Ahhh, now that's more like it

Ok I cannot just leave that last video on my blog without posting a video of an amazing, classical pianist - just for some contrast! This is Martha Argerich (amazing!!) playing one of my FAVORITE pieces (which I played at my sophomore recital), Jeux d'Eau by Ravel. Hope you enjoy!

Surprisingly, a really cool video!

Today I found a really cool video on YouTube. I have to preface this by saying that I am not a Jon Schmidt fan. Yes, I am a pianist, and I love music, and I realize that a lot of people really like him and his style. But, I really don't see what is so great about his music. Being a classical pianist, I can't really compare his music to, say, Schumann or Chopin or Bach. It just, hands down, does not compare at all (sorry to all who are fans!). I remember always hearing his song Waterfall being played in the practice rooms at BYU and it driving me crazy, or hearing people play his songs and having everything think it was amazing. I am not trying to sound snobby here, just trying to be honest! (However, I will say that his songs have tons of energy, they are fun and he seems like a fun performer!)

ANYWAY...having said all that, I found a video on YouTube today of one of his songs (well, arrangments), and it was really neat! I was honestly surprised. I thought it was such a cool (and random) combination of songs ("Love Story" by Taylor Swift and "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay - which just happens to be James' favorite song, so he enjoyed it, too!). It's a piano/cello arrangment (with a few drums/keyboards/voices/whatever thrown in) and it is just so fun (by the way, I think the cello is amazing, I totally want to get one and learn it someday!). So, I just had to share. I know, crazy, I am sharing a Jon Schmidt video on my blog. Well, just go see for yourself, it is pretty fun (as long as you ignore his technique and his really flat fingers at points - man that just makes me CRINGE and my fingers hurt!!) Anyway...enjoy!

Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters!

some photos.

I just got some pictures from my amazing brother-in-law, Benjamin, who took a bunch of photos for us the day of Liz's missionary farewell. I had to share them, because 1.) they are AMAZING photos - isn't Benjamin talented?? 2.) my family is just so great 3.) James is adorable and we can't have too many cute pictures of him, and 4.) I am just so excited to get the camera I am saving up for, and I hope I can take pretty pictures like these!!

Enjoy!

I love little boys in new pajamas...

...don't you??

Here is James in his new pair of dinosaur pajamas. They are absolutely adorable. And so is he. He's smart, too.

We say: "James, where's your dinosaur?"
James points at his shirt.
"What does the dinosaur say?"
"ROAR!"

James and His Very Own Room

James has never had his own room before - he has always shared with us, due to us living in my Grandma's basement and having one bedroom and a family room. Well, we recently did something we should have done LONG, LONG ago - we moved our bed out into the family room, which has become our bedroom, and we created a bedroom JUST for James. We are so excited! I think James is excited to have his VERY OWN ROOM. He now finally has a place to keep all his toys and books and stuffed animals; I finally have a room for him that I can decorate and make cute! (which I am still in the process of, hence the non-lined-up pictures on the wall :) those were just stuck on pre-existing nails) In addition, and MOST important - our entire family can now actually SLEEP WELL! Honestly, I don't think I have slept as well as I have the past two nights in AGES. It has been absolutely wonderful...

a buddy for James

This weekend we got to watch our friend Henry for his parents while they were at a wedding. We were excited for James to actually have another child to play with! As you can imagine, James tends to hang out with adults for the majority of his time. So we thought this would be a great opportunity to test the waters and see how James will maybe do in nursery in a little over a month (I am hoping he doesn't take after his Mommy - I spent my whole nursery career standing there, big tears rolling down my cheeks, too shy to play with the other kids even though my Dad was there EVERY week, playing on the floor with all the other kids...).

James did great! He took a while to warm up and just sat on my lap and watched Henry play with his toys, but he gradually got to where he was actually playing with Henry and copying things that he was doing (Henry would squeal, then James would squeal...it was quite amusing). We all had so much fun! Here are some pictures of the two boys.

an apple a day...

I am always trying to get James to eat more fruits and vegetables (a difficult task for any mother of a toddler) - lately I have been trying to get him to eat apples. So I'll give him apple slices and he just will NOT eat them (even though he loves apple juice). Well last night I walked into the room and James and his Daddy were eating an apple (whole), taking turns taking bites. I couldn't believe it! So I tried it today, and sure enough, he took tons of bites! What a funny boy - I actually think it may be because it is shaped like a ball - this kid LOVES balls. He calls grapes "balls" and sometimes gets mad when I cut them in half, because then they don't look like a ball anymore. If I put the halves back together, then he'll eat it. Go figure! It reminds me of my brother - when he was little, we could get him to eat ANYTHING if we told him it tasted like hot dogs. Aren't kids funny?

Some things I just couldn't pass up...

I just had to post a couple of pictures and videos that I forgot to post a couple of weeks ago. These were just some cute pictures of my boy; the videos are some more words he can say. Notice how whenEVER someone asks him to say "Grandma" he just kind of stares blankly, and then he sometimes just smiles. What a silly little boy - it is almost as if he is just trying to trick my Mom - he has kind of said "Grandma" before but never consistently and NEVER when we want him to.

this boy LOVES his stuffed animals!

being all cuddly in his "white part"

James LOVES playing the piano. It actually is pretty cute, when he plays he doesn't bang on the keys with his hands, but he actually lifts up his little fingers to play. So cute! I guess we have a pianist in the making...

My Dad, the Marathon Man

On Saturday my Dad ran the Salt Lake City Marathon. We are so proud of him! This was his second marathon; on his first one he got about 5 hours and 30 minutes. This time, his goal was 4 hours and 30 minutes, and he got 4 hours 12 minutes! Way to go, Datty!

James and his Grandpa

The fam

Lisa, Jim & Luke came to watch, too!

Fire! Fire!

Haha, when I typed the title to this post I had to smile to myself because it reminded me of my cute roommate, Anna, from freshman/sophomore year. She's from North Carolina and has the cutest accent, and once some toast caught on fire in the oven and throughout our apartment were heard screams of "Far! Far! Far!" Ah, good times. But anyway...

...so on Friday Jonathan and I went on a date. Like, a real live date, the first one in awhile (that happens when you have a baby). We ate at Macaroni Grill (ah I love it!) and then went to the nickelcade (well I guess technically it was Nickelmania or something). It was pretty much awesome. We were about to take pictures in a photo booth, when we heard a commotion, and someone was telling us to get out of the photo booth. We looked out the window and there was a car ON FIRE. As in, flaming flames coming out of the hood ("flames.....flames...on the side of my face" - can you name that movie?). It was so crazy, everyone just stood there for a minute, watching, and then the flames got bigger and bigger, so we all ran outside. The car was parked right next to the building, right by the photo booth we were in. There were like four fire trucks that showed up, and some police cars, and we had to wait around because our car was blocked in by the fire truck.

It was a pretty exciting date. Now we just have to go BACK to Nickelmania soon and use up the rest of our nickels. And get something *awesome* with our 99 tickets.

Little Man Haircut

James finally got a LONG overdue haircut this morning - and he actually just stood there on the bathroom stool with minimal protests and let me cut it! What a champ. I added some of Daddy's hair gel for good measure, and - voila! - he looks like a little man!

Bye, Liz!

My sister Liz went into the MTC today! We are going to miss her so much but we know she is going to be an amazing missionary! We can't wait to hear from her. We all went to the MTC with her today, and we were all a bit teary but we are just so happy for her! I think one of the hardest things for me was that she and James won't get to see each other for a long time, and he will be SO big when she gets home! They have become good buds the past couple of weeks! James didn't do too well during the orientation meeting - he kept wanting to "Go go go!" What can I say...he is a true Gibbons!

James is all ready for the drive to Provo!

Our new missionary - soaking wet from the snowstorm!

James and his Aunt "Iz"

The whole family - I love this picture! It turned out so cute!

The name tag

Me and my little sis

Liz, James and Dad

Liz and Abby

Annie and Liz

Jonathan and Liz

Josh and Liz - when Liz gets home, Josh will be getting ready to go on his mission!

Liz and the parentals

We'll miss you, Liz! Seattle is lucky to have you!

I am loving...

...that my son gave up his morning naps and is now taking SUPER LONG afternoon naps! He has seriously been asleep for THREE HOURS! I have gotten so much done. I practiced the piano. And cleaned the bathroom. And did the dishes. And cleaned the kitchen. And did some laundry. And made cupcakes. Go me!

what's Easter without bubbles?

Our Easter Sunday

We not only had a wonderful Easter Sunday, but have had such a fun weekend with my family. My cute sister Liz is leaving this Wednesday to serve a mission for our church in the Washington Seattle Mission. Since she has moved home from Provo last week we have been spending lots of time with her and with the rest of the family.

Today was Liz's farewell and she gave such an amazing talk about the Savior and the Atonement. I really look up to her! She is going to be an amazing missionary. Josh also spoke in church and did a great job - I've got amazing siblings! My parents fed dinner to over 80 people afterwards, and it was just a really great day. Benjamin came up from Provo and spent the day with us and my family, too (he just fits right in with my fam!).

Here are some pictures of the day and the weekend (looks like the Easter bunny came to our house!)