A conversation...

This conversation occurred during tonight's bath time.

Me: Morgan make sure to scrub that pen off your arm.

Morgan: How did you notice that?

Me: Because I'm the mom.

Morgan: You don't notice me when I am walking quietly like a ninja. (This is said while taking a ninja-like pose.)

How can you argue with that, even if you are the mom?!?

Tag, I'm it...

I just went to my friend Marie's blog and saw that I was tagged for this almost a month ago. I agree with Marie, this is a fun one so I am going to give it a shot!

I totally love movies!!! I love losing myself to another time or place. It is like reading, but with a shorter time commitment. I pretty much all types of movies except the "slasher"/horror type. I found these questions hard to narrow down because have seen a lot of movies and I like so many of them. But here goes...

Favorite movies you have to be "in the mood" for in order to enjoy:
1. Slapstick/dumb comedy stuff
2. Serious dramas that don't have a romantic plot line

Favorite movies that make you laugh out loud no matter how many times you have watched them:
1. Three Amigos
2. Pirates of the Carribean (the first one)
3. That Thing You Do

Favorite "guilty pleasures" movies:
1. Harry Potter series
2. "Chick flicks": Gidget, Dirty Dancing, Only You, Sweet Home Alabama, Shag, Centerstage, The Wedding Planner, Cutting Edge, stuff like that

Favorite movies you have seen so many times that you can recite all the lines:
1. The Princess Bride
2. Willow
3. Strictly Ballroom (my freshman year at the Y we watched it at least once a week)
4. Most Disney movies, especially The Little Mermaid

Movies that "opened your eyes":
1. A Beautiful Life
2. (This is a hard one. I know there are lots, but I can't think of any right now. I'll have to come back to this one.)

Most overrated:
1. Napoleon Dynamite (sorry Jen!)
2. Citizen Kane (I agree with you Marie -- what is the big deal?!?)

What were the last two movies you watched?
1. August Rush
2. Enchanted

Favorite smart movies:
1. An Ideal Husband
2. Much Ado About Nothing

Your spouse's favorite movies:
1. August Rush
2. This is a direct quote, "I don't know, that would mean I would have to remember the movies I have seen."

All time favorites:
1. Pride and Prejudice
2. An Ideal husband
3. The Age of Innocence
4. Hoosiers (I just love those sports/underdog movies)
5. Anne of Green Gables series
6. Musicals: The Sound of Music, Kiss Me Kate, Throughly Modern Millie, Wizard of Oz, and too many more to list
7. the Lord of the Rings series (and not just because of Legolas -- ha ha)

Three words...

Brunch with girlfriends!

I am not sure it gets much better than that. Yummy breakfast and even better conversation. Totally made my day! :)

Triple Trio recording session...

On Monday Triple Trio (the womens group I sing with) had a recording session at Silver Creek High School. Apparently we were willing guinea pigs for their new recording/mixing class. We had a blast getting in there and laying down some of the songs we have been working on.

In just over an hour we recorded 8 of our songs. Many of them in one take. They are not exactly perfect, but on some of the tracks I think that we sounded pretty good. It will be interesting to hear what the final product sounds like. I wish we could have one more session and fix a few things. I was a little bummed because I went a little pitchy on a few licks of my solo on Operator, but we didn't have time to do it again.

Overall it was a great experience and I was so excited to have that opportunity (and that Becky made some of her amazing orange rolls for a treat afterward). I get the amazing opportunity to sing with some really phenomenal women each week. I really look forward to rehearsal every Monday. I love the friendship that we share and the beautiful music we can make together. The group has been around for about 25 years now, but by several accounts, this is the best Triple Trio has ever been. I am so pleased that I get to be a part of this group. It will be great to hear ourselves on a CD. So fun!

Ode to book club...

I am not quite sure how I have been so lucky throughout my life, but I have always been blessed to have amazing friends around me. This is especially true of the women I spent time with last night at our monthly book club meeting. Ken always loves it because I come home so happy and full of life.

Last night we met at Micaela's beautiful home to discuss the amazing book Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. It is a fantastic book about a group of very different women in Iran meeting to discuss literature. In the fiction they read, they discovered truths that had great personal and political application. It was a fascinating book to read and discuss, especially with my wonderful friends!

I think the question Ken always asks me when I come home is if we really discuss the book. I can almost always say yes. :) Last night I was especially impressed with these intelligent women that I get to associate with. I love how many different ideas and experiences we were are able to share with each other. I tell these women some of my most deepest, darkest thoughts and feelings and they continue to love me despite my twisted side. I love how they make me think of things in a new way and push me to look at things from a different perspective. I need that. I need to remember sometimes that I am not just a mom, but I am a smart woman with valuable ideas and can contribute to an intelligent conversation. I love that my book club friends bring that out in me and I am truly grateful.

Quiz results...

So I have been loving watching the complete Jane Austen movies on PBS. (Ken just thinks they are taking up too much room on our tivo -- men just don't understand!) Understandably, I was thrilled to see this quiz on Micaela's blog.

Take the Quiz here!

I heart NY...

Julie, Celia, Me, and Carlos on a carriage ride in Central Park

I am back home and completely exhausted from lack of sleep and the amount of FUN that I had in NYC. That was very possibly the best weekend I have ever had (without Ken anyway). I keep going back and forth how to approach posting about my trip. We did so much that it might take several posts and since this is my journal too, I want to remember everything. So I think I will start with a overview and then add more as/if I get around to it.

I left Wednesday night packing a blanket and pillow so I could sleep on the red-eye flight to New York City. Well, my brain would not stop racing and despite being very tired, I did not get one wink of sleep. I flew into La Guardia and got a cab to Celia's apartment. She lives in a great location in Chelsea. We talked and hung out for a bit and then when Celia went to work, I fell into her very comfortable bed and slept for 2 and a half hours. I got up just before noon so I could try to make the 12:30 session at the temple. Didn't quite make it in time, but I loved being in the temple. It is so beautiful inside and a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle outside.

After serving in the temple, Carlos picked me up and we went back to Celia's and changed clothes so we could run errands. We walked down to Chelsea market browsed around, bought some cheese, and ate lunch. I totally loved my chicken Caesar salad with warm, seasoned chicken breast. Yummy.

Celia and I in front of Carnegie Hall

That night Celia and I went and heard Bobby McFerrin and Yo Yo Ma perform at Carnegie Hall. The concert was absolutely amazing! I think I can officially die now because I received a "brava" in Carnegie Hall. After the first part of the concert where Bobby performed with Yo Yo and the orchestra, the stage was cleared and he performed improvisations. For several of these he had us, the audience, sing a part too. Well he wanted us to sing the Bach Gounod Ave Maria, with him doing the Bach accompaniment and us singing the Ave Maria on top. About halfway through our section was not doing very well so I started singing out a little. At the end of the piece, people around me started clapping for me and I even got a brava or two from some people in front of me. :) After the concert, Celia and I went to Roxy's for a late dinner before going home and brainstorming a design plan for her new apartment.

On Friday Morning Julie got in from San Diego. Now that Julie was there we could officially have fun. We took off for the day heading up to Rockefeller Center and walking around the city. Of course we had to stop in for some breakfast at Tiffany's and try on a diamond or two. Then a carriage ride around central park and take in the sights. The trees, tulips, and daffodils were in full bloom and it was a beautiful day! Then we headed downtown to see the sights, especially the WTC site. That was very emotional. We also saw some beautiful churches and other historical buildings.

That evening we went to see Legally Blonde at the Palace Theater. We met up with our friend Brittany so she could enjoy the show with us. We had awesome seats. I can't begin to tell you how incredible Laura Bell Bundy is in that role! After the show we had dinner at the Carnegie deli. I love that cheesecake!

On Saturday we walked all over enjoying the sights of the city before meeting up with Celia's friend Miriam to take in a matinee of Sunday in the Park with George at Studio 54. The show was wonderful and the lighting effects were very innovative. I have no idea how they did that! The last number, especially, gave me goosebumps. Then we did some shopping and split up so we could each do what we wanted. Celia and I did a lot of talking and then some shopping at home depot for her new apartment. Dinner was fantastic and we thoroughly enjoyed being with each other.

Sunday we attended services at Carlos' church before seeing the opera Candide at the Lincoln Center. We then headed down to Washington Square Park. It was so fun wandering around Greenwich Village where we found some great pizza and gelato.

I hate to say it, but I was sad to go back home. I was not quite ready for our vacation to end. I had missed my family, but I completely loved reconnecting with my dear friends. I love them so much and missed them. We had the time of our lives. I am so grateful to Ken and my wonderful friends who helped take care of my kiddos while I was gone. It is a trip I will never forget. I am showing some of my favorite pictures from the weekend. If you want to see more of the almost 200 pictures we took, you can go here.

NYC part two...

At least as of this morning there is not a strike on Broadway. Let's hope my luck holds out. :)

I am really excited to be heading to New York City tonight for a long weekend. (Thank you Ken and my wonderful friends who are watching my kiddos!) I am taking the red eye tonight and will be there through late Sunday. It will be great hanging out with friends, some of which I haven't seen for a long time, and taking in some sights. We have tickets for some great shows; Legally Blonde, Sunday in the Park with George, and Candide. Ken also just told me about Bobby McFerrin and Yo Yo Ma at Carnegie Hall tomorrow night. I hope tickets are still available!

I think by tonight I should have most of my "to do before I leave" list done. I am hoping to leave things in order to make it easier on Ken while I am gone. He is a little concerned on how to do the girls hair for church, but other than that, I know he'll do great!

I am so excited!!!!

So relieved...

When I went down to Cortez one of my favorite earrings fell out and was lost. I was really sad because these were the earrings Ken gave me as a gift when Morgan was born. I had looked everywhere; in the van, in our hotel room, in my purse, and even in my suitcase. No luck. Thankfully, my mom loaned me a pair to wear for the funeral. It had been over a week so I thought there was no chance of finding it.

Yesterday I was going through some things in the van and I found it in under and between some stuff. Yea!!! I thought I had already looked there, but hadn't seen it. I am so happy!!! What a blessing. Now if I could just find my digital recorder...

Welcome Spring...

There are signs popping up all around us. It is spring and I am loving it! Now, what to plant in my garden this year?

Aunt Anelle

Last night the kids and I returned home from a whirlwind trip down to Cortez, Colorado. We went for my Aunt Anelle's funeral. Last Wednesday night my mom called with that tone and I quickly thought of who was sick and who could have passed away. I was completely shocked when my mom said that my dad's younger sister had died. Apparently she had had knee surgery and was recovering well until a horrible blood clot killed her, at least that is what everyone thinks. Anelle always seemed so young. I still feel slightly numb about the news. I immediately offered to help if there was any music needed. It seemed like the only thing I could contribute at that horrible time.

I have been thinking a lot about Aunt Anelle, times at the ranch, and my Adair family over the last week. I know I have truly been blessed. I am so grateful for what I have been taught about God's plan for us, that death is just a part of that plan, and that we are an eternal family. My dad gave a beautiful talk about this very thing at the funeral. I find that death, especially when it is unexpected, promotes thinking about things of an eternal nature. Life here on earth is such a short part of our existence and there are wonderful things waiting for us when we pass from this life. We miss those we love, but it is a great comfort knowing that it is not the end. We will be with them again someday. In the meantime, I have great memories that I can reflect on.

• staying up until all hours of the night playing card games
• playing games -- Aunt Nell loved to play games
  
• when Nell talked to you, you were her focus and it seemed like nothing else mattered
• we had so much fun singing together and she was really good at making up harmony
• being out on the water at McPhee Reservoir
• going to stay with Aunt Nell and Uncle Ken when I visited the ranch

The funeral was set for Monday at 10:00. I was really sad that Ken was not able to go with the kids and I, but I know work is busy right now for him. I was sad because I was singing two hymns (Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing and Abide With Me, 'Tis Eventide) for the funeral and I like it when Ken accompanies me. We are a great team and I never worry when he is at the piano. I also hate it when there are family things and he is not there with me.

Speaking of family. It is a tribute to how much Nell was loved by seeing the family turnout. Of course, all of her siblings came and 12 out of her 16 nieces and nephews came out. My kids loved how there were cousins galore. In addition to their 3 first cousins, they also got to play with 37 of their second cousins -- and those were just the ones that were there! It seems our numbers have increased exponentially. It was also great seeing my great Aunt Adelle and my dad's cousins that I haven't seen in years. I loved reconnecting with so many family member that we don't get to see all the time. I have a very fun family and we all enjoyed being together. Aunt Nell would have especially liked that part. She always loved a family get-together!

The service itself was beautiful. My Uncle Lynn gave the eulogy. My dad spoke on Heavenly Father's plan. Uncle Doug and Aunt Fay gave prayers. Uncle Ken and Linzi, Shawn, and Andy all spoke and shared memories of their mother. About half of the family (mostly the kids and moms) sang three primary songs; I am a Child of God, I Like to Look for Rainbows, and Families can be Together Forever. There was lots of laughing and many tears. I think my favorite part was when Shawn shared a poem that Uncle Ken had written for Aunt Nell several years ago. It was tender, yet in the tone of his great sense of humor and talked about their history together and relationship. I was so glad that I could be there with so many others to celebrate her and her life! I will miss her dearly, but I look forward with great anticipation for the reunion that we will have someday.

Most of the family that had traveled to be at the funeral (after the luncheon)

Shawn, Stephanie, Bradley, Uncle Ken, Andy, Linzi, and Jack at the graveside

Chuck, Lynn, and Doug -- the brothers

Driving home... I love Colorado -- it is so beautiful!