Piano!

When we moved from Nampa over a year ago we sold our very old, heavy, out of tune, missing keys etc. upright piano.  I have to admit that I don't play nearly as well as I wish I did, but I have missed not having one.  We were able to receive a sizable tax refund this year.  After paying off our truck and credit card we are getting some "toys".  Last night we bought this digital piano (not a keyboard) from a local college student.  It's a Yamaha and we paid $50 more for it than we were going to for a much lesser quality digital piano.  It's only a year old and plays like a "real" piano.  I'm so excited to be able to play whenever I want to because of the volume adjustment and I can plug headphones into it!  It's light and easy to move around. It has a bunch of bells and whistles that I'll probably never use, but I'm still excited about it.  I'd like to get Carson into some piano lessons.  I've always wanted my children to be able to play the piano.  At least the hymns anyway.  If they choose to pursue playing past that it's up to them.  It's so fun to have a piano again!   

Dollar Store Finds

Someday we'll have nice things.  But for now there's the dollar store!  

I found these pictures at the dollar store the other day and was super excited to dress up my very bare walls in the kitchen and bathroom.  

 No the mirror is not from the dollar store, but now it's not so lonely.

These pictures I think are super cute.  Even though they're in a bathroom/laundry with no actual tub in it...I still like them.  

Yummy Treats

Today the kids got Valentine Treats from Grandma Foster.

 I think Charlie is enjoying his cookie!

 He may have been a mess afterwards, but I'm sure he thought it was worth it.  

Valentine's Day

Our Valentine's Day was pretty low key, but enjoyable non the less.  This is what I gave Tony.

 This is a coupon book I made for Tony

 This was our dinner with the beautiful roses Tony got for Alaina and I.  

 The kids loved The Heartbreaker Pizza's from Papa Murphy's and yummy cheesecake with chocolate covered strawberries!  We even got sparkling cider to drink.  

Alaina gets a Haircut

Yesterday, I took Alaina down to the local hair school to tame Alaina's long locks.  They took about 3 inches off.  She was really good about the whole thing, and she really likes her "short" hair.  

Before

After

Really?!

Why does this always seem to happen right after you clean the bathroom?  

Messy Baby

I was feeding Charlie Peas the other night and he managed to get them everywhere!

Carson Lee

Carson Lee, our first born.  I love my not-so-little man so much!  I depend on him a lot and he's a huge helper!  He's now 7 years old.  He's in first grade this year and is doing excellent in school.  He's reading wonderfully and seems to really enjoy it.  I love watching him read bedtime stories to his sister, it is so cute!  Carson is like most boys his age, he loves Legos, Transformers, Video Games, and Movies.  We really haven't found an extracurricular activity that he really enjoys yet.  I think this spring we're going to put him in a ballroom dance camp and see how he likes it.  Recently Tony and I have started giving the kids allowance each week when the do their chores everyday ($2 a week).  This has worked miracles with Carson and the best thing is that when he wants something I don't have to say "no"  I just say "save your money and you can have it".  Carson is one of those kids that thrive with a routine and have a hard time with change.  Most mornings he gets up on his own and is dressed for school before I even get out of bed.  He eats at school, but I think I'm going to start packing lunch for him on the days that "hot lunch" is less than to be desired.  I'm tired of him coming home starving because he didn't like what they served at school that day.  When he gets home from school he does his homework, then chores, then plays video games until dinner.  After dinner he usually plays with his Legos or Transformers.  We have scripture and prayer before bed each night and if we forget Carson is sure to remind us.  Carson is a happy kid most of the time and makes good choices most of the time (no one is perfect).  He's very forgiving, which is great for me because with him being my first kid I've made a lot of mistakes with him.  Thankfully he still loves me and gives me 2nd and 3rd chances often.  I can hardly believe that this fall he'll be turning 8 and getting baptized!  My baby is sure growing up...sniff, sniff.