[Untitled] : 4 Hagey's in search of an author

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2012-01-27T10:16:00.001-07:00

An update from Lillian (on being sick, turning 8, glowing, and training to become a Pokemon master):

When you’re sick, it feels bad. Because you have a pain somewhere in your body and it hurts. You can only talk naps and just be calm (and take medicines as well). Sometimes people smell funny when they are sick. It’s disgusting. When I’m sick I rest. I stay home and sometimes I can play (sometimes). Like play on computers and watch t.v. (not at the park).

~ ~

It’s really really really fun, turning 8. It’s your birthday and you get baptized and it’s really exciting. And sometimes it’s just nervous, when you’re going to get baptized. Because it’s your first time, it’s really hard to always know what to do. I feel older being 8 years old. I can use knives now (like a ninja). My mom says, “I’m not allowed to throw knives around my sister” [and her mom says here - she isn’t allowed to throw knives at all – just learn knife skills]. I like my friends at my party. It was really really really fun. We had a glow in the dark party and we had 18 kids. It was really cool and I liked it a lot. The house was dark and everything glowed. We took glow sticks and we took black lights and decorated the house with them. We used streamers and balloons to make it cool and reflect. We took a glow in the dark spray to spray the balloons and they glowed misty. It was creepy. But cool. All my friends had fun. The party was so loud. I’m not the one who was screaming, just so you know.

~ ~

I want to be a restaurant owner and have Flyers Inventions where we make robots. The name of my restaurant will be, The Horsey Componton. Inside will be tons of things with horses inside of it. And the walls and the floors will be colored blue and green so it’s like the sky and the grass. We will serve food like Zuppa Toscana and meatballs with smashed potatoes and steamed vegetables, rice dishes, Thai food, and that’s it. I think they’ll like my cuisine. For my inventing company I’m going to be making a dragon and also I’m going to be making a glider, like Nausicaa. I’m going to make Pokemon robots because I like Pokemon a lot. Pokemon can help clean the planet, like clean up clutter and trash that people have thrown and clean it all up. The world would be much healthier.

~ ~

I want to become a Pokemon trainer. I would train all the Pokemon in the world (and all the Pokemon in the show of course). I think having fun friends come over that I can play with is really fun. The Pokemon will be my friends and we will help save the planet.

When Kids Learn To Read

2012-01-05T20:39:00.002-07:00

There is something brilliantly simple, amazingly moving, drastically life altering, when literacy enters the home. Tonight my youngest child made the leap from sounds and letter recognition to patterns and ‘putting it all together’. How special to watch my girl develop into a giggling (silly) ‘reading monster’ – as she calls it. How fortunate I am to be a part of a tenuous cycle of development.

And yet, at the same time, there is something almost melancholy in this process too. My baby, my small child who was once no bigger than a peanut, has blossomed. There is some path, some line she has crossed that says she is no longer holding on to anything young, anything toddler (even saving her continual relationship with Dora – it seems that is a lasting love).

I will miss my little girl but I relish in the growth of this new person who has found the illuminating and life altering world of literacy and language. May she forever treasure this gift.

Our Christmas Love

2011-12-29T23:03:00.005-07:00

Well - here is a correction to the video embedded below - I forgot that I made this a 'private' upload. So if you'd like to see it, now you can, but by clicking on this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6SK77IVlyk

This will take you to the video and give me public privacy all at the same time :)

Piano Recital

2011-12-29T16:56:00.000-07:00

Is my girl really old enough to have piano recitals? I didn't even know she could. I love this girl. She is my darling wonderful ray of sunshine.

Holiday’s with the Hagey’s

2011-12-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

I will try to be brief since it is the holidays. Like usually I will include a copious amount of images (but can you blame me with kids as cute as mine)?!

Well, we have been busy (and still are). Class parties, field trips, friends, family activities and such. But the highlights version includes a season of crafts and giggles of excitement. One night we went to go see reindeer, have hot chocolate and take pictures with Santa (um, well, Daddy in a Santa suit). It was freezing but that didn’t stop us from loving the ice sculptures and Jason ordering a hot chocolate float (yup, we are talking about hot chocolate and ice cream topped with whipped cream).

Skipping past school and such (I will say that Coralie was so thrilled to sing, “I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas” at school. She belted it out with all the rest of her classmates with great vigor) we were blessed with a visit from my family. Of course this meant my kids turned into show offs (Lillian playing the piano and Coralie standing on her head whenever she possibly could). But the biggest hit came from their Papa. He brought them baseball gloves. Since then Lillian is virtually inseparable. She puts it near her at bedtime, has it next to her during the day. We keep playing catch (indoors and out – despite the cold and mud). Never get in the way of a girl and her new found love of sports.

While my family was here (putting up with our chaos) we ended up having a few projects in mind.

W We made our annual Christmas trains

All things like this are better with wonderful family by your side.

Then we had the fun of making a ‘gingerbread’ house. So in our residence this became a rice crispy house (which sort of worked and sort of didn’t) but was still so much fun. Granted, Coralie would say that anything that included her Omy and candy is successful and wonderful.

We then had a surprise. Omy and Papa brought candy that I hadn’t seen since I was a young child. Candy that made Coralie and Lillian squeal with delight. Candy that they are still talking about. Ribbon Candy!

To top off all this fun, their Aunt Joy gave them this cool present (which they were allowed to open early). Essentially, part of it was that the kids could make their own bouncy balls (so awesome). We have now done that and had a major good time in the playing of it and in fact my kids want to do it again – hurray!.

So that is it for now. There is more going on and more to come but I don’t need to inflict it on you just yet.

Now if we could just have some fun snow to play in ...

Grandpa’s are cool

2011-12-14T08:52:00.005-07:00

Grandpa’s are cool. I know we can all agree to that one. But seriously, Grandpa’s are just awesome (this may seem redundant but I promise you that with more repetition comes greater clarity into this idea). Repeat after me: “Grandpa’s are the best.” Thank you.

Now let me show you why –

Evidence sample #1:

Grandpa gifts (especially surprise ones) bring great joy – particularly when they come in the form of Legos – which my children have a strong affinity towards in the first place (see, Grandpa’s are omniscient that way too).

Evidence sample #2:

Grandpa gifts (especially ones that can be played with for hours) bring great joy which in turn brings their parents great joy when children are occupied and ‘nice’ to one another. No fighting, just pure enthusiasm.

Evidence sample #3:

Grandpa gifts (especially those that encourage the use of imagination) are beyond belief educational (and super cool). Can we doubt that using the brain and having a blast are not contractions (not mutually exclusive) but rather charming little experiences to heighten the sense? I think we can.

Evidence sample #4:

Grandpa gifts (especially those with a surprise twist at the end) make for the coolest, most exciting, most delicious, delectable and delightful evenings ever; specifically when the object in question is edible. Candy Legos – the ultimate in cool.

Thank you Grandpa.

In which my children channel their inner Errol Flynn

2011-12-12T12:42:00.002-07:00

Jason and I feel this incessant need to give our kids a wide variety of experience in life (you remember being a child and saying, “I wish I could do that” and never having tried it). Well, a little while ago we fulfilled one of those items on Lillian’s bucket list (okay, her proverbial bucket list that is). We went shooting – arrows that is.

There is this great place about 25 minutes from us that has an indoor archery range. A lady Jason works told him about how it is a kid friendly place (wonderful revelation). So as a surprise we popped on over.

The girls canted, they casted, they pulled their dacron stings, they would place their bow and arrows into the ground quiver, they would nock the arrows on the string and then they’d release. It was so much fun watching them get really into it.

Coralie would get so excited that she would constantly jump up and down and take off all her wrist and arm guards (bracers) and giggle. Then when she’d concentrate she would focus so intently, stick her tongue out on the side of her mouth and slightly cross her eyes.

Lillian took everything seriously. It was all about focus and intensity. Her goal was to get a bull’s eye (which she never did but her sister did twice). Yet she, in the 90 minutes we stayed, improved form and became rather good at the basics. Now Lillian has sworn she is going to become an archer and is waiting for the community class that opens in the spring. She has even made a ‘count down’ calendar of sorts.

Over-all none of us will be experts or even working towards the 2020 Olympic archery team – but it is still a fun fantasy.

Our visit to Santa

2011-12-05T12:10:00.001-07:00

This past Saturday found us outside (in the cold) waiting to see the Jolly Ole man in red himself. My kids were over-awed (they always are). Even though Lillian knows the truth there is something she really loves about talking with Santa Claus.

Don't you love the lighting! The girls were standing in front of a warming fire outside.

Holiday Cheer (and books)!

2011-11-30T09:11:00.003-07:00

So a dear friend of mine posted this amazing idea about how to do a Christmas Countdown. Ditch the chocolate advent calendars and move on to this idea (unless of course the advent calendar is for you and you need it as your sanity point after a long hard day. Then by all means do both).

Use picturebooks! Ta da. And yes I did not separate the words 'picture' from 'book'. There is a whole academic discussion about the compound nature of this term and what it means to have them joined or separated. I'll spare you but say that I am a joiner.

So the basic idea is that you wrap (or not) the books and each night your child gets to open one and you get some great reading time with your kid. Time with your children - CHECK. Literacy - CHECK. Increased social awareness of other cultures and ideas - CHECK. I'm really waiting to see the bad here. And there isn't any. So we will move right along.

Last night (much to my husbands dismay) I started rummaging around our books thinking, "oh no. What if we don't have 25!" You see, I hate stores at Holiday time. It is why I am done with Christmas months in advance. That is where my sanity comes in to play. If I want to be a nice and loving mother without road rage, then I avoid all stores from the latter part of November on through January 5th (returns for all unwanted gifts are typically over by this point). That was a tangent. Sorry. I digress. Okay, so I was worried I didn't have enough (looks sheepishly at the floor while shuffling my feet to hide my embarrassment). Boy was I wrong.

Here is a list (and its not complete - I can't find my Kwanza books) of holiday stories I found last night around my house. It isn't complete and they all aren't high quality literature. But nevertheless, it is a beginning. Crazy enough we didn't even get into novels or short chapter books about the subject. I shudder to think what would happen if I did a real inventory.

1. THE MITTEN by Jan Brett

2. THE WILD CHRISTMAS REINDEER by Jan Brett

3. TROUBLE WITH TROLLS by Jan Brett

4. THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS by Jan Brett

5. THE HAT by Jan Brett

6. CHRISTMAS TROLLS by Jan Brett

7. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Jan Brett

8. Antonella and Her Santa Claus by Barbara Augustin

9. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

10. The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats

11. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

12. Drummer Boy by Loren Long

13. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss

14. Runaway Dreidel! by Leslea Newman

15. How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky

16. A Pussycat's Christmas by Margaret Wise Brown

17. The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson

18. The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden

19. Olive, the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh

20. The Runaway Latkes by Leslie Kimmelman

21. The Magic Dreidels: A Hanukkah Story by Eric A. Kimmel

22. Where Shabbat Lives by Jan Goldin Fabiyi

23. Yoon and the Christmas Mitten by Helen Recorvits

24. Tree of Cranes by Allen Say

25. Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto

26. The Harlem Nutcracker: Picture Book by Susan Kuklin

27. Santa mouse by Michael Brown

28. Merry Christmas, Curious George by Mary O'Keefe Young

29. The Elf on the Shelf by Carol V. Aebersold

30. The Red Book by Barbara Lehman

31. Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas by Jane O’Connor

32. The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket

33. Olivia helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer

34. A Christmas Carol (by Charles Dickens) illustrated by Brett Helquist

35. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

36. Snow by Uri Shulevitz

37. The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

you have to read this book (and its predecessor). Delightful

38. Can you see what I see? The Night Before Christmas by Walter Wick

39. Eight Wild Nights A family Hanukkah Tale by Brian P. Cleary

40. Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini

41. Counting Christmas by Karen Katz

42. The Penguin who wanted to be Different by Maria O’Neill

43. Little Porcupine’s Christmas by Joseph Slate

44. Night Before the Night Before Christmas by Natasha Wing

45. A very special snowflake by Don Hoffman

46. The Biggest Christmas Tree Ever by Steven Kroll

47. That’s Good That’s Bad! On Santa’s Journey by Margery Cuyler

48. A Silly Snowy Day by Michael Coleman

49. Christmas Cats by Jean Marzollo

50. Santa Bear’s First Christmas by Maggie Kneen

51. Penguins, Penguins, Everywhere! By Bob Barner

52. The Twelve Days of Christmas Cats by Don Daily

Well, this is what I could find last night and I find myself slightly embarrassed at my obsession with children't literature At least I feel validated in my master's study.

But I am not too embarrassed to say, if you have any great holiday books that you love in your house - let me know. I'm always looking to add to my collection. When does 'collection' veer into 'unhealthy obsession'?

Ah, who cares. HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

THERE IS NO CURE

2011-11-29T08:42:00.002-07:00

When you read a title like, "There is no cure" (even if it comes from a Wikipedia source), doesn't it infuse you with the desire to go curl up at the foot of your bed, quivering with, I don't know, but quivering with something? Perhaps not. But, that is only because you haven't heard what comes next.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE, influenza, UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS, conjunctivitis, muscle aches, FATIGUE, HEADACHES, Shivering, LOSS OF APPETITE, fever, ... and it's USUALLY MORE SEVERE!!!

No, I'm not selling anything. I was just having fun with font size. Try it now and you might have to buy a life supply of Kleenex and NyQuil! Hurry while supplies last. You will keep the coughdrop company in business with your sales alone. Do you like echniacea? Doesn't matter. You will (gratefully I do). Do you like sticking your head under a towel over a boiling pot of water inflused with peppermint oil? I promise you'll try it. Have you gargled with lemon juice lately?

Hey, nothing is beyond you when you are in the throws, when you are suffering from it. And by it I mean the dreaded (wait for it) (are you still waiting) (see, I was just checking up to make sure you were still waiting for it)

(DRAMATIC PAUSE) HEAD COLD!

Yes ladies and gentleman, it is that foul predator of happiness that I speak of today. Folks, hide your kids, lock up your valuables, and buy stock in antibacterial wipes and sprays (a Johnson & Johnson company).

Alright, my humor isn't there and my timing is off. But I blame it on this cold that has me flat on my back. Seriously I am whipped. My throat is killing me, my head is constantly pounding, I'm hot and I'm cold (without the cool Katy Perry song on), my body aches, my nose vaguely (and in many respects) reflects that of a leaky faucet, I keep coughing up mucus (nasty), my lips are chapped, my ears are ringing, and oh, let's not forget the on again off again fever. Stupid cold. You are interfering with my life.

The End.

Post Script - there really is no cure despite all the crazy things we try. Sad sad commentary.

This is an accurate sketch of me today

This is an accurate sketch of me yesterday - oh so lifelike. Really its uncanny how they did that

This is an accurate depiction of what is going on inside by nose right at this very moment

Turkey, ham, and food oh my!

2011-11-27T22:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I reflect that Jason and I just do things big. It is that whole, “go big or go home” mentality that years in theatre instilled in us. So this past Thanksgiving holiday found itself to fall under the same pattern of madness.

We served 4 courses. 4 courses which consisted of 2 dishes to open, 3 dishes in the second course, 5 in the third, and 5 dessert options. Um, a bit much? Perhaps. Amusingly we cut things out last minute because we didn't have enough serving dishes (true story).

Okay, regardless of the ‘production value’, regardless of taste (and I always seriously question that one), it ended up being a success. If by success you mean that some of our friends had to role themselves away from the table, then yes, it was a triumph. If by success you mean the dishes took 3 hours to clean and over 7 loads in the dishwasher, then again, we hit the mark.

The real success was being surrounded by family and friends. I am ever so grateful for the most amazing people in my life.

Thank you a million times over.

Oh, and if you ever want an INCREDIBLE Cream of Walnut Soup recipe, I’ve got it. And let me tell you, it is fantastic. Yum!

The Lord’s Will

2011-11-22T19:57:00.003-07:00

Today I received a devastating message about a dear friend. She became sick without warning and is likely going to die. No one knows what is wrong; just that her body is shutting down at random intervals. It feels almost like an episode of television drama but without the flourish and flare of a full recovery at its end.

At this time of year where we focus on what we are grateful for, what we have, how important our families are to us – how vital to our existence really, I compare that to the ad campaigns and the titular importance of black Friday or of the perfect meal and immaculately presented Christmas tree. How singularly imperative are the simple and small pleasures. How lack-luster and trite are the presents and gilded effigies to a financial pledge of love.

I listen to my daughter practice piano. I hear the chatter of Coralie coloring hearts and talking about making circles and shapes at school with her father. I see my incredible husband engaged in such mundane activities with our girls and I am brought to tears. It is the small and simple things. Those perfect beings who have ruined my carpet, drawn on my couch, cluttered up my home, taken the worst family pictures ever (in the history of our family pictures) because they had no interest in the activity at hand, and held me close as I bawled like a baby this afternoon. This same friend I mentioned above leaves behind some perfect and precious daughters of her own. She has survived a bad marriage, overcome adversities of divorce, found herself in perseverance and hard work, and given to everyone around her without complaint. She has led a full (and too short) life.

Yet she has left a legacy. She has a standard by which her daughters can reflect on her with pride and love. She is surrounded by one of the most amazing families I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Her daughters will be well cared for. Love will fill their days even if pain overwhelms them now.

It is those same small pieces of mismatched perfection that give the greatest joy. If it is her time to go I will weep for her. But I can look at her life as not a waste. I can look at her as a shinning beacon of strength. I can hold to her message and see it reflected in her family and in her daughters. I am filled with those little instants of joy that help me let go and embrace the reality of love.

Thank you. Thank you everyone for the joy you have given me. Thank you for the smiles and lines of delight (and worry) that crease my face with the signs of a life lived. I don’t want to be polished, to be lifted and tucked. I want to be me (warts and all); especially if that means being touched by those incredible lives around me.

Thanksgiving is a time of happiness and remembrance. I have much to reflect upon. I have much to be thankful for. Here is to living a life well lived and well loved. Bless you all.

The Utah State Fair everyone!

2011-11-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

We had talked about going. Should we (it would be fun but we are so busy). Shouldn’t we (it would be fun but we are so busy). In the end it became a simple choice. Yes, yes we will go. It helps when family is around to encourage you to make the ‘right’ decision.

As mentioned, family was there. It was a ripe ‘ole reunion. Kind of great if you ask me. Lots of kids, lots of loud sounds, carnival food, fun exhibits, rides, and even a seal show. Seriously, a seal show? Coolness.

My kids had a great time. They kept begging to go on fast and faster rides until by the end of the night I did lose it (thank goodness the grass was already dead from being trampled constantly).

So than you to everyone who made it a reality. Thank you to family who pushed us to go. Thank you to kids who were amazingly (all) well behaved. It ended up being a wonderful experience.

Labor Day

2011-11-18T09:53:00.004-07:00

This was a day filled with family (my amazing family to be exact). We headed out to SLC. We hung out (do people still use this word) with my amazing sister (You know what I love about my sister .... Everything)! I don’t remember what we ate (but I’m sure we did). I don’t remember the traffic (but its Utah and there is always ridiculous traffic, so there was some). But I do remember getting to be surrounded with the most amazing people ever.

The girls got to play in the water fountain in SLC (that always cheers them up on warm days). We all took a tour of the conference center in SLC (that is always brilliant).

What I do remember from the day were smiles, tired (but happy) feet, and good times.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

Family

2011-11-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

Hello to those who read this and those who do not. Hello for those who leaves comments (thank you) and those who are just here for the photos (because, let’s face it), I don’t blog often enough to follow me regularly and I usually fill these with pictures of my girls (yes, yes I love them and yes, yes I do keep this up for grandparents who live out of state).

Well this blog post is dedicated to just those kind of people. Thank you to the Crompton’s for making time for us in your crazy trip schedule. My kids are still talking about their incredible Great-Grandparents with love and excitement.

In case you were wondering, I want to look this good when I’m a great grandparent!

I'm the prize winner!

2011-11-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

Yeah yeah, its silly I know, but 9 years ago I was given the most amazing gift in my husband (13 years ago when you consider we were friends for 4 years first).

I am so grateful and so lucky to be with this kind and loving man - he's the greatest. Sorry to every other woman out there but I snagged Jason Hagey (the most respectful, loving, greatest father, greatest best friend there is and ever will be).

India Fest

2011-11-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

So every year the Hari Krishna group near us puts on these really exciting events. This year we finally took our girls to one of them (which will be followed by more since they had such a wonderful time).

They loved learning about the culture and the religion. They loved the music. They really enjoyed all the llamas. They weren’t so sure about the Indian food (which Jason and I adore). But the temple was so beautiful that the girls were enchanted. And the fireworks over the death of Ravana made them almost giddy with excitement.

I love having such great times with the greatest family ever.

Photo by Coralie

Field Trip 1 - Timp Lodge

2011-11-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

Every year the junior high kids put on this carnival for the lower elementary school. There is lunch and games and then something akin to a fun house. This year it was a journey to help these people. We had to travel through space and time – fighting witches, giant spiders, running away from zombies, getting help from fortune tellers, taking a break to engage in some light saber battles and ultimately saving the world! Good times.

Again, I love my girls’ school.

zombie people - ahh!

photo by Coralie

photo by Lillian

It’s finally over

2011-10-02T15:03:00.001-06:00

I know that’s a strange title for a post. But seriously parents, how do you do it? This is our first year to ever do ‘sports’ that aren’t defined as swim-dance-gymnastics. Lillian went into the world of soccer (and loved it). Her team lost most of their games (half the team didn’t want to be there). But the other half tried so hard and gave it their all. It was wonderful to watch them just go and go regardless of weather and how they felt. There was excitement for doing good jobs and frequent kicks would earn cartwheels from members of the team in celebration.

I am sure that we will be doing soccer again but I don’t look forward to the constant confusion I was in (I’m new to the soccer-mom gig) and going from games to practices and finding locations was all an interesting experience. But we got it down by the end of the season and the girls went out by playing their best they had yet. They didn’t win. They tied. But they worked so hard and worked together – which was the real pleasure. They wanted to succeed and wanted everyone else to as well. What a great example.

A budding artist

2011-10-02T14:56:00.001-06:00

Coralie has little by little shown us that she is a photographer. She loves to take pictures and will do it with anything that can snap a shot. She also enjoys editing her own photos. Now, I have not done anything to these pictures. These are what she has taken and she has edited. It’s amazing how they do this younger and younger.

She has such an interesting eye.

More Coralie Birthday

2011-10-02T14:48:00.001-06:00

Sadly, I am still updating everything. The new school year has thrown 'extra' time in disarray. But its all good.

Coralie was able to get some of her presents in the morning before Jason went to work. It was a Lalaloopsy invasion! Well, that and Hello Kitty (which are Coralie’s favorite things in the world). She sleeps with Hello Kitty and talks with her and wishes she had a real kitty that she could name, “Hello”.

In the morning, Coralie’s school hosted a swimming party. So my dear girl got to go play and enjoy swimming (one of her favorite activities) and was able to play with friends. It was this great moment for her. Happiness (and lollipops) abounded on this day.

Afterwards, when Jason came home from work, Coralie opened the rest of her presents and we went out. This is where her birthday became tricky. Coralie had asked months before if she could go to this place called Pirate Island for her birthday and then play miniature golf. Well, it just so happened that Pirate Island had a fire a few days before and so was closed and then it began to rain so no golf. Jason and I last minute came up with other plans. I’m not sure if she had a good evening or a disappointing one.

This balloon was almost the size of Coralie (and it just finally deflated last week)

We had ice cream from Farr’s, went out to dinner, looked around at her favorite stores and smelled beautiful flowers. It was good. Then we came home and played games as a family (and ate a surplus of sugar of course).

I have the greatest kids ever and am especially blessed for my Cora-silly. She brings such great happiness to my life.

Happy 5^th Birthday my Coralie Danzel!

My lovely girls

2011-08-29T10:01:00.004-06:00

My lovely girls

I want the world for you, but much more than that – and I don’t care if it’s a cliché – I want you to be happy. If I had magic powers I’d wish on you the ability to take pleasure in small things – a swim in the sea, a good book read on a rug in a summer garden, a delicious meal shared with friends. What I regret most is that growing up I was so concerned with the future and my place in it that I forgot to luxuriate in being young. So enjoy life as it comes. Take the pleasure with the pain.

You’re 5 and 7 now, and I’d be fooling myself if I imagined the girl that you are now, sometimes soft and loving, at others fierce and scowling, will change so much. And probably I don’t want you to. I see you, tall and graceful, your luscious hair and large eyes, your abundantly long lashes, the satin of your skin – just as you are now but even more so. I’m with you as you look into the mirror and I would do anything to give you the gift of loving yourself as much as I love you. Of seeing your reflection and thinking how lucky you are to be you. I never want you to deprive yourself of food, to twist round and ask whether your bum looks big, to lie awake at night, as every girl I’ve ever met has done, and promise yourself that tomorrow you’ll start that diet.

As well as living in the present, I hope you’ll be courageous, seize opportunities, take risks, travel. I imagine you’ll still be bursting with the same ideas you have now just as I’m steering you up to bed – to draw an Aztec mask, carve a spoon from fire wood, make a pattern for a dress. I can see you, kneeling on the floor of your own room – where will it be? – bringing your creations to life, with no one telling you it would be best to wait until the morning.

I’m not going to let myself think of the dangers waiting. Instead, I imagine you surrounded by adoring friends. You don’t always believe it, but usually others want what’s best for you, they’re not trying to trick you, they’re mostly on your side. At least I hope they will be.

But whatever I want for you, I know you’ll go your own way. It’s traditional for daughters not to listen to their mothers, not till much later, at least. But however independent you become, don’t forget, whenever you need me, I’ll be there. If your heart is broken, or your workload is too heavy, or if you are consumed with worry that Nothing is ever going to Happen in your Life, please come to me and share your burden and I’ll remind you how we hold a bit of everything inside ourselves, weak and strong, and that as a child, although you still often woke in the dead of night and needed to be comforted, at other times you cycled down country lanes, no hands on the handlebars, or ran fearless into an ice-cold sea.

Thoughts stolen and modified based on the brilliant writings of ESTHER FREUD

Coralie on her way to her first day of school

She was so ready to go off on her way

Lillian was just trying to get through another year of mom and her camera

Mom didn't matter when we walked into her classroom to find her best friend waiting!

Party Time

2011-08-28T16:16:00.005-06:00

Coralie’s birthday came in multiple parts. The first part came almost a month before the actually day in discussion. We had a party with her friends early (4 of them were all moving sadly).

Coralie has a bit of an obsession with Lalaloopsy’s. Don’t ask me how I feel about them right now since I look at them at see these dolls to be distressing on every level. Regardless, she LOVES them. So we had a happy Lalaloopsy party with friends.

She had a good time making wings, crowns, and bracelets. Everyone became their own version of a Lalaloopsy. She and her friends danced around with wands surrounded by bubbles. They had cupcakes with little chocolate buttons and mostly just played around with lots of smiles and giggles.

Thank you to all the wonderful friends who have made Coralie’s life brighter and full of great joy.

Coralie made her own decorations

This is how the girls came to enter Lalaloopsy land

Coralie

Sadie

Lillian

Riley (she wasn't thrilled at having her picture taken)

Denna (who was excited for the photo op)

Cera

Samantha

AJ (sadly, I have multiple pictures of this lovely girl but they either didn't turn out or I have her back)

Her new friend Jewel Sparkles (even the name of the doll is something Coralie adores)

CUPCAKES!!!

It was a great day

Way to Go #4

2011-08-28T14:40:00.000-06:00

So Lillian continues soccer as our wonderful #4. This past Tuesday she had a game in which her team lost and the team seemed to lack spirit. But Saturday there was another game. The team came together, Lillian played INCREDIBLE defense (she loves the position of full back) and she kicked trash. It was as if the light went on and her whole team suddenly got it. They won 3 to 2 in a close game with a hard fight on both sides. Bravo to those girls. Even if they hadn’t of won, it was still amazing to watch those kids come alive with excitement.

I’m not a soccer person but I love my girl having a great time. I adore my dearest Lillian going out and giving her best and finding success with effort.

Once she figured out how to kick and recognized she could get that ball to go across half the field with one hard go, suddenly the game turned around.

Bravo to my dearest girl.

There are 2 girls missing when we were taking photos. But these are some great kids

Coach is on the left and assistant coach is on the right

Lillian had just kicked the ball really hard and then she and this other girl collided. She got up with this giant grin and felt so proud :)

Trips with Aunt Joy

2011-08-21T18:49:00.000-06:00

Throughout the summer we had great times with my sister. One day she allowed us to drag her (in the heat and with copious amounts of mosquitoes biting) to the gardens. We walked for as long as anyone could handle it all and ended with a bit of soft serve.

I love days like this. Wish there were more but sadly there goes the summer.

Here’s to next year and I already want it to come back. I love time with my girls even when I don’t give them enough of it.

This photo just happened when I hadn't switched my exposure in the first place.

I have one foot. Ahhh

She's just relaxing and taking it easy

Some of my favorite people

Rolling down the hill and loving it

Good times!

2011-08-21T17:46:00.000-06:00

This summer we had the greatest pleasure of my sister living near. At the very end my parents came to visit. And although I hardly ever took out my camera, on occasion I did take a few shots (okay, the morning they left). Better late than never I say.

With these visits (always too short) comes the reality that it would be fun to have family closer by all the time. My kids would love it. I would love it. But sadly, too much space exists between all my family.

Look at all these good looking people

Does Lillian looks devious to anyone else?

I love my parents

Coralie is always so funny

Someone trying to steal a bit of spotlight

Soccer Monster

2011-08-21T17:23:00.000-06:00

We now have a (certifiable) soccer monster living at our house. Don’t be deceived by her good looks and charming demeanor. Oh no, inside that cute little girl exterior lives a hard core fiend. And what does she want? To eat your shins for dinner.

Okay, not really. But Lillian does love soccer. And to share with you, here are some pictures from her first game – fyi – I only had one camera lens with me and it wasn’t the right one (and Lillian chose the photos to use). Better ones will come once I learn how to be a proper soccer mom. It seems (based on the dirty looks Jason and I got for cheering on both teams when any of the children did well) that we do not come with the proper aggression to team sports.

Uh hem, that’s not the point. The point is that Lillian herself raised the money to participate in soccer and that she adores it. Go for it Lillian and GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!

Was that enough spirit?

Park City 2011

2011-07-25T02:06:00.000-06:00

It is time for our annual pilgrimage (break from reality) to Park City, UT. I can’t begin to tell you how fun this experience is for all of us. We do very little. We go, stay in a place that allows us to cook where we are at, we walk downtown, ride trolleys and mostly, go swimming.

This year our trip was a bit shorter than usual, but it worked. We stayed at our favorite hotel, The Silver King, and did our normal. Like usual my girls are fish (really they are more fish than girl – they would say, “not fish mom. Mermaids” and then Lillian would roll her eyes with a big ‘duh’ behind it.

So minus the ‘duh’ my mermaid-fish-daughters spent most of the time swimming. How great is that.

Over-all and without boring you with details, we had a marvelous time. We just hung out as a family and were just together (it doesn’t get better than this, ever).

These are all outside the hotel

On the bus to downtown. This is Lillian's big 'rock star' look as she told us.

This is where we were headed ...

She got a bit bored waiting the whole 10 minutes for the trolley.

But she ended up having a great time during the long wait.

Our walk downtown had us passing some homes with lots of lovely tulips.

And I just thought this was too funny.

Coralie couldn't wait to meet her bear friend.

Signs just tickled my funny bone this trip. I know they meant that kids clothing was now available but that isn't how it came across to us. I wonder, do they buy slightly used children?

Lillian told me she was a model and I was the paparazzi!

RENEWAL PROJECT

2011-07-24T19:23:00.000-06:00

(Image by Erin Lange)

In the face of so much negativity and all the dire situations looming above countless numbers of people, I find myself becoming heavy. Heavy with anger (and how does that help? Anger never can combat other anger). Cumbersome with my own brand of intolerance (righteous indignation is not okay or explained away with personal justification). Bulky with disgust and great sorrow …

I can’t handle all this weight. It is so overwhelming, so controlling of my life. When one is held down with such intensity, you (I) tend to gravitate towards tunnel vision. This isn’t that form of focus that gives clarity of purpose but rather a tainting of belief and hope.

Good exists. Good thrives. Joy does abound – even if broadcast journalism can’t/won’t share those stories (the small successes just don’t sell – looks like I am not the only one held back by a complete lack of broad minded thinking).

So, to attempt to lighten my life of the burden of so much grief, I have decided to try something. It is mostly for me granted, but I’d love others to join in as well. I am calling this project RENEWAL. I will write about things that bring me joy, news stories I find that seek out the positive, small successes of those around me. That sort of thing.

Delight surrounds us, it envelopes us with calm peace and showers our lives within every blossom or soft touch of wind. It is up to us to find it, seek it out and remain grateful that not every bit of our lives is so burdened with hate crimes and terror.

My job will be to find it – to glory (bask if you will) in the brilliance that does belong to this most amazing and beautiful earth. Please join me on my journey. Please contribute. If something strikes you that you see or experience or hear about, let me know and I’ll post it.

I know this is not a new idea or a new project, but it is something I need for me and my development. Thank you all for your patience with my passage to find a kinder more calm me.

[this will exist on my personal blog, not the family one. So if you like this idea and have patience for me, come to http://alishahagey.wordpress.com/ and see Project Day 1]

(Image by Joanna Crawshaw)

Family fun time

2011-07-17T22:13:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago we had a lovely addition to our family. Cory proposed to Desiree (who is awesome by the by). Some sometime in the next year we will get to celebrate their union. I love my family and I love the people who will be joining into our loud and obnoxious clan.

We all went together to play in Northern Utah at Boondocks. The girls had a blast. Between mini-golf, laser tag, a really great go-kart track, bowling, an arcade and playing in a jungle gym, it was great just to hang out. The weather kept being funny and couldn't decide between being nice and raining - but it was a delightful day.

Thank you family for the joy you bring!

The 4th of July

2011-07-08T10:15:00.000-06:00

Our 4th of July consisted of the things in life you come to expect - friends, family, food, and fireworks. Its not like we are breaking the mold here people.

As per tradition we got a new board game (our girls wanted The Game of Life and Lillian's great ambition was to be a teacher and live in a mansion - how that works is beyond me). We made our potato salad (thank you Mom and Dad for giving me the greatest recipe ever because nothing else and I mean NOTHING else compares to this stuff - not that my diet allows me to eat it this year but everyone else could). We broke in our new grill (its been a long time in coming). And then, and most importantly, we had the greatest friends and family there.

The girls two great and dear friends came to spend the weekend with us while their parents went on a much needed child-free escape. Joy conceded to put up with her bizarre older sister all day and the amazing Herzog's came over to play.

We had water fights and video games galore. We went to Seven Peaks and took walks down the street picking wildflowers. And like my usual score I only had a camera on me, well, hardly ever. Dinner with friends was perfect and fireworks afterwords was short and sweet (it began raining so we ended things quickly).

Thank you everyone for making this amazing. Holidays, when shared with the right people, are always the best.

Coralie with her best friend Samantha

I know there are a lot of pictures of Coralie, but she is the only one that would cooperate while I had my camera out

This is two of my favorite people after they came out of the water slide

4 very silly and wonderful girls

I really think Joy had the right idea

Wave pools are cool!

Seven Peaks

This was the favorite slide of the day

Lillian wanted to do this to the photo, its fun

We had to start while it was still light out (for one reason, all the kids were exhausted, for another, the rain was about to start coming down in full force)

"Expelliarmus"

This is the first time Joy ever held a firework in her hand. Crazy, I know

Lillian with her glow-stick being all mystic-like

Father's Day

2011-06-17T14:42:00.001-06:00

Lillian's Father's Day Book

2011-06-17T14:06:00.000-06:00

Lillian asked me to add that if you have any comments or “feedback” for her she would love to hear it.

And now I give you the wild adventures of, "Diamond Island."

Coralie's Father's Day Present

2011-06-17T13:54:00.002-06:00

This year for Father's Day my girls decided they would take up the pen and become authors and illustrators. I will now share with you what they came up with. Warning: it, within moments, is funny, it doesn't always make a great deal of sense, but it is an adorable collection of what makes them so special and wonderful to me.

And now, without further ado, Coralie's story entitled, "Peach & Daisy Going To The Mountain."

Just a reminder that they not only wrote and illustrated these themselves, but they decided on the layout and presentation of their stories as well.

Carnival 2011

2011-06-14T01:35:00.000-06:00

This years carnival ...

(WARNING: there will be a great many photos posted below)

So as per our usual we found ourselves as the new location for the Springville City Art Days Carnival. And also as per usual, my kids LOVED it.

From the moment they put on wristbands that enabled them to ride whatever they wanted (height restrictions aside) as many times as they wished, great joy was to be had.

Although our new little twist on these activities was Lillian herself. She donned herself, "too old" for the younger rides and spent time pleading to be let on faster rides. She even found success about half the time.

Later on we found ourselves surrounded by delightful and wonderful friends. So then (oh darn - and that is said with extreme sarcasm), my children had some of their best friends to pal around with.

And then the greatest joy of it all, the evening ended with fireworks!!!

Summer, so far

2011-06-02T10:53:00.000-06:00

Its really sad when summer vacation begins with the flu. But thus it happened in our home that play dates and activities of fun were pushed aside for a greater, more frustrating cause. And since last Friday the sick just keeps on giving. It has left our children but is cycling through Jason and I faster than dust to my piano. Make it stop. Please. Make. It. Stop.

And if you do I'll be eternally grateful.

Well, beyond the sick ... the girls have had a few friend outings. We've made Chinese fans, we've made pinwheels, we have written stories (they will soon be published for your reading pleasure). The girls had the great pleasure of playing with their cousins and seeing Kung Fu Panda 2 (really fun by the way and in case you were wondering - animation was incredible).

Now I'd really like to sleep for a week but alas, no time. The girls want to paint today so we will paint and it will be fun (or else I will be even more miserable). On to paint. On to victory. On to glory and afternoon mandatory quiet time (hurray)!

Baa Baa Black Sheep

2011-05-22T12:01:00.000-06:00

So we didn’t see any Black Sheep, but we saw many other cool things. After our day gardening (and then coming back and doing more gardening in the evening), in between we went to the Lamb and Wool Festival (Jason and I have wonderful sunburns to show from it all).

The girls loved seeing all the animals and watching people shear sheep and make wool and they died their own … it was all very fun and very cool. The girls wanted me to buy some of the special yarn (but it would go to waste in my clumsy I don’t sew and craft hands). So they dealt with oo-ing and aw-ing at all the displays.

My favorite part (and Jason’s too) were the sheep dog exhibitions. We got to watch sheep dogs heard both sheep and ducks (so cool by the way). The girls didn’t understand why there wasn’t a pig herding the sheep and we had to explain quickly why Babe is a make believe story and so forth. All in all wonderful time.

Oh, and the girls spent their sheckles at a stand selling Chinese umbrellas. Silly wonderful girls that they are. Love them! Good day. Love being with my family.

Bad Attitude – me impersonating the Little Red Hen

2011-05-22T11:51:00.000-06:00

So I wrote awhile back about the gardening project we are undertaking. This ‘community’ garden has ended up being our family doing everything. We are a few weeks late in planting (thank you rain that has never stopped) and so Saturday was it. The ground could actually be worked without knowing we were killing anything we put into it. No one showed up. No one brought plants. No one helped (except one really nice old dude who isn’t getting anything out of what we do but mentoring – and he is, frankly, old and not able to bend much but he did offer some helpful advice.

Is it okay to say that after spending almost 5 hours just tilling and planting that I don’t want to share? Yeah, it is okay for me to say it. I know I won’t do it. But just this once I want to complain (my kids don’t read this so aren’t aware of how Jason and I feel right now).

Stop it me. Stop the pity party. Stop the moaning and complaining (I’ll try to keep that internal). What matters is the experience.

*sigh* Let me restart then. Okay. We have this 50x80 garden plot. We have put in (and there is still a small section we need to finish come Wednesday when the next batch of rain is supposed to let up for a bit), 50+ tomato plants, 7 rows (80 feet in length) of sweet corn, tomatoes, green and yellow beans, peas, carrots, cabbage, lettuce (red and green leaf), spinach, beets (lots of delicious beets), green, red, and yellow peppers, crenshaws, and squash of multiple varieties. I feel like I might be missing a few things, but oh well (oh yes, there were some potatoes already coming up so we let those be).

Hopefully most of it comes up. It all sounds delicious. YUM.

Birthday’s Come But Once A Year…

2011-05-22T11:39:00.002-06:00

I know the title of this post is meaningless to most of you – but if you get it and the song reference, hmm, I pity you. Regardless, yes I had a birthday (and a nice one too).

Jason took me to Communal for breakfast (my favorite restaurant). Had my most favorite tea ever - citrus mint. Then for Coralie’s sake we went mini golfing in black light (it was pouring down rain). Following this we bummed around Borders (travesty), went to a few museums and art shows (darn) and another bookstore (noticing a trend here). Then we picked up Lillian from school, came home and played games as a family. We didn’t exactly have a birthday cake but we had a birthday pie (which is much better). Jason and I then dropped off our girls with some friends and went to the temple.

I’d say, this was a wonderful, amazing, delightful, and most fabulous day.

In Which Coralie Becomes Too Old

2011-05-22T10:32:00.001-06:00

This past week Coralie was invited to come to Walden School of Liberal Arts and partake in a Kindergarten Orientation. She was able to go to her new class and meet her teacher and be led around by an older student aid (Lillian quickly volunteered). Coralie was in heaven. She couldn’t wait to go. She was bouncing off the walls waiting, she was smiling at strangers, she was happy (she even got up super early, put on all her clothes, brushed her teeth and made her bed before anyone else had even stirred).

She went. She LOVED it. And then she was miserable when we pulled away from the school (and Lillian was still there, not Coralie, because Lillian didn’t get out for another 4 ½ hours). Now Coralie cannot wait to go and talks about it constantly.

Is my youngest really old enough for school?

Our current task: Project Green Thumb

2011-05-16T21:24:00.000-06:00

Project Green Thumb is a go!!!

So we are working on growing things. We just started in with a community garden and its not what I expected. It really is communal (I was thinking I would have my own subsection of the garden - not so much). So really, with unexperienced gardeners (sad when I am one of the more seasoned growers and I have like 0 skills with plants), I doubt much will come of it. But, my kids will be outside more, will weed and water and learn to cultivate and care. So that is worth it. I just hope for something so they can go, "we made this. We worked hard and it worked!"

In conjunction we will do some planting here at home. I love our new place but I'm sad I'm not allowed to actually plant things in the ground (pots only). For our family home evening we talked about growing things and the last few days we've discussed the importance of the sun and so on and so forth. Lillian gave great references to being grateful for flowers since they help make the air pure (sometimes a mother's heart gets so big its hard to contain it all). Then the girls each took a pot and planted some flower seeds. Again, I'm not so sure they will flourish seeing as how they were planted (a bit forcefully) by eager anticipating hands, but its good for them to take part in learning about growth and increasing the beauty around us.

Next we will plant a small pot garden of herbs - basil, chives, oregano, sage ... that sort of wonderful thing. And again, this will be a pet project of the girls (supervised by me). I want them to better understand how and where our food comes from and to take pride in ownership and have that amazing feeling of after a long day of hard work, picking something fresh and enjoying the bounty this Earth has to offer.

Here's to trying to have a green thumb when my thumb is anything but green!

And now a message from our sponsers

2011-05-08T10:30:00.000-06:00

Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-08T00:42:00.000-06:00

Go ahead and click on the link. I dare you to not be overwhelmed with the cuteness that is my girls! Happy mother's day to you all.

Another Easter Egg Hunt

2011-04-26T11:49:00.001-06:00

Our amazing friends invited us to another gig that was half graduation party half ingest large amounts of sugar and good food into your bodies. Needless to say the girls had a complete blast. They didn't mind hunting outside for eggs in the rain. They found it fun and novel!

Group photos are always funny

I didn't want to include too many pictures of kids looking for eggs. We've all seen them and you get the point. I just wanted to show you how funny it is to see kids wearing heavy coats searching for eggs. Cracks me up. I remember April in California usually being hot and bright. Easter here in Utah couldn't decide between lovely, rain, hail, or snow. Good times.

Easter at our house

2011-04-26T11:37:00.000-06:00

Easter at our place was a crazy affair. Jason was out of town which made the girls less than thrilled, and the Easter bunny wasn't going to make an appearance until after church (which made them also less than thrilled). But Mommy, with all her vast (lack of) intelligence, didn't take photos until after church as well. So that meant Coralie had a new set of bruises and stamps up and down her arms and the girls lovely white dresses had stains from who knows what on them.

Funny, but I love these two gorgeous girls!

I have to point out all the stamps and cuts and bruises.

And here is the picture again sans all the other stuff.

A view from the bridge

2011-04-26T10:35:00.000-06:00

After an Easter egg hunt we found ourselves near a pretty little bridge that the girls insisted on taking photos with. Sadly, I only had my point and shoot camera, but some of the images are okay. Granted, I am biased and do believe my girls are the cutest, most full of personality girls that have ever existed, but well, you can argue and we will all be right. I'm that flexible.

Coralie insisted that I add this image of her flouncy, bouncy hair

Eater Part 1

2011-04-26T10:20:00.000-06:00

The Friday before Easter, some more of our amazing friends invited us to join them in an egg-finding frenzy. So off we went. These are more of my girls favorite people in the whole world. We are so blessed to have such wonderful, loving people surrounding us in our lives.

Kids take the most interesting photos together...

Beginning to play catchup

2011-04-26T10:01:00.000-06:00

So, during my student teaching I sort of (lots really) lost contact with my blog and updating pictures and such. So here, goes, I will begin to attempt restitution. So much has happened that I'm not sure where to begin, so perhaps I will just do a random smattering of stuff.

1.
Jason and I went to a ball. Okay, it was called a ball but really just a formal for graduates at BYU. The picture is (granted I am warning you now) awful. But hey, it was so much fun to hang out with my best friend, take ballroom classes, and then look like total and complete idiots (but we were total and complete idiots having a blast).

The girls have also requested that I include more pictures of their friends. So that is what I am doing. We had an evening around BYU taking photos of some friends. I am excluding names because, well, thats the only polite thing to do. But the youngest little girl with her hair up in pony tails, this is Coralie's best friend. She prays about her, and asks about her daily. Coralie asked that we adopt her at one point (sorry, I think her family is going to keep her - much to my 4 year olds dislike).

My wonderful mother and sister came in to town (and of course I'm the idiot who didn't pull out her camera). Shame on me. But it was so perfect. I dislike being apart from family so any chance to see those I love the most is precious.

Lilly's Song

2011-01-09T17:05:00.001-07:00

So today Jason and I were in the living room and Coralie and Lillian were in their room building with legos. Lillian began singing a song that made Jason and I just laugh and laugh. Finally Jason had the thought to turn on his cell phone and place it as close to their room as possible without being obvious. Here is the fruits of our labor. Sorry the quality is low (it was on a cell phone from a distance) and sorry the earlier version (while we were laughing so hard) was not caught for future posterity.

A grateful letter-

2011-01-07T17:50:00.000-07:00

I know my dear husband won’t get this (why would he check the blog), but I wanted to acknowledge him in all things. This is going to be the most complicated and consuming school semesters of my life – he is working on his thesis and taking two other classes and working full time. But yet, because of my schedule he is the one picking up the slack. Yes the laundry has been pilled so high we jump in it like piles of leaves in the fall (but grosser), yes there are more dishes than I want to admit. Yes the table is dirty, the floor is unmopped and the bathroom is, frankly, embarrassing. But my kids have been fed and dressed, made it school, only missed one appointment and been generally happy.

Thank you so much. Thank you for being Mr. Mom while I am off stressing out and trying not to hyperventilate in bathroom stalls between class periods. Thank you for making dinner most days this week, for going way out of your way to pick Coralie up (even though my school is 30 minutes closer to her than you are). Thank you for gathering up Lillian, for making her lunches in the morning, taking her to school everyday and helping me get up at 5:30am (evil time that that really is). Thank you for being my sounding board and for allowing me to text you when I am frantic.

I am so sorry its only going to get worse. Auditions, call backs and a first rehearsal are nothing to the upcoming all day tech rehearsals and meetings, and my 3 day conference where you will be responsible for everything (including two days of school for both kids). I am so so so grateful and I know I have nothing but my love to offer you in return for your commitment.

I really hope you remember why you love me while I face the next few months. And hopefully, when April 10^th rolls around and all I have are comprehensives, finals and another round of state testing, we can get a moment to be together, take a deep breath, and be a couple.

I love you Jason. And saying that, I am going to mop the floor (I really can’t handle it anymore) and then go work on lesson plans. Good luck at work. You are my real hero!

XOXOXO

Playing in the (lack of) snow

2010-12-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

So today during the time scheduled to run errands and in general make merry with my girls, I found I had locked my keys in the car the night before. Brilliant I say! Bravo to me. I'll take a bow, curtsy, and accept any and all flowers (and cash donations) given on my behalf. Some days I am just totally with it and this, ladies and gentleman, was one of them.

Well, because we couldn't do my preplanned trip to the dinosaur museum, we played outside. Its the end of December. 26 degrees out, and most of the snow is gone. No sledding, ice cave building or snow ball fights (Coralie tried chucking ice blocks at me but in good conscience I couldn't return the love).

Instead we ended up biking and scooter-ing (yes spell check, I am aware that scooter-ing is not a real world. Deal with it please).

The Christmas Countdown! It has ARRIVED

2010-12-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

Okay – so we didn’t do as much as usual this year (par for course really). And this isn’t a ‘real’ countdown since I always forget to post in a timely manner – but yet, here come the holidays in chronological order. Love you all and happy holidays (oh, and as usual, I put each activity as much as possible as its own post as to not overwhelm you all at once).

Our girls (like any other self respecting child) were so excited. We stayed up late on Chrimstas Eve playing games (it was a lot of fun). We had our traditional clam chowder (yum) and read from the new testament. It was a pleasant evening.

Lillian, though, was rather intent on knowing if Santa were real. She kept asking - for over a month. I would put her off normally knowing she didn't want the truth but finally took her aside and explained the history of Santa Claus and the myth as well as the feeling of joy and unity it brings - she was okay with it and then wanted to learn more about the Saint everything was named for - bravo for her.

But Chrismtas morning came and wonderful presents were there and she was just convinced that Santa had to be existent. Who else would bring such incredibly WONDERFUL things. So she decided that I must be wrong and Santa must be real (her choice).

Then of course today she came to me all old and knowledgeable and said, "Mom, I know you got all the presents so can you get me so and so and such and such next Christmas?" Silly kids. They got more than enough.

There aunt made them these awesome cool ninja pillows. Our girls use them to battle it out Pokemon style - you know you love it (see below for the totally awesome pillows)

This was part of the problem - Proof that Santa had come (none gluten free cookies with bites taken out of them)

On the 10th day of Christmas

2010-12-27T12:56:00.002-07:00

On the 10th day of Christmas - we went and visited family. We saw my brother's lovely wife and kids then hopped on over to Discovery Gateway to see Jason's brother's lovely family (Ezra is adorable for all those wondering).

Sadly, I always forgot to take out my camera when playing with our other cousins (bad bad me). So sorry to the dis-service I did those boys (fantastic and fun as they always are).

On the 9th day of Christmas

2010-12-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

On the 9th day of Christmas we went to play laser tag. I took pictures (while we waited) of my girls 'game' faces. Lillian slaughtered Coralie and I.

Coralie just doesn't look that 'fierce'. Oh well, I love her!

On the 4th day of Christmas

2010-12-27T12:49:00.001-07:00

On the 4th day of Christmas my Lillian had a school concert and I didn't get to take many pictures. Mostly it came to, once Lillian's class was over, she and her friend Lose (Low-say) kept taking funny pictures of people's eyes, necks, bracelets, etc.

On the 7th Day of Christmas

2010-12-27T12:43:00.001-07:00

Per usual we bake during the holidays. Sadly, this year, we did very little. Bad me, bad bad bad me. We will be better next year.

The 1st Day of Christmas

2010-12-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

On the first day of Christmas my Lilly made for me - a wreath! But of course she kept calling it a wrath all month. She would sit and go, "I love my wrath. Its so wonderful to have a wrath" and other such funny phrases.

The [mis]adventures of the Christmas Cruise: A Cautionary Tale

2010-12-22T22:58:00.002-07:00

Tonight, dear readers, I take you on an adventure through mystical lands and holiday cheer *clears throat* or something along those lines. Picture, if you will, an ordinary family. There’s a dad, mom, and two sometimes cherubic daughters. Surrounding these people is a landscape covered in a blanket of snow and the air is filled with a mist encircling the trees (no, really it was almost like a horror movie – wicked cool and I wanted my video camera but alas didn’t think that far ahead).

This happy holiday song filled family decided to venture down the Provo River on a Christmas Cruise filled with lights, a canoeing Santa, hot chocolate and scones. It was a pleasant enough idea. Yet the fruition of this yuletide gaiety was not to be found. Alas, rain came and covered the ground in parts with giant mass pockets of mud. The rain caused the vendors to not venture out with their holiday goodies and warm beverage wares. And the scones, such as they looked, were soggy and unappealing (much like pulling coal out of a stocking and dealing with the aftermath dust and debris). But oddly enough, the lack of lovely weather didn't stop the crowds from coming. The boat was full. Chock-a-block-full in fact (this at least meant a shared mass of body warmth).

Now, perhaps before I venture more in the story I should begin at the beginning – that might help. Wednesday began like any other holiday morning. The kids slept in, mom made a delightful large breakfast. There were snowball fights and sledding, movie watching and much sipping of hot chocolate and other delicious warm infusions. Snowflakes had been cut out, colored and hung around the ceiling and the once clean home was turned upside down with yuletide enthusiasm. It was a good day.

A month earlier this particular mom scouted out an amazing deal on this fun-filled activity. Tickets were purchased, money exchanged hands, and good intentions created to the upmost. Please, dear reader, remember the weather. It has been snowing, then raining, then freezing over, and cycling through this enchanting pattern much to the enjoyment and personal fulfillment of all drivers to seek out that childhood dream of extreme sports; don’t hit other cars, dogs at 5 points, snogging couples are 10, and lampposts – when not drunk – are 15 whopping points).

What it all boils down to is that it was cold. And on a boat/barge thingy you must be bundled, prepared, and prepped. Mom and dad coerced and coaxed, bribed and sternly discussed the need to relieve oneself in the privacy of a bathroom ahead of time. Angelic child number 1 did so without a moment’s hesitation. Child 2, though, decided that refusing, lying about it, and flushing the toilet in a mock-up of the real thing would be enough.

Because of time (and short attention spans), I will jump ahead to the obvious. The crowded and cold boat meant everyone was covered in rain on their butts (oh what a joy and pleasure that is). Due to the lack of seats mom held the opposite of angelic, Child 2 in her lap. Almost after take-off mom’s front began to match her backside (but this time with an odor). This is not the cookies baking in the oven with a sprig of holly and cinnamon kind of smell. This is my dog is attacking the couch and becoming territorial kind of smell. And I was the guilty, unassuming couch in this little bit of mental imagery. I’d rather not EVER have this honor again.

A moment later mom whispered into the ear of the now losing all Christmas presents under the tree Child 2 and asked if she had indeed gone on her? The answer was a quick, “of course. Oh, look at the lights!” Diversionary tactic was not successful. This would have been bad enough if not for urine the sequel. Our boat accidentally hit this rather lovely (once lovely) star hanging over a long branch over the river and down down it sank. This was in tandem with the trickling of urine going down-down my pants and into my shoes. Mom was about ready to throw Child 2 overboard (at least she was wearing a life jacket). Then again, the mounds of people closed in together made that an impossibility (likely a good save).

Mom smelled. The car smelled. Child 2 smelled. The plan of going and getting something delicious in lieu of the not-so-available vendor treats was canned. The walk down charming downtown was canned. Mom was in a bad mood. Dad was vicariously in a both bad and wary of two women in the car kind of mood, and Child 1 felt left out.

Since then, we are all home, cleaned, showered, bathed and pajama’d. Christmas tree lights have been but to bed, teeth brushed and bags packed for tomorrows plans. But really folks, if ever you decide to give way to the idea of a ‘fun’ Christmas Cruise, just remember the pains of this holiday family. Maybe don’t bring the kids. Maybe just hover over them until you have proof positive that their bowels have been emptied – twice. Well, Child 1 said the lights were cool and it wasn’t too wet. She loved watching Santa zoom past us, give us high fives and candies. She loved the idea of being out at night and seeing how mystical the trees looked. So perhaps, with the right and proper pre-planning, these activities can actually be a joy rather than a stinky-smelley-not-so-good-very-bad night for moms and dads.

But I do love Child 2. Especially as I hear her breathing heavily in her bed. Now it’s my turn to take an Ambien, have strangely bizarre dreams, and forget this ever happened (until the reality of tomorrow’s laundry crushes all thoughts of a nice relaxing day).

Happy Holidays and Much Love. And if nothing I have said makes sense, it’s probably better that way!

Our California trip

2010-12-04T23:26:00.002-07:00

Enough time has passed that I can feel sufficiently bad about not posting about our California trip (shame on me). So here goes … well, with a minor introduction to the fact that I will post this in segments to try and make the photo consumption a bit easier to handle. I can only imagine that there will be 3-4 posts in all. So yes, 3 is the magic number (or perhaps 4). And like usual, I will eventually make an animoto video out of it but will add actual video footage (gasp) to it.

If it helps any, there are more photos pasted on facebook. Just thought you should know.

Okay, after reviewing everything and posting this, I had to add an addendum. Um, it actually took 7 posts (after this one), and 8 if you include my little wanderings about Riverside. Oops!

Disneyland Itself part I

2010-12-04T23:23:00.000-07:00

Then of course there is our trip to the park beyond this. You don’t have to look at all the photos (but there are some really cool ones here and there). Like I mentioned earlier (later actually since that’s how blogger works), it was way crowded. The shortest wait time was 45 minutes. But really the girls were great.

In 3 days we didn’t cover even half of what was there and yet spirits were not diminished. Although Coralie will likely NEVER again ask to go on The Tower of Terror (seriously, we tried to talk her out of it). But I do love that she shares my favorite ride (Small World). Oh, they RUINED Pirates of the Caribbean. Its just no longer charming. I hate the changes, hate the dialogue, hate the movie references – it feels like an 80’s cartoon that was really just an ad campaign for a sugary breakfast cereal. Whats wrong with you people? Leave a classic alone.

Well, the Dole pineapple stand was still delectable, the Tiki Room was still Tiki-licious, Space Mountains soundtrack was changed (and when did they get rid of the giant red orb in the center?), Matterhorn was jerkier than I remembered, breaking down inside the Winnie the Pooh ride was a blast (we got to walk through the set – really fun painting) …

Something that interests me is that I found people dressed up in costumes to be creepy as a child. Yet my children were absolutely delighted to go wait in line for autographs. Who knew?!

I tried to snatch a few pictures while we were walking through the Winnie the Pooh ride

Lillian liked the lamp post

My parents were kind enough to watch the kids so Jason and I could enjoy a post anniversary meal. Ahh, bliss!

I sorted of attempted to get the same spot before the park opened and after it closed. Not there, but almost

neat, isn't it?

I know this isn't the bestest picture ever, but keep in mind it had been raining (so so very cold), and it was after 10pm at night. But hey, its a family picture and I love it!