Our little pianist

Chloe has been showing interest in the piano for some time now.  Three Sundays ago as we sat together banging around on the keys, Chloe asked me to teach her a song.  I decided 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' was basic enough, and so we proceeded to walk through it.  She caught on much faster than I expected, and before the end of the evening she almost had it.  The following morning first thing she raced downstairs and proceeded to play the song with perfection.  Apparently a little break and a good night's sleep did the trick!  Here she is on that same morning showing off her newly acquired skill.

 

All week she anxiously awaited any opportunity to play for an audience.  She played for her neighborhood friends, for both of her Grandmas (over the phone), and of course boring old mom and dad.  By the following Sunday she could practically play the song in her sleep, and was clearly ready for more.  So, we moved on to 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat', which she caught onto almost instantly, followed by 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'.  Neil also brought to her attention that 'Twinkle, Twinkle' carries the same melody as 'ABCs', so now she proudly tells people that she can play 4 songs on the piano!

I took this video of her last week sometime.  The timing of the recording is actually really funny.  Why, may you ask?  Well, just listen in the background near the end.  That's right.  As Chloe's finishing up 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat', Ryan is finishing up some bathroom business, and is a little more than eager to announce it.

Please don't look too closely at Chloe's finger placement.  I didn't even realize until after watching this video that she was alternating between her right and left hand.  We've been working on that.  This week we're learning 'Happy Birthday to you', and I think 'Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree' isn't too far behind.  I've also got my eye on a children's piano book so that Chloe can begin familiarizing herself with the notes.  A few people I've talked to have told me that 5 is generally young to start piano lessons.  Maybe that's true, but Chloe wants it!  She begs me to sit with her and spends a solid hour each day playing by herself.  She is driven to learn piano, and I'd be a fool not to take advantage of that!

I have so much more I want to share about Chloe's recent interests and discoveries and will get to them soon.  But for now, I hope you enjoyed her little piano debut!

Crazy, amazing, exhausting, wonderful weekend!

Wow, what a weekend! My brother, David, who is a well known jazz saxophonist in the Salt Lake area, was invited to open for Diana Krall, renowned jazz singer and pianist, at Red Butte Gardens Friday night! He announced the exciting news Wednesday afternoon, and that same evening I decided to make the 9 hour drive to be there. Aside from the fact that I love Diana Krall (and have since her 2001 album, 'The Look of Love' came out), I just simply couldn't miss witnessing this opportunity of a lifetime for David. And so, Thursday evening after Chloe's swim lessons, we packed up the car and headed to Laramie, where we stayed the night with a friend of my brother's. Friday morning I got up way too early, hopped back on the road, watched the sun rise over the hills of Wyoming, and arrived in Salt Lake around 11:30. David and I met up and headed straight over to my parents', who had NO IDEA I was coming. Ah, just icing on the cake. The look of shock in their eyes was priceless. And wonderful. Not only did I just see them a few weeks ago, but my mom is coming to Colorado Springs next week. So never in a million years were they expecting this!

I hung around with my parents for a couple hours while David did whatever he needed to do, then at 4:00 he picked Ryan and me up and the three of us headed to Red Butte for his sound check. As we were pulling in we saw Diana Krall's tour bus with a lovely Mercedes SUV parked right in front of it. While David and guitarist, Kenji Aihara, got ready for their sound check, Ryan and I explored the garden, which was beautiful, then sat down at the back of the stage and watched on as the stage crew got things set up, tuned the piano Diana would be playing, and got everything else squared away. I kept waiting for someone to tell me to get off the stage, but even with a few funny looks, no one said a word to me. I soooo wanted to have my camera out and snapping shots of anything and everything, but they didn't allow cameras, and I was afraid if I got mine out early on, I wouldn't have a chance to sneak in a couple shots during the actual performance.

Here's one that David got from basically where I was sitting.


Around 5:30, David, Ryan and I headed up to the catering tent for a fabulous dinner. I felt like quite the VIP. We kept waiting and hoping for Diana to wander in, but we knew it wasn't likely. And we were right. We did, however, meet one of her producers.

Doors opened at 6, and shortly thereafter Ryan and I were settled on a blanket in the front row, only 20 or so feet from stage, along with my parents and some family friends.

Here are the boys, ready to bring it!


At 7:00, David and Kenji opened. And might I add they sounded absolutely amazing?! They captured the audience instantly and really set the mood for the night. They were so compatible and well-synchronized. They just killed it! That's all there is to it.



I know David's my brother, so of course I think he's all that, but it had been quite a while since I'd heard him play and he really truly just blew me away! I was so SO proud of him. And I wasn't the only one whose heart he stole! He and Kenji received a standing ovation, and after their performance, people were practically swarming us with "Where does David play regularly?", "Does he have an album out and where can I buy it?", etc., etc. I was so honored!

Here's how Ryan kept himself occupied between performances...



THEN...

At 8:00, Diana Krall was announced and came out to stage with her band (Anthony Wilson - guitar, Jeff Hamilton - drums, and Robert Hurst - bass). Her presence alone gave me chills. She was so beautiful, confident and calm. She sat right down at the piano and without hesitation, began playing. Wow. I couldn't believe I was sitting just a matter of feet from her. It was an experience.







What was an even greater experience, however, was something she did about halfway through her performance. I had noticed her glancing in my direction a few times, but didn't think much of it. Well, after finishing a song and once again looking my way, she nonchalantly said something along the lines of, "I can't stop looking back at that mother rocking her sweet baby..." It took me a good five seconds to realize she was referring to me and not someone else! But it didn't end there! THEN! She proceeded to play a soft lullaby on the piano as prelude to her next song, "I'll String Along With You" (which is most likely playing right now, or will be starting momentarily - turn up the volume). It all happened so fast, that in some ways it's just a blur. But wow! Of all the thousands of people in the audience, Ryan and I were the ones that caught her eye. I was blown away. That song, which I already adored, holds a whole new meaning now. And how wonderful it will be to tell my son years from now, that when he was 9 months old, Diana Krall played him a lullaby?! Ironically, Ryan was due on her birthday. So really, their connections go back further than Friday night. :)

I love this one. Diana's glowing like an angel. Great shot, David.


It was an amazing night. Diana Krall rocked the house, and I love her more now than ever. She talked quite a bit between songs, which gave the audience a chance to get to know her a little. I learned that she has 2 1/2 year old twin boys, which of course made her all the more endearing to me (and probably everyone else too). It also became obvious in her talking that she values family. I was really touched by that, because so many celebrities nowadays just don't! She seemed very down to earth.

Here she is with her sons: Frank and Dexter. They were born December 6, 2006, which happened to be her and Elvis Costello's 3rd wedding anniversary. Love it.


This is the one decent shot I got of the band (David took all the others).

Sometimes having a big bulky camera is a disadvantage. I was approached by a security guard twice about having it out. He hee. Thank goodness David had his little point and shoot he could sneak some good shots with.

Neither David or I got to meet Diana in person (I was especially bummed for David's sake), however after the show, as we were loading his car, we noticed the rest of the band sitting in the van just a few feet away. David went and introduced himself to the guys, and I followed. I wasn't going to shy away from this opportunity. I had Ryan with me, which I'm sure helped. They were nice guys.

I slept good and hard that night. I was SO exhausted. And luckily, the kids slept well too. Ryan slept 6 hours straight, which is unheard of for him. We got up at 9:45am Saturday, and Chloe slept in until 11! Wow.

Saturday was just relaxing and low key. My mom took me early birthday shopping, we had lunch at Cafe Rio, and just goofed around. Here are some shots of Grandpa and Grandma with the kiddies.

Ironically enough, the matching shirts were NOT planned.

I brought this shirt for Ryan to wear to the concert, but because it was SO HOT Friday, I ended up putting him in something a little lighter. Then my dad shows up to the concert wearing practically the same shirt. So anyway, I put Ryan in it on Saturday and my dad put his shirt back on so we could get some pictures of the matching men.

I looooove this one.


Grandma and her girl (the pink hat was per the request of Miss Chloe).


Looks like Chloe's casting a spell on her brother. Poor kid.




Saturday came and went too quickly. Before I knew it, it was time to pack the car up again and prepare for another long drive. We headed out Sunday morning at 4:50am. Ugh.

While every moment of insanity and exhaustion was worth this trip, I will never drive 18 hours in a 48 hour period again! :)

Here's Sunday's sun rise. Approximately 6:20am. Beautiful, isn't it?

A perfect ending to a perfect trip...

Thanks again, David, for this wonderful memory. I'm proud of you on so many levels, and I love you.

My Rainbows

Last week marked a significant event in my life. It was an event I would never want to endure again, but one which offered great lessons of understanding, hope and gratitude. Even before I had a chance to feel afraid or hopeless, God was there. He offered me the comfort I needed. He gave me the strength I didn't have. And most importantly, He helped me to recognize the rainbows that still existed, even among the darkest clouds. I am grateful for the rainbows in my life and I'd like to share some of them with you (in no particular order).

Gordon B. Hinckley, beloved father, grandfather, husband, friend and leader of our church. He left this earth ten days ago at the age of ninety seven, to reunite with his Marjorie in Heaven. What a sweet little man he was! What a twinkle in his eye he had! And what an example of unconditional love, strength, hard work, compassion, courage, persistence, and faith he set for the rest of us. His legacy will live on forever, and I am grateful to have been alive during his days of leadership and counsel.

Ballet, an art of movement I have passionately loved and appreciated all the days of my life. My mom recorded a PBS Ballet Production for me when I was four or five and I vividly remember taking it to kindergarten on Show and Tell day. I'm sure Mrs. Lion found this to be an odd choice, but didn't hesitate to pop the tape in for the whole class to see! When my hard work paid off and I earned my first pair of pointe shoes (at age thirteen) I was on top of the world. Ballet was my outlet for many years, offering relief and filling voids during difficult times. To this day I regret letting this talent go, however my passion for it will never die, and in the next life I'll be dancing my heart out!
My Mom. This woman is an angel in a human's body; the epitome of love; the most genuine, kind, affectionate, compassionate, cheerful, spiritual, selfless, non-judgmental woman I've ever known. And she's my mother! From the most devastating moments in my life to the most joyful, she has been there. When it seems there is no reason to smile, she finds one. She has set an incredible example of Christ-like love and service, of what it is to be a wife and mother, and of what it is to be a friend. With each passing day I am still learning something new from this incredible woman I call "Mama". She is one of my best friends.

Sushi. It seems you either love it or you hate it. Quite honestly I don't know how someone could put the words hate and sushi in the same sentence, but who am I to judge? After all, I hate peanut butter and dark chocolate! I always look forward to sushi dates with my brother (and sometimes my dad too), even though they're few and far between.

Speaking of brother! David, my one and only sibling is another rainbow in my life. Though we see each other so seldom, it's always like old times. He makes me laugh hysterically. He is talented beyond words. And even in the midst of a crazy jazz musician lifestyle, he still manages to call his little sis every so often just because. We are eight years apart, which I believe has only made us closer. We talk about anything and everything. He is respectful, disciplined, sentimental, thoughtful and dang funny! I love this man and am so lucky to call him my big brother.

Elizabeth Bennet, lovely heroine from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. My dad and I read this novel together when I was thirteen, and to this day I haven't read a more enjoyable or meaningful work of art. Endearing, assertive, confident, spirited, strong-minded, and witty are just a few adjectives to describe this amazing heroine! What touches me the most about Lizzy is her ability to follow her heart, despite the judgments and pressures of society. She is a shining example of perseverance, and her character has offered me great encouragement over the years.

My Dad, a man of warmth and wisdom. He has always made me feel like a little queen, his one and only "babe". He always encouraged me to strive for my two greatest desires in life: to be a wife and mother, and has continued to encourage and support me through my years of living those dreams. He has this way of shedding light on a situation that at one time seemed hopeless. He has the ability to put my thoughts into words when I just can't seem to express them myself. And his hugs are like nothing else, often holding greater power than any words of wisdom could. His vast knowledge of literature, film, music and religion has drawn hundreds to him. He is generous, loving and wonderful.

Newborn babies. Any of you who know me know how much I love babies (and have always loved babies), especially teensy tiny babies. I was nicknamed "Ward Auntie" a few years back after constantly being spotted with someone else's baby in church. Even as a child I was fascinated with these sweet little creatures, and always looked forward to having one of my own someday. Their silky soft skin, scrawny little legs, perfect baby scent, and cute little sounds just melt my heart. The first few weeks of Chloe's life I hardly put her down. I just wanted to cherish every possible moment before she outgrew that stage. We all know it happens fast!

My husband. Where do I begin with this amazing fella? I have learned so much in the six years I've known Neil. He has been a great example of logical thinking, of not bringing the occasional frustrations of work home, of radiating that smile even when he isn't feeling up to it. He is confident, optimistic, cheerful and easy to get along with. He doesn't care what others think, nor does he compare himself to others or make decisions based on the opinions of others. He is hard-working and will go until the job gets done. He is practical, which every relationship needs! He can read me like a book and often knows what's best for me when I can't figure it out myself. He is a good provider and a worthy Priesthood holder. His romantic acts are meaningful, and I never have to wonder if I'm loved. He keeps Chloe giggling and teaches her random yet useful things, using brilliant techniques I would have never thought of. On top of everything else, my husband is a looker! I love knowing he's mine for eternity. Thank you Chevys for introducing us!

Motherhood, a role I've strived for since I can remember. Such an amazing gift from God. You cannot compare the bond between a mother and child to anything! Motherhood offers so many rainbows in itself! It is the most difficult job (at least for me), but also the most fulfilling and joyful, and something I wouldn't trade for the universe.

Family and Friends, near and far! It is such a blessing to be able to count on my loved ones to offer support and relief in times of need. Every day I count my blessings for you, my family and friends!
Music.
“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.”
- Anonymous
I could not live without music. It has been a constant aid in my life.

My daughter. Chloe has been my biggest rainbow this last week. Because of her I can call myself a mother. She brings indescribable joy to my soul, and has since the day I found out she was coming! Her personality continues to blossom, and despite the snotty attitude she's starting to develop (gotta love those terrible twos), her thoughtful side continues to shine through as well. She can sense when something is not right, when someone is feeling sad or needs a hug. And if she feels it is necessary, she'll walk right over to you and while patting your back say, "You okay?" When no one else can bring a smile to my face, this girl can! She is the light in my life, my rainbow.

My Savior is my constant rainbow, and I've especially felt His presence these last several days. He has caused me to run into certain people I now know I was meant to talk with, prompted others to reach out to me in various ways, placed books and articles I needed to read right into my hands, and in other ways kept me uplifted and hopeful. I am grateful for His example, for the promises and blessings He provided us with, and ultimately for the opportunity I have to pray to and learn of Him each and every day.

We all have rainbows in our lives! Some days the clouds may seem heavier and the rainbows more distant, but they are always there. And they will get you through anything if you let them.

Christmas music

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas music! I've been playing it in the car and at home almost non-stop since we got back from Utah. If Neil would let me, I'd probably start playing it before Thanksgiving! :)

One of the beauties of music is its ability to bring back old memories. Just like the smell of a roast in the oven will forever remind me of my grandmother, a classic Christmas tune will always take me back to childhood Decembers.

I created a playlist of some of my favorites (what I could find on the internet anyway). Perhaps some of these tunes will take you back as well.

Merry Christmas!