May 3

I'm very sad. We tried to go to Nickel Cade. It is an arcade type place where surprise surprise all the games are a nickel. I don't know why, but I love these places. Maybe its because I never went and played these games until I was about 12, but I really adore skeeball. Unfortunately, I found out that David has developed an intense fear of places like this. He cried and cried and cried from the moment we walked in the door and until we left. I tried to calm him down, but he wouldn't. He wouldn't ride any rides, or play any games, or let me set him down - and so we left. I don't get it - Nickel Cade is even less scary than Chuck E Cheese. The lights are all up - there is never anyone there because it is older and too many moms are germaphobic of the old games (just wash your hands silly moms after you play!) I guess we are banished from Nickel Cade until further notice from David .... :(

May 2

These were actually taken on some Friday in April. We went to the Red Butte Gardens --and I am in love with them! We went for their celebration, and they were giving away free trees you could plant. Unfortunately, it snowed like crazy while we were trying to look at the gardens. In a way it was kind of magical seeing tons of tulips falling over from caked snow on them, though. The boys each got to plant a tree, and we will be going back when we can go without winter coats. I fell in love with the Children's Garden - and that umbrella tree with tree stump chairs is going to be in my backyard one day - just wait and see. If anyone knows where to get tree stump chairs like that please let me know!

May 1

My sister Becky came to visit for the weekend. I roped her and her son into coming with me to a Kid's Health Fair. We ate free fruit and the kids played on the jumpees and we freezed in the nice freezing spring weather and snow. The highlight of the trip? Free toothbrushes for everyone! I love to brush my teeth.

April 30

I had my dress rehearsal for the A'Olian Modes performance of "Musical Madness." I get to play a Victory Borge type piano playing/Baritone singing chick. It is kind of fun. I get to play some PDQ Bach, sing some Bass on Rock songs like Sweet Dreams are Made of This, and I pretend to blend on some King Singers music. Singing is certainly a challenge for me. It really doesn't come naturally, and unlike the piano, I'm pretty self concious about the croaking noises I produce...but they sure are a fun group of people that I get to hang out with. Hooray for fun friends and lots of laughter!

April 29

I'm a complete succor for a free carpet cleaning. I always have a spot by my entry way from the garage that drives me nuts. (Stupid house builders should've put annoying but practical tile in the entry way....grr....) Anyhow, even though I vowed after the last 2 1/2 hour presentation from the Kirby vacuum salesmen that I'd never let them in again....I caved. My first Kirby salesman experience was in CA - I was pregnant and ready to throw up the whole time. I sat on the couch eating ice cream and moaning. My 2nd presentation was just this January - I had pneumonia, and had no voice so couldn't talk. I sat on the couch coughing and halfway sleeping. This time? At least the sales lady was hilarious and she let my kids play with the cleaning bubbles for a long time. They had a blast, and I got my carpet cleaned again. In case you were wondering - is the Kirby a great vacuum? Sure. Will I ever pay 2,000 bucks for it? Not on your life! Yes, I know I see the dirt piles you pull from my furniture and carpet, but I don't have allergies or asthma and a little dirt never hurt anyone. I am no disgusted or shocked by my family's dirt. Dirt is what makes the world go 'round. So yes, Kirby, you can keep coming back and cleaning my carpet for free, but I probably won't ever buy your vacuum from you.

April 28

Haircuts make me happy. Especially when I have a friend who comes over to my kitchen with only two hours of warning, and cuts it for me pretty darn cheap, and incredibly cute. Too bad I can't get my hair cut every time I have a bad day.....it does put me in a good mood, but I'm afraid I wouldn't have any hair left. Thanks Marcy for another great cut!

April 27

I always get the most interesting manicures. This is the latest one I got for free from the teenage babysitter's friend. She offered to do my nails in a french manicure, and I got these great colorful tips. It made me laugh. One of them glowed in the dark, too. I took off two other bandaids just so she could do this. I always have bandaids plastered on my hands (infected fingernail, rug burn from moving a beanbag, papercut....etc...etc....etc....) So score another interesting manicure for me. Past manicures of note: Black toenails, and super duper expensive manicure in Washington D.C. (compliments of my mom's cousin) from the same lady that did Hillary Clinton's nails for the inauguration while I sat next to Linda Carter - Wonder Woman who was getting her hair colored. I've only ever had my nails done five times in my life, too......

April 26

I have found a new love. The Salt Lake City Library is my new love. I love love love LOVE love their library. I can't believe it took me two years to go and explore it. As much as I love libraries, I just hadn't made the trip to go to the downtown SLC yet. I have cards at both Weber and Davis County libraries, but overall I am somewhat disappointed with both their library systems. I am disappointed, but I still love them. I love all libraries regardless of their inadequacies. They were having a book sale at the City Library. For five dollars you could load up a giant brown bag of books. We got about 40 new books (like we needed them....) but I was so excited. We went to the children's nonfiction center and my boys went crazy. We have asteroid books, money books, president books, history books, travel books, early readers, etc...etc...etc... David's favorite book he made me get: "Women can play Basketball too!" He is very attached to that one......hmm.....I could say so much about our library trip. (I lost half my remote control to my car, I went to the old library first and had to be redirected and someone made sure I knew I was in Salt Lake, and we only had 30 minutes because we parked at a meter, and the elevators are a kick in the library....etc....etc...and etc...) I think instead I will just say that I loved the SLC library soooo much that I have already driven down their two times this week to hang out at it!!! I'm ready to pack up my house and sell half my belongings to move into downtown SLC just so I can get one of their library cards for less than the 80 dollars a year it costs me now. To life, La Chaim, and libraries!

April 26

Vitamin Debby.....err...actually.....Vitamin D. Does anyone need any Vitamin D? I now am the lucky owner of 8 bottles. Oh, I shouldn't have bought that many, but I did. They were on sale for $5 at Walgreens. I was able to 8 five dollar coupons from Nature's Bounty.....so I only paid 16 pennies for each bottle.....but then.....I got a $5 register reward back to use at Walgreens. I now have $40 to spend at Walgreens, and it only cost me $1.28! I think I made just a little bit of money off of this one. Shopping to make money is rather fun.

April 25

These are pictures from a kid's safety fair that we went to at the Fairgrounds on Saturday. It took me an hour to find the fairgrounds (stupid GPS didn't have it listed, and stupid totally reliant GPS location finding me can't go anywhere without it!) Once we arrived, we had a lot of fun. We got free child ID kits and visited multiple kids safety booths. I talked to several of my friend's from the MOM's Club I used to be secretary for and we played lots of games, talked to Star Wars figures, and entered a couple of drawings. (I did end up winning something pretty big too!!!! I will give another post on that later. After climbing on helicopters, and firetrucks, and eating lots of candy, we headed home. I like these outdoor kid's events.

April 24

I had my spring piano recital in the morning! Yippee! I don't have very many students, but the ones I do have are really fantastic. They all did a great job. They played by memory, kept going through any rough spots, and gave great bows in the end. I was happy how it turned out. We used the library auditorium for this recital, and I liked not being able to provide any refreshments :) I did give them all a Symphony Bar as a treat afterwards, but it was nice to not fuss with drinks and others junk. There was quite a mix of music, from Beethoven to Star Wars, and Grieg to Taylor Swift. I make them do some songs that are classical, but I always let them pick something they want to play too. In the end, I think it was a great recital. I got a teary-eyed grandma of some of them coming to me telling me how great it was. Quote: "My daughter isn't just wasting her money on lessons any more. She is paying for someone worthwhile." Even if she is a possibly prejudiced grandma....it feels nice to have your teaching validated. I love teaching and really do care a toooon about my students and their progress. Now onto summer. I am thinking we are going to have a practice competition this summer, and maybe just maybe some of them will still practice.

April 23

We were supposed to have a dress rehearsal for our upcoming show, but two members of our group had a place reserved at Wolf Creek. Too bad....we ended up driving up there and having a yummy dinner instead. We had grilled salmon, chicken, pork, asparagus mmmmmm, and tons and tons of assorted veggies. It was my dream meal. We were going to sing....instead we just enjoyed each other's company and families. I tried to watch a movie in the car on the way up, but ended up very car sick instead. Other than the drive, we enjoyed ourselves. A family night out with other families is always very refreshing indeed!

April 22

There once was a girl named Debby. She woke up one day and dropped her eldest chicken off at preschool. She went to the gym in shorts and a t-shirt. In the next instant she found herself struggling with this insatiable desire to go to Logan and go to Baby Animal Days. A hefty problem presented itself....it was quite chilly outside. She had on gym shorts. If she drove home from preschool to get some pants it would take an extra thirty minutes, and she would never leave the house again, and she would miss out on a fun experience. If she found someway to solve the gym short problem, she could go on her adventure. Enter her brilliant stroke of genius.....Old Navy right next to the preschool was having a clearance on their clearance items. She marched into Old Navy and in less than five minutes snagged the pictured pants for 97 cents!!!! 97 cents......who knew a dollar could provide so much happiness and the opportunity for so many fun memories???? Debby did.

April 21

Cade cracks me up.

April 20

I met my friend Sarah for lunch at The Castle Park, and had a great time! Sarah was a really good friend of mine in junior high, who moved to Utah in high school, and we reconnected via facebook a few months ago. She has two girls the same age as my boys, and our kids mesh together reall well. The Castle Park is a super fun park - I'll have to post some pics of the park from previous visits another day. Cade didn't want to play on any of the playground equipment because he saw a bee. My crazy boys will eat bugs, but they panic and flip out when they see even ants. We ended up exploring a very steep ravine type trail instead. The boys and girls got down in the dirt and slid on their little bottoms and crawled back up for a loooong time. I enjoyed catching up with my friend and it was a great afternoon. I love the dirt plastered all over David's legs when we were finished. I'm so glad I have little boys that can soak in dirt and be cute little bugs while doing it!

April 19

I've never seen a purple horse, and I never hope to be one...
but if I see horse perched on a dirt pile on my walk -
I'd take a picture . The End.

April 18

We are planning on planting some trees in our barren, purple flower weed infested yard this summer. So- I have been scouring the neighborhoods taking blurry pictures of trees that I see that I like - particularly conifers. There are so many different conifers to choose from, and I don't like the way many of them look (nor do I like the hefty price tags on those itty bitty baby pines that take years and years to grow.....) Anyhow - I am thinking of putting a columnar spruce or pine? Great, now I can't remember but I've seen it at our J and J nursery. Then we are debating between a maple and a paper birch to go with it over the bridge in the front. On the back and sides we want a fruit tree (Granny Smith Apple, or pear) and I ordered a fast growing Empress tree off the internet. I'm really excited about the Empress. It grows fast and has crazy big leaves. I had no idea that I would ever care what trees were called, but I do - just a little. I'm usually not into naming and classifying things, but since you have to know the names to get it at the nursery, I guess I'm getting into this whole name that tree business.

April 17

Sunny lunch in Legacy Park. A quick walk from the house - on a beautiful spring day - and sack lunches in the park. This is the life! I love my sunshine. Cade ran on the grass and played on the slides (and peed behind the locked bathroom doors) - and I read the newspaper with David. A great day.

April 16

Even though I have managed to kill a cactus - and can't keep a houseplant or flower alive for the life of me - I still like gardening. This is only the second attempt at a garden so we will see if there are any fruits to our labors. We have two square foot gardening box kits and we've been planting lots. Maybe too soon? I don't know. We have lettuce, tomatoes, kohlrabi, peas, peppers, zucchini, and many more squares left to fill. Two years ago we actually got some veggies out of our garden. It was so exciting to me to grow some edible food. I was just floored every time something grew. I just didn't think it would work. I guess I don't have very good faith in soil, water, and sunshine. Since we didn't weed our last garden, I think we made out like bandits. Only time will tell if this year will be another success. (Oh yeah, by the way those are COATS we are wearing to plant the garden. I think it snowed just the day before we decided to plant....grrrr....)

April 15

What kind of pics do you get when you ask your five year old what you should take pictures of? Well, pics of mom with a free Kikoman spoon rest of course!!! I was at a loss for trying to remember last week. So at Cade's advice and skills - I landed these pics of my free spoon rest. I actually have little use for it because I rarely indulge in cooking, but since it is my first spoon rest ever and it came for free in a really neat Styrofoam package I am partial to it. I might even say I adore my first spoon rest. Okay, I admit it. I am in love with my nearly worthless contraption :)