Weeeeeeee!

If packages could talk....

"Hope ya know, we had a hard time."

I'm not sure what kind of travels this package has been on, but it's story must be a pretty good one.

P.S.  The contents of this package (a cute red sweater from the Loft) had a cinder hole in it.  Not to fear, Ann Taylor immediately sent a new one out Next Day Air upon notification.  

A Girl and Her Dog

Here's to the last of the lazy dog days of summer....

Now playing at a backyard near you!

Hot Pot Singer Dinger

To my brothers:

Remember how we used to tease each other unmercifully when we were little?  We had fun nicknames for each other  (Hos Van Cartwright, Squirrel Pie, Hang Tooth, TA--or TATA--??).  Remember when all nine of us would wrap ourselves in blankets and then tumble down the stairs in one big heap?  What about the brother(s) who often came home from the across-the-street park with a cool bike or Big Wheel that they "found?" We also loved to catch each other singing on the potty.  If that ever happened, we would sit outside of the bathroom door and chant:  "Hot Pot Singer Dinger!" Those were good times, weren't they?

I had forgotten about the Hot Pot Singer Dinger chant until just the other day when I had to help a sweet older person get on the potty and then wait for them to finish their business.  You can't hurry these things, and usually I would leave them to it and ask them push their call button when they were done.  But not this person, oh no.  They wanted to have a full on conversation with me.  Twenty minutes later, after repeated inquiries into whether or not they had finished, we were able to wrap things up.  As I helped this lovely person back into their chair, I could hear the lovely strains of "Hot Pot Singer Dinger" running through my head while exiting the room.

So, dear brothers, thank for the fun and crazy times we shared as younguns...the memories have brightened many a day and have given many occasions to laugh!

A Prince in the Making...

I had a friend email this picture to me last week.  Isn't that a good looking couple?  She looks just like Audrey Hepburn.  I think Audrey totally copied her style and elegance.  A few years ago, this now older gentleman spoke of his courtship of this lovely young woman, and it is truly a fairy tale story.  Our young women group was invited to the General Young Women Conference where he told us this story, and I think every young girl (and us older women) fell in love with him ourselves.  My girls and I call him "Hottie Uchtdorf."

Is that a little sacrilegious? However, it fits and he is a very handsome older gentlemen, and a very nice human being to boot.  Harriet definitely got herself a prince of a man.

(Prince and Princess Uchtdorf waving to their adoring public)

As a side note, I was asked to say the closing prayer in Sacrament Meeting today.  When I got to the chapel, I noticed that President Uchtdorf was in town and on the stand.  No pressure.

Summer's End

We had a Cousin Camp today at Kim's house to commemorate the end of summer and the beginning of another school year.  Yikes, where did the summer go?  It has been a busy, fun-filled 10 weeks and for once I'm not ready to ship the kids off to school.  As Ashley and I walked the halls of South Davis Jr. High at her back to school night, and felt the excitement brimming off of the kids, I realized how happy I am that she is going to this school for her 9th grade...it has a very positive vibe and the teachers were excited to have her again in their classes.  I sense and anticipate great things from this school year.  

Madi is also on the brink of an exciting year:  senior year of high school, college applications, an internship using her CNA and new job at The Legacy House.  We both got jobs at the same retirement home (although we will be working different shifts), and we begin our training next week.  It's been a laid back summer with some fun trips, delicious watermelon (I personally have eaten at least five on my own), good books, Ragnar/Dessert News running events, long bike rides, leisurely walks with Jesse, movie marathons and BBQ cookouts.   But now it's back to a schedule--work and school--and the shortened days of autumn and winter.  The light is already changing, and soon the crispness will be in the air, signalling the change of seasons.  Ahh, the lazy dog days of summer....I will miss you!

A Top 10 List

Top 10 Things I loved about New York

10.  The All American Buffet Breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria.

I chose to add this option when I booked the room, and I am so glad I did!  I just assumed it would be a mamby bamby continental breakfast, but it was a full on Little America type of breakfast buffet---omelets prepared to you personal specification by a chef, fresh fruits, incredible Blitzes and other pastries, oatmeal with a huge variety of add-ins, meats and cheese, yogurt bar, Belgium waffles and toppings, etc.  All this came with a very attentive, friendly and happy serving staff.

9.  Native New Yorkers who were so willing to help us out with the metro.

I did pretty well navigating the subway, but the few times I looked confused or needed to clarify a question, I was always amazed at how I could ask anyone and they would rattle off which metro location or stop or train we would need to take to get to were we wanted to go.  There were even a few times that someone volunteered to help when they could tell we weren't sure of what to do.  I was especially impressed by this, since I am not sure if I could tell someone how to get anywhere in Salt Lake...

8.  Bagels and cream cheese from a street vendor.

7.  Going for a morning run and discovering that the city had blocked off traffic from Park Ave so that all runners and bikers had a straight, unhindered path.  Awesome.

The city does this on certain Saturdays in the summer, and I just happen to be there on the right Saturday.  I ran down Park Ave towards Central Park, and then through Central Park up to the Met on 83rd and back to the hotel...it was a great 4 miler, and I was running with lots of other bikers and runners.  I loved it.

6.  The nice gentleman who gave us an impromptu tour of Brooklyn Heights.

We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, which was pretty cool, but when we didn't get off when we should have, we ended up walking a lot farther then we intended too.  We really wanted to eat at Grimaldi's, but we had a member of our party with foot problems developing, and we were a little lost.  The nice gentlemen could tell we were unsure of which direction to go, and he began to explain what we needed to do, and then he said, "You know, I'm heading in that direction anyway, so I will just walk with you and make sure you get to where you want to go."  He then proceeded to tell us about the history of Brooklyn Heights and took us past the Plymouth church, where the the Pastor Beecher (abolitionist and brother to Harriet Beecher Stowe) invited Abraham Lincoln to speak and campaign.

5.  Our hotel and room (the Waldorf Astoria)

We scored on this one.  The hotel and staff were wonderful and our room was beautiful and comfortable.

4.  Turning the corner of Exchange Place and seeing the New York Stock Exchange among the canyon of tall buildings...BAM!  There it is.

3.  Wicked!  On Broadway! At the Gershwin Theater!

2.  Meeting up with Liz and her mom.  Liz always make us happy.

1. Being with all my girls:  Kelsey, Markelle, Madeleine and Ashley!

1:20 AM

I started this pillow tonight at about 10:00 p.m. and my brain has been taxed to the limit from trying to figure out how to put the iron-on transfer onto the muslin, piece together the rest of the fabric, sew the decorative embellishment, and then get the picture/muslin piece centered while making the rest of the fabric fit the pillow form nice and snug.  I am not a seamstress, and I did not use a pattern, so there was some unpicking of the stitches (as Markelle would say) being done.  I know my brain is fried because it is now 1:20 a.m. and I cannot figure out how to turn the picture (of pillow, shown above)  around.  My dog is sleeping beside me (and breathing a little heavy, I might add), but my brain won't shut down.  I think I will have to pull out the scriptures and read some of the fun passages from 2 Nephi...you've got to love those Isaiah chapters!

Happiest Day on Earth

Dear Ashley,

Happy Birthday to my baby girl.  I'm sad that we weren't able to give you breakfast in bed on the red "You are Special Today" plate, and sing to you while you wear the birthday cake hat with it's flaming candles.  We didn't get to huddle together with you on our bed and watch you eat while you opened your presents.  Instead, we sent you off to California and Disneyland with your best friend and a pocketful of cash.  What kind of parents have we become?  Please forgive us.  I did give you a wonderful gift, which you will discover when you come home tomorrow:  a clean room!  Yes, I went through every drawer and cleaned out/organized your dresser, closet, book shelf, desk, and under the bed (unfortunately, I still did not find the two missing phones...which was the real reason behind the massive room detox).  I hope you know how much we love you and are so happy that you joined our family 14 years ago. How lucky for you to spend your Happiest Day on Earth at the Happiest Place on Earth. Have a Magical Day!  (cue The Cricket singing....)

Love,

Your mommy

The Case of the Missing Glasses

I called Steve at work this morning to check on how his day was going, and I could tell that he was in a crabby mood.  When I asked him what was wrong, he responded with a very stressful, "I can't find my glasses!"

I asked a couple of question on when he last wore them and tried to calm him with "well, they must be in the office, just retrace your steps and ask the office staff to be on the look out for them."  I  figured that he must have set them down somewhere while talking to someone and walked away without them.  I knew he'd find them eventually.  Turns out I was right, and we got a good laugh of WHERE we found them: on my mother's face!  My mom, bless her heart, is still--at age 74--working for Steve.  She had been in his office earlier today and was admiring his sunglasses.  Without realizing that her own glasses were propped on top of her head, she took Steve's reading glasses as she was leaving the office...thinking they were hers.  When I came in later this morning to bring her some lunch, I noticed that she had on a pair of glasses that looked A LOT like Steve's missing glasses.  When I asked about it, she reached up to take the glasses off and look at them, then saw her own glasses sitting on her desk!  We had a pretty good laugh and quickly put Steve's glasses back front and center on his desk.  As I left the office, I patted myself on the back and exclaimed, "My work here is done!"

Breaking Free

As Madi and I drove into St. George at midnight, I turned to her and said, "You know, if we got up at 5:30 in the morning and drove to the beach, we could be there before noon..."

Ahhh, Laguna...I just can not stay away.  I've been land locked a little too long and just needed to squish the sand between my toes, feel the salty breeze on my face, hear the roar of crashing waves and yes, even watch the cute surfer boys brave the cold water and do their thing.

It was a fun, quick, SPONTANEOUS road trip, but I had a great accomplice:  thanks for throwing your hat in, Madi!