Birthday month...oh and Christmas....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

So I turned the age that I am going to be the rest of my life this year, or so my mother says. I don't know. I haven't had an age yet that I haven't liked. So for my unattainable birthday gift I asked my sweetheart for "Birthday month." A little something everyday leading up to and including the day of my birth. To give you an idea of previous unattainables, it has been the same one for the last 9 years, to make me dinner. That's it. That's all I ask. But because I recognized a lost cause when I see it, I shook things up a little and asked for something different this year. A little something everyday, like a back rub or a couple snuggle bucks redeemable upon request, that sort of thing. I'm not asking for diamonds here people. I have my friend Dar to thank for this idea.

He laughed at me, but my mom took me seriously and sent me a gift to open everyday until my birthday. And I had the best birthday ever because yet again the thoughtful, sweetest, kind heartedest woman ever-even Lavinia-came shining through, super hero cape and boots and all. She made me my birthday dinner on the eve of our Utah Christmas Extravaganza. Then her honey did the dishes while my honey watched the U game while Lavinia and I watched Eclipse. In terms of birthdays it was kinda perfect. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you are and all you do. You are some of the greatest friends ever....we are so grateful everyday for you and for all I have learned and am learning from you!

And then we journeyed through snow, wind, ice and rain (the roads were actually fine, but it's poetic) to get home for Christmas. As the poem goes, over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we went.

The kids loved opening presents with everyone.

How much do we love this man? The second the kids see him they light up and are not content with anything short of being wrapped in his 100% attention. They adore him.

We also got to go to the BYU Museum to see the Carl Bloch exhibit. It was....there aren't words to describe. It was remarkable and so moving and incredible. It took them 10 years to even get the exhibit. Our sweet Grandma Mary works there once a week and was able to take us through after her shift. It was so wonderful and moving and just perfect. I could have sat in front of the Garden of Gethsemene picture forever. If anyone out there has the chance to go...DO IT!

FYI Ute fans....While there Bella was informed that that would be her first and last time on that campus. Oh Daddy....

And the little Everett we all want to take home. How sweet is he!

We got to go snow shoeing in our beloved Park City. We broke the trail and waded through up to our hips in some places. And then proceeded to pig out on Greek Pizza from PC Pizza...our fav. It was such a pefect date.

Me and the absolute hands down greatest ever...the Hike-a-deb. No that is not her christian name. Bella gave her that name when she was 2 and it stuck. I have learned so much from this remarkable soul. A kindred spirit and gentle friend if ever there was one. We love you!
This is the view from Kristin's spot. A Geographical location appartenly at least according to the Hike-a-Deb. It is the place the I always stopped and made everyone I was with stop to enjoy the view. It is breathtaking everyday of every season. I still dream about this spot. Me looking at the view from my spot.


Outdoor rule #1 When you see a moose with her baby.....Do NOT stop to take a picture. This is all Kent and I am in front with quiet variations of "Um honey....keep moving."

Her Christmas program...

Deck the Bells....I mean halls. This little creative soul keeps me on my toes and laughing the whole time. Decorating a tree once isn't enough. My kids have to do it over and over and over again. And this day she decided to decorate herself too!

Our little "Snig-tails" in her school's Christmas talent show. Her teacher, Sister Jensen, made them all matching pants to wear for the dance. How cute is this 1st grade class? I am so grateful for the school that she goes to! It has been such a blessing for her and for us. She did the cutest little dance and then plunked the piano in the talent show. I say plunk because she hasn't taken lessons yet and just knows the right hand by sound. She plays a mean Silent Night, Sweet Hour of Prayer, and I am a Child of God though.

And then there was Harry....plum-tuckered (or was that me :) after a redecorating of the tree (daily occurence, and you thought cats were bad! Sheesh). I tried uploading the videos of said events, but a fringe benefit of having the slowest internet known to man is that videos are a no-go. This assumption comes after 1 full hour of letting it try to upload. Sigh. I am grateful for what I got though!

Merry Christmas one and all!

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.