An undisclosed location

This past winter we have had so much fun sledding on a certain hill that wishes to remain anonymous. I (I mean it) has no desire to become crowded like Sugar House park. My girls especially like it when daddy can come as well as their cousins. I like it because Bart's brother JB brings his awesome camera along and gets great shots. This last time Emily informed me I was not invited because I was in charge of staying home and making hot chocolate and toast. I complied and enjoyed a rare moment alone in my house.

My snow angels




Jane is one tough chick. She has no problems going at it alone


According to Emily this picture was taken moments before the sled took a turn for the worse hitting a jump dead on which sent both Emily and the sled into the air but in different directions. How Ben managed to hold on is still a wonder to everyone who witnessed it.

The Lempo

Every night Jane requests the primary song "I love to see the Temple" as her bed time song, only she pronounces it Lempo.
A week or so ago as we were driving up to Bart's parents I was so proud when Jane rather excitedly points to the temple and squeals "Lempo, Lempo, Lempo". I was having one of these moments thinking I've taught my girls so well giving Jane so much praise and then I was snapped out of it when we reached the top of State Street and Jane once again squeals "Lempo, Lempo" as she points to the Capitol Building. On the way home she got on a role squealing Lempo at the Capitol Building, the real temple, the Cathedral of Madeline, and any church we drove by. Now whenever we are in the car she is on the lookout for a temple. OK so maybe she's overgeneralizing a bit and I can't count my role of teaching about temples as done.
The cutest time for me though was when we were driving south on state street at dusk and got stuck at the red light at North Temple. Jane points to the temple and proclaims "Lempo lights pretty." Yes Jane I would agree!

Fun with Dick and Jane

During one of our library outings I came across the old time book "Dick and Jane" and introduced Jane to it. She giggled with delight every time I pointed out the Jane in the book. I mentioned the book to Pauline and she of course found the book stashed away somewhere and gave it to Jane. Oh how Jane loves this book. She has to sleep with it and often comes running up to me with the book in hand saying Nik, Nane, wead (interpretation Dick, Jane, read). I can't help but cave in, even if I'm busy, because of the enthusiasm she has for this book. As soon as we open it Jane lets out the cutest squeal of delight and practically laughs through the entire book!

(As a side note give Jane a couple of years and she'll look a lot like the Jane in the book. Especially if I cut her hair she'd even have the same wavy due. Don't you think?)

The Secret

My sister Raquel likes to talk about the book "The Secret" and how if you truly believe something will happen it will. That may be true to many aspects of life but not when it comes to shopping. After this experience I may write my own book entitled "The secret to shopping"
I've been on a quest for some brown boots for the last two seasons. Not an easy task for me who has a whopping size 11 thanks to genetics and my feet growing during my pregnancies, there really 10 1/2 but that size does not exist so 11 it is. The boots also have to be flat and comfortable. So the quest began. Since most stores seldom carry over a size 10 I'm limited to Nordstrom and online. Since I have to try on the boots to confirm their comfort level that limits me to Nordstrom. I truly believed I'd be able to find these boots since flat is in right now but every time I stepped into that store with my high hopes they were soon deflated. I'd find the perfect boot but then it came in suede, another color or they'd have them but not in my size. At the beginning of fall I did find the perfect boots but the price tag 350 bucks. Ouch!!! After more searching only to find some great boots in Emily's size, I debated and decided I would wait and buy those expensive boots when they went on sale. They did finally go on a great sale but by then my size was gone. After a good cry, I conclude I'd have to wait until next season and my life went on.
Fast forward a month or so. I have a conversation with Bart about how close we are to accomplishing a financial goal. I'm really anxious to speed up the process so I commit both of us to a spending fast. Since Bart only spends money on fast food dollar items for lunch, he agreed to this fast if I would make him a lunch to take to work everyday. I commit myself to make his lunch and only buy the necessities of life. Almost immediately I run out of a skin care item. Since skin care is a necessity, something I learned from my mom, I take a couple of Nordstrom notes* I've saved *(in store credit I get for using a Nordstrom Visa Card) and head to Nordstrom with a one track mind to only buy the cleanser and no money would be spent. Of course as soon as I walk in the door I turn my head to the shoe department and guess what's the first thing I see. These brown flat boots. As if they are magnetized I find myself picking them up and asking the salesman if they have them in my size. As he walks away I remember my commitment to my fast but relax because just in times of past they won't have my size right? Then the salesman comes back carrying a box. What they have my size? Surely there will be something wrong with them I think but as my foot slides and I stand I realize I'm in trouble. OK I think but what's the price. I turn the boot over on and they are on clearance. I can't fight it anymore the search for the boots have ended. I give the salesman my Nordstrom Notes plus $25.00 and decide my skin can wait and I leave with the boots.
From this experience I conclude that unlike "The secret" to life the Secret to shopping is to walk into a store against buying anything and sure enough what you haven't been able to find in the past will be right in front of your eyes.

Some men fish

A lot of men like to fish. My man does not, unless he's trying to help his Emily keep up with her cousin Bentley. Most people know Bart's "hobby" is collecting autographs. After many years of watching this "hobby" I've realized it is a lot like fishing. I'm assuming men like to fish because they like the thrill of trying to catch "the big one". Maybe they like a chance to get away from the rat race, be in the outdoors or just hang with the guys. Going to Sundance fulfills all of those needs for Bart. It's the thrill of the chase for him. Although Sundance mostly consists of "Scrubs" (i.e up and coming stars) Bart holds on to hope that a really big star like Tom Hanks, will show up and he'll "catch the big one". This year's "big one" was Matt Groaning the creator of the Simpsons.
Bart also likes having some of the old gang around and although he'd never admit this he likes all the wheeling and dealing for the inside scoop that goes on. It's also a chance for Bart to take a few days off of work and get away to the great and freezing outdoors of Park City.
I'm learning to appreciate that Bart is a fisher of autographs and not raw fish. Instead of spending a fortune on supplies at Cabella's he comes home with stacks of autographs that he can turn into cash for the bank!! Oh and I personally would rather decorate with cool autographs than a big stuffed fish, no offense to some close relatives of mine.

P.S. Emily and Jane were sure excited to hear Bart's tale and see the picture about meeting "Elmo" in person.

An invitation from Nona

Pauline invited my girls and I to accompany her to a Dance Performance for Children called Circle Cycle by the Ririe Woodbury Dance Company, which her good friend Shirley Ririe co-founded. This was Emily's 3rd time attending the Capitol Theater. Both of my girls were mesmerized throughout the performance and especially loved the time with Nona. Thanks again Pauline for the invite!

Put your 4 year old in charge....

and your birthday turns out perfect.
Emily constantly talks about birthdays, especially what she is going to do on her birthday. So when the topic came up that my birthday was approaching she got all excited and started making plans.
Being inspired by the Max and Ruby book "Bunny Cakes" Emily wanted to surprise me with an Angel Surprise Birthday Cake just like Ruby made for her grandma in the book. I think we were both relieved that we felt the same way about Max's Earthworm Cake. That was out of the question to make. Yucky!!

Initially Emily wanted to make it with her dad so I wouldn't see it until it was done but when I explained that daddy wouldn't be home to help she decided it could still be a surprise if I helped. At fresh market she discovered the Valentine's isle and was delighted to find the perfect decorations for the cake, "Sweethearts" We returned home from the store with a cake mix, powder sugar, sprinkles and the sweethearts ready to make the cake.
Together we baked the cake, mixed up the frosting and frosted it. Just as we were going to decorate it Bart called me from Park City with an emergency and needed photo's ordered from Sam's Club ASAP. So I left Emily alone in the kitchen with a freshly frosted cake. While I was frantically working on ordering the photos online Emily came in and asked how old I was turning. Still concentrating on the task at hand, I absentmindedly told her 33 and she left again. A little while later I returned to the kitchen and to my amazement and surprise Emily had decorated the cake all by herself using all 3 boxes of sweethearts. She had even rummaged through the drawer that holds candles and found two 3's to make 33. How she knew that two 3's make 33 is a mystery to me. We took it to Sunday Dinner at Bart's parents house and everyone there told Emily what a good job she did. She proudly responded with "I know".
I loved the cake and especially all the love that went into it. Thanks Emily for your thoughtfulness on my special day!!!