MaeLyn's Musings

Here's what I did today:  It is one of the roses that Steven gave me for Valentine's Day, drawn in Photoshop.

This picture has been my full time project for the last week or so. Drawing each book in perspective was a nightmare, but I think having a reading corner like this - with a big comfy chair, a light, and shelves full of great books - in my home would be heavenly.

I drew this cheerful picture in Photoshop yesterday and today. I thought I would share it with you. It is my new desktop background. With all this freezing cold weather, I needed something bright and warm. :)

Steven has been working at a contract job for Richmond Homes, helping with their year end audit and various reports. It was supposed to be just for the month of January, but he has been given a few extra things to work on, so the job has lasted an extra week and he didn't finish what he was working on Friday, so he returned to work today. Last Wednesday he interviewed for another contract job with a company called GHX (... It stands for Global Health Exchange or something like that...). They called him back that same afternoon to offer him the job. This one starts next Monday (the 19th), and is supposed to last three or four months while someone is on maternity leave. While we would prefer a permanent job with benefits, the contract jobs are a great help. Steven interviewed for a permanent job with Ball Corporation last month, and he thought the interview went really well, but he hasn't heard back from them since. Since we only have the one car and Steven takes it to work, I...

Last week, the young women in our ward had their Night of Excellence, a chance for them to show off the projects they have been working on throughout the year. The theme for the evening was lighthouses. Hannah shared the washcloths that she has been working on knitting. Other girls sang, played piano, learned to bake treats, did family history indexing, and submitted applications for college. Earlier that day, Steven and I attended an awards ceremony where Hannah received an award for achieving a 4.0 GPA for her first trimester this school year. Way to go, Hannah!

Besides Thanksgiving and Daniel's wedding, life continues for the Hiatt family.  Earlier this month, Hannah was part of an orchestra concert, with about seven other schools. Her favorite song to perform was called "Sahara Crossing" and sounded kind of like the "Arabian Nights" song from Aladdin. Peter is really into arts & crafts lately. In honor of Thanksgiving, Peter created a turkey, almost life sized: Josh has been having fun climbing the walls. I mentioned a few weeks ago that we hadn't unpacked the boxes of books yet. The children decided they made great toys and set up a store/library with them. (Most of them have since been either unpacked or covered with Christmas decorations.) In case anyone was wondering, Steven is still job hunting. Hopefully he will find something by the end of the year. :)

A lady in our ward offered to give Hannah viola lessons a few months ago. Yesterday she had her very first solo viola recital. She played 18 songs and did very well! We are very happy with the progress she has made. She also made the programs all by herself.  I accompanied her on the piano.

Yesterday Josh and the rest of the 2nd grade performed in a program called "Bug Hunt". It was very cute! There were two performances during the day and one last night. It consisted of 5 songs sung and acted out by the students. Josh got to say a line at the microphone! Just after the students walked in, before the program really began. Josh never did stand much closer to the rest of the group. Josh at the mike during the song, "Goin' on a Picnic" Singing the "Insect Boogie" to the tune of "Hokey Pokey" (You put you abdomen in...) Josh performing the actions to a fun song called "March of the Army Ants".  Also yesterday I attended an awards ceremony where John received a certificate for being on the Honor Roll for the 2nd trimester. What a smart boy!