goop and stuff

We have a lot of HAIR in our family (I keep mine short to maintain the balance of power). About every 3 months we goop our hair meaning we make a homemade concoction of egg yolk, mayo and olive oil, smear it on, wrap in plastic, wait 15-30 mins wash out and enjoy sooooooft hair for  a while. Ryan thinks we are weird.

This little man must be growing because he slept all night - ahh - happy mommy.

a little hike

We hiked Piestua Peak on President's Day. The weather was beautiful, company grand, and the overall experience nice (although Switzerland is prettier). Sarah rode in the backpack and Nelson in the Bjorn (I was sore). We are trying to be outside as much as possible while the weather is nice.

 Nelson found hiking exhausting - he does know how to hold his head up.

big day yesterday

It was a BIG choir day yesterday for MCO. We recorded our Christmas album (due out in the fall - whoopeeeeeeee - more Christmas music!). Diana end Emily joined the children's choir this semester so they got to quick learn Riu, Riu Chiu and participate (they were pretty excited). We left school early, picked up some alto friends to carpool and headed to PHX to Xavier cathedral to record. Of course we ran late (a fuse blew putting us behind an hour) During the recording there was trouble with toilets flushing and ruining takes, and mysterious conversations going on (bad choir members? ghosts? weird radio feed?), a phone ringing in a hidden office somewhere etc, but the space was beautiful, with incredible re-verb. I could actually HEAR the altos around me and I think it will be a wonderful album. Our hosts were kind, generous and patient (a true feat when dealing with 400 people).

 Here are Diana and Emily waiting patiently outside for their turn to record (eating my snap peas). When it became clear we were going to be there a while Emily reminded me we had a pack of UNO cards in the car (thanks Aunt Jessica) and we got a big game going. I'm sorry to all the mom's whose kids got dirty sitting on the ground playing UNO - it had to be done).

Diana and Emily got home around 6:30 least night. The adult choir and orchestra stayed until almost 11pm recording 5 more pieces. Recording is really hard work, but I find it very satisfying. I like the intense focus and it's interesting to learn from others under stress. I was very impressed with Brett and Brandon (our directors). Here they are trying to make a great album and they have put a lot of preparation into deciding what they want. Both are very opinionated and there is a lot going on. Despite the pressures and stress and disagreements they both managed to remain calm, focused, and positive. I was especially impressed at the tone of voice they use with each other as they disagree and work out solutions (we can hear it all because one is in front of us and the other is in the sound booth on a microphone). There was no raised voices, no cattiness - you can tell they really love each other and are working really hard to work positively even when disagreeing - it was a good lesson.

You can be sure I'll let you know when MCO Christmas is released - it will be your new favorite Christmas album!

teeth and cooking

Nora lost her top tooth (finally). She is not a very dedicated wiggler, but loves a visit from the tooth fairy.

In an effort to have more one on one time with Mom, every week each kid gets to help plan and cook a meal. So far so good. Diana had Sunday dinner last week, so she also got to make dessert too - you betcha it had chocolate in it!

A word on her glasses. In January we had our eye exams and Diana needs progressive lenses (sheesh) so we had to get extra big frames to accommodate. I did find some other ones (not so wide) and they cam in the mail today.  Hopefully they fit better. Thank goodness for zennioptical.com

sistah/hermana middleton

This, my dears, is Amy Middleton, mission companion extraordinaire. She let me go to church with her on Sunday in Salt Lake and then took my to the airport. It was fantastic to see her face.

Amy came to me in Belize. She  had just left a "difficult" companionship, was made a senior, and was plopped down with me. We had a GREAT companionship. She was patient with me and herself, she was funny, empathetic, a hard worker and a fantastic example of a good communicator. We lived through Hurricane Keith, a mugging, and worse. In lots of ways Amy and I are very different. I am clean to a fault, she is more untidy. She's a night owl, I'm a morning person. Amy is super artistic and I'm musical. Amy taught me that different people can make a great team if they TALK without being afraid (I'm not naturally a good communicator). I am so grateful she was and continues to be my friend and for all she taught me.

After a couple of months Amy was shipped back to Honduras to finish her mission and I figured we would not meet again in the mission. Unexpectedly, I was also sent back to Honduras and Amy was given me AND a greenie (Sister Carty - Hi Mellissa). So there we were, Amy, who had spent a lot of her mission in Belize (an English speaking country), me with 2 months in Honduras at the beginning of my mission and 5 months of English - my Spanish was pretty bad, and Mellissa fresh out of the MTC. We were pretty weak on Spanish but STRONG in love and work and goofiness.

Amy rocks. I don't think I would have survived the mission field without her.

oh boys!

A highlight if the Utah trip as meeting FRANK. He is about 7 weeks older than Nelson and is super precious and handsome and sweet and did not want to look at the camera for Aunt Mares - her was too busy looking at his beauty mom!

utah

I had a fantastic trip to Utah to see Aunt Mel's show. Nelson was the perfect traveling companion, sweet and compliant and the show was super fun.

 Nelson passed the Aunt Mel test for cuteness.

 Big boy cousins! I can't believe how grown up David, Josh and Nathan have grown.

 I was grateful to get my Livy fix - she is precious and a very good walker now. We are hoping she and her parents move to Arizona (good luck). Then we could play all the time.

Aunt Jess was jet-lagged from   trip to London but rose the occasion none the less. Livy LOVES Nelson and had a hard time keeping her hands off of him (and out of his nose, mouth, ears eyes etc).

feb 14th

Happy Valentines Day! Happy birthday Uncle Michael - 25 is amazing, and Happy Birthday Arizona - 100 - wow!

Our house was in full-on V-day preparations yesterday, glitter, hearts, suckers, valentines - now if we can just make it through the candy binge this afternoon, we will be great!

This little man is 4 months old! EEK!

benefits of a break

Ryan (my hero) is sending Nelson and me on a little 2.5 day trip tomorrow. We are going to Utah to partake in Junior High theatre (Bye, Bye, Birdie), see all the siblings and cousins, and go to church with the girl I was mission companions with not once but twice.

I am here to promote such trips. Am I stressed about the details of leaving Dad in charge of 5 kids (what will the girl's hair look like for church, what will they eat without blowing the budget to pizza every night, will Ryan remember to remind Sarah to go potty? - you know Mommy stuff)? Yes, I am a tad worried.  Despite the anxiety, I find I am more patient with my kids, more willing to work and play with them, I kiss my sweetheart with more conviction and I view the world through happy eyes as I get ready to go. The anticipation of a little getaway does wonders. I hereby advocate getting away, you will like what it does to you.

glamour

This was Nora's outfit a few days ago for school. I always wanted to be able to pull off bold prints and accessories, but I can't. Nora clearly can.

random art

We are all about a good, messy art project around here. Two weeks ago the morning troops were getting restless, so I grabbed some scrap wood from the garage, the glitter glue and the craft paint and let the kids go at if for an hour. The results were far from beautiful, but the process was satisfying.

classic sarah

As you know, Sarah has been sick (along with the rest of the gang). She has taken it especially hard. Her catch phrase is "I no like that". (Unless it's a cupcake). She has been grumpy, droopy, clinging, snuggley, and has a really yucky nose. I found her crying on the trampoline yesterday. Here she is in her static hair, runny nose glory!