Friday, March 28, 2008

Need to Get Out More



Pretty much anytime I go somewhere without my kids for something fun I'm told I need to get out more. I've never paid too much attention to the comments because I love being with my kids and I know that my personality is more over the top then most my friends. (I'm a yellow!) However, Last night we took Spencer & Taylor to "The Wiggles" at Arco Arena. I had so much fun. Taylor & I rocked out. At that moment it occurred to me, OK, I really do need to get out more!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Our Easter Pics















This year we celebrated Easter on Saturday in Red Bluff, at my parent's house. My mom went crazy with stuff for the kids, which they loved. We did crafts, games, dyed eggs & hunted for them, cupcake decorating and ate tons of food.
















My Grandpa Watts' 2 sisters were visiting. I haven't seen them since I was a kid. Matt(my Brother), Patrice(my sis), & Jaydon(her son) came up from Chico. Chris (my brother)& Ashley(his wife) came from Redding and of course, Sarah(my sis), Trevor(her hubby) & Danyelle(their dtr) from across town. We had a great visit and came home with very enlarged bellies!

Friday, March 21, 2008

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Lucky Us, We Have Each Other

Last year we started our first St. Patrick's Day tradition. After dinner, we have cake with green frosting for dessert. We sit around the table and take turns completing the sentence, "I'm lucky to have my family because....". I take a picture for our St. Patrick's Day album and record each family member's response. Here are the responses from this year:

I'm lucky to have my family because.....

Me- they provide me with lots of happiness.
Bruce- I always have a best buddy around.
Spencer- they make me happy.
Taylor- because I love my family.
Cameron-No words, just a great big grin!!


AaaaaaaagHHHH!!!


On St. Patrick's Day, my children decided to make me crazy with messes. Cameron was the main culprit all day he was filling cups with water from the fridge and then dumping them on the floor. The worst was the mud slide...Spencer and Taylor were playing outside. I had just scrubbed my bathroom and then sat down to relax. I heard some noise in the tub so I go in to check. All 3 kids were covered in mud. Spencer & Taylor tracked in a ton of mud...They covered Cameron from head to toe...and then he was so kind to get in the bathtub and spread it all around. What wonderful kids!! Lucky me, it was St. Patty's Day and I had been making our "Lucky us we have each other"" dessert. So, I took a deep breath and remembered that it's just mud, I really am lucky to be there mom!

Friday, March 14, 2008

My Fountain of Youth


Everyone that knows me well would say that one thing I am so uncomfortable about is being seen without my make-up. When I wear my makeup and have my hair done, I mostly look in the mirror and think to myself, "I still got it!", but no makeup, oh shi-shi...One time I went to piano lessons and every student that day asked me what was wrong. I said, "Nothing, I'm fine." To which they replied, "Your face doesn't look so good". (Please teach your snotty children to keep their mouths shut!) lol.

Now, I'm changing my view. I found this product by Lancome. It's the at home kit to microderm abrasion. I love, love, love it. I've only used it once and can't believe how smooth my skin is. It glows. I had some brownish spots that have almost disappeared. I went to Total Beauty without makeup and the ladies at the counter were telling me how beautiful my skin is. They said it looks like porcelain.

Try it!!!

Sunday, March 9, 2008

I'm a Dancing Queen!!!

Hot Damn!!!(Excuse my mouth mom, dad & any LDS friends)But seriously, Bruce & I went to his 1st Foreman's dinner last night I TORE IT UP!!!! I danced all night and even better, I was the star of Karaoke! I started with Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered". I was so nervous at first because I have been a little sick & lost my voice so I was talking with a terrible deep scratchy sound. But it didn't stop me. People got up dancing with my song(they didn't dance to anyone else's song!) Then I followed that up with Madonna "Express Yourself". It was fun but a little rough on the higher notes. Then I did "You're the One that I Want" from Grease with some girl that I met on the spot. She just came up to me and said she wanted to get up but was too scared to do it alone and wanted to do a duet with me. That one was great. Then I did Gwen Stefani"Hollaback Girl". It was the last song of the night before the microphone closed. I went into the bathroom and all the way down the hall people were telling me how great I did at Karaoke. Then I had a couple people ask if we would want to go out to a Karaoke bar together!!! People kept telling Bruce that I was so fun!! And I looked sizzlin' hot....I got my hair done on Friday(I'll post a pic soon.) I had a new outfit on. It was a fabulous night. We had so, so much fun...I can't wait for the next time!!!

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Well, after my slight pity party a few days back...I sucked up my shame and emailed my old teacher Laura. Today I got an email back from her!!! She was very happy to hear from me. I emailed her back giving her the update on kids,etc. We'll see what happens next. I'm just so happy to be back in touch with her. This whole thing has really given me the push I need to get back into playing. I pulled out some Bach Inventions and a Chopin Valse today. Sight read a bunch and was delighted that it wasn't half bad. Then I worked on scales. I think I may just perform at my recital for my students in May. We'll see....

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

My Photographer in Training



You guessed it...my darling Taylor has done it again. These are 4 of nearly 50 pictures she took. This isn't the first time I've found her work on my camera. I somehow had several photos of a poop in our toilet awhile back. HMMMM. I know I didn't do it!!

Laura Sullivan


Oh my gosh, the exitement I'm feeling right now is so overwhelming. Yesterday, I went to Red Bluff(where I grew up & my parents live) for my sister in law's opening for her in home jewelry & accessory show. I ran into a friend of her mom's who knows a previous piano teacher that I studied with, Laura Sullivan. I've been wondering for the last 17 years where she is, how she is, what's she doing. She only taught me for a couple years I think but she impacted my life in so many ways. She was so beautiful and graceful. I could talk to her about anything. She played the piano with the most gentle hands you've ever seen but the sound that she could create on that piano would mesmerize me. She was the first person to really make me feel passionate about my playing. And, she is the one who introduced my & my parents to Dr. Robert Bowman at Chico State and for that alone I'll always be grateful. I'm really rambling but I can't believe that I finally found out about her. She's now a new age recording artist. She lives in the Bay Area. I couldn't find her because she has since remarried and Sullivan is her married name, which it wasn't when I knew her. Last night I got home from Red Bluff and immediately got online to research her more. I found her albums on iTunes which of course I bought. But, the amazing thing was that there is a UTube of her playing, a video I guess. I watched it over and over and over and cried like I haven't cried since my grandma died. All I could think about was how much I want to be like her. It was just like when I was 12 years old again. I really want to try to contact her but a huge part of me feels so ashamed of how I've turned out. I should have followed the path I was on musically. It's what I've always loved. I miss it soooo much it makes me sick. I love teaching and enjoy playing when I can at church but it's nothing compared to the way I used to feel when I would perform in a auditorium. I remember one time performing a duet with another girl. There was this asian boy that always was the showstopper. Vienna and I (she's the girl) would work so hard and give a great performance but inevitably this boy would perform last and outshine us. But this one time, Vienna and in played together, Rhapsody in Dminor by Ralph Federer. I truly became one with the music. It took over my whole body and I lost myself in it. I remember the beginning and then I blacked out. I came back to reality when Vienna and I were bowing before a standing ovation. So, I really want to take lessons again but I'm not a driven person. Maybe it's because I'm a yellow. But I really lack follow through in my life. Everything I've dreamt of in my life I've given up on. I feel like I've settled in a way. It's not my family. I love Bruce and my kids and that part of my life I wouldn't trade. But on a deeper, more personal level I feel like I sold out.

So, I figured out how to get music on my blog finally. I purposely put Alicia Keys, Superwoman and Sugarland, Settlin' as my 1st & 2nd song on my playlist. These are officially my new theme songs. In my Live, Laugh, Love club this month our theme is Dreams. I need to start going after mine. Even if it is a very slow journey it's what I need to do for me.

Now, if you've actually read this whole post...(which means you're a true friend) please check out
www.Laura-Sullivan.com or just google her name and it's the first thing up. You'll love her!!!

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Baby Chicks

Here's a cute Easter craft that I found for my kids at Family Fun. They're so easy. This week we will be making these & still working on our Leprechaun house. Crazy stuff having 2 holidays in one month!!

Monday, March 3, 2008

Pass the Remote please!!!

I'm really starting to feel the blog thing!!! It really is free therapy for me. I'm so excited about my new layout. Isn't it cute?

So, I am starting my week exhausted and frazzled. My friend, Michele, has been in the hospital trying to have a baby.....After being in the hospital since Wed. she finally had her baby boy late last night. I've had her 3 kids since 5:30am on Saturday. Just dropped them off and WHEW!!!! The funny thing is that as crazy as my weekend was, it really wasn't that bad. It felt so great to know that I'm helping a friend who not only is in real need but truly appreciates the help. Luv you Michele!!

Taylor & Cameron are sick. Spencer is so-so. He went to school today but we'll see what happens through the week. To top it all off, I've gotten of my newly designed schedule of exercise & sleep. All I want is to curl up on the couch with some good snacks, a diet pepsi and watch some good ol' American TV!!! I admit it, my authentic self could be a couch potato. Luckily I have piano lessons today to get me up & keep me on track.

Saturday, March 1, 2008




Taylor has yet again frustrated me with her own haircut. Last summer chopped her hair the week before she was to be a flower girl in my brother's wedding & we finally got her bangs grown out from it and she chopped her bangs off & one side of her head. She said her friend, Greta, got bangs cut and it looked so cute she wanted the same haircut. Girls & their hair....it's insane.

So, in remembrance of what a cutie she usually is...here's some favorite pics of my little Taylor. (Excuse the chocolate cookie face!)