We Can Never Catch the Little Guys!

They are so darn sneaky! We've tried for years, but they always just slip out of our traps. This year was probably the closest we've come to catching a leprechaun. We actually got a shoe. He's probably missing it about now. Sydney always seems to get candy out of the deal even though the leprechaun knows she's just trying to catch him.

Here is the trap Sydney came up with this year. The board is laced with vaseline so that when he grabs the money, he'll slide in the trap. The cup has a string attached to a cup in her room so she'll hear when the trap snaps in her sleep. Well, she woke up this morning (at 6a.m.) hearing the trap slam shut. She was afraid to get out of her bed, but luckily, we were up already and heard her screaming our names in whisper tones. Well, the jar was totally spilled out, but he didn't get any money, and left no candy. Hm..... I told her that I bet he was interrupted by dad coming home from an early morning walk with Rudy and that he was probably still in the house somewhere since no doors were open. So, she is hoping that when she comes home in an hour, he will have tried again.

I came home from the store about an hour ago, and you'll never believe what I found. That's right. HE CAME BACK. This time, Syd got candy in her boot she put out...and we got his little green shoe. There were footprints in the vaseline and money spilled all the way out. He even lifted the window open and we found some money dropped out of the front tree.

NEXT YEAR!

You Did WHA????

I have a son. A really great 17 year-old son. I can't express how much I love this kid. He's funny, always brightens the room. He's happy pretty much all of the time. He always hugs me when he comes home, good hugs, not obligatory ones and calls me mama which makes me get all happy. He has a really obedient nature, which has been a great comfort to me and he tells me stuff that most boys probably leave out in conversations with their moms. He has picked really good friends, which I know is so huge at this stage in his life. I love every one of his friends.

So, for the last 6 months or so, he has been warning me that one of these days, he is going to dye his hair black. He is quite fair like his dad, and I have tried to point this out to him, telling him it will look gothic or rebellious or any other thing I could think of to talk him out of it. Then he would tell me that he just wants to do it once, that he's good and not doing other things I should be WAY more worried about, etc. etc. and that he is telling me in advance out of respect to me, so it won't be an act of rebellion. In essence, "mom just RELAX!"

So it happened last Friday. His friends all came to the house after school, even though Spence wasn't here. That doesn't happen ALL of the time, but a lot, so I didn't think anything of it. I just enjoyed them and fed them. Well, they knew that at that EXACT MOMENT, my son was dripping the blackest, jet black die into his light brown hair. No one told me. They just were waiting for him to call or come home.

When I finally saw it, I have to admit it made me sad. He didn't look like little Spencer, but more like a very pale older teen with stark black hair. However, it didn't look quite as bad as I had feared either. Not great, but not too bad. I have "highly encouraged" him to wear lots of light clothes and smile a lot so it won't look too glum.

Seriously, having a teenage boy, first child, is a great and worrisome thing. I feel like I'm always trying to save him from any possible thing that might harm him in life. I'm worried about his future and has he learned to work hard enough, I'm worried about how he treats others and if he is kind at school, I worry about the language all around him and beg him not only not to swear, but not to speak crudely. Be more creative and find a better way to express yourself. I worry about his spiritual growth and is he developing his own testimony strong enough to weather trials. I guess I'm glad he isn't dating anyone, because that would be a whole new realm of worries. He of course, tells me to relax, that it's ok. He's in high school and can do some crazy things and it will be ok, like dye his hair, or wear flourescent short shorts picked up at the DI to all of his priest basketball games, because they're "lucky". Up to this point in his life, he has given me nothing but good and obedience and laughter. I love the boy. Except the dang black hair.....

I'm Feeling Mellow Tonight

I have two states of mind. I'm either really happy and want to be around people and the world is good and I am laughing and my cheeks are all glowy and I can stay up all night talking or laughing. OR... I like being by myself and thinking and having quiet time with my hot chocolate and my blanket and either some music or a movie and I don't want to share that time with anyone and I can even get to feeling a bit melancholy. Excuse all of those ands.

I usually need both of those states of mind in any given day. I am never melancholy for days at a time, just perhaps a few hours. I'm never full of energy for long periods of time either. I loved watching Ali dance last night and tonight. I love dance and watching the beauty of the human body moving in beautiful ways mixed with....ah.......music. I'm so glad she loves it. She is beautiful.

The Year Was 1980

I was in the 5th grade. My best friends were Alisa Smith, Jennifer Fotheringham, Moe Holmes and Debbie Griffiths. We had knickers and leg warmers, homemade ribbon barrettes and rainbow shirts. Feathered hair and painter pants. ELO was one of my favorite bands. Solid Gold was a favorite show. Olivia Newton John was hot due to her role in Grease. We went to the roller skating rink every Saturday hoping to find love during the Snowball.

Xanadu arrived in theatres. How could a young girl resist all of these aforementioned things put together in one movie? We went to it with sisters, then girlfriends, then went again. We bought the soundtrack and pictured ourselves skating to ELO and saving mortals like Olivia did. (The music playing is from that classic B movie)

Fast forward to Mar. 2009. My mom, sisters and I get to go to Chicago. Kelly's awesome husband, Zach, got 2 tickets to Oprah and gave them to Kelly. She gave the other one to me, because I'm sometimes, well all of the time, really vocal about things I want to do. I have a big checklist of experiences I want to do and have before I die, and seeing Oprah in person was one of them. Kelly and Zach knew the ticket would not be wasted on Miss Erin.

The day FINALLY came! We were going! Mom and Misty came too hoping for some standby chance of seeing the icon as well and they were not disappointed. We all got to go. Kelly and I went to a Dr. Oz show on "extreme life extension" and Misty and mom went to a live Friday taping and got free Snuggie blankets with arms. They also saw Oprah's new puppy.

Oprah, Oprah. In real life, she looks like she does on TV. She was going barefoot, because high heels are painful for her to wear. She liked all of the bright colors we audience members were wearing. She especially likes orange on TV. She has a really cool set. Dr. Oz says we will be able to regenerate body parts very soon. If you lose an ear in an accident, you will be able to use your own cells to grow another one. He says if you restrict your calories, you will live longer and be healthier. Hmm, interesting idea. Oprah, thank you. May you stay a billionaire and have fun with your girlfriend Gayle forever and ever. May you lose all the weight you want to and keep enjoying the cashmere sweaters I know you love. May all of your dreams come true.

We ate, shopped and talked lots.



(at Ghirardelli's Chocolate Store)

The other highlight of the trip ties in the beginning of this post. We saw XANADU!!! Wohoo!!! The Broadway touring musical was in Chicago. It was the BEST. She was wearing ribbon barrettes, skating throughout, and spoke with an over-the-top Australian accent just like Olivia. Ok, way more obnoxious than Olivia. A stage crew member even held a fan on stage so she could stand by it and her dress be all windblown. It was so funny. Every song beckoned me back to 1980. The only way it could have been better was if my friend Melinda Welch could also have been in the audience so I could hear her belly laugh throughout. She would have LOVED it.

Thank you Zach for helping me check off one of my bucket list items! Next...going under the bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy at sunset while the clock is chiming and kissing Brett so our love will last forever. I'm pretty sure I have to do this, as local legend has it, if I want it to last forever, otherwise we'll probably have no guarantee. Italy is beckoning me. I also want to have a bucket list recital where I can play the Rachmaninoff duet my grandma wanted to play with me before she died, but couldn't and then invite all of my other extremely talented friends to share something too. Be watching for it. I also want to have a tail-end baby who I can just love to death. Maybe a little girl to keep me company as I age (good thing I'm not aging at all yet) and who will snuggle with me when I'm sad about my missionary son being gone in a short year and a half. A little girl named Kate. OH WAIT--this one is happening! I'm so excited to meet and love this little girl.

So This Is How It Went Down

Yesterday, I opened my fridge door. This is what I found.


A bloody knife on the almost empty choc milk container. You can imagine my fear. Someone was definitely sending a message. I was shaking in my boots. A bloody knife is pretty serious. Almost supernaturally brave, I picked up the container and found this on the other side.

Well, now I knew who the warning was from. There was the added skull and crossbones. It was from Sydney. Now I at least knew it wasn't from men infiltrating my semi-safe home. I think her message will be taken very seriously by her 17 year-old brother, for one. He won't dare drink the rest of it.Don't mess with her warnings.

One of my favorite poets

DAYS

Each one is a gift, no doubt,

mysteriously placed in your waking hand

or set upon your forehead

moments before you open your eyes.

Today begins cold and bright,

the ground heavy with snow

and the thick masonry of ice,

the sun glinting off the turrets of clouds.

Through the calm eye of the window

everything is in its place

but so precariously

this day might be resting somehow

on the one before it,

all the days of the past stacked high

like the impossible tower of dishes

entertainers used to build on stage.

No wonder you find yourself

perched on the top of a tall ladder

hoping to add one more.

Just another Wednesday

you whisper,

then holding your breath,

place this cup on yesterday's saucer

without the slightest clink.

• Billy Collins

What's up with San Diego?

It was sooo nice. Every time I visit San Diego, I have the same thought. Why don't I live here? Why doesn't every American move here? I'm jealous of the older couples walking hand in hand alongside me down the marina, knowing they probably do this every weekend if not every morning before work. This yacht outside my hotel window is probably theirs. They can just hop on it and go boating whenever they want.

Outside the hotel window

The young moms walking on Coronado beach by me, probably just dropped by with their young one just before nap time to tucker him out. No big deal-let's pop by the beach for a little walk before snuggle time in our place with no AC and all the windows open. Dad will probably be home shortly after because of his short bike commute.

THE BEACH. I'm not too knowledgeable on energy zones, holistic stuff, but there has to be something about being next to the water, the waves coming in and out, walking barefoot on sand that HAS to be very beneficial to your health. There HAS to be something good, despite skin cancer warnings, about letting the sun touch and warm your skin. I so crave it. I rented a car our last day there while Brett was in meetings and drove myself to Coronado just to hear the water and touch the sand and feel the sun.

Gotta protect the faceThe baby needed some sun. She was kicking to tell me thank you.

The rest of the trip is illustrated in the next two photos. Brett worked and had a very productive trip. It was fun to watch him do his thing, talk to the docs and connect with people. His presentation was so good. I slept, um let's see..slept and then just took a little nap. I watched a movie in bed, took many a walk along the yacht-filled marina and then pretty much ate, after which I slept. The things I have to do for this little growing baby! Whatever I have to do, I'll do.

Why don't we all live here? (cost of living, yeah,yeah...)

Little Italy. Had some rockin lasagne and pastries.