Another Change

A slight change entered our lives.  In hindsight, it maybe seemed small but it grew into something much more.

Noah's piano teacher decided that he was moving to Minneapolis and getting "a real job that gives me insurance"---his exact words.  I certainly understand his reasoning.  Living out here in the sticks does not give people many opportunities career wise.  The kicker was, he was moving now.  Only giving a weeks notice. 

So, we had to regroup and frantically find a new piano teacher.  This task, out here in the sticks, is easier said than done.  Two weeks later, the piano teacher is found.  Julia is her name.

I new I was going to like her right away.  Well, because my favorite name in the entire world is Julia.  Kinda silly, I know.  I talked to her on the phone a couple of times and then off we went to meet her. 

Now this lady is not the typical conservative/ Midwestern/ modest lady.  Oh, no...she is definitely unique.  And I love it. 

She is the daughter of a kind of famous local artist.  And lessons are held at her mothers art studio. 

Noah and I hopelessly drove around our rinky-dink little town, searching for this "art studio" and silently praying that we weren't late.  Then my eyes caught it.  An old white shack, for lack of a better term, with a simple hand painted art studio sign hung outside.  And again, I am in love. 

We were greeted outside by Julia's radiating smile and then we entered into another dimension.  Please remember, we left our tidy, traditional, every-thing-is-in-its-place home, and walked into a porch where the grass was literally growing through the floor boards.  Strung beads graced the doorways within the shack.  Piles and piles and piles of beautiful (that seems like an understatement) artwork were everywhere.  There were paint brushes, paints, and countless different types of art media---- everywhere.  Did I mention the parakeets?  Oh, yeah.  There are parakeets, freely flying.  I looked around for bird poop and found none.  They must only poop on the designated newspaper. 

My heart sped up a little (no SVT---its ok girls.)  This is what I love.  I love art.  All kinds of art.  I always have.  It is something that I had to set aside when Aaron and I became parents.  Don't get me wrong, I don't have any regrets.  But I miss painting and sketching.  And sometimes, I secretly still do (but for whatever reason it makes me feel so guilty---there are aways so many chores to complete.) 

Noah and I relayed 'The Shack' story to my hubby.  I added that someday, when the boys are grown and out on their own, I want a shack/ art studio.  That has alway been a dream of mine. 

I thought Aaron would instantly shoot my idea down, telling me how it would not be energy efficient or something.  But, instead he surprises me.  "The neighbors are going to tear down their old grainery, I'll look into maybe moving it to our house," he says.

What?  Did my ears deceive me?  He really just said that.  That is one thing that I love about him.  He is a dreamer, just like me.

Happy Birthday Big Guy!

{I haven't been here in a while... which is somewhere that I want to be.  I will have to strive to come here more.  I wrote this shortly after Abram's birthday (ahem---at the end of March---cough cough) and never got around to pressing publish post button.}

Saturday morning I awoke with a pair of chocolate eyes gazing intently at me.

"MOM!  Get up, get up get up get up... It's my birthday!  I am six!  I grew in my sleep last night!  Do I look taller!"  and on and on and on.  Little brother was exploding with excitement over his birthday.

I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed, and Abram's birthday- day began. 

Aaron had to head to work.  "Abram, you want to go to work with me?" he asked.

"No! I am not working on my birthday!"--- it was a statement that we were surprised to hear from our little work-a-holic in the making. 

Overall the day went well.  Aaron's oldest brother, Ryan, and his family came to celebrate Abram's birthday (and lay some tile--Thank you Ryan!)  And we ended the day with some serious bowling action. 

It is crazy that my little- big guy is six.  Sometimes I lay awake at night and think about the future of my children---  what will they be when they grow up?  Will they be family men or career driven?  Will they move across country?  What ifs and whens and hows enter my mind... it's enough to drive a mom insane!  Ahhh... what an adventure it will be.