Freeze Frame

I had one of those moments today where I hoped the world would stand still for just one minute and time wouldn't go on anymore.

It's been baseball-crazed around here as of late. If you didn't know, the local town team was playing in this kind-of-a-big-deal sequence of games - the World Series. So, we've walked around like zombies while we hang on every pitch thrown into the wee hours of the morning. And, thanks to the kindness of almost perfect strangers, DH and I even got to attend one of those games. And we hung on almost every pitch. Until the wee hours of that morning.

Mr. A has even gotten in on the action. "Mom, are the Phillies playing tonight?" he asks me every night. "Mom, I want to watch the Phillies," he tells me every morning.

Fast forward to the gorgeous day we have outside today. We went to the park. The one with lots of play equipment for toddlers and big kids alike. The one where the swings are set up on the hill where you can see the fall beauties for miles and miles around. The one that has a baseball diamond next to the swings. (see where i'm going with this?)

After a few minutes on the swings...
DH: "Mr. A, come with me."
Mr. A: "Where we going, Dad?"
DH: "Just follow me."

Out they walked onto the baseball diamond. The one with no bats and no balls and no bases. Just dirt and grass and a pitcher's mound. And DH proceeded to show Mr. A how to play baseball - with imaginary bats and imaginary balls and imaginary bases. It was so simple. And so sweet.

After some coaching from and practice with his dad, Mr. A even hit an imaginary home run. And he ran the bases. First. Second. Ooops. Forgot to tag the base. Second. Third. And then home. He touched the plate (unlike Ryan Howard-who got credit anyway).

"Mom!!!" he yelled to me while I pushed Miss M on the swings. "I did it! I hit a homerun!"

Miss M wanted to go too. And so Mr. A hit another home run. And he touched all the bases this time. And guess who chased him all the way around? His little sister who wants nothing more than to be just like her big brother. And do what he's doing. And run where he's running. And swing where he's swinging. We all cheered when she touched homeplate.

I really kind of like that they have each other to cheer on. Miss M claps for Mr. A when he hits his homerun and Mr. A claps and screams for Miss M when she runs the bases and into her daddy's arms and up into the air.

You two - I hope you'll cheer each other on forever - in whatever you're doing. Love you both.

Been Lately?

Maybe I'm just out of it, but I went here tonight and felt like I was having a totally different shopping experience than I had previously! The shopping carts are sleek and new. The merchandising seemed more organized and less cluttered. The product offerings seemed cuter. We even have a significantly expanded food section now (complete with potatoes, salads, apples, limes, oranges, etc) and we don't even have a Super Center! The checkout lady even "gifted" me with a very snazzy reusable tote (I need to be better about reusing them, though, and not forgetting them hanging in my garage). Way to step it up, Tarjhay!

post note: i still think it's awesome when a married man shopping solo proudly carries his basket to the checkout lane with the large maxipads package perched squarely on top. that's confidence for ya.

Crying for Help

I reunited with my bed on Saturday. Is there anything better than your own bed?

Mr. A reunited with his bunk beds on Saturday. Should I be concerned that, after we had put him down for his nap, we found him reading a story on the top bunk? (mind you, there is no ladder on the bed and pre-Seattle that worked)

Miss M reunited with her crib on Saturday. Does anyone know why a baby would cry like she was being royally tortured when she was put in said crib?

I thought maybe she missed her pack n' play and her walk-in closet (her "room" for 3 months). So, I put up our pack n' play and put her to sleep in that on Sunday afternoon. No dice. More screaming. If she could speak the words she would have said, "You are the meanest people I know. How dare you leave me all alone in this spacious setting."

Back in her crib, a few naps/sleeps/days of her crying herself to sleep ensued (she hasn't done that in over a year now) and we are all back to normal. Kind of.

For some reason they have both decided that I should just not sleep tonight. So, I haven't bothered to try. I guess they're making up for lost time. They're both usually really good sleepers. Mr. A has been up 5 times already (at least that's when I stopped counting) for unknown reasons (asking to sleep with me in my bed - sorry) and Miss M, I think, is cutting teeth and now she knows it (whereas with the other teeth she has slept right through it). One round of Tylenol, one round of teething tablets and a diaper change, a round of rubbing back/stomach/head, and hopefully we will now all settle in.

No more crying for help. Remember, kids? Unlike you two, I quite like my bed, so I just might not hear it.

A funny

While driving over Lake Washington tonight on our way into downtown Seattle to have dinner at A. Kimmy's house, Mr. A alerts us all:

"Hey, look! There's the football station!"

Or stadium.

And, while watching the float plane approach the lake:

"Mom, that plane is going to land! On the water! (a few seconds go by) Oh, no, it's not. It doesn't have enough surfboards on it."

Moral to all you float pilots: make sure you have plenty of surfboards to land that puppy on the lake. good luck.

Game On!

From my dear friend, Scott Porter (see picture of him in post about Business School reunion)...I purchased a copy of this and we are LOVING it! Try it out!

Subject: It's official: Let the games begin!

Party games have never been this hilarious! My brother Bryce, Brent Peterson and I have been working on developing a party game this past year and it is finally on the market! Sedarahc—the game of reverse charades! Some of you have already played it and know how outrageously fun it is.

It’s an absolute riot with family, work teams or groups of friends practically anywhere and perfect as a holiday gift. You can purchase it now at the BYU Bookstore or you can get our friend’s discount for $5 off at http://www.facebook.com/l/c3d01;www.Sedarahc.com/friends. Feel free to share the discount page with any of your friends or family too. I’m anxious to hear your feedback. (I hope that those that have played games with me before will smile when they read rule #5) :)

Please join our facebook fan club for updates and future promos at: http://www.facebook.com/sedarahc

Thanks!

Scott

So, put it on your list! Stock up for the holidays! Go play, play, play!!!

Sailing - kind of

(I wish I could tell you what is wrong with my camera - smudges maybe?? It bugs. wish my big one weren't so big to lug around. Contradiction, I know.)

Last weekend we tagged along on a beautiful sailing ride to check out the sunset and the lights of Seattle. My brother-in-law's father took us out on his gorgeous boat. It was a beautiful evening with just one small glitch - not ONE lick of wind. So, we motored out to the bay, he put up the sail for a minute, took it back down, we marveled at the beautiful sights, and motored back. Thank you, Larry!

Miss M checking out the sunset

Pretty spectacular

DH and Mr. A - big helpers, as you can tell

Dusk

Mr. A finally got to go down and check out the "cubby" of the boat

Quoting and Thinking

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.The fact is, most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old-time rail journey–delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." - Jenkins Lloyd Jones

I've liked this quote for a long time. President Hinckley cited it often too. He had good reasons to. I especially appreciate the part about the occasional beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. As our time here in the Northwest winds down, I feel so grateful to have had more than our fair share of beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. It has been one spectacular ride.

We have all learned a lot. My Miss M learned to walk here. Heck, she's mastered running too. My Mr. A learned about making friends on the playground with perfect strangers. He also learned about family and about being grateful for his family. He learned about boundaries and listening. Miss M learned about teeth breaking through (those darn molars!) and the first steps in the communication process - grunting and pointing. The two of them learned how much fun they can have together. They learned how to laugh at each other and with each other.

I learned that when life slows down around me, I can easily slow down too. I can even still get stuff done! I learned that family is a whole lot of fun to have 2 miles away. I was reminded that there are great people all over the country. I learned that my DH's happiness is contagious. I even learned about the kindness of Seattle strangers when we paid face value for every "Wicked" ticket I scapled on the corner 30 minutes before the performance (all 4 of them - can you believe that? - never in NYC). I learned that my priorities in life are pretty much right on.

10 more days of this great rail journey. And we truly do thank the Lord for the ride. He knew what we needed and when we needed it. He's pretty good like that! :)

Business School - 5 years later

If you've known me long enough you know that I talk about my "Defining Moments" in my life quite a bit. Going back to business school ranks up there at the top of my Defining Moments list. I made some dear, dear friends and learned a whole bunch in the process. A few weeks ago, several of us got back together to reminisce, laugh, remember, and rejoice in all that we'd done in the 5 years since we graduated! Where did the time go?

My dear girlfriends - there weren't that many of us, so we had to stick together!

Know any great single gals? These two are on the market (and we like them a lot!)

Some of the crew that came out for the picnic the day after the dinner (I forgot to take my camera out for the dinner, so if you're reading this and you have pictures, please send them to me!)

While in P-town, I got to see my lil' bro. Isn't he cute?! We also took in a pathetic BYU vs. FSU football game. But, the company couldn't be beat.

These 3 dear friends all celebrate birthdays within a month of each other. So, I did what any good, efficient friend would do - I took them all out to the Sweet Tooth Fairy for a 6 cupcake sampler and a bottle of milk. Happy Birthday to all 3 of you. I am so very happy you were each born. Loved being with you.

Celebrating

I'm super late in posting these, but DH and I celebrated 9 years with a most delicious breakfast at the delightful Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie Falls. So yummy!

You gotta check it out if you're out here!

Only in Philly-delphia

Mr. A and I were talking the other night about what will happen when we go back to Philadelphia (he calls it Philly-delphia...cute). I asked him what he missed about it.

"Ummm, Wii Fit.....and Xbox....and Jesus."

"Jesus? Really? Jesus is in Seattle too."

"No, Mom. Jesus only in Philly-delphia."

Just in case you were wondering...