Recording of Leah singing Ave Maria

As a Sutliff Family Tradition (for all of you that don't know, Sutliff is Leah's maiden name), we have to prepare a talent for Christmas Eve to perform for the family. Leah usually does something musical and I take credit, but since we are far away this Christmas and away from family, Leah made a recording of herself singing "Ave Maria". She says "It is not perfect and I am not claiming it to be. I just really wanted to share this with my family and friends who have been bugging me to sing something for them. So here you go-please don't judge." (blah blah blah, Leah could make excuses forever about her voice- she is her own worse critic. I guess as a voice teacher it is hard not to be). Sutliff family, you can listen to it if you want during the talent show part of the evening-only if you want to.

Leah also put the song to a very beautiful video made by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints called "The Nativity." It took her a really long time to figure out how to do this, so for the sake of all her hard work and the opportunity to feel the Christmas Spirit, we suggest you check it out. We do not own the rights to the video- and hope it is okay that she did this and that she doesn't get into trouble!

We are sad we wont be able to see all of you this Christmas, but we will be thinking of you-- that we can promise. We are leaving today to drive to Canaan Valley in West Virginia to stay in the mountains at a Ski Resort from Christmas Eve-Dec 27 and then Leah will be flying to sunny California on December 28-January 1 to be with her fabulous family at Disneyland.

We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! We are grateful for our Savior and the amazing family and friends He has given us to help us be better people. Thank you for being one of our special people.

With lots of Love---The Stone Family (Paul, Leah, Jack & Charlie)

Washington Dc Tree

Paul and I went to the DC tree tonight. It was literally glowing with LED lights. I now feel very festive and patriotic.

National Tree facts:
The tree lights and display were shut down for the past 3 days due to the past snow storm. This is the biggest storm to effect the National Tree in 83 years.

The Christmas season following President Kennedy's death, the tree lighting was postponed to Dec 22 to respect the 30 days of national mourning. ( Kennedy was shot on Nov 22)

Also, Paul has been wearing this ugly snowman sweater for the past week because he says he feels festive and he thinks it is comfortable. Paul originally bought this sweater for me for a $1.50 at a thrift store cause I had an ugly sweater party to go to. I think all along Paul was planning on buying it for himself to embarrass me in public.



Merry Christmas!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My Hot Baker

(I stole this post from Shari Stone, I liked it so much. All photos by Shari Stone)

The area of Herdon is a quaint place with little streets and lots of little shops. Paul makes bread at Great Harvest between the hours of 4am and 12 noon. He rides his bikes through the woods and through the dell each morning. So if you live in the area go say hi to him and his crew. They will give you a free slice of bread to enjoy.

This is the Kneading Team of Great Harvest of Herdon. Kyle, Sally, Paul and James. They knead over 1000 loaves a day. Next week with the holiday they will pick up the time and pace up to 1500 loaves.

Paul, the Baker Man and his Cinnamon Roll Bread.

Paul kneading his orange cranberry size D loaves......................heheheheh! I don't know where he gets such skill cause I know he doesn't get that kind of full sized practice :)

Feeling Crafty

Paul and I survived Thanksgiving- luckily everyone brought some yummy food to share and Paul's mom cooked like Julia Child, so the food was fabulous. We had 20 people here, I guess 24 if you count all the kids too. We borrowed tables from the neighbors so everyone could fit in our family room. Thanks Shari for all your help!

Shari, Paul's mom, posing sexily for the camera while peeling sweet potatoes

The amazing 21 pound turkey bird

My Family Room filled from one end to the other with tables and chairs- real cozy!

I think we had at least 10 people at a time in the kitchen, lots of chaos, but lots of fun too.

Also, while Paul's mom was in town we did lots of sight seeing on the sunny days and lots of Martha Stewart type things on the rainy days. I sewed these pillow covers. For all of you who are laughing that I sewed, I want you to know that yes I own a sewing machine and yes I did these pillows all by myself. I also made window valences too! I know I know- amazing right?!

Here is my Christmas Tree- I love it. It is decorated like a May Pole. Shari did the ribbons and did a great job. I decorated the tree with all these old ornaments my Grandma Blanche Richards gave me as a little girl and added some fun colorful balls and such.

Also, check out my window valence in the background. Feel free to tell me how amazing I am. I hope everyone has their trees up and are ready for the Holiday. I am listening to Christmas music right now as I type this (Kristin Chenoweth's Christmas Album, song "I'll Be Home For Christmas" to be exact) sadly I wont be home for Christmas though. I'll be partying it up at Disneyland with my family after Christmas to bring in the New Year...Woot Woot...thanks Mom and Dad!

Love and miss all my friends and family.

xoxoxo

Ah To Be Charlie

Now that it is getting rainy and colder in Virginia, I have had to come up with a way to take Charlie with me, since he has to come with me as my seizure- alert service dog. I am going for trying to keep him warm and covered from the rain. Charlie has no undercoat and is freezing all the time.

I have tried

1. Sweaters: problem is they don't work cause Charlie pees on them and then they stink-plus his feet are always cold.

2. Baby sling: I sewed him a baby sling wrap thing amajig, problem is that he is too fat to carry when walking the mile to the metro.

3. Dog stroller: I didn't actually get him one of these, but totally wanted one until I realized people would want to see my cute baby and out would pop Charlie.

4. Rolling scrapbook supply carrier (thanks Melissa for letting me steal this from you): this works perfectly. I can put my laptop and schoolbooks in here plus Charlie lays down inside with a blanket and is covered up from the rain. He is so spoiled. This way I don't look like too big of a rich babe/Paris Hilton wannabe cause no one can actually see him when I am pulling him around outside.

This is Charlie relaxing while I am in class.

If only I can get Paul to carry me around in a big rolling case with a blanket, my life would be complete.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I am Proud to Have a Brother who is Brave

This time of year always makes me think of family and having gratitude for those serving our country, especially those who will be away from loved ones this holiday season. While organizing photos, I saw this photo of my brother and knew I had to post it if not for the shear fact of showing off how handsome he looks in his uniform.

I am so proud of Aaron for serving our country. He is a honorable man and I am so amazed by his love for his family, country and for keeping America safe and free. He was in the 82nd Airborne Unit in the Army. For those of you who don't know what that is - it means my brother is a BAD ASS.

Here is the mission of the 82nd Airborne

"Within 18 hours of notification, strategically deploy, conduct forcible entry parachute assault and secure key objectives for follow-on military operations in support of U.S. national interests. No other military unit can respond more rapidly and effectively to conflict anywhere in the world than the 82nd Airborne Division. Known as "America's Guard of Honor," the 82nd is widely recognized as one of the most powerful forces in America's military arsenal."

So yes, my brother jumps out of airplanes.

Four years ago, Aaron was off fighting in Iraq over Christmas and it was so hard to not have him home. My heart goes out to all the families and soldiers who fight and are away this season. May God keep you safe and return you home to your families, just like He did for my family.

Aaron's son Hayden, Like Father like Son

Model for a Day

Paul's mom, Shari, came in town to spend time with Paul and I and we have been having a great time. Yesterday we went to Harper's Ferry in West Virginia. Shari is a fabulous photographer and she took a couple of headshots of me and all of these photos in this posting. Tell me what you think...which one is good enough to use on my website for teaching?

Other Pictures of us at Harper's Ferry

We also saw the movie "Julie & Julia" about Julia Child and a so we had to go the Museum of American History to see Julia Child's kitchen.

Ruby Slippers Judy Garland wore in the "Wizard of Oz"

Smithsonian
White House

Obama's Body Guard

Church in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Oh by the way...did I mention that Paul and I are having 19-20 people over for Thanksgiving in Virginia. Yikes! My party got bigger than expected, but hey the more the merrier I say --as long as there is room for everyone. Thank goodness I have Shari here to help me cook, or else it would be a huge disaster or burned turkey and lumpy gravy. I will keep you posted on how it goes.

I Heart NYC

I scheduled a voice lesson in NYC last Friday with the ever amazing Wendy Parr, teacher of the talented Regina Spektor. I got two of my friends to come with me to see New York in the Fall.

I have to say that Central Park is breathtaking in the fall. It reminded me of one of my favorite NYC movies You've Got Mail and the quote by Jo Fox played by Tom Hanks, "Don't you just love New York in the Fall. It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

in Central Park

Rowing a Boat while boating in the Park

Sarah Bennett, Me, Emily Bergeson

Times Square at Night

Me and Emily with the famous boathouse in the background

(think 27 Dresses)

Adorable park in Greenwich Village near my teacher's studio. The whole think was lined with pumpkins. I was in Fall heaven.

Sarah and Emily on the Brooklyn Bridge

Living on the East Coast is so much fun! Friends and family please

come and visit! We have a spare room and bed and towels.

xoxo

My Favorite Things

Here are a Few of Leah's Favorite Things this Fall

Pumpkins, and

Farmer's Markets, and

Boating With Paul.

(Fountainhead Lake in Virginia)

Cute Streets to Walk Down, and

Sweet old ladies painting

(in the National Gallery of Art), and

Dear Friends to Visit,

These are a few of my favorite things.

When the Dog Bites

(run charlie run! don't worry no one was hurt!)

When the Bee Stings

(paul is like deathly allergic to bee stings-check out the puffiness on his forehead- Paul was stung while riding his bike, so I am lucky he is alive-but he does have a sweet life insurance policy so hmmm... it is a toss up!)

And I'm feeling sad

I simply remember the Man in the mall

(dressed like a princess or devil or something I can't really tell-

I think he might even have on wings)

And then I don't feel So Bad!!!

To Be or Not to Be...That is the Question.

Paul and I went to NYC last weekend. There is this amazing bus called the Bolt bus that drives from downtown DC to downtown NYC in about 4 hours. We saw the oh so sexy and scrumptious Jude Law play Hamlet in Shakespeare's Hamlet on Broadway. Jude Law is incredibly talented and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. If I wasn't already married I would have waited around at the stage door to see if Jude Law wanted to kiss me or marry me. I would have been satisfied if he even groped me a little! Alas, I was faithful to Paul--Blah!

More pictures will come of NYC when I upload them from the camera. We also went to Central Park and the Met Steps so I could feel like I was a part of Gossip Girl, xoxo L.

So Paul and I have been major slackers when it comes to posting anything new on our blog. Let me tell you what we have been up to since we moved out to DC.

July- settled into our house and toured around the city. Also Paul and I turned 27!

We went out to a Mexican Restaurant for Paul's Birthday and I told the waiter to sing and dance for Paul-so he did just that and made us wear sombreros!

Leah's Birthday

Went to see 42nd Street at Wolf Trap (an outdoor theater in a National Park), it was fabulous and very beautiful.

View of the stage. We sat on the lawn and had a picnic just like everyone else.

Hanging out with my new friends at the Dairy Godmother (the best Custard around) in Alexandria, Virginia.

(left to right: me, Sarah, Tiffany, and Emily with baby Dean)

The Pier

Shopping. Isn't this a cute street!

Hanging out with Van Gogh. I love his self portrait. I am at the National Gallery of Art.

With friend Sarah outside the National Gallery of Art. Look close cause Charlie was cold and is inside my red bag.

Paul and I are having a fabulous time. We bought a guest bed if anyone wants to come visit us and see the sights. We have made great friends out here. My music teaching is doing fabulous! School is great. I am doing a master's in arts in Arts Management and am really liking my program and classes and Paul is doing a master's in Conflict Resolution and is working on opening his own practice to do mediation and conflict resolution.

The fall is beginning and when the trees start changing colors I will post some pictures!

The 4th of July and Our New Home

Since we arrived in DC late on the 3rd of July, we figured we should see what all the buzz is about on the 4th at the capital of the U.S. I was a little upset that our good buddy Obama failed to put our invitation in the mail to watch the fireworks with him at his house, so we were forced to watch them from Abraham's front lawn.

We didn't let that get us down though, we had a great time enjoying one of the best firework shows we've seen with 500,000 others. Most of the people were festive so that made it even more fun.  

Even Charlie liked the fireworks, however, he growled at a few weirdos.  

Here are two pictures of us, we couldn't fit in the same frame as we sat waiting for the sun to go down.  

Here is where we will be living for a while, its just a rental until we can buy a house of our own.  We just need some good jobs first, any help?

What Do These Things Have In Common

1-White House

2-Lincoln Memorial

3-Arlington Cemetery

4-Humidity

5-Traffic so bad it makes you want to pull your hair out

6-Everything named after a former President...especially George this, that and the other

7-Lots of Trees 

8-Tons of Universities

Any ideas???

White Rim in a day

A few weeks ago I was invited to one of the greatest birthday parties ever. Jamie, my neighbor, wanted a group to ride the white rim near Moab on his birthday. So we rode for a 100+ self-supported miles throughout the day, had a wonderful time and couldn't sit on anything hard for several days following. You can't get that kind of sore butt from birthday spankins'! Here are a few pictures.

Sundance Film Festival

Paul and I volunteered at the Sundance Film Festival this year. This was our 3rd year doing it. We worked at the Egyptian Theater and had a great time. We saw a couple of movies. One called "I Love You Phillip Morris" and we saw Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor.



Saw Rachael Yamagata at the Music Cafe



And met some great people. Volunteering is such a fabulous time. The Sundance staff treats you really well and gives you lots of cool swag...like free winter coats and movie tickets.

I love Portland...My 1st Marathon

I had lost my pictures, but found them...so sorry about the delayed post.

The first weekend in October of 2008, I traveled to Portland with my girlfriend Jo. Our hears were set on trying to do a marathon. The day before the big day we checkout out the local farmer's market at Portland State University








Took Charlie to a fabulous dog park




And then we checked in, received our numbers, and went to a friends house for some pasta dinner and then off to bed.
I set my alarm like always to wake us up at 5:00 am so that we would have time to get up, eat, get ready, and drive 40 minutes to the starting line.

At 7:05 am I shot out of bed, looked at my phone clock and started to cry. The race had started 5 minutes ago. I called my husband in tears, said a zillion four letter words, and ran around the house throwing my clothes on. Jo and I were out of the house in under 5 minutes, stopped at a grocery store and grabbed some bananas and drove like hell to the starting line. By the time we arrived we were like almost an hour and a half behind. So we started running..



and running...


and running.


And we just kept passing people. I am so glad we didn't give up cause even though we were dead last we ended up somewhere in the middle.

Did This Seriously Happen

Let me set the scene. Nine o'clock at night on a Thursday, Paul and I run to Shopko to buy some dog treats. Snow is falling in big, fat, flakes. We go to the checkout and look who happens to be in front of us. Please click on this photo for a close up. Yes, those are thigh high socks. Yes, she is wearing them with open toed shoes. And yes, she is practically naked.

Fabulous Quote---to all my lady friends (posted by leah)

"Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm,
she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If
you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile,
she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit."

Happy Birthday Jack!!!

Today marks Jack's 1st birthday.



(We ate his chocolate cake.)

My Wife the Entrepreneur

I just wanted to brag about Leah for a minute and do a little plug for her businesses. Leah is such a talented musician and if you haven't heard her sing, you should ask her to sing for you or you can buy her CD from me for $10. She has been teaching Speech Level Singing Lessons now for over eight years and she studies and teaches with Dean Kaelin, who is teacher of David Archuleta. Leah also has studied in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York City with some of the best teachers in the world. She has taught lessons in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, Utah and now she can teach anywhere in the world thanks to web cams and skype. She teaches singing, songwriting, guitar, jazz piano, stage performance and artistic development. She has been asked to write music for an upcoming Sundance movie. I am jealous of how much she loves her job.


Her goal for 2009 is to help even more artists and so she has worked her schedule out so that she can take on 15 more students. If anyone knows people who have real music talent and have the potential to be the next big thing, they should call Leah or email her from her blog. At the studio she teaches at students are getting parts in things left and right. Leah has 3 students in High School Musical and also she had 2 students make it to the finals in "Band Idol", a reality TV show spin off of "American Idol".

check out her blog at www.charliepantsmusic.blogspot.com

Leah has also started a Princess Birthday Party company. Parents can hire Leah or one of her employees to come to their house, dressed as a princess, and sing songs with the girls, do their hair, teach them princess manners, etc. She has had lots of interest and the business is taking off. So if anyone is interested check it out at

www.everafterparties.blogspot.com

Lastly, she is in the process of starting another business, but I am not allowed to disclose information until she has all the kinks ironed out.

I am proud of her and her ability to bring home lots of bacon!

A Christmas Poem

’Twas the night before Christmas, my shopping was done

I’d gotten great bargains, gee, aren’t low prices fun!

But less costly gifts are but small consolation

For my four-o-one K’s brutal devastation.

This year of o-eight ranks surely one of the worst!

It all started when the housing bubble did burst.

How could such a mess happen? And, who should we blame?

The fault lies with culprits far too many to name.

But my rhyme needs a villain, and for me that’s a cinch.

It’s none else but that vandal — the nasty old Grinch,

Who’d slinked into town for some real mischief making

And our long expansion he planned to be breaking.

From that first day on, he was brewing up trouble,

Aiming his sights first on the housing price bubble.

So the Grinch posed first as a home mortgage lender

His too easy loan terms sent some on a bender.

Prudence and judgment the Grinch deemed simply passé

Neither income nor job would stand in his loans’ way.

For a Grinch-loan nothing had to be verified.

‘Cause in MBS bundles these risks would he hide.

When agencies scored these loan pools triple-
A sound
Investors chased his high yields like fox-hunting hounds.

All this was part of the Grinch’s mean little scheme,

Popping the bubble, he wrecked the home owner’s dream.

With his handiwork done, the Grinch felt elated

He knew what came next as these assets deflated.

The fortunes amassed in the boom years just vanished,

And Wall Street’s wizards from their boardrooms were banished.

Then the Grinch plot did from Wall Street so quickly spread

As surging gasoline prices deepened the dread.

And though the oil price upsurge had no lasting cause,

It surely led soon to a severe spending pause.

When Lehman House failed and the markets did seize

Nothing the Fed did could halt the deep credit freeze.

Though the Treasury and Fed tried ev’ry trick,

Nothing could stop the markets from growing more sick.

There’s not any doubt we’re the grip of recession

That doomsayers warn we’ll lead soon to depression.

With bus’nesses shutting ’and big banks a-failing,

The Grinch felt pure joy and his spirits were sailing.

But that nasty old Grinch shall not our Christmas steal,

We’ll drive him from town or we’ll cut him a deal.

We’ll line up for some help from Tim, Ben and Hank..

We’ll use the might of the Federal Reserve Bank.

Since not all the problems are to Wall Street confined

Some fiscal injections too must now be designed.

The president in waiting has named his new team

And shown us the outlines of a grand fiscal scheme.

A middle class tax cut plays a very key part

In hopes it will give spending a hefty jump-start

On new infrastructure too much more must we spend

“This plan will bring” so he says, “this slump to an end.”

New regs for markets will stop all Grinch-like deceivin’

“This,” says Obama, “will be change you can believe-in.”

In the end we know too the Grinch will change his way,

So a brighter future will start this Christmas Day.

We are busy...

Lack of posting is due to correct priorities. I have found myself striving to enjoy every last minute of the dwindling sunlight as we approach winter solstice. Just kidding, the inner locale of the college library has been demanding more and more of my time. Anyway, a quick update:

June-trip to Australia, too far back to remember anything else
July-we turned 26, trip to Lake Tahoe,
August-three weeks of uninterrupted break from school, trip to Seattle, Portland, fishing in Idaho
September-LOTOJA bike race,
October-Leah's marathon in Portland
November-cyclocross race...

Pictures coming soon.

Any guesses where we might be this week?

Yes, we are having fun but missing our dogs.

David Archuleta

I just wanted to brag for one quick second. If anyone doesn't know what I do (this is Leah typing not Paul) I am a private singing coach. I teach with Dean Kaelin here in Salt Lake City and have been there for over 6 years. This year has been extra exciting because David Archuleta, soon to be American Idol winner, if from our studio and is Dean's student. I just wanted to say how fun it is to be at a studio with all the energy and excitement that is happening. So if anyone reading my blog wants to be the next American Idol or at least sound like one they should contact me. Oh and of course...don't forget to Vote For David!!!