Snippets from my life recently...

Mae wanted some cereal for breakfast. She requested a kind we hadn't had in a while. As I handed over her bowl, I said, "Now, this cereal is a little old, so let me know if it's good, or if it's weird."

She said, "Mom, I don't like weird kids, but I like weird cereal."

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Hal has been very dedicated to teaching Mae about "church" stuff. He writes out lessons on the white board, and even made up a worksheet for her to complete.

(He helped us. Every thing was not sins. He protects us. He has an angel. I love him.)

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Mae got a new stuffed tiger from her very first dentist visit. She has named it Alex Amy Honnold.

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My back went out a couple weeks ago, and it made me pretty focused on only the pain. Meaning- I wasn't much of a conversationalist, or very social. 

One morning, Gordon saw me putting on make-up before school drop-off. I guess it was a rare sight for him, because he said something like, "Doing something special?"

I said, "I'm trying to distract from my lack of social skills with make-up."

He said, "That's why I married you- what you lack in personality, you make up for with mascara."

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I've been doing a lot of mothering from bed. One night, when Gordon was working late, I was up long enough to make dinner for the kids, but got back in bed to eat it. When the kids made their way back upstairs, I asked Hal if he finished his food. He took a camera, and took pictures of his bowl, and Mae's, to prove that he finished his food, but Mae did not. 

I guess I just have to trust which bowl is his, right?

Happy Birthday Tim!!!!!

Vivian
A while back I was listening to a radio talk show and they were asking people to call in and tell their claim to fame or a time that they were "famous". (Note the appropriately used quote marks there)

It reminded me of the time in Santa Barbara that Dad and Kathy had purchased a piece of furniture, a dresser I think, from a store on State Street. Tim was going to bring it back for them and when we went to pick it up, he had to bring his jeep around to the front of the store to load it.  On the way around he had to sweet talk some police officers to get around a blockade because of a 4th of July parade that was about to begin. Somehow, we got through. We thought the dresser might fit in the back of the jeep, but it was too big, so we had to strap it too the top.  All of this took a bit of time and all the while we could see horses and floats up the street getting ready to come down.  With the dresser firmly secured to the roof rack, Tim and I jumped in and as we started to drive it became clear from the crowds that there was no way to get off the parade route until... the end of the parade route.

There were hundreds of people lining the streets, waving flags, watching for something interesting to pass by.

Tim rolled down both windows and began to make announcements with his PA. "Helloooo Santa Barbara!!! Thanks for coming out on this beautiful day! The parade will begin in just a few moments! You're all looking great!" I waved and smiled at the crowd like the proud winner of a beauty pageant that was sponsored by a local budget moving company.

Sarah
I was going to the temple for the first time and Tim couldn't be there with us. He wrote me a nice note that I still have. I think the first time I really hung out with him is while he and Beth were dating - I went with them to San Luis to go rock climbing. I am also thinking of all the things he has done for me and others. 

Rachel
Tim is funny – remember when he put that Free Cat sign next to the dead cat on the side of the 41?

Tim is good in a fight – like when he brought a chainsaw to a snowball fight.

Tim is a hero – he stepped up and stomped his way through a frozen pond to rescue me and Sydney when all you schmucks were just watching.

Tim is a good brother– he baptized me, he made me stilts, he took me to hockey games, he gave me 100 $1 bills all taped together in an endless ribbon I got to unfurl when I was saving up for my first ever international trip.

Tim’s a pretty great guy.               

Carrie
Well, this is how I think of Tim.   Rocking a hammock after a big fishing adventure. I hope there are many more of both in your future.                                                                                         

Claire

Tim is such a likable guy, it was very easy to see him as family. It's probably good he was the first brother. I'm not the biggest fan of change, or interlopers, so I thought I'd be more wary of one of my sisters bringing home an addition for the first time. But when Beth and Tim woke me in the middle of the night to announce their engagement, I only remember happiness and excitement. 

I also have loved watching him interact with my kids over the years. He makes them feel at ease way faster than any 6'4" man should.

The first time I ever met Tim, he felt very familiar to me, and I asked him if we knew each other. We were at a young adult dance (even though I was only 17 at the time). He thought I was hitting on him, and was weirded out. He couldn't get rid of me that easy, though. Haha.

I know the sisters are a lot to take, so thanks for jumping in, Tim.

You're a charming, hardworking, interesting friend, and I'm glad to know you. Happy birthday!

Who Even Liked This Weekend? *ME!!*

We had a super duper 40th birthday weekend getaway for Claire in Red Feather Lakes, CO, that was practically perfect in every way.

*feel free to add any memories from Thursday, plus any else I've forgotten

• Theo rhapsodizing about his love: "I've got the hotskis for [name redacted], she is one smokin' hot piece of bacon" (Carrie: just because you're not using the word steak does not mean bacon is ok), practicing hurling Shakespearean insults at potential slanderers
• "Donde esta mis pajamas" - Vivian. "Here is your pillow (piyo)" - Carrie
• Discovering Beth's aversion to the word 'boogers'. Asking super tired Sarah if she would ever say the word, and her response: "...boogers".
• Hot tubbing in the misty morning with goblets of orange juice
• Thrift store shopping. Finding awesome lumberjack hat
• Sarah's response to how China's first plants grown on the moon died. "Cause it's the moon!"
• 8 milkshakes for 7 people at Vern's. "Who even likes vanilla?!" Beth and Carrie: ME! *jump with arms up in the air
• Vivian navigating unplowed mountain roads like a champ
• "The logs are like THIS BIG!" (Rachel puts arms around her head to show size, gets made fun of) Claire measures spill of ranch same way. Becomes standard unit of measurement for weekend
• Mom starting a snowball fight, denying it 
• Pretend cross-country ski race
• Hot chocolate tea party with Mexican, salted caramel, and Thomas Jefferson flavors
• Power outage, yoga party in the dark
• Power goes back on and off and on again at 3am and 5am
• Everyone gets own beds at cabin, and even bunk room is made of quiet full sized bunk beds
• Working on the escape game, Sarah saving us by solving maze clue
• Beth and Vivian launching a log into the frozen lake
• Alllllmost asking random strangers if Rachel can ride their Zamboni
• Slingshotting Rachel on the ice
• Gnome hunting, and feeling like we had to whisper once we found them
• Super fun but ill-advised sledding down hill in backyard that ended in weeds and bushes
• Having a telescope provided by Airbnb, figuring out how to use it for super blood wolf moon eclipse. Listening to Star Wars, 2001 Space Odyssey, Pony Man, Moondance, Moonshadow. "The moon looks different with my glasses on" - Sarah
• Breakfast at Beaver Meadows resort, followed by hockey and ice skating. Random kid complimenting Claire on her hockey skills "you know what you're doing!"
• Mom claiming she's not competitive
• Carrie throwing a pillow at Vivian sleeping below because she slept through alarm
• Poudre? I barely know 'er!
• Theo, when we came back from the weekend - "so are we going to do that thing where we all snuggle in bed together?"
• Sorting Theo into his Hogwarts house with a panel of witches. Whispering around his head. Asking for Lucy's opinion - "I don't even work here". Ultimately - it's Hufflepuff!
• Playing pacifist Fortnite
• Hot tubbing - gust of wind blew snow off roof into faces
• Theo wearing suit to school for birthday - "I don't need a jacket, I'll just clothe myself in pretention"
• Playing UNO on the floor of the airport while waiting for three different planes 

I got a writing assignment from Lucy's Freshman Seminar teacher.

My Hopes and Dreams for Lucy

By Her Mom

I hope that Lucy will climb walls and build bridges. I hope that she will dance often and frolic occasionally. I hope that she feels loved in spades and can love with abandon. I hope that she has moments of reverence and hours of irreverence. I hope that she treasures her brother. I hope that she brushes her teeth but refuses to wait thirty minutes after eating to go swimming.

I hope Lucy will turn the music up loud, but down again when the neighbors ask nicely. I hope she will avoid spurious caviling. I hope that she will put her bare feet out of the car window, but not while she is driving. I hope that she feels beautiful.

I hope that Lucy always knows how funny she is, even if no one else in the room gets the joke. I hope that she sometimes gets upgraded to first class, but never ever expects it. I hope that she can balance honesty and kindness, courage and caution, and always remembers her gmail password. I hope that she knows to pray but is careful about leaps of faith. I hope she looks up at the sky.

I hope that Lucy has the strength to do what needs to be done. I hope that she howls at the moon but stops just before it gets obnoxious. I hope that she finds good books, great friends, and that there is a sunny spot on the couch to sit in when she needs it. I hope she sings along.

To misquote Tina Fey:

"First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the CSU logo stain her tender haunches.
Lead her away from renaissance faires, but not all the way to middle management…
When the Crystal Meth is offered,
May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half
And stick with chocolate.”

I hope that Lucy lives life abundantly, but mostly I hope that she learns how to be happy, regardless of circumstance. I love you, Lucybird.

Can Everyone Get As?

I completed my first semester teaching the Refugee & Migrant Health class at BYU! It was stressful, but ultimately really rewarding and enjoyable, especially since I had 38 fantastic students. I'm doing it again this semester and looking forward to it! (It helps to have had feedback like this)

When the Universe Gives You a Pony...

"George Washington's pants really dominate the scene," said Vivian. "I'm thinking of making some especially for Chris to wear."

That was my first clue that things were getting serious with our art-reenactment plans for Thanksgiving. My next clue was when the sign-up sheet for props included a pony. "I'll bring scarves," I said.

Fast forward 6 weeks to when we all arrive at Mom's for Thanksgiving and find a white bouncy horse toy just hanging around the backyard. Magic.

The white horse is one of my favorite parts of this picture, but there are so many. Resolute Claire channeling the brown horse is one. Chris, with his sports socks, determined stance, and closed eyes is another. Sarah's puffed cheeks, Gordon and Rachel's bookended action poses, and the plastic sheet iceburgs are some others. Mom's grizzled rifleman cracks me up every time. I love the fact that Vivian looks more than a little bit like Bono along for the ride. The grass on the driveway makes me happy too. Of course it's Rachel's seamless editing that makes it a work of art.
This year, I would like to thank the universe for a white plastic bouncy horse, and for my spectacular family. I'd cross the Delaware with you guys anytime.

Flying Over Auberry

When I was flying back to SLC after Thanksgiving, I looked out the window as my plane took off and saw 168 below me. I casually watched it meander towards the Foothills, fully expecting us to veer more north like my flights usually do...but I noticed we just kept flying over 168. It became hard to follow once the terrain became hilly and I started to think I had lost the trail after a while, but then...hey! That semicircular cluster of buildings has got to be Foothill! And hey, that's Canyon Fork! Which means somewhere after the church the trailer park should be about there, which it is! and I bet that darker area is where the creek goes, and that means home is... right there. I stared at the little spot for a long time. Finally Blue Heron moved out of view of my little window and we kept going past where the Camp would be, past Shaver Lake, past Huntington, after which I didn't recognize anything. 

Has this ever happened for you guys before? Maybe it's not that crazy but I thought it was trippy and heartwarming to think that if Mom/Sarah/Grandpa/Carrie/Lucy/Theo happened to look up into the sky right then I would be waving at them from a plane.

It was a view of home I had never seen before.