Happy Birthday -Mademoiselle please stop growing up!!

Happy Birthday Mademoiselle S!!!!
today . . . . December 11


Happy Birthday Mr. Q
November 29!

Happy Birthday to my two cold weather babies!!!! I still remember how fun it was to have a little red bow and Christmas outfits for Madam S when she was born. I can't believe she is now 15 years old. And I can't believe how beautiful she is - especially on the inside. Really!! I love being with her. I still miss her when she goes to school. Last week she was sick and I let her stay home. It was so fun to hang out with her alone that morning. She makes me laugh tons ( always has these funny random facts) and I love that she doesn't take herself too seriously, she can embrace her goofy side as well as be perfectly poised - she is both soft and girly as well as strong and athletic. A perfect blend!!

I will always know how long I have lived where we are now, by the birthdays of these two. We moved here when I was exactly 8 months pregs with Mr. Q. We drove in and went straight to the hospital - I started going into labor from the long drive. Luckily he waited one more month to come, so I had time to settle into our new life. What a gorgeous baby he was!!!Madam S was just turning 5 and we started the long hard task of getting her into a good preschool. And here, it is quite an art and education for those who know!!! I was quickly told by a new neighbor to put my brand new baby on the waiting list at the preschool - wow!!! Now he is big and so grownup-- but I still feel like he is my baby boy and hugging him is the best - he gives good hugs.

Also, these two are my faux twins. I have two set of faux twins. That means that they look alike, act similar, born around the same time of year but are years apart in age---and a funny split of equal characteristics of the notorious B and me. Mr. Q and Madam S are the dark, intimidating ones - always content and happy, full to the brim of German stubbornness but quiet, solid, loyal and loving souls ----who love goofy fun, laughter and a dash of mischief. Then we have the lighter versions Mr. C and little Miss T. sunny and spirited these other faux twins are very magnetic and energetic, with so much empathy and sensitivity to those around them. Quick to remember the lines of movies, songs or just something they heard in the air....quick witted and always happy!! who also want to be laughing or just causing a little titch of trouble!!

Anyway,
Mr. Q turned 10 last week and Madam S turned 15. Growing up so fast. But becoming everything I had hoped they could. Good people. I love them and admire them. I am amazed that I have been so blessed.
The only thing that kind of jinks, is that they have to share their birthdays with a lot of the holiday festivities. The cost of the presents seems so much more expensive - just purely because we have so much more to buy for Christmas. But I hope we have made their days special anyway.

I guess as long as they don't have to do their chores for the day---they are happy enough.

Other plants in my life HO HO HO!!

Of course.... during the winter, I can't do much for my Hydrangea plant, but hope it doesn't die from the weather. I know that Hydrangeas can do just fine in the cold weather, but it depends on how sheltered the location is. I didn't really think about that when I put it in. I may be moving it in the spring anyway.... so I just hope it is ok where it is until then. I put a pile of leaves around the base and that should give it a little bit of insulation.

I do have some other plants in my life, one of which has always been my most favorite. That is my Boston Fern. Seriously, I love this plant. It is a little old fashioned ---but so beautiful!!! I have had two of these in my life. The first one lasted about 8 years and I left it with my neighbor in California when we moved to Utah. Then for a few years, I could not find the right kind. Alot of ferns I would see here, where I live - would say they were a boston, but they never looked right. The palms did not arch the way I liked and the leaves looked curly. Then one day, I saw one at a random grocery store!!! And so I have had it for about 5 years now.

It is very tolerant of neglect, which is why it has done so well. It does not need too much water and always looks great.

More recently I aquired some great cyprus topiaries, which have quickly become new favorites!!! They were left over from a neighborhood gift boutique I did just after Thanksgiving. I love how clean and geometric they look. I am excited about them ... we shall see if I can keep them looking healthy!!

Finally, the TREE !!! We put up our Christmas tree!! And I can't ever kill it - yes it's fake!! The best kind!!

Hmmmmmm == a change of seasons!!

If it wasn't for my friends... I would be in bed all week commiserating about turning the big 40!!! Seriously, I really thought the Notorious B, was being a lit - tle dramatic when he turned forty a few months ago.

Then it happened to me. Suddenly the character in my face turned into saggy - wrinkly and yuck. I am sure it is all in my head - but geez!!! It feels really weird!!! Anyway, a giant thank you to all of my fabulous friends and to my family for seriously drenching me me with love and fun and celebration!!!!! Thanks for all the (40)balloons to brighten my day and the tennis workout, lunch date, gifts and party!!!!!! Wow!! I am so lucky!!!

So, before all that - this week. It seriously felt like just as my plant was going into dormancy and so was I... you would never know that I ran a half marathon just about 60 days ago.... I haven't run in about two weeks!!! I don't know what it is, but I can't run in the cold dark mornings. The change of season --- I just can't. And I can't run on a treadmill either. So I am trying to play tennis a few times a week. At least that is fun --but the early mornings getting into a cold car are the worst. I must have an automatic internal device that shuts down just about this time of year. And then re-starts again in the Spring. Or maybe that is just one of those things I need to put on my life list, of what I want to overcome before I die. Being cold.

Lets see... I haven't put anything on here in a while. Not that there is tons in my life to discuss. AT first I thought I could just rattle off all my daily thoughts, but then I was worried about crazy people reading everything and then coming after me. Then I thought maybe my life is just boring.... well it kind of is. But it is really just chaotic and I couldn't figure out how to have time to put stuff on. Especially when it would take 20 min. for the new video clip option to work.

So I am keeping this as kind of a personal thought blog as it correlates to my plant, and I think I will start a private blog of our family that will be invite only.

Now it sounds like I am just complaining. Well I am, just feeling that way today I guess.

I am however wanting to list some of my favorite things that I cannot live without today.. so here is my ode to the drug store and Walmart.


Thank you for :

Loreal Voluminous waterproof mascara...
Shave Secret for people like me who have to shave their legs twice a day and have sensitive skin
Biore - pore unclogging scrub w/ Sal Acid -- for unclogging my huge pores and for smelling so good --
Clear Eyes -Eye drops
Johnson's *soft lotion- 24 Hour Moisturizer (pink)
Garnier Smooting Milk -strong
Swedish fish...
and of course, Diet Coke - milk duds and Midol...

I wish I could get advertising money for all those plugs!!!

Good Movies to watch

Although I do not usually recommend others to see R movies that I may go to once in a while, I really liked American Gangster. But it was pretty raw.

Also, we loved watching the old Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde with Ingrid Bergman -- for our Family Halloween movie this year. It was pretty good.

I did not get a chance to go to This is the Place Heritage Park this year, but I heard from my kids that it was great.

Halloween was a blast this year!!!

Well, I just want to plug the Notorious B's new sports blog. Unfortunately it will reveal all that I have tried to suppress in him over the years, socially. Now he has been unleashed. He is very opinionated and is revelling in having a voice with no wife- like editing. He is a great sports writer though - he just says whatever. So beware. Topics may not be suitable to kids. However, he won't be swearing.

http://www.sports-slop.blogspot.com/

Keep the Light

Deep in their roots,

all flowers keep the

light.

- Theodore Roethke

Here it is.... my Hydrangea making a comeback. The summer nearly killed it. Along with my seeming inability to keep it constantly happy. I haven't moved it yet, because so far I have remembered to keep up the supplemental watering's, and it needs ton's when it is hot outside.

I have to say I have turned out to be an "inconsistent gardener" if the water is on auto and is working, I am fine, but hand watering has been a bummer.

I am unusually giddy, however about the new life my plant has presented. I really thought it was completely dead at one point. All the branches were brittle and brown. I almost crumbled the hole plant in my hand. I left the stem and just hoped that the roots were OK. I have no idea why I left it, I hoped.... but it was such a baseless idea to leave it. I can't believe it really had so much life still left.

Anyway, after a bout a week I saw little buds and new leaves started coming back. Now it is tall and peeking several new leaves out the branches. Excited to have a second chance, I am more serious about it's future.

I cannot guarantee that some trip or overly busy week, or neglect won't try to creep in and sabotage my efforts at having a green thumb over my favorite plant, but I will do my best. Anyone know any landscape babysitters??

This is not My Flower . . . .

I think I am my Hydrangea Plant..... when I am doing well it is doing well.... I notice that when I am taking care of me and those around me the way I should be, it looks great. However; I have not been super consistent with making absolutely sure it was watered properely, and with the hot summer...it was often wilted by the time I went out to check. So my flower has had a summer full of ups and downs. Ashamed, I neglected to post too much about it's struggles..... but I will be posting the result of it's resiliency . After almost all of the leaves dried up and shriveled away, it started all new buds and has grown new life. Yea!! I almost gave up!!! And as a friend reminded me, I think I need to add some new soil to it's roots. I hope it will blossom next spring, and I can't wait to see what color the soil brings out!!

share the love

I am not a photographer!!! But I do love pictures and especially these, from this summer and from the start of the school year. I never know how a picture will turn out, because I barely know how to use my camera, but I am always amazed what you get to capture and then the moment is is gone.

new perspectives

More Moments

Split Seconds

The Big Day

I know the notoriuos B has been dreading today for a while. But we think he is better at forty than he ever was. The kids had fun making the birthday door and taped a giant banner on his car. We were hoping he would drive around all day with it on the car, but didn't happen. I think he should be proud of being forty. He has alot to be grateful for.

I also understand though . It really feels like we are still in Jr High (& we often act like it too)!!!

Here's hoping that someday we will feel and act our age!!!!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday dear Mr. B.... Happy Birthday to you!!!

Clouds - photos by ME!!

I think I really re-discovered summer this year and all it's wonders... but I still can't believe it's over. When I was little, I thought summer was so long. And since I spent so much of it away from home with my dad and his family, or traveling with my mom and her husband with his kids etc.., I never thought summer was about being home at all. It was about traveling and seeing things. Although I am sure we were home a lot, it seemed like we were mostly in a camper or a boat, or at some distant aunt or uncles house. This is probably why I love to travel so much.

The journey was the magic....I could just stare out the windows and dream about peoples lives as we sped through town after town. Or look to the sky or road for infinite repeating patterns of yellow stripes or clouds whisking by .... putting me into a trance.

One of my favorite places was in the camper bed above the cab of my step dad's truck. But with so many kids older than me, I never got first choice., Sometimes I was allowed to squish in with all the big kids along the top looking out the long rectangle window. I loved this and pretended I was flying. But I also spent a lot of time hanging my feet out the back of my dad's station wagon or at the front of our boat ...singing "I'm a rhinestone cowboy" or anything from Saturdays warrior and Sound of Music that my sister and step siblings could recall , at the top of our lungs. Somehow we always had our heads out the windows or were hanging off the edge of a truck or boat or car...

These are the moments that I really remember enjoying ... and sometimes, when I blocked out the noise and stared up, it was just all about the clouds!!! I really love clouds. Probably only something a few people know about me. But not all clouds. Just the fluffy ones that have the dark blue skies framing them. The sun must be just so as to almost darken the earth with shadows- but at the same time, highlight every details of the clouds. I don't know what it is about the contrast of the clouds against the blue sky that I love so much,......but I do know that whenever I am somewhere in the world enjoying the view..... the clouds make the difference in experience. I enjoy the mountains, the ocean, the river, the swimming pool, the car ride, the airplane ride etc.... so much more when I see my clouds.

At this time in my life I don't really consider myself someone who travels tons, especially since I married and settled down. But I do love to travel. And I think I traveled more than usual this summer so it brought back a lot of fun memories of adventures I have had traveling. And it also helped me find some things out about myself that I had forgotten.

For instance, at the beginning of the summer I took my two son's to Washington DC and New York. This was a big deal. Especially since I usually rely on my husband so much when we travel, to be the guide and the driver etc...

This trip was just me. I was a little nervous just going off alone and I think my boys wondered if I could even read a map. I felt like great timing to take them, Mr. C had just finished the year studying about the president's and the US Government. He also learned about the Revolutionary and Civil wars, etc.... Well, I knew I could read a map, but, they didn't,I think they think I can only make lunches, clean and read books, so it was fun to actually show them that I could do hard things like.... take them safely on a plane far away, and then rent a car and drive them around in a strange city and find my way without the aid of Dad.

It was fun when it clicked and they realized that I really did know something about the world and that I really did have a life of travel before I got married. They must have been surprised at my sudden knowledge of trivial facts!!! However, I had a hard time convincing them that the NY subway was safe..and we walked around the first half of the day in the pouring rain before they finally trusted me. After that they really thought I was cool and it felt good....It was fun to actually show them places I had been before and help them experience a different type of life tempo and culture... WE saw so much....these are the things my boys liked...

Suburban Virginia teeball - yes they have sports in all states

Robert Hansen the spy's house

toll roads

Udvar Hazy Aerospace Hanger

The Mall Museums -wow!!

Spy Museum

Real Art-all the presidents and all the famous paintings!!

Union Station

Congress in Session - private tour of the Capitol - watched Ted Kennedy give his speech on the Immigration reform bill - saw Trent Lot and John McCain

Arlington Cemetery

Mannasses Battle Field

Amtrak to NY at 4:30 a.m.

Rowing teams on the rivers at dawn

Penn Station

NY Bagels

NY Pizza

NY Hot Dogs

Subway Entertainment

Natural History Museum

Canal Street

Staten Island Ferry/Statue of Liberty

Walked the Brooklyn Bridge

NY Stock Exchange

Ground Zero

Empire State Building

Times Square

Magnolia Bakery and Sarah Jessica's house (hee hee)

Little Italy

and more than I can list!!To just name a few things we did... then when we got home it was the second week of summer. A lot of the travels this summer were short trips after that, like to the Arches National Park in Utah and to the mountains for camping,etc.... or some of the kids had sports or dance camps etc.. and then finally just before we had to get home for the boys to start football...we went to Mexico and SoCAl, that was the best.

I guess I just didn't get enough though, and thought we would add one last trip on at the last minute after school started. So over labor day weekend my extended family invited us to Southern Utah for the weekend. And of course I thought it would be a great last chance to fit in a mini vacation before winter sideswipes us. But with the boys engulfed in football i just took the girls. We had a lot of adventure on our hikes. We had a rattle snake cross our trail, we saw a crazy squirrel, saw waterfalls and lizards and deer with big ears. At one point we wanted to ride the horses, but we decided that we would wait and go back another time to Zions when Dad and the boys could do that. Again, it was fun to hike and drive and explore a new and exciting place, go shopping and eat at fun places. We love southern Utah!! But most of all it was beautiful.

And the clouds were absolutely the best I ever remember seeing....

Letting Go

Procrastinating is what I do best. I am pretty sure it is because I have a hard time letting go of things as they are...... when you take action to do things, life changes. Right now I have not wanted my life to change. I have had such a great summer with my kids, and writing about it made it seem so final and so I was holding on to it and procrastinating the inevitable.

Summer is over... and I my youngest child was released to the world of first grade yesterday. I love this picture of her with wings.....she is changing into such a big girl and has transformed into such an eager and independant little fairy. She flits from thing to thing as if she has no fear and seems so confident in her young wings.

And now, my days will be forever changed....I feel like I just lost an important part of my job or purpose.... no one here to need me every second. All of my kids, off to school all day. Many of my friends have said that I must be excited..to have more free time. I'm sure that's not what I feel .... anxious is more like it. Letting go means I have to change.

Now I need to go dig out my wings, dust them off, fluff them up and find some new ways to use my new daily freedoms.

Ocean Treasures

The Ocean misses me already!!!!! Every time I have gone into my laundry room this week, I still see a few traces of sand that have eluded me. They are calling out my name...... "M a d y !! " . And then I hear the wind calling ...." come back , you only had one week to enjoy me!!That is not enough time! You did not read enough and you did not hear the waves enough!! come back!!!!"

Well that sounded more like the words of the Para- normal Romance novel I picked up in San Diego, just before we went into Baja for our week at a beach house in La Mision, Mexico... but in a way it is true. I could spend a month there and be happy.

And it is not just me ...... we all enjoyed our time at the beach... my kids had a blast. One morning we got up very early and went hunting for crabs and starfish in the rocks!!! The kids found several crabs, no starfish, lots of sand dollars and some great volcano shells. They made necklaces out of the shells and are still wearing them!! (Thanks MW!!)

I love how the most simple things mean the most.

For my youngest, Princess T. Everything was still so new and exciting!!! For her, the Dolphin and Seal sightings were just as important as Sea Shells. As it should be.

But nothing could beat the baby Colt we saw everyday on the beach. Princess T . Named it "Sarah" and the mom she named "Milosa".

The other kids would spend forever in the waves, on boogie boards and a raft and then just lay in the sand, coating and soaking themselves with the warm sand to dry off. It was an addicting cycle.

All the while "mom" just sitting and reading, or sleeping in a beach chair all day long. It was funny how my husband kind of became like the "mom" he was in and out of the house all day attending to the kids and me... while I just layed out basking in the sun and doing nothing. And he was actually enjoying himself!!

Most of all we enjoyed the company of good friends, had good food and laughed a lot.

A vacation sure to never be forgotten.

And I am sure I will be reflecting on it alot, as I am now home to stay for a while....... I have been away alot this summer.

And thanks to some vigilant neighbors..... my Hydrangea plant is doing well. I may have to move it though...it may be getting too much sun!!!!

Tempermental

I have not yet had time to really focus on my hydrangea plant over the past week. I have been out of town so my husband, the notorius B, has been keeping an eye on it. He took the job very seriously and I really appreciate his diligence. It looks great!!!! He quickly noticed how after only one day of not watering it, it starts to wilt. He said it was "tempermental". I am sure when he first set out to keep an eye on it, he thought he wouldn't have to do anything much. It's funny how we realize what we don't know about things, until we start to focus on them. He has started to realize that I am alot like my plant. Sorry Hunny!!

Washington D.C. . . . details coming soon!!

Breadline

The sorrowful faces of the life-size statues are a powerful expression of the times, showing the inactivity and troubles of everyday citizens during the Great Depression.

Coming Soon!!!! Details about a trip I took with my boys to visit friends in Washington D.C. and our side trip to NYC!!

Also, MOAB!!!!!

The Big Day

Happy Birthday Mr.C!!!!

" I want some modern furniture, camping stuff and a quadruple combination." my son told me a few months ago.

Just what I love about Mr. C, he is very specific. He seems to have had a very good day. He loves just to be at home and around family, he just wanted all the traditions to be intact, as usual, and was relieved we all pulled through.

First is the Birthday Door, where a fairy comes in the night and hangs crepe paper or something fantastic over the opening of the bedroom door. Then in the morning we have to knock on the door and tell the birthday girl/boy to come outside...and wahla!!! When they walk through the door they are one year older!!!! We all clap and sing happy birthday.

I have photos, but early morning shots of the bunch of us is pretty scary.. and most eyes were closed etc... so it didn't really capture the moment like I wished.

Oh well, finally we get to follow the birthday celebrity up to the kitchen where a gift a favorite box of cereal and cake awaits... with balloons etc...

The rest of the day was actually pretty busy and he had hopes to get out of everything for his birthday... but not-to-be. The only thing that he did not have to do was his ZONE (chore area) .

We ended the day however with a dinner out, at a restaurant of Mr. C's choice.

I was actually the most excited about this because, of all my kids, Mr. C has the most sophisticated taste. He loves gourmet foods and seafood; pretty much anything. He never hesitates to ask for the most expensive and delectable items on most menus. He loves to cook and just enjoys good food. So I couldn't wait to hear his choice for tonight. Needless to say I was a tiny , little bit, slightly, minutely . . . . bummed out, when he actually said the words Chuck-A-Rama.

Hanging out was the best though and we had a great dinner!!! I actually enjoyed some coconut shrimp with mango sauce!!

Mr. C's birthday wishes all came true.... we focused on him a lot this week and I am pretty sure he was greatly satisfied with turning twelve. He got an awesome "Modern Chair", tons of camping stuff and a quad!!

Now let's see who's birthday is next..............

. . . turning a corner

Great weekend!! Great weather etc... Mr. C, my 11 year old, just got back from Scout Camp . He hiked up with Llamas and a 25 lb pack. They slept under the stars (w/o tents) and fished etc... He seemed so grown up when he got back. He turns 12 on Tuesday and has really been excited for this birthday. I however; am somewhat feeling sad. 12 years old is a big deal around our house, seems like he will be all grown-up if he is twelve.

He is a funny boy, and I guess I will actually have many years left of his boyish charms.. we tried for a while to put a funny video clip of him lip syncing, but it was taking so long to get it all figured out. And once we did it was bedtime, so maybe tomorrow.

Tatum wants her Grandmas to see her play her harp... so we will try to post that too. I think we have to go through you tube, to get them on this site..

My Hydrangea plant was a little droopy today... I did not know that my husband only runs the water one day on the weekend and I put it in a spot that the sprinklers could reach. Since they did not go on Saturday, it was droopy. I watered it before I thought of maybe taking a picture of it, so it is back to perky now. You will just have to imagine it's lifeless leaves. And we have adjusted our sprinklers. So hopefully that will not happen again.

Mr. Q and madam S swam in their first swim meet of the summer on Saturday morning. I love seeing them do such a great individual sport. They did great too. I love the smell of chlorine in the morning.... and it was breezy, but warm when the sun came over the hill. I was just glad I was not the one getting in the water .... They are good sports and it is fun to cheer them on!!!

Before the swim meet I did my first long run since I injured my leg a few weeks ago. I have been slowly trying to get back to going at least 10 miles on a weekend run. I was so nervous and had been only planning a 7 maybe 8 mile run....but when I got up and out, I just felt like it was going to be a great running day and went for 10!!! It felt so good to run without any pain etc..... I am trying to train for a half marathon in August... I hope I don't have any more set backs. And I hope all my remaining runs are just as great.

Last year I ran a half marathon and got a stress fracture during the race. I finished with a decent time for my first race , but it was a very painful recovery. So I am going for another half before I turn forty!!!! I seem to get a lot of ticky-tack injuries!!! And I lose valuable training days!!!! I just hope my time does not go down..I hope I can at least beat my time.

Ell I better get to bed... I have a whole this of things to do back to back from 5:00 a.m. to about 10:15 ... like running, driving kids to music lessons, swim practice, dance and summer camp....etc.. by 10:30 I should be able to actually be at home and get something done ( like take a shower!!!) g'night.

A photo of my new Hydrangea plant

from the first day...June 19th, 2007.

Madam S

Mr. C

Mr. Q

Little Miss T

My kids are really excited about this blog.. they also think I may kill my Hyrdrangea plant. So we shall see. Anyway, we have so much family out of the state that it will give them a little peek into our lives. Also, my husband is a great sports fan and will be blogging sports on a link I will have up shortly. The only thing I can note about the Hydrangea plant is that I think I picked a really good location... and it seems to be fine. I just watered it.

I have posted pictures of my kids, who I adore!!!!! They are so amazing, talented and funny!!! You will see.. they have big plans to post video clips and "random" stuff. Be prepared to be amazed.. you may see magic tricks and rapping and wild dance moves. As well as jokes, sports commentaries and artwork...

On a typical day at our house in the summer we are up pretty early, I run about 5:30 a.m. and then by 7:00 a.m. we get kids off to swim team at a local sports club we belong to. Brent takes them on his way to work. Then we send them off to dance, tennis, golf ,drama or whatever camp/class is that week. By the afternoon we are swimming at our Sports Club..... then we come home clean up and the kids just play with nieghbor friends etc...

Barely enough time for me to keep up on the house, but it all seems to work out and we are really enjoying this summer. It is fun to have so much daylight especially after dad gets home. Feels like we have so much more time together.

Right now, we are planning our traditional vacation to a beach house in Baja, Mexico... and some SoCal fun!!!! Can't wait...