Listen Up

This song from Florence and the Machine gets my groove thang shakin'.

Life is full of surprises.

And this one will be appearing in May of next year.

Listen Up

Amos Lee is so soothing.

Worker Bee

Trimming the grapes

Sage is a good little worker. Each day she empties all the trash cans in the house, unloads utensils, cleans her room up, clears the table and once a week she rolls the big huge trashcans in at the end of trash day. We are glad she is learning to work BUT lately her attitude hasn't been so hot. In an effort to help her work cheerfully I taught her "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel." I explained what shirking means and how we never want to shirk what needs to be done. She loves the song and I often hear her singing the chorus as she goes about her chores:

Put your shoulder to the wheel push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song.
We all have work let no one shirk,
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

On a recent Saturday as we were all cleaning the house, Shane stepped away for a minute to check a score online. Sage saw him and quickly informed me, "Uh-oh! Daddy's shirking."

Listen Up

Mindy Gledhill's new album, Anchor, is magic. This song makes me want to fly away somewhere with Shane.

Best. Store. Ever.

Wow. I love this place. Name brand stuff, in great condition for dirt cheap. Just got some Kenneth Cole Peep toe heels for $6 and some red Steve Madden Platform heels for $12. Also got some Joe's Jeans for $15. The shirts are all between $6-10 and they are darling. There are tons of designer jeans: Sevens, Citizens and many more usually between $30-$50. And you can find belts, jewelry and great purses.

I try and go once a week (it's around the block from me) just to see what's new...there's always a great find.

Best part is Plato's Closet is all over the place. Go here to find one near you.

Mama-cation

My "baby" Robyn and I

You've heard of vacations and staycations...well last month was my mama-cation. I ran away from home for 5 days and went to Utah to see two of my favorite girls, Emily and Camille.

Day One (Saturday):
Shane and kiddos drop me off at airport and pick up my MIL, Shelly. She watched the kids so I could go....I could kiss her feet. I Fly into SLC , pick up my rental car and speed off to try to get to my pedicure appointment but find out I'm too late. Darn! Run over to Temple Square to meet my first "baby" (first missionary I ever trained) Robyn. We hug and talk and eat and walk and talk some more. I could have spent a whole day with her just catching up. It's funny because the love you feel for the missionaries you train is a kind of mama love. I'm so proud of her.

Arrive at Em's and get a tour of her beautiful new home. And then stay up late trying to cram too much talking into too little time.

Day Two (Sunday):
Sleep in until 7:45 AM!!! A miracle to sleep that many hours in a row. Em makes a mean bowl of oatmeal (peanut butter and cinnamon are two secret ingredients--brilliant Em!) and I gobble it all. Then off to Stake Conference---lucky me it's great. Home for an almost 3 hour nap---hallelujah-- and then dinner at Uncle Charles'. A delicious, restful day. Camille arrives that night and the party really gets started. We're bedmates....good because I LOVE chatting in bed, bad because we stay up waaay too late.


Shannon and I snarfing KK.

Day Three (Monday):
Rush off to Provo and pick-up sister-in-law Shannon on the way. Find a great parking spot by the MOA and off to our first class, "Teaching Children Joy."

Lunch at the Skyroom. The place I could never afford to eat as a freshman. Not quite as yummy as I remember but fun just to be there and reminisce.

After a long day of wonderful classes we hit up Krispy Kreme. Nothing beats a hot fresh, sugary, fatty donut. Except a second one.

Day Four (Tuesday):
Wake up in the wee hours of the morning sick as a dog. Let's just say I never strayed far from the bathroom. No Provo for me. I spend the day napping, watching Netflix and reading. I hate being sick but maybe it's my body's way of saying "You NEED to rest!"


Last fling at the Creamery. Sorry I ate all your fries Em.

Day Five (Wednesday):
Find the perfect parking spot yet again. Big deal at Education Week since there are 20,000 people attending. First class of the day, "Drawing on the Powers of Heaven to Realize Your Righteous Desires." Shannon and I hold back the sobs (barely) as our lovely teacher tells the story of losing her husband in a car crash on their 20th anniversary. After the accident is in the hospital for months and has 6 children to care for. That put my life and trials in perspective.

Do some damage at the Downeast Basics $5 sale. Two dresses, 1 tee, 2 swimsuits and a cardigan later I am all shopped out and we head to the Marriott Center for some Sheri Dew. Note to self: These boots aren't made for walkin'...cowboy boots might look adorable but they don't feel so good when you're haulin' around campus.

We eat at the Museum of Art (yum!) and then I wander about soaking up all the glorious art. More classes then homeward bound.

Watch a scary movie called "The Lovely Bones." My first scary movie in almost a decade (I swore them off on the mission). I decide no more...just can't do it. My heart is too weak. I can't take the suspense so I drag my suitcase downstairs and pack and peek every now and again at the screen. Say goodbye to Em and Camille since I leave at 5 AM.

Five wonderful, uplifting, delicious, hilarious days. Shall we do it again ladies? Say next week?

Micah talks.

At least he did this morning. And Shane is my witness. Thank heaven he was there or he would never have believed me.

We were saying our goodbyes to Shane as he headed off to work and Micah joined right in,

"Buh-bye Dada."

Melted our hearts.

Listen Up

Jess Penner makes me smile.

Listen Up

This may be the one and only song featuring my name...pronounced correctly and all! Emilie Simon is very French, tres funky. And given my current state the lyrics are fitting, "Alicia is sleeping."

Thrilling

Wearing Sissy's (Sage) shades

Every milestone that Micah reaches is so so exciting for us. When he first got eczema it was as though someone hit "Pause" and he's been stuck at 6 months old ever since-- in weight, size and progress. But here and there he starts doing something new and it gives us a reason to cheer.

2 weeks ago: began signing "up"

1 week ago: began holding bottle all by himself

Today: waved "bye-bye" to Shane. I got a bit teary eyed, it was just so sweet! These days whenever anyone mentions Shane, Micah perks right up and starts saying "dada." He love love loves Shane and always wants to be in his arms.

Update: Today (9-2) Micah clapped for the first time. Hope he keeps up the good work.