Play it again, Sam

As you know, our kids go to a public charter school. Charter schools are public school that have "specialties" our school, Spectrum Academy, is made for kids with high functioning autism and aspergers syndrome (and their siblings). We are lucky, we only live 10-15 minutes away from the school. There are some kids and teachers who commute much longer than that.

We found a family that lives near us, and we help each other get kids to and from school. On Monday and Wednesday we take James to school and on those days James and his mom bring our kids home. It's a great set up for all of us.

Last Wednesday, Tristan left his back pack in James's car. Tristan called the mom and asked her if it was there and it was and since she needed to go out she would drop it by.

She came to the door and I was visiting a bit with her. She told me that Tristan told her he was taking piano lessons. We have a full size electronic keyboard that has been floating around Chris's side of the family for a while now. Anyway, she told me that she had a piano that they didn't want anymore. Did we want it?

I went and looked at it after I took Tristan to said lesson, and decided to take it.

It's not in the best of shape and could use a good cleaning and tuning, but here it is! Notice the books, Tristan is already practicing more.

There's not a whole lot of room in our house, but I have a feeling that this piano will be well loved. Thanks to James's family for their generosity!

Now it only needs a name......

my book post, updated

Books I've Read in 2009

This is a list of all the books I've read so far this year. It's not a huge list, but fun to keep track of. There are a few books I really liked and would recommend. Let me know if you read any of them, and what you thought about them. Also, if you've already read one or more, let me know if you would have given it a different number of stars.

Happy Reading!

So the results are.....

Before:

After:

I'm not sure if these pictures do this any justice. But I am really happy with the results! Thanks to my friend Wendy (who had to do this twice to make me happy) and to my kids for allowing me to get this done instead of spending time with them on their day off from school.

Now I just need to do something about those eyebrows. Yikes!

he's got the whole world......

In his hands!

First Zoo Trip 2009

dancin' the night away.....

Last night I had the extreme pleasure of chaperoning the youth dance. Oh boy, what memories! All I can say is thank goodness I made it through those years and survived (and never have to suffer through that again!). They played a lot of the same songs. The girls danced with the girls and the boys kinda just hung out. There was, of course, "the couple", who danced close to all the slow songs. And the big tough kid who won't dance for anything in the world (except I did see him doing the hokie pokie!). I am definitely a people watcher so it was sort of interesting, but I was relieved when our shift was relieved and I was able to go home to my real life.

Thanks Catherine for being such a fun date. I'm sure that kid from the Starcrest ward will be calling you any day now!!!

last day to vote!

Today is the last day to vote on my hair issues.

Looks so far like the majority think I should color my hair.

Next poll will have to do with hair color. Suggestions? Leave it in the comments.

Help

I am going through a hair crisis. Okay, not a crisis, but something I go through every year about this time.

I.
AM.
SICK.
OF. MY.
HAIR!!!!!

I have been growing out a bob style cut for about 8 months now. I am so bored. It looks okay ( I guess). But it's boring. I want it to be long with long layers and perhaps some side swept bangs. Now it is just a bit longer than chin length, with my bangs almost the same length. I had the sides trimmed a bit so they blend in more with the bangs.

it's boring.

I'm going to post a poll to maybe help me decide what to do. If you would like to share your ideas with me, let me know. (I don't have many pics of myself, but if you scroll down a bit to the post about the afghan I made for April you can get an idea about how it looks now. every day of my life)

I don't want to go short or do anything too drastic. REALLY. I like having long hair and I think it looks better on me. I'm just looking for advice on how to look better as it grows out.

Oh, and if you have any links to pictures, by ALL means, please share!

Modest is hottest!

Tonight we had a fashion show for our Young Women activity. Our President's mother owns a bridal shop and graciously shared some lovely formal dresses with our girls. Boy oh boy did they look beautiful! The dresses were gorgeous and covered all the parts that need to be covered in order to be modest. I got some great pictures, but forgot to ask permission to post them, but trust me, we discovered that we can look great and be modest at the same time.