We are currently in UT.

Last night I sat down with my mom to plan out the following day, as in today, July 30th 2011. This is what was going to happen:

Wake up, video chat with Jan, walk up the Canyon, haircuts for the girls, come home and play, go to home depot and meet with a kitchen designer.

well — the video chat had to be put off until later, we couldn’t hike up the canyon because it started to rain, when we got to the salon the stylist wasn’t there because she thought she had the day off, and that night when we went to home depot the person who we were scheduled to meet with didn’t exist.

Go figure!

Oh, well.

What can you do?

How about go to the toy store…

Looks like fun, don’t it?

Later in the day we headed down to the BY to see Justin Hackworth’s 30 Stranger’s Exhibit.

It was a neat show.

Then, these future co-eds headed up stairs to the library with their grandparents and aunt Betta to get a few books

After Home Depot was a bust we went to this hole in the wall, super authentic Mexican restaurant for delicious tacos.

So, even though it didn’t go the way we planned – the day was pretty swell.

In the fall of 2001 I sat in a darkened movie theatre next to the cutest boy in my ward.

He was wedged in between me and another girl.

I was sure he liked the other girl.

I could barely concentrate on the movie I was so excited to sit

next

to

HIM!

I had only been in London for about a month, and had been invited to see Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone with a big group of people. There was this guy who I had my eye on (as did several other girls) and lo and behold he was in this gang of people who’d come to see the movie.

I was so excited to sit next to him.

(did I mention how excited I was?)

He was a dream!

Fast forward 10 years, and 8 Harry Potter films later — last film of the series, different continent, smaller theatre,

same

darling

boy.

Only this time we held hands during the movie.

As we walked home I listened as he analyzed the film.

Now I am the mother of his children.

Awesome, no?

I think so!

Thanks J.K. Rowling. We have enjoyed the ride.

“What?

A party?

A DNA party, you say?

I love parties!

Am I invited?” I ask.

(baby Eliza 2 months)

“Ummmmm,” replies Jan,

(baby Jan, 2 months)

(our children at 2 months)

“NOPE!”

“Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for that Ellis could wear his socks today.

Amen”

The socks are pretty swell. You can see how they would inspire devotion.

Can I hear an, “Amen”?

(P.S. and thanks to Annie for lovingly gifting them to our little man.)

While we are on the topic of shoes (or socks that look like shoes) Millie and Clara are on a little bit of a shoe fetish. Only not with their shoes, with MINE.

I took these photos this morning. Yesterday afternoon they had on another pair of my shoes AND my shirts.

Good times.

Remember when you used to bang around in your mom’s shoes?

It must be some sort of rite of passage for little girls the world over.

While we are talking shoes would you allow me to show you the darling shoes that I bought for Clara and Millie last week at Crew Cuts? I got them for a smoking deal.

$11.99

I’m sure they were 100 million dollars originally. WHY does Crew Cuts have to cost so much?

That is a question for the universe.

For now, you and I can part knowing that Clara, Millie and Ellis are well shod.

the end.

(but especially for Aunt Sam)

The other day as I was dressing your nephew I thought of you two.

Can you guess why?

Look very closely!

I almost didn’t put this on Ellis because I felt that your future offspring should wear this EXCLUSIVELY. But Millie had picked this out for Ellis before he was born and she really wanted to see him in it. So this will just have to be a hand-me-down.  The beauty of this romper is that a hip little girl OR a manly little boy could wear it. So no matter what you are covered. You get me? (I saw that the rockstar diary duo put this on their baby girl, so we know it’s cool, yo! & yes, I do read that blog sometimes. “I am ashamed.”)

Then, later in the day I went to Gap Kids (where this romper was purchased) and found a special something for your future child. I will be bringing it with me to UT so that I can hand it to you in person.

It’s cute!

You will like.

(I hope.)

What do you make of this?

It doesn’t look like much, does it.

Looks can be deceiving.

It is a foundation.

A

foundation

for

something

quite

delightful.

A foundation for what I hope will be a place where magic happens!

*

*

*

On Friday evening a much anticipated bundle was delivered.

The girls had been looking forward to its arrival for YONKS!

The following day said bundle was transformed into…

The little burrow they could call their own!

Just look at these faces!

We let them eat their dinner in here they were so excited.

Of course this is just the beginning….

Stay tuned to see how the interior evolves.

The walls were barely up and I was already scheming!

Wall paper, anyone?

Jan is thrilled that I have this little house to work on now! She types sheepishly.

I don’t usually show my political leanings on this blog – I try not to tick people off.  So if you do not share my political convictions I hope you won’t mind me reveling in something I feel is “too tremendous” and must be shared.

Did you know that John Lennon was a CLOSET REPUBLICAN?!!

&

it gets better, friends:

he was a HUGE Reagan fan!

(so he wasn’t a citizen and he couldn’t vote in this country, but IF he had been a US voter and if he’d been a “card carrier” that card would have read “republican”)

Also,

Tess and Bette will be pleased to hear

this dude (the man behind TOMS shoes)  is a conservative

Jan read an article in which some are saying that this news might hurt his ability to sell shoes. Can you believe that!? That would be so sad if it were true.

But his crimes are even worse than being a conservative fellow,

AND he supports “Focus on the Family”

(Hillary won’t be smiling for long)

Read the shoes, people!

And when”Mr. Tom” steps inside that voting booth he votes REPUBLICAN!

Crazy.

Something like this had to happen because since my grand-dad died (the man who was so conservative he watched the entire Republican convention, whistling, hooting, and saying “marvelous” through out the entire broadcast) my Nan, his wife, has become

A LIBERAL!

I’m pretty sure she voted for Obama.

The universe had to answer for this.

Hence, the news that Lennon was conservative had to come to light.

It does make you wonder though,

doesn’t it?

Who else out there is a secret conservative?

…Ellis now weighs in at 14 lbs, suckaz!

That’s MY boy!!

And REAL men dig sleeping under pink covers!

You stink.

You don’t make me feel happy.

But we will not be beaten down by you.

Oh, no!

We have our ways of “dealing” with you and your obnoxious ways. Normally we just stay in-doors. But when we do go choose to go out side…

BEHOLD, we are victorious!

Exhibit A:

And may I add, that I love this kid!