My First Piano Recitals

So Monday and Tuesday I had my first piano recitals as a piano teacher. I have about 36 students so I decided to divide them into two days so the recital wouldn't be so long. It was a good thing I did because families are so busy (which one or the other days usually worked out for them but not both) I am so proud of all my students. I really enjoyed hearing them all play. I think their parents were very proud as well. I had them all bow or curtsy after their performance. It was the cutest thing ever. My son Gabriel performed on the second night. This is the link to his performance. I am so proud of him, He learned this song in a couple weeks. He is getting really good at reading music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih3U_0XKXyI

Gabe playing Jingle Bells

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a1CM7xISB4

Sent from my iPod

Happy Holidays from Lacey

Lacey made an early Christmas card for everyone too. Happy Holidays

Flag Football

Gabriel did so good in his flag football season. He made 5 touchdowns and got lots of flags. He gives it everything he has. We are so proud of him. His team got 2nd place.

Century Ride today

So I finished a Century today. Hurray!!! My goal was not be in pain. Which I mostly did except I had to go and get stung by a bee. I road with some good riders from Reno and my wonderful Fallon cycling friends. Just under 6 hours ride time. Adverage speed 17 mph. Sometimes we went fast and sometimes we relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. We stopped and most of the rest stops and had yummy food and good company.

Lacey waiting for the parade to start

The Fallon Labor day Parade

Labor Day weekend

So we hit our one year this weekend of moving here to Fallon NV. We went on multiple bike rides, went to Pyramid Lake and got to be in the parade today. Lacey and I road are bikes in the parade and Gabe and Dad rode in the firetruck.

45 mile bike Ride

Had a great ride today with Ember and Chris Henning today. We drove to Silver Springs NV (which is about 20 miles from Fallon) and the we rode are bikes to Dayton NV (which is 5-10 miles from Carson City NV) and then back to Silver Springs. I got a good lesson in hydration and endurance nutrition from my friends. I feel like a million bucks after the ride today. Usually I feel like a zombie after a big ride. Also was able to ride some hills which we don't have much of here in Fallon NV.

My husband held down the house and kids while I took off this morning at 6 am. So thankful for me for being supportive of my new hobby. The house was even all clean when I came home. It is shaping up to be a great labor day weekend. Gabe and Mike (Shane) when shooting 22's after I got back and then off to the rattlesnake raceway here in Fallon. This race track is all dirt, so it can be interesting watching them slide around the turns. I may go for the day to Lake Tahoe and hang out with a friend who is camping up there this weekend. And Monday there is the Labor day parade that the kids get to ride on a fire truck and through candy. Next year I am going to get the Churchill Cyclist Club to ride bikes in the parade.

Having a great day. : )

I have been busy sharing talents

So I have been asked to do lots of things lately in the church. So 2 weeks ago my husband and I spoke in church. Michael Shane spoke first on honesty and then I introduced the family told the mullet story and hen spoke on forgiveness so he couldn't be mad at me for embarrassing him.

I sang a solo in church. Which went really good. Sometimes I get nervous and my voice sounds nervous but think I was able to control my nerves.

I have been playing the piano for the ward choir. And now I am playing for the stake choir. And I am playing he organ for stake conference. I haven't even played the organ in 2 years so I am pretty nervous. I was suppose to play for a musical number tomorrow but that got postponed. I actually have to practice the piano. Which is good for me. I am definitely feeling needed.

And today I spoke at a convert baptism. First time since my mission. It was a great experience to be a part of her baptism. I spoke on the difference of having the gift of the holy ghost verses feeling the holy ghost.

Sent from my iPod

My First Triathlon

This was a great experience for me. It was super hard but worth it. The swim kicked my butt and so did the run, but I rocked it in the bike. My overall time was 1 hr 34 minutes. 13 minutes swim (1/3 mile) 45 minute bike (14 miles) and 34 minute run (2.9 miles). And 2 minutes worth changing from swim gear to bike gear and then running gear. I goal was 2 get 3 place in my age group because they had these really cute devil medals to give away if you placed, and I did end up with 3rd place in my women's 35 to 40 division. Hurray I was so happy. Next year I need to train harder on the swimming and running part. I could definitely do the distance but I really needed to practice swimming fast especially. It was a rude awakening when I started swimming that if I wanted to keep up I would have to swim faster than I practiced. All I could think was please let me be done, over and over. The say stuck because I kept thinking that in the bike and then into the run. This race was different than my normal stuff because my long bike tours I visit and go slow sometimes, but this triathlon was not like that it was full speed the entire time.

I have one more event this summer. The No Hill Hundred October 1st right here in Fallon NV. I am way excited because lots of my cycling friends will be riding in it. I am so lucky to have found all the cyclists in Fallon that I love to ride with. I did 3 group rides this week in the early morning. I don't even mind getting up early because I have so much fun. We usually hang out at the local coffee shop (but I don't drink coffee) and visit afterward all before the children get out of bed. I really love having a me time hobby.

Reno Temple

Finally went to the Reno Temple today. It is the smallest temple I have been too, but it is beautiful and just as wonderful as a large temple. Thank you to all the people who helped me get there today.

Will do better

So I got inspired today to do better about blogging. Thanks to Kara Sommers and Beth Perazzo. But today is very busy so I promise to get to it very soon but I so wanted to post some wonderful pictures that my sister took of my family this summer in Island Park Idaho at are family reunion.

The pictures

-Michelle

First horse riding lessons

So Gabe and Lacey had their first horse riding lesson on Wednesday. They were so cute. They learned How to turn the horse and back up The horse and even trot a little bit.

Gabe got a little excited and kicked the horse in the flanks while the horse was trotting. The horse started bucking and Gabe fell off of the horse. He had a pretty good fall but the ground was soft and he didn't get hurt. I was pretty scared watching it happen. I told him to take a few deep breaths and calm down. Then he decided that he could ride some more. He only walked the horse though. I was so proud of him for being so brave after a traumatic experience.


-Michelle

Location:Fallon Nevada

My Gingerbread (Sugar Free and oil free) Yummy

Low Calorie Gingerbread

This is the yummiest sugar free recipe that I have made substitutions for yet!!!!!!

2/3 cup applesauce
1/2 splenda
1 egg
1/2 cup light molasses
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup hot water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour one 8 inch square baking pan. Sift together flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, ground ginger and ground cinnamon. Beat everything well together. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy. Cool whip is good on top but adds extra calories.

If you divided this cake into 12 pieces they will be 108 calories each and .5 grams of fat each

Sunday afternoon

We are enjoying early morning church. It is so nice to have a lazy day. We are loving Nevada. Gabe is now on a basketball team and loving it. His game is on wednesday. The weather has been great and we have been riding bikes, going to the park and playing outside basketball. Brody is 9 months old now. He is eating lots of food and has 2 new teeth. But no crawling yet. Lacey is growing up fast. She helps watch the babies. He hair is getting long thick and curly. Finally Lacey has nice hair. She got a razor scooter for Christmas and she is really good on it. I started the weight loss competition at the gym. So I have really got to eat better and I am going to work out like crazy. I am already doing 6 days a week but I plan on going twice a day sometimes. My goal is 24 lbs in 3 months. It's not too crazy but realistic too me. I may have too loose more if I want to win though. We will see. My appetite is out of control while I am breastfeeding. We took the jeep Cherokee off roaring yesterday. There are so many places to go here. Basically 98% of NV is BLM so it is great for the off road enthusiasts and ATVs. Well Brody needs me later.



-Michelle