Xanthe's Wish

I am willing to bet there is not a soul in the world with less patience than Xanthe.  She goes berserk in between songs on a CD, throwing a fit about why the music stopped.

We were at the pool when Xanthe found out about Wish Chips, how you can make a wish if the chip is folded over.  She immediately closed her eyes and bit into one.  Then she opened one eye and looked around. Running over to me, she shouted, "My wish didn't come!  My wish didn't come!"  I asked her what the wish was and she whispered in my ear, "A pony."

I said, "Xanthe, a pony isn't going to just appear at the pool.  You might as well wish for a unicorn.  A pink one."

Moms say the dumbest things.  Xanthe put her hand on her hip and said, "Mom, ponies are real."  Yeah, but you still can't get one by biting into a barbeque-flavored Clover Club.  Just don't try to explain why to Xanthe.  Coco tried to talk her out of dreaming big, but then just felt like she was crushing the innocent childhood right out of the little wisher.  So Xanthe is still waiting for that pony.  But not a unicorn.  Those are pretend.

You Don't Always Get What You Want...Unless You're Ptolemy

 "Can you guys help me?  I can't find any cookie dough in here."

 Yes, my response was to make cookie dough.  Look at that cute face!

 "Johnnie went to the creek and his mom told him not to."  Excerpt from the Johnnie story that Tolly repeats like a mantra.  He screams it over and over until I finally tell him the whole story...again.

 He used to hold up five fingers and say, "I'm two like this."  Then he figured out how to put some of the fingers down.  Sortof.  Whatever you say, Ptolemy.  Whatever you say.

 "Hey, I want to go to the beach wif you guys."

 "These goggles don't fit me, Woobee."

"But I wanted more chocolate!  Get me more chocolate!"

Ptolemy is a sweet, perfect little guy.  At least I think so.  In reality, he's probably a screaming, spoiled rotten monster who rejects the notion that he can't have his way.  But he seems like a heavenly angel to me.  Yesterday at the pool, he came to me in his goggles and said, "I wanted chocolate."  I tried to explain that I didn't have any.  I searched through my bag and said there was no chocolate.  Ptolemy's cries got louder and louder, demanding chocolate, until I finally searched Ruby's bag and found a Reese's Peanut Butter cup.  I like to think that Ptolemy is learning perseverance and determination in the face of adversity, rather than admit that I'm spoiling him.  "If at first you don't find chocolate, try, try again" is a valuable lesson no matter what age you are.

What?  You said I'm a great parent?  Thank you.  You don't think Ptolemy is just a tiny bit spoiled?  Oh sorry, can't hear you.  Ptolemy wants to hear the Johnny story again.  Gotta go.

Oh Happy Day

Things I Didn't Say Today

save some for the other kids
no
hurry
don't splash
you're dripping water on me
what took you so long?
let me show you a better way to do that
can't you just...
you're not counting
we've got to get this done
stay here.  I'll be right back
why are you doing that?
turn that off
turn that down
maybe later
I can't

Things I Did Say Today

ok
yes
sure!
you sound great on that etude
we could
how about right now
why not?
want to go with me?
you're so good at that
thank you
you did a good job
I'm so glad I have kids.  Especially you kids because you're so precious.

 Wonder why it was such a great day.

Somewhere Only We Know...(and Five Thousand Other Fans)

 Scott's first concert was Howard Jones in 1984.  It was the first time, but not the last, that his parents drove him and a group of friends and brothers up to Park West and waited in the car while the kids enjoyed the concert.  Since that young age, Scott has had a passion for live music, and he has his parents to thank for fostering his interests.  Now he wants to pay it forward and share his favorite music with his kids and, of course, the love of his life, moi. 

We took three of our girls to Keane and rocked out with Ryan, Josh and Emily to the strains of some familiar tunes.  The night couldn't have possibly been more gorgeous.  It was the kind of summer night that reminds you why you live in this backwater desert.  It's a beautiful place!  I was enjoying the evening so much, I thought, "Hey, this is great!  We should do this again!  What other concerts are there this summer?"  Ugh.  I was in the perfect setting with the perfect people on the most perfect night of the summer and I was looking around for a sign that would tell me what other concerts there are to go to.  Am I the only person who has trouble living in the present? 

With the warm breeze on my skin, I watched my girls laughing together, felt Scott's arm around my waist, noticed Josh and Emily kicking back and smiling and appreciated Ryan taking Ari to buy a $4.00 Dr. Pepper.  I noticed all those things so that later, when I'm in a beautiful place surrounded by people I love doing something fun, instead of appreciating the present, I can look back fondly on the Keane concert.  It's not a victory, but it's better than nuthin'.  After all, Scott still looks back on his first concerts as some of the happiest times of his life.  I think my girls will too, and I just feel lucky to have shared this one with them, and with Scott, my very own rock star.

Bring in Da Noise

The Davis High Band is in full fund raising mode.  Today it was appearances at Boondocks with 15% of everyone's purchases going to the band.  When I dropped Golda off, she didn't know where to go and I said, "Just follow the nerds."  Ha ha.  Actually, the band at our high school is anything but nerdy.  It's one of the best high school bands in the country, and I'm learning just how prestigious it is, and how fun to be a part of.  Every good band has to have a rival, and ours is American Fork High School.  They keep Davis motivated with their skill.  Band drama to rival the best Colombian soap opera!

I recorded a few of the kids at Boondocks.  I loved when the flute section started to get a little loose and the band director walked over and tightened them up with a flick of his arm.  After my recording, the kids played "Dear Old Davis High School" and I got a little verklempt.  I guess having school spirit blasted at you from a dozen trombones and a crazy-good percussion section just forces you to wax nostalgic.  If you want to hear the band and you live in Kaysville, open your windows at 7:00 AM! 

Quinceanera

When Scott and I brought Golda home from the hospital, we were scared to death.  We had her in the carseat and I was riding in the back seat of our Volkswagen Fox with her, in case something happened.  I don't know what could have happened, but it seemed like there were more crazy drivers on the road than usual.  Cars would whiz past and Scott and I would both think, "HEY!  We have a BABY in here.  Could ya slow down a little?"

Fifteen years later, like Simon and Garfunkel say,  "After changes upon changes, we are more or less the same."  This week Golda will get her driving permit and we'll have to teach her.  As we inch carefully along the streets of our fair city (and we will be inching; I know Golda),  I'll be glaring at other drivers, thinking, "Hey!  We have our BABY in here!  Could ya slow down a little?"

Could everything just slow. down. a little?  Fifteen! Happy birthday, beautiful Golda!

Ruby's Freak-Out Dance

The craziness is getting to Ruby.  She has become a manic imitation of a performance art student, dancing and singing about the email that might come Monday telling her what ballet class she is in next year.  I didn't capture the part where she was dragging herself across the lawn singing, "If it's bad news, misery!  Misery!  Misery!"  This is what happens after six days of recital!

 Ruby before the breakdown.  See how calm?

 After the breakdown.

Good luck Monday, Ruby.  :)

But Wait! There's More!

Here is a video of Ari and Ellison's Indian Lands staging.  They sure had fun together in modern this year!  They were very expressive onstage.

Esmae, in the Three Little Kittens dance.  In some backstage irony, the mittens for the three little kittens dance were lost for the matinee.  None of the kittens got any pie that day.

Ruby's staging for Leo, ballet
Golda and Ruby's Jazz - Night Sky

I was looking for a heartwarming quote about cousins and I came across this one, which seemed perfect:  "God made us cousins because he knew our moms couldn't handle us as sisters."  Hee hee!  Wait.  Do you think that's true?  I love these girls!  But strange things happen when they get together!

Italian ice and custard.  It's not recital week if you don't get treats.

Ari and Ellison imitating their moms' recital pose from circa 1988.

And here is the original picture.  It was Alice in Wonderland.  I was the March Hare and Sarah was the Mad Hatter.  We had a little pas de deux in the recital.  How I wish I had it on video!

Even if I don't have a recording of the original dance, we can still do the pose!  Sorta?  All we need are the ears and a pocket watch.  Recitals always leave us with good memories, funny quotes and pivotal moments.  Our best quote this year was from Xanthe when she found out one of her friends had quit ballet.  She said, "QUIT ballet?  How would you DO that?"  Xanthe is already pestering me about when she gets to go to Pat's and get her new ballet shoes for next year.  It will be her first year in shoes! She has tried on every pair in the house and they're all too big.  Patience, little one.