New Blog Trial!

I am horrible about blogging, and I hope I can continue to post things here.
My focus this year will be on my new blog: home-madehealth.blogspot.com. Here, I will be documenting our journey as we continue to clean out our cupboards and fridge and fill it back up with healthier items. You can read my story and why I am doing this on my new blog. I would love to hear from you! Hopefully you will check it out and find some of the info useful!

Potty Traning can be fun!

When Tyler got a bag of clothes from his cousin, Blake, he was so excited to see the Goofy and Mickey underwear. I told him that he couldn't wear them until he went on the potty. I put him on there, and although he screamed, he went. The funny thing is though, there were also a pair of Lightning McQueen snow boots. He likes those equally as well as the underwear. So, when he goes...the boots go too. It's getting a little tiresome lifting him up and making sure he is comfortable with his boots on, but oh well. I am letting it slide. We just sit and wait for him to do his business and read books and sing songs. Besides sitting on the bathroom floor next to him (this is where he tells me to stay), I am rather enjoying myself.

Maybe the more kids you have, the less you care about accidents and get over the fact that it's not gonna be perfect for a few days. I am surprised I haven't lost my temper and just end up laughing every time he says "No pee-pee carpet Mom!!"

I Love To Run....thought I'd try it in the dark

Me glowing in the dark before the race

Victoria and I, with tyler in the background.
Jocelyn and I. She was so excited to see me leave the start line.

All of us before I left.

I have always liked running, but never thought I was very good at it. I look back over my life and see how negative self-talk has limited me from so much I could have tried or done, but thought (for one reason or another) that I couldn't ever do it.

In January, I started running more. I found a girl from church who was looking for a running partner and we started to run longer distances on Saturdays. I still remember the first time I ran 10 miles. It was something I never thought I could ever do. When I finished, I cried because I was so proud of myself, yet so upset that it had taken me so long to TRY! Once I did, it was rewarding. I ran my first 10k in April, my first half marathon on May 30th, the day after my 31st birthday, and I ran my second half on Friday night.

It was a moonlight half marathon. All the runners were decorated with glow in the dark "stuff" and the winner of the run was the one who crossed the finish line at midnight. You could start anytime you wanted after 9 pm and there were different groups leaving every 5 minutes. We started up in the canyon by my house and then finished in a huge park in Mapeleton. I didn't finish at midnight, but I did beat my last time.

I couldn't believe that I ran better in the dark, at night, then I do during the day. It was a beautiful run with a full moon. All you could see running through the canyon was the moon and whatever was glowing in the dark. The kids loved watching me leave. It was a really special family thing for us. I am so greatful for a supportive husband and loving children who cheer me on daily. I am so blessed!

Our House

Our house

Our kitchen

The garden we share with our neighbors

Our Deck off the back of the house


I thought I would put a few pictures of the house we are renting in Springville. We love living here because:

we are close to the canyon...just minutes away from the river, parks, and awesome trails

the kids love watching the deer in our yard

we have an entire cul-de-sac basically to ourselves

we have GORGOUS views and kind neighbors

we are more removed than we ever have been, so I am staying home more....

Changes

There is a lot that has happened in my life since my last post in January. I would spend days making entries with pictures about everything that has gone on in our lives since then, but I am trying to simplify my life and I don't see how that would help any. We were busy. Looking back on the last six months, I can truly say I can't believe how much was going on. Between weekly weddings, teaching music two days a week, running the girls around to dance, piano, and various other activities, taking care of a toddler, working with the young women at church and all our other responsibilities, there really wasn't much time for much else. I wanted to blog, I wanted to cook more, I wanted to be more crafty and learn new things, I wanted to sit down a read a book, I wanted to be a better mother, I wanted to be a better wife, but then again, I guess I thought there wasn't enough time to do it all because I was stretched so thin.
So, here I am six months later, living in Springville Utah and finally feeling some much needed peace. I quit my job at the school, I passed on most of my scheduled weddings to my aunt, David left his job, we sold our home that we worked soo hard on, and moved. Here we are renting a beautiful home against the Hobble Creek Canyon and David has started his new job as physical therapy director of a triatholon training gym. We miss the beach, our family, and friends, but feel that this is where our family needs to be for now.
I look back at the whirlwind of half-a-year and think, I don't want to be soo busy anymore that I can't take time to be that better person, the better wife the better mother....the better version of myself. I WILL be those things and much more. I am commited to being a better ME. Enjoy my blog as I try to redefine myself and what truly makes me happy, what stretches me and helps me grow, and what brings me daily peace.

What Do You Do On A Rainy Afternoon?

Wednesday and Thursday afternoons are pretty slow around our house, because those are the days I teach music at the elementary school and am usually pretty exhausted after 5 hours of singing, dancing, trying to get 4o kids at a time to be on the right beat with their instrument....and with the rain that started right after school got out...I knew we would be spending this afternoon inside. Here is what we like to do:Jocelyn likes to play with all her purses
Jocelyn likes to count all her purses and make sure she has enough junk for every possibly situation that may occur while we are home. That even includes hiding in a dark room, going through the trash (which she knows she shouldn't do because its gross, and taking thing out to stuff in her purses)
Tyler tries to give himself a snack because I am trying to have a 5 minute break to myself.

Victoria likes to be a couch potato, eat a bag of pita chips (that is what is in the background) and watch lots of t.v. She likes to veg when there is no ballet, tap, jazz, or piano class to go to.

Happy Birthday Cory!

Tomorrow is my brother, Cory's birthday. He is in Nigeria right now working on a new project with the Nigerian government/parliment that will help to restructure villages around the country. He is doing amazing things! I miss him....but know that he truly is changing lives. You can see his African travel if you click on the link on the right hand side of my blog, under family, that says Cory. Happy Birthday Bro! I love you and miss you, but am so proud of you.Cory, Jenna, Me and David, Lauren (before she had her baby) and Todd

I have a new love!

So, David and I have been trying to eat really healthy. We are eating a lot of fruits and veggies and very little meat these days. On Sunday, David's sister cooked quinoa! Have you ever tried it? If not, you should! I have wanted to for a very long time, but just haven't gotten around to it. She cooked it in her rice cooker with chicken broth and served it just like rice. It was a lot of protein and is supposedly one of the best things you can give your body. The picture below is of a breakfast quinoa bowl I will be trying soon. Try it out and let me know. Click HERE to try the recipe yourself.

Has it really been two months?

November and December have been very busy. Here are highlights, most recent first:

My brother Todd and his wife Lauren welcomed baby #2, Tasha Joy into the world on December 28th...a day before Victoria's 7th birthday.

Santa sent the Hunts to Disneyland for three days, including Christmas Day itself. Jocelyn was thrilled to be in Disneyland on her birthday (and Christmas day which is by far the CRAZIEST day of the entire year.) Here we are at Goofy's kitchen..where you get to have breakfast with Disney Characters. Victoria said that this was one of the best days of her life.

Christmas Day- Happy Birthday Jocelyn! She sported a shiny birthday crown, pink boots,birthday jewelry and a red "It's My Very Merry Birthday" shirt that my friend, Trina, embroidered for her.

December 18th - Our 10 year wedding anniversary! WOW! What a lot we've done in ten years. We got to celbrate with two nights away at the La Costa Resort and Spa (without kids). I highly recommend it to anyone!

We spent ten days during Thanksgiving in Colorado with David's sister, Elizabeth and her family. We really had a wondeful trip and miss them so much.

LION KING!

So, I know I am cheesy...but watching Lion King with my family was one of the neatest things I have experienced! My parents took my brothers, sister & sis-in-law, kids, husband and I to see the play of Lion King that is showing down in San Diego. David's sister watched Tyler and we went to a 2:00 show and had dinner at Bucca De Beppo afterwards. What an amazing show! Victoria was mesmerized. How the actors portray the animals and the scenery was amazing. It truly was a beautiful stage production and I highly recommend it to anyone who has the chance. It was fun to be with my family and to experience this with them. I forgot how much this story reminds us about family and that we have to stick together. Thanks Mom and Dad...it was AWESOME!

Kindergarten Visit!

So, on the back of my truck, I have my website listed: www.harpsdesire.com. Occasionally, I will get a call from someone that saw my address on my truck. A few weeks ago I got an email from a mom who wanted me to come and play for her daughter's kindergarten class for her birthday. Her birthday was Friday, October 30th. I decided it would be a fun birthday surprise for this little girl and a good way to make a little money (I didn't charge her my normal hourly fee of ***.**) I showed up to the school, dressed all fancy, and I felt like a celebrity. This little girl could have asked for a princess to come to her school, but instead her dream was to see a harpist! What a rewarding 30 minutes. All the kids got to touch the harp and I played several Disney selections and ended with my own rendition of"Happy Birthday!"
Some weeks, I get really stressed out trying to write all my lesson plans for teaching music at Victoria's school and worried about the big performance we will have next month (with all 300 children), but it is a an awesome thing to expose these little kids to the power and the magic of learning about notes, instruments, beat, rhythm, and just how to express themselves through a way, other than watching TV, playing video games, getting frustrated and angry or being completely introverted.
When I was teaching one of the Special Ed. classes "Catch a Falling Star" and this little severely autistic boy looked right at me and started to sing, I knew what I was doing at that moment was important. This little boy lives in a world where he can't communicate, he can't sit and experience life the way the other children do, but boy, when I started singing that song, somewhere in his brain, he recognized it and sang the whole thing while having eye contact with me.....that is a first for him in two months! Music is so powerful for children.....My life is crazy and hectic, but I love what I do and I wouldn't trade it for a second. Yes, I am getting paid a little bit every week to be at the school, but I would be there even if I wasn't.

Time Goes By Quickly

This last month has been crazy...teaching school two days a week, soccer games (and a wedding) EVERY Saturday, and planning a huge night for the Young Women at church. I did manage to get away with one of my best friends in the whole world, Trina. We have known each other since birth and have grown up together. Celebrating us both turning 30, we decided to get away for a night and head to the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Trina has stayed here several times...and I have only played for weddings here.. It is so lovely, fancy, quiet and quaint all at once. We spent the day at their brand new spa (something I have NEVER done before). I felt spoiled and wonderful all at the same time! We slept in, ate out, relaxed, got a massage (AWESOME!!!!) and swam in a private salt water pool. Thanks David for watching the kids and letting me relax. Boy...I needed that one. I feel like I run on overdrive all the time! Happy Birthday Trina...Thanks for taking me along!

WOW!

This week I have my friend, Julie Stainbrook staying with me again. Even though she moved to Utah in the summer, she still has MANY clients down here and will be coming every six weeks or so to do some photo shoots. Today she took pictures of my little sister Jenna. All I can say is WOW! I can't believe how beautiful they came out! Julie your ability to capture to true beauty in people is amazing, and Jenna, you are BEAUTIFUL. I can't believe you will be 16 next year. You are such a blessing in my life. Thanks for all the babysitting you do for me. I couldn't imagine my life with out you in it. You bring so much joy and happiness to others. And....you love who you are. It shows in all you do......Just look at yourself in these pictures....it's nice to see a beautiful daughter of God who is confident with who she is and isn't afraid to be herself. I love you Jenna!
You can see all of my sister's sneak peak at: www.juliestainbrookphotography.blogspot.com

I suck at blogging

Victoria's first day of first grade at her new school (I started here in first grade also)

Jocelyn ALWAYS finds time to dress up, put on makeup (even when I say no), and always has a purse packed with junk...she is our little pack rat.(she really does take stuff from the trash)

Tyler is obsessed with four things: cupcakes, animals, cars and balls.

Notice the pizza sauce smeared in his hair. After this picture, he climbed ON the table and was throwing pieces of his pizza everywhere.

I always say I am going to get better at blogging, and then it just doesn't happen. Life is hectic and crazy as usual and I just added more choas by adding a part time job teaching music at Tori's school. I teach k-2nd grade music ten hours a week at Monte Vista Elementary. I am really excited, just stressed as I try to make up lesson plans and activities for all the different grades, plus four special ed classes. There are curriculum guidelines I have to follow and the principal wants a full winter performance in December before the break. Notice I say "Winter;" Songs about snowmen, jack frost, snowflakes...all the things that San Diego children see LOTS of (yeah right). No Jingle Bells, Silent Night, Away in the Manger.....actually I don't think I can even sing songs with the word "ghost" or "witch" in it at Halloween. It's pretty sad, but nevertheless, I still have a big performance to come up with. So with that, a church calling, both the girls in soccer, Tori's piano lessons and three dance classes a week, Jocelyn's dance, watching my niece on Monday's and weddings on the weekend, the Hunts are a busy group. Tyler is a full time job in itself. Here he is, doing what he does best: eating and making a mess. I can't keep up with this boy. His overhand throw is just getting stronger (especially with strawberries across the kitchen) and his purposeful attempts to pull the girls hair and hit them with things until they cry just baffles me....Hope we can all hang in there! Maybe one day I'll learn to take it easy....but probably not!

Cheap Books!

I LOVE Free Stuff! These books aren't free, but pretty close. I am buying some now to save as Christmas presents for the girls:
Go HERE to BARGAIN BOOKS for the juvenile fiction sale.
Use this code to hopefully get your free shipping: BKLVFREE