Lil' Maestro

We had Chloe's first piano recital today - she's only been taking lessons since September so we were proud that she had a song she could play at this recital.  (TWO hands even!!)  She loves piano lessons AND practicing even though she was not so sure about the whole recital idea!



Sorry about the great filming here - our motto is we don't move to video - so we get what we get!  :)  At least you can hear her fancy playing!  And what I love about this song is that all of boys played it too - so fun!

In her element!!!

How Can I Keep From Singing?

I am not a very good gift-giver. I'll admit that right up front. I have thought it through MANY times and I can't put my finger on it, but as close as I can figure - I think I am just too practical. I want to surprise people and give them something they'll love, but practicality always wins out! Take Joe on the other hand - the guy is the master of gift giving - he starts his spreadsheet in May and plans out what he is going to give and yes, he saves those spreadsheets - he has them from years past just to keep track! And he's so great at coming up with ideas - I mean, really, THIS will go down in infamy!!!

So this year, for Christmas, I really tried hard NOT to be practical. Ok, the upside down map that Joe asked for - that was probably practical, but the tickets for tonight's big show in Sioux Falls - not practical!! And boy was he surprised! I made a puzzle he had to put together, yep, that's the other problem with Joe - you just CAN NOT surprise that man - he always figures it out. SO as he's doing his puzzle - he is just clueless. He gets it done - and he's STILL clueless because I only listed date, time, and place - not the performer! But really, he lives and breathes the music of this man, I thought he'd know he was coming and the exact date and time!! But no, and then when I told him - yep, he was a little teary! I LOVED that - I surprised him - and I was NOT practical.

(I know, patting myself on the back here - but after 18 years, I think I deserve one pat!!)

And, I needed to post this today in case Chris was reading - I don't want to offend him at all, but I really won't be watching him so much tonight - nope, my eyes will be on my husband - he'll be WAY more fun to watch!!

Brag

Sometimes you just have to brag - BUT before you leave now - I must say - I'm not bragging on myself but on my VALENTINE! That guy is something. He surprised me this year for Valentine's Day - and told me he had tickets to the Symphony. What a treat - I enjoy going to the symphony, but it often isn't in the budget - and to be honest, it's not Joe's FIRST choice of a night out, so I knew this was VERY special! We headed out Friday night - did some shopping, ate out, and then headed for the big symphony - we found a parking spot - VERY CLOSE - which should have been our first clue something wasn't right! We walked up the theater and it was dark - yes, the sign said it was SATURDAY night - not Friday. I gave Joe a hard time the whole way home - what a guy won't do to go out with his wife TWO nights a row!

OF COURSE, we headed back Saturday night- and I must say - he SO outdid himself. This wasn't the symphony (well, kind of). The orchestra was "backing up" ARRIVAL - a group straight from Sweden that sings ABBA songs - oh my - I was just sitting there in my glory and had all I could do not to break out in song with them! That is THE CLOSEST I will ever be to a REAL ABBA concert and it was MARVELOUS!!! I am all for the class and sophistication of the symphony, but sometimes this is exactly what I'd rather do! Go listen to music from the 70's that makes me smile and takes me back! I love it - thank you, my favorite Valentine, for TWO fun nights out AND one amazing concert!!! It was ALMOST as good as the time with you! :)

Our Latest Favorites

People always ask me what Chloe is loving now - so here's the most recent list!

       

The 2 books we have read over and over and the Singing Bible gets played every night!  They are all too good!!!

Adoption Books

I can't let you all down and NOT post about books so here goes:

We've found some "new-to-us" adoption books that we (or I, rather) just love ~

Emma's Story by Deborah Hodge and The Three Names of Me by Mary Cummings

Mama's Wish/Daughter's Wish by Debbie Blackington

AND our new favorite CD????

Putumayo Kids Presents: Asian Dreamland

This CD is gorgeous - all lullabies/soft songs with an Asian flair - Chloe claims it's her new favorite!! I'm a big fan of Putumayo anyway but this one is wonderful!!

So there you go - our weekly favorites!! Ok everyone - go shopping!!

Nothing Much to Post

It's been one of those weekends, you know?!?!? I worked all day Saturday - which is normally fine - Joe holds down the fort - but Aaron woke up sick Friday night - so that wasn't good. Now, Joe can handle sickness too - he is wonderful at that, BUT Saturday was D-Day for the Egress Window - we had a couple of friends coming to help him and it had to be done THAT day. So poor Aaron was laying on the couch all day, Mom was working, Dad was putting in a window and the brothers were helping take care of Aaron and Chloe was carrying around Aaron's bucket - I am covering her in prayer - we DO NOT need a two-year-old to get the stomach flu!!!!

Today was church - add to that early to church for worship team - and that makes for a busy morning. Now Joe is diligently sanding, cauking, mudding, and whatever else on that crazy window!!! I'm not complaining though - he is saving us a TON of cash!!!

One thing to share - we bought a new Christmas CD a week or so ago and I just got around to listening to the whole thing - Wow - the last song is a tear-jerker. It is Third Day's new Christmas Offerings CD and the Last Song, "Merry Christmas" was written because, as I understand it, one of their band members is in the process of adopting from China and they thought their little one would be home by Christmas and now is not going to be - you must listen - it will remind you of the preciousness of these little gifts!!! Click here for a small clip of the song.