New Year's Resolution in Progress

  

above: My garden and the only squash plants that came up while I was out of town...

counting my cucumbers I had 8 hills. So sad. They have since been replanted.

below: I have 4 celebrities, 4 romas, 1 oregan something and 3 cherrie. Yeah for tomatoes. 

Today they all got caged. 

  

So my goal was to have a garden in 2009 and here it is. But there really is no glory in it when you don't have anybody to show it off to when you are done weeding. So I took pictures for anybody who wants to be impressed with my domestic abilities. 

Love you!

Sickies all over the place

So my much anticipated visit from Mom and Emily has turned into a sick-fest. They both have a nasty cold, which I believe is of the East Coast variety.  I think that because my cold from last week had slightly different symptoms-or maybe I just react differently than they do. As it is, our activities have been suspended due to their drug induced state. Grandma is communicating solely by telephone and I am walking around with Purell, 409, and paper towels, telling Emily not to touch anything. (I don't think they have taken it personally, but I don't want it again...I can't have it again...maybe I am going a little overboard....)

It was a beautiful Sunday and it is supposed to be in the wonderful 70s for most of the week.  Strange we had 8 inches of snow last Thursday, but we are in Utah right? I believe it is time to begin the outside work. I'm going to ask my students when they would like to begin weeding and Mom and I are going to the nursery tomorrow.  Fresh herbs! Yeah! The garden portion has not been cleared so I am just going to look at the seeds (this is very doubtful...my looking usually turns into purchasing...)

I love you love you!

Bus Musings

I'm en route to NY from BOS on the Bolt, which means I've had pretty consistent internet access for my entire trip.  Sadly, though, my back is quite literally numb to the touch (kind of alarming).  And my stomach is starting to churn with back-of-the-bus motion sickness.  I should definitely turn off my computer . . . but I wanted to post a blurb.  (I really do want to be a good blogger.  But the frequency with which I post--or more appropriately, the lack thereof--at this point of the game really precludes me from every attaining such a title.  Sigh.  Hence the post.)

One of my goals this year is to NOT be all talk and no action.  As my stories will attest, I've got the talking part down.  But as the stagnation of my life will attest, I need to step it up in the action arena.  So baby steps.  A little blogging here.  A little resume sending there.  And before we all know it, I'll get the action part down.

Easter synopsis:  Happily, I think Lucy (with her dollar bill and four quarters), was just as happy as Henry (with his $8 and seven minutes of privacy), who was just as happy as Peter (who had the pleasure of licking german chocolate frosting directly from Papa's finger), who was just as happy as Nana (with her birthday pearls and adoring family surrounding her . . . and calling her from Utah), who was just as happy as Emily (who managed to set a perfect example to H and L by sitting at the kid table and NOT spilling her water all over her plate), who was just as happy as Rex and Nat (who got a little afternoon nap while Papa entertained the babies with the story of the three little piggies who had "brussel sprouts and steak and went wee, wee, wee, wee, all the way home" . . . I know, a bit of a variation on a fairy tale theme), who was just as happy as I (who was rescued by Natalie from biting into a chocolate covered shallot compliments of Rex).

I think it's appropriate to end my blog post, and my day, reflecting on the scriptures that Emily and Mom shared in their sacrament meeting talks at the beginning of the day.  They read in John the account of the Savior's crucifixion and resurrection.  I am so thankful that because of His sacrifice, His gift, we not only all have the opportunity to find peace, and perspective, and cleanliness, and hope in this life, but we also get to be together forever.

I love you all.

M

Hello My Family!!!!

I have decided that winter is dreadful and unless you fill it with making plans for Spring and Summer you will not survive.  And such great things are happening in my near future. 

Event #1: Mary comes this weekend. I have already booked her schedule quite full. Our agenda includes family dinners, a quick trip to the Outlets, painting toenails, planning our Italy trip, exercising (not MY idea), Conference note-taking, maybe a little stitchery, and I'm still making lists. Today I am planning the menus, including all recipes I want to make but won't when I am alone because then I will eat way too much of a good thing.  Maybe I am forgetting she is only here for 48 hours....

Event #2: Easter! And in case you are wondering the Family egg hunt is happening in the yard. It might be Todd, Kyle, and I...but we are thinking of letting Grandma officially participate as long as she promises not to dump her eggs in Todd's basket just because he's the youngest.  The youngest my foot....that's been his line for years. If any of you back-easters want to come you are more than welcome, but if you get any money in your eggs it is forfeit to a Utah resident. 

Event #3: Spring Break is around the corner which means very little teaching for me and Mom and Emily are coming for two whole weeks.  My planning for this little extravaganza is a little different than for Mary's visit because you can party hard for 2 days and not feel the effects for weeks on end, but with Mom and Em it's all about endurance....I haven't gotten to menus, but I do have a few little outings up my sleeve. If Emily asks....yard work.  All yard work. 

My half marathon is on the 18th and although I don't remember the last time I went running (actually I know exactly when that was which is why I'm a little worried), I am going through with it even if it takes me forever and if I can't move after.  This might be unpleasant...we shall see. 

Event #4: Daddy come on the 24th.  It's a blitz trip where I think he plans on doing a season's amount of work, but it will be nice to have him in the state. 

My big Studio Semester Recitals are at the end of the month so with all my stuff to prepare for I am feeling very up and ready for what's next.  

Now if only it would stop snowing.....stupid Utah....

Happy Birthday Peter!

Even though Lucia wasn't perfectly thrilled about it, we had two great parties to celebrate Peter's birthday. Papa Kerry made his signature German-chocolate for the second party, and Natalie made a car cake for the party we had on his actual birthday. Peter loved them both—and in fact we discovered he loves parties in general and we've been wearing the birthday hats on and off for the past two weeks (I think Natalie finally put them away). Thank you so much, everyone, for the gifts, calls, and support!


Peter at 1 year—a short profile:

first word (after dada and the sign for milk): "book"

most frequently used word: "food"

weight: heavy

height: pretty tall, and did I mention heavy

mobility level: fast crawl, wary of stairs and the edges of beds

walking: not yet, thank goodness

napping: irregular—at this point basically one a day

favorite stuffed animal: the small blue elephant he sleeps with

favorite activities: eating, flushing the toilette, horseplay (by which I mean throwing himself against myself or Natalie with abandon), standing at the front glass door and mournfully watching Henry and Lucia play in the front, reading and eating books (especially the peek-a-boo book with photographs of other children making faces), chilling out

sense of humor: already developing—no guffaws, but frequent chuckles and smirks

The Humidifier

Who knew that a New York apartment in the beginning of March could be transformed into a bronchial-soothing, skin-smoothing tropical oasis by the mere addition of a humidifer . . . in addition to a select assortment of drugs of course (i.e. Nyquil, advil, Deme-something, cough drops, etc. etc.)  As long as I keep a water bottle handy and the humidifier on high, I'm able to sleep through the night sans cough.  Such a reprieve.  I don't even mind the fact that my hair, which was straight when I went to bed, is now totally curly.

Although, I'm now beginning to wonder if too much humidity might not be the best thing for everything other than me in my room.  I don't think I have a mold problem at the moment, but the thought has crossed my mind.  Especially since my windows are perma-fogged from the inside, and there is a marked moisty-linens aroma permeating the place.  Perhaps a de-germification will be on the table today.

All things considered, if perma-fog is the limit of its imperfections, I'll keep the humidifier.  In fact, I'm trying to figure out how I can sneak it into my yoga class this morning, and then Stake Women's conference which is immediately after.  It wouldn't be too awkward to pack it away in my massive canvas tote, carefully pull it out and set in on the floor next to my mat,  and then confidently weave the accompanying extension cord through the other yoga patrons to the outlet in the wall?  I've seen stranger things in this city.

I'll let you all know how it goes. 

A Beautiful Day in Utah!!!!

Every year it happens and every year I fall for it.  The snow melts, the sun comes out, we have a couple days were we can wear short skirts and sandals.  I'm in heaven. We don't even have inversion!  Mom would be proud of the number of open windows Aberdeen is sporting at the moment.  On entering the house this morning, one of my moms asked what smelled so nice in the house, was I burning a candle, room spray...No. Either she was smelling the salmon I cooked for dinner last night (which smelled lovely, but I wouldn't place it in the candle/room spray category) or she was simply smelling good ol' fresh air.  Do we put much bank in the whole seasonal depression thing because I am so much happier with a little blue sky and flowers on the counter?I'm even getting the itch to do a little spring cleaning--which I am going to make Grandma help me with. Shhhhh...she doesn't know....I'm sure when it snows later this week we will really see my bi-polar tendencies in full force.  Crazy Utah.  Until then, I'm going to go for a walk.

I love you lots and lots.  I am making some fun new recipes that I'll post in the next few days (Fettucine Carbonara and Smokey Slow Cooker Stew), but I wanted to drop a line and tell you I love you and I miss you. 

Lib