Grateful Friday

I'm grateful Mark is a better driver and way (way) easier to take driving than his siblings at that age.  He was a way (way) harder toddler/preschooler so I earned this.  He is never defensive nor argumentative when corrected, but says a quiet, "OK," and away we go.

I'm grateful I'm almost done teaching children to drive.  Because it is the worst.

I'm grateful for Braeden and Emma texts.  I like getting texts from them.  Braeden sends  funny/interesting/bizzaro NYTimes articles and memes I minimally understand.  Emma sends things like a recent day when she texted us three paintings so we could guess the artists.

Even though I didn't get them correct:

I love that our children are learning things and expanding their minds and sharing their gee whiz stuff with us.  I say this all the time, but I'm so grateful for their opportunities.

I'm also just grateful for those weirdos.  Braeden randomly texted this picture and Emma's response left me wanting to say what?!? and why?!? to both of them but I just went with it.

I'm grateful for snow on the mountain.  If feels like an insurance policy against a dry summer.

I'm grateful for Joan because even though Adam is out of town, the weather forecast doesn't worry me.

I'm grateful Emma was able to score us some tickets to her sold out choir concert this weekend!  Huzzah!

I'm grateful for my job.  It's so fun to be around kids.

I'm grateful that even though the 3rd-4th grade boys that play soccer at recess seem bent on killing me with the ball, they haven't succeeded yet.  And yesterday when I managed to stop the ball that was careening toward me, a few boys threw up their hands in victory and yelled "Teacher blocked the ball!"

I felt like a hero.  For about 10 seconds, but still.  Me + a situation involving a ball + anything resembling victory doesn't happen very often (or ever).

Wouldn't be grateful Friday without a nod towards Adam.  He is the favorite part of every day.

Books I read November 2018 and things I learned

The Visitors by Sally Beauman **

This was about a girl who was visiting Egypt with her governess and their social circles intersected with the archaeologists who found King Tut's tomb.  It was TOO long.  The book was very interesting at times but dragged to an uninteresting whimper by the end.  It felt like the author had three books and tried to mash them together.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman ***

So good.  So crude.  I skimmed a lot of it, especially every time they were in the hockey locker room.   It's about a small town in Sweden (Beartown) and a hockey team and a community rocked by an accusation.

**

*

I listen to a podcast, The Next Right Thing, by Emily P. Freeman.  (I recommend it a million times.)  She recently talked about a quarterly reflection she does.  Each season, she stops to consider what she learned.

So here's my feeble initial attempt to do the same.

Here's what I learned in Autumn 2018:

I absolutely love being in an elementary school.  It is dramatic (blood and temper tantrums and escapees) and loving (I get hugs and compliments and shy waves and big smiles all the time) and so very fulfilling (teaching and watching children learn is my happy place).

It's been challenging to start working outside my home after such a long hiatus.  Even though I only work part time, it's been a full time change.  It's a huge adjustment and has required me to alter my expectations and to do list.

I don't have as much time to read or do other leisure activities.  And that's OK.

(Reading is less OK, but I need to remember how much I love being at school and recognize that I am choosing something else to fill me up.  Everything has a season and I'll have chances to read more--here's looking at you Christmas vacation.)

I like podcasts and listening to the Book of Mormon.  I didn't used to be very good at listening but I'm getting better at it.  I need to practice listening to audio books.  And choose books well.  I was listening to one and realized that when I can't skim over bad language but have to hear it, it feels different.  I started a book by an author I usually enjoy (Liane Moriarty), but I ultimately abandoned listening.  Because I couldn't skim.

I'm learning (and likely still need to learn more) that 90% of the angst I feel is because of my own wrong expectations.

I need to work on that....

Nevada party

One of Braeden's roommates was recently called to serve a mission in the Nevada Reno mission.  We decided to throw him a party.

Because Nevada.

Adam said, "You know how Texans are really into Texas?  Nevadans are really into Nevada too."

It's true.

Emma and I decorated by cutting apart some calendars my mom had made for us with photos taken around their house.

Nevada = photogenic (the horses are too)

Adam said we had to have salad like my mom makes because that's Nevada salad.  (I don't think my mom's salad is necessarily Nevada salad, but Adam loves salad like my mom makes and I never make it because I'm not a big salad eater and even less of a salad maker.)

I created a trivia quiz with prizes! prizes! prizes!  (gold Hershey's chocolate and silver Hershey's kisses in a nod to the gold mines and The Silver State)

Adam did a reprise of his Nevada/not Nevada game using Google images.

(Brian won both games so I'd say he's ready for his mission!)

We ate brownies cut into the shape of Nevada.

After awhile I gave up and just had regular brownie shapes.  Nevada/not Nevada brownies....

We forgot to sing the Nevada state song for Brian!  Braeden and I even had a debate ahead of time about whether we should sing the traditional version (my vote) or the Killer's version (his vote). And then we forgot!

All the returned missionaries did two truths and a lie about their missions.  So now Brian either is terrified or excited.  It depends on how you look at it and what kind of thirst for adventure he has.

Because crazy stuff happens to missionaries.  Adam said it's because you talk to everyone.  Braeden added, "And they tell you everything."

Sam's impersonation of the man who showed up drunk for his own baptism was pretty awesome and Ben told us about fish he ate in Tahiti that was "cured" in a liquid where another fish had been fermented.  He said the worst part was the smell.

There were eleven of us for dinner and turns out we only have ten knives.  Where did the others go?

Adam and I shared a knife.

Because we're in love.

Haul out the holly

Saturday was a day packed with goodness.  We decorated a bit in the morning, went to the temple (with Braeden too, which only makes it better) and then decorated some more.

Adam bought me that picture of Santa the first year we were married.

this little Finnish guy delights me

Also, Emma joined Adam and me on our Saturday errands.  We swung by Walmart so she could buy a small tree for her apartment.  They were $17.99 online and $25 in the store.  All of Emma's pennies matter to her so Adam talked to the store clerk, named Richard. Richard said, "I don't know if I have the authority to do it but I'll try."  He did an override and gave Emma the online price.

When we were leaving, Emma told me how much she appreciated Jolly Old Saint Richolas.  (He did have a long white beard.)

At dinner I told the kids they could have ice cream if they ate some vegetables.  This has been a trick I've employed for about 20 years and I'm not giving up on it, I don't care how big these kids get.

Mark said, "Ravioli are vegetables.  If you can't hunt something, it is a vegetable.  And you can't hunt ravioli."

Then he ate some broccoli (because he wanted ice cream).

We played a new Disney version of Codenames (which was surprisingly hard) and watched Somebody Feed Phil which we're maybe obsessed with.

Adam presented us with the new Christmas bear.

We named her Tea Cup and she was immediately embraced by the sleuth (which is what you call a group of bears--I googled it.)

This is all to say, being here makes me happy.

Happy Happy Happy

It's been a wonderful time.

I feel better.  Medicine!  That's where it's at!

We had a lovely Thanksgiving with the Porters.  It is a blessing to live across the street from people who have so much in common with us.  We ate glorious amounts of delicious food. The kids went across the street to play Quiplash at our house and Dave and Nola and Adam and I sat around and talked.  I can imagine that if we'd lived across the street from each other the entire time our kids were growing up, there would be a well-worn trail across the cul-de-sac.  We have children that love to sing and act and crack wise.  Also, the two youngest boys in each family are weirdly athletic.  Where did that come from?

In the evening on Thanksgiving, our family went to see Ralph Breaks the Internet.  (Why they didn't call it Ralph Wrecks the Internet is beyond me.)  It wasn't an original idea so we had to go all the way to south Provo for a theater and even then we weren't all on the same row.  The kids were behind Adam and me.  At one point, Braeden nudged us so we could see Emma who was cry laughing/hyperventilating.  There was a pun in the movie that just tickled that girl's fancy.

Friday, after making good use of the internet and my credit card, I gathered up the autumnal decorations to ready the house for the big changeover.

In the afternoon we went to my grandma's to decorate her house for Christmas.  It's a highlight for all of us.  I feel grateful for our kids diligently and enthusiastically carrying boxes up and down stairs and unpacking decorations.  At the same time, they thank me for taking them and they tell me how much they love it.  Talk about a win win.

We had had a big lunch of Thanksgiving leftovers before heading to Salt Lake City to my grandma's.  After decorating though, she said, "I have some pie."

"Oh, Grandma, we just ate and we're too full."

She said, "Well, I got it just for you so you have to have some."

So we did.  There are some people in the world that I can argue with and my 91 year old grandmother is not one of them.  (I'm not too good at arguing with pie either.)

We came home and got busy on our own decorations.  We sent Adam, who is still battling sickness, to bed.  Braeden and Mark are perfectly suited for schlepping boxes and climbing on ladders and Emma, with her artistic eye, is perfectly suited for arranging and decorative deliberations.

Emma and I decided to cut some branches from an evergreen bush in the front yard for the mantle.  Emma said, "Let me scrummage some shoes and I'll be out."

(Emma is also good at making up words.)

She scrummaged some shoes of Braeden's and looked like a little kid wearing their parent's shoes trying to keep them on her feet.  I cut branches and Emma winced because clippers make her nervous (ever since Grandpa Linn accidentally cut Grandma Geri's finger).  We brought in a big hamper of branches and just went to town on the mantle.

Decking the halls is my favorite.

Grateful

In a world full of sickness and sorrow and loneliness and longing and trust broken and sin and hate and all the things, I stand back and look at my life and realize that although it is never picture perfect, it is a pretty good life.

And I am grateful for it.

I know that the blessings I have are gifts from God.  On none of my own merit, I was born into a loving and good family.  I have been given privileges and opportunities I did nothing to deserve.  I married very well when I was in no way smart enough to make such a big decision.  I was permitted to raise three amazing humans that delight me every day.  And they came amazing.  I didn't do that.

So does Heavenly Father love people less that don't have these blessings?  No, and also I don't understand how it all works.

I know we are all loved and I know life isn't fair.  Maybe someday it will all make sense.

In the meantime, because I have been given much, I too must give.

Also, the biggest blessing God had to bestow was freely given to all.  I'm grateful this Thanksgiving for the gift of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful for peace in storms and forgiveness in stupidity and enabling power when I'm spent.

Have a wonderful holiday and I'll see you back here Monday!

Another sick day

I went to the walk-in clinic yesterday and left the proud owner of 5 prescriptions.  I have a sinus infection/fluid in my ears/bronchitis.  She gave me a prescription to treat pneumonia which I'm supposed to take if I get worse.  (She didn't want me stuck over Thanksgiving with no doctors/pharmacies open.)

So I'm going to lay low another day and put all my trust in the magic of modern medicine.  Because I have stuff to DO.

While I was gone, Braeden came home.  Every once in awhile he does that to sequester himself in Adam's office to write a big paper.  (He was in there when I went to bed and he was in there when I woke up.)

I walked in the house to his warm greeting and big embrace.  He was emptying the dishwasher and had happy music playing.

You just can't be uncheered by Braeden.

He and Mark both need haircuts (and giving Mark a haircut was something I was planning to do yesterday).  They held their curly heads together and said they wondered if they'd act like velcro.

It's good to have both boys around.

Emma, also in the throes of busy paper writing, texted me throughout the day.  She wants to bring me some Cranberry Sprite when she comes tomorrow because she saw that it is in stores now.

It's good have a daughter.

Adam is also sick but infinitely tougher than I am.  He drove to pick up my prescriptions and hugs me when I'm whiny.

It's good to have Adam.

So I'm tired of being sick, but I'm grateful this Thanksgiving week for my family.

Mark is back!

We're so happy to have him.  He had a wonderful time and we loved hearing all about it and watching him fake duel with Braeden.  They got light sabres and Mark showed off the skills he learned at a rapier class at the Thespian Convention.

Can you imagine?  There were 8000 drama kids there.

This x 8000:

one of Mark's friends

They stayed at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center and it seemed pretty swanky.

Adam and I will now go back to being parents and making dinner and things like that.  I was going to go pick up Mark at the airport yesterday but then because of an unfortunate incident called Thelma Took Too Much Cough Syrup, Adam and I both went.  (He drove!)

We were fighting sickness all week.  I kept going about my day and then coming home feeling trashed at night thinking the next day would be better.  It never was.  All week.  Then, I couldn't sleep from all the coughing and I was desperate + irrational and I shouldn't be left alone in those circumstances.

I slept much better last night and I am officially taking a sick day today (I don't have work on Mondays).  I'm hoping for better things.

For one thing, Mark is back.  Everything's better with that kid around.

Grateful Friday

Things I'm grateful for today:

Empty nest + Adam

We miss Mark and it seems like he's gone for an awfully long time.  His super communicative texts are comforting though:

Mark would have saved a lot of money during telegram days when you had to pay according to how many words.

Adam and I have been muddling along without him though.  We turned the heat off before we both left for work.  Later in the evening we realized we hadn't turned it back on.  "Should we?"  We both just shrugged.

So picture us in our golden years in a cold house because we can't be bothered.

Last night we wrapped Christmas presents because no one was around and we could spread out on the table and counter.

We even turned on Christmas music for the occasion.

(Maybe the lack of heat helped create a certain wintry holiday atmosphere.)

My parents

They are awesome.  I'm grateful for their goodness and steady faith and courage.  They've always been an anchor in my life and those two together feels like everything is going to be right in the world.

Being around kids

A kindergartner with stick straight hair told me I had tangled hair.  I said, "I know; it's curly.  That's just how it is."

She said, "You should brush it."

(I hope when that little girl is a teenager her mother has a thick skin.)

**

*

A second grader told me about something he did back when he "was a child."

**

*

I was helping a little girl, who is a Thelma the Unicorn aficionado, with math.  She was reluctant to work on her math and said, "I don't even know how you can do math, Thelma the Unicorn.  You live in a field."

I said, "It's because I'm a unicorn."

**

*

Multiple grades are working on writing opinion pieces and a lot of the kids have written about how we should have hot dogs instead of turkey for Thanksgiving.  The number one reason most of them site is that turkeys are animals and you have to kill them so you should have hot dogs instead.

I don't want to be the one to tell them what hot dogs are made of.  (I don't really want to know myself what hot dogs are made of.)

**

*

Mark's doppelgänger has been asking me to bring my phone to recess.  I kept forgetting and then yesterday I happened to have it in my coat pocket.  He demanded I hand it to him.

Ha! No.

He wanted me to play Sonic Mania Invincibility music for him.  I googled it.  It was the kind of techno annoying music that Mark plays (not surprisingly--I'm telling you, they are the same kid) that prompts me to change the radio.  His doppelgänger stood next to me with a huge grin on his face and listened to the music.  He wrapped his arms around my arm and blissfully leaned his head against me.

Then later he threw a paper airplane and it hit me right on the nose.

(I didn't want you to think it was always sunshine and roses.)

Hidden talents

Yesterday I substituted in a second grade.  They have the aids sub sometimes if they can't find enough subs.  I enjoyed it (and it also works towards relicensing points!).

Before recess, a boy asked me to tie his shoe.  I knelt down and started to tie.  "Double knot?" he asked.  I always do, whether they ask or not.  Not my first rodeo with shoelaces.  I sent him on his way and children were lining up to go outside.  The boy was at my side again, "Will you tie the other one?" he asked.  "You are so good at tying shoes."

**

*

I was working with a small group at a table and I read a poem to them while they marked the rhyming pattern with crayons.

One of the boys asked, "Can I just say something?"

"OK," I said.

"You are really good at reading upside down."

Yep.  I am.  That's why I get the big bucks.

(Except I don't get big bucks.  I get very very small bucks.)

(But I am having a good time.)

Empty nesters

Yesterday at work, a lady, who is also in our ward, told me about their empty nesters activity they had had the previous night.  It was sort of startling to realize that we would be in that category in just a few years.

When you have kids, it feels like it will last forever and then it doesn't.

Mark is leaving today for Texas.  He is going with his drama teacher and a group of drama kids to a Thespian Convention.  It sounds really fun and like I wish I were going too.

Last night I went over Mark's packing list and looked at what he'd packed and said about ten, "What about this?" and he'd say, "Oh yeah," and run and grab whatever it was.

I am excited for him and I know he'll have fun but I am also nervous.  He's going far away without me.

Every time it reminds me a tiny bit of someday sending him on a mission, I tamp down that feeling quickly.

I am not ready for that (neither will I be when the time comes).

Adam and I don't have any big plans for our empty nest while Mark is away.  We have one tiny plan and that is to wrap Christmas gifts.  I'm not sure when; I hope we have time.

When you have kids, it feels like they're the ones making you busy and then they aren't.

When nothing adds up to something

The other day Mark and I were talking about my blog.  He doesn't often read it, but he knows it's there.  And I think he thinks he is the star of the show over here on my blog.

We were talking about what it would be like for his children (and grandchildren?) to some day be able to read about him when he was five or twelve or sixteen.  Blogs are great because there isn't just one copy of the record and even if the house burns down, the blog is intact.  It's our family history and it's kind of dumb sometimes and wouldn't be interesting to anyone sometimes, but sometimes, it captures a moment in time that needed capturing.  Someday my children's children will know a little bit about their parents.

Mark said, "It's writing about nothing but it's something."

To that end, here are some pictures of Mark in his play.

Mark played Jerome, the lawyer of the lead, Frank

This is the shirt Braeden wanted to claim as his own. 

Here's Jerome, accosted by the press outside the courthouse

Here they're sending Frank on a cruise to get away from his rotten life (that he is responsible for making rotten)

During the finale, the cast was scattered in the audience, watching the sky for Sputnik.  Mark happened to be right by us.

A mother's happiness is like a beacon, lighting up the future but reflected also on the past in the guise of fond memories.

 Honore de Balzac

Different seasons

Sunday morning I ventured into the dark basement to wake Mark up.  After burning the midnight oil all week, he has a cold and was sound asleep.  I opened his door and saw his body filling his queen sized bed.  For some reason the image of him as a toddler popped into my head.

He learned how to get out of his crib by himself.  He'd crawl out and pull his blankets with him and sleep on the floor next to the crib.

Because he could.

He was my alarm clock every morning whether I wanted him to be or not.  He'd fly into our room and into our bed and knock against me, a whirling tornado, red curls bouncing.  He'd burrow into my arms and move incessantly until I gave up and got out of bed.

There was a last day that he did that but I don't remember it.  I didn't mark the occasion at all.  There was also a last time I picked him up.  I don't know when that was.  He picks me up sometimes now.

Because he can.

Sunday morning, I left him in his room to finish the process of waking up.  He came upstairs to find me.  He lay in our bed and I sat on the nearby couch and we talked.  He eventually pulled his man-sized limbs out of the bed to go take some Dimetapp.

"Can I have a hug?" he asked in his hoarse voice.

Things change, but not entirely.

Grateful Friday

Mark's play:

I loved watching him onstage.  He is having a fun time.  Braeden, Emma, my parents and my grandma all came to opening night.  Adam saw the last part because he was on a business trip and slipped in late.

Braeden wanted the 70's era orange polyester shirt Mark was sporting.

Freja's play:

Friday afternoon, I went to Provo and met up with Janet to watch Freja in a Mask Club play.  How fun to hug Janet and sit next to her during a show!  More talented kids and then Janet, David, Shari, Leif and Freja and Braeden and Emma and I all went to an early dinner.  Us and the Jorgensens and the Jorgensens and us.

I'll never get tired of it.

Mark's play, again:

I high tailed it back to Pleasant Grove to watch Mark's play again.  Adam met me there.  I saw Nola in the hall and she said, "We saved you seats."

So we sat by the Porters.  Nola nudged me in the ribs when Mark sang his first little solo line and I did the same when Louisa sang hers.  We laughed together at the intermission and Dave went on a fruitful search for M & Ms because the show is quite long and he needed sustenance.

After the show we met Mark in the lobby.  Dave and Nola hugged him before I got to him.  Is there anything better than other people being kind to your kids?

Tonight is closing night for Mark's show.  Marianne and Carolina are coming.  It's been a tiring week but also a happy one.

I'm grateful for family and friends and joyful kids.

Merrily we roll along, roll along... (songs from musicals you see repeatedly really get in your head).

Joy in the morning

Standing at my corner for traffic duty, I feel happy.  Even when it is chilly, the sun (which is almost always shining) feels good.

I love seeing the cute, appreciative kids that cross my path.  They almost all thank me and most of them wish me a good day.

It's a terrific way to start my work day.

There are three girls, sisters, who cross.  The eldest always--every day--gives me some sort of compliment.  She tells me she likes my hair or my clothes or something.  I have no idea why.  She's just kind, I guess.

Yesterday the girls' mother crossed about five minutes after they had.  I knew she was their mother (super recognizer) and I told her that she had very sweet daughters and that they made my day.  She was pleased but seemed pretty surprised too.

That just goes to show that even mothers of certifiably nice girls need reassurance too.

I am also cheered every morning by the mother who crosses with her three children.  They are all four impeccably groomed and they all thank me graciously for holding up my stop sign.  Yesterday they stopped by the tree near where I stand and the kids all joyfully flung fallen leaves into the air.  They were all four giggling and the mom snapped a picture with her phone.  They looked at me sort of sheepishly, like they were caught, giggled some more and then walked into the school.

I wish I could speak Spanish so I could tell the mother that she is killing it.  She's awesome.

Opening night

I've been here before; I recognize the scenery.

Mark's show opens tonight.

I feel the familiar mix of excited to watch/ nervous for him/ worried about him.  It's a grueling week for him so that's why I worry.  He's had late rehearsals and will now have late performances and meanwhile he has to stay on top of homework.

He's happy though.

He's with his friends and doing something he loves doing.

And that makes me happy.

(And also nervous and worried.)

Midterm elections

On November 1, one of the teachers at school said that if a candidate ever ran on the platform of changing Halloween to the last Friday in October, she would vote for them.  No matter what.

There are a lot of teachers in the country and I think they'd all agree.  Politicians take note....

**

*

Braeden said the other day, "Are ya'll SO excited for the midterm elections?"

(This is what comes of having your son serve a mission in the South--ya'll--and be a political science major.)

I am definitely aware of the midterm elections (see above) but I think SO excited would maybe be overselling it.

We have talked about it, of course we have.  Adam (naturally) and Braeden (naturally) go in for deep analysis and I (naturally) am more knee jerk and go with my gut.  It's kind of the same way I read a recipe.  I voted yes on Prop 1 around here because Elaine Dalton endorsed it.  I mean Elaine Dalton.  I will do what she says.

We read and re-read the proposed changes to the state constitution.  Adam and I disagreed on some things and Braeden disagreed with us on on some other things and Emma held it all close and privately voted how she wanted.  (Although she did text me with a few questions.)

I'm grateful we can vote.  I'm glad for the conversations that elections spark around here.

After Emma dropped off her ballot, her first time ever voting, she texted me:

So I sent her this:

 Three cheers for democracy!

Alto II

We went to Emma's choir concert on Saturday night.

(It should be stated from the outset that I feel a little emotionally raw about Emma's concerts in general because by the time I tried to get tickets for their Christmas concert, they were sold out which is sort of devastating.  I had a dream that you could get tickets to watch in a room where you could see the concert reflected in the glass of the door.  They were called "mirror tickets."  This is what my life has become.  My psyche hoping there's a room where I can watch at least a reflection of the concert....)

This concert was just Men's Chorus and Women's Chorus and (do I say this every time?) it was just wonderful.  I loved how both choirs sounded better than last concert.  They've been rehearsing a lot and it shows (and they were pretty spectacular at the last concert).  I love BYU and how talented the kids are and I love that my daughter gets to participate.

The men went first and I started crying when they sang Homeward Bound because it was beautiful and I love that song and I cried every time I heard it when Braeden was on his mission and earlier in the afternoon, Adam had said, "Mark could be on a mission in 2 1/2 years."

And we both had teared up a little.

Because imagining Mark gone is like imagining a piece of my heart leaving (and I already lived through that when I sent Braeden so I know that hurts my heart).  I know, I know, I'm very grateful for the experiences Braeden had and I'm ultimately glad he went.  And I also know I'm a little melodramatic.

Blame the sold out concert tickets.  I am.

Anyway, the Men's Chorus got me crying and even though I had pulled it together, the Women's Chorus sounded so beautiful that I may have started crying again. We were in the balcony so I could actually see Emma's face.  Watching her sing fills my soul.  Her lovely expressive face reflects how immersed she is in the music.  Emma is an alto II and there were times in several songs when the low notes really resonated and I'd poke Adam and said, "That's Emma!"  I didn't hear her voice specifically but as far as I was concerned, she was solely responsible for the sonorous magic.

When you're a mom, you can think your daughter is solely responsible.  That's science.

I may have ugly cried during their finale, which was This Is Me (from The Greatest Showman).  Emma was one of 30 girls identified as a "strong dancer" so she stood out in front.  I was so proud of her and so proud of all the glorious girls.

It was a lot of girl power.

When the lights went up and Adam and Braeden were wiping their tears, I felt a little less silly.  (Mark has ice water in his veins and does not cry.)

We went to CupBop for Korean food and then walked across the street to the South End Market which is on the corner by Regency where I used to live but for the life of me, I couldn't remember the names of any of the stores and shops that used to be there.

The boys got Leninade because it's "a taste worth standing in line for" and they are weirdos.  I remembered that I hadn't taken a picture of anything so I had them quickly pose.

How I love those three!

Even though the two knuckleheads tried to get the Leninade to photo bomb the picture:

Somewhere during the evening, I realized that Emma is the alto II of our family.

Her brothers, despite their deep voices, are more like the sopranos.  They are show offy and awesome and add a lot of razzmatazz just like sopranos do with their impressive descants and high notes.  Emma's strongly bringing in the low notes though.  She brings beauty and artistry and a richness to our family.  She holds her own and is herself and is fine not reaching the high notes (or the high shelf).

I am just here to enjoy the harmony.

Grateful Friday

Joan

I got my new car!  On Halloween night.  It was exciting and when I woke up the next morning and realized I could drive her to work, it felt a little like Christmas.

Here's a screen shot of a video Adam took (because I don't know how to put the video on here).

This is us leaving the dealership:

As you know, this blog is all about the high quality photos....

Her name is Joan, as in Joan of Arc.  As in:  if Joan of Arc can turn the tide of an entire war before her 18th birthday, you can get out of bed. (E. Jean Carroll)

She is a Jeep Cherokee.  When we were shopping, Adam asked for the fundamental difference between a Cherokee and Grand Cherokee.  The salesman said, "A Cherokee is a baby Grand."  Ha!  I love that.  There's a baby grand in my garage.

I am very grateful to have a car that I feel confident driving in the snow.  (Two years ago, when we actually had winter, I couldn't make it up our street on two different occasions.)  Since I'm working, staying home and waiting out the weather isn't an option.

Also, Joan has a heated steering wheel!  That is a game changer.  My hands are cold all winter and I will be such a happy clam driving around with warm hands!  (Then I'll freeze at my corner during traffic duty, remembering how blissful it was to have warm hands.)

Mark

Mark and I talked about car choices a lot over the last year.  We talked probably more than I would have talked to anyone about cars ever.  When your 15 year old son who is independent and an introvert, wants to talk to you?  You talk.  It doesn't matter what the topic is.  It doesn't matter if you think you've exhausted every possible angle of the new car decision.  You talk.

And it was super helpful.  Mark, avid reader of Car and Driver magazine and noticer of cars and commerce, was a good person to bounce ideas off of.  He has opinions (oh my yes) and he also helped me hone my own opinions.

He drove home with me from the dealership and it felt like the culmination of a project we worked on together.

I'm grateful for Mark.

Adam

Adam is, like most stories in my life, the MVP of this story.  That guy!  He takes care of me better than I deserve, of that I'm sure.

I am impatient at my very core and he insisted I not be impatient and get the car I really really wanted.  Also, I get super uncomfortable in sales situations and start wanting whatever the salesman wants me to want just so I can get out of there.  Adam insisted I not do that.

One night we were there wheeling and dealing (car shopping is the most protracted and painful shopping ever).  Adam said he would go back the next day alone.  I told him it made my stomach hurt.  He said, "I know, that's why I'm going back alone."

He went back and got me Joan!

I'm grateful for the car, of course I am.  Even more, I'm grateful for time spent with Mark, pondering and debating.  Especially, I'm grateful for Adam.  There is such comfort and joy in being married to someone who knows you so well that he takes over and saves you from yourself and gets you exactly what you want.

(Have I mentioned the heated steering wheel?)

Early morning shot of Joan that Mark took to send his siblings.  He said it was a "glamor shot."  IDK.  It's about as glamorous as we get, I guess.

Not bad for my least favorite holiday

Mark wore his Tigger costume to school.  Before school I was singing him the song, "The most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I'm the only one."

Mark said, "It will be awkward if there's another Tigger."

He'll always be the only Tigger in my life.  Bouncy Bouncy Bouncy Bouncy Fun Fun Fun Fun Fun.

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I loved seeing all the adorable costumes at school.  The kids were so proud and you had only to tell the girls they looked pretty and tell the boys, "Cool costume!" and there were smiles for days.

A little first grader, dressed as Harry Potter, paused shortly after the crosswalk on his way to school and waved his wand and yelled avada kedavra! toward no one in particular.  His brother, a third grader said, "You know you're not supposed to use that curse!"

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Braeden and Emma sent me a picture of them in their costumes, of Bruiser with a decorated bowl, and Braeden sent me a video of him singing the Nevada State song.

I love my kids.

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The aids were sent home after lunch.  They were having class parties and didn't need us.  I came home and was super productive.  Home + super productive is my love language.  I even ironed some linen napkins that had been languishing in the laundry room.

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Something exciting happened in the evening but I will tell you about it tomorrow.  It deserves its own post.