Darcy, don't read this

It is 1:40a.m. I am making french toast with Maddie and niece Katie in preparation for the Royal Wedding in 20 minutes. I just went to a late movie with Misty preceded by Lauren's wedding day!!! So, that is pretty much a big day I've decided. We got in SLC at 1:45 a.m. last night. Today was the wedding, luncheon, reception, movie, and now the Royal Wedding. But let's face it, it's not more royal than the one I saw today. I will never forget the look on Lauren's face as she stared at Braden with tears in her eyes and became his wife. So much love. So sweet. There is no way Kate Middleton can top that! But, I guess I'm willing to stay up for 15 more minutes, eat some french toast and see how she does. Or at least what she wears.

Darcy, have fun in Spain. We are taking very very good care of your children. OBVIOUSLY. e

Heroes

Chris Hondros died today in Libya. He was an award-winning photographer who risked his life in war-torn countries to show the world the price of war. He was shot today along with 3 other journalists (He and another award winning filmmaker died) by Gaddafi forces in Misrata. I found this news piece below, which profiled him done in 2007. I'm sure it was interesting and sad to watch then, but to watch it today, to listen to him describing his job and the dangers involved, knowing that he just died giving the world these photographs, is so haunting.


Here it is.

Advice, because let's face it, it's probably soooo common

KEEPIN IT REAL

So, you know how when you have such a bad sinus infection that you get a huge ear infection on your trip and it doesn't pop after your flight home like it's supposed to and when you're landing, you think that your ear is going to explode even though you medicated yourself? You know how when it still hasn't popped 3 days later and you are talking into a bubble or tunnel and no sound is escaping due to the blockage in your ears? You know how it hurts when you slightly move your head because the antibiotics don't touch whatever those nasty bacteria are up to in your FACE and your forehead is literally pounding out of your physical head? You know how you wonder what the next step is after you are taking the strongest antibiotic and it isn't touching it? You know how you can't hear out of that really infected ear and then how your baby needs medicine for her own issues and your other daughter needs you to print that English paper and have the one packet she forgot to the high school by 2:30 or she'll get half credit? You know how the other daughter still doesn't have her prom dress for the dance on Friday and has a really hard time shopping for dresses in the first place and you've gone with her a bunch but she still doesn't have it and it's Wednesday? Oh and you know how when you live in L.A. there are no modest dresses and then how you also have to find a flattering modest dress after school in traffic how difficult that is? Then, you know how you told everyone in your family that you are going to Paul Simon at the Pantages Theatre tomorrow, and even though you're going alone, because your husband is traveling again, it's ok, because after all, it's Paul Simon, and he's worth an alone visit anyway, but then you realize that you CAN'T HEAR and your head is pounding out of your head? You know how when you know it's Easter Week and you've decided to make it really great for your 10-year-old so you buy the egg decorating stuff and the sugar cookie stuff and basket stuff and then when you're checking out, you can't keep that ear-infected head straight up anymore so you have to lean against the magazine thing and close your eyes as she says, "Ma'am, ma'am".... trying to get your credit card swiped? You know how you don't live in a place where your mom will feel sorry for you and bring you soup and your sister will come take the baby so you can sleep? You know how when your husband pulls in at 8, you have been collapsing in your bed and sleeping but then you wake up and it still hasn't gone away? And then you wonder why the heck a strong antibiotic isn't helping after 5 doses? OK, so when that happens, WHAT DO YOU DO??
Please let me know. thx. e

Spencer's Sunday

So good to be in Bountiful for Spencer's Utah farewell. It was a perfect day. We had just the right amount of food (don't ask me how we did that..). We got to see so many people. We got to see Spencer speak and imagine him as a missionary. Thank you to all of those who made it happen. You so know who you are.

 The only sad thing about the above picture is that there is an empty chair on the right and my friend Becky in the background, not on the chair.

 The girls found this spot behind the couches where no one but friends were allowed and they didn't have to talk to any adults. I'm sure that wasn't their intent, but I didn't see them the whole day. They loved it.

This last one is funny to me, because the 14-year-old on the left is about 4 inches taller than Spence. I wish had some of our family that day, but someone left our camera in the suburban (along with my cell phone) as we frantically tried to make our flight. These photos courtesy of Si Foster.

Best sound in the world: Spencer's happy voice over the phone from college calling me maaaaaaam or Er Bear

Best feeling in the world: Hugging Spencer.

Best knowledge in the world: Spencer is going on a mission.

Best thing to look forward to in the world: Taking Spencer to the temple next week and having him home.

Best sight in the world: Spencer wrestling poor Maddie, inappropriately dancing, or holding Kate.

Best song in the world: Anything Spencer does NOT listen to :)

Best thing Maddie's looking forward to: Spencer's car Simba being HERS

Best friend for hosting Spencer's open house: Laura

Best nickname for Spence: "Bubba" said by Kate.

Hmmmm I wonder what/who I've been thinking about lately.

I decided today that Disneyland is not the happiest place on earth when you are alone with a 20-month old. During Spring Break. I took the girls down this morning and as soon as you could say, "Mom, we're going on Tower of Terror," they were gone. For the rest of the day. I don't know why I hadn't thought this through, but soon realized that a full day alone with Kate in busy Disneyland was pretty lonely. I'm used to it at home, just Kate and me against the world, but somehow at Disneyland...not fun. So we went on the merry-go-round, ferris wheel, took this picture with Mickey, and got back in the car. After 45 minutes, we were back home. We spent our day alone instead going for a walk with Rudy, going to Trader Joes, giving Kate a bath and watching parts of Toy Story.  

Maddie comes home tomorrow. I really can't wait. Mary Leishman surprised Ali last night by flying in. Brett picked her up at LAX on his way home from work, and then she hid behind Ali's bed. Ali was really shocked. It was a pretty great moment.

Yesterday, I took the girls to two eateries in Hollywood. One was Pink's Hot Dogs, which for some reason gets featured on Food Network and such. I thought it tasted exactly like...well exactly like a hot dog. But I like checking things off of my internal lists. I've now been there and partook of the guac dog. Then, we drove to Million Dollar Shakes, which was fun. Long drive down Santa Monica Boulevard at dinnertime, but fun. Which leads me to my very popular segment:

STAR SIGHTINGS HO HUM!!

Remember this segment? Well, yesterday I saw him...

His name is Keith Morrison and he is part of the cast of Dateline NBC. He was walking his dog by us, and for some reason, Sydney, who is extremely bold lately, yelled DATELINE!!! (We were about 5 feet away, so the yelling of DATELINE!! was very loud and extremely obviously close. Now back to the story...)  He turned around and laughed. We all had a nice awkward moment with his huge poodle which looked exactly like this..

All I could picture was SNL's Phil Hader below who does such a funny impression of him.

Riveting, I know, but I must stop writing and attend to the urgent matter of a bowl of cereal to make up for the calories consumed eating little chocolate chip/oatmeal bite sized cookies with Kate while perusing the aisles of Trader Joe's. No big dinner for mommy tonight.

Little Sweet Voice

This is what I'm talking about when I say Kate sings in her crib when she's supposed to be sleeping. So cute! Every night we hear some song in that voice. I want to just go get her out and squeeze her!

Maddie's tour group FINALLY posted some pictures for the parents over here in the dark. Maddie is staring at me in some other place in the world. It is so strange staring at this picture and seeing her look at me. I wonder what she's thinking, who she's smiling at, what she did that day. It's amazing when your children start the transition to adult, to independence. It's awesome to watch. 

Her group.

Dear Maddie--

Really? There is no internet cafe right by here?..

where you can sneak me an email telling me how much fun you're having? I'll bet you're just dying to tell me about your trip, but you can't. I guess I feel sorry for you really, because you probably aren't enjoying it quite as much without filling me in on the details of places like this....

I'm sorry that I told you to kiss someone under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset so your love will be forever.
That's on my bucket list, so I'm sorry if that was confusing to have me tell you to find someone to kiss as the clock is striking at sunset on a gondola.

Dear Kate--

You are singing so loudly right now. I am right outside your door and do you have to belt every song in your repertoire before you fall asleep? Where do you get this from, all of this singing singing singing? Constantly singing?


Dear Ali-

Please get out of this phase where every single thing I do bugs you. Thanks. I really can't be thaaaat embarrassing, can I? See how much fun you're having so far this break, even without Maddie? I'm happy for you.

Dear Sydney-

You'll really be happier if you stop saying you want to move back. Brainstorm with me about how to make more friends, join a team, learn a new skill. I love that you loved Gold Rush Days at school and that you did your report about the Santa Inez Mission. You know about stuff I don't.

Dear Spencer-

Thanks for skyping us today. And for hanging out with family in Utah. And for changing Uncle Dave's facebook status. That made us laugh. Let's get that Russian Visa stuff done tomorrow! And I'm sorry I'm not putting chocolate chip cookies in the package tomorrow. I was going to, but we are out of chocolate chips.

Dear Brett-

Thanks for not being disappointed in me even though I didn't take notes during General Conference like you did. I don't have to take notes. I just remember it all. I'm sorry I made those sticky buns that you couldn't eat just because Misty and Mike were here. I won't do that to you again.

MORE COUSINS

COUSINS!!!!!

My delightful Madison Noelle

Maddie left for Italy this week. I am awful at packing myself for an overnight trip, let alone a daughter going on an international one. Without me. What if it rains? Is her passport holder safe enough? Are her Tom's she insists on wearing going to be comfortable enough? Will she be too cold? Man, I already miss her. Everything is just good when she's around. She keeps Ali happy, she drives for me, she plays with Kate, she has fun friends. She will have so much fun! It was verified that somehow their choir really is singing for the Pope at High Mass and she's making pizzas with Italian teenagers.

My sister Kelly and kids were here this week. She thinks my life is crazy. What??!! No. Not crazy! Just, well, full. Ok This week, it's crazy. It was so fun to have them here. Now she finally has a picture in her head when she thinks of us.

I bought Spencer's suits, belts, slacks, socks and ties with him over the phone this week. Pretty funny. I hope what he picked out all by himself looks good. The conversation went a bit like this: "Ok Mom. I really like this Johnston and Murphy shoe I have on. It's comfortable. I'll get one of these and one of the Ecco." "ok. Sounds good. Next." "Well, my suits are black and a dark grey." "Are you sure you want grey?" "Yeah, I've always wanted a grey suit." "Well, ok then. Next." "You'll like these ties. They're sweet." " You sure?" "Yeah." " Ok. Sounds good." Weird!! I am learning how to let go a bit out of necessity. It actually feels kind of good.

We had our R.S. Birthday party this week. I love the day after a big dinner or activity like that. I feel a weightlessness. I used to feel this feeling after pack meeting when I was in cubs or New Beginnings when I was in Young Women. Same feeling. SOOOO I got to hang out with Heidi and Tara Bingham today! It was just what I needed. It's always good when Heidi's in town.

Even better news. I just got to talk to Jane! I'm so happy for you Jane. You will have such a great senior year. You will make things so fun there at BHS.

Misty is coming tomorrow! They are sleeping over for just one night on their way to a cruise for Spring Break. But that one night will be great! We're going to have a pajama party. I don't know why, but I just have to have one and we have to be in our pj pants. (Any excuse for me to be in my pj pants..)

Brett is almost done with his pilot work out program he's been doing. Man. When he is determined to do something, he is so on target. So unlike me! I'm really proud of him. He looks really great.

Spring Break. ahhh. 90 degrees today. What??!! We're going to be swimming in the pool finally. I'm a tad nostalgic? Is that the word? Whatever the word, it's the feeling that teeters a bit on sadness when I talk to people from home like I have today. So I'm going to sign off and make myself happy by either eating chocolate or enjoying the weather. bye for now e