Personal Manifesto, 2011 or Coming Out

1. I don't iron or mend.
2. I don't really know how to clean, but I do love it when my house is clean.
3. I can cook a mean meal and do so often, but also have funks where nothing sounds good.
4. My toenails are overgrown and currently have remains from past paintings.
5. I am 40 pounds overweight. Bummer! Working on it....
6. I am a really good mom sometimes. Emphasis on sometimes.
7. I am not a perfect wife, lover, or friend, either.
8. I don't wear the right shoes with the right outfits---never have, actually. I hate the whole, "if you're wearing a trouser, you need to pair that with a pump," or whatever the rule is. I don't even know the rule! And while we're on footwear, let's just say that I really hate wearing socks. Half the time they don't match each other, which only becomes a problem when I go to a house with a "shoes off" policy.
9. After I get our crusty carpets cleaned, I'm instituting a "shoes off" policy at our house, too, which means I may or may not start caring about my socks matching. (Leaning toward NOT.)
10. If you hear my kids saying, "shiz," "crap," or anything else crusty, they learned it from me.
11. I might have borderline Tourettes. But never in public.
12. I take anti-depressants. Maybe (hopefully?) not for forever, but for now.
13. I love my children and husband like crazy cakes.
14. I don't think I'll ever get used to Utah winters again. Not for me. I'm considering renting a trailer in Phoenix for the winter.

Happiness and Cheer 2010

Christmas 2010 was joyful and delightful. It was the first year in our new/old home, and it felt just right. We had a cozy Christmas morning, and then invited my empty-nester parents over for breakfast. My mom made her famous Almond Croissants, which I jokingly told her is the reason I invited them. I whipped together a Spinach Artichoke Red Pepper frittata (with Greek Yogurt in it!)---my dad said it was the best frittata he'd ever eaten. Good. Because it's the only frittata I've ever made! We also had Fingerling Hash Browns---yum and beautiful. After, we headed to my mom's home for Christmas dinner with most of the family. (Sister Susannah and Brother Joe and families were notably absent.) My mom's buche de noel never disappoints. Kids loving cousins always makes me happy we moved to Utah.

Esther's Birthday Party

Esther's party was a roaring success! We had several darling friends, a pinata, a few craft activities, a dance party with helium balloons, goody bags, and a yummy cake. She is one in a million.

More Paris, Just for Fun!

I love Notre Dame's gargoyles; they each have their own personalities.



Pastries, acquired by brother-in-law Nathan, on my last night in Paris.




We found this cool sculpture in the Left Bank. The kids climbed on and slid down it for a half hour.



Leah, right after we told the kids we were going to EuroDisney the next day. This is such a moment of spastic joy. I adore this picture. It is true, unadulterated excitement.


Right after we told the kiddos of our impending trip to Disney, they started packing. Susannah had made her kids adorable backpacks for Paris out of Japanese fabric. Leah felt left out, so Lizzy, in true Lizzy fashion, fashioned this one for Leah out of a plastic bag. It's actually pretty awesome. The front has some twine lashed so that she can adjust the size and tightness as needed. I, unfortunately had to talk Leah out of taking it. The gaping hole at the top was a little less than ideal.



I tried to take a pic of the Eiffel Tower through the windshield. I love the effect I accidentally captured with rain and all.



The lovely Lazeras Family; my dad was involved with Josie's (the mother on far right) baptism back in the early 60s in Paris. We've remained good friends and had a delicious dinner at Florine and William's (their married daughter and her husband, with 3 children) home outside of Paris. I lived with the Lazeras family for 6 weeks after I graduated from high school.



Leah in contemplation at Gare de L'est



I made several TO-DO lists on the plane ride home.


And blew a few bubbles.

My Sweet Esther is 6!!

This is the smile I know and love. She's a happy girl and I can't believe 6 years have already gone by----wait a second, that's kind of a lie. It seems like I've never been without my Esther.


Peekaboo!


Contemplating 6-ness on the deck. She got to bring a treat to her class (had to be store-bought), so she opted for Krispy Kremes in the shape of snowmen. The class was thrilled!


Esther trying out her new cruiser. Her 6 shirt was a last-minute birthday present. I bought the cool 6 in NYC's garment district. Forgot I had it. Found a newish turtleneck and Fabri-Tacked it on about 5 minutes before we left for school.



These girls love each other!



Licking frosting off candles and double dipping. Yikes!



My happy, spastic, joyful, energizing, lovable, lovable Esther.

From Paris With Love

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Leah and I returned from a whirlwind, amazing, bonding trip to Paris. It was plain fabulous. We saw a few sights, but mostly focused on being there. The ambiance, walking, walking, walking, spending time with her cousins, and even a trip to EuroDisney (this wouldn't have happened, except we know people who know people who work there, and got free tix.....). I loved being one-on-one with Bluebird; it was amazing how fun it was----little to no discipline issues, lots of togetherness, inside jokes, shared experience. We both loved it.

I was so worried before I left about leaving Esther and Phoebe. I missed them at times, but whenever I missed them a little too much, I seemed to see something tiny they would love and bought it for them. These were tiny things to tide me over, i.e. a binkie with a cat on it for Phoebe; Dora cookies with chocolate for Esther.....little nothings. But let me tell you: Phoebe has delighted in her kitty cat binky, and Esther has taken little packets of Dora biscuits to school for her lunch with pride and thanksgiving.

I'm hoping these trips will become more frequent with each of my girls, and with my Jonnie, too.
Here's to frequent flier miles, husbands who are willing to take care of kids, and a sister who (temporarily) lives in one of the greatest cities of the world!

Ooh La La!

Just wanted to say that I'm blogging from PARIS!! Thanks to Jonnie, Leah Bluette and I are cozying it up in Paris with my sister, her husband, and 4 kids. We had a busy day in the Rive Gauche (left bank) --- highlights included Jardin du Luxembourg, where the kids had the run of the cool playground toys, fun shops, great pastries at Poulain and amazing macaroons (passion fruit with milk chocolate---heck yes!) at Pierre Hermes. I'm taking some fun pictures with my new Nikon d3100, but won't be posting them till I get home.

Until then, you can bask in the knowledge that I'm going to be eating some amazing street cart falafel in a few minutes......and I've had a few too many pastries. When in Paris, ....

Back on Sunday. Will update soon.

And Just a Few More...