Sunday Super Star

Jess did not want to bathe tonight. I explained that she needed to because she was singing with the Primary tomorrow in Sacrament Meeting. Sudden excitement..."DO I Get TO Be On The Stage?!!" She was ready to bathe! I was telling Steve about our star-struck girlie when she came in our room. Steve, being the super dad he is, decided to give her some pointers...the basic don't pick your nose and keep your hands out of your mouth. She was good with that. She likes to slap out the time on her leg, or the syllables, or maybe it's just falling asleep. Anyway, he told her a few things she could do. She immediately came back with "I'm going to twirl!!!" as she demonstrate. She would clean a few clocks if she twirled like that! I don't think that's what they meant by "sleeping in heavenly peace". We had to review the reasons twirling might not be the best choice. Steve had to do it. I was laughing too hard. Merry Christmas!!!

Sing, Sing a song....

Yesterday we watched our friends' children. They are fabulous kids. Jess had a blast with them! The girls played ponies almost the entire time. Megan would decide the script, and Jess would direct..."no, you need to say it like this" followed by a melodramatic demonstration. It was hilarious!
Later, we met our friends at a Christmas party to enjoy good company, good food, and to return their kids. There was a program that included the primary kiddies singing. Hearty guffaw! Jess managed to position herself front and center on the stage. She sang with all that she had, smacking her legs and flapping her arms and bouncing, almost in rhythm! She even worked in a few nose pick ops between songs. Awesome. It was funny. I'm so glad she loves good music. Go Jess!

Steve, winter grill master

Steven is a champ! I invited my cousin and his wife to dinner Sunday evening. I had purchased a turkey and put it in the fridge downstairs thinking it would be ready to go. Sunday morning was hectic...Steve had meetings, I was teaching, and Jess was ornery. I ended up taking the turkey out when we got home, a bit after noon. It was frozen!!! I've really only prepared one turkey all by my very own self in my life time. The tag on the bird said 18lbs. and the baking destruct ions said to figure about 30 minutes per pound. Hmmm...so it should be done sometime next Spring if I get it in the oven now, but I have to wait for it to thaw. I waited an hour or 2 and put the bird in. The conundrum was, if the turkey's not done, what do I serve them? Nothing I need the oven for. I do have some Apple Jacks. Steve suggested going ahead as planned, but marinating some chicken, that he would grill outside, as plan B. It was getting close to dinner time and I was still nervous about the turkey. The wind was blowing, it was dark and snowy. Grill Master tromped through the snow, got the propane tanks to work, and grilled chicken. Chicken hot, Steven frozen. According to Murphy's law, company was running a little late, which allowed the turkey to bake to perfection. We ended up not needing the chicken! Steve, cold and frozen, is a champ!

Celebrate Life

I have to say that my mom, however wacky and zany and super-fun she is, is also absolutely amazing. At the beginning of this summer, her husband passed away...3 days before they were leaving on vacation ( the Alanis Morissette song "Ironic" plays in my head). She waded through it all like a champ! Pearl Harbor Day was his birthday. I told her I was really sorry. She said it was a good day. She thought to herself, either I can hang out and mope, or I can celebrate. She had all of the kids and grand kids in the area over for dinner. They fixed his favorite foods, played cards and put a wreath on his grave. Go Mom!
Sometimes the daily routine can turn into drudgery when my perspective deflates. My goal for the coming year is to celebrate more.
It also makes me very thankful for wonderful family. What a fantastic comfort they can be.

C is for Cookie

Yesterday Jess' little buddy came over. They wanted to make cookies. I walked them

through it and they did a great job! Here they are mixing away! You go girls!!!

I'm pretty sure they were pleased with the final product!

Mrs. St. John is always up to something fun. Jess adores her. On Monday the kids made candy houses. Steve and I went in to her classroom to help. It was Big-Time-Hollywood-Fun! They slathered the cementy frosting on and mashed candied onto the houses, popped a few in their mouths, dropped a bunch on the floor and had a marvelous time with it all! We had a lot of fun.

Of course Jess chose m&m's. I think she muscled a few off and ate them after we brought it home! It was so fun to have Steve there too.

World Records and Spoiled Princesses

Jess thought it would be better if we turned off the music and she just sang to me. For anyone familiar with the song "Book of Mormon Stories", here's her new spin. "Long ago their fathers swam from far across the sea..." Wow! I wonder if Michael Phelps is a direct descendant!
Wrapped in a fleece blanket, Jess transformed herself into Princess Hot Spoiled, and I was given the honor of being her prince, Prince Roof. Eventually, as all good princes do, I proposed marriage. We had been playing for quite a while and was hoping to wrap the whole thing up in a nice happily-ever-after sort of way...denied!!! She told me she was going away for 10 days because her father said I didn't love her enough. " I need to find a prince who loves me to China." Eventually she conceded to the marriage (because she needed to help me finish the dishes). As she's exiting to put the blanket back she says, " I lied to you. I'm not really leaving for 10 days, just for one. You'll be okay without me for that long." I'm thinking as long as you're back before the dish water gets cold, I'm good with it!