Wicked

For our tenth anniversary my sweet, dear, kind, amazing, smarter-than-me husband took me to The Big Apple, also known as New York, New York.   I loved almost every minute but at the same time had a deep feeling of gratitude that this was just a short visit.  Relishing in the knowledge we would be returning shortly to our quiet, country town living.

While there we went and watched Wicked.  A broadway musical I knew nothing about and was slightly nervous of the title (not scary I learned).

I dreamed from the moment I watched this magnificent production of attending with my daughters.  I loved the message of the show and wanted to share it with them.  When it began touring and came to Salt Lake  I was extremely disappointed; the ticket price was outrageous.  It would almost be worth flying the girls to New York.

This year with Mary Dawn's assistance we had tickets in her cart.  I was ecstatic.  Short lived mind you.  She was delayed checking out and the tickets were dumped.  Never to be found again.  I was comforted that it wasn't meant to be and I would try again the next time it toured.

But blessings abound.

My mother purchased tickets and then found she would be out of state for the performance.  Through her great kindness I had the opportunity to take my girls to my favorite musical of all time.

We made it into a mini-vacation and used one of our free Marriott nights.  Andy swam with the boys at the pool and the girls and I went on a date.  They wanted to know what it was about.  I explained it was the prequel to the Wizard of Oz and that maybe Elphaba, also known as the Wicked Witch of the West, may not be the evil person they have been lead to believe.

Magical -- the best word to describe it.  Both girls sat on the edge of their seats absorbing the fictional world being created.  Their eyes glistened, smiles beamed and there were giggles, giggles and giggles.  It was a night I will always remember and I hope they do as well.
  

T-shirts were purchased as souvenirs.  I really wanted to get them a "Defy Gravity" shirt (a message I hoped they learned) but their size was sold out.  

If dinner had been better the event would have been perfect -- perfection is over-rated though, really.  

Sunday morning we toured Temple Square as a family.  It was beautiful.  The grounds were serene, the temple had windows which were cracked open, something I would have never thought possible.  We spent a great deal of time in the basement of the North Visitor's Center viewing the interactive exhibits.  The spirit was strong and I felt an overwhelming peace.  

The whole deal was sweetened when I found I had captured this awesome photograph of my children.  They are my greatest blessing along with their father who happens to be my favorite, just saying.

Event occurred August 25-26, 2012

Pomp and Circumstance

With great anticipation, as of today at 9 a.m., Kyler is a kindergarten graduate.  In true Aysen fashion I say, "Yessssssssssssssss."

We made it!  He made it!

Kindergarten was a challenge for this little boy.  He is not Taylei nor Keanna.  Another moment in life that taught me he is his own person.

At our first parent teacher conference his scores were TERRIBLE.  40%.  I almost fell out of my chair with shock.  I didn't expect him to be the brain surgeon of the class but . . .

Things progressed, homework was given, learning occurred and we ended the year with an almost perfect report card.

I will testify the greatest help to accomplishing this, a little thing called the Book of Mormon.  Our family scripture study isn't perfect but I believe in the promise that reading this book together as a family will teach a child to read.  This helped this little boy.

As part of graduation, Kyler was asked to make a poster.  His assigned topic, "flowers grow in the ground."  I was super excited about the assignment.  The creative juices were flowing.  We had an extremely busy week and I kept delaying Kyler and his desires to work on his poster.

I came home the day before it was due and found he had taken matters into his own hands with clouds, dirt and a sun.  I was hit with an internal brick.  This wasn't my project.  This was my son's project.  It wasn't about how creative I am.  It would be much more impressive to see what his beautiful mind would create.

I let go and let him take control.

He chose out the paper and I used the Cricut to cut the flowers for him.  He arranged and adhered them.  I cut leaves and stems.  He once again glued them in place.  I loved doing this with him.  He has so much talent bottled up within his head, I'm glad he had the opportunity to use it.

The results were magnificent.

Mrs. Larsen was an amazing teacher.  Kyler had 28 kids in the class.  Wow!

I helped in his class on Friday's and I would usually leave shaking my head, completely bewildered.  She let them do projects I wouldn't want to try with just one child, example - paper mache.  They learned how different cultures from around the world celebrate Christmas.  The list of going above and beyond goes on and on and on.

Mrs. Larsen did all this and NEVER raised her voice.  She didn't need to.  The students listened and responded to her gentle command.  I need to take some parenting lessons from her.

Her discipline system involved colored dots.  Each day a calendar came home with a dot colored for the day.  Green = good, Blue = warned but didn't correct behavior, Red = serious trouble.

I'm proud to report Kyler had one blue and all the rest green.  The blue dot was on the very first day the system was used.  We talked about respecting our teacher and following directions.  I'm glad Kyler adapted to the importance of this very quickly!

We once again enjoyed amazing support from our family as they came and watched him graduate.

(Why we had to have his popsicle in every picture I can not understand, why kindergarteners were given popsicles while in their Sunday best is a mystery as well.  I'm guessing this is another learning moment for me, something like seize the moment and don't fret about things a washer can solve).

With the recent change of address for Grandma Williams we also got to enjoy her presence.

I must take a moment to add how amazing she is and how much help she has been in our home.  I believe my children are praying against them having a timely completion of the remodel next door.  They love having her live with us, Grandpa and Jason are o.k. too.

Graduation pictures seem to be a great way to show growth.  I predict in the next graduation picture I will take the role of the shortest participant.  I'm not trying to wish any days away but these two boys are growing so fast, sooner or later they will pass me by.

The kindergarten class created self-portraits which were hanging on the walls for decoration.  I was in the classroom the day they worked on these and the personalities were shining through.  (I ended up loving all of the kids as well, each so different, each a spirit sent from heaven).  Uncle Jason was nice enough to agree to Kyler's request to attend and photographed the event for me.

I've always thought Kyler was a spitting image of my brothers but maybe he looks like his Uncle Jason as well -- they seem to have an uncanny resemblance.

Aysen spent a ton of time in Kyler's classroom.  He thought he was just as big as the students in the class.  He participated in stations, art projects and he even ran the Mona mile which is a pretty big loop around the playground.  Mrs. Wohlforth, the principal gave the students a flag.  Aysen was determined it was really his and by the time we made it outside we found Aysen had used his persuasion skills and convinced his father the kite needed to be flown sooner not later.

My little boys aren't so little anymore.  I'm so glad they are growing and learning but a few blinks and one year has past and then two and three.

As the words of the song so elequently express:  Time flies on wings of lightning; We cannot call it back;...life is quick in passing. 'Tis as a single day. ("Improve the Shining Moments," Hymns, no. 226).


And in the beautiful words of our holy prophet: Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It's so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they're gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of 'what if' and 'if only.' 

If I could only learn to live by those words.

Event occurred May 25, 2012

VIP at BYU

Warning:  Terrible post, it has sat on my computer screen for over a week now, staring me in the face.  I should have known to have skipped this event.  Softball posts are my downfall.  Too much information with too many pictures with no sense of fluency from one paragraph to the next.  It is what it is, and to avoid my blog re-entering hibernation I am publishing it, flaws and all.

Andy loves softball.  In case there is doubt, I hereby solemnly confirm and attest to his addiction.  For one of his birthday gifts he requested to attend a softball round table training hosted by the coaching staff of the BYU Cougars.  He enjoyed the evening and learned a few new things to teach his team.

The coaches in attendance were invited to bring their team to an upcoming college game.  Andy was quick to get it arranged.

The promise offered: BYU gives the girls and their families free tickets to the game,  a tour of the facility along with being introduced at the beginning of the game.  It was all this and so much more . . .

The event:

One never knows what to expect with the weather when you attend a March softball game but we couldn't have been blessed with a more perfect night.

All of the team was in attendance with two extra girls, Keanna and Stormy, coming along for the ride.

My mother presented the girls with ear warmers.  (While we were shopping she found them on clearance and paid to have them embroidered).  They look awesome.  I'm just hoping they never have to use them, never again playing in freezing cold temperatures.  If this could change fate I would mourn the fact they weren't purchased four years earlier.

The Steelers have decided it is cool to wear coordinating attire and hair styles on game days.  On the menu today: upside-down french braids finished off with a messy bun (Taylei requested I braid straight this time).  I went up her head higher than normal, and the bun landed right on top.  This added three or four inches to her height.  Maybe I should try it during a game, a little height might help her seem at least a little intimidating.

Andy -- I love him.  This is a fact.  I both love and hate (see below) his love of softball, fact.  He looks good carrying my purse, (he should just be grateful it isn't hot pink with extensive bling) fact.

Often times I become frustrated with the amount of time softball takes from other activities our family could be involved in.  In the summer when each weekend is dedicated to the ball field and most nights are spent practicing I reflect on the why.  Why?  In the good, better, best, scheme of things where does softball rank?  What benefit will pitching lessons, batting practice and hundreds of hours of game recaps be to my family's eternal salvation?  Then the money aspect floats through my brain: tournament fees, gasoline, food.  I'm spending thousands of dollars a year when the money could be spent increasing our food storage or decreasing our home mortgage.  Why?

Many reasons I guess.  He spends 10-20 hours a week with my daughters, teaching and coaching them.  How many other girls have a dad so involved in their lives?  My girls are both good at it, they are developing a talent.  There are many other reasons, both pros and cons involved with the obsession but a major reason for this madness . . . .

Our parents.

They love watching their granddaughters play.  Both sets of grandparents have watched my girls compete in four different states.  My mom even went to Tennessee.  Our dads will review situations with Andy for hours.

Today was a perfect example:

I was on the phone early this morning with Terry.  I reminded him of the invitation to come to the BYU game tonight and watch the girls play at an umpire training in the morning.  He wasn't feeling well and declined.  Then the phone rang at approximately noon.  Terry had changed his mind, he was just leaving and wanted to make sure he was still invited.

My father is the same.  Lately he has been assisting Andy with his practices.  He is watching videos and reading articles on softball philosophy.  My mom claims that games are the only thing he worries about being on time to.

Our dads are crazy.  A fantastic crazy.  And, our moms are much the same.

Back to the evening's events . . .

The girls were taken through the training rooms.  I was jealous of the laundry chute.  The players dump their dirty attire into a bin and when they come back for the next game it is laundered and ready to wear. Washing uniforms isn't on the top of my list, especially when St. George dirt is involved.

The team was on the field warming up so the coach allowed our tour guide to take us through the locker room.  Most of the lockers had three extra pairs of cleats and at least that many bats.  These are in addition to what the players had taken onto the field with them.  Impressive or excessive?

My brain began churning once again.  Is this something I hope for my girls, to play ball on the collegiate level?  What would they be giving up to achieve this?  The good, better, best question auto-populates again.

Then reality sets in, it isn't what I want, but what they want.  I need to support them.  Period.

The Steeler girls were sporting a new look -- uniform tops with bling-bling denim.  Not the usual attire you find these girls wearing at a ball field.

While the girls were out showing off during the warm-ups waiting for their introductions they began to notice their phones were becoming a liability.  The worm, back hand-springs, and sprinkler were in the plans and damage to their phones was inevitable.  My pockets were soon full (which does nothing but accentuate the size of my hips).

The game ended in the most perfect fashion -- BYU winning with a walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh.  BYU handed out team posters and allowed the fans onto the field for player autographs.

While everyone else was in line garnishing signatures, Aysen had much better ideas.  After watching hundreds and hundreds of softball games he has picked up on some finer points of the game.  One of which, when the game is over he is allowed onto the field.  He snuck away to first base without anyone noticing -- when I noticed his location my thoughts went quickly to wondering if this was permitted.  He ran between the bases and was on top of the world, loving every minute of his base running action.

Before we left for ice cream, Keanna found her 'buddy' -- the girl she got introduced with and asked for a picture.  24 was more than happy to oblige, she was on cloud nine, it was her hit that won the game.

Miscellaneous Highlights:

• The tickets we were given to attend were not just for the game but the entire season.  It also included a ticket for a hot dog, we had dinner and entertainment all wrapped up in one, free of charge.
• My father, in his dedicated position behind home plate, never argued with a call BUT my mom was mortified when she realized they were on television the entire game.  Being filmed eating a hot dog was not on her bucket list.
• Cris and Ty Durbin competed in the hot dog eating contest -- they both barely ate one in a minutes time, they better stick to sports, shoveling food is not one of their talents.
• Keanna was hugged by Cosmo on live television -- adorable.
• Although you couldn't see Taylei on the television her voice was easily recognized, cheering the Cougars on to victory.
• The head coach's wife loved watching Kyler dance and recorded his moves on her cell phone.
• My dad conducted the wave, Steeler fans have become pros at following his lead.
• BYU couldn't have treated us better.  The girls were highlighted numerous times and everyone left with gigantic smiles on their faces!

Thanks BYU and thanks Andy!

Happy, Happy Birthday, Children Dear

Does 12 still count as children?  Do I need to go with 'adults dear' instead?  Taylei is 12.  Andy is a year older as well but he is already over the age of 25, old enough to drive a rental car but not old enough for a senior citizen discount.  His age has a little less meaning.  He is aging though, the wrinkles are deeper and his hair is greying but all at a snail's pace.  Then, there is Taylei.

Taylei turned 12.  No more primary.  She is on to the Young Women's program.  It was just yesterday she came to our home.  4,383 yesterdays to be exact but they have all seemed to meld into one.  How did this happen?   Next year she goes to junior high.  She is wearing braces and spending more time hanging out listening to the grown up conversation instead of running off with the kids.  Child no more.

On a more optimistic outlook, she is beautiful.  Both inside and out.  She has talents she is developing and talents she has not yet discovered.  She is a blessing to me and to our family.  I love her!

To celebrate her birthday she played in a basketball tourney.  Basketball has not been our sport.  The girls do well but it isn't softball.  I'm a softball mom.  We're a softball family.

Kyler thinks basketball is fine.  He has learned to play 'Angry Bird.'  I tried this once, enough said.  His friends play with him, each on their own electronic gadget.  All are happy.  He is easy to keep track of.  Mom is happy.

Grandma and Grandpa are awesome to support and help with Aysen.  Aysen started off the season and I would walk the gym with him holding on to my fingers.  He now goes on his own.  This mobility is a blessing and a curse . . .

We anticipated being in Salt Lake for just a few hours.  But then we won both our games and played for the championship.  We rescheduled the birthday dinner and the birthday girl chose to eat at Tempanyaki.  The food was good but the hour was late and when the game came around, Keanna succumbed to sleeping on the bench.  Not quite comfortable but still effective.

Happy Birthday to two of my favorite people in all the world.  

As a side note, on the way to the game we talked about how awesome Taylei could do --  her muscles performing perfectly helping her shots to fall and being able to make all kinds of defensive miracles.  It would be the present her body gave to her.  

This did not happen.  She had an average day.  Then she made a basket FOR THE OTHER TEAM.  She expects perfection from herself and was so disappointed.  Years from now I know she will look back and giggle.

And the second side note, I do also love Andy so very, very much.

From years gone by . . .

I made myself a little mess over the last few days.  All of the photos from my past were pulled from a box, sorted, tossed, and a handful were sent to be scanned.  The piles have been all over the floor and not once have my children relocated, messed with or used them for their art projects.

Another reason to believe miracles still exist.

 While I have been sorting, many of the photos have made their way into the round file.  I've learned that  scenery pictures have little meaning 15 years later. 

I.E.:  The pictures of the backlots at Universal Studios have all been discarded.

During the purge I found a few classic photos . . .

Why Andy's drivers license has made it into my box of treasures is a mystery.  But since it has been located I will use it to prove my professions.

Taylei is small.  I wish she would grow a little.  I tell people she gets her size from her father.  I'm sure they think I'm crazy when I use him as the reason . . . he is 6'0" and 190 pounds. 

This license is my proof.  At age 16, if you look closely he measures in at 5'3" and a whopping 110.

Taylei will grow . . . it is just a matter of when.

For the record . . . my mom did used to dye her hair.  She was a blond beauty when she married.

I once was quite small myself.  

I could also add an entry in a gratitude journal.  It would allude to the fact that I'm grateful upholstery fabric of this fashion is no longer available for purchase.

Once upon a time my father had pepper hair.  Quite different than the salt variety he has aged into.  He is holding Mike and I.  Notice Mike's cute little bottom.  This proves my father to be quite brave in my book.  He was holding a loaded weapon with no protection and I know first hand the risk he was taking.

And one last picture in honor of Mona Days.  My mom always made us AMAZING floats.  Mona style, we were at the top.  My Grandpa Ewell was always kind enough to let her use his garden cart as the base.  Kami and I would be the horse power to pull the cart through the entire four block parade route.  I believe it was this year our mothers decided to pull the cart home and were amazed by how heavy it was.    This mystery could easily be solved.  Mike and Clint were sitting on cinderblocks.  

I'm once again inspired to work on documenting my past for the members of the future.

Too bad it seems I would have to give up the present to get it done.

The solution: sleep less a whole, whole lot less.

Our Favorite Spot on Planet Earth

We went to Lake Powell.  The place is amazing.  I'll try and sum up the trip with a top 11 of sorts . . .
1. The first and maybe biggest highlight was "The Bat."  A friendly, neighborhood variety must have taken up residency on our boat.  With all of the hustle and bustle of our group moving in it awoke from its slumber.  In search of a new area to rest it took flight right. up. Andy's. (yes, my husband) shorts.  This happened while we were trying to anchor the houseboat to shore.  He seems to have spent a lifetime in scouting, but nothing in his past helped him to "be prepared" for this.  I would have died from a heart attack right then and there.  Luckily, the bat flew out without biting my dear husband in the unmentionable place it found itself.
2. Lizard chasing was in high demand.  The one Braden is holding was knocked unconscious or might even be deceased.  Braden didn't realize their was a problem.  It just sat nicely wherever he placed it or threw it for that matter.  

This lizard was caught on one of our "hike-abouts."  It was transported back to the houseboat via noodle.  It seemed quite hesitant about escaping until it decided to crawl onto and over Mary Dawn.  Her reaction involved sporadic movements and high pitched squeals.  

Last time we were at Lake Powell we were teaching Kyler to chase and like the lizards.  (Grandma Lou is an awesome lizard chaser, not sure how that didn't get passed on to her daughters).  Kyler was finally convinced to hold the lizard and it turned and bit him.  Not nice. 
3. After September 11, 2001 when the world was still quite cautious about terrorists, we spent the 4th of July weekend at Lake Powell.  I found myself quite safe and comfortable.  Who would launch any kind of attack on such an unpopulated desert attraction?  Someone decided to burst my bubble and told me Lake Powell was a huge target.  I guess if the dam was blown the water released would flood Vegas.  Not sure there is any truth to the tale but it doesn't take much for me to believe.  We found ourselves at Lake Powell over the 4th of July holiday again (the stake 4th of July calling has expired).  I was sitting on the boat working on lunch when a noise you don't want to hear flew overhead.  I'm told I said a few unkind words and looked out the window to see a fighter jet fly down the canyon.  Five seconds later jet number two flew past.  I thought of death, destruction and the boys on board kept cheering praises of awesomeness.  Seems Powell is a hot spot for training fighter pilots.  Who would have guessed?

4. This is Chance.  Chance was great to have on the trip.  He was good with Kyler and Braden.  He seemed to be the first to jump off the boat, go on exploration hikes and is very athletic being pulled behind his dad's boat.  He did have one flaw.  He had numerous conversations that went something like this.  Chance talking to Kyler or Braden, "What's Up?"
They would respond, "What?"
"Chicken But."
There were a few more varieties, "Guess who? -- Chicken Poo" or "Guess why? -- Chicken Pie."  Kids mimic and learn after only hearing things once.  I won't say more, someday though, Chance will have children and I may return the favor.

5. This is Rick, Rick Carlton to be exact.  Nice guy.  He happens to be a member of the high council.  One week, Andy shared a speaking assignment with him.  Rick likes to boat and he mentioned an experience as part of his address.  My parents were there to support Andy and during the visiting after, Rick's family was invited to join us on our trip.  Rick and Chance came down with us and three of his girls came later.  On the afternoon Rick went to pick them up his boat would NOT start.  The men spent about an hour checking every cable they could find, prayers were said and we were about to call for boat repair when Rick found the problem.  The key wasn't in.  Funny, kind of like the bat, you can laugh afterwards.
6.  Movies are always a highlight.  Andy brings his giant screen and assembles it on top of the houseboat.  Each night we watch a movie under the stars while the children are put to bed and the waves lap against the boat.  This year everyone was so exhausted not one person stayed awake for an entire movie.

7. If you've never been to Lake Powell you are missing out.  Every year is different.  The water level varies which eliminates beaches and creates new ones.  We try and scout ahead to find a place to park the house boat with the wave runners.  The goal is to find a spot at the end of a canyon away from the other boats, but you also need a beach for the kids to play on and maybe a little shade from the afternoon sun.  It was pretty crowded this year and we ended up parking in a little cove off of the main channel.  It ended up being one of my favorite places yet.  We had islands to swim to where we could cliff jump.  You could hike quite a distance on the rocks.  There was enough sand for Paul to make an attempt at a hot tub.  Andy found a narrow channel for Taylei to keep up on her pitching practice along with a shore that gradually sloped into the water before the 30 foot drop off.  Almost perfect!  You couldn't have asked for a better spot for hike-swim-and jump abouts.
8. I'm sure one day Braden will share his mother's love of the water but he isn't there yet.  He would NOT get in.  

Mary Dawn is never good at being too forceful so I took over.  I captured him on several occasions and helped him in the water with me.  He would be unhappy, his mom would come and save him and everyone won except me.  I'm was sure Braden was going to start calling me Aunt Bully afterwards. 
9.  The wave runners are always a highlight.  We were even smart this trip and took the mirrors off right at the beginning in hopes history wouldn't repeat itself.

I didn't get a picture but this year the wave runners doubled as a fishing boat.  Lake Powell has "boils" where the stripers are jumping out of the water to feed.  This is quite spectacular to watch and all you have to do is cast your lure into the middle and walaaaa you have caught a fish.  One morning the fish were boiling and Andy, Kyler and I decided to chase them on the wave runners.  We were skunked.  I would drive, Andy would cast with his lure landing perfectly at times but he didn't even get a hit.  We tried a dozen different lures to no avail.  I loved it though!  It would have been awesome for Kyler if we had landed one.  Maybe next time . . . and just a little bit red neck.
10.  My dad was captain of the house boat for the first time and did a mighty fine job.

He had help from two highly inexperienced first and second mates.  It is a really good thing he didn't get into any tight binds and have to call on their services.

11. Rick has a great boat, tubes, ski's, wakeboard etc. and everyone loved being pulled behind him.  Taylei and Andy showed quite a bit of skill in the wakeboarding department.  Keanna pulled herself up a few times and did fine but lost interest before she had much practice.

Grandma Lou is still young enough to take a turn on the slide.

Aysen wasn't convinced the water was a good idea or a bad idea.

Coalie definitely had her opinion and HATED the water.  She was terrified to run down the gang plank at first but soon fell in love with Lake Powell as well.

Keanna was always having a good time.

The life jacket was not a big hit with this guy and I can't blame him.  A straight jacket would have been more comfortable.

Braden was awesome at wearing his life jacket.  He was warned by his dad in advance to always have it on and he did a great job following this council.

Being in the sun without any obligations wears you right out.

Paul with Abby Tryon.

Nanna was the biggest fish of the group.

Taylei kept herself very busy.

This is hunting Kyler style.

Aysen didn't even get a sunburn.  Shade is a blessing.  He has a good little tan even with spending all of his time in the shade.

The trip was awesome.

Such an amazing vacation!