Jazz and trees...

Go Jazz! Kent is kinda a die-hard so when the Jazz made their bi-annual appearance here in Portland we HAD to go. It was a family affair. I had my misgivings....we were decked in our Jazz gear and them Portland fans likes the booze. I was envisioning streetside encounters worthy of a HBO special. Happily, it all ended in our favor. Jazz won! We arrived at the car in one piece with serveral "Hey good game"'s on the way and very few cuss words during. I only covered the kids ears once. A very successful first game for Harry.

Our friend gave us some tickets to something called the "Singing Christmas Tree" here at the Keller auditorium. It was wonderful. It is the largest Choir in Oregon. People from all Christian beliefs coming together to sing their testimony of praise and love of the Savior. I love this season.

Thanks a lot....

Tom Turkey

(January 2010-November 2010)

Brave Tom Turkey, a Red Heritage Turkey from Kookoolan farms, lived as freely as he died. He enjoyed bugs and wandering endlessly. Being a direct descendent of those Turkey's that the pilgrims gratefully lived for and with (not hybridized like Turkey's of today), he roosted in the tops of trees. Although disappointed that his race didn't win the battle for our great Country's bird (Bald Eagle indeed!), as our friend Benjamin Franklin suggested, he still lived each and everyday fulfilling all of his duties. He (and all turkey's) wasn't much to look at, but he filled all he knew with pride! Tom died and went on to the place all good turkey's go on November 19, 2010. He died as he had lived, peacefully, in the open air, with the most loving of farmers.

Tom Turkey cost me $25 and 20 bars of my soap. Worth every beautiful penny....

Now, with all that being said (and those who know my organic tendencies know how thrilled I am to say it), our Thanksgiving was something straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Hosted proudly and perfectly by the dearest, lovliest Miss Moss at her humble abode, Starlings. Yes, she names things too. Ahh a kindred spirit.

I love Thanksgiving! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Because "it is all about the food and doesn't pretend to be about anything else!" The yams took the cake, I introduced cranberry salad to the unlearned (thank you Mary for the greatest recipe ever!), but the Turkey kinda rocked. 'Nuf said, lest I sound prideful.

The company of the Grell's and lovely Lavinia (and family) made for the most remarkable and wonderful Thanksgiving this side of the Blue Mountains.

Top it off with Warr wonderful Blueberry Pie and Moss Chocolate Pecan pie, and you rolled me home a happy woman.

I get really homesick sometimes. How grateful I am for so many things. For health, home, warmth, love, friendship, life. Mostly, this Thanksgiving for family away from family. Love you guys for so many reasons! But mostly for your warm and open hearts and kindnesses. You are a tender mercy in our lives!

Happy UnHalloween...

I think Oprah has coined the "Ah-hah moment" phrase. So using her noun, (someday I will come up with a noun ALL MY OWN!) I had my "AH-HAH" moment checking out of Ross the other day. It was the 6th store in a string of unsuccessful Find-a-costume trips. And then, standing there purchasing a 4.55 dress for Bella it hits me...

ME: (insert bright lightbulb here)"I DON'T like Halloween."

CLERK:"Huh?"

ME:"I said I don't like Halloween. It causes me great anxiety trying to dress myself up differently from my daily rig-a-ma-ru. It stresses me out! (I think there was a hand throwing up here) It brings insane amounts of candy that I am against and still eat. It causes depression when I realize that all my best costume options are already in my closet and I choose from there which is sad on so many more levels than I care to count. It's a dark holiday representing darkness and all dark things. And just try to find a woman's costume that does not in some way double as lingerie...I dare you."

CLERK:"Well....bah humbug."

ME:"Precisely."

CLERK:"Have a nice day."

ME: "I'll try."

This is a representation of a faithful narrative of an actual occurence. Any discrepencies are entirely Oprah's fault.

The poor clerk. I think by the end of my rant she was smiling. I hope she still works there, unafraid, unhindered by phobias of a stay-at-home mom's ramblings.

Hence, Harry was Batman/Lightning Mcqueen/ Buzz Lightyear/Dinosaur...depending on the mood and the PJ's wearing. He refused to put on the cutest Lightyear costume that I borrowed for the ward trunk or treat because it felt weird.

Bella was Snow White for lack of a better idea. Whatev!

I went as me and with the exception of the above photograph, neglected to capture any Halloweeny event. I know that there is some deep physchological stuff there that we can delve into...but let's not.

Toothless fairy....

I find myself saying "Jill-ism"s, if you will. My mom, Jill, had the greatest one liners growing up and I usually find myself spouting one off here or there.

i.e. in answer to the demand..."COME ON." My daughter/husband would say "I'm coming." And I might say "Yah, so's Christmas." This one just gets funnier as I get older.

And I don't know how far it is exactly "from hell to breakfast", but I would go that far to see this smile...

She lost 4 teeth in two weeks. 2 of those she lost within 12 hours.

Her response when the last one went under the pillow for the tooth fairy: "Look daddy, it's a party of dollars."

I love my girl!

The half fast....

If you didn't happen to catch the above at first glance, allow me to enlighten you. After Elder McConkie's Saturday morning General Conference talk on teaching, I turned to Kent and said "You know my kids always listen better when I fast. Maybe I should fast every Sunday."

Kent: " That might be a little extreme sweetheart. Maybe you should just fast in the morning before going, ya know, like a half-fast."

As the words were coming out of his mouth, he realized the accidental creation of a dual meaning compound word. We both burst out laughing for the next five minutes. It was hilarious!

Here I must needs inform you as to my current calling, the sunday school teacher to 16 sixteen-year olds. I find this hilarious on many levels including, but not limited to the fact that I never went to Sunday School when I was 16. My teacher actually took to posting watchmen at the exits of the building to evade our escape, one of which was the bishop. Which brings me to a sincere apology. Dear Sister Oborn, I am so so so sorry for my lack of respect toward you during my adolescence. If it makes you feel any better, I disrespected everyone so it wasn't just you. And how I admire you now and always, you lovely woman, and may I just say that is a very fetching blouse you are wearing....


Anyway, this is the first time in our lives that we haven't been able to watch conference in the comfort of our own homes. We actually had to travel 20 minutes to watch it at the stake center. And we did! All four sessions. We sat in the nursery and watched it on the TV there while the kids played. We loved it so much. We are so grateful to live in a free country where we can worship freely. We are grateful for a prophet in these troubled times.

How sweet it is to be in love with this gospel, with my family, by my sweet husband, and with the Lord's precious words. How very sweet it is.



On an unrelated note, Bella raided Daddy's closet earlier this week and thought it was hilarious.