Little more words and a little less pictures.

I know I should post cause it's been a while, but I'm at a loss as to what!  I keep forgetting my camera everywhere! Who honestly wants to take a picture at every single bike ride, park outing, dinner, date, meetings, etc.!! So this post is a little wordy!  It is still just a little too cold for me to want to venture outside too.  I'm waiting for the amazing Pittsburgh Spring to surface - the one we are always bragging about!  It's so close, I can feel it!  We are breaking the 40's!  So, in-doors we are trying really hard to LEARN.  I guess that would be our 3 week summary!  I've been really trying to teach Brynlee more and more words, colors, animals and their sounds, etc.  (I love all of these amazing maternal examples around me right now - they are pushing me to good things!)  It's so fun to watch someone learn and progress so fast but of course there is always something you can help your child learn to do or say!  The hardest and most important word in motherhood ( I have learned) is consistency.  Consistency through such an inconsistent life!  Brynlee just got over a sinus + double ear infection and I feel like I'm starting over with eating, sleeping and discipline!
Our almost daily sticker and art work masterpieces!  I peel stickers for hours sometimes!!!!

 Bike ride to the point!  How do you know if you are excited to go on a bike ride?!  When you put your pants on backwards!

 Her, "say cheese" pose is getting more and more tilted!  But the smile is getting cuter and cuter.

Devin is doing so well in clinics.  He comes home with some intense stories, hilarious stories, and some just embarrassing stories - working on patients.  I'm floored with the advice he has given some relatives and friends just because he has learned SO MUCH in 3 years!  Through classes and now through patients.  I have no fear about his abilities as a doctor or as a businessman.  He has really been complimented by a few professors in and out of his module that has given his confidence and made him really excited to start practicing in the real world!  He told me that every day he gets more and more excited to start practicing on his own patients.  And that real world decision is getting closer and closer.  It's amazing how our minds, decisions and circumstances changes every month.  I know we will be pushed in the direction we are suppose to live, but I'm getting more and more nervous about the changes and more and more resistant to living certain places - some places will really take some revelation for me to move to!  Especially watching all the 4th years getting ready to leave.  We have just loved Pittsburgh, the weather, the culture, the history, the beauty... it will be hard to start all over again.  It is still a year away. But I know that year will go by so fast.
I'm so so so excited for conference weekend.  We invite the youth over for some yummy traditions if they watch 2 sessions with us!  Also, it is usually our gardening weekend!  I can't wait to start our seeds!  We have changed a few things this year.  My sewing machine has been in the shop for some repairs, I ran out of Mod Podge and my hot glue gun broke.  I really loved being more detailed about our expenses but man,  I feel like I am a lot more limited as far as fun house hold projects.  Now is not the time for it though.  Hopefully some day when we aren't in school or debt!!
I have really thrown myself into piano lessons and have loved it.  It is so rewarding.  There is definitely a difference between teaching and playing piano.  You need one for the other but it doesn't necessarily mean you will be good at teaching!  I have loved, loved my students and have learned so much from them.  I'm so lucky to have a great mother and mother-in-law to guide me to certain repertoire, games, incentives, and administrative techniques.  It is really good extra money too!  Everything helps!
Dev and I just finished Stake basketball!  Yeah!  Every Saturday since January we have been at the church till 1 or 2.  We miss it but it's sure good to not have that on the back of our minds.  Dev did a great job organizing it.  Now we are on to Softball and flag football coming up!  Dev has really enjoyed his young men.  It is so rewarding when you finally see the young men show up to church in a white shirt - so he can pass the sacrament!  And so watch them baptize someone!  I have really enjoyed getting into my sunbeam/ctr lessons.  I have collected a great variety of helpers and it sure makes lessons easy and fun!  Took me a long time to figure stuff out, but after 4 years in primary callings, I've got it down!  Brynlee is doing great in nursery ... right Helena?!  I guess her one problem is she really, really, really likes the animal crackers they give!  I'm lucky for an easy transition, but I'm still crossing fingers.  We aren't in the clear after 2 months!
Oh, and I GOT A NEW BIKE!  Yeah we found quite the keeper on craigs list.  I love it.  It is a diamond back - girl style with the low bar.  With my front little basket/pocket and the HUGE jell seat that came with the bike, I'm in heaven on our bike rides.  Which is good cause although we bailed on the 300 mile bike ride we were planning from Pittsburgh to DC, we are still doing 150 miles from Ohiopyle to Pittsburgh.  We are all ready, just a little more conditioning!
Sorry for the boring journaling.  I read my journal the other day and realized how much I haven't been posting on here as far as events and feelings that I want to remember.