North and South

Marie had told me we needed to have a girls' night and watch a mini-series called North and South. At first I thought she was talking about a mini-series chronicaling the civil war. But of course that would never do for a chick-flick. We watched a four-hour "Jane Austin-ish" story of an off-synch romance set in England's industrial age.

We planned it for Saturday February 7 because Dave and Riley would be gone on the Klondike (a whole 'nother entry). I just didn't know that I would have a week like I did, or even and evening like I had going. But Marie just rolled with the commotion of my life, stopped the show so I could run kids this way and that, and stayed up with me until 1:00 to see how the characters finally end up together.

It was hard for me to set aside my work for the show with all that I was careful and troubled about (yes, I'm afraid I relapsed with the demands upon me), but landing in bed after 2:00 AM, I was smiling. I need to remember to take time for leisure... almost a foreign term.... every now and then. It truly is refreshing (and much more memorable than the chores).

A beft, a beft: is anything left?

Thanks to her long skinny legs, Cambry has landed the role of the beft (resembling an ostrich) in her Seussical play. We have been making her costume and it is NOT simple. She will be wearing a puppet-like head a few feet above her head. I am in charge of the body of the character, Dave is the puppet head and support. Trying to complete it for a deadline Saturday, Dave took work Thursday to paper-mache the form.

I had cut the pieces out for the body, but had not stitched one stitch this week. I woke Cambry early in the morning Saturday to help speed the process up by pinning the pieces together I would then sew. She was half asleep as we began and didn't really have enough experience to assemble the complicated pattern. When I put the striped back pieces on the front I could see we were in trouble. After unstitching nearly every seam and re-assembling the pieces, I was back to the point Saturday night that I thought I'd reached midday. Needless to say, it is not completed yet, but we are making progress. I think I'll do a happy jig for many reasons when I get to watch Cambry bring it to life on stage in a few weeks.

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!