Can I go to work with you?

This week was far too busy. I kept thinking that once I got the birthdays done things would slow down, but they haven't! And before I even complete the jump over one hurdle the next is right in front of me!

Tuesday (which started at 6:00 making sugar cookies for an enrichment) was just running this way and that. I finally lighted at home just before Riley returned home from school. Still panting, I had to take care of some assignments for the business, so I took a breath and started logging onto my work computer remotely. Riley looked at me across the kitchen and said, "I have to accompany an adult to work soon. Can I go to work with you so I can stay home all day?" It was a good thing he was all the way across the kitchen so I couldn't follow the impulse to strike him.

Now I wish I'd come back with this: "Well, I don't know. I'd have to go to the store for more bon-bons. And you may not like the movies I watch or the books I read. I'd hate for you to be BORED!"

Then we could have both been funny.

Foreshadowing?

Cambry turned 15 the day after Aleah hit four. (Who's idea was that anyway?) Cambry's birthday was PACKED, but pleasant. Is this a foreshadowing of the new year to come? Her birthday can be divided into three sections:

THE BREAKFAST

We have weekend birthdays this year. (They fall two weeks, then three weeks, then one week apart.) It is so nice to not be rushing people through their most special breakfast of their year. (Or to have to get up too terribly early to get it on the table.)

THE BAPTISM

Since Cambry's birthday preceded fast Sunday, it was that natural stake baptism day, Liesel's baptism day. Aleah is helping Elise get buttoned up for the occassion. Too sweet of a shot to pass up, even in my rush.

Lestelle took this picture of Liesel and Eric on her special day, so wonderful. The Spirit was soooo strong at her baptism! Their stake lets each ward (and therefore I'm supposing often each child) have their own service in different rooms of the building. I said the prayer, Cambry led the music, Ben gave a talk on baptism. We all then witnessed Eric perform the ordinance. Following, Dad gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and we witnessed Eric confirming her. Marie had cooked up a storm and reserved the gym for a luncheon after the program. I was laughing at her because she seemed to plan the menu like I do, as though everything you provide is standing singulalry and needs sufficient quantity to satisfy the crowd. I only laughed a little, though because in a few hours, I was setting out my own abundant spread for....

THE PARTY

Cambry had decided to have a mixed party, though she had to consider it for a while. One of her "guy"friends encouraged her saying even if she wanted to watch a chick-flick, he was really good at being quiet at those parts. BTW - teenagers DON'T eat veggies off a veggie tray. They do eat all the brownies and chocolate chip cookies you can set out. Apples are consumed with caramel sauce, but after the cake, brownies, and cookies. They also eat rolls, if not sandwiches.

Cambry got her own digital camera, something she has really enjoyed this past week.

Dave was just going to show the kids Arnold Goose on the computer, but we convinced him to perform it for us. As soon as he came down the stairs in costume, Cambry's girlfriend Carmen ran over to her and said, "I wish my dad was like your dad!"

I was so impressed with Cambry's friends. They were good kids with a lot of excellent energy and I felt a lot of hope for the future. They ate, played games, giggled abundantly, ate more, and watched the Lake House. Seeing it from the viewpoint of a chaperone, I was disappointed. The language wasn't as clean as I remembered and I know these kids were sensitive to it. One boy, trying to figure the ending out, realizing that the female lead had been living with a male supporting role without being married reacted as all sweet, innocent boys should. Then I felt bad.

The day was so incredibly full, but rich and wonder-full!

Aleah's how old?

How did this happen? Aleah is now FOUR. I can hardly believe it myself, but here's the proof:

See the concentration to get that thumb down with the rest of the fingers raised? Adorable.

We had sister Geri Smith, who was Parker's primary teacher last year, over for dinner one December Sunday evening. While she was there Aleah asked her, "Grandma? You make a blanket for me?" Aleah uses a lot of different blankets she's gotten from grandmas and near- grandmas when she was born. So she figured Sister Smith must have made one for her and wanted to identify which one she should feel her warm love in. Well Sister Smith is amazing with quilting and said she would definately make a blanket for Aleah. Aleah got to claim her prize on her birthday. I took her over and she got to choose between a duck, duck, goose quilt and this purple heart blanket, the soft winner. Now every tuck-in this is the first blanket she wants on her, heart-side up, please.

The small round cake was brought over by Sister Warner who is Aleah's sunbeam teacher. Aleah's birthday was written up for the wrong date on the primary records, so we threw the gift in the freezer and pulled it out for the real thing. I also made a cake to make sure all the well-wishers could enjoy.
Aleah got the barbie she had been wanting for weeks. All in all, I think this was a very good day for her.

What goes around, comes around

Remember the everlasting hair cut I put on Aleah? Well one family home evening she spent the entire time brushing and "doing" my hair. See her creativity?Masterpiece!

Open your eyes!

We had another snow storm come through. It began as rain and left a heavy, wet snow that was as easy to shovel as spilled slurpies. Monday morning I had to drive the kids to school and I was thinking as I nearly go stuck leaving my driveway how ready I was to replace the white with green. Then I rounded the corner to the school and saw this:

The heavy snow had clung to even the smallest of branches, feathering the top of trees and shurbs in white while also darkening the trunk for the contrast. Here I was so intently wishing away the weather and nearly missed the beauty it provided.

When things are different than you want, wanting what you get is only a thought away!

Married to an older man

Funny that in the 17 years we've been married, I've never even noticed the age discrepency between Dave and myself. But yesterday he turned 40 and I suddenly feel like I'm married to an older man... afterall I'm hardly a day over 29.

Dave likes good food and a proper birthday celebration involves making stuff to stuff inside of other stuff you've made and then topping it with even more homemade stuff. It is an intense cooking day and there have been years when I have been less content to indulge him. This year was different.

When we were in India last month, Manisha's mother happily sat at the table releasing pomegranate seeds from the fruit for Dave and me. I shared that one time Anna was preparing pomegranates for grandkids and suddenly felt that the work which is usually a chore was as easy and enjoyable as anything. Milind said, "That is the power of emotion."

So for Dave's birthday cuisine I took some emotion, fed by good opera at high volume, and sang my own lyrics: "I love Dave, my Dave, the man I chose." And wouldn't you know, this was a great birthday for us both. The family devoured all our Swedish pancakes in the morning. Dave entertained the kids with stories of his youth for an hour after breakfast. He spent a good portion of his day using his new tools while I made his traditional enchilada dinner, which was also heartily consumed in short order. (They were the best batch I've ever made. Shama says the food tastes better when you love the person for whom you're cooking.) Better than the delicious food, I didn't feel hot and bothered, or even careful and troubled, with the preparations of the day. I only felt pleasure that I had this one day a year to serve Dave, my Dave, the man of my choosing, entirely. Emotion is powerful. How do we say it? "Charity never faileth."

Good morning! It takes one hour to make this breakfast for my family, fewer than 30 minutes for it to disappear. Indeed the food is short-lived, but the sense of love they feel through it endures.

Aleah presents Dave his presents. This year I had the gifts wrapped and ready a day or two before his birthday so he was able to enjoy and use them on his birthday.

Wes and Anna were able to join us for dinner. Katie and Johnny came for cake and ice cream.

Dave felt a little bad that he had graduated from candles to "slabs." But 40 is a big deal! The letters spelled out happy birthday so that he could have a few more lights to wish on. Riley said, holding a letter after they were removed from the cake, "Mom, there was 'p' on the cake." Such Parish humor!

Cambry's got my camera

Cambry took over my camera for a photo shoot of Aleah.

This photo shoot came after I decided to give the girls a haircut beyond what I've ever attempted to style. I thank my dad for this mindset that I can accomplish anything. The only thing I lack is a little knowledge, which is perfectly accessible on most topics, and experience. Poor Dave had a year of bad hair cuts while I was learning to cut his hair. But I now have enough experience to do that well. This time Aleah sat through at least three different hair-cutting sessions, broken with video training sessions on the computer. I'm not yet satisfied with the product, but I bet I'll have it down soon. This cut gets a few weeks to rest for now, and the subject is adorable enough to paint the worst of my attempts in good light.