Continued learning

This is something I am really proud of. Not the kind of proud I get when I finish a sewing project, much more than that.

I was recently called as the RS pianist in my ward. I can play the piano but not great, so I knew this was going to be a great opportunity for me to work on it. However, it is more work than I had hoped. This week I have been working on this song...
If you look closely it is really marked up. It is a 6/8 time signature. I realized I haven't had any good experience with this time signature. The first day I felt like I was reading Japanese. I buckled down and had to write every single count in. Now that I am on day 5 of practicing I have picked the speed up to where it is supposed to be and I am not counting every single count anymore. Whew! But I am proud because I have worked really hard. I considered asking if the song could be changed to a simpler one, but I stuck with it. I learned a lot from this. I am also proud to tell Dylan, who is taking lessons, that even I have to practice really hard on pieces that are difficult and then it gets easier.

So here's to my slow, old fingers and my poor eye-hand coordination- or so it feels.

Nails

My Husband was giving me some weird looks tonight at dinner, not that this is very rare! However, usually it has meaning, so I shrugged it off the first time. But after the second time I gave it right back! Then there was the "aha" moment! He said, " You painted your nails." He had been watching me all during dinner- this was even one of those very long and entertaining meals that we have every once-in-a-while where everyone is laughing. Corbin was sticking both fingers up his nose on his own accord, Ashlyn was laughing uncontrollably and then there began the mouth popping (is that what you call it- where you put your finger in your mouth and as you slide it out you can pop it?) Corbin tried, and well, failed. Dylan figured it out. Anyway, I have NEVER in our married lives painted my nails. And I DIDN'T put on a nice, pretty, subtle color either- a dark purple, almost black, perfect for Halloween. I was doing my toes (a deep and ingrained fetish that I have that all started with dancing- a new thing you know about me now- they have to been nicely groomed and always painted to help other's overlook the once blistered beaten feet I used to sport) and decided to try my fingers too, why not! (Was that grammatically correct in anyway- I hope you get the point?) So this whole time he was trying to figure out what was different about me. As much as I use my hands to just talk, I was surprised it took that long!

What is your fetish?

CSN Syndrome

My friend Anna suffers from FOMO syndrome (fear of missing out) and while I was reading her post I realized I have a couple syndromes of my own! So I have diagnosed myself with CSN syndrome (Can't Say No Syndrome.) Literally, I just can't do it! The only time I can say no is if I really do have a valid excuse.

If you wanted to know, I think I also suffer from the CDATTHIC syndrome (can't do anything till this house is clean syndrome.) and the ITIASIHTG Syndrome (If There Is A Sale I Have To Go Syndrome.) I am sure Connor would attest to the validity of all of these!

Sorry I had to put this in.

So what diagnosis do you have for yourself? What are your little quirks?

True to Who I Am

So this is another Tag I have put off far too long, but it sure is fun...

From my friend Marilyn:

How do you stay true to YOU?

This seemed to come up as a theme in tonight's book club. We read Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. Someone mentioned that her sister once told her that one way to stay true to yourself through the years is to pick 5 alternate careers you would have chosen had you not done what you are currently doing, been able to get married, or had kids. (Don't think too hard about the day in day out realities of the career choice or something that is necessarily practical.) Just allow yourself to dream for a few moments... Then take these career choices a step further and incorporate them into your life now somehow. These are aspects of your personality and need to be embraced. No matter where you are at in your life, you need to have dreams and faith in yourself. If I were to choose five right now in my life they would be...

1. Marine Biologist: I love ocean life in all it's forms. I would love to study plant and animal life found there- in a way it still seems mysterious and foreign. I love learning about the different ways so many of these creatures have adapted to meet the needs of living in their particular enviornments.

2. Professional Dancer: I don't know if it would be ballroom or not, but just the creativity and artistic character of it all. I love music and I love to move to it. I would also love to teach.

3. Mountain bum: I don't know if you can count this as a career, but it might have been fun for a while. Just to be a ski instructor during the winter and then a raft/rappelling/mountaineering guide in the summer. I mean, how free and close to nature can you get? (This also implies that it is far away from worldliness). And I would for sure have my Harley with me!

4. Psychologist/Therapist: There is something about helping people change their lives forever. You are giving them tools to make their own choices and be better people (almost another way of sharing the gospel), but I don't know if I could really handle all the sadness that comes with it.

5. Fitness Coach/Trainer: in all of it's varieties. It would be wonderful to help people learn how to strengthen their bodies and maximize their potential. I love to help people learn about ways to do it better and more efficiently and helping them become more (or do more) than they ever thought they could do.

TAG... You are IT! What alternate careers would you choose? They don't have to be in order just go for it. Also, make sure to add a little description as to why! If you've read mine you have to write yours. I don't want any excuses. Come on, it is not that hard.

2009

So here are my New Years Resolutions:
1. Make two meals a week from scratch
2. Finally take out my belly ring
3. Limit my blogging to 3 hours a day
4. Go to Church once a month
5. Help put the kids to bed every night

6. Get my warts removed off of the back of my ears
7. Finally quite picking my nose
8. Stop staying up all night and blaming my tired eyes on Corbin
9. Start exercising
10. Stop making Connor wash the dishes EVERY night.

And you thought I would tell you my real New Years Resolutions, then I would feel accountable to you for all of them!!! Actually #10 is a real one. Connor does most of the dishes- isn't he great!

Polar Bear Pose

I have been enjoying my weekly tennis class since we have been here in Raleigh. A gal in my ward found us a great coach who has played in Wimbledon. Connor has been a great coach in the past, however, my lessons were few and far between (both getting away at the same time was a feat.) It has been nice to play consistently and with other ladies in the ward/area so that I don't get too frustrated. Connor was sceptical about my ability to improve in a large class- but we went and played once together and he was VERY impressed. At least now I might be able to somewhat play with him before I get too old to stand on my own feet!

I also love having some time away with the girls. My coach has a thick Jamaican accent and all those once familiar tennis terms sometimes get confusing. It is now starting to get cold and we play at night so we have called ourselves the Polar bear pose. Our coach runs us around the court well so we can stay warm.

If I were as Strong as...

Before even taking the test I knew...

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

Crazy 8's

So I got tagged twice and both were a little different, so I mixed them together for one, great big Crazy 8 list!

8 Favorite Restaurants...
1. Chipotle
2. Cafe Capistrano
3. Cafe Rio
4. Subway
5. TGI Friday's
6. Sheetz- does this count? I doubt any of my Western friends even know what this is, but I love it!!!
7. My husband's breakfasts!!!
8. Anything really that I haven't made sounds good.
Notice how they are mostly all Mexican Resturants!!!

8 things that happened yesterday...
1. Ran - Surprising, I know
2. I ate too many peanut M&M's- well too many is an understatment, more like the whole bag!
3. Dylan to and from Preschool
4. Parent- Teacher conference with Dylan's Preschool teacher- he's doing GREAT!!!
5. Had an interview for a casual pool position at the Hospital- so nerve racking!!
6. Played swords with Dylan
7. Read so many books I put myself down for a nap instead of my kids!
8. Nursed, Nursed and Nursed again!!!

8 things to look forward to...
1. Connor's Parents come this week
2. Halloween- I enforce the parent tax (20% of the candy goes to me!!!)
3. Thanksgiving with the Ellsworths
4. Christmas in CA with my whole fam
5. When Connor comes home
6. Sundays!!
7. Running another 1/2 in a month- can I say I am addicted???
8. Quiet time after the kids go to bed

8 Favorite TV Shows...
1. Dancing with the stars
2. Eli Stone
3. 24
4. Monk
5. CSI
6. Backyardigans, because it is so cute and I love the songs!
7. A football game here and there with Connor is always a treat
8. No TV might actually be nice!


8 things I love about Fall...
1. Crisp but warm days
2. Cruncky leaves
3. Halloween
4. Thanksgiving
5. Perfect weather- which never lasts long enough
6. getting out my winter clothes- fun until I realize how pathetic it is because I am always pregnant during the winter
7. Hot Chocolate
8. Cuddleing up in big warm blankets with my kids or husband

8 things on my wishlist...
1. My own house
2. Never move again (but first we have to move back out west)
3. My pre-baby tummy!!!
4. A cook
5. Time and energy for another triathlon
6. A masters Degree in Child Life
7. A cruise with just my husband
8. A month to play with my kids with no "to do" list

4th folder, 4th picture...
My super, awesome, little sister, Carianne who I guess is now making her debut appearance on my blog!!
If there was anyone I would want to be like- it would be her!


8 people I tag...
1. Carrie
2. Morgan
3. Jenny
4. Kristin
5. Liz
6. Robbin
7. Rochelle
8. Suzi

Hair Spray

No, I just wanted to catch your attention. I am constantly asking Connor what he thinks I should do with my hair, since he has to look at me every day. But he is so wonderful that he just tells me "You look good any way you have your hair." That is great and all, but I do need some help. I know he is just trying to spare me from making me feel like I have to stick to one cut he might like, but a girl needs help!

So please visit my poll on the side bar and help me out (you can vote for more than one.) Some days I want to grow it out and then I remember all the static, the hair pulling and the long hair drying episodes. And it is already starting to fall out, so I might as well let it all catch up. But I am not feeling the groove with it how it is right now. So all that is left is the buzz look- not really!