A month or two before Katie Jane was born, I was given an opportunity to write a weekly historic piece for the Deseret News. I was very excited about it and thought I could do both -- writing for the D-News and continuing my weekly restaurant piece for the Standard.
Alas, I could not. I was forced to choose. And, more money tipped the scales in favor of staying with the Standard gig.
As soon as Katie was born, the chaos in my life escalated beyond anything I had expected. Things got crazy, crazy, crazy and I knew I had made the right choice to keep writing for the newspaper I've been with for more than a decade. Switching to something new would have added stress that I could not have handled in that moment.
So, I've mostly been grateful for that decision. But, now that things are settling down just a little, regret has crept in. I would have loved the new challenge of writing for a Salt Lake newspaper, and I would have interviewed so many interesting people and learned so many new things while doing the historic piece. And, perhaps, the most bitter part of all was remembering that there was talk about getting to cover the Ogden city council meetings (again, something I could not have done for the past year-and-a-half) and I would love to have my finger on the pulse of Ogden and see the politics unfolding.
These regrets were just starting to creep in, but, then I decided to call my editor to see if I could write a few more stories than one per week and guess what she told me? Right before I called, there was a rearrangment of staff and she was trying to figure out where to assign the theater beat. So, now it looks like I get to cover restaurants and theatrical performances (not movies) and I'm really, really happy about that.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
On Parenting
I hesitate to write this because I don't want my son to be treated differently or stigmatized, but, my five-year-old son has some difficult behaviors. Out with it. Anyone who knows him at all knows that he is the sweetest, most creative character around. But, there are other things that have been hard to figure out. The on-going potty-training issues finally prompted me to visit the pediatrician. He connected the dots that the potty-training issues were probably related to other power struggles such as mealtimes, bedtimes, sibling relationships and rules in general. And, eventually, we sought professional help from a child psychologist to help Brian and I figure out how to be better parents to this unique child.
At our latest appointment, as the counselor was describing ways to put the hammer down, so to speak, on bad behaviors, I finally stopped, looked him in the eye and said, "You know, this is just non-stop misery for the parents." Because, inflicting non-stop misery on your kids to get them to behave really is non-stop misery for us, is it not? He very candidly and quickly replied, "Yes. Yes it is. It's one of the things they don't tell you when you sign up to be a parent, but, it's what you have to do."
I guess that's the way parenting is sometimes. Or, maybe most of the time. Towing the line. Playing hardball. Being the drill sargeant. Making them try new foods, practice their instruments, use manners, work, learn their times tables, be nice, have good hygiene, go to bed on time, and on, and on, and on.
And, figuring out how to enjoy the fleeting moments of their childhood through it all.
At our latest appointment, as the counselor was describing ways to put the hammer down, so to speak, on bad behaviors, I finally stopped, looked him in the eye and said, "You know, this is just non-stop misery for the parents." Because, inflicting non-stop misery on your kids to get them to behave really is non-stop misery for us, is it not? He very candidly and quickly replied, "Yes. Yes it is. It's one of the things they don't tell you when you sign up to be a parent, but, it's what you have to do."
I guess that's the way parenting is sometimes. Or, maybe most of the time. Towing the line. Playing hardball. Being the drill sargeant. Making them try new foods, practice their instruments, use manners, work, learn their times tables, be nice, have good hygiene, go to bed on time, and on, and on, and on.
And, figuring out how to enjoy the fleeting moments of their childhood through it all.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Free Yoga
Have I mentioned that I like yoga? I do. I can't explain how good I feel after a yoga workout. I love it when a practice feels really relaxing but then every muscle in my body is sore the next day. There have been so many times that I've entered a class with my mind racing and my shoulders tense and left feeling calmed down and clear headed.
I think it is great cross training for things like running. It helps me to feel balanced. It helps me to be sane and focused.
There is a yoga teacher I really like at my gym. When I'm lucky, I get to go to her Thursday or Saturday morning class. She's not a power yoga teacher - I'm not a fan of teachers who lead a yoga class like an aerobics session.
A new coffee shop called The Borrowed Earth Emporium (or The Bee) opened up downtown. They have a gorgeous yoga studio upstairs with antiquated hardwood floors facing a wall of windows with a great view. Every Saturday morning, they offer a free yoga class. The teacher, Steph, recently certified as an instructor and I think she is obligated to do a free community class or something. Whatever the reason, she is a fabulous instructor and very basic. Sometimes it's nice to just focus on the basic poses. I've even taken Sophie to this class a few times because, hello? It's free! And, there are usually only one or two other people in the class. Isn't that crazy?
Recently, I was browsing the internet to see what other yoga options there are in my area and I cannot believe what I found. There is a yoga studio in North Ogden (Yoga Jo's) and while they use to charge the standard $10-$12 per class, they now offer all of their classes completely FREE!!!
So, naturally, I was thinking, "What is the catch?" Maybe they are going to try to sell me something else? Or, pressure me into leaving a big fat tip? Or, join their pyramid scheme?
This morning, I was able to check it out for myself and not only was the teacher fantastic, but, there really were no strings attached. I have no idea how they are able to provide this. All I know is that it ROCKS.
Ogden IS awesome.
Why do I get to live in such a cool place?
I think it is great cross training for things like running. It helps me to feel balanced. It helps me to be sane and focused.
There is a yoga teacher I really like at my gym. When I'm lucky, I get to go to her Thursday or Saturday morning class. She's not a power yoga teacher - I'm not a fan of teachers who lead a yoga class like an aerobics session.
A new coffee shop called The Borrowed Earth Emporium (or The Bee) opened up downtown. They have a gorgeous yoga studio upstairs with antiquated hardwood floors facing a wall of windows with a great view. Every Saturday morning, they offer a free yoga class. The teacher, Steph, recently certified as an instructor and I think she is obligated to do a free community class or something. Whatever the reason, she is a fabulous instructor and very basic. Sometimes it's nice to just focus on the basic poses. I've even taken Sophie to this class a few times because, hello? It's free! And, there are usually only one or two other people in the class. Isn't that crazy?
Recently, I was browsing the internet to see what other yoga options there are in my area and I cannot believe what I found. There is a yoga studio in North Ogden (Yoga Jo's) and while they use to charge the standard $10-$12 per class, they now offer all of their classes completely FREE!!!
So, naturally, I was thinking, "What is the catch?" Maybe they are going to try to sell me something else? Or, pressure me into leaving a big fat tip? Or, join their pyramid scheme?
This morning, I was able to check it out for myself and not only was the teacher fantastic, but, there really were no strings attached. I have no idea how they are able to provide this. All I know is that it ROCKS.
Ogden IS awesome.
Why do I get to live in such a cool place?
Friday, January 14, 2011
The ER
Isaac is such a funny little guy. And, if you don't already know -- he is all b-o-y. So far (knock on wood) he has been the only one of my kids to send me running to the hospital.
Last night, he was jumping from some stairs to a love sac and he kept going higher and higher until, sure enough, from the 9th stair he was unable to make it to the love sac. He hit a lower stair instead and rolled his ankle. He wouldn't put any weight on it and it was causing him quite a bit of pain. It swelled up big enough to make Brian and I question if we should take him to the ER (it was late enough that the clinics were closed). Being the seasoned mom that I am, I said that since there was no bone protruding from the skin and no zig-zagging lines where there should be straight ones, we should give him ibuprofen, wrap his ankle and put him to bed.
This morning, he was still "walking on his knees" as he called it (also known as crawling) and refusing to put weight on his still swollen limb, so, it was off to the doctor's office for us.
Two hours and an x-ray later, we were relieved to find out it was just a sprain. Whew!
Isaac has been such a character about the whole thing. Each new nurse, receptionist or doctor we would encounter would ask him what happened and he would proudly relay his story of jumping from the 9th stair. He was super excited about the x-ray machine and wanted to understand why there was a warning sign about "radiation" on the door. When he found out he could take a ride in a wheelchair, he no longer wanted my piggy back rides and instead sat proudly in his new ride.
That is my Isaac. Living it up and excited to explore life.
In the summer of 2009, right after he turned 4, he fell down and sliced the top of his ear open, requiring stitches. Brian was working late and my sweet neighbor lady and her husband rushed up to my house to talk me through the situation, because, with it being my first trip with a child to the ER, I was in a bit of a panic.
I was upstairs making cookies and he was downstairs. When, I heard his screams, I knew it was serious. I met him on the landing in the stairwell and folded him into a long hug while he cried. When I pulled him away to see what the damage was, the first thing I noticed was my white shirt soaked in bright red blood (enter panic). Then I saw the gash on his ear and dialed my neighbor lady for back-up.
She rigged up a bandage to catch the blood, reminded me to change my shirt, and paid Isaac $1 to hold an ice pack against the gash. She is the best. Then, she and her husband took over my two older kids and resumed the cookie baking. I think they snitched a little cookie dough, but, she would not want me to mention that.
On the drive over, I called my mom to ask her to meet me at the hospital. I had taken Katie Jane with me since she was just a few months old and I had never left her before. I wanted my mom there to hold Katie while I took care of Isaac and, secretly, I really wanted her there to hold my hand because my mom is the absolute best.
By the time I was driving, Isaac, with his high tolerance for pain, was completely calm. I stopped at the after hours clinic to see if they could stitch him up and he was so calm that they didn't even believe he needed stitches until I uncovered the gash. They said they could not stitch ears and sent me on to the ER.
At the ER, the receptionist did not think he needed stitches (again, because he was so calm). He was so charming while we checked in that she bumped us right to the front of the waiting list anyway.
The bed they gave him was one that converts into a crib. He wanted me to put all of the sides up so he could pretend he was a lion in a cage. He wanted to use the nifty remote to change channels on the funny T.V. mounted up near the ceiling. He was curious about all of the doctors and their equipment.
When it was time to stitch him up, a male nurse came to hold his head still but Isaac didn't flinch or move a muscle. That boy is brave. The nurse said he usually broke a sweat from struggling with the kids to hold them still, but, Isaac was calm as could be. He was rewarded with extra candy treats and a stuffed animal. After they stitched him up, they cleaned and bandaged his leg from a nasty burn he'd gotten on a 4-wheeler a few days earlier. All b-o-y I'm telling you.
He was so excited and happy about the whole thing, that for the rest of the night he kept telling me, "Mommy, thank you for taking me to the emergency room." And, I guess today was a little bit like that. More excitement and enthusiasm for an x-ray machine and a wheelchair ride. Now, he is intrigued with walking and the way his injury makes him limp. He is hilarious!
Isaac,
Thank you for being my adorable son and for helping me have the full motherhood experience.
Love,
Mommy
Last night, he was jumping from some stairs to a love sac and he kept going higher and higher until, sure enough, from the 9th stair he was unable to make it to the love sac. He hit a lower stair instead and rolled his ankle. He wouldn't put any weight on it and it was causing him quite a bit of pain. It swelled up big enough to make Brian and I question if we should take him to the ER (it was late enough that the clinics were closed). Being the seasoned mom that I am, I said that since there was no bone protruding from the skin and no zig-zagging lines where there should be straight ones, we should give him ibuprofen, wrap his ankle and put him to bed.
This morning, he was still "walking on his knees" as he called it (also known as crawling) and refusing to put weight on his still swollen limb, so, it was off to the doctor's office for us.
Two hours and an x-ray later, we were relieved to find out it was just a sprain. Whew!
Isaac has been such a character about the whole thing. Each new nurse, receptionist or doctor we would encounter would ask him what happened and he would proudly relay his story of jumping from the 9th stair. He was super excited about the x-ray machine and wanted to understand why there was a warning sign about "radiation" on the door. When he found out he could take a ride in a wheelchair, he no longer wanted my piggy back rides and instead sat proudly in his new ride.
That is my Isaac. Living it up and excited to explore life.
In the summer of 2009, right after he turned 4, he fell down and sliced the top of his ear open, requiring stitches. Brian was working late and my sweet neighbor lady and her husband rushed up to my house to talk me through the situation, because, with it being my first trip with a child to the ER, I was in a bit of a panic.
I was upstairs making cookies and he was downstairs. When, I heard his screams, I knew it was serious. I met him on the landing in the stairwell and folded him into a long hug while he cried. When I pulled him away to see what the damage was, the first thing I noticed was my white shirt soaked in bright red blood (enter panic). Then I saw the gash on his ear and dialed my neighbor lady for back-up.
She rigged up a bandage to catch the blood, reminded me to change my shirt, and paid Isaac $1 to hold an ice pack against the gash. She is the best. Then, she and her husband took over my two older kids and resumed the cookie baking. I think they snitched a little cookie dough, but, she would not want me to mention that.
On the drive over, I called my mom to ask her to meet me at the hospital. I had taken Katie Jane with me since she was just a few months old and I had never left her before. I wanted my mom there to hold Katie while I took care of Isaac and, secretly, I really wanted her there to hold my hand because my mom is the absolute best.
By the time I was driving, Isaac, with his high tolerance for pain, was completely calm. I stopped at the after hours clinic to see if they could stitch him up and he was so calm that they didn't even believe he needed stitches until I uncovered the gash. They said they could not stitch ears and sent me on to the ER.
At the ER, the receptionist did not think he needed stitches (again, because he was so calm). He was so charming while we checked in that she bumped us right to the front of the waiting list anyway.
The bed they gave him was one that converts into a crib. He wanted me to put all of the sides up so he could pretend he was a lion in a cage. He wanted to use the nifty remote to change channels on the funny T.V. mounted up near the ceiling. He was curious about all of the doctors and their equipment.
When it was time to stitch him up, a male nurse came to hold his head still but Isaac didn't flinch or move a muscle. That boy is brave. The nurse said he usually broke a sweat from struggling with the kids to hold them still, but, Isaac was calm as could be. He was rewarded with extra candy treats and a stuffed animal. After they stitched him up, they cleaned and bandaged his leg from a nasty burn he'd gotten on a 4-wheeler a few days earlier. All b-o-y I'm telling you.
He was so excited and happy about the whole thing, that for the rest of the night he kept telling me, "Mommy, thank you for taking me to the emergency room." And, I guess today was a little bit like that. More excitement and enthusiasm for an x-ray machine and a wheelchair ride. Now, he is intrigued with walking and the way his injury makes him limp. He is hilarious!
Isaac,
Thank you for being my adorable son and for helping me have the full motherhood experience.
Love,
Mommy
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Beginning Girl Scouts
When Sophie was young, I thought it would be fun to get her involved in a brownie troop. I kept looking around, but, there weren't any brownie troops in the area. At least not any that weren't already full.
I wasn't very proactive until last spring when I couldn't shake the idea that I should start a troop myself (an idea that had somehow never occurred to me during my previous searching). Then I stumbled upon our local girl scout office while running errands one day.
Last summer, I attended troop leader training, mainly to find out more information, and I reluctantly turned in the paperwork to become registered to be a leader. Then, I messed everything up by inviting all of my friends' daughters who are mostly either a grade older or a grade younger than Sophie to join our troop. That wasn't good because it was turning out that I was going to have brownies and juniors this year and juniors and cadets next year -- meaning I would always have girls working from different books making things way too complicated.
Sophie and I attended a three-day day camp over the summer and I was so impressed. It was non-stop fun, super creative and, get this, we launched rockets and made diet coke and mentos fountains in the parking lot. We had a campfire with multi-colored smoke. We got messy and did experiments, and, just like every girl scout activity I've been to before or since, I was very impressed with the girls.
I got cold feet about the whole troop leader thing and decided that Sophie and I could do Juliettes together (meaning she and I work on badges without being part of a troop). But, just like everything else in life, since there wasn't a set time to work on it, it never got done.
In November, Sophie and I went to a chef camp at the girl scout office in Salt Lake. For one Friday night and all day Saturday we sampled foods from different countries and tried out new recipes. It was really fun, but, most of the girls were there with their troops and I could see that it just wasn't the same for Sophie being there with her mom as it was for the other girls.
Over the Christmas break, Sophie and I had a heart to heart during which she told me she really wished she had a "club" of some sort where she could be with girls her own age outside of school. And, in that moment, I knew. I knew that as much as I don't want to add one more thing to my busy life right now and as much as I have no idea how to be a girl scout leader and even though I think "camping" should include manis and pedis and an outdoor movie projected onto a screen -- in spite of all that I knew I had to do this troop with my daughter.
This time around, we made sure to make up a troop of 4th graders to prevent unnecessary confusion. We are starting out with just 5 girls. And, yesterday, when I asked one of the moms to be my co-leader she graciously accepted and told me that she is a den mother for the 9-year-old cub scouts. Lucky for me!!!
Oh, and Sophie IS selling girl scout cookies (but, not until Saturday as per their strict policy of not starting your cookie sales early). Let me know if you need some.
I wasn't very proactive until last spring when I couldn't shake the idea that I should start a troop myself (an idea that had somehow never occurred to me during my previous searching). Then I stumbled upon our local girl scout office while running errands one day.
Last summer, I attended troop leader training, mainly to find out more information, and I reluctantly turned in the paperwork to become registered to be a leader. Then, I messed everything up by inviting all of my friends' daughters who are mostly either a grade older or a grade younger than Sophie to join our troop. That wasn't good because it was turning out that I was going to have brownies and juniors this year and juniors and cadets next year -- meaning I would always have girls working from different books making things way too complicated.
Sophie and I attended a three-day day camp over the summer and I was so impressed. It was non-stop fun, super creative and, get this, we launched rockets and made diet coke and mentos fountains in the parking lot. We had a campfire with multi-colored smoke. We got messy and did experiments, and, just like every girl scout activity I've been to before or since, I was very impressed with the girls.
I got cold feet about the whole troop leader thing and decided that Sophie and I could do Juliettes together (meaning she and I work on badges without being part of a troop). But, just like everything else in life, since there wasn't a set time to work on it, it never got done.
In November, Sophie and I went to a chef camp at the girl scout office in Salt Lake. For one Friday night and all day Saturday we sampled foods from different countries and tried out new recipes. It was really fun, but, most of the girls were there with their troops and I could see that it just wasn't the same for Sophie being there with her mom as it was for the other girls.
Over the Christmas break, Sophie and I had a heart to heart during which she told me she really wished she had a "club" of some sort where she could be with girls her own age outside of school. And, in that moment, I knew. I knew that as much as I don't want to add one more thing to my busy life right now and as much as I have no idea how to be a girl scout leader and even though I think "camping" should include manis and pedis and an outdoor movie projected onto a screen -- in spite of all that I knew I had to do this troop with my daughter.
This time around, we made sure to make up a troop of 4th graders to prevent unnecessary confusion. We are starting out with just 5 girls. And, yesterday, when I asked one of the moms to be my co-leader she graciously accepted and told me that she is a den mother for the 9-year-old cub scouts. Lucky for me!!!
Oh, and Sophie IS selling girl scout cookies (but, not until Saturday as per their strict policy of not starting your cookie sales early). Let me know if you need some.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Our Drive to School
Isaac is a very imaginative kid and he loves to narrate his free flow of thoughts when we drive in the car. Sometimes my ears get tired or I can't understand what he is talking about so I just say, "Oh. Really? Hmmm. Wow!" and stuff like that because he likes me to make frequent comments and he hates it when I ask him to repeat himself. Usually when I focus on what he is saying, I am rewarded with some great stories like this one today:
"If you see a hole that is bigger than an ant hole, then you know it is a bear hole, right? But, we don't know if giants are real or not because they live in clouds in the sky, right? Are badgers real? (me: yes) If you see a hole that is bigger than an ant hole but it's too small for a bear then you know it is a badger hole because badgers are medium size. (me: how do you know that?). I saw it in a book that Mamma gave me. It is a story about a badger and he lives in a hole and he is medium size."
After I dropped him off at school, I got to hang out with my niece who is a few months younger than Isaac. And, apparently she is one of the only kids I know who is as imaginative of a story teller as Isaac is. So, today was fun.
And, speaking of fun, the day ended at Classic Fun where we used a coupon to get passes to all of the activities for the whole family plus dinner for $25!
"If you see a hole that is bigger than an ant hole, then you know it is a bear hole, right? But, we don't know if giants are real or not because they live in clouds in the sky, right? Are badgers real? (me: yes) If you see a hole that is bigger than an ant hole but it's too small for a bear then you know it is a badger hole because badgers are medium size. (me: how do you know that?). I saw it in a book that Mamma gave me. It is a story about a badger and he lives in a hole and he is medium size."
After I dropped him off at school, I got to hang out with my niece who is a few months younger than Isaac. And, apparently she is one of the only kids I know who is as imaginative of a story teller as Isaac is. So, today was fun.
And, speaking of fun, the day ended at Classic Fun where we used a coupon to get passes to all of the activities for the whole family plus dinner for $25!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
2011 - Ready or Not
Katie Jane rang in the New Year by learning how to climb in and out of her crib. Wow! I guess she is trying to keep up with Isaac who also started climbing out of his crib at one-and-a-half. Sometimes it is hard to be the mom to kids who are so gifted.
2011 is looking to be a pretty stellar year for me. Yesterday was my first day back to reality after the long break, which, in my case, was rather nice. It was a peaceful day with the three older kids in school. I cleaned the whole house and cooked dinner. It is amazing what a boost of energy can do for productivity.
I love all of my kids' teachers this year. I do. I really love them. This may be the best school year of our lives. It brings tremendous peace of mind for my kids to be so happy at school. One of my kids struggled during the past two school years, so, I am really appreciating this gift.
We are enjoying the many toys and games we were spoiled with at Christmas. Whoever said "money can't buy happiness," had obviously never purchased an iPad. As Ian put it, "It has really brought our family together." I'm not sure if a family gathered around an electronic device staring at it's screen is really considered quality time. But, whatever. Don't judge.
My mom said one of her favorite things about Christmas was watching Katie play with her new doll, feed her baby her bottle, and push her around in the tiny doll stroller. I love that my mom, who has always had a special place in her heart for dolls, finally has a granddaughter who feels the same. And, Sophie shares her passion for pretty collectibles and shopping.
My mother-in-law surprised us with a special treat. She made copies of her life history for everyone. Apparently she has been writing it for over 30 years, and she included memories about her birth and early childhood as recalled by her older sister. It has been amazing to get to know her by reading about her life.
My gym buddy and I finally broke through our glass ceiling of getting to the gym by 5:30. For years, we would arrive by 5:50 a.m., but, we always believed that waking up before 5:30 a.m. was just too much for us. Now, we are finally doing it, and loving it. It has created opportunities for us to attend some 5:30 classes. The instructors always make me work harder than I make myself work.
A new neighbor moved into the house across the street from me about two-years ago. At first, she and her husband were splitting their time between this house and one in Arizona. So, I wasn't exactly sure when they were here and when they were there. Finally, over the summer, we became acquainted and I am really glad we did.
For one thing, you may know that Brian is deathly allergic to dog dander, so, it is questionable whether or not we will ever have a family pet. My kids are getting to the ages where a family pet would be fun for them. And, my boys love dogs. We will definitely never have a dog because we like keeping Brian around.
My neighbor, Patti, who is now my friend, has two lovely dogs. One is a sleek cream and reddish rust colored Siberian Husky named Rusty and the other is a little curly haired Norwich Terrier name Hank. She has really taken the time to train them into well-behaved dogs. And, I think they are charming all on their own.
When we first became acquainted over the summer, my kids became the dog walkers and this has been a real treat to our family. Sometimes we even bring them over to our backyard where the boys play catch with Rusty and scratch his belly. It's like we are dog grandparents - with all of the perks and none of the responsibilities (well, none except scooping up their stink bombs on our walks). We just enjoy them, teach them bad manners and send them home for their real owners to deal with.
Of course, this has kind of petered out since school started and especially since the cold weather came, but, I'm sure it will start back up when the sun comes out again. It is another reason 2011 is looking to be a fabulous year.
While getting to know Patti, I've discovered we both love hiking in our nearby mountains and yoga. It turns out we have a lot of things in common.
Right before Thanksgiving, she invited me to go on a business trip with her. We left the following week and were gone for the first few days in December. She is an event planner and had to go to Seattle, Whidbey Island and a lodge on the Hood River to scope out properties for some upcoming events. In other words, we had to stay in the nicest rooms at some of the nicest hotels in the area and eat the best of their foods so that we could compare and she could make recommendations to her clients. Whew! Tough work. But, somebody has to do it.
We first stayed at the Edgewater in Seattle, which truly is right on the edge of the water. I could have stepped right out of my window and landed in the water. There is a famous picture taken of the Beatles in 1961 where they are fishing through a window of the Edgewater.
I enjoyed the view and the cozy fireplace as well as a bath in the old fashioned claw-foot tub. Ahh, yes, it was truly the life of luxury.
The first day, we toured a convention center and ate a delicious lunch at their restaurant while we interviewed the chef. Then, we walked all over Seattle in the rain. So romantic. I kept looking around thinking, "I can't believe I am in Seattle!" The trip was so sudden that I hardly had time to process that I was going before I was suddenly there.
We toured the Renaissance which has a lovely view of the city from the 28th floor. Then, we toured the Hyatt and it's new-age little sister - Hyatt at Olive 8. The Olive 8 seemed like the perfect fit for the Seattle conference, so we celebrated with first class orderves and fancy drinks.
Then we walked to a gourmet popcorn shop for a special treat, and past Pike's Market, just a few blocks from the Edgewater. Back at the hotel, the chef had prepared an elegant meal for us. I can't remember everything now, but, I know there were clams cooked in their shells, a lamb dish and pumpkin creme brulee. We were seated on couches near a floor to ceiling window overlooking the water while we polished it all off. It was the perfect ending to the perfect day.
The next day, we took the ferry over to Langley on Whidbey Island. It was a calming trip and the island was incredible. Our suites at Langley Inn had an entire wall of windows overlooking the water. There was even a picture window by the jetted tub. I had another fireplace - this one burned wood and I loved to hear the crackle and pop as the embers glowed. We tried out a restaurant on the very quaint old-fashioned Main Street and browsed through delightfully unique shops including the chocolate shop. The owner lives on a farm outside of town where she grows "chocolate" flowers. She harvests the flowers to create chocolate lotions, soaps, jams, candles and all sorts of other products.
That night, there was a potluck dinner for the locals who run the shops on Main Street in the restaurant at the Inn where we were staying. We decided to mingle with the people of Langley - who turned out to be some of the most successful yet down to earth people I've ever met. I think it was their positive energy that made the town of Langley extra special.
We were treated to a steam room at the spa later that night, and in the morning, we enjoyed a peaceful breakfast in the dining room. So. Much. Wonderful. Food.
Then, we were off to Skamania Lodge on the Hood River. We actually took a plane down to Portland where a tour guide picked us up and drove us just back over the Washington state line. Here is a picture of us checking out the amazing waterfalls in the area on our way to the lodge:
Skamania Lodge was located in one of the most beautiful areas I have ever visited. It was pretty hard for any place to compete with the quaint, relaxed atmosphere we had fallen so hard for at Langley, but, Skamania held it's ground.
Patti had an enormous suite and I had a smaller adjoining suite with a breathtaking view (really, the next morning, I spent a good hour just staring out the window) and a fireplace. No jetted tub with a view, but, still a really great room.
We were tired from all of the traveling, so, we agreed to meet at the gym for an energizing workout. It turns out evening workouts are fabulous! I always do mine in the mornings since evenings are so crazy busy. Then, we spent some time in the hot tub and the sauna. Wow! I was really living it up on this trip.
We had one more amazing dinner, and, the best part about eating out with Patti is that we both like the same foods AND we both like to split everything so that we can try even more things on the menu. It was a perfect fit.
Then I came back home to my four kiddies who I missed. Brian had cleaned the house while I was gone which was wonderful since Ian got baptized the very next day. I can't believe the E-Man is already eight. He was nervous about going under the water, but he did just fine. And, he isn't usually a limelight hound, but, he was very excited for the big family gathering in his honor.
In other exciting news - while I was on the trip I got a phone call from Sophie telling me that her class had picked her painting to be sent to an art contest at Dinosaur Park and she won! It was a district wide contest and she took first place out of all the 4th graders. Her prize was a $100 gift card to Wal-Mart. I am so proud of my little artist!
I tried to talk practicality to Sophie about the gift card -- I offered to buy it from her so she could buy the American Girl Doll (Felicity) that she has been dying to own for months now. When she made it clear she wanted to spend it at Wal-Mart, I encouraged her to buy a new scooter since her old one is broken and she and her brothers like to ride scooters almost every day.
Instead it was all spent on a pillow pet, pokemon cards, erasers, more stuffed animals and the like. But, she was very happy. And, what kid doesn't have a dream to win a $100 shopping spree that they can spend on any random thing they want?
Sophie and Ian just finished up their first Jr. Jazz basketball season. The games were really exciting to watch. Especially since they are still at that age where someone would occasionally try to make a basket for the opposing team. My peacemaker Ian was able to dig deep and pull out the aggression on the court. It was fun to watch him change as the season progressed. And, Sophie's team made it to the playoffs and took second place in their division.
That feels like an awful lot of bragging, and, maybe that is why I stopped blogging for awhile - it feels so egocentric. But, those are the highlights of the last couple months. Life is good.
2011 is looking to be a pretty stellar year for me. Yesterday was my first day back to reality after the long break, which, in my case, was rather nice. It was a peaceful day with the three older kids in school. I cleaned the whole house and cooked dinner. It is amazing what a boost of energy can do for productivity.
I love all of my kids' teachers this year. I do. I really love them. This may be the best school year of our lives. It brings tremendous peace of mind for my kids to be so happy at school. One of my kids struggled during the past two school years, so, I am really appreciating this gift.
We are enjoying the many toys and games we were spoiled with at Christmas. Whoever said "money can't buy happiness," had obviously never purchased an iPad. As Ian put it, "It has really brought our family together." I'm not sure if a family gathered around an electronic device staring at it's screen is really considered quality time. But, whatever. Don't judge.
My mom said one of her favorite things about Christmas was watching Katie play with her new doll, feed her baby her bottle, and push her around in the tiny doll stroller. I love that my mom, who has always had a special place in her heart for dolls, finally has a granddaughter who feels the same. And, Sophie shares her passion for pretty collectibles and shopping.
My mother-in-law surprised us with a special treat. She made copies of her life history for everyone. Apparently she has been writing it for over 30 years, and she included memories about her birth and early childhood as recalled by her older sister. It has been amazing to get to know her by reading about her life.
My gym buddy and I finally broke through our glass ceiling of getting to the gym by 5:30. For years, we would arrive by 5:50 a.m., but, we always believed that waking up before 5:30 a.m. was just too much for us. Now, we are finally doing it, and loving it. It has created opportunities for us to attend some 5:30 classes. The instructors always make me work harder than I make myself work.
A new neighbor moved into the house across the street from me about two-years ago. At first, she and her husband were splitting their time between this house and one in Arizona. So, I wasn't exactly sure when they were here and when they were there. Finally, over the summer, we became acquainted and I am really glad we did.
For one thing, you may know that Brian is deathly allergic to dog dander, so, it is questionable whether or not we will ever have a family pet. My kids are getting to the ages where a family pet would be fun for them. And, my boys love dogs. We will definitely never have a dog because we like keeping Brian around.
My neighbor, Patti, who is now my friend, has two lovely dogs. One is a sleek cream and reddish rust colored Siberian Husky named Rusty and the other is a little curly haired Norwich Terrier name Hank. She has really taken the time to train them into well-behaved dogs. And, I think they are charming all on their own.
When we first became acquainted over the summer, my kids became the dog walkers and this has been a real treat to our family. Sometimes we even bring them over to our backyard where the boys play catch with Rusty and scratch his belly. It's like we are dog grandparents - with all of the perks and none of the responsibilities (well, none except scooping up their stink bombs on our walks). We just enjoy them, teach them bad manners and send them home for their real owners to deal with.
Of course, this has kind of petered out since school started and especially since the cold weather came, but, I'm sure it will start back up when the sun comes out again. It is another reason 2011 is looking to be a fabulous year.
While getting to know Patti, I've discovered we both love hiking in our nearby mountains and yoga. It turns out we have a lot of things in common.
Right before Thanksgiving, she invited me to go on a business trip with her. We left the following week and were gone for the first few days in December. She is an event planner and had to go to Seattle, Whidbey Island and a lodge on the Hood River to scope out properties for some upcoming events. In other words, we had to stay in the nicest rooms at some of the nicest hotels in the area and eat the best of their foods so that we could compare and she could make recommendations to her clients. Whew! Tough work. But, somebody has to do it.
We first stayed at the Edgewater in Seattle, which truly is right on the edge of the water. I could have stepped right out of my window and landed in the water. There is a famous picture taken of the Beatles in 1961 where they are fishing through a window of the Edgewater.
I enjoyed the view and the cozy fireplace as well as a bath in the old fashioned claw-foot tub. Ahh, yes, it was truly the life of luxury.
The first day, we toured a convention center and ate a delicious lunch at their restaurant while we interviewed the chef. Then, we walked all over Seattle in the rain. So romantic. I kept looking around thinking, "I can't believe I am in Seattle!" The trip was so sudden that I hardly had time to process that I was going before I was suddenly there.
We toured the Renaissance which has a lovely view of the city from the 28th floor. Then, we toured the Hyatt and it's new-age little sister - Hyatt at Olive 8. The Olive 8 seemed like the perfect fit for the Seattle conference, so we celebrated with first class orderves and fancy drinks.
Then we walked to a gourmet popcorn shop for a special treat, and past Pike's Market, just a few blocks from the Edgewater. Back at the hotel, the chef had prepared an elegant meal for us. I can't remember everything now, but, I know there were clams cooked in their shells, a lamb dish and pumpkin creme brulee. We were seated on couches near a floor to ceiling window overlooking the water while we polished it all off. It was the perfect ending to the perfect day.
The next day, we took the ferry over to Langley on Whidbey Island. It was a calming trip and the island was incredible. Our suites at Langley Inn had an entire wall of windows overlooking the water. There was even a picture window by the jetted tub. I had another fireplace - this one burned wood and I loved to hear the crackle and pop as the embers glowed. We tried out a restaurant on the very quaint old-fashioned Main Street and browsed through delightfully unique shops including the chocolate shop. The owner lives on a farm outside of town where she grows "chocolate" flowers. She harvests the flowers to create chocolate lotions, soaps, jams, candles and all sorts of other products.
That night, there was a potluck dinner for the locals who run the shops on Main Street in the restaurant at the Inn where we were staying. We decided to mingle with the people of Langley - who turned out to be some of the most successful yet down to earth people I've ever met. I think it was their positive energy that made the town of Langley extra special.
We were treated to a steam room at the spa later that night, and in the morning, we enjoyed a peaceful breakfast in the dining room. So. Much. Wonderful. Food.
Then, we were off to Skamania Lodge on the Hood River. We actually took a plane down to Portland where a tour guide picked us up and drove us just back over the Washington state line. Here is a picture of us checking out the amazing waterfalls in the area on our way to the lodge:
Skamania Lodge was located in one of the most beautiful areas I have ever visited. It was pretty hard for any place to compete with the quaint, relaxed atmosphere we had fallen so hard for at Langley, but, Skamania held it's ground.Patti had an enormous suite and I had a smaller adjoining suite with a breathtaking view (really, the next morning, I spent a good hour just staring out the window) and a fireplace. No jetted tub with a view, but, still a really great room.
We were tired from all of the traveling, so, we agreed to meet at the gym for an energizing workout. It turns out evening workouts are fabulous! I always do mine in the mornings since evenings are so crazy busy. Then, we spent some time in the hot tub and the sauna. Wow! I was really living it up on this trip.
We had one more amazing dinner, and, the best part about eating out with Patti is that we both like the same foods AND we both like to split everything so that we can try even more things on the menu. It was a perfect fit.
Then I came back home to my four kiddies who I missed. Brian had cleaned the house while I was gone which was wonderful since Ian got baptized the very next day. I can't believe the E-Man is already eight. He was nervous about going under the water, but he did just fine. And, he isn't usually a limelight hound, but, he was very excited for the big family gathering in his honor.
In other exciting news - while I was on the trip I got a phone call from Sophie telling me that her class had picked her painting to be sent to an art contest at Dinosaur Park and she won! It was a district wide contest and she took first place out of all the 4th graders. Her prize was a $100 gift card to Wal-Mart. I am so proud of my little artist!
I tried to talk practicality to Sophie about the gift card -- I offered to buy it from her so she could buy the American Girl Doll (Felicity) that she has been dying to own for months now. When she made it clear she wanted to spend it at Wal-Mart, I encouraged her to buy a new scooter since her old one is broken and she and her brothers like to ride scooters almost every day.
Instead it was all spent on a pillow pet, pokemon cards, erasers, more stuffed animals and the like. But, she was very happy. And, what kid doesn't have a dream to win a $100 shopping spree that they can spend on any random thing they want?
Sophie and Ian just finished up their first Jr. Jazz basketball season. The games were really exciting to watch. Especially since they are still at that age where someone would occasionally try to make a basket for the opposing team. My peacemaker Ian was able to dig deep and pull out the aggression on the court. It was fun to watch him change as the season progressed. And, Sophie's team made it to the playoffs and took second place in their division.
That feels like an awful lot of bragging, and, maybe that is why I stopped blogging for awhile - it feels so egocentric. But, those are the highlights of the last couple months. Life is good.
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