You only have to practice on the days that you eat...

Allie had her first violin lesson today, from Aunt Jill!!

From my limited musical knowledge, I think that she did quite well for her first lesson. And she was so eager to play and to learn!
I think she's must that from her Nelson/Whitney side.. the Hardy's aren't well know for the musical abilities {well maybe just Aunt Cindy}.

For the past week or so, Allie has been telling everyone, {I mean everyone!} that she gets to play the violin and that you just put it under your chin and it just plays. Just like that!

Well today she learned that its not quite that easy but that its still super fun.

When we got home she practiced her "tugga, tugga, stop, stops" and made sure to play on "Mama A"
... anybody want to guess what those things mean??!

And how cute is that tiny violin?! Let me tell ya, so cute. That's how cute. ;)

We're excited for Allie's new endeavor
and we're so grateful for Aunt Jill and her patience.

My Mark

Mark is at a very fun age. An age where real and pretend don't exist. A world where he protects me from bad guys and ghosts with his pop gun.


He says the sweetest and most off the wall things.
Aunt Heather: "Mark, why are you only wearing underwear? Don't you believe in shorts?"
Mark: "No, I believe in Jesus Christ."


Today Mark threw a fit because he didn't want to come into the house. He kicked and screamed and told me he hated me. At first my thought was to grab him by his ear and throw him in his bed. But I took a deep breath and walked into the house. He screamed and cried some more. After a few minutes I went back outside. He ran up and threw his arms around me and said, "I'm sorry I hated on you mommy."


We have a flower patch in our front yard. Every time Mark goes outside I can count on him coming in, within just a few minutes, with a freshly picked flower and a kiss for me. I may not have many flowers in the patch, but I know my son loves me.


Mark's name isn't Mark. Nope, its Big Cowboy. If you call him Mark or worse "Little Mark".. he'll let you know you're in the wrong.


Mark seeks my approval and praise. He acts out for attention and love. He's sensitive and always seems to know when I need to be comforted. He's quick to forgive and quick to forget. {Sometimes mommies mess up too.}


Oh and did I mention he's {finally} potty trained.

Three is a wonderful age.

Tell Me Tuesday: Plethora of Projects

Remember in my last post, I said that it has been a busy few weeks. Well that might have been an understatement. Our garden is flourishing, as are our children. Oh yeah, and we got new carpet. Awesome right?! Right, except the moving all our stuff outside and living out of a suitcase for a couple days.. then moving and arranging everything back. But it was totally worth it!!

So for Tell Me Tuesday this week, I wanted to share with you the plethora of projects that have been keeping me busy.

1. Spaghetti Sauce

14 quart jars and 12 quart freezer bags (no picture) worth of yumminess

(recipe here)


2. Salsa

25 pints and 3 quarts -- Dustin did all this himself. He's the man!

(recipe here)


3. Zucchini, Zucchini, Zucchini
4. Lace Earring Holder

We have sooooo many zucchinis (off of just one plant, I might add).
I've made zucchini soup, zucchini bread, zucchini with hamburger and rice and zucchini cake. The zucchini cake was our treat for FHE last night. Add some strawberries and ice cream, the kids had no clue the cake was full of veggies. Tee, hee!

****

In between cooking up zucchini, I found time to make this little gem for my earrings. **love**

5. Solids

Luke started eating solid foods this week. Note the carrot stained cheeks.

That has been one of the more fun projects!



6. Matching Bedspread and Curtains

My mom and I made Allie a coordinating bedspread and curtain set. The bedspread is made from a flat sheet and the curtain from a fitted sheet. My mom is magic!



7. New Carpet

Last but not least, my new carpet!!!
I'm still working on putting my house back together but man oh man, I do NOT miss the pink stuff we ripped out. Its like a whole new house!

That's it for my project wrap up. Whew..

Linking up to Me and My Boys

Just what I needed to hear...

When I saw this Mormon Message, I felt like it was meant especially for me.
The past week has been crazy and the Summer is just getting busier.
I hope we can all slow down a little and see the little things that matter most.

Today is Dustin's Friday. :)
'Que weekend'

Tell Me Tuesday

My younger sister, and crafting extraordinaire Ashley,
just started a link party on her blog, Me and My Boys.

So I'm joining the fun and posting along with the very first Tell Me Tuesday!

~~~~~

1. Why do you craft?
I craft for lots of reasons... because its fun, I like to see things develop from start to finish, I love seeing my kids use and wear things I've made, I'm cheap and like to save moolah..
etc etc!


2. What is your favorite blog to stalk?
I love stalking About Him and Her.
Connie is a super mom and has a fun and witty blog.


3. When did you first get into blogging?

After my husband graduated from UNR, in 2007 I left lots of friends back in Reno. I originally started up my blog to keep in touch with them.
In addition to keeping up with old friends I love to blog to be inspired by other women and to record my families everyday moments.

Linking up to:

High Five!

Well another month has come and gone and my baby is getting bigger and older!

Luke is now five months old!!

I may be a little biased but I think I got a pretty dang cute baby.

At 5 months Luke...

- weighs 15lbs and 15oz (almost double his birth weight)
- rolls over, and over and over
- ready for solids. We'll start that next week!
- loves to chew.. on everything
- blows bubbles and drools like crazy
- babbles and coos
- sucks on his toes.. I think this is cute.. lol :D

My little rollie pollie!

Can't wait to see what the next month brings. :)


P.S. Don't mind the sound effects on the video.
Allie was watch a Goofy "How To" on Youtube.

P.S.S. See that pink carpet in the video?
We are ripping that out today and the new stuff is coming Saturday morning!!! Yippee!

Splash Pad Second Edition

We had so much fun at the Splash Pad last week we decided to go again!
And we had lots of fun.. again!

So much fun, Mark didn't want to go home!

How are you keeping cool this summer??!

el em en ooooohhh

a - our first tomato
b - allie getting ready to swim
c - me and kids at the rodeo
d - estefan crusin
e - sweet dreams
f - luke n mark
g - dus and his sunshine
h - a saddle mark wants at ifa
i - allie loves to fish
j - mark on the fourwheeler
k - my funny baby
l - that time mark and i got locked in the pantry
m - bud all slicked up for church
n - summer swimmin
o - allie's newest purchase, because it rains so much in logandale
p - dustin's commuting partner
q - allie asleep on the wheeler
r - luke's first fourwheeler ride
s - a temple date with dus
t - the boys irrigating
u - what mom don't know, don't hurt her
v - me and kids
w -allie and my dear friend meliss
x - mark sleepin (he seriously fell asleep this way)
y/z - me and my lil tomato, luker

Splash Pad

Fun at the splash pad yesterday!

Its supposed to be 99* here by Saturday!
I think we'll be making this a weekly activity.

Hello summer!!!