Color Conundrum

I've been thinking about color
a lot lately
which made me think of this:



Cute!

So here's the deal.
We live in this cute little cottage house.
We completely remodeled it a year and a half ago...
Well, it's still a work in progress, actually.
But we're getting there.
This spring/summer we're going to really focus on the yard.
Think cottage garden.
I'm so excited!



When we were deciding what color cement fiber board siding to use,
I really wanted to go with something bold....
Red or yellow, maybe even a fun blue.
BUT there isn't a home within a 10-mile radius of my house
that isn't some shade of beige....
Beige siding, beige brick, beige stucco,
beige trim, beige door, beige shingles.
Okay, I may be exaggerating.
You could exchange brown or light brown for any of the above beiges.
Please don't misunderstand.
I love my neighbors and they have nice houses!
But the beige makes me a little depressed.
Okay, maybe a few houses in the area have
splashes of color -- but just a few.
So I was afraid if we did something BOLD,
we would be come those neighbors
who would make people say,
"Well, there goes the neighborhood."
Like these peoples' neighbors probably did:



So we settled on TAN
(yep, a shade of beige)
so our house wouldn't stick out.
But I insisted that we paint the door red,
the trim was white and the shingles were black.
I'm SUCH a rebel!

But now we've got a storage shed.
It's in the backyard,
but it's pretty visible from the main road.
Right now it's just wood.
Wood is a shade of beige]
so I'm sure the neighbors love it!
But I'm going to paint it and I want it to be bold
without being obnoxious.
I want my shed to say,
"We may live in a beige neighborhood, but we like color, darn it!"

But I just can't decide.
What is too much? What isn't enough?
My favorite color combo lately is red, teal/blue and yellow.
So here's what I'm thinking:
yellow shed with a bright blue/tealish door
and a red vintage bicycle with flowers in the basket.
Or mix and match that combo in anyway;
i.e. blue shed with a yellow door and a red bike.
red shed with a yellow door and a teal bike.
Or white with a bright teal door and a red bike.
Here are a few pictures
that sort of capture the look I'm going for.










So.... what do you think?
I need your help.
Please vote
on the right sidebar ---->
Thanks :)

Soko & Other Goodies

I instantly fell in love with this video made for Kate Spade, then almost simultaneously fell in love with the artist singing in the video, Soko. She's an artist who uses the ukulele and piano in most of her songs and has a dreamy, whimsical voice.... So my style! Enjoy :)



Here is another Soko song I love.



And here are some more songs to snack on this week. I already knew most of these artists, but the songs are new-to-me goodies.





My favorite songs from the playlist are
Lark by Josh Ritter and
Come Fly Away by Jeremy Fisher

~~~

Other exciting news in music for me this week....
Joshua Radin is coming to town
with Laura Jansen & The Cary Brothers
and we're going!
I can't wait for these and other good songs by these fab artists....

Joshua Radin:






Cary Brothers ft. Laura Jansen


What songs are you loving this week?

Classroom Cuties

This week we did more filming for the playground video. This time we got some shots in Chloe's classroom. It was the first time I got to spend much time with Chloe in *her* place. She was just loving all the attention and kept making sure I was watching and would stop "showing off" if Ryan, the film guy, was filming someone else. She wanted to save all her energy for her time in front of the camera.... She's such a little diva!

I was especially excited to meet Shurlyn -- I've been told that Shurlyn and Chloe are besties at school. Oh, she is just such a sweetheart. She can speak, but has to have a speaker so you can hear her (because she has a ventilator). She told me that Chloe was her friend and thanks for the Valentine. SO SWEET.

(found this poster via Pinterest -- my new favorite website)

Shurlyn also loved showing off in front of the camera and she and Chloe were excited to show how they ride the see-saw together. I was seriously in heaven watching my girl in this place where she is loved and accepted and has a whole different routine than anything she knows in our home. I could not stop smiling the entire time!

Shurlyn on the touch screen and Chloe on the see-saw

Chloe's teacher was especially excited to show me the swing Chloe loves. They hang it low to the ground and she lays flat on her back. Then she pushes herself with her feet. She loves being independent, so being able to push herself is pretty much heaven on earth for this girl! She was squealing and giggling up a storm while she showed me. But if Ryan wasn't filming, she would stop completely and just wait. Oh my word, this girl makes me laugh!

Chloe on her swing making sure everyone's paying attention -- lol!

A few months ago, I met a guy at work, Tony, who's going to school to be a PA. We became quick friends because of our mutual adoration of Arrested Development, but then we found out that both our girls have special needs. Then we found out they even go to the same preschool! His little Indie goes to the afternoon class and Chloe goes to the morning, but still! What a small world! I asked Tony's wife and daughter if they'd mind participating in the video and they were kind enough to come along for the ride! Oh my word, miss Indie is such a little spit fire -- a ball of energy and fun! When she gets excited, she rings her hands together and smiles so big that her eyes close. Ryan got some great shots of Indie swinging and jumping on the playground surface. She's a doll. Jessica is lovely ~ she and I were fast friends, and I was so happy to have met them!!!

Indie & Jessica

Ryan got some great shots of all the kids doing different types of therapy and how much they enjoy (and need!) sensory input and sensory play. It was quite a process to get the school district to approve this little film session, lots of forms had to be signed by lots of people, so this day was not taken for granted. BUT it was also worth it! I think much of what we got that day is what will really help people understand the who and why behind this project. It was a special day.


Grace and Shurlyn enjoying sensory play

And seriously, Chloe was so freaking adorable while she was in the fire engine area at the school's playground. I don't know exactly what it was about this that she loved so much, but she was squealing and smiling up a storm! Maybe because it gave her an enclosed feeling? And she kept trying to drive the steering wheel. Whatever the reason, it was delightful to watch!


Chloe loving life in the fire truck

Of course I'll post the video as soon as it's available for viewing. I'm excited to see how it turns out. We're going to try to do three versions -- a long 6-8 minute one, a medium 3-5 minute one (that will be used most often), and a 30-second commercial-type one. We're hoping to get the 30-second one shown in the local theater(s) before previews. Ryan's previous work is amazing and his heart is 100% into this project (I actually saw him wiping tears away a few times while we were in Chloe's classroom), so I'm confident that his end product is going to be nothing shy of amazing. Can't wait to share it with everyone!!! (Unless, of course, I look fat, then I'll just keep it to myself! hahaha..... I'm not kidding.)

New Look

You may have noticed that this blog got a new look recently. What happened was that I went to update my header for TMI, and I was completely uninspired. So I decided to start from scratch, and endless jubilee was the result.

I know most people resist change, but I am quite the opposite. I thrive on change.... it inspires me and rejuvenates me!

So after I got the new look for this blog, I realized it was time to udpate kidz. Oh how I loved the original design, but it had been that way for over two years now! Go check out the new look and let me know what you think of our special place for special needs. :)

p.s. I had the best time going to Chloe's class today. I can't wait to share all the fun details -- tomorrow! ;O)

Sweet Start

Today was Bree's Cookie Party. What a sweet start to the week! I loved it!


Bree's cookies were fab and her fam is pure cuteness! So fun.

Bree, Ella & Wyatt

Ella on the cookie table. So cute!

Good friends + yummy cookies = a great way to start the week! How cute are these kiddos? It makes my heart happy to know how many amazing people I've met just because of Chloe, it is just one of the special gifts Chloe has brought into my life. Amazing!

And p.s. I promise Chloe was wearing an adorable little sweater for our party, but she got hot so she's in a plain onesie in the pics. Look how red Chloe's little cheeks are! The snow outside was deceptive - it was such a lovely day and not sweater weather after all. Good thing Bree had super adorable heart name tags so at least Chloe has a little color and flair.

Ella, Chloe, Mia, Wyatt, Hunter & Caitlin

I hope everyone has a great week!

Because Every Party Needs a Soundtrack

So I know that everyone who stops by this blog knows I'm a music fanatic. Well I follow quite a few music blogs and music sites checking out new releases and new-to-me artists. Every week I usually create a playlist with new tunes that I "try on," for awhile to see if I like them or not. I've decided to start sharing my weekly playlist with you all because, well, quite frankly, I'm awesome.




Thank you to my new favorite blogger, Passionista, for introducing me to most of the above-referenced tunes and/or artists. If our music taste says much about who we really are, then I'm pretty sure she and I are soul sistahs. Saturday night/Sunday morning, Chloe did not sleep at all. I think the poor little sweetheart was having tummy issues. But she loves listening to music with her mama, so I took the opportunity to dive into Passionista's blog from the beginning (4-ish years of music goodness), and just reveled in her music taste and how it is freakishly similar to mine. Long live the mixtape!

Cheers to fab music, Chloe sleeping through the night, a great week for everyone, and heck world peace too.

Want more music? Go here. Happy Monday :)

Never Gets Old

I've shared this pic on the blog before, but it's been awhile. I frequently have to look at it because it's quite simply one of the funniest pictures I've ever seen! It never gets old.

Can you say white trash?

The face mask beard, the orange hunting cap, the empty fields in the background that are now jam-packed with subdivisions.... I love this precious memory!

Jamie and I grew up on the same street. We were born two months apart. Our brothers were the same age as well. We would always hang out at each others' houses. In the summers we would ride bikes and jump on Jamie's trampoline. In the winters, we would build snowmen (regardless of the many fashion faux pas's we committed in doing so), and there were occasional snowmobile/tubing rides. That was, at least, until my brother's speedy snowmobiling caused Jamie to flip off the tube and break her collar bone. Poor girl.

Jamie and I ended up being roommates for five years in our 20's. That started a whole new series of traditions and memories. But we always had this picture in a frame to remember our roots. It's a classic.

So the reason I thought of the pic was because we hung out with Jamie and her cute family last night. Oh my wordie did we have fun! Chloe is borderline obsessed with Jamie's daughters, Sadie & Avery, and I think the feeling is mutual.

When we first got there, Avery was seriously freaked out by Oby. She took one look at him and burst into a fitful scream. It took awhile, but he slowly convinced her that he wasn't so scary after all....


We had a good time playing "Dancey-Dance," as Sadie calls it, on the wii. I totally rocked at the bollywood number. Everyone owned the dance floor at one point or another, and we all thoroughly enjoyed participating and watching.

Don't you love how Chloe's laughing at them on the couch and how Sadie is doing the arm moves even though she's not actually playing? Totally makes me giggle.

Hooray for weekends and good old friends. :)

Love Notes

A love note to my sweethearts:

I love you both so much!

Thank you for giving me a life filled with joy

and kisses and hugs and laughter and

immeasurable happiness!

Valentine's Day was filled with love

(just like all the other days)

and special (just like all the other days),

and that's how Valentine's Day should be....

just like all the other days!

Chloe got a little license plate for her wheelchair.

Oh my wordie, isn't it cute?

She sent love notes to her

classmates, teachers and therapists at school.

Her Valentine love notes had a special symbol on them,

and also included Hello Kitty magnets and

"Chloe's Sunshine Playground" chapstick,

plus the girls got bows for their hair!

I meant to make a mailbox for Chloe to take and receive her love notes,

but didn't remember until the last minute.

So instead we decorated a gift bag,

and I think it turned out pretty cute!

That night Chloe stayed with Grammy
(thank you, Mom!!!!!!)

So Oby and I could go on a date.

It was amazing!

Mindy Gledhill sure knows how to fill the air

with love notes.

That girl can sing!

She sounds better in person.

How is that possible?

It was fun and whimsical and special.

I felt like a teenager

~giddy with excitement~

...crushin' on my date...

it was

perfect.

xo

Love Songs Day 14

To Oby:

I think this is the perfect song for Valentine's Day
"Be my honeypie,"
is essentially asking, "Won't you be mine?"


This song just reminds me of US...
When I hear it,
I imagine us dancing, being silly, laughing.
I love you. I love us.
Happy Valentine's Day, Sweetheart!




To Chloe:

I think when many people see us,
they feel bad.
They misunderstand our life SO much.
YOU are amazing!
You give nothing but joy and love!
We live such a charmed life together with daddy.
I love this life.
Thank you for the Valentine's gift
a new charm for my bracelet.


It is just perfect
because it represents YOU
and the charmed life we live together.
Happy Valentine's Day, baby girl!!!





xo

Consider the Lilies

I haven't been sure if I was going to share this on my public blog or not. Ultimately, I decided that if it was an important lesson for me, it might be an important lesson for someone else, and so I should share it. Plus really, my sharing this story has to do with the point of the story, so.... my goodness, let's just get to it already.
Last year, I went to a lunch to see my friend Becky after her son had passed away. It was a tender time and a blessed day to finally get to hug my friend for whom I had grieved deeply for many weeks.

Many of Becky's friends were at this lunch, and many of those friends were mothers of children with special needs. It was a special day and a great opportunity to meet some amazing people and begin new friendships.

At one point, the doorbell rang and all the other moms were busy tending to their child's needs while Chloe was being cared for by someone else. So I ran to get the door. When I opened the door, I was filled with light. Never have I experienced so much light and brightness and love. I had no idea who this person was, but she just filled my soul with light. This probably sounds crazy, but it's true. She filled me up with light and I just wanted to be around her and learn from her. I knew she had a secret and I wanted in!

I learned her name was Erin. She and Becky had become friends when their children were in the ICU together at one point, and Erin's daughter Charlotte had ultimately passed away. She now had a beautiful toddler, an adopted baby girl and another girl on the way. Yes, a brand new baby and a baby on the way (to be named Lily). I also found out that the baby on the way had the same diagnosis that took Charlotte's life.

Erin spoke of her experiences at the lunch with sincere sadness, but also profound wisdom. After the lunch, I couldn't stop thinking of her -- the light that she had amid all the challenges she faced. I wanted to be more like her. I wanted to gain wisdom and share it. I wanted to find peace and teach others to have peace. I wanted my life to be filled with even a glimmer of the light that she had.

I began following her blog and anxiously awaited any news about baby Lily. The day she was born, I had Erin's blog up on my work computer, and would refresh the screen every 5 minutes or so in order to find out what was going on as soon as was possible. And from then on, I never missed a post. I just wanted as much of Erin and Lily's light to continue filling my life. I'm telling you, even through a blog, I continued to feel that light.


Unfortunately, Lily passed away one week ago.

Lily Elizabeth Hayes.

As I drove to the viewing, I began thinking of life in a pretty broad perspective. I thought of so many experiences that had prepared me or helped me to be Chloe's mom.... too many to name for now. One of those experiences that helped me was attending that lunch. I thought of all the people who had come into my life and taught lessons that I needed to know. I thought family and dear friends, but also new friends and people who maybe never became my friend, but touched my life in a short time. Again, too many to name right now, but this quote kept going through my mind....

"God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore,

it is vital that we serve each other....

So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds!" ~Spencer W Kimball

I considered the sentiment of that quote a great deal. Mainly because the acts of other people have often been a testament to how aware God is of my needs. And I sincerely do not think the people who have been an instrument in God's hands to help me have ever been aware of it at the time. I've tried to let them know after the fact what an answer to prayers they were, but even then, I'm not sure how much they truly understand just how much I needed them to do exactly what they did at that moment to help me through something and to make me realize the depth of God's love for ME.

Erin is one of those people. She touched me in a deeply spiritual way just by showing up to that lunch. She was just herself. She didn't speak directly to me about her experiences. She didn't answer any of life's questions that had been weighing on my mind. She just showed up and was herself. That's it.

Is it possible, then, that just by going out and being with people and just sharing our experiences and being ourselves that we have the potential of having an incredible impact on the people we meet? Or the people we already know?

These questions were lingering in my mind when I arrived at the viewing.

Being able to see Lily for the first time, though I love and know her through Erin's blog, was so touching. What a beautiful baby she is.... pictures do not do justice. There were flowers, especially lilies, all around, and so many people there to support her family.

I always feel so awkward at viewings and funerals. I've never lost anyone close to me, other than grandparents when they were sick, and it was a blessing. So I'm never sure what to say. I've just learned that it's better to be there for them -- do things and say things, even if you act awkward or feel awkward, than to avoid the situation. So I did my best. I wanted to show my support and try in some tiny way to let Erin and her husband know how much Lily had blessed my life just by being. Even before she was born, Lily touched my life.

It was lovely, and I was glad I went. Lily's spirit filled me up with love and I felt that I might burst. As I was leaving, a lovely lady came up to me and asked if I was Tara. I said yes and instantly hugged her even though I had no idea who she was. I was just compelled to hug her and felt an immediate connection.

She explained that she was Erin's mom. She expressed gratitude for my coming to the viewing. She asked me to come sit with her, and of course I did.

She told me a story. She said that after Erin's first daughter, Charlotte, passed away, that she was out and about, feeling very sad and tender about Charlotte. She said that she saw a mother with a special needs child. She said she watched that mother and child and she felt the child's joy and love, and that just watching them brought her immense peace and joy as she thought of Charlotte. Erin and I met about a year after that and Erin's mom said that she recognized Chloe immediately when she saw her picture. She said that Chloe touched her so much that day and had helped her to feel closer to Charlotte. She said she wanted to come over and meet us at the time, but that her emotions were too tender.

I'm sure you can imagine that I had NO idea on that day that Chloe was touching someone's life. I was grateful to learn this because it felt as though in some small way Chloe had helped me repay this family who had given me so much.

I couldn't help but continue to think of the quote and the fact that our loving Heavenly Father helps us through the actions of other people. I know that so often, we don't know what to do to help others. Or we may think that we have to do something grandiose to make an impact. However, after so many experiences in my life, and especially after the story that Erin's mom shared with me, I am thoroughly convinced that our actions do not have to be grandiose in any way. I only have a vague recollection of the day Chloe touched Erin's mom. The only thing I really remember is that I didn't want to go. I remember feeling tired (probably because of Chloe's infamous inability to sleep) and I just wanted to stay home.

But. I went.

That's it. I showed up and because I showed up with my precious Chloe in tow, someone else was touched.

When Erin announced Lily's passing on her blog, she included the words to the hymn "Consider the Lilies."

He clothes the lilies of the field.
He feeds the birds in the sky.
And He will feed those who trust Him,
And guide them with His eye.

In my life, I've been blessed to see just how true those words are. And I'm grateful.

Addendum. Found these quotes after I published this and they went along with this post perfectly, so I had to add them....

Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever. ~Margaret Cho

Most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they've taught me. ~Scott Adams

“Live your life from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people's souls.” ~Melodie Beattie

Love Songs Day 13

To Oby:

Baby,
You've got what it takes!




To Chloe:

Grammy always sings this song to you
I just love the words
and the melody....
so sweet, so fun, so YOU.
I especially love this part:

Ya make my life a mess, yes
A mess of happiness
About you, about you
Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your pretty neck, I do!

xo

Gnome Nonsense

I had a fun kick-off to my weekend.

A night out with my pal Amy.
We were once roommates and had some
incredibly good times!

Amy and I at a soccer game 5-6 years ago? Funny that I have like 9 chins, even though I was in probably the best shape of my life back then. Hmph!

Amy is amazing.... as good as they come.
She wouldn't let me take a picture of us tonight.
Even though we looked FAB in our 3d glasses!
She said she thought I would post it on my blog
And try to get people to set her up on some blind dates.
Me? I wouldn't do that!
However, if my readers took it upon themselves
To see and read about my adorable and wonderful friend
And think of a handsome and wonderful gentleman they know
Who happens to also be single
And live in the Salt Lake area
And wanted to set up my friend with said gentleman,
Well that would just be completely
out of my control.
I would never, ever try to force something like that.
Or even insinuate it.
Not even suggest it.
Not me, nope.

p.s. Amy is 5'4". She is a creative extraordinaire and marketing executive for Deseret Book (aka talented and successful). She also coaches gymnastics, as she was once an NCAA champion, receiving perfect 10's left and right -- AMAZING. She is one of the only people I actually know in real life who gets 10+ pages to pull up if you google their name.... What I'm trying to say is that she's kind of a big deal. She's the Young Women's President in her ward. Without question, she gives the most insightful and inspiring talks that I've ever heard, which is why she's frequently asked to guest speak for different functions. She loves water-skiing and hiking and dogs and dark chocolate. She is one of the funniest and quick-witted people I know. She owns the cutest little home in Sugarhouse, but she's in the process of selling it to get a nicer one -- I guess that's what people do when they're 'kind of a big deal.'

What? Does that sound like someone's profile on match.com? Hmmmm I hadn't really thought about it, nor was I suggesting anything.

Oh yes, so back to tonight.

We went to see Gnomeo and Juliet.
We ran into some old friends right before the movie.
When we told them what we were going to see,
They looked at us like we were crazy.
We're not little kids, after all.
So why the cartoon flick about gnomes?


It made more sense when we explained the back-story,
our inside joke about a gnome.
Even though I've blogged about our gnome before,
I'm going to share it again, in case you're new around here.

p.s. The movie was super duper cute! Loved it!!!

Whether cultural myth or not, the story goes like this....

An Australian gnome-owner was distressed when she discovered her gnome had been stolen one weekend in the 80's. A note was found in its place: "Dear mum, couldn't stand the solitude any longer. Gone off to see the world. Don't be worried, I'll be back soon. Love Bilbo xxx."

Later on, she would receive pictures of Bilbo the gnome in exciting parts of the world, such as this one where he is in front of Big Ben in London.

Fast forward 20 years or so, and you'll find me, before I had found my sweetheart. I had just moved into a home with roommates in Salt Lake City. I had the basement to myself, but some decorating had already been done. Everything looked fine, and I even liked how the place looked, but there was one thing that was bugging me - a gnome. Little did I know that one of my roommates had found him at a consignment store, considered him a treasure, and placed him by the fireplace as a focal point to the room. I thought I could just stick him in a closet, and no one would miss him.

I was wrong! But thankfully, my roommate (Amy) didn't take offense or begin a roommate spat. She simply decided to give her gnome a more exciting life than that of simply standing by the fireplace, or worse, being shoved into a dark closet by someone who didn't appreciate his vintage flair. And so began the adventures of Gerome the traveling gnome. Not quite as exciting as the life Bilbo led, but noteworthy nonetheles....

It all started when I got home late one night from an evening out with friends. I stood at my closet, hanging up my clothes, anxious to crawl into my bed, when I felt eyes peering up at me. I looked down to see this:

I giggled to myself, and the next morning Amy found Gerome in the bathroom with her toothbrush:

He didn't travel the world, but went all around our little house, usually mimicking either Amy or myself in some way. He became an honorary roommate, as we would find him at random times in randome spots throughout the house....

playing the piano

getting dolled up

Taking a warm bath

eating breakfast

Speeding off to work

waiting for a kiss under the mistletoe

getting coal for Christmas

playing cards

curled up reading a book

eating dark chocolate and peanut butter in front of the heating vent

Well, life changed very quickly. I met my husband, got married, moved out of the house. Amy and I still met for lunch now and then, but I thought the exciting days of finding Gerome in random places were over. Again, I was wrong! Last fall, I walked out my front door to go to work, and found this:

Gerome in a wicker basket with a note, 'please take care of my baby.

Trick or treaters were not alone on Amy's doorstep Halloween night last year. Gerome was also there:

dressed as a ghost, not a member of the KKK

Update on Gerome the Gnome. Amy's nephew borrowed him for some sort of Junior High English project. I think you know where this is going.... It involves a locker.

Needless to say,
Gerome is now RIP
(resting in pieces).

Although Gerome can never be replaced, life does go on. Shhhh, don't tell Amy, but I found a fantastic little gnome at a vintage boutique a few months ago, and so the tradition will love on!!! Where will we spot Gerome next? Only time will tell.