i LOVE having days off!

When I don't have to teach 12 piano students, I find that I have all sorts of time to do fun things with the kids! Today we went to the Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy with my sister and my sister-in-law and their kids. What a cool place! Where else is Zachary going to be able to touch a stingray and a starfish SAFELY? I loved how Lindsey's little girl Josie was amazed to see all of the "Nemos". And how her little boy Jonah would get just close enough to the stingray to feel brave, but not touch it. It was a really fun afternoon--I love Lindsey and Karly!! And lunch at Wingers was the icing on the cake.....even though Thanksgiving is tomorrow!

sisters sleepover weekend!!!

I love this one particular weekend of the year. My Aunt Becky, her girls and her girls-in-law all get together with my mom, sister and sisters-in-law and we have the FUNNEST WEEKEND!!! We went to Johnny Carino's for dinner last night, gave eachother little presents afterwards, woke up this morning and went to breakfast, then shopped, Shopped, SHOPPED!!! We end up talking and talking non-stop for 2 entire days. When all the girls went home, my whole family came back over to our house and watched the BYU/Utah game. Tough loss for sure!!! We can now look forward to Thanksgiving and heading down to St. George in a few days. I love the Fall!!!

how cute are my kids?!?!

we FINALLY got all of the kids' school pictures. for some reason, they lost megan's pictures this year and had to reorder them from california. anyway, alex is 14 and in 9th grade, megan is 12 and in 7th, annie is 11 and in 6th grade and little zach is 7 and in 1st grade. lovin my kids!!!

oh my heck!!!

Today was that "ONE" day--we all have them every once in a while--you know the "ONE" where you have BIG projects to do and it all combines to make the perfect storm?? My "ONE" day started actually last night where after teaching 11 piano students, Steve and I had to go to the church get the gym set up for our primary quarterly activity I was in charge of. It took a couple of hours and I was already tired at 7:00 a.m. when I had to wake up to get ready for the Teacher Training meeting which I was incidentally in charge of too. After the meeting and the activity, I had 2 piano recitals this afternoon. Combine that with it being Zach's birthday today, all of the Federation registrations due for my piano kids and a quiz I was supposed to take online (pushed that till tomorrow....), OH MY HECK!!! Glad today's over--hopefully won't have another day like this for a LONG time!

CALGON....take us away!

We took the kids on a fun "secret" get-away this weekend. Steve and I packed for them so it was a total surprise when on Friday night we packed them all in the car and drove to a Marriott Hotel for a night of swimming, games and SO MUCH FOOD!!! Some kids loved the cold pool And the other kids hung out in the hot tub!
The next morning, Steve, Alex, Megan and I went to the BYU game while sweet little Annie watched the 2 younger boys. We love our family so much and love spending time together. Sometimes you just need to get away to do it...

Marriott Halloween Party

It's hard to believe with all the snow that's outside today that this picture was taken less than a week ago! Marriott always goes all out for their parties and this year was no different. We had so much fun together--and Steve even got paid time off the phone! Next up.....THANKSGIVING!
P.S. Seriously, Alex?!?!

halloween and hsm 3

We seem to do things a little different with the older kids on Halloween. Alex got to spend the night over at his Uncles Cameron and Collin's house to play video games and watch movies, the girls and I went to see High School Musical 3 with Lindsey and Carrie, and the little boys were our trick-or-treaters. We got to go to Steve's Marriott work party which was super fun. They had a spook alley, carnival games, and a little trick-or-treat route throughout the building. What a perfect day capped off by a beautiful night to go door to door for candy. Hope everyone else had a great Halloween too!!