Looking forward to early mornings

This right here? 

This is the best way to start my morning.  Out on my porch swing on the back deck, with a mug of hot chocolate, a blanket (depending on the temperature), and my scriptures.  (Or this morning, the April General Conference talks.)  I can't tell you how rejuvenating it is, both spiritually and mentally, to start my day out this way.  The birds are chirping, the weather is mild, the sun just starting to peek over the mountains....and I'm reading the word of God that inspires, uplifts and strengthens me for the upcoming day. 

I am not a morning person and have always struggled with getting up early enough to make sure the girls have awakened and are in the process of getting ready for school.  (Seriously, why does high school have to start so early?)  Now that I have discovered this little morning routine, when that alarm goes off I can fairly easily convince myself to get up because I have something to look forward to. 

Cue the music...

Rebekah and Julianne put on a Broadway Review with their theatre group last night.  Julianne's Junior Productions group performed songs from Thoroughly Modern Millie and Hairspray.  Rebekah's Senior Productions group took on music from Wicked and Les Miserables.  Julianne also performed as a member of the Disneyland performing group...a subset that is putting together a show to take to Disneyland the first week in June.  Good heavens, do I have talented girls!  They just blew me away!

   
Thoroughly Modern Millie:

A show with a lot of numbers perfect for a lot of fun choreography and dancing.  They even had tap dancers!

Wicked:

Rebekah absolutely shined up onstage doing these Wicked songs.  She was just so ON with all her choreography, her facial expressions, her stage presence.  Aren't the costumes great?  Our city performed Wizard of Oz last summer so green was in great supply and readily available for loan. 

Disneyland performing group:

Focusing mostly on music from Newsies (props to the director for realizing how awesome of a show Newsies is!!!) they also did a big medley of more traditional Disney songs.  Julianne sang the solo "Colors of the Wind" from Pocohontas in the medley.

Les Miserables:

Very serious songs call for serious expressions while singing.  It's not a show that involves lots of lighthearted dancing...but Les Miserables has always been one of my very favorite shows so I was thrilled that it was included in the Broadway Review.

Hairspray:

Julianne sang the role of Amber Von Tussle and had quite a big solo.  She was awesome!  Call it motherly bias if you must but in my (somewhat) expert opinion, she was clearly the best of any of the solos throughout the whole performance.  She was thrilled about the chance to wear a body mic again....  (Remember "Power in His Touch" here.)  

Oh, my aching back

I spread mulch throughout my flower beds today.  Two truck loads worth.  Entirely by myself.  Well, unless you count Lilian.  Which I don't.  Because realistically her attempts to help were more of a hindrance than anything.  (Shh.  Don't tell her I said that.) 
That's hours and hours worth of shoveling, raking and pushing a wheelbarrow around.

 
I came in with a bright red face (it took a few hours to determine whether it was a sunburn or just related to my tendency to turn bright red when it's hot) and covered head to toe in a thin layer of dirt.  (Yes, I wore shoes.  Just no socks.)  I have no doubt my back will ache tremendously tomorrow.

But hey...sure looks nice, yes? 

I think I'll give myself a few days before I tackle the backyard flower beds.  Luckily that should necessitate only one load of mulch.  (I hope.)

Favorite Photo Friday: Times Square

May 11, 2011

One year ago today I was here...Times Square in NYC, having just had lunch at the famous Roxy's Deli and getting ready to see "Anything Goes" on Broadway. 
This is what I wrote on my blog later that night when I got back to my hotel:

I had my first experience with Times Square today. I thought I was prepared for it. I'd seen pictures, I'd seen video. Regardless, I was still stunned. Because those pictures do not do it justice. I found myself out there in the middle of it all...the signs, the colors, the lights, the noise and the people...and turned circle after circle to take it all in. I have tried really hard to fit in this week. To act with confidence and like I know exactly where I am going and what I am doing...just like a native. Once in Times Square, though, I have no doubt that I looked every inch the epitome of a visitor...with "tourist" rolling off me in waves. I could not stop the awe from showing on my face.

I am aching to go back to NYC.

SIXTEEN!

Rebekah turned SIXTEEN yesterday!  Remember my list of markers that show how life is passing ever determinedly and rapidly....despite not really feeling my age?  Things like grey hair and wrinkles, a 20 year high school reunion and a husband turning the big four-oh?  Having a daughter turn 16 is right up there at the top of the list.  Thank you, Rebekah, for the shocking reminder that I really am 38 years old.

I don't cry when my kids go to primary for the first time at 3-years old.  I don't cry at preschool graduations.  I don't cry when at 5-years old they go off to Kindergarten.  I DO, apparently, cry when they turn 12 and go into the Young Women program at church.  And apparently I DO get a little emotional when they turn 16.  Heaven help me when Brennan comes to pick up Rebekah for a date tomorrow night...I'm pretty sure that if I cry as they walk out the door it might be humiliating, for both mother AND daughter.

To celebrate this momentous milestone birthday...well, we thought it would be appropriate for Rebekah to go on her first date.  With her father.  Maybe the sentiment wrapped around a father being his daughter's first date is only something I appreciate...still, Rebekah and Bryan had a good time.  Dinner and then "The Avengers" movie made for a great evening.

But the biggest part of Rebekah's 16th birthday observance will actually be a month from now.  Bryan and I decided to start a new tradition...that of taking all of our kids on a trip for their 16th birthday.  Oh, nothing too exotic, but something that would give us the chance to have some one-on-one bonding time with our teenager right before they head off into the land of dating and jobs and even more general teenage busyness.  When asked for guidance in selecting a spot, Rebekah's main criteria had to do with sitting on a beach.  So we booked a resort hotel at Mission Beach in San Diego for 4 days.  I have to admit, I think I'm just as excited as she is!  Doesn't it look amazing?

Father of Bride

I used to think a wedding was a simple affair. Boy and girl meet, they fall in love, he buys a ring, she buys a dress, they say I do. I was wrong. That's getting married. A wedding is an entirely different proposition. I know. I've just been through one. Not my own, my daughter's. Annie Banks Mackenzie. That's her married name: Mackenzie. You fathers will understand. You have a little girl. An adorable little girl who looks up to you and adores you in a way you could never have imagined. I remember how her little hand used to fit inside mine. Then comes the day when she wants to get her ears pierced, and wants you to drop her off a block before the movie theater. From that moment on you're in a constant panic. You worry about her meeting the wrong kind of guy, the kind of guy who only wants one thing, and you know exactly what that one thing is, because it's the same thing you wanted when you were their age. Then, you stop worrying about her meeting the wrong guy, and you worry about her meeting the right guy. That's the greatest fear of all, because, then you lose her. It was just six months ago that that happened here. Just six months ago, that the storm broke.

Father of the Bride is one of my all time favorite movies.  You know the one, right...with Steve Martin?  This movie came out when I was in college.  I saw it at the one-movie-a-week Ephraim theater with my roommate Leslie.  She must've thought I was a little nuts when I see-sawed back and forth between uproarious laughter and sentimental tears throughout the entire movie.  But that movie made an impact on me, hit me pretty hard.  And I'm sure it was because, though I wasn't engaged at the time, I knew it was getting close.  Even then, the movie reminded me of my Dad.  Which became all the more humorous when I did actually get engaged and start planning a wedding...to find that my Dad was reacting in very similar ways to Steve Martin's character.  Oh, not to the same extremes, of course.  He didn't get arrested for stealing hot dog buns or anything like that.  But the decisions to be made of how many guests, where to hold the reception, the "Please don't make me wear a tux!!" plea, and how much everything was going to cost....mingled in with his emotions of losing his oldest daughter.  

Who presents this woman? This woman? But she's not a woman. She's just a kid. And she's leaving us. I realized at that moment that I was never going to come home again and see Annie at the top of the stairs. Never going to see her again at our breakfast table in her nightgown and socks. I suddenly realized what was happening. Annie was all grown up and was leaving us, and something inside began to hurt. 

 This quote from Father of the Bride makes me cry every single time of the countless times I have viewed the movie.  Thinking back....it was the night before I got married.  I was puttering around downstairs taking care of last minute items.  Taking a shower, setting out my clothes I was going to wear on the way to the temple the next day, making sure I had my new pearl earrings my parents had given me to wear with my wedding dress, etc.  On one pass of the countless back and forthing through the hall, I saw my parents coming down the stairs together.  My Dad lightly grabbed my arm to stop me from walking past.  And then, to my complete astonishment, he picked me up...all 19-years and 100 lbs of me...and carried me to my bedroom.  He set me down gently on my bed and pulled the covers up around my chin, tucking me in like I was a little girl again.  He kneeled on one side of my bed, my mom on the other and then he proceeded to give me a fathers blessing.  I don't remember the words of the blessing.  Only the feeling of love and protection.  And then when he was done, he wrapped his arms around me, and cried.  I'd never seen my Dad cry before.

Last night I saw Father of the Bride in a play version at Hale Centre Theatre.  And as I sat there I had a mix of emotions.  Thinking back to my own time as a bride, yes.  But also about my own first born daughter.  Rebekah turns 16 tomorrow.  I met Bryan when I was that age.  She's already got boys clamoring for dates, waiting anxiously.  Oh, a wedding is still a few years out, certainly...and if she doesn't get married when she is 19 like I did, well...I'm not going to be upset about that!  But it will come and seeming all too soon, is my guess.  And then we'll have another Father of the Bride situation at our house.    

My Reason 2 Ride

I woke up Saturday in the early morning and cold for a bike race.  But this time, rather than ride it, I volunteered at it.  The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta was a century (100 miles) race hosted by Biker's Edge (my favorite local bike store) and Reason 2 Ride, a charitable organization started by some people in my neighborhood.  

MyReason2Ride (R2R) is a charitable organization that unites cyclists and charities, raising money for their specific cause. Our goal is achieved by putting on cycling events where bikers choose a reason to ride from one of three categories; Health & Wellness, Education and Humanitarian Aide. Each year we ask R2R participants, "What Moves You?" allowing them to determine which charitable partners... we support under each category. Money for these charities is raised through direct donations, ride entry fees, sponsor participation and club partnerships. 100% of the profits from each event are donated directly back to our charitable partners. In addition to organizing our own events, R2R has various strategic partners in the cycling community including other established charitable cycling rides, races and events. 

I spent my morning checking in riders, taking donations and answering questions.  Surprisingly, it was a lot of fun...and rather interesting being on the opposite side of the table for once.  Registration was free.  The fully supported race and lunch at the end...free.  Donations were hoped for but not required.  And if you donated, you got to choose which, from a list of charities, you wanted your money to go towards.  The goal was to raise $1,500.00.  We raised $3,800.00!  100% of which goes to charity.  Such generosity!  We even had a few bikers that were not part of the race that just happened to be riding by, stop to see what was going on and then donate!  It was pretty awesome to be a part of all that.  I've already volunteered to help again later this summer at another event....

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with Subway and a big, bright super moon

As the kids get older and therefore busier, we're finding it harder and harder to find family activity time.  Oh, we have moments here and there.  We're usually all together on Sundays.  (Well, you know...in between the various ward and stake choir rehearsals I'm encouraged to support and odds and end meetings, firesides and home teaching appointments.)  We're usually all together late on weeknights...but then family togetherness is usually all about doing homework at the same table.  It takes effort to carve out family time.  It takes sacrifice.

Yesterday we found a moment.  Rebekah willingly sacrificed her plans to go to The Avengers with friends so we hastily made plans for a picnic at the park.  Being Cinco de Mayo and all, I suggested tacos.  I was voted down in favor of Subway sandwiches.  But regardless, we spread out the blanket on the lawn and had our family dinner in the great outdoors.  Afterwards we had a big frisbee game that included all 6 of us.  And then, when we realized that other park-goers had left and we were the only ones still around, we took advantage of the empty playground to play tag on the equipment.  I'll tell you what, Bryan made a very formidable "IT."  I got quite a workout trying to scramble all over that playground in an attempt to keep away!

A little bit later that evening we hauled a bunch of sleeping bags out to the back lawn, snuggled down into them and let the sky, rather than the TV or computer, be our entertainment for the evening.  It was the night of the "Super Moon"....meaning that one day a year where the moon is the closest to the earth making for an especially bright and big ball of light.  It also coincided this year with a meteor shower from the tail of Haley's Comet.  So cuddled and cozy in our sleeping bags with the 43 degree cold air on our faces, we watched the heavens, sang silly songs and told equally silly stories until all 4 of the kids fell asleep around 11:00.  It was a fun evening.  I hope we can make the time for family activities again soon.

Favorite Photo Friday

It's like one of those screen tests:
Pensive
Mad
Upset...maybe sad?
Scared...or maybe surprised?

Julianne.
December 2008

It's the thought that counts...

It's Teacher Appreciation Week at the elementary school this week.  Instead of taking flowers, this year the PTA has changed things up a bit.  They gave each teacher a basket and the kids were supposed to fill it with a sweet treat on Monday, a piece of fruit on Wednesday and a school supply on Friday.  Because he thought it would be funny...and because he knows his teacher, who is quirky and has a great sense of humor, would most likely appreciate it...Brandon took a watermelon for her fruit basket.  His idea, completely.  I had to drive him to school because the thing was a bit awkward for hefting around on the bus.  I'm dying to hear what Mrs. G said when he put a big watermelon on her desk!