Doo Doo!

Yesterday morning was crazed. No one wanted to wake up on time and we were scrambling to get out the door. After the kids left for school I had to deliver Taylor's car to his office at the University. He needed his car since that morning he had just flown in from Denver, took a taxi from the airport straight to work where he had a meeting with a group of angry students. Immediately following his meeting he had to drive 60 minutes to another city for a work related golf game and business meeting. Well I decided if I had to walk home from the University I would use that time to get my exercise AND walk the dog SO I took Charlie with me. In theory it sounded great however the University is under massive construction right now and navigating the parking lot was not easy especially since masses of students were pulling in for the day. I finally found Taylor's reserved spot parked the car and walked a very round about way to get to the office. I had to carry the dog in the building and you can only imagine the looks I was getting. I thought to myself "if you knew what kind of a morning I've already had you wouldn't look at me that way!" Anyway I dropped his keys and clothing with his secretary and started out. I felt rather ridiculous walking a dog along campus as young students with backpacks were pressing forward to class. Taylor happened to call at this moment. He had just landed at the airport and was pressed for time. The dog was slowing down. I turned back to find that he had somehow managed to poop as he walked along the sidewalk! So there I am yacking on my cell phone trying to hang on to a restless dog and cleaning up a trail of dog doo doo! Needless to say after the last dropping was cleared we ran all the way home.

Lemons to Lemonade

The weekend was great. Still felt like summer with temperatures almost near 100. A trip to the Farmers Market filled our tummies and our refrigerator with all kinds of fresh produce. After a week long trip to Norway our Dad came home for a whopping 36 hours (he had to catch another plane early this morning). We enjoyed his presence and attention immensely. Spencer scored another goal in his soccer game Saturday. Lilly had her first game of the 2009/10 season. This photo depicts her "game face". Today most of the family wore the same face. I think the novelty of "back to school" is over. We are tired. We need more sleep. I have no idea how to implement an earlier bed time. It just feels impossible to me. One child has massive headaches, another has an overload of homework and yet another is just plain overwhelmed with it all. I'm hoping that a good nights rest will help us turn our so called lemons into lemonade.

oh la la ladies

When I was born my oldest sister was 16 years old. Technically speaking she was old enough to be my mother. Our mother had the two of us share a room for the first two years of my life. This created a sisterly bond...mostly a bond my sister remembers because she would get up with me in the middle of the night. I don't ever remember living in the same house as Valene. I was just too young. Growing up I always wanted a sister to share a room with, but my sisters were married and living in homes of their own by that time. The wonderful thing for me was that even though my sisters were much older they were and still are interested in having a relationship and friendship with me. Valene had 9 (yes nine) children of her own. They are all grown and married now. She has a lifetime of amazing experiences and wisdom. I rely on her a lot.

When we were living in France Valene came to visit with three of her dearest friends (the oh la la ladies). Each of these women is equally amazing as my sister and in the one short week they stayed in our home I grew to admire and adore them. Today they surprised me with a lunch visit. Not only did they come to my house, but they brought an amazing lunch (bbq chicken salad - homemade rolls & French pastries - delish!). Marilyn brought her French memories book and read us her entries. The stories & photos brought back such special memories of a time and place that literally changed my life. Although I rarely see these women they too have imprinted a change in my heart to be positive, keep learning, laugh A LOT & stay spiritually grounded.

Carpe Diem!

Whew! What a day. Spencer was the first one up at 6am. A far cry from sleeping in during the summer. When I went to wake Clara & Lilly their light was already on and they were making their beds and getting dressed. Such a fun sight to see their excitement for a new beginning. Olivia's violin music filled the house as everyone was getting ready. I took the standard first day of school photos and marveled at each kid and how they've grown. There really didn't seem to be too many jitters for which I am grateful. Lilly had written a note to her teacher it said







I went to the temple and then out to lunch with a friend. It was a great way to spend the morning. When I got home the doorbell rang and there was an enormous bouquet of flowers for me! Taylor sent flowers - he is in Norway right now and he knew this "time of transition" was making me feel sentimental. What a guy. We are transitioning to new schedules, activities and experiences. I think it will be good. Change is complicated, but it creates new energy and can be invigorating if we let it. Now I need to set some lofty goals and get busy. Wait who am I joking? I could stay home for weeks just trying to fold laundry and un-bury the messes we made over the summer. Oh well, CARPE DIEM!

Little Fingers

It's the last day of summer vacation. The kids are roaming the circle, playing with friends and enjoying one last afternoon of freedom. We have gone school shopping and coordinated carpools for the 2009/10 school year. Personally I'm not ready. I could use another week or two with my kids.

My mother has always wandered around her house wiping away finger marks. She likes the look of a clean streak free house...especially the back sliding window/door. I also like a clean home, but little finger marks have always made me happy. They are a sign of life and action. The "little" fingers in our family are all growing bigger now. Tomorrow marks the first time in 15 years that I won't have a child with me at lunch time and during a big portion of the day. Lilly's fingers can now write notes and draw lovely pictures, Clara's fingers can now play real songs on the piano and sew articles of clothing, Olivia's fingers can now play classical violin music & bake bread and Spencer's fingers can now palm a soccer ball and fix flat tires on bikes. Watching them grow and progress is one of the greatest joys of my life. It's also a little bitter sweet. I've so enjoyed the little years and the small steps along the way. Just wish it didn't fleet into memories quite so fast. Here's to looking forward to tomorrow and to cherishing the past.

Reaching a Goal

Not very many weeks left of summer vacation. It makes me sad to think that this time is slipping away. We've practically entertained ourselves to death. I'm not complaining, just wondering if we need to step it up and complete some worthwhile goals. One lovely experience the girls and I have had this summer is to volunteer at This is the Place Heritage Park. Once a week we dress in pioneer costumes and pretend to live that simple life. Not that the pioneers had a simple life. They had to raise the chicken and pluck it before it ever made it into a pot for soup. All their clothes were hand stitched and their livelihood was contingent on hard work and sacrifice. Our job is rather cushy. We give tours of the house we have been assigned - the Charles C. Rich home. When we're not busy doing that we can work on the rag rug loom and the girls can roam the village playing pioneer games, attend the one room school house and run free through the fields. It has been a magical time for the four of us. No electricity, lots of time sitting on the grass just talking and thinking about interesting subjects. This past week we worked hard on the loom. We have never actually finished a rug and there was just a small bit left. Olivia suggested we set a goal that we could not leave until the rug was done. A goal that seemed easier than it was when we started. Our time passed quickly and it was time to go home. The girls opted to stay and FINISH the goal. We all took turns weaving. It was a team effort. Even the other volunteer in our house chose to stay and cheer us on. As the last weave was made and the final knot put in place a sense of satisfaction filled that little house. This rug wasn't coming home with us. It belongs at the park. The girls just wanted to be able to say they actually made a rug for the little house. After a rather indulgent summer my heart was bursting just knowing that my kids knew how to set a goal together and reach it.

Just for the record...

The last two days, weeks, months have been W I L D to say the least. I feel like I'm gulping for air every day. I guess you could say I'm sucking the marrow out of life, but then again maybe it's sucking the life out of me! Just for the record...

In the last two and 1/2 days I have... traveled the road to swim team 9 times, walked the dog 6 times, emptied the dishwasher 4 times, bid farewell to my husband who is en route to Japan, gone swimming with all of my kids, welcomed a long term house guest from France, volunteered at This Is The Place park with my girls, attended a family reunion barbecue, been entertained by 4 ridiculously funny kids and loving every minute (or at least I'm trying to).

In the last two and 1/2 weeks I have...sent one child to EFY (he LOVED it), sent another child to girls camp (she LOVED it too), spent one day & night at Heber Valley girls camp (as a leader of course!), been diagnosed with Swine Flu (FOR REAL), spent a week recovering (thank goodness for tamiflu medication), sent my boy off on another adventure scout camp in Zions National Park (is this boy having too much fun this summer?!), taken a three day vacation to the Oregon coast with my hubby (SO relaxing) & enjoyed the warm summer weather.

In the last two months I have...celebrated two children's birthdays, welcomed summer and the the end of the school year, celebrated both Grammie & Grandpa's 70th birthdays with amazing parties, spent hours with the Randall family when cousins were visiting from Mississippi, tried to support Taylor as he takes on a new & overwhelming job at work, went to youth conference in Goblin Valley with Spencer & Olivia, hiked Wild Horse Canyon, traveled to Europe with my little crew (we went back to France and stayed in our old house (sigh), visited friends and wandered around Paris, stopped in Brusselles for chocolate & spent a wonderful week in the Netherlands bike riding, touring Amsterdam, & eating vla while Taylor taught classes for a business school).