The Monkey Cage

Shake it off, just shake it off . . . .

2011-08-31T21:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know I need to blog about "Nunsense." And I will. Truth is, I don't think I can find words to express what that experience meant to me. But I shall try. Later. For right now though, a story.
I didn't like today. I don't like the person I am at my job. I like my job. Just not me at my job. So, lots of expectation, and pressure and shiz to do. All the time. And Ryan's been stressed. And that stresses me. Anyway, I came home and got Amylee ready to go to her first dance class. Her little tights, ballet shoes, leotard and skirt. I took her there and walked her into the room. She was so happy. And the music was so beautiful. And I watched her little arms move up and down and her little toes pointing and I all my stress, all my anger just sort of dissipated out of my body. And I got the distinct impression that was exactly where she needed to be. And I almost cried.
Then I spent the evening with my delightfully funny friend, Lindy. Oh she's wild. And makes me laugh so hard I almost pee. Our rules?
Rule #1. Obviously. Keep your clothes on
Rule #2. Check the tension
Rule #3. Shake it off, just shake it off
Rule #4. ROCK ON.
Theeeeennnnn . . . .I got to see my sister NUNS!! Sweet bug eatin Sister Hubert is moving far away to some town in Louisiana that is spelled one way and said another. She leaves Friday. I love this girl. And I was so happy to see her so happy and ready for this new adventure. And Sister Amnesia. And Reverend Mother. Sister Leo was at work. I miss them. I miss how I feel when I am with them. Over yogurt, there I was again. Me and Robert Anne, just chillin'.

I suck

2011-08-08T22:30:00.000-07:00

I do. Completely. Tonight's rehearsal was . . . well, a big, fat joke. And yet, I still had a great time. How is that even remotely possible? I mean, we are talking major, MAJOR brain farts here. I stopped right in the middle of the tap number because I had zip idea what came next. WHAT??!?!? Then I forgot to sing. Then my solo came out sounding like a 1st grader at her end of year talent show. What the hell!?! And yet, on we went. Laughing, squishing beetle's. At one point I had severe anger for those beetle's and I may have jumped up and down on one. Repeatedly. Yes, it made me feel better.
We open on Thursday. I think I'm too old for this. OR something. If I lose focus for a second, I'm screwed. Who knows where I'll end up. And for those of you that know me well, it doesn't take much to pull my focus. I gotta get in the zone here. I gotta pray.
Let's all pray, shall we?

Shoes

2011-07-28T07:44:00.001-07:00

It's crazy how a pair of shoes can make one so happy. My friend is reading my blog today, so I thought I would write about something. I also realized I said I was going to blog about my "Nunsense" experience, and I have not. So, here is a little post about shoes, AND the show.
See the shoes in this picture? (I hope it uploads). I get to wear those in "Nunsense." Why do I get to do that, you may be asking? Well, mostly cuz I just decided that's how it was going to be. I am not even sure I really ever checked with my director. Robert Anne seems like a green converse kinda gal. And when I put them on my feet for Tuesdays rehearsal, I felt like Benny from 'The Sandlot.' I could have outran a dog, no joke. Except that the first run through of Act II on tuesday resembled a train wreck, the second time we ran it we were super good and I really think my shoes helped. They do rub however against the blisters on the back of my feet, but that's another story I won't bore you with here.
Show Update: It's crazy fun and I love it! Except that sometimes it kicks my butt. This is very hard work that I had forgotten what it felt like. Except that I have never felt like this on stage before. It's very hard to describe. I acted all through high school, some college and community stuff. I guess during all that time I was trying to be good, like if I didn't prove I was good enough to be there the audience wouldn't like me. Or some stupid thing like that. I was always wondering what the audience was thinking of me instead of just giving over to the story and character. It really wasn't that much fun. I stand up there now and I LOVE telling her story. I love singing with my Sister Nuns. I just want to share with the audience how great this little show is. And in wanting to give so much it doesn't feel like it's about me at all. Because before, it was all about me. All the time on stage. And it's super weird, because I use to not wear my glasses on stage. I never really wanted to acknowledge an audience out there. How freakin' weird and stupid is that?! But it's true. Now, I have to wear my glasses. How will I ever see to connect with the people who have come to support us if I don't wear them. And it's weird for me. And I feel super vulnerable about it. And sort of all grown up.
I think it's the shoes.

I LIKE . . .

2011-06-20T12:25:00.000-07:00

SUMMERTIME! Alot. I mean, like a ridiculous amount. Here are some reasons why (all mostly selfish, but whatev)
*Root Beer Floats. I swear I don't eat these 9 months out of the year. I don't know why.
* Late night jaunts to Smith's to get said items for RBF's.
*Hanging out with my sister-in-law/Best Friend, Krisite. I love her. We would be best friends even if we weren't related. Last week we sat in her back yard on her porch swings in the sun eating chips while the kids fought. It was heavenly.
*Late Night Reading
*The SUN!!! And being warm. Now I know the sun has not been out much, but it's not the bone-chilling cold that makes me so damn irritable.
*Nothing on my brain. Nothing
*I only have to dress up once a week, not six.
*Raspberry Ice Tea. There I said it. Only a few select people in my life know my affinity(I like word) to this beverage. Again, mostly just a summer drink.
*Sunday Night's. Knowing I don't have to get up and go anywhere the next day.
*Lunch dates with so many people I love!!
*Sleeping in. Duh.
I hesitate to say this, because then people will expect things from me, but I love to cook in the summer. And have already tried a new dish. Oh my, it was divine.
*The tank of gas in my van last FOREVER.
Happiness linked specifically to this summer:
UACTT (Utah Advisory Council of Theater Teachers) Conference in Cedar City next week!
Fitzmaurice Breathing/Vocal Technique Workshops (Truly, this work is incredible and vital for a performer. Also carries over into everyday life. Interseted? Let me know!)
Marsh Lake. Ah . . . . .
4th of July back at Dad Thorne's house after many years away!
I get to be in a show again!

These make me laugh . . .

2011-05-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

1. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY?
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
-- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry.
God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
-- Kristen, age 10

2.WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
-- Camille, age 10

3.HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick, age 8

4.WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
-- Lori, age 8

5.WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other.

Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette, age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin, age 10

6.WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich.
-- Pam, age 7

-The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
- - Curt, age 7

-The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and

have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
- - Howard, age 8

7.IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys.

Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita, age 9

8.HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is...

9.HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.
-- Ricky, age 10

Nunsense is Habit-Forming . . .Rehearsal Day 1

2011-05-10T21:21:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna blog about this. Alot probably. Mostly because I want to keep track. Also because I think it's going to be really good for me to be on the other side for awhile and I don't want to miss any of it. And, sometimes I make my kids keep journals of what's going on with a show. I'm going to see if it's as useless as they sometimes act like it is.
I was so nervous. Rehearsal was suppose to start at 6:30pm and at 5:45 I was pacing around my kitchen so giddy and nervous all at the same time! I didn't know what to expect; never worked with this director, not knowing everyone, not being on stage for 8 years and forever before that. We had some craziness at our house so I ended up being 10 minutes late because of an unforseen (is that even a word) emergency. I was mad at myself for being late so I ran in screaming, "Don't kick me out, please don't kick me out!" Mostly I begged for forgiveness. I'm not ashamed of that at all.
So, in case you don't know, the premise of the show is that these five little nuns are doing a variety show to bury their dead sisters who died of botchulism (not spelled right) when Sister Juila, Child of God, made a batch of bad soup. The show is hilarious, completely inappropriate and has moments of complete blasphemy. Alyn, one of my very best friends who plays Reverend MOther, said it's okay to blaspheme because our audience will be mostly Mormon and not get why it's funny. She said this all the while laughing herself off her chair. ANYWAY, when I got into my van today I found a plate of cookies for the Little Sisters of Hoboken made by Sister Julia, Child of God (an anonymous nun). I took the cookies to rehearsal where Brittany (Sister Amnesia) ate one. Where upon she swelled up like a balloon because she is allergic to nuts which 'Sister Julia' had put in the cookies. Damn that Sister Julia, now she trying to off Sister Amnesia. Classic moment.
My friend Alyn is probably the funniest person I know. She is wild. And makes me wild. And we were wild all night long. I have no idea how I"m going to be in a scene with her and not laugh because tonight sitting by her trying to read through the play we were both peeing our pants. Good thing I have four months to get this right.
I get to be Sister Robert Anne. I love her. I forgot how naughty she is. She is constantly playing, and getting others to play with her. She is corrupting the novices, to which Sister Hubert replies, "Well, at least she's not in jail." I cannot tell you how many times my mother said that to me growing up. Robert Anne is the better part of me. I am super happy I get to be with her this summer.
The other Nuns are fabulous. Sister Leo(Heather) and I get to do a dying nun ballet dance where I shall lift her and douse her in soup with my ladle from my tureen. I'm also wearing green high tops. And I get to choreograph the tap number.
I loved, LOVED that our director (Andrew) just let us play tonight. He didn't try to direct us, he just let us go. I have never sat down to a cold reading and just let it all go, didn't care whether I sounded stupid or not. Being able to hear my voice and being bold with choices made the night so productive for me. I didn't feel scared. OR fake. And long, long story short, I quit acting 18 years ago because I could no longer hide behind this scared person I had been my whole life. I found me 18 years ago, and that me couldn't be on stage. It felt fake. I feel like now I am back to play, just me, all me. And I can't wait.
Today was frustrating at my work. Why people feel the need to say things that you don't really need to hear is beyond me. It was the best ever to go do something else tonight, and not be defined by the walls of DAvis High. There is more to me than my job.
Thanks for listening.

Mother's Day . . .a bit late

2011-05-10T17:04:00.000-07:00

I am mostly amazed that I know these people. I am more amazed that they were willing to let me be there mom. Because I am a spaz. And I don't honor them nearly enough. They are teaching me more than I will ever learn from them. I see moments where I have faltered in raising them, but there is always something that makes up for it. Or takes it's place. I love these three pictures of them. Some of my favorite ones. Perhaps it's because I am perpetually baby hungry, but these pictures bring me joy. Being a mom is hard. It is kicking my butt. And it's just what I needed.

Surely Goodness and Mercy Shall Follow Me All the Days of My Life . . .

2011-05-07T00:14:00.000-07:00

Just as sheep follow the shepherd
Because there is an affinity between them
So qualities and experiences and people follow us.

What we have become sings its own song
Vibrates like a tuning fork
And is answered by its equal.

I would bathe you, wrap you
In goodness and mercy, my love.
I would feed you goodness and mercy
Fill our home with the sounds and smells and speech
Of goodness and mercy
Until they are in the soft marrow of your bones
And in your expectation.

Look for nothing else.

Do not wake up thinking that something bad is coming.
I know people whose creed seems to be:
Surely badness and harsh judgment will follow me
All the days of my life, especially today
And I'd be better off to stay in bed.
Know that you are followed, tracked, pursued
Not by enemies and persecutors
But by your best friends: goodness and mercy.

What I would teach you, child, I first must learn.

I must become a mother who bathes and wraps herself
In goodness and mercy.
Giving all to you and nothing to me
Is not good.
Forgiving you and finding fault with me
Is not merciful.
I must anoint myself with the oil of gladness
Dress myself in colors of praise
Serve myself from a full table
That I might have life more abundantly.

And when I forget or fail
Then mercy from you and mercy from me.
What a wonderful foursome we make
As we walk this path:
You, me, and the promised
Goodness and mercy that will follow us
Surely, surely
All the days of our lives.

Carolyn Pearson

One of the many reasons why I love my husband . . .

2011-05-06T12:20:00.001-07:00

An email sent to me today from Ryan:

"What a 2 weeks!!
I am so happy to be around you. I am so excited for the next three days, they are going to be great.
I hope you feel better today, you deserve to today. I heard 3 of our songs on the way to work today, reminded me of you and how much I love you.
I am blessed."
Love,
Ry

Shhhh, don't tell anyone . . .

2011-05-03T21:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm gonna tell you something. Let us never speak of it again after tonight. I'm going to whisper it, so read closely: ienjoyedmyruntonight. Please don't say it out loud! My crazy running sister-in-law and wacked out running friends will hear you and then they'll be all over me like sweat on a sports bra. I have noticed I enjoy running more when I'm stressed, irritated or flat out pissed off at someone. Maybe it's because when I'm the aforementioned situation where that emotion arises, I don't feel like I'm going anywhere. And when I run, well, we're bookin' it around the track at the Clearfield Acquatic Center.
I'm still in audition hell. But here are a few things that have made me happy this week:
I have a new dishwasher. My husband bought it. God bless him.
I have a new Oak Ridge Boys CD that I found at Wally World for 5 smackers. Yeah, that's right, I said the Oak Ridge Boys. Judge me, why don't ya.
I have fresh flowers in the vase on my kitchen windowsill. (I don't think that's one word. Oh well.)
I get to eat chips and salsa with my cutest little friend tomorrow.
I found a necklace of garlic gloves in my prop room. I have hung them on the lamp that sits by my door in my class room. (I think that is one word).I plan on keeping them there to ward off evil parents next week after my lists go up. If a particularly nasty parent shows up, I may stand up and put it around my neck, grab the nearest wooden stake I can find, and trust me when I tell you there are a few of those in my classroom, and take matters into my own hands.
Oh, and if someone asks me 'is that okay?' one more time things are gonna get ugly.

Super Blessed

2011-04-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

So, these two weeks at work are a bit stressful. I try to find the joy in it as well and it does exist. I am holding auditions for my Musical Productions class and Advanced Theatre class. In all, I will have seen 200 kids by next Friday. I keep saying to myself, "It's just high school, it's just an audition. It's not that big of a deal." But really, it is a big deal. I have seen lives change because of the relationships made in these classes. Friends made who will be friends for eternity. I feel a responsibility, that I gladly take on, to make sure each student is evaluated thoroughly so I can make the best decision possible for them. I am given insight that I really shouldn't have when it comes to knowing who should be where. I am grateful and humbled that Heavenly Father trusts me enough to take care of these monkeys.
I am super blessed because I have people in my life who check up on me EVERYDAY to make sure I am okay. My sweet principal who is just about the most dedicated man I've known, encouraged me to take the day off to go hear my dear friend Liz speak at women's conference. He needed me to sit in on interviews today for a new choir teacher, and instead, told me to 'be gone!' I have recently acquired a new friend(don't you love new friends!) who delivered to my desk today my favorite Gluten-free Red Velvet Cupcake because she knew I 'needed a little boost of love.' My friend Liz asked how I was, in the middle of the most anxious week of her life, she wanted to make sure I was doing okay. My sweet seniors check in with me everyday. Landon brought me food to last through the week; they text, pop their heads in, ask if I'm okay and if I need anything. My friend Syd comes and organizes all the forms so I can take them home and look them over. I mean, do you get what I'm saying?! It's like my Heavenly Father penciled them all in to make sure they have my back. And then, there is my husband. Where to even start. He gets this. He gets me. Two very important things. And when he says he'll be here for me, he is. And he lets me talk and gives THE best advice on what to do or where to go next. I can breathe when I get home because of him.
I just wanted to get this all down.

PG-13

2011-04-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

What the hell!? I let my sister-in-law talk me into running Ragnar this year. I don't know what I was thinking. Seriously. Mostly because it's April, soon to be May. And in April, soon to be May, this little thing takes over my complete life called my job. The suckage that is my job occurs on many levels none of which I will bore you with here. Suffice it to say, there is zip time to train. Because . . .when I get home from said job I. AM. SLEEPY. Do you hear me?! Sleepy. Please don't leave a post that tells me exercising will increase my energy. It's lies. All lies, I tell you! I'm running tonight, trying to contact my inner runner? And you know who I found? My inner bitch, and she's is screaming at me and super pissed that I'm encroaching on her 'sit on your butt with a bowl full of Starburst Jelly Beans (thank you my love) watching TV and don't bug me' time. I also had to sign the waiver which in essence (among other things) said that if I happen to fall into a pothole while I am running I won't sue anyone. My mom thinks I could possibly run into a cow. I think that would hurt. Running into a cow. Perhaps I'll run with a knife. Even though Mrs. Hansen in first grade asked me not too. See, if I run with a knife, steak knife to be exact, when I hit the cow, and if I hit him hard enough, I can saw me off a piece of hiney and bbq that bad dog up and eat whilst I am running.
Oh, and I paid 90 bucks for this experience.

I had myself a hankerin . . .

2011-04-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

So a few weeks ago I found myself in unchartered territory. My bestest friend Kristin directs the summer musical for Kaysville City. This year she chose to do "The Wizard of Oz." And I got to thinking, "I should go audition for the Wicked Witch." I laughed about it mostly. My students are always asking me to act and such. I actually just think they want to know if I do, in fact, know what the hell I am talking about. See, Ryan joked about going to audition for the Cowardly Lion. Take a moment here and picture the hilarity of that possibility. Okay, you done? Me too, I thought I would be priceless. So then I was like, "hey now, this could be a riot. Him as the lion, me as the witch. Too much fun." So, the more I think of it, the more excited I get. Like, really excited. Like, I really wanted to be in a show. Now, you must realize I have not wanted or had any desire to be on stage in years. YEARS, friends. I was in a show 8 years ago just so I could tap dance. And before that it was 8 years also. We are talking a long time. And not just a long time on stage, but a long time since I had felt that desire to want to play. So I check my calendar and as fate would have it, I will be presenting a conference at a workshop two days before "The Wizard of Oz" opens. I. Was. So. Sad! I think I would have been a delightful wicked witch. I was bummed. Now, fast foward about four days . . . .
I am standing in my kitchen reading through the Kaysville City Newsletter. When lo and behold, what do I see? An audition notice for a delightful little musical called, "Nunsense." Here is some background: my senior year of high school I did a humerous interp for debate. I chose to do a delightful little musical called "Nunsense" in which I would play all five of the sisters in the play at the same time. I fell in love with this show, this story and one particular nun, Sister Robert Anne. She is streetwise, car-driving, basketball playing nun who just wants to have a moment in the spotlight to sing her song. So I travel along in my life and have the opportunity to direct this show twice. All the time secretly wanting to be Sister Robert Anne. K, come back to my kitchen. I am reading this audition notice and I'm like, "Oh my gosh!! This is it! I have to try for this. Even if I don't get it, if I don't try I will regret it." So, I decide right then that I will go do this. This was a Saturday. The next day I get called into the Bishop's office and asked to be the Young Womens's Assistant Camp Director with camp being the exact same week as the performances of "Nunsense." Needless to say I looked straight to the heavens and with a lift of my arms said, "REALLY!?" The Bishop mostly looked confused. I decided it was not meant for me to choose between the two, but to try out and see where it landed.
So, I tried out. And thought I was going to pee my pants. I was so scared. I had forgotten the feeling. It was sort of a rush. And for the first time in my life I had a blast at an audition. I left it all there. I threw it out and let it hang on the walls, I was that good. It was good for me to stand in my students shoes for a minute. To feel the excitement of finding a monologue, working on a song, getting my resume ready was thrilling. I have a renewed respect for my cute little monkeys I teach.
And you are now looking at the current member of Clearfield Community Theater's production of "Nunsense" who will be playing the role of Sister Robert Anne!!
I am planning on blogging of this whole experience. It should be interesting to say the least. I haven't had to dance and sing at the same time for a very, very , VERY long time. It's going to be comical. And not necessarily in a good way.

Hiatus

2011-04-14T20:33:00.000-07:00

You know, I realized the other day why I don't blog. I don't feel like I can say what I really need to. Like, some days I need to say, "What the hell?!" Other days warrant a dropping of the 'F' bomb. Yes, it's true. It's come out of my mouth. So, I'm thinking, "Sheesh, I can't write what's really going on in my head. My father-in-law may read this." However, out of anyone in my life he would probably understand. He taught driver's ed for like a century. So then I thought, "Okay then, just write what you need to in a journal. That way no one can read it." And you know what I think? I think secretly we want people to read out blogs. Maybe someone out there feels like I do on any given day. Who knows. So, I'm going to blog. Cuz some things are coming up that I'm going to need to talk about. Or rejoice about. Or send out into the blog universe just to feel like I am connected. Perhaps I shall give my blogs a movie rating so those of you out there who may read this will know which ones to skip or which ones are safe to read.
And I guess if you dont' like it, don't read the blog.

The Great '68'

2010-08-17T17:04:00.000-07:00

I would just like to discuss my husband for a moment. This sums him up perfect. I was de-junking my bedroom the other day. I mean, I threw away everything that wasn't nailed down. It felt good. I'm talking bags to DI, garbage, the shredding of important, possibly illegal, documents. So I come across note after note that I have tucked away from students over the past 12 years.(I just want to note there that I have cleaned out my room over the last 12 years.) I have a box of notes at school too. And I say to Ry, "What am I going to do with all these notes?" And his reply? "Keep every single one of them. All of them. Don't you throw one thing away. I will buy you a new file cabinet if you need me too." How is it possible someone came into my life who would know what I need, when I need it. And honor my work as a mother and teacher.
I love him.
PS, I tried to post a picture of us. I don't think it worked. It's of us at the Ben Fold's concert this summer. Another reason why the great 68 rocks my world.

Soaring . . .

2010-06-19T22:56:00.000-07:00

Tonight I watched my sweet mother-in-law take some of her final breathes in mortality. I find myself this evening grateful for a myriad of things. I am grateful that I got to share in this part of her life. I am grateful for the family she raised, they are truly my best friends. I am grateful to have watched her and Dad at the end; the compassion, the tenderness, the eternal companionship. I am grateful for her testimony that she was bearing even at the end. I am grateful for a Savior who broke the bonds of death, who denied the grave it's claim and rose from the tomb, for He made it possible for me to let go. And even though my mortal body is grieving this most poignant loss, my spirit tonight is soaring at the very thought of her reunion with her Mom and Dad, her many sweet pioneer friends and her catching up with her two beautiful granddaughters. As sad as I am that her physical presence is no longer with me, that is how much happiness she brought to those who were waiting for her on the other side.
We grieve deeply because we love deeply.
Farewell Mom . . . for now.

One Hundred Times To Say Goodbye . . .

2010-05-16T17:19:00.000-07:00

Ryan was talking with a co-worker last week who made the comment of how lucky he was to have all this time with his mom. You know, to say goodbye. Ryan told him he has said goodbye about one hundred times, it's not as great as you think. I can't get that phrase out of my head. So, today during Sacrement meeting I wrote down some thoughts:

One Hundred Times To Say Goodbye
One hundred times to say goodbye,
one hundred times to leave.
One hundred times to hear my name
one hundred cheek on cheek

Every time I say goodbye I wonder,
"Is this my last?"
Make sure to love, and kiss and hug
Tomorrow is our past

She dies a little bit each day
With her, my heart dies too.
I assumed those final moments, my grieving,
would help do.

But:
One hundred times to say goodbye
one hundred times to leave,
I memorize my name aloud
And touch my hand to cheek.

Maturation Class

2010-03-05T21:42:00.000-08:00

Me - "RyLeigh, when is the day you have your meeting at school on turning into a woman,"

RyLeigh - "I think it's the end of this month."

Me - "I promise I won't embarrass you."

Long pause . . ..

Me - "I promise I will try not to embarrass you."

RyLeigh - "You better come late and sit on the back row."

She knows me too well.

You Know It's Gonna Be A Great Sabbath When . .

2010-01-24T12:59:00.001-08:00

You know it's gonna be a great Sabbath when you stand up to lead the singing in Sac meeting and no one is joining you. And I mean, NO ONE is singing. And they are looking at their hymnal, and up at you, seriously confused. And you're like, "Oh hell, the transpose button is up again." So, you end the song as the soloist and let the organist know that the transpose button needs to come down. And she says,'I don't know anything about organs." Oh good. Super happy we have some knowledge on the bench today. So, she leans over and says, "I got it."
Then we start the sacrament hymn. Not good. So not good. If we had been singing any higher I'm pretty sure we'd a been singin' with the hosts of Heaven on this one. And I'm trying not to laugh at everyone singing high, really high. And all my spirituality flew straight out the window and one time I thought I saw the 2nd counselor looking over at me but I'm like, "Hello? You want me to stop the song right now and fix it?" I mean, cuz I would have, you know?
So after the sacrament on the way to sit with my kids I sit down at the organ and she has turned the transpose button up FOUR times! We were singing these songs four steps up from where we should be!
Hahahahahahaha, oh my, hahahahahaha!!

Year in Revue

2010-01-03T14:36:00.000-08:00

Last January I posted something that went like this; "Moving down the line in 2009." Clever, huh? I have acutally had this post in my mind all year. I shall now go through and look back at what I actually did that was on the list, and the bajillion things I had no idea would be a part of my life.
I mentioned that Ry and I would go away for our anniversary and take our kids. We like making it a family celebration. We didn't end up taking them and taking us two months later, but we went to San Diego. My favorite place on this planet. I posted about this. Ah, the beach.
I talked about going to Paris and London with my amazing friend Kelly. I have had the opportunity, fortunate I might add, of teaching this mans four children. This was a celebration of the last one leaving Davis High. At the time I posted this I wasn't sure if my bff Bonnie would be joining me on this trip. She did. I posted about this trip too. But in my 'Down the Line' post I mentioned that I needed to eat lunch at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and cry at the Globe Theater in London. Done. And done.
We went to Marsh Lake! Twice actually! Once with Ry's family and once again in September with our delightful friends, the Rose's. And Taeler and Rachel. Marsh Lake in the fall is my new favorite time. Right before everything goes to sleep. It's like I'm the last one to see it awake. I dont know why, but I love that.
I wrote that I would get a massage and tan. Two things for my mental status. Didn't happen. Mental status didn't suffer.
Because I was faithful to work out. And a side note to this is that when I posed for my Lady Macbeth photo, I looked damn hot and I would dare say made my photographer uncomfortable. I posted about this as well.
I got to direct Peter Pan. Life. Altering. Experience. We played in Neverland for 3 months. I taught the kids how to find their inner child and let them out. It was harder than you would think. We kept happy thought journals, painted with pudding, sang, danced, got battle wounds and if you look really hard, you can still find pixie dust in the Davis High Auditorium. "It's time for dinner!"
One thing I wrote was that I wanted to stay better connected to friends who had really been there for me. THis one really ended up being completely different than I expected. THose people I had in mind when I wrote that particular item were the ones I ended up putting on hold. Season change. And those relationships did exactly what Marsh Lake did, they went to sleep for awhile. This has been very hard. And sad for me. But needful. A step back is always good. Other friends however, came out of nowhere. One friend inparticular, who I have loved since I was 5, came back into my life. She is a blessing.
One item is that we would begin the process to add # 4 to our family. He has yet to even be an option. I don't think he is eluding us. Perhaps just bidding his time? Apparently there is more to this story than meets the eye. I will keep you updated on that one!
Okay, those were just the responses to said items I wrote down clear last year. HEre are some things that happened that were not listed:
Because of my work with Peter Pan, I was guided to learning a new vocal/breathing technique. I was able to travel to Los Angeles TWICE to learn about this process. I began teaching it to my students. It's incredible. They achieved more in the first week of school than sometimes those classes do all year. It's hard work, but altering in it's scope for a performer. WAnna know more? Shoot me an email! I will teach it to you!
I went to Cedar City with my bff Syd and stopped in our favorite town of Nipple and took a picture! Long, funny story that I won't bore you with here. Just know that Fillmore use to be the capital of Utah, and oranges have navals, and there is no way for me to explain this story. HAHAHAHAHAA . . . .
I got to sing in Women's Conference in September in Salt LAke. AMAZING! I loved the rehearsals, met a wonderful woman from Utah County who was our director. Just an overall yummy experience. I'd do it again. Tomorrow.
Back to Cedar City to play with my students where they took 2nd place in Sweepstakes for their Shakespeare work. Booyah!
I got to be a part of DAvis High School's production of "The SEcret Garden." Tender, compassionate, heart-felt, touching. Oh what a special place in my heart I have for those kids and that show. No words to describe it fully. Other than to say if we could go back and do one more performance I would in a second. To feel again what I felt then, ah . . .
M kids performed in their first musical theater performance with ShowStopper Productions. I loved it!! About broke my heart seeing my Duncan up there dancing with a girl! And RyLeigh is gorgeous onstage. Highlight of the year for me. I couldn't quit smiling.
Watched a close friend make some re-aligning decisions in her life. Big ones. Being so open to whatever was needful. Watched it be hard. Watched her cry. Glad to say made her laugh. Learned with her as she went. Kept my mouth shut alot. Opened it when I couldn't stand it any longer. I love her. She is kicking butt and taking names.
Ups and downs. Backs and forths. That's a year in the life, right? I sat on the beach on my birthday. Wondering why certain things didn't pan out this year as planned. And then I felt what a gift this year has been to me. All of it. A complete gift. And there I was sitting wondering why I didn't get more. Or what I wanted. Selfish. Very selfish. Right then I accepted the gift of this year. Given to me by my Heavenly Father, made possible by loads of people. Mostly my husband. And all I can say is thank you.
Thank you.

Not Quite Ready For This . . .

2009-11-05T20:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my son turned 7. I haven't had trouble letting my RyLeigh grow up. She is independent, and strong. And really, I could send Amylee out into the world right now and it would never know what hit it. But, Duncan is my tender heart. He mostly has me wrapped around his finger. I think it's a mom/son thing. So here is the conversation that ensued in the bathroom before leaving for his birthday dinner.

Me - "Dunc, get in here so we can do your hair before we go."

Duncan - "WHY? Why do we have to do my hair. We are going to Hungry Bear, NOT church!"

Me - "Just indulge me, okay? Sometimes you have to let moms do things."

Duncan - "You do too much things."

Me - "What?"

Duncan - "You do too much things."

Me - "Like what?"

Duncan - "Like, my clothes. I want to pick out my own clothes." (yes, I pick out his clothes and put them on his bed at night.)

Me - (Shocked in finding out this was even an issue) "Okay. Okay. You can totally pick out your own clothes. That's fine."

Duncan - "Thank you"

So, he's 7 and all the sudden he's all big and wanting to do stuff. Which makes me think, what other too much things am I doing that's driving him nuts and he's just indulging me? He bears his testimony in church now all by himself. (Yes, break my heart wide open!). He wears his white shirt and orange tie and walks up there like he believes every word he's ever been told. And this is only going to get worse. Like, what the crap do I do with myself when he gets baptized and I'm bawling my eyes out? I mean, I can't embarrass the poor kids. Or when he starts junior high ( I swear if people are mean to him I will kick their butts). When he goes on his first date? When he gets his mission call and leaves!!! Or when he finds his bride, and marries her and then holds his baby for the first time?

I thought being a mom wasn't going to be hard this way. The emotional, rip your heart out, hurst so bad to love him so much kind fo hard. I thought it would be the laundry that would kill me. I guess it has: "Mom, I can pick out my own clothes."

Family Photo's! (Long time-no blog. I suck)

2009-11-02T18:55:00.000-08:00

Lee-lee

2009-07-21T20:52:00.000-07:00

She doesn't look to thrilled about this tender moment.

2009-07-13T22:04:00.000-07:00

My son begs me to let him clean the toilets.

I love him.

Proof

2009-07-02T14:20:00.001-07:00

Speechless

2009-06-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

I will be here. At this very spot. In two days. I have never done anything like this by myself and I'm nervous. Anxious. Excited. Thrilled. I have to give a shoutout to people who have supported me and been so excited for me to get here. Kelly Oram, who has wanted me to do this for five years. Ryan, who told me it was now or never (probably) and has wanted me to do this for a whole year. Kristie, Dennise, Emma and Britney for helping take care of my little monkeys. To Bonnie, for being my travel companion. She has every reason to not go on this trip, and she's going anyway. Mom and DAd Thorne for helping me with the initial payment (and for being so excited to see me go.) And my Mom and Dad and sister, Shelly, who remember that huge poster of the Eiffel Tower I use to have hanging on my wall in my bedroom in the 8th grade.
So this post was titled speechless. Seems I did have something to say.

Davis Reads & Lady Macbeth

2009-06-07T12:12:00.000-07:00

At Davis High School where I teach we are implementing a new reading initiative. To catapult this into place, each teacher was encouraged to bring their favorite book (s) and head to the photography studio to have their picture taken. These picture are placed in said teachers classrooms in 20x24 size frames (I think) for all to see. I thought it would be way too much fun to dress up as my favorite Shakespearean character and get my picture taken. My bestest friend Syd came and did my hair and make up. I barely fit into that dress (my ribcage is not the size it use to be) and I think I made my friend Kelly Oram who took my picture an eensy-weensy bit uncomforable because of how much skin I was showing. And plus, I just look damn hot! This is the closest I will ever be to actually being Lady Macbeth. And I'm okay with that. My favorite part of the picture is the blood dripping off the knife. Also a Syd feature. My other favorite part is having this in my classroom when my new little sophomores come in next year. I think I may carry around my blood soaked knife on the first day. Just for fun.

SAN DIEGO!!

2009-05-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

I am so behind on blogging I don't know if I will ever catch up! Let's start with Spring Break. Ry and I used some tax money and went to San Diego. I love, LOVE San Diego. I love Mission Beach. I haven't been for 9 years and when we got there I just stood on the beach and cried. The beach fills my soul like I cannot explain. And my husband does the same thing. We had the best time just relaxing on the beach and going to some places we had never been too. The best day was when we laid on the beach for 6 hours and I fell asleep on his belly. I am so grateful we go to go to my favorite place. And more importantly, so happy I could go with Ry.

Pictures are of him and I at Cabrillo National Monument (so beautiful), my Ry at the beach and a sunset picture.

If I close my eyes, I'm back there. With the wind in my hair, the salt on my lips, and no stress in my shoulders.

For Amylee, Erin, Whitney and anyone else who may be . . .

2009-03-31T20:22:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'm Watching Atoms Order
by David Thacker
In the ultra sound I see five fingers
stretching out. Stretching and back. Expand,
contract. What are they reaching for? Is it
a game babies play-practicing for catch.
Or are they thinking of what it will
feel like to grasp hands and be
ridiculously in love. As those
fingers form, do they look forward to that?
Or maybe I'm watching atoms order.
My physics book tells me that atoms
that make up a baby originated in
stars. Hydrogen, carbon, oxygen-
all atoms waiting and hoping to be
five fingers in the ultra sound-waving
to me. Feeling small and quiet, I wave back.

Take care of yourselves my friends. I love you.

"Thank you . . . You're Welcome"

2009-03-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

My Amylee thinks that when you say 'you're welcome,' that means thank you. So, if I hand her a drink she says,"You're Welcome." We have tried to help her switch them around, but she just cant' get the hang of it. And when she says 'you're welcome,' it sounds like 'you're welcome,' with the inflection and everything. It made me think today. She says 'you're welcome' for thank you, and maybe I should be thanking her letting me serve her. Thank you Amylee, for helping me not be so selfish, to put your needs before mine. Thank you for making me stop and read books, or play soccer in the back yard. Thank you for forgiving me when I make really stupid mistakes. Thank you for letting me sing "Winnie the Pooh" before we go to bed. Thank you for rubbing your little face all over mine when we snuggle. Thank you for screaming with happiness when I come pick you up from daycare. Thank you for growing big and strong even though you started out weiging the size of a large potato. Thank you for looking at me with your little blue eyes and saying, "Huh?" whenever I ask you a question. Thank you for putting your shoes away the minute we walk in the door. Thank you for making Grammy and Pop and Grammie Sherie so happy. Thank you my Amylee. Thank you.

You're welcome.

2009-03-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

I am sluffing Relief Society and drowning my sorrows in cheesecake my sister Vicki made me. She makes the best cheesecake ever. It's actually not even called cheesecake. It's cream cheese pie. That just makes it sound even better, right? She makes it for me when I get way busy or stressed at work. So I got home from my show last night and it was sitting on my table. And I'm not sharing.
I am sluffing Relief Society because I'm being non-religious today and pretending I haven't just been called to be the Ward Choir Director. I have now been this three times in my life, with Ward Chorister 5. I now will do both jobs at the same time. I have bitterness. Not because they asked me to serve. I can serve. I serve. It's just that it's the same thing over and over. Lead the music. I love music. My mom taught me to lead when I was 8. It's a gift I am grateful for. But seriously, it's the same thing over and over again. I looked right at the first counselor and told him this was a calling of convenience, not inspiration. And he said, You're right. (insert cheesecake here) I changed the time of choir practice and the location and you'd have thought I shot someone's cat. The ward organist, who I deal with weekly, is also the choir accompanist. He is very special. And I don't mean 'special, we want to be around him all the time.' I mean, special, in the way you are thinking. I had to talk him through the change. I thought he was going to have a nervous breakdown. I was standing in the hallway by the primary room scheduling the chapel for practice. The clerk wished my good luck, I said, "We'll see" right at the first counselor rounded the corner. He said, "Sister Thorne is excited. She just chooses to show it on the inside." I had to run out of the building before I unloaded on this poor man because my first reaction would have produced little pieces of him and me all over the wall. I have issues about this. I know I do. It will probably end up being the best thing that's ever happened to me. But right now, I'm just irritated about the whole thing. I guess it's because a monkey could do my callings. And I love doing music, but not when I feel thrown into it because no one else can be found. I'll keep you posted. Today should be interesting.

Priceless!

2009-02-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

For those of you who know me well, you know how I feel about my son. He has me wrapped around his finger. He has to wake up at 6:30am every day to go to school with me where he plays in the day care until I take him to afternoon kindergarten. Everyday when I wake him he says, "Why are you waking me up in the middle of the night!" He is so patient with me and my job and the fact, as he put it last night in the van, "There are too many girls in this family!" (This kid needs a brother. Be patient, little man. All in good time.) Anyway, the other day I woke him up and he got right up, put his clothes on. I was shocked. I went to get dressed and came back to see what the shoe and sock status was for the morning and found him like this. He is sitting on top of the heat vent.

Priceless.

The "S L A B's" in concert, One NIGHT ONLY . . .!

2009-02-08T16:09:00.000-08:00

Here we are, in our first official photo shoot. This evening was inspired by stress. These three women have had some stress in their lives as of late, and there's nothing like banging away on the drums to relieve said stress. Liz is inspiringly(I don't really think that's a word, but you know what I mean) good on the guitar. Bonnie rocks the mic and Syd is our drummer. (As you can probably tell, we didn't get a whole lot accomplished with Bonnie on drums). And, we were retarded for a minute and had to do "Band on the Run" like four times before we weren't booed off stage. And the costumes, well, I went to Wally to make us shirts with our band name and ran into these. And they sparkled. And I had to buy them. I mean, you have to have glitter to be in a band for hell's sake! Big shout out to RyLeigh who helped us all night long pick songs and change our difficutly level. The average age in this group was like 43ish, (that's if you average the three former D'ettes with the young, prettier version of them all. I'm actually guessing on that average because I have no idea how to really average it). Anyway, we were stupid and RyLeigh had to help us.

I love our band! And I love my band members. "Rock on, Rock on, today!"

D'ette's? What the . . .

2009-02-08T16:05:00.000-08:00

Three of my favorite people on this planet. We took this in honor of all three of them, at one time or another, being D'ette's. I hear endless discussions of the splits and how they could never get all the way down, blah, blah, blah. They've goe some great arm action going on though.

American Airlines Flight 1980 . . .

2009-02-05T15:02:00.000-08:00

American Airlines Flight 1980 with service to Dallas Fort Worth and on to Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris. Does that not sound like a flight you would hear about on the news crashing nose first into the pacific ocean, killing all on board?
That's my flight number to Paris on June 21st, at 11:45 am.

My Star DDR!

2009-01-21T20:19:00.001-08:00

Here is my Lee-lee dancing it up at Aunt Vicki's house on New Year's Eve. She was pretty uptight that she wasn't getting a chance. I hope she dances like this forever.

Cupcakes

2009-01-05T20:40:00.001-08:00

I really like cupcakes. They make people happy. It's like your own private dessert that you don't have to share, you know? I was having a brief conversation with someone the other day about cupcakes. Actually, I overheard this conversation. This person mentioned that cupcakes have to be an 'outside' treat because they make such a mess in the house. I have been thinking about that all day. I think little kids are suppose to make messes. They are suppose to crumble cupcakes, and spill their milk and wipe their hands on their shirts. They need to jump in puddles and play in the mud and take their straw out of their juice and flick it all over the kitchen. And they absolutely have to pull every book off their bookshelf to find that one book, that one special book they've read five times already today. I have been thinking about whether I let my kids make messes. I'm a 'just wipe it on your shirt,' kind of mom. I mean, serioulsy, it's just clothes. And if the stain doesnt' come out, so what. But I have been thinking if I let my kids make mistakes. Messes, as it were. Am I constantly cleaning up after them, or do I let them clean it up. Or, if it isn't going to kill anyone with E coli or some strange bacterial fungus, do I just let it sit so they know they are more important. This was a huge moment for me. If I dont' let my kids make a mess, how will they ever know that 1)It's okay when we make a mistake and 2) Messes are fairly easy to clean up when you ask for the right kind of help. Cupcakes may be messy. But they make me smile. There is nothing better than watching a little person lick the frosting off the cupcake. And then, of course, wiping their fingers on their shirt.

Working Down the Line in 2009

2008-12-29T18:35:00.000-08:00

The following list is NOT a list of resolutions and or goals. Although, I have always been very good at making a New Year's resolution and keeping it. These are just things I really want to do in 2009, things I am so looking forward to and things that I"m not going to slit my wrists over if they don't happen. This may be an ongoing list if I can't remember them all right now.
1. Go away with Ryan and company for our 14th wedding anniversary. We always take our kids with us on our anniversary get away. It's such a blast.
2. Visit Paris and London with my great friend, Kelly. I have to each lunch on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower and stand at the Globe Theater and cry.
3. Marsh Lake with Ry's whole family. If you know me at all, this is just a given. We do this rain or shine or illness.
4. Work out with my husband at the Clearfield Aquatic Center. We bought a family pass, good for a year. I am not working out to lose weight. That, my friends, will never happen. But to just go with him, to do something together. He's lost about 60 pounds and wants to keep feeling great. I am so proud of him!
5. I need to go get a massage at least twice a month.
6. I am going to go tan once a week. THis is not for my body, but my mind. If you know me, you'll know what I'm talking about.
7. I want to stay more connected to friends who have been there for me.
8. Add #4 to our family! I am very excited for this.
9. I get to direct "Peter Pan" or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up." I can't wait to fly~~

2008-12-18T20:09:00.001-08:00

Amylee is 2!!

2008-12-18T19:57:00.001-08:00

Or as she says it, "Toooooooowa." I can't believe she is so big. She is talking like crazy and still acting like she owns this house. She was a cuss before she ever exited my body. She quit growing at about 34 weeks. I knew from the beginning of the pregnancy something was wrong. But everyone just kept telling me "Every pregnancy is different." Well, I know that. But there is nothing mistaking a mother's intuition. Ryan's mom and sister believed me. I looked about six months pregnant the day I delivered. My dr decided on a Friday that we would start me the next Wed, which would have been the 20th (My birthday! I was so excited. I had always, always wanted a Christmas baby.) He said she needed to come out. She wasn't due until January 8th. But that Sunday I woke up and didn't feel her move all day. I tried everything I could to get her going and nothing. So I went to the hospital to just get on a moniter and make sure everything was okay. I even went up by myself, leaving Ry here. I thought all would be well. The nurses took one look at me and freaked out when I told them I was 8 1/2 months pregnant. I had lost about 20 pounds with her. So, they called my dr who said "We are doing this tonight." They let me try to have her vaginally, but she was in distress. So at 1:45 am the dr came in and said, let's have a baby. And at 2:04 she was here. Weighing in at a whopping 4 pounds 1 ounce. The tiniest thing I have ever seen in my life. She had a hard time at first, so she was in NICU for one week. We brought her home Christmas Day. The best present I have ever received. Below are some pictures so you can appreciate her tiny-ness. Up against Ry she is itty- bitty. The one of me holding her, you can see her in relation to my hand. And I have small hands. I think back on that and I am grateful for intiuitive women in my life and a skilled dr. And a husband who kept me calm while I was FREAKING out during the C-section. Oh my litte Lee-lee. I love her!

2008-12-18T19:52:00.000-08:00

OOH MOUSE DROPPINGS!!

2008-12-16T19:45:00.000-08:00

So Ann found mouse droppings under the Christmas tree skirt and around the front room. She was so disgusted that we might have brought a mouse in with the decorations(this might be from having mice in our other house, RyLeigh picked one up when she was like two, but other story). She immediately got out the vacuum and started cleaning up. I got home and she said,"You remember how I thought we might have a mouse in the house?" I said yeah. Then she went to the cupboard and pulled out the container of chocolate sprinkles. "Well this was left on the table and Amylee got into it."

That's right, she got into the sprinkles and must have been saving some under the Christmas tree.

I knew naming her Amylee was a bad idea!!

My Duncan's 6th Birthday

2008-12-13T08:23:00.000-08:00

I have so much to catch up on, so I'll start with Duncan's birthday. On November 4th, Duncan turned 6. I can't believe he is that big. I want to keep him little forever. He is the funniest, most tender kid I have ever known. He cracks us up. His Aunt Kristie just likes to sit and talk to him for hours. I know long ago, I promised to be his mom. Not because of what I could teach him, but because of what he would bring to me. He pretty much has me wrapped around his little finger. Here is he is just a few days old, then on his first haircut at Jana's, then last May on our way to a wedding. Oh how I love him!

Wow . . .

2008-12-05T21:51:00.000-08:00

I am a serious slacker. I can't believe I have not blogged since October. Really cool things have happened. Like, things I can't even really remember to tell but I feel like there were some. So, until I can catch up and talk about Halloween, Dunc's Birthday, my Mom coming HOME! and all the other good stuff, I shall just tell you a wee story. So, yesterday we, the chilluns and I get into the van. There is a poster in there on RyLeigh's seat so I throw it out the window. Well, it rolls under the van. Except I'm not sure if it's under the van, so I lean my head out to see if I need to get it and move it or if I can just pull out and my finger is still on the little button thing to roll up the window which I am proceeding to do with my head still out the window. Yes Friends, I rolled my lip up in my van window.
That is all.

Family Pictures with the Thorne's

2008-10-10T17:08:00.000-07:00

So, this picture pretty much sums up family pictures. We call this 'mad face.'

2008-10-10T17:02:00.000-07:00

Crazy!!

Trying to take a picture with Lee-lee.

Ryan's whole family.

My Little Family!

Family Pictures

2008-10-10T16:53:00.000-07:00

"Tell Me I'm a Dork . . ."

2008-10-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

So, the musical "Lion King" has a song in it where Scar sings, "Tell me I'm adored. Please, tell me I'm adored." We were driving in the van tonight listening to that CD and Ryan says, "Did he just say tell me I'm a dork?" Well, that's all it took. My kids started laughing and we had to listen to it about ten times. Every lyric in the song turned into a lyric about a dork. Dork, dork, dork, dork, dork. With my kids laughing their guts out in the back of the van, and Ry and I laughing in the front, RyLeigh says, "Oh man, that's never gonna get old."

Fair Lovin'

2008-09-28T13:38:00.000-07:00

We love the state fair! We go every year. We get there about 4:00 in the afternoon. We have to walk around and see all the 'boring' stuff first, then the kids get wrist bands which let them ride on all the rides all night long. RyLeigh started to take Amy on some rides about 9:30 and that was all she wrote. We couldn't keep her off. Her new word, "gain" and the point, happened this night. (As in, again). My kids are carnival freaks themselves. They run from ride to ride for like, four hours. We didn't even leave until 11:30! We had such a good time. There is the cutest picture of the three of them with their heads sticking out of a painting of carrots. But it didn't seem to make it's way to the blog.

2008-09-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

2008-09-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

2008-09-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

2008-09-28T13:27:00.000-07:00

Great Things Can Happen at Savers

2008-09-19T13:01:00.000-07:00

I went to Savers this week to get a few things for a scene we are doing in my Advanced Theater class. When I walked in I noticed there was only one cashier. I shopped for a minute, grabbed my stuff and realized I only had about ten mintues until my class started. I walked up to check out and the cashier was gone. The manager called her two times to come to her register. There were three of us in line. When she finally came you could tell she had been crying. I felt bad for her, thinking she may have gotten into trouble. The first lady went through and didn't say anything to her. I thought, "If I get the chance I have to say something." So then it was my turn. She said, "How are you today?" And I said good. Then I said, "How are YOU?" And she started to cry. Sob, acutally. I asked her if she was okay and she said,"I am better than okay. I gave up my two children for adoption 18 months ago, and my daughter's new mom just brought her in to see me." I was stunned. And overwhelmed as I could see how emotional it was for her. She went on to say that she had been in an abusive marriage and the only way to get away from her husband and to save her children was to give them up. Can you even imagine?! In order to save her children, she had to let them go. So the father couldn't get to them. I had more respect and admiration for this woman than I can even tell you. I almost started to cry with her. She kept talking and I asked if her daughter recognized her. She said no, but that was okay. Hard, but okay. The little girl had brought her flowers. I felt like I was treading on sacred ground. This bond between mother and daughter. I felt so much peace knowing that in the life to come, they will have time to be together, to know each other. And that baby will realize what her mother did for her. When I walked away, she said, "Have a good day. And thank you for listening." I told her I was honored, and to have a good day too. She replied with, I already have."

Should I be worried?

2008-09-08T16:07:00.000-07:00

I have to preface this post sharing with you how much I HATE spiders. It's not just a, 'I am afraid' thing. They seriously make me want to vomit. Like, right now I am thinking of them crawling, and sometimes furry, and I am nauseated. So, last night we unpacked from our Marsh Lake campout and low and behold, we had a stowaway. A very large, black, crawling all over my stair wall stowaway. I gagged. I just couldn't do it. Vision of Mr. Spider jumping at me while I ran to him with my husbands size 12 was just too much. I said, "RyLeigh, get in here." She runs in. I say, "Kill that spider." She says, "No way!" I say, "Please." She says, "No way." I say, "If you loved your mother, you would do this for me. I am going to throw up." She says, "Sorry." I say,"I'll pay you ten bucks." She says, "Really?" I say, "Yes." She says, "Okay." And goodbye Mr. Marshlake stowaway. Now, here's what worries me. Apparently, my daughter will do anything for money. Now, while this was a benefit to me last night, I worry a bit that this skill of doing anything for ten bucks could possibly follow her into her teenage years. So my question is, do we squelch this now and I kill my own spiders from now on OR .. . do I train her to get more money when she does whatever questionable activity she may pursue. Let us pause to take this all in . . .

Do you Amylee, take Taylor, to be your . . .

2008-08-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

How stinkin' cute is this picutre! Oh my gosh. He actually looks a bit unsure about the whole thing. This is Taylor. He is my best friends grandson. We have decided him and Amylee should totally hook up. His mom said he's been a bit aggressive lately. And Amy always is. I think things would run smoothly at their house.

So, how are the Mom's?

2008-08-06T22:16:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law Kristie is one of my best friends. Even if we weren't related I would need her in my life. She helps me be more spiritual, a better wife and mom and I can make her laugh so hard she almost pee's her pants. Case in point: her little baby Ethan was quite sick last week with a fever that had no cause. No other symptoms like an earache or anything. Well, when a 3 month old runs a high fever with no symptoms doctors don't like that. To make a long story a bit shorter, she ended up with Ethan down to Primary Children's emergency room. Her husband was out of town so I went with her. We get there and she hands me Ethan so she can talk to the receptionist. I was worried, thus I had a worried expression on my face. Kris was worried to and I kept telling her it was okay. I'm pretty sure I put my arm around her or touched her knee in a re-assuring manner. NOT, I repeat, not at all like a lesbian. However, every single person who helped her thought I was the other mom. Serioulsy. Someone asked "US" if we had insurance. Then the dr came in and asked how the 'Moms' were. I was about dying and wanting so badly to lean over and kiss Kristie. I didn't want to say anything because she wasn't in a joking mood. But I couldn't help it. After the dr left I thanked her for being my lesbian life partner. We laughed so hard. So hard. Not to make fun of lesbians. Just, well, picturing me as her life partner was just too much. We could have really gotten the staff going thinking we were. But I decided I better not. Just way too much fun in an emergency room. (PS, little Ethan is okay. )

"All Night Strut"

2008-08-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of my most cutest cast for the Clearfield City Production of "All Night Strut." They are the most fun group of people I have worked with in a long time. Roger, the moustache man, was my very first musical director ever. He is so very talented and I made him be in the show. 5 of the eleven (Rachel, Jon, Erik, Shelly and Kelsie) are former students who I never thought I would get the chance to work with again. I love them! Deanna, the gorgeous blond in middle, Cheryl whose face is somewhat hidden and Kris are all new friends to me. Roger brought them along for the adventure and they are hilarious. I am so grateful they showed up. Not only to perform, but to be great friends. The cute blond in the middle is Ginny. I worked with her 14 years ago and by chance saw her in Wally world three months ago and begged her to come and play. The cool dude in the back is Todd. I have worked with two of his daughter in my program at Davis. He is such a great man. This show has been a highlight of my summer. I havent' directed summer stuff in 13 years and this was definetly the show to come back with. Come see them! Not only are they talented, they know what it means to perform and give of themselves to their audience. The show runs August 14, 15, 16, 18 ay 7:30pm in the Clearfield Amphitheater. (Behind the Clearfield Library). The show is a musical revue of 1940's/big band/WWII music. It's great fun!

Hollywood Doesnt' Even Care If You're Dead

2008-07-26T23:27:00.001-07:00

So, I was at the Wally World tonight. Just got back, actually. I don't go during normal person hours because I have yet to find the joy in grocery shopping with three children. I was standing in a very long line so I grabbed a tabloid. I opened it up to the middle and saw a small article at the bottom. It read something like this:
"Batman, the Dark Knight, Heath Ledger's last film (and it has a picutre of him) tromped on Meryl Streep's Mamma Mia 158 million to 28 million opening weekend." And I'm thinking, "What the hell?! Like it's a contest? The man is dead, I dont think he cares." I saw both these films this week. They aren't even in the same venue othere than you eat popcorn when you watch them. And even though he's dead, it's still so monetary. He's the one who made that film what it was. So while Meryl Streep only has her piddly 28 million, and I guess the point that was brought home to me was, she's still around to spend it. And Heath Ledger, well, unfortunately he is not. (Sigh)

Get Use To Those Bars, Kid!!

2008-07-25T22:08:00.000-07:00

In a 25 minute time period the other day, my daughter had:
1) Ripped down my front room window curtains.

2) Dumped her macaroni and cheese on my kitchen floor and danced on it.

3) Poured her brothers paint water (green) on my carpet (beige).

4) Smacked her brother twice

5) Climbed on my kitchen table and dumped salt all over the place.

Now,you are thinking, "Where is this girl's mother?"
1) Re-hanging the curtains

2) Wiping up squished macaroni and cheese

3) Cleaning my carpet

4) Hugging the brother

5) Wiping and sweeping up salt.

Below is a picture of what I had to resort too. Confined to her crib with a book because I was going to kill her. My parting words were, "Get use those bars, kid!"

2008-07-25T22:07:00.000-07:00

I have this problem . . .

2008-07-21T16:46:00.001-07:00

I am obsessed with chips and salsa. I eat it all the time at school. Like, if I had to choose between chips and salsa and say, a really great salad from Wingers with extra balsamic vinegar dressing because it's so good you want to drink it, I just might choose chips and salsa. I have this really yummy recipie for fresh salsa and I thought it sounded good yesterday for our bbq with some friends. I ate the entire bowl. Actually, let me rephrase that. I am currently finishing off the entire bowl. And it's not like I grab a chip while I walk by on my way to change laudry or dust or something. I sit and inhale the bag and bowl. It might be good for me except it's the ENTIRE bowl. It goes along well with the half a chocolate cake I polished off last night. I think I need to get out of my house.

Bear Lake

2008-07-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

My friend Kristin invited us up to her parents cabin at Bear Lake this week. It was so great! We swam, ate, played, talked and talked some more. This is the view off the deck of the cabin. It is so peaceful there. So quiet and life moves at a slower pace. I could get use to sitting around in the sun.

2008-07-18T09:08:00.001-07:00

All the kids in the lake!

2008-07-18T09:05:00.001-07:00

This is Anna (Kristin's litte one) and Duncan having lunch together. They are only two weeks apart. I would say they may hook up later to wed, but they are both fairly bull-headed. So I don't see that really playing out.

2008-07-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

Here we are sitting at the lake. She played in the sand for about an hour while I roasted my shoulders in the sun. I love summer!!

2008-07-18T09:02:00.001-07:00

Here we are at the pool! I doused her in sunscreen and her hair stood on end. Oh, the hair. We are working on it.

More Marsh Lake with Aunt Vicki, Grammy and Uncle Brock

2008-07-14T16:06:00.002-07:00

I was going back through pictures and found a few more that I just love and wanted to share. I love pictures with people in them. More so than just scenic stuff. I love to try and capture a feeling or a moment. I'm in no way a photographer. I wish I was. These are just moments I caught with Lee-lee that were too precious to pass up. These three people (Grammy, Ry's mom, Vicki, Ry's sister, and Brock, Vicki's husband) love my Amy so much. I think you can tell that by the pictures. The one of her and Vicki breaks my heart it's so tender. I am lucky to have so many people who care so much about me and my family. (I know I don't have alot of pictures of Dunc on this trip. He was off playing. I barely saw the kid!)

Marsh Lake 2008

2008-07-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

Every year Ryan's entire family, his mom and dad, all six siblings, spouses and children go to Marsh Lake for the family campout. There's something like 45 of us. It's a riot. Ry's parents have done this for 40 some odd years. This is where Ryan proposed to me. I had to gut my first fish to prove my worthiness that year. But it was so worth it. It was a great year and tender as none of us thought Ry's mom would be with us again this year. But she was a great camper even feeling so icky. I love this place. There is a spirit here that I love to feel when I'm there. I can focus, re-group for the next school year and spend time with my brothers and sisters-in-law. I love playing with my nieces and nephews too. And yes, Marsh really is as beautiful as this picture.

2008-07-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

This picture has a story. The boy in the picture is my nephew Justin. When Justin was only 2 years old, he walked across this ledge on the mountain and brought me my engagement ring and asked if I'd marry his Uncle Ryan. I still can't believe his mom let him do that. Justin has always been prone to falling over. So, every year we go up to 'our spot' and take a picture. But notice, no Ryan or RyLeigh? There were both home sick from our trip!! We were so sad, but Ry and I felt like I should still go and take Duncan and Lee-lee. I even drove our new motor home up all by myself. It was awesome! (Thanks to Scott, Brock, Steve, Britney, Emma, Justin and Braxton for helping me so much on the trip with everything I needed. I love you guys!)

2008-07-12T20:34:00.000-07:00

Here are my camping monkeys! There were so good while we were there. We all missed RyLeigh and Dad though. Marsh Lake just wasn't the same without them.

2008-07-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

Here's Dunc and his cousins in our motor home. They are all such good friends and look so cute in this picture. Camping is so hard with little ones, but these memories make it all worth it.

2008-07-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, so Uncle Scott (Ry's brother) tied Amy to the dog chain then Uncle Steve (Ry's brother) put an Oreo just out of reach. Notice, she already has one in each hand, but dangit, if there's one more to be had why not!? A girl after my own heart.

2008-07-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

I love this picture. We were just sitting around the campfire one afternoon and she crawled in my lap. She's such a monkey.

Amylee and her Pop

2008-07-07T21:24:00.001-07:00

This is Amylee's favorite person on this planet. This is Pop, Ryan's dad. They have been best buddies for awhile now. When we pull into his driveway, Amy starts squealing and we can't get inside fast enough. She runs to his chair in the living room and if he isn't there she freaks out! When this picture was taken, I told her to "go sit by Pop and let me take your picture." She snuggled right up against him. This picture is the most tender thing ever. There is a picture of Grammy and Pop in Lee-lee's bedroom. WE have to say goodnight and sing to Pop every night before we go to bed. Amylee's Pop is an amazing man. He is taking care of Mom who is in her final stages of cancer. I admire him and love him for the example he is to me and my children. If a picture really is worth a thousand words, than this says it all.

4th of July

2008-07-07T21:18:00.000-07:00

I love the 4th of July. It's one of my top four holidays. It just makes me happy. I love to be hot and eating a hot dog and sticky from my kids' hands after eating taffy at the parade. The best tradition of all is our family water slide. We use to do this at Mom and Dad Thorne's house, but this year we moved the party to Aunt Vicki's. Uncle Brock turned on the sprinklers and the kids ran for it. Here are my two monkies hitting the slide like the wild children they are. YEA for Independence!!

More New York!

2008-07-06T10:07:00.001-07:00

Okay, I promise after this set of pictures I'll be done talking about New York. These are of us at Coney Island. We walked along the beach and collected sea shells. I've never done that with my children before and RyLeigh and I had a blast. I love the ocean. It fills my soul with immense power when I stand and watch the waves roll in. I don't get there nearly enough. Then, we have RyLeigh getting ready to eat her first Nathan's hot dog. (Did you all see the hot dog eating contest on the 4th of July on ESPN? This is where it takes place. At Coney Island! The winner ate 64 hot dogs. Makes me want to vomit just thinking about it!)

Little Ethan

2008-07-03T14:59:00.001-07:00

This is my little Ethan. I got to babysit him today and he is so squishy. This is Ryan's sisters little monkey. He mostly cries all the time because of colic, but he's oh so cute. He didn't cry for me today at all. It may be because I'm the favorite Aunt. Truly.

RyLeigh Kaye

2008-07-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

This is one of my most favorite pictures of RyLeigh ever. Just wanted to share. We are in Central Park.

Teri and Ed

2008-06-30T20:21:00.000-07:00

This is Teri and Ed. We first met them 7 years ago when we had them as tour guides in New York. That first year Teri's dad passed away and she was suppose to take our group around the city. Ed filled in for her and we fell in love with him. Then Teri came back and we fell in love with her. They are some of the most generous people we've met. They have offered their apartments if we ever want to go to the city just on a spree. They take such good care of us and always want to know about our family. We love them!!

If RyLeigh and I were a singing group . . .

2008-06-28T22:20:00.000-07:00

So, if RyLeigh and I were a singing group, this is what we would look like. Her with the microphone and me with a very large . . . martini glass. A street artist drew this in times square tonight and it cracks me up. She loves it. We both agree, we make this look good!
Oh PS, I hate that I forgot to rotate the picture in the blog below, then I added it after I changed it and now there's too. But oh well. Whatever.

Pouring Rain in Central Park!

2008-06-28T17:42:00.000-07:00

Here we are in the pouring rain as we walked through Central Park. It was awesome. Notice the fountain in the picture. That's the fountain from Enchanted, Mr Deeds, and numerous other shows. We have been everywhere today! A boat ride around Manhattan, to Chinatown and LIttle Italy and then to Central Park. I love this City!

"Igor" (pronoucned Eye-gor)

2008-06-27T14:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we went to see Young Frankenstien last night which was seriously the dirtiest show ever. Sex jokes everywhere and the 'F' word. Once. I didn't know it would be that bad and I felt terrible taking a bunch of Kaysville people to it! Anyway, this is my bestest friend Syd who, during the show, leaned over and said she wanted to be my 'Igor.' Then we looked at each other and laughed for about ten mintues. Why? I don't know. At the time it was very funny. Maybe because she's short. ANyway, here we are and I wanted to take a picture with her in Times Square. She wanted to be Igor.

At The Temple

2008-06-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

Cassi, my sweet cousin and I outside the Manhattan Temple. Of bunch of kids and some adults went yesterday and did baptisms for the dead. It was so great. I am so glad we made the effort to go. The temple worker commended the kids for dresing up when they came. They all looked beautiful. Anyway, I was so happy to share this with CAssie. I don't see her very often, so it was good to be religious together. Ryan got to baptize her. Good times in the City.

My Carnegie Hall Debut

2008-06-26T20:43:00.000-07:00

This is seriously the coolest thing that has ever happened to me. I took a tour of Carnegie Hall with my sister Shel, her husband Rob and my cousin Melissa and her family. It's the most beautiful building. Red velvet seats and gold railings inside. The acoustics are absolutely perfect. The best in the world and no one knows why. Like, the guy who made it made it out of steel and steel normally has no warmth to it. Anyway, at the beginning of the tour the tour guide asked if anyone in the group sang. I raised my hand and he said, "Later, why don't you open your mouth and sing for us." And we all laughed and I thought nothing of it. WE get into the hall and we are standing down by the stage looking up at all the seats and he says, "Okay dear, go ahead." I about died. I didn't think he was serious. Here I am, in Carnegie Hall, with the chance to sing and I can't think of a dang song to sing! So he suggested "America the BEautiful." And I thought, okay, thats in my range. I said I wasn't very good and he said this isn't for anyone but you to feel what this feels like. I thought that was an interesting way to put it. But I started singing, and it felt so good, and when the sound came back at me, it went straight to my chest and reverberated right in my sternum. It was the coolest feeling I have ever felt. I had to stop singing cuz it almost made me cry. It was awesome. Anyway, here's my shirt. YEA!

Top of the Rock!

2008-06-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

At the top of Rockefeller Center Observation tower. This will give her Grammy Thorne a heart attack but yes, she climbed up on the ledge. Sort of. That behind us is Central Park. It is so beautiful.

The Lion King

2008-06-25T14:24:00.000-07:00

Here we are at The Lion King last night. It's the most amazing production I've ever seen. Just her and I went and I started to cry the minute the music started. She had to call her dad, Grammy Sherie and Grammy Thorne during intermission. I was so happy to share that with her last night!

In the CITY!

2008-06-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

Here we are on our way out to the Statue of Liberty! The plane ride to New York, well, it sucked. No one slept. Then we dropped off our luggage and went right out to catch the ferry to Liberty Island. RyLeigh has been an awesome traveler! She loves the city and I knew she would. I love these pictures. I have to have someone teach me how to do a slide show. But until then, you get one picture (or two) at a time.

The Burger Queen

2008-06-23T17:49:00.000-07:00

I have a few minutes before I leave for New York(!!!!) so i thought I would post these. She wore this around the house for like 45 minutes. When I finally got the camera out she tore the hat off and chucked it. I forced her to put it back on. She has her free agency of course. As long as I'm in charge of it.

Oh, I do so love summer!

2008-06-19T21:32:00.000-07:00

I just have to say what a great summer I am having. Even with our two weeks of health trauma, I am relaxed, getting some much needed rest and playtime with my family. I love getting up and fixing breakfast for the wee ones. Okay, so it's totally usally cereal, but I have to find a bowl and get the milk out and find a spoon. So, there's work involved there. But I love playing Uno with my little Duncan, and chasing Amylee around my kitchen table. I've already read my first book and am halfway through my second. Next week I'm off to New York!!! Wa-hoo!! With Ryan and my RyLeigh (I can't wait! We are going to see Lion King) and about 37 other family members, friends and awesome students from the high school. I have been working out with my beautiful sister-in-law every night. We go walk the track and run stairs at the high school by my house. She motivates me to push harder. I get to sit and love and kiss on her new baby this summer. Visit with my courageous mother-in-law as she fights the cancer, and take dinner to my mom in the rehabilitation center. I'm a real person in the summer. I don't have people saying, "Mrs. Thorne," every five seconds. I don't have deadlines. My most important decision of the day is what to make for dinner. I make muffins. I read the paper! That never happens during the school year. I sit on the love sack and watch an afternoon movie with Dunc. I help my RyLeigh organize her room and we paint fingernails. All this may sound trivial, but it's things I don't get to do 9 months out of the year. I am not complaining mind you. I love, love my job. But it feels so good to be normal for three months. Well, as normal as can be expected.

Amylee and Cottage Cheese

2008-06-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

This was Amylee's first encounter with Cottage Cheese. She was freaked out by the texture at first. I mean, who isn't? Then she started to really dig wearing it. I love these pictures. We just dumped her in the bath when it was over.

What are the odds?!?!

2008-06-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

Seriously, what are the odds of two people having the same side of their mouth absess the same time? Sunday, my tooth absessed and I wanted to shoot myself in the head, it would have been less painful. Ry has been dealing with a tooth for a while but his finally sent him to the chair. My tooth came out Monday night by a very nice oral surgeon who assured me that being under, all the way under, was really the best way to go. So, in the morning at 7, Ry gets to have his taken out. By same said surgeon. This, along wtih Amylee's ER visit, her ear infections (which really weren't ear infections), RyLeigh's pink eye, Duncan puking for three days, we are officially done with being sick at our house. It has also put a dent in the New York fund. But I can scrimp in the city if it means I don't feel like I have a nail being shoved into my sinus cavity. A shout out here to my beautiful sisters-in-law Kristie and Natalie for taking care of me and my kids while I was drugged for two days straight. Thanks you guys! I love you.

Lee-lee's Ouchie

2008-06-02T12:07:00.001-07:00

Well, we had our first trip to the emergency room with Amylee. Come to think of it, it was our first trip with any of our kids. I'll have to ask Ry to verify that one. We were at a wedding reception and RyLeigh was walking with Amy to the van. I ran back in to get Amy's shoe I left on the book table. When I turned around, RyLeigh was standing there, holding Amy who had blood gushing out her nose and mouth. I tried not to panick and ran to the bathroom. I was trying to wipe the blood off but it just kep coming. I thought for sure she had broken her nose. She just wanted me to hold her, so after a few more wipes I picked her up and held her to me. At that point, she went limp in my arms. I moved her to a cradle position in my arms and she was out. I couldn't get her to respond to me. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head. It was at this point that I panicked. One of my friends ran to get Ryan who was videotaping the bride and groom's first dance. We couldn't rouse her and her eyes were dialated. WE found a dentist who came and said he didn't think she looked too good and we should probably take her in. Then he added, "But her teeth look great." Nice. Idiot, I can get new ones of those. A broken head can't be so easily found.
I took RyLeigh with me to try to keep Amy awake. We got to the ER where they asked if she had thrown up. I said no. Apparently that's an immediate sign of brain injury. Didn't know that. And with little ones, a brain injury will manifest itself in minutes. With adults, it takes a day or two because our brains are shrinking, and thus have a space between our skull and brains. Babies brains are squished in there.
Anyway, after a few minutes in ER she started to come around and was back to her old cusshead self in about 30 minutes. We stayed for x-rays, just in case. It doesn't look too bad in the picture. This was two days after said accident. Now she's just bruised.

Long Time, No Blog . . .

2008-06-01T18:34:00.000-07:00

The end of the school year is always completely out of control. We took these pictures about a month ago of Duncan being a pirate, one of his favorite things to do. I haven't had time to sit and update our blog until tonight. How damn cute is this kid? I'm not kidding, I love him. He is hilarious. I had the annual Advanced Theater cabin retreat last weekend. I walked downstairs and he was lying on the bed watching a movie with Bre (who is gorgeous), Jud and Joni. He was snuggled right up against Bre. I told him it was only okay to do this because he was five. He said alright. Then he tried to put his arm around Bre and tickle her neck. But it was Jud's neck and duncan didn't know that. Jud said, "Hey, Dunc, that's me." To which Duncan replied, "oh, sorry man."

Shaylee and LA!

2008-05-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

Here are two of my most favorite people on this planet. Shaylee and LA were students of mine last year and I love them with my whole heart. They stopped by last night to say hi and hug and kiss my kids. Shaylee is getting married in two weeks (holy crap!) and LA attends USU and I hear is dating someone. She was kind of quiet about that last night. They are so beautiful!

Peanut Butter Sandwich . . . with a fork?

2008-05-14T20:55:00.000-07:00

I seriously think she could start a trend here. Peanut butter sandwiches with a fork. Actually, she won't eat at all unless we hand her a fork so it was only a matter of time before the sandwich met its match. Everything is okay until she flips it off her fork and it flys around my kitchen.

RyLeigh's piano recital

2008-05-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

RyLeigh had her first piano recital! She was awesome. We are so proud of her. Amylee has her own little piano as you can see. And she's a cheeseball.

Clothes . . .Argh!!!

2008-05-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

So I have this problem when I buy clothes. I always buy a size bigger. It's like, I don't even try on the size that might be mine because I just can't handle it if that size doesn't fit. So I go a size up. And in the store I'm thinking, "Yeah, this feels good." Then I get home and either I've lost ten pounds in the van on the way home from the mall OR they didn't really fit that well in the first place.
But I do have cute new earrings.

My Amylee's!

2008-05-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

Here are my two Amylee's. One I taught at Davis High 6 years ago, and the other I birthed almost 18 months ago. Yes, little Amylee is named after big Amylee. We love her! We couldn't think of a better role model for our little monkey. And I hear tell that Little Amy is living up to her name. Cusshead.

Family at Laura Wilsons Reception

2008-05-12T18:01:00.000-07:00

What a fun day. It was great to spend the day doing her video, and then be able to relax at the reception. What a great couple!!