Time

It's so crazy how quickly time gets away from us!
This photo was taken in July 1991. 

The little guy in the photo is The Boy. The handsome guy (with the cheesy grin) is my brother. I just realized that The Boy is now almost two years older than Tom was when this photo was taken.  Isn't that just too crazy? And mom, I'll send you a copy of this photo!

Empty

I feel like my head is completely empty lately...  Maybe the hours of mindless driving (sounds scary, huh?) fueled by compulsive Easter candy eating is a causative factor.  Whatever!

For lack of anything worthwhile to share, I thought I'd just embarrass HRH by posting this pic.  I took this a couple of weeks ago for an audition... 

Yes, she does look just like her mother, doesn't she?  NOT!

Everything Old Is New Again

I've been snowboarding since the 80s.  Yes, I know that means I must be really old, but there you have it.  The Mister (who is even older) is a purist.  A skier.  A slave to twin, parallel boards.  Every once in a while, I am cajoled into joining him in a run down the hill.  But because I prefer my snowboard, I haven't upgraded (nor updated) my skis and bindings since high school--don't laugh!

Anyway, the last time I went skiing, I actually had some fresh-faced punk ooh-ing and aah-ing over my "cool new" bindings.  He'd clearly never seen anything like them...  He assumed they must be the latest thing in ski binding technology.

Fast forward to today.  My kids, with some not-to-subtle hinting from me, bought me a 1930s Smith & Corona typewriter for Christmas.  It arrived today, and HRH and I thought it would be prudent to check it for damage.  I told her to sit tight while I grabbed some paper.

What kind of paper?

She wanted to know...  I just laughed...  So, we put in a sheet of regular pink paper, and started to pluck away.  HRH tapped a little too lightly--

Did it work?  Did I do it?

It did not...  No.

After peeking inside, she realized it had to actually stamp the paper.  That's about when The Buddies noticed the racket (I'd forgotten how loud a typewriter is!).  I don't think they could have been more impressed if I'd parked a spaceship in the back yard.

Truly, everything is new again...

Weeds

I have weeds growing in my yard.  Not one or two...  Lots of weeds.  I could argue that I suffer from seasonal allergies.  I could complain that weeding is a never-ending and thankless job.  I could curse the neighboring yard with it's over-grown tumble of weeds that go to seed and infest my lawn and flowerbeds.

But then I find this...

And a little later, I find this...

And then I find this...

And after appreciating the vibrant colors and interesting shapes,
I figure these photos provide an adequate argument against weeding.
And that is the real reason why I have weeds in my yard.

That's my story...  And I'm sticking to it...

The Cabin on the 24th

I know I'm a little behind in posting these photos, but I wanted to get them up before our next little vacation.  We were lucky enough to get to the cabin for the 24th of July (Pioneer Day for those of you not familiar with Utah holidays!).  It isn't very often that we get to go to the cabin these days...  School, dance schedules, sick days...  so many reasons.

But I'm so glad we made it this time!  We brought our new paddle boat and the kids had a blast with it!  It's like that big box at Christmastime.  All the kids want to play in the box instead of playing with their new toys.  Someone remind me, why did we buy the big, expensive motor boat when the kids are just as happy pedaling across the lake...?

The Princess captained the maiden voyage onto Puffer Lake.

 The Buddies all took a turn powering the watercraft.

 Later, we took a hike.  

Everyone was a little apprehensive about the posted warning of BEARS!
(pst, Grandma!  You are supposed to look scared!)

 Then we hiked to this remote location...

 We don't know where it got its name--but if this is poison, it sure is beautiful!

 We climbed as a group and were able to summit with a minimum of whining...
and only a couple grumpy faces...

 The last stop for the day was at the top!  

Above the tree-line and with plenty of snow for a snowball fight!  

No better way to cool off on a hot July afternoon!

Before we know it, there will be more snow than we can handle!  But for this day, this was the perfect ending to a really fun holiday at the cabin!

Flamingos don't like snow

This flamingo picked the wrong place to stop.  

The weather isn't exactly balmy out...

(photo taken in my front yard this morning)
***
(and no, I don't usually decorate with flamingos!)

night at the ballet

If it isn't one thing...

Well, the fun just keeps rolling...  It would appear that while iMac was off getting his innards replaced (again) the tech fairy was having a little fun at my expense.  I can't seem to find the cables that connect my camera to my computer... hmmm...

I think I took some great photos today and (although I'm hesitant to trust my not-so-trusty iMac to store and protect them) I would still like to upload and preview them.  But maybe it's better this way.  I won't embarrass myself by advertising my lacking photography skills...  And the afore mentioned photos will stay safely in my camera--where they are unlikely to suddenly and inexplicable disappear.

So, imagine that this post is accompanied by really incredible photos.  The gray clouds breaking apart.  Just enough early morning sunlight spilling through to illuminate the glittering beads of rain clinging to the tender limbs of my blossoming trees and bushes...  The luscious, verdant quality of my lawn.  The graphic twisting and contorting of the darkly wet branches of the scrub oak...  The crisp white mountain peaks in the background...  Because I'm sure that is exactly what I caught with my camera lens...  yeah...  I'm sure...  It was awesome!

Hansel & Gretel

HRH performed in CBA's production of Hansel and Gretel this evening at the Covey Center.  She's been dancing the role of Gretel as an understudy--I only wish she would have the opportunity to perform it for an audience!  These dancers have put in an unbelievable amount of time preparing for this show.  I can't wait to see it!

HRH did a beautiful job in the rolls of Friend and Dew Drop Fairy.  She will be dancing the role of Candy Cane for one of the next performances.  It's always fun to watch an additional performance to see the changes that result simply from the cast variations.  

In the photo at left, HRH is the girl in front.  Isn't she beautiful?!  I think she was the most amazing dancer on the stage...  I love to watch her dance--I can't believe how talented she it!

Now, it's off to bed, I have to have her back at the theater for an early call for tomorrow's matinee.  If you have a spare hour or two, come watch the show!

Lola: Flies

I'd like to introduce you to the Incredible Flying Lola.  

Faster than a speeding bullet.
More powerful than a locomotive.
Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
Not a bird! Nor a plane!  It's our Super Hound! 

Note:  this is not the typical positioning of her ears...

While you are contemplating the outstanding agility and overwhelming talent of this beautiful specimen, let me regale you with her latest endeavor.

Lola is part Beagle (note the cute face and floppy ears).  While we adored her upon sight, it's only been since getting to really know her that we've come to appreciate her unique talents.  Being part Hound, she loves to sniffle everything.  (Big surprise, right?)  I think she could find her way home from the moon if she had anything to scent along the way.

But it's the Shepherd part of her that is proving interesting.  Being a shepherd, Lola likes to herd things.  She likes to round up the toys, the boys, just about anything.  But I was surprised at her attentiveness to a new endeavor last night.

I watched Lola for several minutes last night.  Her behavior was curious, and I worried that her mental health was on the wane.  She wasn't chasing her tail (she hasn't one...).  She wasn't baying at the moon (she is more of the quiet Aussie temperament).   And yet, her actions were quite puzzling.  Lola was walking circles around the chair in my bedroom.  Around the chair, over the legs of the lamp, along the front of the chair, and back around to the corner.  Over and over she did this.  The only respite from this curiously circuitous course was a brief interlude during which she would gaze at the window.

After several minutes of this strange behavior, I understood what she was doing.  Lola was gazing, not at the window, but at a fly on the window.  And her repetitive path followed the fly from its landing spot on the window to its migratory finale at the light of the lamp.  I'm convinced that Lola thought she was herding the fly.  From the window to the lamp.  From the lamp to the window...  Around and around they went. 

I pondered the magnificence of this simple, yet concentrated effort.  I wish I could instill that same stick-to-it-ive-ness in my children when it comes to homework...

April Snow

It's April, and the forsythia is blooming in the valley.  The tulips and daffodils are shyly peeking from their beds.  There are kittens and bunnies and little, blue birds...  But this month that (at least in my mind) typifies annual renewal is still aslumber in my neighborhood. 

It snowed last night.   It wasn't a howling, pelting, winter snow.  Instead, it fell quietly in the night, settling into cracks and crevices...  Muting the sounds of the night, and dampening the usual activities of nature.  The dense white carpeted everything, obscuring the fine lines of the landscape.  The thick whiteness gathered in the crooks of limbs.  It lay where it fell, not swept into drifts, but rather accumulating where it alighted.

Lola enjoyed the spring surprise.  Without the wind to torment her, the downy ground cover made for a joyful morning out.  She explored the newly fresh backyard.  She ran and bounded, jumped and chased.   Her enthusiasm unhindered by her cold, damp surroundings.  I wish The Buddies were still on Spring Break.  This is the perfect snow for building a snowman and for launching an attack of the snowball variety.  I hope there's enough snow left by the end of the day for one last wintry outing.

Of course, with my luck, there will be plenty more opportunities for fun in the snow.  This is, you may recall, the land of Perpetual Winter.  We may find ourselves snowed in at least one more time before the Fourth of July!

Signs of Spring

Spring Break came a little late this year.  It's the second week of April, and we've been enjoying a little time off from homework and career obligations.  From the looks of things outside our cabin windows, you wouldn't think it looks much like spring, but there are signs...

  

 

Our celebrations included jubilant joyrides down the hillside, 

quick turns on the snowmobile, 

snow forts and tunnels, snowball fights, 

and all the requisite, accompanying diversions.  

We sat around the fire, toasted marshmallows for s'mores, drank hot chocolate, and ate our fill of Easter candy.  But the true indication that Spring was imminent was the appearance of this little guy.  

I don't purport to be a birdwatcher, and I'm no ornithologist, but as far as I'm concerned, this little guy is a pretty good indicator of Spring.  Every year, he shows up with his charming mate and they move into the birdhouse on the north side of the cabin. 

And for the record, Summer will have officially arrived when we hear the tiny peeps of their multiplying, little family.

Meet Lola

I'm not sure how it happened, but my kids talked me into this:

Her name is Lola.  She's a beagle-Aussie mix. 

Now, before you get all judgmental on me, I already admit to a certain amount of anxiety about this decision.  But, HRH has always wanted a dog, and we've promised her one for years.  

She promised that she would clean up the poo (which she has already done several times), take Lola for a walk (repeatedly done), feed her, water her, take her to do her business at all hours...  

And now HRH is working on this:

 Sit, Lola.  Good Girl!

I think this is going to be OK.  Oh, and about the cutie from Friday?
We decided that we really didn't want to do the whole puppy thing.  
We decided that 5-month old Lola, with her little bit of training,
was a better way to go. 

Sure looks like spring to me...

I awoke to blue skies striated by wispy bits of cloud.  The fact that I could even see blue sky was remarkable, not only because we've recently had so many cloudy days, but because I was expecting a storm.  But blue sky was indeed visible out my window.  My only complaint was that I was viewing it rather early on a Saturday morning...
By the time 10:00am rolled around, I could see little flutters outside my window.  They were the type of snowflakes that seem to hover...  Drifting, floating, rising to fall again...  Those fluttery bits quickly transforming to chunky, cottony bunches of fluff.

But as with most spring storms, I thought this one would quickly pass...  Leaving a soggy world to thaw out again...  It was a great surprise when I returned home from an appointment today.  The dainty flakes of the morning and the chunkier flakes of the afternoon had collaborated to form a billowy cloak that spread across the mountainside.

 Lest you think that our storm was fleeting and unremarkable, let me assure you that as of right now (10:22pm) the snow is still swirling around the neighborhood hills and dells.  In fact, I was fortunate enough to follow the snowplow home this evening.  And even with the benefit of the freshly blazed trail, I nearly found myself walking in from the main road.  Isn't March one of the spring months?  Because I'm fairly certain that it's winter outside my front door!  Snowshoeing, anyone?

A Lucky Neighborhood

This is the month of leprechauns, rainbows, and pots of gold.  

The month of luck and superstition.  

What an apropos time to find my neighborhood adorned by
this colorful symbol of good fortune!

Now, if I could just convince that patch of four-leaf clover to grow!

Black Snow

You know that Spring has been a long time coming when the snow begins to look like this.  Isn't it sad?  Those clean drifts of pure white snow have deteriorated into this black mush.  ick.  I'm ready for Spring.

It's a snowblower kind of day!

 

Eight inches and still falling.  Spring is nowhere to be found!

Ski Day with The Buddies

I'm not sure how The Mister convinced me...  I must have been experiencing a weak (maybe semi-unconscious)  moment...  But somehow, he did persuade me that seven-year-old triplets and a tow rope seemed like the makings of a fun Saturday afternoon.

Let me just give you a heads-up.  The phrases seven-year-old triplets and tow rope should never be used in the same sentence unless you are describing some new method of parental torture.  Really.  I tried to persuade The Mister that Ski-Wee was the way to go--he had another, more hands-on, approach in mind.

I have to confess that I have done very little skiing in the past few (read 20+) years.  I traded in my skis for a snowboard in '88 and carved down the path of no return.  But even I had to admit that it would be easier to accompany a first-time skier up a tow rope if I were on skis instead of strapped to my board.

So, off we went, up the canyon to Alta.
Home of the skiers--haters of snowboards...

Upon arrival, I was obligated to don a pair of rented (and intensely uncomfortable) ski boots.  My comfy (old) Langs were left at our cabin.  I then strapped on some rented skis.  The Buddies got buckled in as well, and they hit the snow at full tilt.
  

The Buddies spent a lot of time in the following (and similar other) positions...

 

  

The Buddies each had their share of these moments as well...

 

  

 

Lots of hard work?  It sure was.

Worth it?  Yep!

 

Would I do it again?  

Sure, but you better give me a week or so to recover!

Happy New Year!

After a fun night with friends, we had no plans for the day.

Z decided to play in the snow...

JJ got too cold and came back in...

Max is still trying to figure out why his hands are so cold...

Studio Posh Tots

This is my beautiful daughter.

We had some fun photos taken of her in some of her dance costumes.

An adorable new friend of mine is a photographer in Draper.

If you're looking for clever photos, she's your girl!

 

 She did these photos for us just last week! 
To contact her, go to www.studioposhtots.com.