I Love: Blossoms

For weeks, I've been noticing every tree dressed up in spring blooms and pointing them out to the kids. My favorites are the Magnolia trees -- which seem to be everywhere this year. I've been loving the crocuses, the early tulips and the daffodils. At last, my own tulips bloomed just this week. Every time I pull into my driveway, I gasp at their beauty. I'm so glad I planted tulips a few years ago. They have to be the easiest flower to keep alive. And, year after year, they come back. They even multiply. I've quite forgotten about all of the improvements I've been wanting to make the the outside of our home. These tulips take my mind far away from all of that to a display of magic and beauty.

This morning I walked Ian to school with the sun warming my back. This weather makes me feel optimistic, happy and content. Even on the cold days, there is the promise of more warm days just around the corner. I've been enjoying this spring so much, especially because it's been a bit cooler than usual -- I have the nice compensation of being a little overly warm this year.

Two nights ago, a storm rolled in. The kids and I were taking out the trash when we looked up to see gray covering the sky. I love rain storms! We sat on the porch and enjoyed the sounds and smells as we watched the drops fall and intensify the colors of everything.

"Don't you love the smell of the rain?" I said to Sophie. "I love the pitter patter sound of the drops coming down," she replied. I love that she said that. Maybe we really should never leave this house. It's so fun to enjoy storms from the front porch with the kids.

I felt so happy as I walked Ian to school this morning that I reached out and grabbed his hand. I love that he is proud to hold his hugely pregnant mom's hand while he walks to school. I love this Kindergarten year of my children's lives. So sweet is their childhood innocence.

I Love: Tea Parties

Let it be known that among her impressive collection of tiny dishes, Paula also has beautiful tiny plates. But, these white rabbit plates seemed perfect for the Mad Hatter theme. Do you love her tiny salt and pepper shakers? And, the matchstick carrots in the dip?
Izzy drinking her tiny daiquiri with its little umbrella.

Sugar and Spice Cake.

A sampling of the itty-bitty food.

Hooray for girls!

Earlier this month we took my mom to A Spot of Tea for a tea party.

My "mad scientist/magician."

Sophie and Mammas modeling their hats.

Pouring tea with a raspberry lemonade moustache.

Back in January, my mom hosted a Mickey Mouse birthday tea party for all of her grandkids at her house. When the kids first arrived, they got to wrap up gifts for Mickey (gifts that they later took home for themselves). They ate tiny food off of tiny dishes at her little table. The meal was topped off with hot chocolate, whipped cream and sprinkles. The kids had so much fun!





The birthday man himself.

I Love: Sandbox Sand

Dear Brian,

I know that sandbox sand is not your favorite. I know that it is frustrating the way that the sand never stays in the sandbox. And, so, the other day when I asked you to pick up a bag of sand, I knew I was asking you to do something painful. But, you did it anyways.

Last night, our kids discovered the newly filled sandbox and the effect was magical. All three of them huddled in the tiny space for a solid hour making sand sculptures and sketching designs. For an entire hour, no one asked me for a snack. No one fought. I had complete solace and peace for that wonderful enchanted hour. What a beautiful gift. Thank you!

Your Loving Wife (whose belly has its own zipcode).

P.S. Thank you also for all the mornings you've gotten up early to make breakfast for the kids. It fills me with so much joy to sleep in for an extra 15-minutes and then lazily find my oatmeal waiting. You spoil me.

I Love: This Pregnancy

I know I moaned and groaned about the aches and pains in my earlier post. But, truly, this is the first pregnancy I have really relished. I've loved feeling her move and thinking about how her little body must be positioned. She is a very wiggly baby. It's been fun to think up names and see the other kids speak to my belly.

Just last night, Brian and I were speculating about when this baby might be born and I stopped and thought about how exciting the anticipation is. Will it be this day? Or, that one? Will I go early? On time? Could I possibly be overdue? How will it happen? Where will I be? Oh, the possibilities!

I think now that I am older and this is our fourth baby, I finally understand that the child-bearing years really are fleeting. That this miracle of heaven meeting earth is something we only get to experience a few times -- if we are among the lucky ones that is.

Things I'm Lovin'

*Note: Tea party photos are forthcoming.

I need to get something off my chest. This pregnancy has been my best/easiest of the four. I finally feel like I can say that without casting a curse on the remainder of the days (five weeks!). It's had its moments, but, it feels wrong to complain under the circumstances. With that said, I also feel the strong urge to allow myself just a few sentences about the discomfort, followed by a series of posts on the many, many things I'm lovin' right now.

Since the baby dropped even further (one week ago), I feel like there is a six pound bowling ball wedged in my pelvis. I've also had many labor pains. Some days it feels like everything, even my hair, h-u-r-t-s. Sleeping has become rather difficult too. Besides my gigantic belly and 3rd trimester aches and pains, I'm having extreme sharp pains by my upper rib cage from muscle separation that makes it so I can only sleep on my right side. Oh, and my ankles have elephantitis. Ugh.

I just needed a little pity party folks. I'm at that point where many times on most days I wonder if I can really make it? Alas, I know that I can. And, I know that a wonderful gift awaits me in the end.

Whew! With that said, I now intend to post a series on things I am lovin' every day (or, every few days, whenever I have the time). There are so many things swirling around in my head that I feel grateful for. I could write a seriously long post. But, I'll break it up instead. Today includes the following:

1) 20-weeks of shots. I've had problems with pre-term labor with all of my previous pregnancies. I do not find bed-rest enjoyable by any stretch of the imagination and I am SO grateful to have avoided it thanks to receiving progesterone shots every week since early in my pregnancy. At one point, I wondered if it was a little bit over-kill -- asking myself, "Is all of this really necessary?" Then, I missed a shot at 27-weeks and had three days of strong contractions before my body got back on track. I am so thankful to have avoided the stress and anxiety of worrying about an early birth and also happy to have avoided the constant labor pains (up until now). And, the last shot is tomorrow -- Yipee!

2) Hubby. I know that some women don't want to be made a big deal of when they are pregnant, but I think it is the absolute BEST that Brian has been totally taking care of me the past few weeks. Just when I'm entering the really difficult part, he suddenly chimes in with washing up piles and piles of dishes, taking out the trash, playing with the kids while I rest, back rubs and foot rubs, and all manner of spoiling (the list goes on and on . . .). The BEST!

3) My mom. Several weeks ago, mopping became more than my back could handle. Sweeping (which has to be done several times per day) is the maximum. I overheard that some college gals were trying to earn money by cleaning houses. I merely mentioned that I thought I would give them a call to mop my floors, and, my mom has been showing up every single week to mop and vacuum. She is seriously a saint (all who know her agree). I love my mom for so many reasons. I'm so spoiled.

A Very Merry Unbirthday To Me

Heidi purchased tickets for all the girls to go to the Alice In Wonderland Ballet, so, Paula and I decided to host a pre-show Mad Hatter Tea Party. And, as it turns out, Paula has a very impressive collection of little, tiny dishes. Who knew? I guess that is what happens when you have three daughters and an addiction to pretty dishes. Apparently she hosts tea parties for the grandmas' birthdays every year, so, I got to plan a tea party with the Queen of said parties.

The table setting was gorgeous a la Paula. On our little, tiny dishes we had (miniature everything) pizzas, veggies in dip, tacos, sloppy Joes, chicken sandwiches, muffins, cookies, egg rolls, little smokies, brochette and strawberry daiquiris in little glasses with tiny umbrellas, and miniature dishes with dipping sauces, and even an itty-bitty salt and pepper shaker at each place. Our girls were completely in heaven! The centerpiece was a brightly colored, topsy-turvy cake from the Sugar and Spice Cakery. There were little, tiny candles and itty-bitty potted flowers and colorful silly-putty at all of the place settings too. So much fun!

The ballet was a beautiful production by Ogden's own Imagination Ballet (ages 18 and under). Those kids practice five days every week and it shows. The costumes were gorgeous and the dancing -- delightful.

Gratitude for Motherhood

Earlier this week, I was taking on my regular babysitting gig along with helping out a friend by taking her two pre-schoolers. During the day, that meant three three-year-olds and one five-year-old. At one point, they were all riding scooters up and down the sidewalk. Why do I think tiny people on scooters are so darn cute?

Izzy and Isaac spent a good portion of the day cracking each other up by making ridiculous noises. And, three-year-old Zoe was melting my heart when she would press her treasured rock into my palm and hold my hand as we walked. I don't know why I love being a mom so much. I just know, that on days like that, I am tremendously grateful that I'm the one staying home with the kids instead of the one headed to the office.

Does the Baby Wear Underwear?

We are back on the potty train after a long pause (we went back to diapers last October after four months in underwear).

A couple of days into it, Isaac became extremely defiant (the reason we went back to diapers before). I was starting to feel a little bit frustrated by the afternoon and Isaac was begging to wear a diaper. I was holding my ground. Then, he said:

"Mommy, does the baby have to wear underwear?"
"No, the baby isn't wearing a diaper or underwear right now."
"Will the baby wear diapers?"
"Yes, all babies wear diapers. You are almost 4-years-old. You need to wear underwear."
"When that baby comes out of your tummy, I want to be a baby in your tummy."

Isaac has a way of always melting down both mine and Brian's abilities to be firm (not so impressive with me, the softy, but a major feat over Brian the disciplinarian).

I let him put on a pull-up while we looked through his baby book, reviewing ultrasound and belly pictures to reassure him that he had already been a baby in my tummy. In all of the excitement for the new baby, I guess I forgot that my current baby might be feeling a little ousted. We are now on day #5 and still in underwear (crossing my fingers).

In other news, I'm 34 1/2 weeks and there is some serious belly action going on. She dropped at 32 weeks exactly, providing a welcome and noticeable difference in my breathing capacity. But, something more happened yesterday and she is now so exceedingly low, my hips are really feeling it. It's weird because my belly looks different too. It's definitely too early for her to be born, but, I'm not too worried. It seems to always take me weeks and weeks to work through the stages of labor.

I Heart Ogden: Tona

To make myself feel better, I did my next restaurant review on Tona, definitely one of the best Japanese cuisine and sushi bars in the state. A friend of mine recently hosted a couple of single guys from New York who frequent high end restaurants. They went to Tona for an all out feast and walked away saying it was as awesome as anything they have ever found. Even in New York. Isn't it amazing that we have a place like that right here in Ogden?

On Being "The Mom"

Today, I read "Alexnder and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," by Judith Viorst, to Isaac and Izzy. It begins:

I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I chuckled because it reminded me of a day I had last week. I won't go into details, but, let it be said that it was one of those days.

In the afternoon of my terrible, horrible day, I was working on newspaper stories, and I suddenly started to panic.

Shortly after my last post about having to choose between writing for the Standard and writing for the Deseret News, I chose the latter. It seemed so obvious to me. It was a break I'd been waiting for for a really long time. The historic pieces were the stories that I've always wanted to write (but, didn't know I wanted to write), and the chance to be their Ogden correspondent was exactly what I wanted too.

In order to get paid for the restaurant features I had already submitted to the Standard, I needed to keep my decision under wraps for a few weeks. So, I quietly started working on articles for the D-News that would not begin running until after April 24th (when my last restaurant feature would run).

My first piece, on the history of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, was fascinating and included an interview with Mr. Mac (apparently besides selling suits he is also the choir manager) and a little trip down memory lane with him about the time he gave my girlfriends and I a ride from the D.C. Temple (where he and his wife were serving) to the metro. Truly, one of the kindest people I have ever met.

I was working with a historian to compile research about the governor's mansion, as well as the former governor's mansion (a modern home used in the 60s and 70s) and stories about Eleanor Roosevelt's visits to Utah. Next in line for interviews were a former ambassador who personally entertained President Bush and VP Cheney during the 2002 Olympics (he lives in the former governor's mansion), and Governor Huntsman.

After two years of writing about burritos and tiny spicy chicken, I was feeling pretty stoked. Then, came the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day and I had to take a serious look at my life and my decisions.

First, I had to take a hard look at this fact: I was doing at least two times as much work for exactly half as much money. Sure, the work was super exciting. But, I started to wonder how I would feel about that fact once the "new" wore off or, during a week when all of the kids were sick.

Second: The two things I never have enough of at the end of the day are time and money.

Part of my bad day was finding out that (for the first time ever) we owe money to the tax man instead of getting a hefty refund. Poof! Goodbye kitchen remodel. My mind started to panic about how we could possibly get a little extra money for savings, food storage, emergencies, and maybe a small family vacation this summer (hmmm . . . well, I just agreed to give up half my paycheck every month . . .).

I started to question my decision. I lay awake most of the night thinking about my "real life" and what I like to call my "pretend life."

In my pretend life, the one where the D-News is the perfect fit for me, I would have five solid hours per week to work on my stories. In my real life, I'm lucky to get an uninterrupted 15-minutes here and there -- which works out for doing restaurant features on auto-pilot, not so good for in-depth research and interviews with the governor (picture me interviewing him while locked in a closet and three kids pounding on the door screaming for my attention -- that is more like my real life).

In my pretend life, I would eat up opportunities to attend spicy city council meetings while my hubby happily put the kids to bed. In my real life, my hubby works on city council meeting nights. In truth, I despise leaving my kids with a sitter on school nights, getting them to bed late, and having to deal with their grumpies the entire next day. In my real life, I would go to the council meetings, come home late, have to put four kids to bed after their bedtime, and then stay up late filing a story on deadline.

In my real life, I am about to have a baby, and I am envisioning her being just as sweet and docile as can be, but, I know from experience that she may not be calm and happy.

In my real life, I will have seven kids in my home most days this summer. And, even when school starts back up in the fall, I will still have three pre-schoolers.

In my real life, whole weeks melt away in a blink when the kids get sick.

In my real life, I chose to be the mom. And, it is one of the best decisions I've ever made. I cannot compare the joy I feel every single day from something as simple as Izzy and Isaac giggling their heads off as they run from the tickle monster to any joy I could get from working outside my home.

Upon further reflection, it soon became apparent that what would be the best (as in, the most exciting) choice for me was not really the best choice for my family. I choose to be the mom. And, writing for the Standard is a nice way to get extra income with little time investment. And, now and then, it is very interesting work.

No matter how I sliced it, the money:time ratio from the D-News job just could not compare. I had gone into it thinking, "I can just do extra stories to make up the difference in pay." But, the more extra stories I would do, the more hours I would have to invest. It would still be one-fourth the pay for my time.

With a heavy heart, I called the D-News editor to let him know that it wasn't going to work out. With sadness, I called my editor to let her know I would be staying. On the bright side, the editor at the D-News was very understanding about the situation and my editor at the Standard was lavish with her appreciation for my decision and praise for my work. It's always nice to have a little kudos.

It's what is for the best at the present time. And, who knows? Maybe there will be opportunities with the D-News down the road. At least now I've made that one-on-one contact.

I really do feel at peace with this decision. I think my terrible, horrible day was a gift in the form of a wake-up call. I am at peace. But, I still felt like crying for about 24-hours after I made up my mind.

In other news, is everyone loving the weather as much as I am? We've been eating our meals outdoors and it is truly fabulous. I love being with these kids. I'm so blessed to be their stay-at-home mom.

Tea Party and Celebrity Sighting

Brian was hired to take pictures at an "event" Friday and he secured two tickets for Sophie and I to attend. We dropped off the boys at their grandparents' house and went to the Megaplex 20 in Draper to see the new Hannah Montana movie. There were one-million people in line for the sold out premiere before we got there, but, Brian, totally looking out for us, had persuaded some people near the front to save us a place. They were so super nice about it that I finally had to ask them what Brian had done. "He took tons of pictures of our little girls," the mom told me. Well, of course. Way to go Bri!

"Why would you drive all the way to Draper?" you ask. Well, only because the premiere was attended by Miley and Billy Rae Cyrus themselves. That's right. Huge tween and country star celebrities right here in Utah.

Sophie was not previously a Hannah Montana fan. But, she was pretty stoked about getting to see someone famous and all the free swag (like a bright pink Hannah Montana t-shirt). Oh, and a picture of Sophie standing up cheering even ran in the Salt Lake Tribune. And, Brian was able to secure a giant movie poster autographed specifically to Sophie. I loved watching her carry the poster (almost as big as she is) while people kept saying, "Your dad is sooooo cool!" We are trying not to let all of the fame completely go to her head.

Saturday, the second day of spring break, began with my friend bringing the kids beautiful Easter cookies from Backer's. Later in the day, when the kids ate the cookies, Brian and I took 1,000 photos of Isaac eating his giant, fancy Easter egg cookie because it was so darn cute! After making the special delivery, my friend took her kids and mine to the high school track where she somehow got them to run/walk 3 miles! Last fall, I started taking the kids to the track to "run a marathon" one mile at a time. We made it up to about 8-miles, then my first trimester got the better of me, then, winter hit, so we are finishing up our marathon this spring. It was so great for the kids to get a jump start by doing 3-miles in one day. I was amazed by their perseverance!

Brian picked up Isaac, and I picked up Sophie and Ian and changed them into some fancy clothes so we could meet my mom at a new place in Ogden called, "A Spot of Tea." It is a tiny Victorian themed restaurant between 24th and 25th Streets on Grant Avenue. As soon as I saw it, I knew my mom would love it. So, we all met down there for a tea party. First, we selected fancy hats from an old trunk. Ian wore a top hat (I am so in love with him still being young enough to enjoy a tea party) which he said made him look like a magician, and, a scientist when he took it off -- he made me spike up his hair like the inventor on Meet the Robinson's.

We ate tiny sandwiches, and tea scones, and cookies, and cakes. My mom and I drank herbal tea from little pots, and the kids had their own pot of raspberry lemonade. We made some good memories and the owner told us of plans to build an English garden out back. So, maybe we'll have to go again and do it outdoors this summer.

Back at home, we thoroughly and completely reveled in the fact that Brian had the day off. A Saturday. After nearly two straight years of working the weekends he just changed to a schedule of weeknights only. Hooray for having a dating life/life with daddy again! To celebrate, I made homemade pizza (again, thank you KitchenAid). And, we re-arranged furniture. Brian moved our desk and computer to the corner of our downstairs playroom, which will now be a playroom/office. I like it a lot. Hopefully the kids won't throw toys at our computer and/or climb all over the desk and it will be awesome.

The former office will become the boys' bedroom and the boys' bedroom will become the nursery. It feels so good to have finally begun the rearrangement. We still have quite a bit to do, but, it's nice to make that first dent. After all, it wouldn't be completely unheard of to have this baby in 3-4 weeks! Not that I'm planning to have her a whole 3-4 weeks early, but, it never hurts to be prepared, right?

Wishing you a lovely spring, a happy spring break, and a joyful Easter!

I Heart Ogden: The Treasures of Ballets Russes

Last night, my mom, Sophie and I went to the Ballet at Weber State. I found a screaming deal on the tickets from the Ogden Symphony Ballet Association. I wasn't really sure what to expect, so you can imagine my happy surprise when I showed up and found out it was Ballet West putting on their spring performance, Ballets Russes. The show was phenomenal. I feel so lucky to have this in my own backyard.

Sophie brought along a notebook and wrote down what the dancers were doing and wearing play-by-play throughout the show. I loved hearing her read it back to us when it was over. As we walked to the car and she was being all goofy and skippy and singy, my mom said, "I'm so glad she is still a little girl. In eight more years she'll be all grown up!" Yes, I am so glad she is still a little girl too. And, even more glad that she is a little girl who loves the ballet. And, even more glad that she wrote it all down reporter fashion. That's my girl.

Having My Cake, But Not Getting To Eat It Too

As I previously posted -- I was caught completely by surprise on Tuesday with an offer from the Deseret News to write a weekly history piece.

My elation was tempered on Thursday when I spoke to my current editor and found out that they have a strict policy about their freelancers not writing for other newspapers. So sad! The D-News knew I was already writing for the Ogden newspaper, and they were fine with it. But, as it turned out, the feeling was not mutual on Ogden's end.

What to do? I've been writing for the Ogden newspaper for nearly 10-years. Doing it for all this time has helped me gain a bit of seniority and freedom with the articles I write. I love doing the weekly restaurant features and they pay me very well -- surprisingly even more than the D-News will pay me for the weekly history pieces. I love writing for the features editor. It is where I hoped to someday end up when I first began writing for the newspaper and I've felt so blessed to get to do exactly what I wanted to do.

At the same time, moving on to a larger newspaper (and, the newspaper where my hubby now works) seems like the natural progression in writing for me. It's difficult to know what doors may open up to me if I make the switch. Plus, the history pieces will challenge my intellect more than the restaurant features. It seems like a short term loss (more work for less money) for a possible long term gain (more job satisfaction and perhaps equal money eventually).

Do I go for easy money? Or, do I be true to myself and take on a new challenge?

In response to my dilemma, the D-News generously offered to delay their history segment until the end of the month (so that the Standard can finish running the restaurant features I've already written without creating a conflict). And, just today, they sweetened the deal even further by offering me the chance to be their Ogden correspondent. Which means, I would get to write one or two stories per month relating to Ogden in addition to the weekly pieces. I have waited for 4 1/2 years for them to ask me to write for them.

Can you tell I'm kind of leaning toward taking on the new challenge of the D-News? But, easy money and familiarity. Now, that's hard to let go of . . .