maddie's day to mother's day

May 8, 2011

Dear Family,

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!! We've had a great day here—starting w/ a homemade breakfast from the children (omelet-turned scrambled eggs w/ ham, tomatoes, & Romaine lettuce—usually a safe spinach subst.--toast, w/ a side of honey and strawberry jam, and delicious smoothie!--AND beautifully garnished w/ blossoms from the yard and many homemade cards and gifts! (We were totally late for church after all the fanfare, but I've decided it's good to sit in the back every once in a while—someone even asked, “What're you doing way back here?”--so I'm worried about becoming frontrow snobs!). We came home and Brian prepared a delicious recipe of mushroom ravioli & asparagus w/ sage & garlic browned butter sauce (I found the idea online!) and we enjoyed some artisan bread I finally got around to attempting yesterday w/ our “gourmet” balsamic vinegar & olive oil.--YU-UMM!!

We started the week off getting OUR FIRST TEENAGER!!! We are so glad to have Maddie as our first exposure to teens!--she is amazingly easygoing and peace-loving. Maddie had her 13^th birthday Monday—we enjoyed Hawaiian Haystacks & lemon poppyseed cake (food=celebration!), and she was excited to get a copy of the book Les Miserables that she's been reading so long that her library copy's way overdue, AND we were able to find her some awesome tickets to go SEE the musical here @ Capitol Theater, but THAT is a story in itself:

First—getting the tickets was a FIND—I kept an eye on the online classifieds for a few weeks right as the tickets went on sale, and came across these VERY reasonably priced pair from a school teacher who hadn't realized that the day she bought them for was a matinee—while she is still in school—so sold them at the early/discounted price she got them for. We quickly snatched them up (hooray!)

THEN-as I was exhaustedly saying prayers late Sunday night, I thought, “Hmm—I probably need to go get those tickets into a card for tomorrow...” followed by, “Hmmm—I don't remember the last time I saw them after keeping in that same drawer for 3 months...” then, “OH NO!!!!---THAT WAS THE DRAWER THAT GOT FILLED W/ WATER DURING OUR MINOR KITCHEN FLOOD, AND I SURELY HOPE THEY WERE NOT THROWN OUT!!!!!!” I was quickly awake, and frantically went to look for the tickets—NOT in the drawer, NOT in the cupboard, in any other drawer, anywhere in my dresser, closet, nightstand, not ANYwhere I could look in 2 ½ hours all night long. I was even more frantic, as I later checked online to not only find that there was a horrible and expensive selection of tickets left available to buy, AND that most websites offered NO guarantees for lost tickets!!! I had just taught that Sunday school lesson on putting our hearts on the right treasures, so I TRIED to keep a proper perspective, but it WAS Maddie's only gift, and hadn't I stayed up the same number of hours the night before preparing said lesson?? It was a restless night, when I finally decided to go to bed, and a pretty quiet breakfast w/ no presents to open, and NO reply from Mom who was too numb to even explain.

BUT-there was a glimmer of hope when I found the email address for the woman who sold them to us, checked w/ her, and with the ticket office, and found out that early sales, and SOME places DID guarantee and COULD reprint tickets. She was SOOO kind—we blessed her name for days at our house, and after a couple of days, she had worked it out to have them waiting for us there in will call—whew!!! WHAT a TIME!! Better enjoy those tickets Maddie!!! (Did I mention I even drilled a hole in the cupboard to make sure they hadn't slipped into a hollow gap?--and the Sunday School lesson this week?--the lost coin!) 

Here are other updates:

Brent was chosen as one of 2 boys in his grade for the Athletic Decathlon to be held in a few weeks between a number of schools!! He was also one of the finalists for the Academic Decathlon, but that takes place the same day, and since they chose the others first, he had to stick w/ it.

Emily got to dress me up at her Mother/Daughter Activity Day Fashion Show of Modesty this week—she kept trying to get me to pose right: “Mom, girls just know the poses—except for people like you!”

Spencer had to do a minor project for First Grade on any subject of his choice. He had to narrow down these options: how money is made, where water in our sink comes from, minerals, and earthworms---he settled on earthworms. 

 

Anne is still a scratching maniac—she has an appt. w/ a different allergist tomorrow—one who seems to have more pediatric AND more eczema experience, but we'll see. We also need to give goatmilk soap a try... In between her cries of misery, she is still adorable. Had been consistent in waking up every night for about an hour to scratch and ask for “cream.” Mom is learning patience and purpose in trials...still.

Lucy is our tender mercy capstone to things. For all of Anne's tears, she has twice the giggles and smiles. She is walking all over—is HILARIOUS at dancing to every hint of music she hears (looks something like a German windup doll, Brian said), actually lets other people hold her (most times), shakes her head no, loves to carry babies everywhere, talk on the phone, put cream on Anne, brush her hair, say “hi”, “bye,” and “Ma,” and plenty of other adorable things that keep us all smiling. She LOVES Spencer's zhu-zhu pet (electronic hamster toy), and still loves to eat most anything.

Brian's still chipping away at the bathroom, in between bishopric and work responsibilities. He worked on our garbage disposal leak while I hooked up our router (zapped in a storm), and is convinced this cold, cloudy spring is robbing us of our Vitamin D!

For Mother's Day this year, I asked Brian about getting a bike—Since my banana seat Schwinn when I was 8, the only other bike I've ever had was a simple mtn bike that someone gave to us in GA, while they were getting ready to move. The gearshift had just broken at the end of the summer last year, and the tires were pretty warped as well. I love being able to hook up the bike trailer for rides, AND we have these great bike trails just a mile away that I've enjoyed, so Brian and I went out and BOTH picked out Beach Cruisers!! (his bike came from the same source, and was in similar condition). They are “retro” w/ big fenders, huge soft seats (my favorite feature), and a smooth beautifully easy ride. I did feel pretty funny when we got it though, since I had also just gotten my retainer (yes, from my braces!) outfitted at Maddie's orthodontist---I felt nearly 11 all over again! It's been a rainy day today, but yesterday we finally had some spring, and after a stake Primary choir practice, community theater “Music Man” tryouts, cleaning the chapel, and Saturday cleaning, we all (except Maddie babysitting neighbors) got to hit the trail, and get in a great 5 mile ride (until Brent's flat). Now we can ride to the school, to the library, to the park, and even Wal-Mart! We laughed as the cashier even said to Brian as we bought it, “Oh, please don't tell me this is for your Mom!” It made my day! We sure do love the mothers, and generations of mothers in our lives!! What an effect you have on us, and what strenght I find in all of my daily hurdles, to know of all the women who have crossed them before me. Love to you all!-The Duncan's

dynamic duo?

These two are a force of nature in our home right now. As Brent said, “I think babies are so cute so that we'll take care of them,” and Boy! Is it a good thing they are so cute!!! I don't always have the level head necessary to take a cute picture, but here's enough to give you an idea.

Just as a sampling from what I can remember, these two thrive off of my trying to do something in a room they're not in, so that they can:

decorate the kitchen by dumping out the rest of a box of cornstarch all over the floor, mixing in raisins and cereal to make it taste good while they're dancing in it

have Anne try to wash Lucy's hair w/ half a bottle of Cetaphil cleanser, which was preferable to-

Anne putting on Lucy's makeup by squirting HALF a tube of liquid foundation all over her head and hair (only 13 rinses/washes to get back to blonde)

dumpout all my make up, earrings, and their own drawer of hairthings

leave the water on in the kitchen—with the faucet pulled OUT of the sink---TWICE--once while I was home, and once while the other 4 children were “watching” them—well, Anne alone this time, and we came home to FLOODED kitchen---our hardwood now has a “distressed” kind of texture to it, and the light in the basement was dripping for 3 days

So, when Lucy climbs up like this to dump out the salt again, or Anne wants to “cook” by pouring every ingredient she can find (usually things like apple juice, paprika, cereal and vitamins?) into a pot and stirring it until it becomes “spicy water,” or when Lucy is playing in the toilet, or they are both found pouring a whole bag of rice puffs all over the floor, ten minutes after I cleaned up the fridge they had opened up to reassign the strawberries to the cheese drawer (AFTER biting half of them) and pulling/breaking out all of the Easter Eggs because they're so pretty, the messes become relative, and I'm just glad the rice puffs are only $.98, glad that no house damage is done, glad when I don't have to run a bath to clean it up, and glad everyone already knows I'm late to everything anyway, so one more delay will hardly stop the world from spinning!

I remember going through this stage with almost every child—some more dramatic than other (BRENT!), but the double-teaming I don't remember having as much experience w/, so they are keeping me on my toes! They better stay friends, because they may not have any others with a track record like this!!

Happy Easter & Women's Conference

May 1, 2011

Dear Family,

Even though our Spring is SO hesitant in coming, we had a good Easter week: I took Maddie to a Jesse Funk fireside one night, we had a great Stake RS Dinner one night, (here are some pic's they took for it on being "Covenant Women"

and spent two nights practicing and performing in a Ward Easter Musical Fireside, which was nice to reflect on the life of the Savior. I was grateful for that program (almost all of us were singing in it) since I had NO energy to put together much of a family program this year. We made it to the 5 minute Syracuse Easter Egg Hunt (in our coats), and then colored Easter Eggs that night.

I opted out of sewing this year, other than altering a few things I'd found on clearance last year for the girls—that seemed to be more than enough to keep me busy. We enjoyed a great feast with Nathan and Stacey after church that day—it was a welcome break after Church where Lucy and Anne were both clingy and fussy during Sacrament Mtg., and proceeded to BOTH scream when Maddie and I went up to sing for the choir. Brent took Lucy out, and then Anne, screaming, ran up to the stand where Brian caught her and took her out to meet another Grandma who she would have nothing to do with. After that fiasco, I tried handing Lucy over to Brian so I could go sub in Primary, only to have her pull one strand of my necklace as I did so—sending tiny bead all over the sloped chapel floor! Primary was actually WONDERFUL!!--great children learning about great miracles of Christ, and then those songs of “I Hear the Savior's Voice” and “I Know that My Savior Loves Me” sung w/ ALL heart made my day. Anne, still with her ever-running nose (somehow the nursery hasn't kicked her out)--even on antiobiotics that week, had peeled off socks and shoes, and scratched until she was a bloody mess when I picked her up from Nursery (a humiliating first—usually she's distracted enough not to scratch too much at church). She and Lucy were both tired and runny-nosed-ornery enough, I was sure Stacey's excitement at watching them for me on Thursday was near overwhelming!

But-watch them she did!, and I was able to go w/ Mom and Grandma Priday down to Women's Conference @ BYU, which was such a treat. I was glad it was two days (even though it made the childcare arrangements a little tricky when a trial date kept Brian from taking off work), because it took me the whole first day just to calm down after all of the arrangements it took to leave! Mom was a sport waiting as I spent all Wednesday night coding and packing and organizing bags for the babies, and then hurriedly packing for me (amazing I only forgot hair gel!). Aside from just being tired that first day there, I realized I was developing (another!) UTI, found out Brian WOULD have to go back to trial Friday, and then tried to leave and the car had died! After involving 3 other cars (one of which also died in the process!), and a fortunately found friend from the ward, as well as Save the Day Uncle Gene, we were finally able to get on our way back to Grandma's for a late and sleepy supper!

Despite the little adversities though, we were so grateful to have car troubles on the day of GOOD weather, grateful it was JUST a dead battery (had gotten the lights confused w/ the windshield wipers), glad Brian's 2^nd trial day would only take a couple of hours, glad to have missed traffic, and still so happy to just be together. I slept so well that night, and could really relax and enjoy Friday. This being my first trip to Women's Conference, I don't know that I can ever go back and do it normally! Thanks to Aunt Kaye's involvement on the planning committee, Grandma's handicapped parking permit, and Nick, the great Lunch-running-Errand brother—we barely had to wait in a line or ever sit in the back---which is honestly what the MAJORITY of Women's Conference seemed to be!! It was also nice not to have to decide between SO many neat classes since we had a friend/relative at every hour—and with those connections, little “golden tickets” to sit in “Reserved Seating” in the front 2 rows!! It was quite amazing, considering the CROWDS!!!, and I felt like the Queen of England having our lunch brought to us by Nick w/o having to fight any crowds again! We got to hear from (cousin) Melinda, then Aunt Kaye, then Aunt Janet, friend of the family Shauna Thompson, and then Mom's old roommate Rosemary Lind. We also marveled over Kaye's girls playing her string arrangements at one session. It was all excellent, and so fun, and SO heartening to hear so many experiences and testimonies from loved ones that connect us in our sufferings and successes. I don't know how I convince myself sometimes, that I must be the only one crazy enough to worry like I do, or stumble like I do—thus compounding the feelings of loneliness that trials often bring anyway. It was a great feeling of unity to be among so many good women, and brought to mind often how MUCH I have been affected by great women in my life—my heart just filled to think of women in my ward, and so many previous wards, friends I grew up with, and all the women I'm related to. It just strengthened me to be among them. It was SO fun to have ALL of Kaye's girls and ALL of Janet's girls and to be there w/ Laurie in a mini-reunion. Besides the classes, we got to hear from Virginia Pearce, John and Susan Tanner, Sister Beck, and Elder and Sister Bednar. SO great! Fun to be back in the Marriott Center too! We even had a sweet little visit w/ Sister Bednar and her mother/sisters there in the Museum of Art, where Grandma was so happy to see her sister's sister in-law (Sis. Bednar's mother). It is so fun to be w/ Grandma, as she is like a celebrity everywhere she goes! What a woman she is to have affected so many people! We took her home Friday night (this time, in the snow-the car worked fine), and then made it to a wedding reception for a girl from GA in SL, and had fun running into a few familiar faces there, before coming home to crash. 

Brian and the children all survived well—the house was together—needing not much more than a kitchen sweep, and Brian had even ventured into making some from- scratch ovenbaked macaroni and cheese that we got a bite of! Mom flew home early Saturday morning to be back for all of the Temple Dedication Events last night and today!!--So exciting!! We appreciate it even more now, as their temple re-opens, ours is closing for 3 years! We got to do sealings in Bountiful Tuesday, and one sealer asked if we were “Ogden Refugees” :). I substituted for Gospel Doctrine today (yikes!), but loved getting into those NT chapters on what we shall do “to inherit eternal life”--all about just putting the Lord first, and how much HAPPIER we are when we do! I'd much rather have to sell my house and give away all my money most days, than to trust the Lord that my trials really ARE best for me and that He will take care of things in His time. I'm the pits at changing my expectations, and I'm afraid that I sometimes feel like the rich young man who is a little defeated when he realizes how hard it is to really do what he needs to, and when I CAN have enough faith—just changing my stubborn heart honestly feels like I am the widow, giving ALL that I have! It's always worth it when I do—I just wish I could always remember that! So good that we always have cause to hope, and the chances to keep improving, thanks to the Savior and the Atonement. It's a good time of year to keep that focus. Love to you all!-The Duncan's