perfect day!

My sweet boy!

Today was a great day.  Okay it wasn't great until about 1:30pm, but it was great after that!  After a long and "not feeling well"  morning, we packed up and headed to the zoo.  However, after many many rounds trying to find a parking place, we decided to forget it and drive across the street and go to the Pioneer Park.

Tater had string cheese and pureed mangoes for lunch.  I had SuperTarget sushi.  It was not bad.    He loved his.

then we rode the train up to the top of the park (I totally cheated...)  He loved it.  LOVED it.  It may be because he watches Thomas the Tank Engine and the whistle sounded just like Thomas.

Inside the train!

Then, we went on a wagon ride.   HOLY crap!!  He loved it!  He screamed and giggled the whole time... each time the horse would take a step, Aiden would shake his hand in excitement.

Then, down to the pony ride.  He looks so small.  But he had a great time.  He rode it twice.  This pony's name was Drunkard.  Funny because he did walk a little... off....  

When we got home, Tater helped me plant these cheesy 50 cent herb pots from Target.  Cilantro, Basil, and Daisies.  Even if they don't grow (c'mon... 50 Cents each...)  it will be okay. 

Done!

Then, I finished handing my curtains and pictures.  I will add a rug, then this room is done.  (Picture layout and curtains courtesy of Amanda.  Thanks, Amanda...)

I am pooped and Aiden did not have a nap today.  Not one.  Not a single moment of a nap.  So, we will call it a night!!!!

The gals and the day at the mall

Cute gals.  Can you tell where we are?!

Okay so Shiree is not engaged... yet.  But we really needed her to start looking so when Derek does ask her, she is prepared -and so are we with a card with stock numbers and ideas of what she likes.   So, yesterday, I met them at the mall to start the looking.  There is nothing like a good bling-fest with young adult ladies.  We found three styles for Shiree and one for Jessica.  Not that Jessica is engaged, either but she has Tanner.....

Anyway.  It was great.  It was fun to see them both excited and see how life progresses on naturally for both of them.

Shiree's pick #1.  Pick #2 is in White Gold.

Pick #3 - it is white gold, but hard to see that.

Jessica's pick. Lovely.

Then, Aunt Kari took Aiden for a ride on the escalator... Okay, okay.  We played for a while on the escalator.  It was fun to go down...

And back up!!

And then eat lunch at the food court.  Fun day!

Then, last night... I gave Aiden Sweet potatoes and yogurt to finger paint with.  All over... him.  me.  the high chair.  the floor....

The old house

I love my friends.  There is something about a friend who does not share your blood nor beliefs, nor lifestyle.  But is a good friend just the same.  I have blogged before about my friend Sam. Sam and I hated each other when we met in Symphony at Weber State.  He is a cellist, I am a cellist.  He is artsy fartsy.  I am not.  But over the years, we found that our interpretation of music is pretty similar (with the exception that I tend to play in tune and Sam, well, does not really care about that....).  We have never ever ever had a romantic relationship (ew...... and anyone who knows Mr. Sam knows what I mean...) but a very close friendship.

So, tomorrow, Sam and I are playing cello duets for a work thing of mine.  (I secretly volunteered so I don't have to mingle).  And so Sam came over tonight to run through the old set of tunes. He played his music love - contemporary piano trio groups (for those who are not familiar - it consists of a pianist, a violinist, and a cellist.  By contemporary, I mean it sounds like cats on a piano and a whole lot of angry string musicians making noise) - and I listened.  Some was interesting, some was strange, some was beautiful.  We played some of the baroque cello duets and I realized that, while I used to play Sam under the table, he is much much better than me and that is okay.  He is patient with my mistakes and I am tolerant of his lack of being able to count to four.  Or play in tune.

It really was like old times.  We laughed, played music, ate a great dinner, he talked to his fiancée, drank Diet Pepsi, and just chilled.

But when he left, I realized that it was like going back into a house that you used to live in.  You are familiar with all the walls and the floor plan.  You know which stair creaks and you laugh about the time when........   It has great memories, it was a place you learned things, got hurt, felt love, but it is strange. It is not your home any longer.  It feels slightly empty because you no longer live in that place and your soul is somewhere else and has moved on.

That is how I felt tonight.  It was a step back into another time.  A happy time with good friends and fun music.  But when I stripped my little man nekkid to dunk into the bathtub, I realized that this life is where I feel happiest.  My soul is here.  We snuggled and, instead of gushing over the latest interpretation of a symphony, I sang a simple Primary song to my son and loved it more.    My hands can no longer fly up and down my cello like they used to, but they can play Eensy Weensy Spider with Aiden and it is more fulfilling for me.

So, even though I love the "old house" that was my life, it is fun to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there again.