Riots-Disturbances & Hostage Situations

Will I post about New Year's resolutions? Not one bit, however I do have really great intentions and today I began a quest of organization. Mom and Dad handed down a groovy little filing cabinet and I decided to discontinue our habit of placing all of the bills and important stuff in a cute little aluminum bucket with star cut-outs that my good friend Jeni gave us eons ago at Christmastime. It should really hold cookies, plants, or muffins, but never the DMV registration or dental bills. Not to sell it short, Henry and I have treasured it and will always, respectfully refer to it as, "The Bucket."

Along with the file cabinet, Mom passed down some nifty little hanging folders with the accompanying little plastic label do-dads. Turns out I have the 3rd generation version. Mom said I could just remove the little label cards and flip them over to write my own stuff. It also turns out that it's difficult to fold over other peoples' stuff and write your stuff over the backs. Difficult, but meaningful.

Most of the files were labeled by my mother, and a few by my dear Grandpa Wright. Ernie Wright was the head of Corrections for the state of Utah during the Matheson era. His file names tell me that he had a little more on his plate than just keeping Oreos stocked in the jar for my visits. His files read:

"Sentencing Guidelines"

"Annual Report Bear River Mutual" (he was president)

"Riots-Disturbances & Hostage Situations" - oh my!

Mom's represent her business side as well. Some of them read:

"Mouldings and Crowns"

"Lighting"

"Window Treatments" This file is still full, and it's all great stuff!

"Kitchens"

"Floors, Rugs, Wood, Tile"

"Looks"

"Bookcases and Built-ins"

"Upholstery Details"

"Fireplaces"

Not to leave out:

"Teaching"

"LDS"

"Family Relations"

What a lovely little time capsule for me to unfold and contemplate. I will try my best to keep and create order in the way that my mother and her father so beautifully demonstrated. Thanks for sharing, Mom.

It's Christmastime, how can I resist?

My babies lose their baby teeth while they're still babies. By now you've heard me carry on about how my babies are growing up too quickly. Factor in that the tooth fairy actually pays the child for such a crime against babyhood and you have yourself some serious irony.

This is little henry about three weeks ago. He "losed" his tooth while sprinting mach-7 on the treadmill. He very well may have experienced his first official "note to self" moment regarding speed to length of legs ratios and what not.

That's five teeth gone by 5. Dang, he's cute!


By 6 o'clock last night, we have the whole top row missing. Grampa Darrell kindly yanked the other to make a lovely pair of gummy sockets. I didn't even know it was that lose!
My only true non-lisper is now a full-on lisper. It's pretty cute and hopefully temporary.

Babies losing their teeth remind me about babies getting their first haircut and not looking like this anymore:
I will post about first haircuts when I am emotionally prepared to do so.

Suffice it to say, that "All he wants for Christmas" costs a lot more than his two front teeth.

beautiful things

Just the other day, an announcement came over the intercom while Hillary was in class. Turns out, we have ourselves quite the little poet at our house. Hillary won in the Literature category in the Reflections contest. Her entry will move on to the "council" level of judging. I was teaching in my classroom when I heard the good news. Let's just say that I was completely bursting with joy, pride, and happiness. What a fun moment!This is the poem that she wrote... all by herself. It is a beauty.
So proud of you, Hillary! Keep writing.

well deserved, boys

Big Henry went to bed last night with visions of sugar plums dancing in his head.

Well, you know what I mean. It was like Christmas morning for him when this happened...

Very happy boys


Lead in to the dog-pile on Robbie.

magnificent mid-fielder, sorta cute, too.

clutch.

double-clutch.

no pads, no helmets, right?

hot, but humbled.

Nick Rimando is a hero.
He was David against Goliath last night.

Our whole family had a blast last night watching the game at my folk's house. It was more fun than we ever would have had seeing it live, in Seattle. I'm so glad we stayed put.

Henry took Maddi (who is a true fan) and Bud Bud to the airport today.

Maddi got her jersey signed by Andy Williams again, and Little Henry picked up on all of the RSL chants. We are planning to venture out the the parade tomorrow.
Let's hope for another great season!

As far as home improvement projects go, I bet I'm the tortoise, not the hare.

Before...

Much later...

Bought this tile very early in 2009. I cannot resist a good deal. Even if the time is not right. I'm just funny that way.

After.

We bought this vanity in 2007. It was one of those, "Henry, I have to have this, even if you're not on board. We must buy it! And yes of course, shuggie, I know that we haven't even started the bathroom." He indulged my whim for the millionth time.

Ah, the dreaded hidden cost of the shower door. Thank you, girls for patiently waiting for us to pony up the dough to pay for it.

I know, it's a toilet, but it hasn't been peed on yet by certain males in the household. We've had it since 2004. Talk about your delayed gratification.



Oh, and then there's this. Not at all related to the new bathroom, but the tubbie concept is in line with the theme. And well, he's just so dang cute. Note: bubbles spilling over the edge.

Credits:

My dear, dear, brother-in-law Richard.
He has bent over backwards to help us out with many of our basement projects. Thanks to you and your trusty soldering iron. We love you very much!

My talented mother / in-house interior designer.
Thank you for your design help, tile shopping, and color-scheming. You are a life saver!
We love you too!

and...
Our dear friend, John.

He kindly installed the crown moulding for us. Rats! I didn't get it in the photos. It is lovely and really makes the room oh-so special. Thank you friend.

My little bucket-filler

Usually, it's the little comments from the 3 little people in my life that make it all worthwhile."Mommy, you make the best brownies in the world."

-Little Henry

Jonny be Good

A conversation just after school on Thursday:

Hen: "Mom, will you rake the leaves into a big jumping pile?"

Me: "Ah bud, not today. Mommy doesn't feel so well."

Hen: "Oh, sorry."

Me: "Let's ask Daddy to do it when he gets home."

I soon forgot about this conversation.

Fast forward 24 hours.

After lying in bed all afternoon with a case of who-knows-what, I schlep into the kitchen to take my dose of meds that aren't really working. I see this through my kitchen window:

secretly taken through the glass.

my heart leaps.


fun to watch without being discovered.


ok, you got me.


Apparently, Henry asked is older buddy Jonny, to help him
rake a "jumping pile" of leaves.

Jonny obliged. He is a good soul.

Little boys will do anything that their older friends can do.

Jonny told Henry that he scored "10 points" on that slide.

They raked them back up and Jonny scores a 10 on his slide.

How I love you Fall.

Thank you Jonny for making Henry's day.

How lucky for me to see your sweet face five days a week!

say cheesy

A tribute.

Bell Photography, you are no Annie Leibovitz, nor Busath, but I hold you dear in the sentimental corner of my memory. Mr. Bell, it was you that placed me back row, center for every grade school class photo that was ever taken in my life, except for third grade, when by some miracle, you seated me front row middle and let me hold the sign with our class nameplate. Even now, as a faculty member, my domain of top row center is held for me. Surely by now, I am a familiar face to you, Mr. Bell. One year, in second grade, you captured a great shot and you double-exposed me. It was ever so lovely; one of me forward, and another of me, gazing off to the side at who-knows-what. Cherishable.

Even today, you snap the pictures of my own children. Historically, they have been dreadful. Your young, untrained photographers do not have a mother's eye. They do not care about hairdos, crumbs about the face, or fake smiles. They are paid, I'm certain based on sheer volume. And your backdrops? The rustic barn, the floral canopy, I can't even go there.

But this year. I took a risk on you, old Mr. Bell. And guess what? You did ok! I even sorta teared up a little as I pulled the glossy paper from its sleeve. I'm thinking, this'll do as fair trade for my thirty dollar payment. The fact that both children are listing to the right is no biggie at all.

a kindergarten baby

fifth grade and fabulous, dawling!

Faith restored, Bell Photography! Keep clicking away. Just keep my girls off the top row. One can be neither cute, nor demure on the top row, center. Take it from an expert.

I have this friend...

...who takes amazing photographs. I have known this for years, so I asked her if she would photograph my girls, and she graciously accepted.

these are my angels

uh...this is my 13 year old, I think




she captured every ounce of innocence on this one

I love the balance of this one

simply precious

Jeni does a million other things just as beautifully as she takes pictures. Thank you for sharing your gift with us. I can't wait to get framing!

weirdisms

I get a secret pleasure out of discovering the random word that is generated by those security device-thingies on the Internet. You know, these:
I try pronouncing each one, just for fun. I even thought of collecting them in a journal and then assigning each one a new definition, sort of like a Sniglet. (see: blivett, backspackle and grantnap)
Today I got "tationce"
Clearly, my name is just a letter or two away from complete randomness.

*and to Maddi: Even though you will complain that it's not, this lame post does indeed count as "adding a new post, thank you very much."

Summer in review (part 3)

Every August, my extra cool sister-in-law, Connie invites us all to her family's cabin. We have more fun and laughs than anyone should be allowed to have. Just look how happy my punks look. They don't even argue with each other whilst in the wilderness. It is a beautiful experience.

My big brother Tony at 3 hours into the cabin. "Fun" is different for everybody.

Henry nearly slept on the 4-wheeler. He ate lunch in that helmet, so as not to miss the next ride. His eager little helmet-head slays me.

My turn to take little forest out for a ride.

Gramps teaches all of the kiddos to safely shoot the bb gun.

Meet our cruise director. Right above Hillary is Aunt Connie. This year she brought it with tie-dye and a menagerie of paintable ceramic ponies, puppies, and kittens. In this photo, she is teaching the girls how to cover journals with all sorts of girlie embellishments. Connie is the best!

Look how groovy!

"Oh what fun it is to ride..."

Big Henry was 4 weeks overdue for a haircut. Sorry about that, babe.

The boyz gettin a little crazy.

Cousins quadruple the fun.

Waiting for your turn is part of the excitement at the cabin.

"Ready when you are!"

Goodbye summer. Thanks for the fun!