Think Musicals

I'm just singin' in the rain. . . Picture me dancing happily around a light post with a large grin because wonder of wonders, miracle, miracle, I found a sportsbra that actually works! Oklahoma! I am in love with the Enell sportsbra. Where has it been all my life? It actually works! No movement--whatsoever. Think a girdle for the girls. Awesome. For some, diamonds are a girl's best friend, but not for me. This bra is the real deal. Worth every stinkin' dollar! It's just one of my favorite things. . . Oh what a beautiful morning because heigh ho, heigh ho it's off to running I go!

P. S.

With permission from his brand, spankin' new parents, here is Evy meeting her new baby cousin, Holden, for the first time. (Doesn't she already look enormous compared to him?) Holden is so darling, and he's lucky to have such terrific parents!

Proof

Proof that childhood doesn't wait is the fact my newborn is now FIVE MONTHS old. Like the Talking Heads song, I'm often wondering, "How did I get here?" The last five months has been a total blur, and hard, but very rewarding as Evy has cast her spell on our family. It's quite cute to hear the two boys talk to her in high-pitched voices and sweet to see how Abby can calm her down. We love how she is blowing razzberries up a storm, loving her feet, flashing her toothless grin, and rolling over every now and then. Joy truly is in the simple things!

Childhood and Fear

Okay. I don't know a lot of things FOR SURE. But these two things I do know (prompted by an awesome lesson in RS today):

1. Childhood doesn't wait. . . and because of that I'm thankful. . .

2. . . . I didn't let fear win when I decided to be a stay-at-home mom. It was scary to think of letting go of one income, of letting go of my friends at work, of letting go of a positive outlet in my life, but I always knew that for me it was the right thing to do. I stood firm in a world that didn't/doesn't advocate my same ideals/morals. I had simple faith and knew my family would be blessed and be okay financially. I can honestly say that this has happened in my life. I have felt blessed in countless ways from the very beginning of my decision. And I am so thankful. I'm thankful to be these four beauties' mother and being a part of their quickly passing childhood. I'm so grateful that I can be a stay-at-home mom as I realize not everyone has the choice to do so. I'm glad I had the choice. I'm glad I didn't listen to the world, or I wouldn't be living my dream.

Now, if I can learn to perfect my dream by continually "finding joy in the journey" I would be one happy camper.

Love this one, too!

I've spent entirely too much time on this woman's website/blog. Not only is her writing addictive, her photography and cooking ideas are wonderful, too. I am in the middle of her love story and am tearing myself away to get some work done. This one is a must see/read: www.thepioneerwoman.com. Until the next installment, I'm off to do a Transformers puzzle with Will and more laundry.

Love this one.

Val gave me a wonderful book called My Dear Sisters with quotes from Pres. Hinckley and beautiful pictures by various artists. I'm so thankful for the book, and I have already gone through it a couple times over. The one quote I love that gave me shivers is this one:

"E. T. Sullivan once wrote these interesting words: 'When god wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn't stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home and of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother's heart, and she puts it into the baby's mind. And then God waits."

I got shivers again. I can't help but think of Val and the way she raised Eric to be the person he is today. She loved him, read to him, cared for him, taught him optimism and how to laugh, let him be himself, and influenced him for good. All the while, God waited. He waited for Eric to meet me. That's when his/our great work started. I'm a better person because of Eric. His temperament and learning was meant for me. He has pulled me through some tough times, and I'm grateful for him and all that he learned from his wonderful mother!

Ahhh. . . innocence.

Yesterday Abby and Will watched the movie "Benji." I went down to check on them and asked them how they liked the moved. They both said it was good, but that the "s" word was being used a lot.

I replied, "Oh, you mean the word 'stupid'?"

"No," was Abby's reply. "It starts with 'sh'!"

Can you imagine what word started going through my mind? I couldn't believe they would have THAT word on "Benji."

Abby said she did not want to tell me what the word was because it was a bad one. I assured her it was okay to tell me because I wanted to know what the word was for sure.

"Okay, Mom. They keep saying 'shut up.' It's not very nice!"

Then I just had to laugh and was, of course, very relieved it wasn't a four-letter word!

This little conversation reminded me of one I've heard many a time from Eric's childhood. Apparently one night at dinner Eric confessed he knew what the "f word" was. I can only imagine the look on Lynn and Val's faces. I'm sure they were curious to know what that word was according to their second child. Eric then went on to say the "f word" was "fart." So hilarious! I'm sure his parents were just as relieved as I was that their child(ren) were still so innocent and cute!

California Fun--Saturday

Saturday came with beautiful weather for Matt and Ananda. We headed up to the Los Angeles temple to be a part of their sealing and to take family pictures. Then it was off to lunch, choose a present, get the house clean for the reception, and party. The food was yummy, the backyard was magical (what a vision Ananda had), and the company was just right. I got to sit next to Karen Abbott. Love that lady! I also enjoyed the twinkling lights, the hot cocoa bar, stealing looks at Eric, and watching my children dance. By the time the night was over, I was ready to put on my stretchy pants, relax, and prepare to go home the next morning.

Thank you to Lynn and Val for yummy food, great company, and a comfy bed the entire week. We had a wonderful time!

California Fun--Friday

Friday brought more wedding preparations with Kathy putting together beautfiul centerpieces, a wonderful quilt for Matt and Ananda from Grandma Gigi and Aunt Mary Jean, lunch again at In 'n Out, and the rehearsal dinner where we got to meet Ananda's cute family and enjoy a wonderful Greek buffet. Mmmm. . . those beef skewers were delicious--not to mention the baklava. Yum!

California Fun--Thursday

Thursday brought us to California Adventure. Love that place. It's even less crowded than Disneyland and has the wonderful Soaring over California ride which we all loved. Abby enjoyed the raft ride (the detailed scenery reminded me of home in Auburn), Will enjoyed the bumper cars, and Ezra enjoyed getting his hands wet in the water area. The children got soaked, but anticipating they would want to get wet, I brought a change of clothes. All was good! Abby and I enjoyed meeting a mom my age with her little girl who was Abby's age from Calgary. I particularly loved the Under the Sea carousel with all of its bright colors and, of course, keeping an eye out for "Top 10" outfits. Let me just say there were a TON of them. Seriously, what do some people think?

California Fun--Wednesday

Wednesday brought us wedding preparations and time with Bri and Celia. Abby enjoyed visiting the nursery with Nana and Bapa and helped choose flowers for the backyard. We also took the children over to Linda Vista so they could play at Eric's former elementary school

California Fun--Tuesday

Tuesday we found ourselves at Disneyland. We were extra excited as this trip was Ezra's first. We had THE perfect day. Beautiful weather, short lines, happy children, and time with Nana, Bapa, and Chelsea. Will loved Indiana Jones (but hated Space Mountain), Abby loved Pirates, and Ezra's favorite ride was Winnie-the-Pooh. Evy enjoyed watching us all have a good time. What a trooper she was the entire trip!

When our tummies were empty and our legs were done, we took the monorail over to Downtown Disney where Will fell in love with the Lego store.

California Fun--Monday

Monday brought us In 'n Out and the tide pools at Dana Point. Very lovely and more colorful than the usual Crystal Cove tide pools we visit. The low tide was perfect--smack in the middle of the day and not at some crazy hour. The highlight had to have been when we discovered the enormous purple and orange starfish clinging to the sides of the rocks. Awesome!

After the tide pools, we drove up Hwy 1 and visited Newport Beach--our favorite beach to play at. It was funny to see the surfers in their long wetsuits and then my children in only their bathing suits frolicking in the COLD water. The sun was setting and the colors were magnificent. We were truly blessed.