We Love Nice People

This week we were so blessed to interact with some of the nicest people. Let's quickly go through the week and you will see what I mean. First, Abby had gymnastics and swimming--twice this week (Tuesday and Thursday). This was because we will miss it this next week since we are at Matt's parents house. All of Abby's coaches are outstanding. They do an excellent job of being firm but kind and constantly trying to motivate her to be a little better. She is getting braver at going under water and always willing to try new things in gymnastics. Here are a few pics from both days.

Tuesday Matt got to come with us since he has 2 weeks off before he teaches again.
Abby on the beam.
Abby flipping over the bar all by herself.
Look! She is even sitting down and sort of listening to the coach!
On Tuesday after gym and swim we went to a little Bugseum. It really was a store that advertises itself as a museum to get people to come. They had some cool bugs to see and it was free. Here are Matt and Abby outside the store and checking out the ants. The tarantulas were pretty cool--but too difficult to get a good picture of.
My best example of nice people occurred Thursday evening. One of my piano students trades for babysitting and so she stayed and played with Abby while Matt and I ran to Michael's to see if we could have our diplomas framed while there was a good sale. We met a wonderful women at the custom frame department who devoted a great deal of time to helping us. She priced the cost of custom frames--which we definitely could not afford and then helped us get frames and mats. She also helped us with a few other projects we were doing. We framed a waterfall picture for the bathroom and a BYU basketball program from my sister and her family that Matt received for Christmas. The woman ended up telling us to go to dinner and that everything would be put together when we returned at no cost. Isn't that amazing? So we shared a meal and even found a mirror for my music room for an awesome deal at Ross! When we returned she had everything put together (it would have taken me hours and she handled everything with gloves, special tape and backing, etc.) Plus she did some extra things for us in regards to the program and did not charge us! She was AMAZING. We told the manager that we had some of the best service we've ever received in a store. We went home quite happy.
Diplomas hung above the piano.
New mirror for my voice students.
Our new bathroom decoration: waterfall picture taken by Matt's department chair.
One other change to our home and more nice people!. . . .Tuesday on our way home we passed by the new homes in our area where the company that built our home was finishing laying sod. They looked finished and there was sod just sitting there. So Matt went and asked what they were going to do with the extra sod. The man ended up telling Matt he could have the sod! So Matt put it in our trunk (took a couple trips) and ended up getting over $200 worth of sod which we wanted for our front yard, but could not afford right now. We wanted there to be less mulch and more grass in our front yard. Matt spent the next few hours laying the sod and it looks great!
Saturday I held my first music recital in Bakersfield. Ten kids were supposed to perform and only one was unable to make it. They all played so well and I was so proud of them. Here we are after the recital--celebrating and eating good food. I cannot wait to hear what they will sound like in the Christmas recital. For 6 of the kids it was their first recital! The best part is that I am blessed to work with the best kids and parents--another example of nice people. They bless my home and my life and I am so happy to share with them something I love so much.
Finally--pond update. Matt planted the plants outside the pond and finished the mulch. We will have fish on Friday!
Now we are at Grandma's and Grandpa's and tonight (Sunday) we celebrated Great Granny Ruth's 86th birthday with a yummy dinner and dessert. She is such a wonderful person and we are so grateful that we can share in her life. We love you Granny!
Here is Abby giving Granny her birthday card after dinner.

Fun Times, Fun Friends

We had a great week and this weekend was even better! Our friends Carric and Jenny came for a quick visit from Arizona and we had so much fun with them. Abby did not want them to leave. They arrived Friday night and unfortunately could only stay until Sunday evening because Jenny has to take a class in L.A. this week. Nevertheless, we were so happy to see them--even if we wanted it to be longer. We attended Matt's department chair's retirement party, had a picnic at Hart Park, went to a very interesting Ward party, ate at a local Bakersfield ice cream favorite--DeWar's, they sang in our Ward and I was honored to play for them, and we talked and played. They are so good with Abby and she loved playing with them. Here are some picture highlights.

Fighting with swords on Saturday morning
Abby showing off her abilities on the bar.
Matt, Abby and Steve Smith, Matt's Department Chair at Bakersfield College. We also had Steve and his wife Diane over for dinner Thursday evening. They are so nice and we are sad that he is retiring and they are moving. But we wish them the best.
Carric and Jenny swinging Abby on the way into the retirement party.
Trying to feed some not-so-hungry ducks at Hart Park!
Picnic time
Peacock at Hart Park
Jenny is quite the artist and she can do unbelievable things on an etch-a-sketch. Here is a picture she drew of Abby.
Ice cream at DeWar's
Carric braiding Abby's hair after her bath on Saturday night.
After Church
Quick nap before dinner after Church
Tuesday when we went to gymnastics Abby said, "We need to take a picture for Grandma." So we took a picture before gymnastics and swimming! Grandma's these are for you.
Wednesday Abby had her first piano lesson. Now I realize she is only 3 years old and I do not normally recommend teaching kids that young. She is so excited about piano I thought--why not? So I found a "pre-reading" set of books and we learned about soft and loud sounds, short and long, black and white keys, etc. It was really fun and we sit down and practice for a few minutes each day. Here is a picture during her first lesson.
Thursday I teach four piano students and so Abby gets to play with her friend Levi. I found them sitting in a chair starring out at the pond with swords in their hands. They are adorable.
Finally, more pond evolution. . . .this week we bought some plants for the outside and Matt planted half of them. He also laid out some mulch and it looks pretty amazing. We are supposed to get some fish this Wednesday! I think we will wait to get a turtle until after we visit Grandma and Grandpa in L.A. in a week or two.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to everyone! There was a time in my life when Mother's Day was not my favorite day. I so longed to be a mother and that opportunity seemed so impossible and out of my reach at times. How grateful I am for Abby's birth Mom, Amanda, that saw us on the LDS Services website and gave me the greatest blessing--the chance to be a mother. I now cannot imagine my life without my Abby and treasure every moment with her. Now I find myself waiting once again for that amazing opportunity. Abby prays every night and day that Heavenly Father will bless our family with a new baby. What an incredible big sister she will be! I know that day will come and I am always learning to be patient!

We are so grateful for the mother's in our lives. We are especially grateful right now for my Mom, Karen and Matt's Mom, Barbara. What great examples they are to us of love, faithfulness, generosity, patience, determination, and hard work. They have taught us so much and we know that we are who we are today, largely because of their examples. We wish we could be with them everyday, but life has a way of keeping things busy. We hope they know just how much we love them and how much it means to us that they love Abby so much. She treasures both grandma's and keeps you in her prayers constantly. I pray that there are countless more Mother's Day's to celebrate with both of them as we could never thank them enough.
Barbara
Karen
We also love Matt's Great Granny Ruth! She is an inspiration to us all!
Jen and Abby
Here are a few swimming pictures from this past week.
Pond Update:
Friday morning we went to the pond store and picked up some plants. Now the pond looks a little more like a pond and we treated it for future fish! Matt has worked so hard and it is really coming along. It is so peaceful!
Garden update:
Yes, more is growing!
Jalapeno Peppers
Roma Tomatoes (look in the middle)
Saturday I had the opportunity to direct my first stake choir in Bakersfield. I directed a Stake Women's Choir that sang for a Stake Relief Society Event on Temples. It was a 3 hour event and it was wonderful to make music, hear good speakers and socialize with amazing women. I love directing choirs and this just made me ache to do it more. The women sang beautifully and brought the most incredible spirit to the meeting. I cannot wait to sing with them again. I snapped a picture when we were all done--it's tough to take pictures of choirs at Church events!
Saturday night Abby wanted flowers on her toe nails, so I painted our toes to match.
By the way--I have the best husband. He normally has meetings on Sunday mornings and I have choir, so we don't really each other until Church. He went downstairs--I thought he was grabbing a quick breakfast when suddenly he called us downstairs. He had made strawberry pancakes and bacon and had it all ready for us to eat. It was so yummy. Then he said his meeting was supposed to be in 15 minutes (he was not ready) and I felt so bad. Finally he laughed and said, "My meetings are canceled!" Now he is making dinner--I love this man!