All I Have To Do Is Dream...

Pshew! Four months. That's it! I did it! (Okay, I thought it would be done three months ago, but, hey...at 11:04 p.m. tonight, I officially declared it ready to be shown to the public...) And that's no small feat in my mind. After years of wondering, after months of planning, and hours and hours and hours....of worrying and, yes, serious doubting, I'm so happy to declare it officially "OPEN"...

Announcing the debut of my photography business--the blog: Crimson Lily Photography. I like it. I hope you do, too...

I Love You Truly, Truly I Do...

Oh, Valentine's Day. I just can't quite grasp you as a holiday. I mean, it just feels a bit too forced, doesn't it? I'm not complaining, exactly. After all, the hubs DID give me flowers. And a photo mag. And, even, gasp, a "mixed tape" (so in this decade we call it a CD, but, hey, happy memories of the band Chicago and 8th grade are conjured up with the phrase: mixed tape!) I loved it! Really, what a cute, thoughtful gift...and I was dying, I mean d.y.i.n.g. to find out which songs he had included (and the WHY to each song!) So fun...
I tried to make it a lovely pink/red/white day for the kids as well. Our dinner fit into the color scheme--pretty fun. What's not to love about pink rolls and pink sugar cookies? Or Sweet Tooth Fairy cupcakes (which I am now apparently obsessed with). And, hey, any excuse for a new toy is fine by those little kidlets. We had a nice day...

(And, secretly, my favorite Valentine? The sugar cookie from Connor: "For you, Mom! It's a dead pirate face--see the Xes for eyes??" Uh, yeah, I see 'em....isn't that so sweet...)

Walk Like An Egyptian...

She had it all figured out. "Mom, I have to make a pyramid for homework and I know just what I'm going to do! Can I use your scrapbook paper? I'm going to make the "Patch Pyramid!" And off she went. I told her to wait and I'd help her get it done...sometime next week before it's due. No, she insisted, don't worry about it. I'll take care of it. So, Shayne and I leave on our date not thinking anything more about it. As soon as we walked back in the door, she declared, "I'm done!" Whoa! I was impressed! She had cut many small squares out of various papers, glued them together to look like a patchwork quilt and drawn in all the "stitch" marks (and added the man and the camel for an adorable effect.) When you looked in the door, she had constructed a sarcophagus inside! I was truly blown away at her determination to get it done and get it done early. "I'm so glad you're not like me, baby, " I affirmed. "I am the queen of procrastination and you just can't stand that, can you?" I queried. She smiled a smug little smile and shook her head no. And, oh yeah, she won "Most Original and Creative" out of all her class! Whoo-hoo! That's my girl...

I'm Picking Up Good Vibrations...

A day off of school means two thing to me: a vision of ensuing C.H.A.O.S. being quickly chased by mom-guilt declaring the need for a meaningful family (sans Dad) activity. More often than not, my over-worked brain shoves the thought aside and loudly convinces the guilt that chaos is easier than outing. But, on those rare days when guilt reigns (and, okay, a decent helping of actually wanting to make happy memories with my children) I attempt to do something cool with those little folks. I actually have no idea why my kids had the day off this last Friday. I just know they came home completely giddy to be free for a day. So, after hearing my two friends talking about their plans to visit the Lehi Legacy Pool (one we've never been to), I invited the Keckley family along (oops--hope they didn't care too awfully much!)

The most unique feature of this pool, we quickly discerned upon arrival, is this massive bamboo bucket that is perched atop the waterslide play structure in the middle of the kiddie pool. At random intervals, a bell starts to bong and within seconds, the bucket has dumped its gallons on the little people quivering below. For the boys, TOTALLY COOL! For Fynn, she took one look at that dumping bucket, and came running to me on the sidelines (in so doing, she did a major slip and whacked her head on the cement--remember where the rules say no running around pools?) For the next two hours, she refused to venture back, but just watched that bucket dump over and over. Finally, with a little coaching from one of the other little girls, Fynn submersed herself in the pool and was even lured in as the bucket's victim. By the time I was ready to leave, I couldn't pry her away. I figure that signals a pretty successful afternoon of "memory making." So, go away mommy-guilt and hibernate for another day...I know you'll find your way back soon!

Riding Along In My Automobile...

The boys had a blast at the car show (yeah, I know it was a couple of weeks ago, but, hey, they used Natasha's new camera and I didn't know where she had stashed it since then!) Connor, Dane and Shayne all came home with tales of delight regarding all the cool cars they had seen. They loved the Transformers Bumblebee Camaro, the Ferrari, the Mustang, the old and new Corvettes...even the trucks! But when asked what their favorite car was, the one they got completely giddy over?? That's right...the Chrysler Town & Country minivan. Uh-huh--M.I.N.I.V.A.N! The chairs that swiveled around to face each other, the table in the back to play cards on and not one, but two, DVD players--it was a kids' paradise (or so they insisted to me!) As for the big guy, well, he called as they were leaving and dejectedly reported he didn't think he'd be able to stand getting back into the Saturn for the drive home...poor guy, he really needs a new car after 12 years...I'm just glad they had so much fun together (oh, and p.s., we spent last Saturday looking for a Saturn replacement for that never-ending "someday"!)