Travel

Road trip to St. George, Utah: May 26-29.

We have been talking about going on a trip with the Bradshaws for ages. We decided Memorial Day weekend was the perfect time. When Andrew lost his job, the trip was up in the air. I'm glad this trip could happen. Valerie and I are both planners and we filled our time there. We saw a play at Tuacahn, utilized the 2 pools lots, went to the new "Little Mermaid" movie, hiked in Zions, and went to Thunder Mountain Park. And of course, we brought loads of games (Dice Forge and Splendor) to play in the evenings.

• Tuacahn

Taking our kids to Tuacahn was a priority. I didn't buy tickets when there was a BOGO sale in February since Andrew was unemployed. When I recently added tickets to my cart to purchase, I was flabbergasted to see the total was over $300 and didn't think that would work in our budget. I had an old gift card and tried using that, but it expired. I decided to give Tuacahn a call. Best decision ever! They extended my $75 gift card for another year! I could hardly believe it. I also decided it wouldn't hurt to ask if there were any upcoming ticket sales or discounts. At first, it seemed like a lost cause. The employee suddenly remembered a $20 promo deal. I thought she meant $20 off my tickets. No, she meant, the cost was $20 per ticket. I was blown away. The total for our 4 tickets was $80 and I used the gift card. My grand total was $5. Unreal. 

After 2 canceled shows and attempts to go to Tuacahn (due to smoke/air quality and Covid), it seemed like we were jinxed. We are grateful it worked out this time. Rain was a brief worry a couple hours before the show, but wasn't a problem. The weather was pleasant and I wasn't sticking with sweat to my seat like previous times. The water misters didn't have to be turned on either and the kids put on light coats toward the end. It was perfect.

We saw, "Tarzan" again. Tuacahn didn't begin until 8:45pm, and the Bradshaws opted to stay home. I wasn't sure how our kids would do, but they both stayed awake! We did use food to help create a positive experience and to prevent drowsiness. James' eyes looked glazed over at times. The special effects were amazing! They flooded the stage at the beginning which James continues to bring up. There were fireworks and flying gorillas. There were some gifted singers. There are some cute and different songs in the play than in the movie. "Who Better Than Me" is catchy and I find myself listening to it multiple times a day. I might just have to add it to my playlist. Since our return, I've found the kids playing "Tarzan" together. After the show ended, Izzy said she liked the play and it was really long. She immediately asked if we can see "Frozen" there next year. Both kids said "Tarzan" was one of their favorite parts of the trip. It was neat to be able to take my kids to a place I have fond memories of.

• Swimming

Our Airbnb was fabulous! We stayed in a townhouse and were directly across the street from the 2 pools, hot tub, and fitness center. We made a few trips to the pool and learned that going at 9am meant we had the whole place to ourselves. The pools were packed during the afternoon and evening hours.

There was a bit of a scare when Adrianna started sinking. Lifeguard Andrew came to the rescue. The bad news is we had just arrived at the pool and Andrew's phone was still in his pocket when he jumped in. His old phone is toast (rice didn't help) and he went and got a new phone that night. What an expensive souvenir. The kids were very into the pool game categories. We also played catch and James chased a diving ring all over. Their swim lessons are paying off.

All the kids got to share a bedroom that had 2 sets of bunk beds. You guessed wrong if you're thinking they went right to sleep. Ha! The Airbnb had a great outdoor space for the kids to run around. I caught them out there one morning at 6:30am. There was also a lot of patio furniture and we ate some meals outside which was lovely. The kids asked if we could buy the Airbnb house.

• "The Little Mermaid"

Saturday afternoon we went to the movies and ate our fill of popcorn. All of us enjoyed the new "Little Mermaid." 3-year-olds definitely weren't the target audience. Luckily Izzy didn't seem scared. Ariel's voice was beautiful and I loved what they did with the music. The song, "The Scuttlebutt" has been playing nonstop in our car and house. The kids think it is hilarious. I managed to doze off for a minute in the theater... We got back from Tuacahn late.

• Zions

Our day at Zion's could take up an entire post. We assumed it would be crowded, but we didn't realize we went on the busiest day of the year. Whew. We decided to attend sacrament meeting before hiking instead of after and good thing we did. We never would have made it back in time for church. 

When we arrived at Zions, we discovered there wasn't any parking left. After driving around for too long, we finally parked .6 miles from the nearest shuttle stop. We trekked to the shuttle and rode to the visitor's center. There, we had to wait in another line for a shuttle to our hike. I am not being dramatic when I say we waited in this line for an hour and a half. At least it was shaded? The news did a segment on what a zoo it was. It was unbelievable. 

Adding to the drama, when it was finally our turn to get on the bus, Adrianna had to go to the restroom. Michael took Adrianna potty and they missed the shuttle. Valerie and Elijah came with us. We didn't have cell service and didn't know how we would be able to find Adrianna and Michael. We pressed on. At this point, it was 1:30 which is not an ideal hiking time. It was scorching and the hike was unshaded. We tried to regroup, filled our waters, and made our way to the trail with thousands of others. One of our shuttle drivers mentioned that in the past, a day as busy as when we were there Angel's Landing could get up to 1000 hikers an hour. They now require permits for Angel's Landing and only let in 800 hikers a day. It was too dangerous with that many people. We did not hike Angels Landing. We chose Emerald Pools which doesn't require permits. There were more people than you can imagine.

Our hike did not get off to a good start. James was extremely whiney. We hit .6 miles and Izzy urgently had to use the bathroom. Remember that we just took her at the beginning of the trailhead. She couldn't make it back to the facilities in time and had to find somewhere private to go in the beating sun. Andrew is a saint and picked up the waste with napkins. We had a zip lock and got to carry that smelly treasure for the duration of our hike. Let me point out that my sense of smell is extra vivid while pregnant. I got whiffs of that potent scent throughout our journey. At one point, Izzy asked why it smelled like poop. Hmmm..

Her hair was so big and frizzy. I was super proud of this girl for walking the full 2 miles of the hike. She was tuckered out on the walk to the car and rode in the backpack carrier.

At one point, it was like do we even continue hiking? What a day. We moved forward and decided we would turn around at 1 mile which was the supposed length. The ending was gorgeous and shady! We only went to the first emerald pool and did not continue on over 2 miles to get to the other pools. Maybe someday, but not anytime soon. 

My hero. Pooper scooper. Couldn't ask for a better partner. In tough moments, I would find Andrew singing songs with the kids, skipping, and making up hand games. On one shuttle ride, Andrew told James stories about previous hikes with his brothers. A stranger commented on how sweet it was and the ride flew by for James.

On our hike back, we found Adrianna and Michael on the trail. After the bathroom, they had to get back in that massive shuttle line and wait another hour. After completing the hike, we still had 2 shuttle rides (with lines) ahead of us and a .6 mi walk to our cars. We did it! We walked over 13,000 steps that day! We left for Zion's at 10:30am and returned home at 6:15 had dinner, and went to bed. We're also surprisingly still friends with the Bradshaws after this challenging day. What a memory. I did not leave Zion's unscathed and have proof... A sunburn on my shoulders. 

• Thunder Mountain Park

Monday morning we relaxed in the pool before checkout. Then we headed to Thunder Mountain Park. Like everywhere else, it was crowded. We waited over 45 minutes in line for our kids to ride on the train. The kids also splashed in the splash pad. We all had nearly reached our limits and decided to end our weekend by getting ice cream.

Lesson learned... It seems like everyone goes St. George on holiday weekends. We saw someone from our ward at Costco, ran into Chris' sister, Kelsie, and her family at the pool, knew of 2 families at Zions the same day as us, and I saw someone I knew at church. Restaurants had long waits, there were lines at parks, and there was even traffic in Nephi, UT. We did have a blast, but next Memorial Day we might just be boring and stay home and host a bbq. Can you blame us?

Road trip to Caldwell, Idaho: April 21-23.

Olivia is home from her mission to Peru! We went to Idaho to hear her homecoming talk. The Kimballs always spoil us when we come to visit. They had a packed house! After staying with them, I always learn something from Tavia. I came home with some new delicious recipes. Malia joined us on the quick trip which was great. It was so fun to see Olivia along with the rest of the Kimballs and the Maynes. Our kids had the best time having constant playmates and going to an awesome park. James now wants to play football.. Is it bad I hope he forgets that? Izzy was so exhausted she slept the entire drive home. Andrew and I taught others how to play one of our new games-- Space Base. 

We have some other upcoming trips this summer. Bring them on!

Extracurriculars

This stage of parenting has been entertaining. My kids are old enough to be involved in a variety of activities. Figuring out what they like has been a cool process. Dance, soccer, and swimming have been consuming our time and I wouldn't have it any other way. Tball and basketball are on our list of things we want to try.

Dance

Dance is one of Isabelle's favorite things and unfortunately, it is over. It was extra convenient this year because dance was directly after preschool one day a week. Izzy got to stay 45 minutes longer on Tuesdays for dance which was a win-win situation.  Thursdays at preschool were always a letdown for Izzy because it meant no dance. 

Izzy has been doing tap and ballet. She has a pink outfit and looks adorable. To finish the year off with a bang, Izzy had a dance recital on Saturday, May 13. Boy was it a highlight. I giggled nonstop. The dance was to the song, "Car Wash" and it was a cuteness overload. Isabelle was very into it and knew her moves. She is quite good at dancing and doesn't seem to deserve the "Dancing Denning" nickname. After her 3 minute performance, my cheeks hurt from smiling and chuckling so much. Izzy got to wear makeup (as if her eyes need any more pop). 

Isabelle and Adrianna

In the car on our drive home, Izzy proclaimed while holding her new, shiny trophy, "I have been wanting one of these for years." A few breaths later, she expressed, "it was hard to be on stage performing without my trophy." 

On our way back, Izzy was extra protective and concerned about her 3 flower bouquets. They started to slip out of her lap and she made sure that didn't happen. She insisted that the flowers were displayed in her bedroom. It was sure great to have so much family support at the recital in Salt Lake City. Lindsey, Simon, and Esther came from Provo. Joel and Alexa watched too and Jessica, Chris, and George. It meant a lot to me to see how many people love and showed up for my daughter. 

Unfortunately, Isabelle's preschool is closing, so she will have to go elsewhere for dance next year. That's not going to stop this girl though. Izzy has a future in dance and I plan to find a new place to enroll her. 

We also recently went to see Esther's dance performance. We're trying to see her as much as possible before my brother's family moves to Indiana.

Soccer

The soccer season got off to a chilly start. The day before the first game, Utah had another massive snowstorm. The school was canceled on April 4. On April 5th the soccer field wasn't visible. Spring has finally arrived Although, mother nature seems to often pick Wednesdays for rain.  Last week, James' game ended early due to lightning. Last night, it was pouring rain and we sat in the car during a rain delay. Isabelle had a friend from our ward on her team-- Hayes.  Chatting with Ashley Hollis during Isabelle's games was always a pleasure.

Hayes

James continues to get better and better. Soccer cleats are in our future. We've been waiting to invest because we have had some dicey seasons. Season 3 is where it's at. Jess, Chris, and George came to watch the kids play one Wednesday evening and both kids were on fire. Isabelle scored twice and James scored 5x. What! He is sad the season is ending. We might need to stop promising ice cream after goals... 

And just a dose of reality... Isabelle asked one day if we were doing anything fun. I responded with, "You have soccer tonight." Izzy: "Soccer isn't fun!" Her feelings about soccer vary, but this season for her has been much more positive than last. Also, in one game James was just "too exhausted" he sprinted off the field throwing a tantrum and crying that he was too tired. He played a little too hard on the playground during Isabelle's game while waiting for his game to begin. He didn't have much energy left to give. Soccer isn't all goals and ice cream...

Hands clasped over mouth in awe after a goal. I do this when I'm excited too.

Jumping for joy right after scoring.

Cutest cheerleader

Last night was the last game of the season. Isabelle told me not to sign her up for soccer again. She is so wishy-washy but seems to enjoy it (for the most part) and is pretty good. James scored 3 goals in the first quarter last night and Izzy scored as well. The kids were super curious about their "swag" from the city and guessed all day. Last season, they got beanies. This season, they got mini soccer balls. Treats at the end of the game are also a big deal. Gatorade is coveted. This soccer mom can hardly wait for the fall soccer season. 

Go squirrels! Izzy was one of a couple kids on her team who would actually stay on the field and play.

Go Kangaroos!

Swim

The kids adore swimming and it helps that they are naturals! James is now good enough to be in the stroke school. I'm so proud of him! He is definitely one of the youngest kids in the class. He can hardly wait for Thursdays because of stroke class. I was shocked he is already working on the butterfly stroke. The dolphin kick is tricky. Isabelle is also excelling at swim and can float on her own! The kids are doing 3 swim sessions this summer too. 

They love it when Adrianna is in their class

Elijah and James. I mean look at that smile.

 

Temple Open House

Taking the kids inside the Saratoga Springs temple on Saturday, May 20 was a neat experience. It was gorgeous and I felt emotional walking into the celestial room with them, even though there was hardly room to breathe. It was jam-packed. The sealing rooms with stained glass windows were breathtaking. After, the kids explored a new park and we ate a  take-out picnic dinner. So glad that Jess, Chris, and George could accompany us. 

I am loving this journey of supporting my kids, rooting for them, and cheering them on even if it means I have to wear a winter jacket and bring an extra blanket or two.

Piano Upgrade

Spring Recital: Saturday, May 6, 2023

Jessica and I had our final music recital together. I'm heartbroken she is moving to LA. Things were stressful the morning of the recital. Jessica got food poisoning and was up violently ill the night before/morning of. We didn't know if she would be able to make it which would have been devastating. Miraculously, she was able to come. She made it through the recital but did sit in the back near the restrooms just in case. Phew. We tried out a new recital venue and it worked out nicely. This time around, we charged our students a $10 recital fee to help with rental and printing costs.

Jessica made the sophisticated invitations and the program.

Unfortunately, many of my students could not be at the recital. It is such a busy time of year. 7 of my 12 students performed. A handful of my students are advanced now and made me look good! I played the piano a lot. I accompanied 12 of Jessica's violin/viola students and joined one of my students for a duet. It felt like I was constantly on stage. An advanced student performed a challenging song on the violin and my accompanying was not my best. In fact, the performer and I struggled through the last page and didn't really end together (due to him skipping a few lines). Yikes. I'm relieved the recital is over! Recitals won't be the same without Jessica. Sigh. I've made some studio changes prepping for the baby and said goodbye to some students. Farewell Earl family-- Corban, Kierra, and Gavin. 

I have gone back and forth about whether or not I will continue teaching when baby arrives. Where I have landed is to keep teaching, but to cut back. I'm taking time off this summer and will have fewer students to juggle when I start back up in the fall. Music is such a big part of my life. I don't know that I will teach forever, but I'm going to stick with what I have going for now. The extra income is a nice perk too. 

Piano Upgrade: Friday, May 12, 2023

A new piano has been high on my list for a while. Even if I had decided to stop teaching, I use my piano daily and know my kids will too. I have browsed Facebook marketplace, contacted people on KSL, and tried out several pianos in stores. A new piano is not a cheap item which is why it has taken me so long to finally pull the plunge. My dream piano is a grand piano, but that just isn't realistic right now. I bought a piano this morning! It was delivered 45 minutes later. It all feels too good to be true. Happy Mother's Day to me! Here's how it happened...

I haven't been able to get the idea of a new piano out of my head. I was mailed an advertisement for a piano sale. I nearly threw the paper away, but it kept calling my name. After talking to someone on the phone acknowledging that I could actually afford some of the pianos at the sale, I made an appointment to go look. All the pianos are at a highly discounted price. Each year, a school gets new pianos and they sell the old ones. It's a nonprofit organization which means I get a 40 percent tax deduction for my purchase. Woot woot. 

There were only 2 black pianos within my budget. The more expensive piano had a weird squeak and vibration which narrowed it down. The cheaper piano it was! It's a shiny black Schumann piano. It is only 6 months old!! It looks and plays like it's brand new. Financing was my number one question. Another piano store I have been working with offered me 6 months with 0 percent financing. I brought this up and kind Alan agreed to offer me the same deal. I was blown away. Paying the full price of the piano today wasn't in the cards for us. I paid half today and have 6 months to pay the remainder with no interest or penalty. Unreal. I was also able to get $100 off the piano because I'm a teacher.

Another concern I brought up was getting my old piano back to my grandma. My grandma has been graciously letting me borrow the piano for the last 6 years. It was her mom's piano, my Great Grandma Woods' piano. The piano has so much sentimental value. Lately, its age has been showing more and more. The last time I had it tuned, the tuner implied it didn't have much life left. The bench is broken, the music holder is ruined, and a key sticks which aggravates my students. As a teacher, I wasn't feeling very professional about my instrument. Riverton Music agreed to deliver the piano back to my grandma. What! The price was reasonable given the heavy lifting, distance to Lehi, and brutal staircase to Grandma's basement. My grandma is thrilled to have the piano back at her fingertips. 

Notice my thriving, living plant. Who am I!?

Ahh! I can't wait to see my students' reactions next week when they see my shiny, beautiful piano. The old broken bench recently smashed a poor student's fingers. The new bench is so comfortable and soft Isabelle declared she could sleep on it all night. I even spent some of my coveted, precious quiet time playing my new instrument. I couldn't resist....

(And yes, we need to re-hang the painting a smidge higher. The new piano is taller.)