Up on the Roof

We're up on the roof because yesterday morning I woke to some strange noises coming from the living room. I thought perhaps some birds had gotten into the house and were having a smackdown.

After closer inspection I found no animals in the house but located the source of the noise. The chimney. I consulted some experts (my Dad) who congratulated me on my newest houseguests.

After Rich got home, we went up on the roof (me with some serious sweaty palms and tachycardia. Me no likey the roof) looked down the chimney and found these rascals.

"Excuse me... we're trying to sleep here!"

Really. Could they be any cuter? A mama and her three babies. We're going to try the mothball remedy. Hang some mothballs on a rope into the chimney and the smell will run them off. That's the theory anyway. I didn't see any luggage, so I'm hoping they won't stay long.

Oops!

Yesterday we went to the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition. We've been before... last year with the girls as a requirement for their piano lessons. Its an amazing opportunity to hear some of the finest pianists on the planet.

This year, now that Sarah is a teenager, she was able to volunteer backstage during the competition. Her duties were to be an escort for the competitors. Show them their rehearsal room. Show them where they can change into their performance clothes. Take them up to the stage at the appointed time and bring them back down when it's all done. Emily and I got to see behind the scenes as well while they showed Sarah the ropes.

There are 38 competitors from 13 countries ranging in age from 19 to 32. Sarah's first competitor was a man from France. She said he was really nice and surprisingly, very nervous.

Emily and I were in the theater, transfixed by these musical geniuses. We had great seats and were able to see all the facial expressions and body language. We watched their hands flying back and forth across the keys. Kind of like a marshall arts action film on a piano. Em's comment while watching a female competitor going crazy on the keys, "... she's gonna lose a finger!"

When Sarah was done she said she'd had a ball and that she'd do it again if given the chance. She then added, "That was the scariest thing I've ever done!"
What? Do you mean talking wth the competitors?
"No! I almost crashed a Steinway!! I had to move a Steinway!! Each competitor can choose if they want the Hamburg Steinway or the American Steinway. We had to make a change and we ran into the other Steinway!!" Apparently, one of the pianos hadn't been moved far enough out of the way and 9 foot concert grands don't turn on a dime.

Just for kicks, when we got home, I looked on the internet to see how much a big old Steinway costs. I found a gently used concert grand for almost $150,000.00. Oopsie! So glad she didn't roll it off the stage.

Good save Sarah Bear.

Baked goods.

Oh dear.

Emily was invited to the birthday party of a darling little girl in her school. Courtney's her name.

Today was the big day. Meet at the birthday girl's home, laugh, visit, then head over to the rec center to go swimming. Fun!

I picked Em up and asked if she had a good time. This story poured forth:


Em- "...we were swimming and then when we were done we saw this naked lady! Just sitting on a bench. Naked!"

Me- "You mean, where everyone could see?"

Em- "Yeah! She didn't even go into the place with the curtains where you're supposed to change! She was just sitting there on this bench!!"

Me- "So... you were in the girl's locker room? Well that's not so bad then."

Em- "But she was just there right in the middle of everyone! And then she stood up and dried off!!!" (oh the horror. At this point, Em is in the passenger seat showing me how this woman held her towel behind her back and dried herself. Her face is distorted in various grimaces)

Me- laughing. silently.

Em- "And that's not all. There was another naked girl. A teenager. And she put on a bra and it was NOT modest. It went like this (motions with hands how low this bra plunged) and her mmm mmm's were round. They looked like cupcakes! That other lady that was old.... her mmm mmm's, do you know what I mean Mom? Her mmm mmm's looked like loaves of bread!! Scarred! I'm scarred I tell you!"



Me- driving erratically while cracking up.


Let me state that Sarah and Emily have both been swimming with the local swim team for a year now. I've gone in the locker room to find them when they were dawdling and typically see people changing in the shower or private changing areas. I did think that by this time Emily would have run into a few nekkid ladies. Apparently not.

May I also state that I have always tried to use correct anatomical terminology for body parts. Scratch that. Not always. But usually. I can stipulate that I have never referred to a body part as an "mmm mmm". I can only guess that she was substituting for something that rhymes with shoebies.

I'm loving this gig.

A Decade

Emily is ten! Actually, she's been ten since March 29th. I thought I'd wait to post about her birthday until she had her friend party. She wanted to wait till it was a little warmer and have a party with dinner and dessert cooked over the firepit outside. She waited and waited and waited some more for a decent patch of weather until finally in May it happened. So here's a little celebration of my darling Em:


A princess deserves to be spoiled occasionally.


Breakfast casserole and strawberries!


A birthday celebration at Grandma and Grandpa's. The cake is another one of mom's masterpieces. Emily requested it be in the shape of a shamrock this year. My little lamb thinks she's Irish.


Sierra, Baige, Allie and Emily. Darling girls.


Goofy girls.


The sweetest ten year old I know. Really.


Even though she's hit double digits... she's still my baby. Forever.


She is gifted in the hands on department. Massages, hugs... no one is better.


A chilly Emily at the Overlook in Zions.

Happy Birthday to my sweet, intelligent, kind, hillarious, tender, beautiful girl. How I love you.

I really shouldn't...

particularly after the last two lovely posts, but I just can't help myself. Please enjoy this "semi-nice Mother's Day song".



Thanks for indulging my occasionally warped sensibilities.

(Sorry it comes with a short commercial)

Page 85

Sarah came home from group piano lesson yesterday with a big smile.

"Have we got the May issue of the Ensign yet?"

Someone informed her she'd been spotted in the magazine. I ran down to the distribution center and bought a few copies. Sure enough... that's my girl on page 85!

The mothers in our Stake were invited to attend the Young Women General Meeting at the Conference Center with their daughters. It was such a wonderful evening! Our favorite talks were by Sister Elaine Dalton and Pres. Uchtdorf. The best part of course, was being with Sarah.

In a few years, Emily will be in Young Women's and I'll be able to go with both of my lovely daughters!

Influence

Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother's image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child's mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness,

the first assurance that there is love in the world.

David O. McKay


St. George Utah 1967

As we age, we begin to realize the value of a mother's love

and the enormous depth of her commitment to us.

No other relationship we form can ever be as close

or profound as that with our mothers.

Anonymous

Alta Lodge September 1978

I'm so thankful not only to be a mother to Sarah and Emily,

but to also be the daughter of such an amazing, lovely and talented woman.

Happy Mother's Day.