Claire big day, Avery's big secret!

It's been a busy weekend for us. Not only did we celebrate another fun Halloween, Claire performed in her very first piano concert!

Claire has been taking piano for 7 weeks, and already is an accomplished pianist... okay, well maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but she really is quite good!

Her teacher suggested they perform a duet together for this weekend's pop concert. I thought for sure Claire would decline, since that is most certainly what I would have done at 8 years old with 7 weeks of piano under my belt. But instead, Claire thought it would be fun! What a girl!

We arrived at the concert and Claire leaned over to me and said, "there are a lot of people here, and teenagers too!" I could see the nerves starting to set in. The teenagers played first, a four-person piece on 2 pianos that was outstanding! Then 2 younger kids played, did well, then Claire.

I could not have been more proud. I knew she was nervous, but no one else did. She stood right up, walked to the piano, and played perfectly! She was forte when appropriate and pianissimo at the right time and finished in perfect timing with her teacher! (The best part, she wasn't actually perfect. The piece called for them to repeat it at the end. I saw her hands go up like she was done, but then she smiled and put her hands back down and got right back into the rhythm. She didn't quit or get flustered or any of the things I imagined happening in my head!) When she was done, she stood up, took her bow and sat back down. After she caught her breath, she leaned over to me and said, "that was really fun mom!"

Oh, you just can't pay for these moments! They only come from the gift of motherhood. Thank you God for these amazing children of mine, of yours, that you let me play with. I am so blessed!

Claire, after the big performance!

Now, for the other child......

After the concert, which Avery sat through playing on the itouch, I couldn't find her at home. It was very quiet, which is never a good thing. I looked upstairs, downstairs, all around, until I finally opened the coat closet. There is Avery, paci in mouth, itouch in hand, watching Max and Ruby.

I don't know what's worse. The fact that she hid in the closet to play with the itouch or that she knows how to use the itouch all by herself!!

Tradition, tradition. Okay, I won't bore you with my rendition of Fiddler again. But I do love our traditions. Our Fall/Halloween traditions are my favorite. I'm not sure if it's the pumpkins, or the corn or the crisp air of the decorations. All I know is I love hitting the road and trekking out to Howell's each year to see how my girls have grown!

This year we were thrilled to spend the day with our favorite family friends, The Liskeys. After a little picnic lunch, we played and hunted pumpkins in the 80 degree weather. 80 degrees!? you ask. Yes, 80 degrees! I do love Iowa! : )

Here are some highlights:

Good friends and good times!

Nothing better than a pile of corn!

Oh, how we've grown!

My big girls!

My second job

Well, actually, I guess it'd be my 4th job.

1st - best wife ever to husband
2nd - hard working mother to three. Always on call for a kiss, hug, shoulder to cry on, medic, tutor, cheerleader, chef (okay, that might be pushing it) cleaner, organizer, snuggle buddy

3rd - Academic Advisor to all those that need it, well at least those in need during the 15 hours/week I'm there

4th - PTO Co-Vice President for Shuler

Unfortunately, as of late, my fourth job has severely overtaken all others. As a new school Shuler, and with it the Shuler PTO, is still working to find its way. We are working hard to find some common ground among all of our new teachers, staff and parents, as we come together from many different schools. While this has certainly been challenging, oh so very, very challenging, it is also a great opportunity to meet some new people.

So, here are some fun pics of our First Annual Shuler Fall Tailgate Party. We had so much fun! The kids loved the DJ, the cake walk, the food, food, food! The grown ups enjoyed hanging out together and well, the food, food, food!

I admit I have pulled my hair out a few times, and my husband questioned my sanity a few more times, but I love it! I love being in the middle of it all. I love being a part of my kids school. I love knowing the principal and teachers by their first name. I love knowing most of the parents and their kids. I love serving with a great group of parents who put our kids and our school first, and who don't mind listening to me vent every now and then! : )

Avery's 3rd birthday, part 2

Yes, part 2! When your baby turns 3, there is a lot to celebrate!

For Ave's party this year, we rented our neighborhood park,

invited our family friends and a couple preschool friends,

and enjoyed the beautiful fall day.

Everyone had a blast! Avery was gracious, and kind, and

funny and everything I had seriously prayed for the entire

week before the party! : )

Lots of climbing for my little monkey!

Lots of loves too!

What a great group of friends!

Presents!

See here, that's a princess...

Hmm, not so in to the candle this time...

But the cake sure was good!

Good friend make life great!

Off to play some more....

Happy birthday my sweet, sweet baby!

Avery's 3rd birthday, part 1

My baby is 3! How did this happen? Where did my baby go?

3 years ago we were trying to figure out how we were going to "fit" this
little creature into our lives. Where would live? There was no room in
our house. Where would the baby things go? We had packed them all up.

2 years ago I was thinking, "this is easy. What a sweet little baby she it!
She never cries, or fusses or causes any trouble. How blessed are we!"

1 year ago I was hiding under the covers, pretending not to hear the
screaming 2 year old, running naked through the house, hitting, yelling
and causing such chaos. Where did this child come from?

Today, I sit here and wonder what ever would I have done without her.
How empty, and quiet, and peaceful, and boring our lives would be
without her.

Avery has the greatest personality. Admittedly, it will serve her better
as an adult than a child, with the persistence, and determination, and
humor and intelligence and mischievousness. But, she does make us
laugh! Oh, how we laugh when she's around. Avery can make you want
to pull your hair out one minute, laugh your you know what off the next,
and cry your eyes out with joy after that. There is no one like Avery and
I thank God that he gave her to us! (And thank God he gave her last!)

My sugar daddy!

Happy 40th birthday to my husband! The love of my life, my friend, my partner. You may be getting old, but you're still that cute guy out on the softball field I saw so many years ago!

Who is this fine young man here?



We couldn't resist throwing a grand party for my old man!
We gathered our 100 closest friends and family and, despite
the rain, had a great time celebrating!




It took awhile to light all those candles!



Even Claire could see the danger in that ball of flames!



Good friends, good laughs, good gifts!

Here's to another 40 years with the man I love!

Fabulous Traidmarx

We are a rock star family! I mean, literally, we are rock stars!

My dad, the girls' Grandpa Johnson, reunited with his High School band `The Fabulous Traidmarx' back in 2001. Ever since, they have been rockin' it old school any chance they get.

This year the band played up at the Clay County Fair and invited both Claire and Ella to jam with them. What a show! My girls were rockin' with the best of them. They had tambourines, maracas, and rhythm sticks.

Ella even took advantage of a low mic and helped belt out the chorus to California Girls!

For me, there is nothing better than watching my girls and my dad jammin' together and having so much fun. I love seeing the joy, the pride, the nervousness, the confidence, the excitement and the achievement as they go through the process. I love watching my girls grow get nervous, but get out there anyway, in front of hundreds of people, and give it there best! Even more, I love watching the pride and joy on my dad's face, priceless!

The best part: this year they even got paid! That's right. Check for each girl, cut from the Fabulous Traidmarx account! How cool is that?!

~ Enjoy!

The Fabulous Traidmarx!

Taking a break for a little "horse play"

Avery loves her Grandpa!