Ring Toss

Jon and Livi have been having a great time playing with her favorite Christmas present, the donut stacker. When he put them on her arms and legs she started cracking up. I love it that my seven month old "gets it" enough to laugh along with us!

Success!!

Olivia has never successfully been babysat by a non-family member. And when I say "successfully", I mean not absolutely screaming her head off (like, crying inconsolably until she has no energy left and falls asleep). It is pretty strange, that this happens because normally Olivia is an extremely good natured baby (almost never cries). Needless to say, it has made "date nights" pretty tricky. Usually we just go on our "dates" to the basement while she sleeps upstairs. But Jon has REALLY been wanting to see Avatar, and last night I surprised him with a babysitter and movie tickets. I was nervous about leaving Livi, even though she was already asleep for the night when we left, because she has woken up with babysitters before, and screamed, and she has also been having a hard time sleeping through the night lately. My good friend and neighbor Megan came over to watch her, and miracle of miracles, she slept through the night (with only one binky replacement, according to Megan). We saw Avatar (3D), and while I can't say I wasn't worried at all about Olivia, I really enjoyed it. It was an incredible film! And I felt even better about the evening when we got home and found out that Olivia hadn't woken up, and there had been no screaming! Good job Liv!! And thanks Megan!

Something New

For about as long as I can remember, I have had long-ish fingernails. Partially because my nails grow so darned fast, and partly because of my insecurity about my fingers being fat (long nails, in my mind, would elongate the fingers). However, with long nails on the out, and nail polish back in, I decided to make a change. I'm pretty much over the fat fingers thing. Maybe it was just all in my head, and really, I'm a little less worried about what people think of my ands these days (who watches the "Man Hands" episode of Seinfeld anymore anyway...) I trimmed and painted, and voile! Something new.

Things I love:
*easier to type accurately
*a new look
*less likely to break a nail

Things I don't love:
*had to use a knife to peel an orange
*less effective back scratching capability
*can't pick Livi's nose anymore (come on, moms, you know you all do it...the babies can't pick their own noses and who else is going to help them with that)

Slow Cookers, etc.

I saw "Julie & Julia" last week. It was inspiring. Apparently it was inspiring to a lot of other people too. I was invited to participate in a blog called "Challengers of the Unknown". We're all trying something new. And blogging about it. I am trying out my slow cooker. Every week. To see how that, and several other projects go, check this out.

In other news, I was sick last week, but I'm on the mend, and getting back into the swing of life. I have decided to paint my kitchen red. And build a window seat in my front room. This should be interesting.

We'll be listening...

If you've ever been to a Haynie family dinner, birthday party, or spent more than an hour at the family home, you've probably had the good fortune of hearing my dad sing. Growing up, we went to sleep to the sounds of his "lullabies" (usually a good James Taylor or Dan Fogelberg). Jon still is amazed at the number of songs I know by heart, but I always remind him that I grew up with constant live music, thanks to my dad.

Watching General Conference as a little girl, I would listen to the Tabernacle Choir, and think how amazing they were. But I knew the my daddy was just as good, and that if we didn't live so far away, surely he would be one of their number.

Four years ago, after my family moved from Michigan to Utah, my childhood aspirations for my father were realized. Dear old dad (or Papa Joe, as he has been affectionately dubbed) joined the choir (though "joined" seems too light a word to describe the rigorous audition process choir members go through). I have loved looking for him in Conference, attending concerts, and listening to the various albums he has recorded with the choir. I know it has been a marvelous experience for him.

Now, because of new assignments at work that involve frequent travel, he is resigning from the choir. This Sunday will be his last time singing with the choir, during Music and the Spoken Word. If you can, tune in, and listen with me, as Papa Joe and the Tabernacle Choir sing their final duet. Find broadcast times and links to watch online here.

Although this signifies the end of a good thing, we can all be assured that it is not the end of the song. Music will continue to abound in the Haynie home, and if you stop by, I'm sure Papa Joe will gladly grace you with a melody.

the family on temple square after a concert, December 2006

Top Ten Pics...The Holidays in Review

I have been neglecting my blog lately. I guess I just figured I didn't need to post if the only people who read my blog (my dad and Jon's mom) were with us in the flesh. Since we are no longer with our extended family, I have decided to resume posting. But just in case there are more of you out there, I'm only posting the top ten pics, to avoid boring you completely.

A couple days before we left for our holiday travels, Baltimore (and most of the east coast) got dumped on with snow. We got at least two feet. I love Olivia's expression here...shows exactly how she felt about it!

We got so much snow that Church was, in fact, canceled. Olivia got to wear her cute Christmas dress anyway.


We spent Christmas in Utah with my family, and Jon and I sneaked away one evening for a little night skiing. It was a blast!


My sisters and cousin collaborated on this cute hat for Olivia! I already had the pink one, so Christy made me a flower, and now we match!




We headed to Texas for the new year and some warmer weather. Olivia enjoyed swinging in the park with Grandpa.



We celebrated New Years Eve by playing a card game called 'The Great Dalmuti' that involved hats. Here is Jon wearing the Great Dalmuti hat. He was "winning".



Speaking of hats, here is Olivia in her party hat. It was actually an Austrian ornament from Jon's parents' tree.


While in Austin, we seized the opportunity to visit my old friend Amy and her family. Cute kids, great cheesecake.


Olivia had a piano lesson from her dad.


We went to a restaurant called "The Oasis". Mediocre food, great view. Olivia is pictured here with her Grandma and Grandpa Leininger, shortly after their 30th wedding anniversary.

WARNING

An important warning for those singles out there contemplating going on a date. A mere two years ago today, Jon and I went on our first date. We now find ourselves graduated, married, careered, mortgaged, and babied. If you do not exercise caution, it could happen to you too.