lions, and glenda, and flamenco dancers -- oh my!

Another crazy weekend!  The kids didn't have school on Friday so the insanity started a little earlier than usual with free scary face pancakes at IHOP, a trip to the library for a costume parade, taking Ella to the school for Madrigal practice while I conferenced with some teachers, shopping for some last minute Halloween items, taking Charles to a carb fest at Avanti's then upon finding we were at the wrong location scurrying across town to the other restaurant, getting everyone ready for the trunk or treat at the church, and dance practice. Saturday started bright and early with the girls and I going to Chicago and the boys going to Peoria for cross country sectionals and ended with Matthew at stake conference, Ella at a teen party, me and the little girls at a neighborhood party, and Charles holding down the fort with sleeping Phin and taking notes on the "Rally to Restore Sanity/and or Fear" for us.

::shopping on Michigan Avenue

::eating at the Melting Pot -- mmmmm

::going to the Lion King -- I'm not a huge fan of the movie (or the story, or even the music necessarily), but the costumes, dancing, and singing were fabulous!

::lovin' the city!

::always playing

::Charlie running -- look at that great form!

::Happy Halloween!

::he may not be able to see us, but we can see that he's pretty cute!

may!

Things have been hectic!  The feeling in my tummy has now been explained -- I am now a proud member of our Relief Society Presidency!  And just like that -- poof!  it was gone, to be replaced by more concrete anxiety.  I wouldn't feel like me without it.

::Charlie's birthday -- he still loves photos if you can't tell!

::Ibby lost her two front teeth

We went to Nauvoo on Saturday and had a lovely time.  Ella drove for almost two hours, but it was really windy and she was ready to stop by then.  We always enjoy attending the temple and visiting our wonderful friends there!  It is always a really long day, but so very worthwhile.

On Monday I held my 7th annual Mother's Day Tea!  I can't believe we have lived here that long.  We haven't missed a year and it hasn't rained on us yet.  For some reason I felt more harried than usual so didn't get any pictures this year.  This could be explained by the fact that we were gone all day Saturday and Friday was obviously way too early to start getting ready, so Monday morning to the store, baking, sweeping, watercress sandwich making, blueberry tea brewing it was.  I think we had our largest turn-out yet and we even had to bring out an extra table and chairs.  I find it very interesting to note how different the Spring season has come along from year to year and don't know if I would have noticed if it weren't for this event.  One year I had freshly picked peonies to decorate the tables, but they aren't blooming yet this year and some years haven't even gotten buds at this point.  Another year I  was able to place sweet wild violets everywhere, but this year they have already come and gone.  As I was spreading the table cloths on Monday morning I started to look in desperation around my yard for some blooming flowers.  I had about three rosebuds which weren't going to go far.  So I expanded my sights and pilfered some lilacs and irises from my neighbor's garden.  Thanks Suzanna, for the gift of which you are completely unaware!

::a picture from last year

Last night was the girls Spring Carnival at school.  It was starting at 5, three people had had chiropractor appointments at 4, I was helping with games from 6 to 7, Ella had a concert to be to by 7, Charles had to be at a basketball game at 7:45 -- Oh my!  I do not enjoy these wild evenings, but we survived... with the kids being on their own at the carnival and getting to bed really, really late being the only noticeable casualties.

The most exciting news of all just may be that I received my order from Amazon yesterday.   First is the Elizabeth Gaskell collection of dvds -- Mr. Thornton is rather dreamy...  

And three Bollywood dance workouts -- Masala Bhangra here I come!

Happy, happy whatever day to me!

music and worth

Tonight I went and sang at an assisted living place with about six other women from church.  It was so fun.  I just love to sing!  I was having to not look around at the people and/or think about the words I was singing because I was afraid I was going to start tearing up (snot running down her nose!), I get so emotional sometimes.  "For the beauty of the earth ♪♫ ... Yes, it is beautiful, and the skies are, too.  Oh, yes, and the love surrounding me.  (weep, weep, weep)

Yesterday I was even worse.  I picked up Ella from school and started the usual cross-questioning and torturous interrogation that comprises our usual journey home.  "Anything of note happen today?"  "Well, actually yes..."  She then proceeds to tell me that when she was in the bathroom before school started a girl went into the stall next to her, vomited a couple of times, and then started repeating "I hate myself, I hate myself" over and over.  That is SO sad!   Ella said that later she went up to her and asked if she was okay and the girl smiled and said fine.  Um, no, she is not fine!  I hurried in from the car and started cleaning something in the house and Ella looked at me and asked, "Are you crying?"  I then started sobbing and talking to Ella about how sometimes I've felt bad about myself and she probably does sometimes, too, but we know we are not alone and we have so much support.  I told her that she should go to school tomorrow and give that girl a Book of Mormon and tell her that God loves her and that we love her.  "Um, Mom?  I barely had the courage to ask her if she was okay.  She might beat me up." Alright, fine.  Matthew then came upstairs to see what was wrong because he thought that Ella and I were fighting.   "No, but there is a girl at the high school who hates herself!  Isn't that sad?"  I looked back at two people with their eyes wide, nodding their heads as they slowly backed away.... I know that this is not an isolated case which makes it even more tragic.  I was talking with a friend who made a very good point.  On the one hand, some of these kids might do well getting dropped off in the middle of the Sudan to see that just maybe their life isn't so bad.  True.  On the other hand, the world is so incredibly cruel and these emotions are real!  I feel like telling the devil and his minions to back off.  Stop telling everyone that they're not good enough and that they're worthless.  Stop tantalizing with the unrealistic and unattainable.  Stop desensitizing the horror and numbing reception to the things that are really important.  I am angry and I want to do something about it.

About gratitude ~~  I am a so thankful for music.  It always reaches down and touches me where I need it.  And I am grateful that I do know that I am worth something and that my children know that, too.  Let's go tell all those other kids now.

:: another pic of Ella on Halloween

girls

::Ella and Ibby at the "Cinderella" ballet

::Lucy as the rabbit in "Alice in Wonderland"

::more pictures at the ballet and Ibby's birthday