ARTISTS OF THE WEEK

Kings of Convenience

I really like this Norwegian duo. I learned about them from my friend Heidi, and their soft, buttery music reminds me so much of her. If any sound is Heidi in a bottle, it is the sound of Kings of Convenience.

Here is a video of one of their newest.

They were interviewed in a music magazine and I thought the following quote was interesting.

" I find it impossible to write a good song about being happy. Even if you think about the song 'Don't Worry, Be Happy,' it's about overcoming a moment of despair. There are two types of great songs: ones that describe dark moments and ones that describe a turning point away from that darkness. We take sad things and write beautiful songs about them--it's the ultimate way to overcome sadness."

It hit me that that statement is really true. When I look at the songs I have played over and over through the years, they are usually the more emotional, darker if you will, songs. The songs that just hit you in the gut. The songs that you can't believe the songwriter got so right. I have very specific memories tied to those kinds of songs. (Ok, who am I kidding? I can tie every song to a memory, usually exactly where I was when I first heard it, or the time in my life when I listened to it a lot. Even "Don't Worry, Be Happy" reminds me of my senior year in high school and particularly driving in my convertible with the top down. Also, driving in the same convertible on a sunny day in San Francisco. I saw Bobby McFerrin in concert at the U of U.)


Here is another good one. The guy in the glasses is so great. They are so European, and Europe is really my home away from home. Sure, all right--in my dreams it's my home away from home, but when Kate grows up and starts missing London, it will be my 2nd home I'm sure.

Here is my friend Heidi. Here is my art/ foreign/British movie loving, stylish dresser, concert going, anxiety prone, pixie body, newly hair chopped off, band singer friend, Heidi. She's a good one.

From the Kate:

Hello. It's Kate! I can crawl! It's so great. This morning, my mum took me downstairs as she was painting baseboards and trim. She put 20 toys around me on the floor about 4 feet away from her. As soon as she started painting, all I wanted was to touch the baseboards. Oh those baseboards! Those shiny wet baseboards! How could I play with anything when they were enticing me so? My mum kept saying something like, "wow Kate. Really?" It was so funny. I love playing with her like that. I crawl, she moves me. I crawl, she puts some crazy thing in front of me, as if I would want that. Ha! I've decided that I love paint! I want to paint! If I ever become an artist, I bet my mum will tell the story of the first day she knew I was destined to paint....today! Cheers!

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It's me, Erin, again. That Kate. I also love to paint. I'm a painting fool right now. Mostly white gloss. Right now, I've got a small angled brush and I am slowly, meticulously painting the lines between the baseboards and the colored wall. I love doing this without tape--just slowly and steadily painting the dividing line. I love making dull things shiny. I could do it all day long if I didn't have such an active, uh, helper. Love her.

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Remember growing up? Remember how Jr. high could be rough sometimes? Friends in particular, were tough. I remember feeling very well-liked at times and very lonely the next. Pictures like this make me happy.





This is Ali with probably her best guy friend, Corbin. (She's wearing lipstick, because they were partners in a dance at halftime of a game.) He is part of a group of boys Ali calls the Brotherhood, which of course hang with her friends, the Sisterhood. I think he's one of the coolest kids in the 8th grade. He talks to adults. I always like kids who have the guts and courtesy to actually say hello to the parentals.

I am a little sad to tear Ali away from the Sisterhood and the Brotherhood. Will there be a Sisterhood in Southern California? Will there be a Brotherhood who just want to hang out? Will she find new friends at that angsty age of 13? I will continue to be grateful for friends like this good kid.

When we go to California to high school and house hunt, I am going to pray that there are kids there who may be looking for a friend, maybe a friend named Ali. Knowing Ali, she will be just fine. Well, knowing Ali there may be lots of meltdowns involved, but IN THE END, she will be just fine! That's what a mom is for right?

Maddie's sketches yesterday:

Hey! You have a great day. I know I will. After my nap, I'm going to help my mum paint. I'm such a huge help to her. The two of us, we're super tight during the day until the teens come home and take me from her. Even though I'm not American, I couldn't help but cheer on your Shaun White and the two super beautiful downhill skiers Lindsey and Julia. America is rockin it in the Olympics!

I get to see my pops later tonight and I'll probably go watch my big brother play basketball. My mum wants to go see Elton John and Billy Joel, but she's torn between seeing them alone, trying to buy a ticket there, and watching my brother. My brother will probably win out. That's my bet.

I've got to run and help mum clean the house again to show it tomorrow. I'm a huge help to her when she does that too. Have a lovely one. Kate

Millcreek Jr. High Girls' Basketball team made it to the Region Championship Game. That has never happened before in the school's history. I know it is because Ali cheers them on so well. I know it. Go Mustangs!

COLLEGE BOUND!!!!

I feel inspired today. I love to write. I love writing this blog. It began with my dad asking me to write a blog so he could keep up on my life and also by my desire to write down my thoughts somewhere. At the time, and currently still, my kids really don't care what their mom thinks. That's as it should be. I don't expect them to. They are at the stage of deciding what they think about life. The cool thing is that I am writing my blog just for me. I like the process of writing. It makes me happy.

Spencer got accepted to BYU today. I kind of knew he would, but to really read the words was a cool moment. Brett was on speaker phone early this morning with all of us so he could be included. Spence is officially headed to college. Wow. Time flies. I remember taking him to Brett's work when he was 18-months old and showing him off to all of the workers there. I remember making him go to a french preschool and a nature preschool while we lived in Boston. I remember him calling the blue crayon, bleu. I thought, "am I messing this poor kid up?" His teacher never spoke to them in English. Then that was it. A few months of French and then off to the preschool in the woods. Thoreau would have been proud of him, studying sap, animal tracks and such.

I remember how hard it was for me to have him go to all-day Texas kindergarten with his teacher who looked like Snow White. I remember how happy I was that he got into the Spectrum program when we moved here. For some reason, I thought that meant his future was oh so bright. Spectrum in 3rd grade= spectacular adult. Somewhere along the way, in Jr. high or perhaps his sophomore year, Spencer decided that his parents were making him do stuff he did not want to do. He did not want to be Sterling Scholar. Why were hard classes that infringed on a good social life the way to go? He began to tell me what classes he wanted to take and politely thanking me for my "advice"--he would take it under consideration.

Now, he is a teacher's assistant one period, home release one period, choir one period, seminary one period, adult roles one period. I don't think I have seen him do homework yet this last half of his senior year. BUT no worries! I guess colleges don't really look at the senior year. Yeah! He's college bound. Now the next hurdle is mission bound. By this time next year, he'll be gone, along with all of my other adopted sons.

By then, I'll probably have Kate in a yoga/beach meditation or surfing preschool. :)

Most Awesome Valentines Day Ever

Disclaimer: Today's post is NOT a Keepin it Real segment. This one is a "THIS IS SO NOT KEEPIN IT REAL!!!" segment.

Yesterday was the day before Valentines. Brett flew in from Cali and took the kids skiing. I, of course, have a little babes and couldn't go. I had planned to go up to Park City anyway and get Brett's Valentines present there. He needed new clothes since he has lost a bunch of weight and has none that fit him. This was going to be my day's job. However, our contractor friend, Trent, only had yesterday to come over and fix a bunch of stuff at our house. He would come upstairs and say, "Ok. That job's done. Now what do you want me to do?" It was super sweet to have someone like Trent at my disposal all day long. That, combined with my frantic attempts at preparing to play for a wedding last night took up my whole day. Oh yeah, and I have a baby. So--those 3 things prevented me from even leaving the house once to get Brett my super-incredible-I'm-sure Valentines Day gifts.

I was pretty bummed out by about 10:30 (after my gig) that I wasn't going to have anything for him to open. (In my defense, every single day this week was filled with simply cleaning and showing this house. ) I called him and said, "I'm done playing. I'm heading to the store to get the stuff for the big breakfast in the morning, ok?" I was secretly hoping that Smith's would still be open and I could grab him something, even though lame. He said, "No, don't go to the store. I already got everything! Just come home! Seriously."
"But, but, did you get little candies for the kids' plates and a little family gift?"
"Yes. I have it taken care of! I'm doing it this year. Just come home."
"But, but I need to get something for you, because I didn't go to Park City and I don't want to be all lame!"
"Erin, I don't care. I promise. You are selling this house for me. I'm FINE. We'll go together tomorrow."

When I drove up to the house I saw this:





When I walked in the back door, I saw this:





And this:


THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT TOO!!!

This morning, he woke me up at 6:30a.m. and said, "Erin, will you get the kids up? I have breakfast ready." I rubbed my eyes...Huh? At 6:30? You made breakfast? The kids are going to kill me if I go down there and try to get them up, but really you made breakfast? It smells so good.

Apparently, he had given them all a heads up last night that he wanted to have breakfast together before he left at 7a.m. for his bishopric meeting at the church. They all woke up tiredly, but happily and we filed in the kitchen. Since I saw the table last night, there was now an envelope on each plate. Each said, "I love you! Dad" Brett insisted I open mine first. It was all mushy. I think him being away from us every week is making him mushy. Anyway, at the bottom it said, "My Valentines gift to you is WE ARE TAKING THE WHOLE FAMILY TO HAWAII IN 3 WEEKS!!!!!!!"

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHMMMMMYYYYYYYYGGGGGGGOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAARRRRRREEEEEEEEYYYYYYYOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUKKKKKIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDDDDIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGMMMMEEEEE??????!!!!!!!!

In each envelope was a ticket to Hawaii. Everyone was in shock. I knew he had a work trip there the 2nd week of March and that I could go with him, but I would have to take the baby (which I was planning on doing.) As excited as I was, I knew it would be tricky to do any of the activities with a 7-month old and wondered if it was worth it for his company to have me come. But NOW I have 4 babysitters, nannies if you will, at my command, coming to play with Kate whenever I need them to! It will be paradise. I can't believe I'm going to have all of my kids, my son who is soon to leave the nest, all with me under the bright Hawaiian sun.

This is what Brett got for his efforts before he left for his meeting. I will never forget this morning.

Sydney- You are beautiful. I'm going to take you to California with me.

Kate's Thoughts

"Mom, I'll just wait for you right here while you get your things together for church. I'll just.....sit........right...."

"My instrument of choice these days. If I am a tad grumpy or sad, my sis Maddie just strums me a tune you know. It's quite lovely."

"Although we Brits don't wear cowboy hats, I thought I'd humor Micah a bit."

Super Stinkin Bowl Sunday

Yeah! Super Bowl Sunday is over! Whew! I do not like Superbowl Sunday. I don't like Oscar Sunday or Grammy Sunday either. Brett and I decided a long time ago that we don't watch TV or movies on Sunday. We have loved this. The Sabbath feels different. We also listen to music a LOT. So, giving up the music we always listen to on Sunday makes our home feel different on Sunday as well.

Then, along comes Super Bowl Sunday. Poor Spence. What is the Super Stupid Bowl to trump our Sabbath rule? Do we believe in doing this EXCEPT when it's the Super Bowl? Or the Oscars? I tried to tell him last night that not watching it is just a better opportunity to show his Father in Heaven that He is more important. You can throw anything at him, and it won't trump Him. Bring it on! (He's not sure if he buys it yet.)

The calls started early. "Erin, please let Spence come over and watch it." I told him that he's 18 and if he wants to go somewhere and watch it, he could and we wouldn't be mad. He laughed. "Yeah, OK mom. ' Spence, we believe it is of the devil and condemnable, but you can go watch it if you want!' Thanks a lot." Ha ha. I had to laugh when he said that. I felt badly for him. He has an obedient nature and even if he thinks our rule is dumb, it's hard for him to go against what we think. He slept at 4 p.m. instead. That's good! REST is one thing that sets his Sunday apart from every other day of his week. He is sleep deprived most of the time.

What the heck is DVR for anyway, I say. Why do the big brass at the TV stations get to decide what I do on Sunday? Oscar Sunday is a hard one for me. I used to look forward to this night every year. Now I believe I get PLENTY of Hollywood PLENTY of the time. I just watch clips the next day.

Last night we played Jenga (dang that Sydney and her nimble fingers ten!!!), we planned our day activities for our Hawaii trip (WOHOOOOO!!! More about that later) and we went to visit Brett's brother and sister and their families. We talked about their new home and our move. We ate crackers and artichoke dip and the little cousins did what they always do. Way fun. (Now, Spence was in a bad mood by that time-halftime- and didn't want to go with us. He totally could have watched the last half after we left. Who knows.)

Another year over. Yeah!

Brett left at 4:30 this morning. This weekend charged me up for another week. I can do this. I'm gearing up for the beach phone calls again. Those are always fun :) At least the skies are clear today and the air is crisp, even if it is chilly. Miss Kate probably has an ear infection given her sudden cries in the night of pain. Oh baaaby girl. I can't wait to get in there and kiss that soft, fuzzy head when she awakes. Time to wake up the Syd and kiss that warm little neck and spoon her for a minute or two as well. ummm so good.

THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY

One of my favorite clips of Flight of the Conchords. I think they are pretty brilliantly funny. Enjoy. erin

So anyway

Every time I talk to Brett on the phone, the conversation includes some version of the following:

Brett: "Hang on, let me get this sand out of my shoe."

Brett: "So, anyway-whoa! That is so beautiful! Oh, I wish you could see this...."

Brett: "Erin, it's so warm out here. It's in the 60s!"

Brett: "I just passed a movie set."

Brett: "Let me call you right back. I'm ordering sushi."


Hmmm.

Deep Thought

I bet the main reason the police keep people away from a plane crash is they don't want anybody walking in and lying down in the crash stuff, then when somebody comes up act like they just woke up and go, 'What was THAT?!'"

a timely haiku

I sort of have a ghost writer sometimes on my blog. My dad sends me things that he knows I will like. Here is a haiku he found which hit my feelings exactly. Haikus are so cool, because the object is to use as few words as possible to just nail a feeling or situation on the head. They usually have to also include a reference to the season or weather. See what you think this one is saying....

house for sale –
the apricot tree in bloom
as never before


Ion Codrescu
Romania

I DON'T LIKE SHOWING MY HOUSE TO POTENTIAL BUYERS. EVERY SMUDGE ON THE WALL, EVERY BASKET OF LAUNDRY, EVERY PIECE OF PAPER, EVERY SPOT ON THE CARPET IS GLARING AT ME!!!!! AAARRRRRRGH.