"They Really Like Me."

The other night as I was falling asleep I was thinking about my sophomore year English class. I had a first year teacher who tried to spice up our old-school English department. She was young, naive, liberally minded and added a dash of cayenne to her class which I am sure didn't sit well with the blandly-seasoned tenured teachers. We were suppose to read Julius Caesar by Shakespeare but since she thought there were far more interesting plays to read, her classes instead read A Midsummer's Night Dream. She found a production of it and took all that wanted to attend on a field trip. It ended up catching up with her because on the end of the year test, which was a cumulative review of all of the sophomore English curriculum, there were questions about Julius Caesar. So what did she do? She feed us a cliff's version of the play so that we were equipped with the answers for those questions. We read interesting essays that I had never heard nor have I heard of since of about futuristic societies where no one was allowed to talk about their feelings. She also read aloud a controversial essay that she wrote in college about the differences between men's and women's views of intimacy, which put the class into a palpable agonizing silence.

But while I was drifting off to dreamland the image that came to my mind was an assignment we were given to write an essay using an old picture of ourselves. We were to describe how we felt, what we did, and what made us interesting at that stage of life. I brought in my seventh grade picture. I don't know why I chose it, but it was probably because it was the only picture that I could find at the last minute. I remember writing my essay and bringing it to school the next day with the picture attached. This particular picture was not one of my best. I had a navy blue and white horizontally striped shirt, a shell necklace, crooked bangs that split unevenly into two parts, with the rest slicked into a partial barretted updo that was soaked in hairspray.

In class that day a move of social annihilation was happening as this young teacher was calling on students to read their essays. Many silent prayers were offered that my name wouldn't be called. Then it came. "Rebecca, will you read yours?" I remember swiftly and nervously as the words that I wrote escaped off of my tongue. When I got to the sentences about my shiny slicked back hair and how I was so afraid to ever get a tardy so I ran from class to class almost always being the first one in the room, there were eruptions of laughter. The class laughed and laughed as did the teacher. I remember swelling with pride about my essay. My heart did a little lift off as the thought crossed my head "they really liked it." There are few times in my life that I have had that feeling and this was certainly one that was memorable. I was thinking about a situation recently where I had the same heart swell, and it took me back to my 15 year old self. I think those little times of validation that one feels "they really like me" make an impact, especially to an awkward teenage girl.

A Night Away

After five years, Stephen and I finally got away for a night alone, together, no kids! Why five years you ask? I don't really know the answer to that. We are away from family and so we can hire a sitter for an evening but getting someone for over night is a bit more complicated. So when we got a Christmas present from family friends to watch our kids for the whole night we knew this was it. Several months ago I purchased tickets for Beauty and the Beast for our anniversary and so we knew this was the perfect platform. And to have someone willing to watch our kiddos, sickness and all, for the night was a gift for sure! Our time away was so fanciful, and I felt like I was Audrey Hepburn living in the city and spending nights out on the town. We both came back home feeling like we had been on a week long cruise. It was so relaxing and just plain fun to be together.

My new dress which I am in love with and bought for the occasion!

Our first stop was a swanky restaurant which specializes in Wagyu beef steaks. It was a delicious feast. We ate ourselves silly on crab cakes, Cesar salads, garlic mashed potatoes along with the buttery steak and a burnt cream for dessert compliments of the restaurant for our anniversary.

Some really poor iphone pictures of dinner in a dark restaurant, but it is all that we had.

I forgot the camera in the hotel room so we rushed back after dinner to grab it before catching a cab to the play. Then we headed off to the theater. We were cutting it close so only one quick photo and then off to find our seats. It was a great production. Even Stephen liked it which I was worried about because of course this is more my kind of thing than his.inside the theater

It had been raining all day but had stopped so we thought we were safe with no umbrella at the play because we were taking a taxi back to the hotel, but of course we came out to rain and no taxis in sight. We walked for a few blocks with Stephen getting the most wet because I had my coat with a hood on it. At one point we were dodging people on the sidewalks and puddles on the streets. Stephen laughed and turned to me and said "It's kind of romantic being caught in a rainstorm" and then gave me a peck of a kiss right there in the crosswalk. I chuckled heartily because that is not the normal thing that he says or does! We finally found a cab just a few blocks away with a crazy driver. It was very much like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland. On the walk through the lobby I said how grateful I was to have made it back in one piece and Stephen thought the last time he had a car ride like that was on his mission in Argentina. I can wholeheartedly agree with that comment.

In the morning, we headed down to Pike's Public Market since we were just a few blocks away. We ended up finding a chocolate shop on the walk that we had seen on t.v. that was famous for their coconut bars. We sampled a grey salted caramel (divine!) picked up our chocolate bars for us for later and a few for a present as well. The chocolate bars were amazing as we ate them later that night, and I can't wait to try other flavors next time!

It looks like this picture was taken at night, but it was a grey Seattle morning. It wasn't nearly as dark out as it seems; I think the flash makes it seem so dreary.

Then we headed for breakfast at the french bakery for a chocolate croissant for me and a ham and cheese one for Stephen. We bought a few extra goodies to bring back to the kids. My mouth is watering as I am typing because those croissants and palmiers were just too delectable!

Blurry picture of me at breakfast.

We then headed through the market and got some blood oranges to take home as well; we got these a few years ago around this time of year, and I've never had better oranges than at this particular market stand. They again did not disappoint.

After Pike's we headed back to check out and go to the temple. Sadly as we arrived we found out they were closed for maintenance. So we headed for home enjoying every last minute of conversation that we could squeeze in. The kids were all happy to see us which makes a homecoming all the better (Daddy usually gets that kind of reception but usually I am never gone long enough to be missed). It was a fantastic eighteen hours kid-free, and I think it spoiled me a bit because I am already thinking about when we can sneak away again. All I know is that it will not be another five years from now!

Mom and Me Night at Preschool

Emma and I attended her "Mom and Me Night" at preschool. We had lots of love/red and white themed activities which included making a hand print, a pasta necklace, a bear ornament, a heart book mark, and decorating a heart cookie. I forgot the camera so the pictures aren't great at all, but they do document a fun night with my little Emmie-girl!

Emma making a pasta necklace with her teacher.

frosting her cookie

playing house

ready to go home after a fun preschool evening

First Trip to the Dentist

Emma did a great job for the first time at the dentist. Jacob cried because he thought he was going to have his teeth cleaned, but Emma showed him what a big sister does and was so brave. She just did what was asked of her. She wouldn't talk, but who likes to talk at the dentist anyway? When asked what her favorite part was her answer was "Mr. Thirsty."

100th Day of School

Benjamin asked me to volunteer at his 100th day of school party. They had four classrooms each with a different activity. Each room had them counting by different ways to get to 100. One classroom had them counting by 20's, 20 objects of five different things for a 100 day snack. Another room was a 100 day headband where they made tally marks for groups of 5 up to 1oo and then counted aloud by 5's to a teacher or parent in the room. The third room had them counting by 2's with a caterpillar worksheet, and the final room was Benjamin's classroom where they made 100 day necklaces by using 10 beads of different colors to count by 10's.
I was helping in Benjamin's classroom where the kids made the necklaces. They seemed to have a great time.

Benjamin's favorite things of the day were "making the paper, making the snack, and making the 100th day hat. When we were done with all the activities there was a paper in our cubbies, and we got to make the paper. I had so much fun because I got to do lots of activities. And my mom was there too."

Valentine's Day

We had a great Valentine's Day! We had a fun lunch (Benjamin's lunch for school looked just like this, and he was surprised).

We had some small Valentine surprises for each other. Below are Stephen's.

Benjamin's Valentine

Emma's Valentine

Jacob's Valentine

Our Valentine's to each other and there were even some the kids received in the mail!

My Valentine presents from Stephen. Just what I've needed (new containers for the flour and sugar) and a large pyrex pan. It was practical and perfect!

Our first dessert . . .

and our second dessert.

Benjamin came home with his heart of Valentine goodies from school!

Happy Valentine's Day!

12 for 12 February

This is not a day that I want to repeat so why I am blogging about it it for 12 for 12 is beyond me. I hope that in a few days/years I can look back and laugh but right now tears were the order of the day not laughs. The morning started off with a bang (top row- left to right) Jacob eating and ready to play, fighting over coveted toys, and dumping of cheerios for the documented photos. Also what should be included was tears over clothes to be worn, bossing each other around so that mom had to say at least ten times "you are not the boss", and fits about shoes. We finally got out the door to church and were seated in our row singing with opening song, when I looked down at Jacob's hands- gasp!- covered in a blister-like rash (second row photos). How did I not see this all morning long? I got him dressed for heavens sake. I rushed him out, then realize I left my purse in the chapel with my keys in it. Rushed back in, grab the purse, grab Grandma Joy to have her follow me out to explain that I need to get Jacob home immediately and leave her with my kids for the sacrament meeting (Stephen was conducting the meeting and there was no way I could talk to him). I rushed Jacob off to urgent care thinking that it is hand, foot, and mouth or maybe scarlet fever which Emma was tested for earlier in the week and hers came back negative. I arrived at urgent care to find out that they don't open for an hour and forty five minutes. I went home and called my doctor's office and spoke to the nurse on call from the children's hospital. She said that it doesn't sound like hand, foot, and mouth because there is a rash all over his legs and trunk as well which doesn't usually happen. She thought it might be Roseola which is a virus with a fever,which he did have from Wednesday to Thursday, and then the rash breaks out days later after they are no longer contagious. Although she said that the rash didn't usually appear to have blisters, which still makes me suspicious that it may be hand, foot and mouth disease. She suggested that if he seemed fine, was eating fine, and just seemed normal to wait it out and have him looked at by the doctor when the office opened again. Which is the advice I took. I called Stephen and told him to bring the kids home because I didn't want them to expose anyone to anything if indeed Jacob's rash is contagious. After lunch and naps, one for me too, I went next door to tell our neighbor that we weren't coming to dinner to celebrate her daughter's birthday. Poor Emma was so sad to miss the party; she is a girl who loves parties (row 3, picture 1) but the good news was the goodie bag was sent home early and Emma loved the boo, boo, cold pack (row 3, picture 2). We had a very early dinner because Stephen had another meeting to leave for. Then Star War toys were found in the closet and played with forever (row 3 picture 3, and row 4, pictures 1 and 2). Movies were watched, the house was cleaned up, and finally the evening ended with another pull-up and hopes for a dry one in the morning so that Emma can earn her Build-A-Bear. Stephen has been gone a lot this past week with church, and with sick kids I just feel drained tonight. I am promising myself a much more gleeful day with 12 for 12 in March!

Happy 3rd Birthday Emma!

Emma had a whole weekend of celebrating. On Saturday Emma got to do many of her favorite things but there aren't any pictures of them. She, Benjamin, and Dad went to our favorite doughnut shop. They got to eat there, which is the real treat, and then brought some home for Jacob and I. Then in the late morning we went swimming at the neighboring city's pool. It has a playground in the pool that Emma was unsure of at first. But after she was made to try the slide a few times it ended up being her favorite thing as reported on the drive home. I wanted to take pictures there but there is a strict policy -no cameras allowed during free swim. Everyone enjoyed the pool and then headed to lunch at McDonald's for chicken nuggets (what is it that is so appealing about those nuggets to children but since it was her day, it was her choice). After lunch home for naps and then we had a delicious dinner of fresh spring rolls with shrimp. Emma loves shrimp.

Then Sunday was the actual big day and the first thing that Emma did was climb up on Benjamin's bunk bed. She somehow got it in her head that when she was three she could climb the ladder and go all the way up. And up she went.

She then came downstairs to see her Tinkerbell decorations.

The rest of the morning passed with another pink sprinkled doughnut (lucky girl ~two days in a row) followed by church.

Stephen was at church meetings before the kids got up so we waited to open presents until after nap time when he was home. Emma loved her presents, a new doll, a backpack for the doll, an outfit for the doll, a dog on a leash for her doll, new pink crocs, and a make-your-own tutu kit. It was all just what the birthday girl loves!
We celebrated again with dinner, Emma's choice this time of chicken, roasted potatoes, salads, and of course cake for dessert
This next sequence was my favorite. Jacob climbed up on the chair next to Emma. I stopped taking pictures because I was afraid that he would dive into the cake but he actually just blew out the last candle for Emma!

It was a celebration indeed! Happy Birthday my dear little Emmie!

I Knew This Day Would Come

I think that every mother knows that this will eventually come. It is something that I dreaded and felt heart sick about. Today it happened. I drove Benjamin to school because I have been helping his teacher with a project of turning all her cassette taped stories to mp3s so that the students can listen to the stories on new mp3 players that the PTA is purchasing for the classroom. I needed to return the bag of tapes and the thumb drive with the recorded stories. As we walked into school I saw Lifetouch Photographers setting up. Oh pickles! I knew that class pictures were today and tomorrow. I even sent in the picture envelope with the check yesterday. Somehow in the morning rush, I had forgotten that it was today. Benjamin had picked out his own long sleeve white t-shirt with a short sleeved green a blue striped t-shirt on top. If I had remembered that it was pictures I would have surely sent him in a nice collared shirt or sweater. Into the classroom we went. I gave his teacher the things that I had for her and asked her what time the pictures were so I could possibly run home and grab a nicer shirt. She told me 10:20 which only gave me one hour to do all of that. As I thought about what to do, I turned to Benjamin to give him a kiss on the cheek and say goodbye. He immediately turned and walked away from my kiss with a humiliated look on his face. His teacher saw this interaction and turned to me with a surprised, shocked look. I quickly said something like "Oh no it has started where Mom is embarrassing," called out "goodbye Bud," and slipped out pushing the stroller with Emma trailing behind. I left completely dejected and devastated. It was all I could do to force my feet to return to the mini-van parked in the school lot and drive away. I really wanted to run back in, snatch up Benjamin and tell him that I loved him so very, very much. I wanted to check him out of school and spend the day just the two of us doing things that he loves to do. I wanted to have his kiss on my cheek one more time and for him to say to me "goodbye mom, I love you." I don't know if I embarrassed him by telling him that I would bring him another shirt or not, but something changed today. To tell the truth I am not ready for friends to be more influential than me yet. I am not ready to be the embarrass-er . I am not ready for him to grow up! I knew this day would come, but I am just not ready for it.