Music Taste

Piper and I were watching a taped American Idol yesterday afternoon. There was a special performance by Il Volo - 3 tenors from Italy. They blend opera into a modern sound. Piper was a bit confused when they first started singing ( I guess it's not the typical sound she hears on American Idol). She looked at me and said, "Mom, I don't like his voice but I like his face." I guess even at 4 she's figured out what she finds handsome.

As each of the other guys began singing she had the same response - "He's a bad singer Mom". I tried to explain that the American Idol contestants could only dream of singing so well, of having a tone so pure and the perfect amount of strength and control. BUT - I believe all of that went over her head and we are left with this result - Piper does NOT like Opera!

New House

Here it is. We are finally in, not unpacked, but in. It was a very very time consuming stressful process and I'm so glad it's over. We are extremely happy with the final outcome and feel very lucky to have a home such as this. One of the main reasons we wanted to move was to create a home/lot that allowed us to host many gatherings/events for family, friends and church members. We hope that you will come and enjoy this new house with us.

For Sale

So our house went on the market Friday afternoon - April 2, 2010. We have really really loved this house but would like to have a bit more land and another garage. The land will give us opportunities that we don't have here. We love our level backyard that is perfect for football, baseball, soccer, sprinkler running. But if we wanted to add a swingset, or a big garden we would ruin the perfect sport backyard and there is no way we could have a pool because it would be impossible for the trucks to get to our back yard without destroying the neighbors yards. We would like another garage because we actually use our garage for cars and thus the bikes are outside rusting all winter. Also with parents that stay for long periods of time and soon to be teenage drivers another garage will come in handy, not to mention if a little bass boat would ever be in our future. We felt that with the market the way it is, now would be the best time to upgrade to a larger lot. And so it is with sadness in our hearts that we say goodbye to this fabulous home and hope that the next owners will love it as much as we have.

We had a showing yesterday, Monday April 5th - which was scheduled the exact time that piano lessons are normally taught in our home so I was grateful and relieved that my good friend Shannon who lives just 2 neighborhoods away let us use her living room for piano lessons. Plus I am sure the boys LOVED playing on a grand piano.

Got a call this morning, Tuesday April 6th. Another showing tonight at 6pm - ok I think - great - people are interested. Then the secretary says it is the same people who came last night and there is significant interest in the property. Now my stomach falls out and I feel sick. I mean, I shouldn't feel sick - this is what we wanted but oh gosh, it is happening so fast. If they make an offer, where will we live until August? Oh the stress!! But I am not counting my chickens before they hatch - perhaps they will not make an offer, or maybe it will be a bad offer. I guess we'll have to wait and see - and keep taking the Tums to offset the acid in my stomach.

If you are interested in seeing the listing for our house or taking the virtual tour ( now called featured tour) click on the following link.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/609-Rosewood-Circle_Lititz_PA_17543_1117537025

Camilla's Cozy Quilt

Camilla is Brinn's youngest. She was born in December 2008. She received her quilt I made her in February 2010. These things take time - especially when you have 4 small children, you're primary president, your buying and selling a house etc... I wish there was more time to sew.

Anyhow. It is finally done and it is one of my favorites. Maybe that's why she didn't get it for so long. I needed several months to sit and stare at it - in all its beauty.

I can not take credit for the color selections because I did cheat a little and used 2 charm packs from Moda. They are a pack of 5x5 squares containing one square of each of the 40 fabrics in a specific collection. This collection screamed "BRINN" at me as I walked by so I had to go for it. I had actually already bought fabric for Camilla's quilt and it was going to be a completely different pattern but then I saw this and had to do it. I did however choose the white on white polka dot spacer fabric.

The back is "minky" and it's ultra soft. Lisa, the same long armer from New York that has done all my quilts, did this one as well. I chose a "butterfly loop" pattern.

Binding - I must say I rocked the corners this time - best ever!!

The BIg Snow

February 10th, 2010

Instead of picking up my parents in the perfectly planned surprise for my kids - Instead of surprising my parents with the perfectly timed pick up of my sister - Planes were canceled, school was canceled, trains were canceled.

And here's the reason why:

4 days later we received ANOTHER 19 inches. 40 inches in a week. It took 3 and half weeks to melt. I think we're done - Spring is here on Saturday.

Rain Drops

Piper has a friend over today. Her friend banged her head and was crying. She was sitting on my lap as I tried to comfort her. 2 tears rolled down her cheeks. Piper said, "Look Mommy - She has rain drops." I asked Olivia if she had rain drops coming out of her eyes. She started laughing and shaking her head no. I love that Piper expresses herself as she sees the world. I love that her comments made Olivia happy so she could forget her pain. I am trying to soak up these moments that I know she'll grow out of very soon.

Always Behind - Special Birthday

I'm always behind these days - Christmas cards went out late, haven't blogged in ages. Not sure I'll ever catch up but thought I'd add these few things.

On November 23rd Piper turned 3 years old. I don't think I've ever seen someone so excited about their birthday. I soaked in every minute of her excitement. First, she received a box from her Grandma in Utah earlier in the week. She carried that box around for days. She'd show anyone who came to house, "See MY box?" she'd say. She also carried it around all day on her birthday wanting to know exactly when she could open it.

We started off the day with an emergency call from a friend who needed me to watch her 9 month old. Before I had gotten that call, I had called MacGregor's homeroom mom to see if they needed anything extra for their Thanksgiving feast they were having that day. She said yes - so a trip to the grocery was on the list.

So I took Piper and our little friend and we ran to the store picked up two big bag of grapes. Then we ran home and washed them all and cut them and put them in a big box with a lid. We then piled into the car again and ran to the school where we attended MacGregor's Thankgiving feast/skits. The little girl I was babysitting fell asleep in the car and then when I strapped her into the stroller she woke up and began screaming. She screamed for quite a while - as I signed us into the office, as I purchased the movie tickets for the evening, and as I walked down the hall to MacGregor's room. Meanwhile, Piper was standing on chairs in the office reaching into the fish tank. All of this chaos reminded me of why Piper is the baby and will remain so.

Chief Soaring Arrow

MacGregor's group did a very entertaining skit on Indians and their food. Hunting, fishing, gathering - you name it. Piper crashed the skit though because she saw a prop that they forgot to pick up and in the middle of the skit, ran to MacGregor and returned it. Since I was holding the baby we were watching, I didn't have as tight of a reign on Piper and she used that to her advantage.

We ran home after the feast and shortly thereafter got in the car and headed out again. We dropped off our little friend and headed to a different grocery where we had a coupon for a free birthday cake. Piper was ecstatic to choose a birthday cake with balloons on it. Incidently, there were two helium balloons floating in her room when she woke up in the morning, left for her by her father. Her father enjoyed this birthday too since this was only the second out 4 he has been here for.

The school had a special movie night on the 23rd and Piper said she'd love to see a movie, the last movie night they had sold out before we could buy our tickets much to our children's disappointment. We were supposed to see Planet 51, a funny little alien movie, but 2 of the 3 theaters were having technical difficulties so we got sent to see A Christmas Carol instead. I was secretly happy because I didn't think Planet 51 looked that good but later I felt bad for Piper because the Christmas Carol movie was REALLY scary for little ones. I thought Jim Carrey did an awsome job and for Chase and Gregor it was fantastic but there were some very frightening scenes for little ones.

So poor Piper had to wait until nearly 9 pm to eat her cake and open her presents. She loved everyone one of them and hugged each of them to her and said, "This is what I always wanted!!" It was an awesome birthday and I hope she will continue her enthusiasm for birthdays because it was a wonderful feeling.