Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day to all you Americans out there! I have to say that I, for one, am VERY glad that our forefathers saw fit to declare independence from England and that my particular ancestors decided to leave their homelands to come the the Land of Plenty. As much as I love the German culture, I much prefer my American heritage. So, coming from the wonderful Capital that I live so very close to, pictures of OUR heritage as Americans.

First is the flag from Fort McHenry. And in case you can't see what is written on the glass between the cleaning room and the visitors of the Smithsonian, I've put it below the picture.

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

And, before you go, don't forget to enjoy the fireworks tonight. Here are the best in the country that I've seen. Have a Happy 4th of July!

THE HOUSE

So Shayla and I went out today all over the place between Fairfax and Aldie. We started out in Fairfax, planning to eat breakfast at IHOP. That was a very short lived idea, but at least it was late enough that we just went to Taco Bell and had lunch instead. From Taco Bell we hopped onto 28 then 29 down to Manassas to visit McKay's Used Book Store. (Best book store EVER!) After leaving Manassas, I took Shay down Sudley Road to Route 15 to see the castle. Yes, I did say castle. There's one on the right side of 15 if you're heading to Leesburg, right before you reach Braddock Road. Of course, since we were seeing the sights, we went down Braddock Road on our way to Gum Spring. Then, we reached the fork in the road. We chose to explore Lightridge Farm Road. I just have to say that I had no IDEA what treasures were off that road! It was so much fun. Then...we saw it. The most incredible HOUSE. BOTH of us kinda exclaimed out loud at the same time. I seriously slammed on my brakes to stop in front of it so we could actually look at it. Unfortunately, there was a stupid blue car coming up behind us so we had to continue on. When we reached Sudley Rd again (who knew that Lightridge Farm Rd. came out there!?!) we quick slipped into the Post Office parking lot and turned around to go back the same way we came. When we passed THE HOUSE again, we stopped to snap a picture, then moved on. We hadn't even passed the next house before we said at the same time..."Do you want to go back?" So another turn around. And this time we pulled into the driveway of THE HOUSE. Lest you think we're totally crazy, THE HOUSE was completely empty (abandoned, i think.) We took a few more pictures, told each other that we would buy THE HOUSE in an instant if we had the money, got back in the truck and headed home. I know, you're probably dying to see what kind of house would have two girls go so crazy. If you don't like this house, you're as nuts as my modern husband...it's okay...I still love him, so I won't hate you or anything...promise. BUT...you DO have to let me know what you think of THE HOUSE.

This was the first picture that Shayla took.

After we decided to turn around again and we pulled into the driveway.

After walking past the No Trespassing sign. (I'm now a criminal! LOL)

So, please, tell me...am I crazy for loving this house? I know it's old and it IS a fixer upper, but I have seriously fallen in love. I need opinions, people!

Silly Questions

Copied off my older sister at Daughter of Hope cause she thinks I'm most likely to follow in her steps. Hmmm. Guess I am.


1. What is your occupation right now? Wife, Sister/Landlord, Sales Operations Specialist, Mary Kay Independent Representative, and Piano Teacher (did I miss any?)

2.What color are your socks right now? socks? what socks!?!

3. What are you listening to right now? NCIS, of course! It's a back, to back, to back night!

4. What was the last thing that you ate? Papa John's Extra Cheese and Bacon pizza

5. Can you drive a stick shift? If I HAVE to

6. Last person you talked on phone with? Joseph

7.Do you like the person who sent this to you? I don't think I've got a choice. It wouldn't be very nice to not like my sister. (Of course, I like her!!)

8. How old are you today? 25 (yay! I'm a quarter of a century!)

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? don't really watch sports, but I've discovered that I really enjoy watching late night Ultimate Fighter

10. What is your favorite drink? Dr. Pepper or 7-Up

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? haha! See post right before this one. LOL

12. Favorite food? Filet Mignon

13. What is the last movie you watched? well, as long as we're not talking the whole way through...Rocky Balboa...last night.

14. Favorite day of the year? every day I'm alive, actually

15. How do you vent anger? Ummm...can I not answer this one and say I did?...I tend to speak violently (as in...I would love to just knock that guy upside the head. or...can I PLEASE go blow that guy's house up!?!) I don't really mean any of it, but I do get verbally violent.

16. What was your favorite toy as a child? G.I. Joes

17. What is your favorite season? don't have a favorite. I love snow, so winter. Flowers and bright green make me happy, so spring. Warm weather and sun, so summer. Colors of all shades, so fall.

18. Cherries or Blueberries? blueberries, but only because I can't seem to eat fresh cherries anymore. I think i'm allergic. :-(

19. Do you want your friends to post this? Of course!

20. Who is the most likely to respond? Britt!

21. Who is least likely to respond? Alicia (she already did it!)

22. Living arrangements? two-story single family home. (live-in younger brother)

23. When was the last time you cried? Honestly? today. I was unbelievably frustrated with the lack of support that I get (or don't get) from my boss.

24. What is on the floor of your closet? flip-flops, joseph's shoes, the winter bedspread, and boxes

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending? If Leah reads this....her. Otherwise, I'll have to count my seester, Alicia.

26. What did you do last night? FB, watched TV, and started re-reading Eight Cousins

27. What are you most afraid of? never being able to have children

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? cheese

29. Favorite dog breed? that would be a Canaan dog (Boxers are my second favorite. I've got Rocky because Joseph doesn't like Canaan dogs.)

30. Favorite day of the week? Any day that I get off work on time. (NOT the weekend...I never feel relaxed after a weekend.)

31. How many states have you lived in? that would be three. (PA, FL, and VA)

32. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds. I don't care for either, but have found that diamonds match more of my clothes and other accessories.

33. What is your favorite flower? Daisies! (they're such happy flowers)

New Haircut

I needed something different. My roots were getting really bad with the yellow hair growing out and my hair was getting long enough to pull into a ponytail. Let me explain the ponytail comment...If my hair is long enough fr a ponytail, it never comes down. It's too easy to keep it pulled back. Plus, I don't really like having my hair on my neck. Weird, I know, but that's me!

So I went to a hair salon for my very first ever professional hair dye. My hair stylist's name was Paris, and she is an absolutely wonderful lady! She helped me choose the color to dye my hair back to a more normal state, then also helped me choose the highlights. Unfortunately, since I've never had my hair dyed professionally before, I had no idea how long it would take. I planned my hair dye and cut before my piano lessons this week. The appointment was for 4:30pm. Thankfully, I did go early. My lessons start at 5:30pm and I was late. I know! I couldn't believe I was honestly late to my second week of teaching piano lessons. Paris was fantastic though. She worked as quickly as she could to have my hair dyed before 5:30. We almost made it too! Not quite, though, so I ended up making an appointment with Paris for Wednesday at 5pm to get my hair cut.

Of course, the Wednesday appointment went spectacularly! I had taken in a picture that I found in a magazine of a haircut that I just adored so we did have something to go off of. And Paris, dove right in after just a few questions about the specifics of how I wanted the bangs cut and the length that I wanted the rest of my hair to be.

I have to say that I absolutely LOVE this cut! It's so easy and ME. haha. I know, I'm conceited. (it could be worse. I could tell you that Paris told me that she thinks I would be able to wear pretty much any style haircut because I have a good face for it. oh wait...i guess i just did. my bad.)

Without any further adieu...Here it is:

This is how I came home. Because I promised my bro-in-law's girlfriend pictures of the finished product, I took pictures as soon as I stepped in my house. You wouldn't believe the number of comments that I have gotten about looking like Lady Di for this hairstyle. But...that's okay because once my hair fell...I started to see the cut that I fell in love with.

This one. I LOVE it. Now, my hair is longer than it looks in this picture, but because most of it was tucked behind my ears, you can't really see the length. I will post more pics as I try out different ways to wear this haircut, but for now, would you mind sharing your opinion of this haircut with me? I will love it either way, but I do try to consider the people around me if they just can't stand the look. LOL!

If A Woodchuck Could Chuck Wood

My first piano lesson (as a teacher) in ten years started at 5:30pm yesterday. Hannah was a very quiet student, but thankfully she seemed to be very attentive as well.

Hannah was taking lessons with another teacher before she started with me, but I can't help but wonder what kind of teacher she had. Wouldn't you think, that after 9 lessons, a girl would be able to tell the difference between a note on a line or a space? We're talking the most basic of basics here! I'm not saying anything against Hannah, but not really against the teacher either. I would just like to know how such a thing is possible.

Anyway, when Lisa, Hannah's mother, brought Hannah across the street for her piano lesson, she (Lisa) told me that Micah, Hannah's brother, also wanted to take lessons. She asked what day and time was good for him to come over for lessons. We agreed that Micah's lesson would be right after Hannah's. So, not only did I teach my first piano lesson in years yesterday, but I also taught my second piano lesson too!

Oh! and just a note for those that neither grew up on John Schaum's piano course nor taught or teaches from it..."If A Woodchuck Could Chuck Wood" is the very first piece of music in the first book of the course.

The Answer to my Earlier Post

To TEACH! I just spoke with Lisa this afternoon and my first piano lesson with Hannah is on Tuesday! I have to admit I'm kinda nervous, but I do believe that this is what God wants me to do. Thank you for the advice and the prayers.

Rocky at Nine Months

I just realized that I haven't posted any pictures of Rocky lately. Well, here are his nine month old pics.

Joseph and Rocky coming back from the front door.

The cute face hasn't changed that much!

He's getting sooo big!

Isn't he gorgeous?

Sittin' pretty.

To Teach or Not to Teach...

THAT is the question!

Yesterday, at one of my neighbours' son's birthday party, another neighbour asked me if I would consider teaching her son and her daughter piano lessons. THEN...today, my mother-in-law told me she had been thinking about asking me to teach HER! So, do I do it? Should I venture into piano lessons? I already have a 9 1/2 hour a day job on top of my new Mary Kay business. I mean, yes, I did go to college for music and my degree was specifically geared towards teaching music and choir directing, but am I ready for this? Can I handle THREE jobs!?! I'm confused, excited, and scared all at one time. I know this isn't really such a big decision, but I think at the same time, if I agree to teaching three people piano lessons, it could very quickly become a much larger number due to the demand for piano teachers in this area. (I know you're thinking, at that admission, "Hannah! If teachers are needed in the area...what are you waiting for!?!") I know, I know, but I'm already pulling my hair out trying to figure out how I'm going to fit my Mary Kay business into my life right now....where in the world am I going to find time for piano lessons too??

Advice anyone? I'm open to almost anything at this point!