We really enjoyed....the aspens
Wishing on dandelions....
The view of the waterfall
The view of the waterfall
Running through the waterfall....
29 July, 2010
Enjoying nature
Sunday evening we went to Sundance for a little walk to a waterfall. I love seeing the beauty of the earth!
We really enjoyed....the aspens
Running through the waterfall....
Loved our night at Sundance!
We really enjoyed....the aspensRunning through the waterfall....
22 July, 2010
Tour around your own city
You know it's actually quiet fun to take a tour around the city that you live in. We took a lazy Saturday and did a little city tour of our own. We didn't even set out to do this but it ended up that way and was a lot of fun. I felt like a tourist in my own town!
We first hit up "The Other Place Restaurant". This is a little secret discovered in my days living in the avenues. It has the best french toast and hash browns ever.
Conversation when we finished breakfast:
Me: I have a surprise for you! (it was a mint)
Brandon: What? Is it that we get to go outside and come back in?
Needless to say he LOVED 'The Other Place' as much as I hoped for!
Go try it. It's on 5th east and 3rd south
You should go to this park. I think it's Brigham Young park downtown. It has bridges and streams and is really fun to stroll around in.
Then we went to see Brigham Young's grave. They have some other statues and history there as well.
This is REALLY cool. Inside the Visitor's Center there is this BRAND NEW replica of the Salt Lake Temple. As you can see it is open so you can see all the rooms inside. There are informational computer screens around the outside so you can click on them and see what each room is used for. It was really cool to be able to put together where all the rooms are and what goes on instead of just looking at a big temple and not being able to geographically understand what is inside. This helped me a lot and we really enjoyed it.
Have you heard of Gilgal Gardens? Well this is part of it. It's a little park that used to be a man's back yard where he sculpted things. Here, this is what Wikipedia said about it:
The park, which is filled with unusual symbolic statuary associated with Mormonism, notably to the Sphinx with Joseph Smith's head, was a labor of love designed and created by LDS businessman Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. (1888-1963) in his spare time.
This is nothing owned by the church people. In fact most Mormon's think it's really weird but...to each there own when it comes to art right! It's kind of a fun place to visit and people used to sneak into it. In fact, we snuck in! For some reason it was closed that day so we did the honors of jumping the fence. Of COURSE we did!
Next stop was Cummings on 7th! It was a tradition to stop here with my mom on the way home from my harp lessons. Dad and the fam missed out. Suckers! So now it is a tradition that I give my mom these on mother's day. In fact this past mothers day I grabbed my dozen and swung around and guess who I ran right into? President Monson! He said "Oh well, hello young dear!" I shook his hand and admired his big sweet smile and warm spirit. Love Cummings!
Brandon will kill me for putting this up but ...oh well :) We came home for some pool time and after changing he came into my room like this
"Yo. Let's go. I'm ready for the pool."
Now I'm dating a rapper.
No way to finish off the night that a BFF BBQ!! Did I mention that two of these ladies are waiting for a new baby! It's a big year for the BFF! Love you gals!
Great day. I am happy.
We first hit up "The Other Place Restaurant". This is a little secret discovered in my days living in the avenues. It has the best french toast and hash browns ever.Conversation when we finished breakfast:
Me: I have a surprise for you! (it was a mint)
Brandon: What? Is it that we get to go outside and come back in?
Needless to say he LOVED 'The Other Place' as much as I hoped for!
Go try it. It's on 5th east and 3rd south
You should go to this park. I think it's Brigham Young park downtown. It has bridges and streams and is really fun to stroll around in.
Then we went to see Brigham Young's grave. They have some other statues and history there as well.
This is REALLY cool. Inside the Visitor's Center there is this BRAND NEW replica of the Salt Lake Temple. As you can see it is open so you can see all the rooms inside. There are informational computer screens around the outside so you can click on them and see what each room is used for. It was really cool to be able to put together where all the rooms are and what goes on instead of just looking at a big temple and not being able to geographically understand what is inside. This helped me a lot and we really enjoyed it.
Have you heard of Gilgal Gardens? Well this is part of it. It's a little park that used to be a man's back yard where he sculpted things. Here, this is what Wikipedia said about it:The park, which is filled with unusual symbolic statuary associated with Mormonism, notably to the Sphinx with Joseph Smith's head, was a labor of love designed and created by LDS businessman Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. (1888-1963) in his spare time.
This is nothing owned by the church people. In fact most Mormon's think it's really weird but...to each there own when it comes to art right! It's kind of a fun place to visit and people used to sneak into it. In fact, we snuck in! For some reason it was closed that day so we did the honors of jumping the fence. Of COURSE we did!
Next stop was Cummings on 7th! It was a tradition to stop here with my mom on the way home from my harp lessons. Dad and the fam missed out. Suckers! So now it is a tradition that I give my mom these on mother's day. In fact this past mothers day I grabbed my dozen and swung around and guess who I ran right into? President Monson! He said "Oh well, hello young dear!" I shook his hand and admired his big sweet smile and warm spirit. Love Cummings!Brandon will kill me for putting this up but ...oh well :) We came home for some pool time and after changing he came into my room like this"Yo. Let's go. I'm ready for the pool."
Now I'm dating a rapper.
No way to finish off the night that a BFF BBQ!! Did I mention that two of these ladies are waiting for a new baby! It's a big year for the BFF! Love you gals!
Great day. I am happy.
20 July, 2010
My Brandon
Yep! That's my man!! Enough said :)
It was SO FUN watching Brandon wake board yesterday! What a pro! So why are there no pictures of me? Let me spell it out simply:
-choppy water- I tried to get big air- landed and then smacked my head sideways down on the water - thought I broke my eardrum - took a trip to the ER- CONFIRMED that I BROKE MY EARDRUM- Brandon tried to make me laugh while at the hospital by wheeling me around in the wheelchair like a frantic boyfriend and making all the hospital staff laugh as he acted all girly while carrying around my purse :)
No worries everyone. It is supposed to heal up in the next month or so on it's own. The doctor just said will be very painful (which it is). I have some pain killers and ear drops to keep it from getting infected. No underwater sports for me for a whole month :(. I was about due for a wake board accident anyways since I have never had one.
A favorite part of the night consisted of receiving a blessing from Brandon and my dad. Thanks you two for taking me to the hospital and taking such good care of me!
It was SO FUN watching Brandon wake board yesterday! What a pro! So why are there no pictures of me? Let me spell it out simply:-choppy water- I tried to get big air- landed and then smacked my head sideways down on the water - thought I broke my eardrum - took a trip to the ER- CONFIRMED that I BROKE MY EARDRUM- Brandon tried to make me laugh while at the hospital by wheeling me around in the wheelchair like a frantic boyfriend and making all the hospital staff laugh as he acted all girly while carrying around my purse :)
No worries everyone. It is supposed to heal up in the next month or so on it's own. The doctor just said will be very painful (which it is). I have some pain killers and ear drops to keep it from getting infected. No underwater sports for me for a whole month :(. I was about due for a wake board accident anyways since I have never had one.
A favorite part of the night consisted of receiving a blessing from Brandon and my dad. Thanks you two for taking me to the hospital and taking such good care of me!
18 July, 2010
Anthropologie
Isn't that so often the answer that people give you when you say
"Oh cute [dress, pants, hair pin, shirt and in this case HOME DECOR]... Where did you get that?"
You are never surprised when the answer is: ANTHROPOLOGIE
Yes I am a fan. My dreams came true last week when
I got my new bedspread!!
I bought my last bedspread at Restoration Hardware. Expensive yes, but I loved it and slept happily in it for 5 good years. After a few too many stains it was time for a new cover. I considered a few cheaper items however, when it comes to your bed at least for me I must splurge or I have NO motivation to make my bed! This bed is going to be made to the max!
Ok ok while I was at it I got a new shower curtain and towels which I LOOOOVE. This is my BEFORE picture...
..and this is AFTER!! I am loving my life with the new fresh ruffles and accompanying bird friends!
Anything to get me motivated to keep things clean! :)
"Oh cute [dress, pants, hair pin, shirt and in this case HOME DECOR]... Where did you get that?"
You are never surprised when the answer is: ANTHROPOLOGIE
Yes I am a fan. My dreams came true last week when
I got my new bedspread!!
I bought my last bedspread at Restoration Hardware. Expensive yes, but I loved it and slept happily in it for 5 good years. After a few too many stains it was time for a new cover. I considered a few cheaper items however, when it comes to your bed at least for me I must splurge or I have NO motivation to make my bed! This bed is going to be made to the max!
Ok ok while I was at it I got a new shower curtain and towels which I LOOOOVE. This is my BEFORE picture...
..and this is AFTER!! I am loving my life with the new fresh ruffles and accompanying bird friends! 
Anything to get me motivated to keep things clean! :)
16 July, 2010
Harp Camp
So where have I been all week? You guessed it. Harp camp. Is this as nerdy as band camp? You bet!! But hey, it got us on the cover of the Salt Lake Tribune!
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students from across Utah and the country spend the week in Salt Lake at the University of Utah's Gardner Hall for the Utah Suzuki Harp Institute camp, likely the largest of its kind in the country. The students will spend the week honing their harp skills and give a free concert on Friday.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students from across Utah and the country spend the week in Salt Lake at the University of Utah's Gardner Hall for the Utah Suzuki Harp Institute camp, likely the largest of its kind in the country. The students will spend the week honing their harp skills and give a free concert on Friday. Harp institute draws students from across county
By Lisa Schencker
The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah is known for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
It’s home to fry sauce and scones.
And it may soon be known for something else: Suzuki method-educated harp players. (If you didn't know, I am a Suzuki harp instructor)
This week, about 80 students from Utah and other states are honing their skills at the 2010 Utah Suzuki Harp Institute on the University of Utah campus. Organizers say the weeklong institute is the largest Suzuki harp-only institute in the country.
Under the Suzuki method, students learn to play musical instruments in a way that’s meant to mimic how children learn their native languages. They learn by listening and repeating before studying how to read music.
“Just like [children] would not read books before they learned to speak, they learn to play first by listening,” said Mary Kay Waddington, who studied the method under creator and Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki and is part of the institute faculty.
A number of musical instruments can be taught using the Suzuki method, but Waddington said she was the first to use it to teach harp, and many say she’s partly responsible for its start in Utah. When one of Waddington’s students in Colorado (Cate Cannon-my first and FAVORITE Suzuki teacher) moved to Utah decades ago, the student’s mother, Connie Cannon, had to find someone else to teach her daughter. So she brought Waddington to Utah to teacher friend ShruDeLi Ownbey (the professor at the U who I took from at age 14 and on) how to teach harp using the Suzuki method, and Ownbey then taught many other Utahns.
Now, the institute is drawing harp students, ages 4 to 18, from as far as Virginia, Minnesota and Spain. Younger players are spending time learning how to move their arms, open and close their hands and hold their thumbs while playing. Older players are learning more complex musical pieces on the gentle, sweet-sounding instruments.
“There’s not another place like it in the country,” said Shari Petersen, who traveled with her daughter from Colorado to attend the institute. Other states also have Suzuki institutes but not dedicated just to the harp, said Maria Phippen, institute director.
Harp students said Wednesday they enjoy the rare opportunity to play with other harpists (this is what I always liked). Many say they were drawn to the harp at a young age.
“It’s unique and beautiful,” said Cannon’s granddaughter, Mary Jane Todd, 12, who traveled from Virginia. “I think it’s fun to be unique and to be able to do something different.”
Petersen’s daughter Aubrey Petersen, 6, said she wanted to learn after watching her cousin play. “It sounded so pretty,” she said.
Perhaps the only thing missing from the institute this week is the opposite sex. This year’s students are all girls. No one is exactly sure why, but student Caroline Richards, 13, of Pleasant Grove has a guess.
“You picture angels playing [the harp],” Richards said, “and boys don’t want to look like angels.”
END OF ARTICLE
I had a very interesting experience this year at harp institute. While most of my students were in classes that consisted of technique, theory, a master class (private lesson with a master teacher), rhythm, group class and even arts and crafts....I was in a teacher training class.
I found myself leaving most nights feeling kinda sad or inadequate. I didn't really figure out why until I thought about it. Being there again made me kind of relive my experiences that I had as a child growing up and going to music camps, music lessons and feeling the immense pressure in the land of music. I'm sure some of you might do this when taking your kids to dance, gymnastics, sporting events etc.
The music world is an interesting place. If you are any good, it is a very intense world. Even though I am a teacher now, there is still that same dynamic. Feelings of ....I should have practiced more, should I have strived harder to go to a big music school like Juliard or Arizona State (excellent harp program). Also, I can see it in my KIDS as well....
Almost all of them had a few moments of wanting to cry or feeling not very good (they are here surrounded by the best of the best). All day they hear "Get your thumb up, elbow up, gesture, correct notes, correct fingering etc etc. If you were in a competition you would loose" This sounds like a fun camp doesn't it? Well, on a positive note, I heard a lot of bonding with other harpists, laughing together and them making plans to play places and play in groups together. Overall, I hope for a positive and motivating experience for them.
What I came away from this year was exactly what I went into camp thinking but now it's even more intensified. I am trying to prepare my kids for LIFE! I want them to learn to think and to learn dedication and self esteem. Yes musicality and wonderful harpists will be a result, HOWEVER My focus as a teacher is to give them praise and positive feedback and THEN make them work hard (while they are feeling great and that they can do it!)
I want to teach them to separate their WORTH from PERFORMANCE. This is a challenge that we all face I think.
We do good, get a promotion, our kids do great, make more money=we feel great!
We loose our job, kids get into trouble, gain weight, etc=we feel like we are worthless
This is such a temporal focus! Speaking spiritually this is exactly where Satan wants us. If we can feel bad about ourselves based on our performance it is easy for him to get us down.
In the music world it can all be about reaching our maximum and beyond and being the best. Well yes, I do want my kids to succeed and excel but what I really want is them to EXCEL in having a balanced and fulfilling life! Ultimately to use their music to BLESS LIVES.
By Lisa Schencker
The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah is known for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
It’s home to fry sauce and scones.
And it may soon be known for something else: Suzuki method-educated harp players. (If you didn't know, I am a Suzuki harp instructor)
This week, about 80 students from Utah and other states are honing their skills at the 2010 Utah Suzuki Harp Institute on the University of Utah campus. Organizers say the weeklong institute is the largest Suzuki harp-only institute in the country.
Under the Suzuki method, students learn to play musical instruments in a way that’s meant to mimic how children learn their native languages. They learn by listening and repeating before studying how to read music.
“Just like [children] would not read books before they learned to speak, they learn to play first by listening,” said Mary Kay Waddington, who studied the method under creator and Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki and is part of the institute faculty.
A number of musical instruments can be taught using the Suzuki method, but Waddington said she was the first to use it to teach harp, and many say she’s partly responsible for its start in Utah. When one of Waddington’s students in Colorado (Cate Cannon-my first and FAVORITE Suzuki teacher) moved to Utah decades ago, the student’s mother, Connie Cannon, had to find someone else to teach her daughter. So she brought Waddington to Utah to teacher friend ShruDeLi Ownbey (the professor at the U who I took from at age 14 and on) how to teach harp using the Suzuki method, and Ownbey then taught many other Utahns.
Now, the institute is drawing harp students, ages 4 to 18, from as far as Virginia, Minnesota and Spain. Younger players are spending time learning how to move their arms, open and close their hands and hold their thumbs while playing. Older players are learning more complex musical pieces on the gentle, sweet-sounding instruments.
“There’s not another place like it in the country,” said Shari Petersen, who traveled with her daughter from Colorado to attend the institute. Other states also have Suzuki institutes but not dedicated just to the harp, said Maria Phippen, institute director.
Harp students said Wednesday they enjoy the rare opportunity to play with other harpists (this is what I always liked). Many say they were drawn to the harp at a young age.
“It’s unique and beautiful,” said Cannon’s granddaughter, Mary Jane Todd, 12, who traveled from Virginia. “I think it’s fun to be unique and to be able to do something different.”
Petersen’s daughter Aubrey Petersen, 6, said she wanted to learn after watching her cousin play. “It sounded so pretty,” she said.
Perhaps the only thing missing from the institute this week is the opposite sex. This year’s students are all girls. No one is exactly sure why, but student Caroline Richards, 13, of Pleasant Grove has a guess.
“You picture angels playing [the harp],” Richards said, “and boys don’t want to look like angels.”
END OF ARTICLE
I had a very interesting experience this year at harp institute. While most of my students were in classes that consisted of technique, theory, a master class (private lesson with a master teacher), rhythm, group class and even arts and crafts....I was in a teacher training class.
I found myself leaving most nights feeling kinda sad or inadequate. I didn't really figure out why until I thought about it. Being there again made me kind of relive my experiences that I had as a child growing up and going to music camps, music lessons and feeling the immense pressure in the land of music. I'm sure some of you might do this when taking your kids to dance, gymnastics, sporting events etc.
The music world is an interesting place. If you are any good, it is a very intense world. Even though I am a teacher now, there is still that same dynamic. Feelings of ....I should have practiced more, should I have strived harder to go to a big music school like Juliard or Arizona State (excellent harp program). Also, I can see it in my KIDS as well....
Almost all of them had a few moments of wanting to cry or feeling not very good (they are here surrounded by the best of the best). All day they hear "Get your thumb up, elbow up, gesture, correct notes, correct fingering etc etc. If you were in a competition you would loose" This sounds like a fun camp doesn't it? Well, on a positive note, I heard a lot of bonding with other harpists, laughing together and them making plans to play places and play in groups together. Overall, I hope for a positive and motivating experience for them.
What I came away from this year was exactly what I went into camp thinking but now it's even more intensified. I am trying to prepare my kids for LIFE! I want them to learn to think and to learn dedication and self esteem. Yes musicality and wonderful harpists will be a result, HOWEVER My focus as a teacher is to give them praise and positive feedback and THEN make them work hard (while they are feeling great and that they can do it!)
I want to teach them to separate their WORTH from PERFORMANCE. This is a challenge that we all face I think.
We do good, get a promotion, our kids do great, make more money=we feel great!
We loose our job, kids get into trouble, gain weight, etc=we feel like we are worthless
This is such a temporal focus! Speaking spiritually this is exactly where Satan wants us. If we can feel bad about ourselves based on our performance it is easy for him to get us down.
In the music world it can all be about reaching our maximum and beyond and being the best. Well yes, I do want my kids to succeed and excel but what I really want is them to EXCEL in having a balanced and fulfilling life! Ultimately to use their music to BLESS LIVES.
14 July, 2010
The boyfriend Jean
Conversation with Brandon:
Me: "Look! What do you think of my new boyfriend jeans?"
Brandon: "Wait what? You think I can wear those jeans?
Me: "No silly they are just called boyfriend jeans. It's cause they look like your boyfriend's jeans."
Brandon: "Wait. So, you think those look like my jeans?"
Me: "Oh I don't know. It's just they are all stretchy and kinda baggy like you borrowed your boyfriend's jeans."
Brandon: "Oh let me show you stretchy jeans. My jeans..." He's about to start shuffling through his clothes to pull out his jeans just to prove how 'manly' HIS jeans are and they are nothing like the 'boyfriend jean' :).
Me: "Brandon, come on you have heard of this kind of jean, all the celebs are wearing them."
Brandon: "Really?"
We decided to pose me like a celeb in the boyfriend jean. For some reason no one is ever sitting or standing still in the pictures with boyfriend jeans on. You have to be on the move if you are going to wear these puppies. Have you tried these? Go get a pair, they are a dream. Rosie recomended them to me with this statement "They are the best! It's like wearing sweats!"
09 July, 2010
Mona Mona Mona
Oh um..where should we go to celebrate our day off work? 
Get your friends together and go. It is a quick trip down south that you won't regret!
You can relax on rafts and soak in the rays...
You can lay by the lake and and have a grand old time with your best friends...
How about a chicken wing for lunch? 
Only in Mona do you find a man on a pink raft with a dog on his belly...
After not trying to get wet, Beccs got conned into getting on the raft. She was on but 4 seconds when ace dumped her bones into the water! Tyyyyypppical boys!!
Bombs away Joby...Bombs away!
Holding on for dear life!
Heidi "Ok everyone get together for a picture."
I highly suggest it. It kinda feels like you are in a small town movie when you are there. Whoever counts the most mullets wins!!
How about Mona, Utah?
Get your friends together and go. It is a quick trip down south that you won't regret!
Let me tell you about Mona. You can rope swing the day away...
You can relax on rafts and soak in the rays...
You can lay by the lake and and have a grand old time with your best friends...
How about a chicken wing for lunch? 
Only in Mona do you find a man on a pink raft with a dog on his belly...
Only in Mona does a little kid dress up like a moss head monster and hide in the bushes. He was holding his breath under water until I (the best culprit that he could find at the lake that day) was about to dive onto my raft...
Right then he JUMPED up out of the water and scared the daylights out of me!! It was the best part of his day I am sure. Clever little one. Becca and Karlee were out on rafts and said "Oh look how funny, that guy with the moss head scared that girl on the raft!" Then Joby says "ha ha ha..that is Heidi!"
After not trying to get wet, Beccs got conned into getting on the raft. She was on but 4 seconds when ace dumped her bones into the water! Tyyyyypppical boys!!
Bombs away Joby...Bombs away!
Holding on for dear life!
Heidi "Ok everyone get together for a picture."Everyone: crickets
Heidi "Ok whatever I'll just take a candid shot then."
This is what I got....
I highly suggest it. It kinda feels like you are in a small town movie when you are there. Whoever counts the most mullets wins!!
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