Piano Recital & Catching Up!

This will be a really long post with lots of narration and lots of pics, so I will understand if you don't make it all the way through. I am playing catch up on a busy week!

Yesterday was a very big day for me. For those of you who didn't know it, I am a piano teacher for 10 very adorable, very talented kids and yesterday we had our recital. I love recital time because everyone seems to practice a lot more for a good couple weeks before the big day. I did a joint recital with a good friend of mine and what an enjoyable day I had. I was so proud of all of my students from my little 5-year-old to my high-schoolers--the recital is a grand culmination of months of work and they all did great! I think I might get more nervous for them as their teacher, than they do themselves.


I also am so grateful to my mom who helped me develop this useful talent. I love to play the piano. I do wish that my own practicing was more effective. Please watch
this video as evidence of what happens about 2 minutes after I try to practice. C-est la vie, I guess.


We have also had a very nice advent this week with the weather--summer is definitely here. And as Ella says, "It's nice and warm-y. Can I wear my swim-suit?" Summer equals sprinklers, pools, swim-suits, Popsicles, watermelon---many, many wonderful things...I could do without the humidity here though!



A big thank you to Stephen who added another fun reason to be outside by making us a tire swing. We love it!

I also need to say a word or two about my sweet husband. He really came through on Mother's Day for me. He made the entire day all about me (very nice change of pace) and I appreciated his service and sweet notes. Plus, I am now the proud owner of a garbage can that is "Kayla proof." I didn't have to clean up the garbage off of the floor once this week--so thank you, thank you! I also just LOVE the new aprons for me and the girls from my mother-in-law. We did a lot of baking this week for the recital, and somehow, baking is more fun when it's done in style! So thank you!



Finally, Stephen was out of town all of this week--long enough for me to really miss the extra laundry. But, it was also enough time to stay up late and get some fun new projects done meaning it's time for show and tell. First, hooray for me on almost getting Ella's books up to date.

Second, I saw this idea from my Martha Stewart magazine and Red Envelope catalogue and just tweaked it. I found some cheapy canvas squares at a craft store, spray painted them and did my kid's hand prints in a different color of paint. (I think Martha used fabric instead of canvas--also a fun idea!) I only wished my Kayla were a little less squirmy! Don't you think it's cute though.

Finally, I was coveting the cute mini blackboards that PB is selling to "identify" the contents of the baskets, but I thought their price was out of the budget. So, I got some chalkboard spray paint, ribbon, my drill and cute little mini plaques at a craft store and went to work. It's now easy for me or anyone (who can read, I guess) to pick up our toy room.



If you made it to the end of this post, I guess you must really love our family! Thanks for stopping by!