.

We had a great time, lots of great time with cousins,

aunts, uncles, and of course, Grandma & Grandpa Pony!

My oh-so-theraputic Girls Getaway trip to Las Vegas with Sarah & Kailee. Lots of Rest, Relaxation, Un-interrupted Conversation, Pool-time, deep sleep, pedicures, massages, restaurants, shopping, all in just 3 days!

Here's a Mimi-montage!

This is pretty typical when Mimi and Livi are in the same room.

I think this is what is making Livi so close to walking!

She wants to get away from that puppy!

A good representation of the two attitudes towards Mimi.

Izzy = IN LOVE and Livi = not-so-much!

Aaron and I have really been living up the good life this summer!!!

We have been doing something fun almost every weekend.

This summer we feel like we're really doing things we want to do

and have wanted to do for a long time!

It's going by fast and we're trying to enjoy every minute of it!

Diamond Rio Concert!!

"I start walkin' your way, you start walkin' mine,

we meet in the middle, 'neath that ol Georgia Pine!!"

Us amidst Salt Lake's finest wranglers, perms, mullets, and whole-lotta hee-haw.

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!