See me run...

Anja's dance class "warm up".

Pink Car

Anja wants this car for Christmas. Every time she sees a Toys-R-Us ad she points it out. She asked papa for it a while back, he just said, "we'll see." She asked her dad for it and he said, "maybe for Christmas." She asked me for it and I said, "no." So, today as she was looking through the catalogue again, she decided to try a different way of asking.

A: "Mommy I want that car. I can drive you; you're not too big for it."

M: "Yes, I am too big. I have my own car and I like it."

A: "No, not me. I don't like it."

M: "Why? Mommy's car has a t.v. in it, isn't that cool?"

A: "No, it's not. Cool cars are pink. Mommy's car is yellow, not cool."

It's champagne for the record and it is a nice car; not like the rental van we had last year. Either Anja needs to convince papa that a $350 price tag is not that much or I need to start selling Mary Kay to earn one.

First Snow!

If you live in Utah and hate snow, you'll probably never be fully happy here. For those of us who welcome the clear changes in seasons, this morning was a fun sight.

We live next to the mountains so we get the lake snow and the storm-- I bet we got a couple of inches. Anja was so happy. When I told her she had to wear a coat outside she said no! I then told her she would turn into a snowman if she didn't. Her reply, "no I won't. I would be a snow-girl." Dumb mommy.

Piano Recital

Jensen's fall recital

Jens wasn't happy with how this song ended. Oh well.

Halloween Houses

This is Jensen's favorite activity. He's rather do these foam houses than frost cookies. He spends a good hour "creating" his haunted house until it's just perfect. Can you tell he's a perfectionist?
Carter enjoys doing it as well.

Anja just likes to stick stickers onto things. No real creativity needed-- just stick and go.

Anja's first dance class

There aren't a lot of dance classes for two year olds. The few classes designed for the youngest dancers are usually filled with siblings from the older classes.

So, we got on a waiting list and waited. When we got the call we were so excited!

This is not a technique class. It's a little ballet, a lot of listening and following instructions and creative dancing.

Next year we'll be old enough to get into a studio but for now, we are loving this!

Pumpkin Grin

She was all smiles today-- on our way to visit papa who had a total knee replacement one week ago. Monday, Anja and I were in charge of keeping him company and making sure he didn't fall on our watch. All was well. The next day we ventured out and he went with us to music class-- that was a ball.

oh yeah, I'm learning to french braid and this was the first time I got one looking presentable enough to go into public. She was happy to watch cartoons and eat popcorn while I braided and rebraided the across her head. I still am pretty new at it, but I'm working on it. Anyone know a good website to learn how to do it better?

Pumpkin Fun

Ah, tradition. Haul your kids into the elements to trek through ankle deep mud and compost to pick an orange gourde that may ultimately end up in the street as pumpkin slime.

LOVE IT!!!!!

Adoption Miracle

Tammy and I grew up together in a way... her dad and my dad are the same age and our grandparents lived near each other so we'd spend our summers hanging out. She has a couple of older brothers that I thought were the most handsome guys ever back then. For those of you who know what this means, she and I are third generation "Stuffers Club" and spent many 24th of July's camping at Redman.

After years of struggling to have a family they got a call last week (they live in a different state) that a baby was going to be born in SLC in two days and he was to be theirs. He's here and he is perfect.

Funny thing about adoption-- the right babies end up in the right homes.

Tammy will get a second miracle in four weeks when Benjamin's baby brother is born-- in yet another state. Then this family of four will adjust to life with "twins" born a month a part in different states under very different circumstances. Private adoptions open doors that otherwise would be closed to LDS members.

I'm sure Tamara is missing her home.. and her husband who had to go back after the baby was born, but her loss is my gain. I get to hold this sweet boy.

Cooking Queen

I made 10 jars of salsa the first week of September assuming we'd eat them this winter. I made it with a kick but not too spicy. Must have been the perfect recipe for my family because they ate all but one jar. So, last Saturday Anja and I took up shop in the kitchen and made a double batch.

Later that day, Anja went to Grandma Coombs house and insisted on helping her cook the corn. Lucky grandma..

Last day in NYC

Here are the last few pictures from NYC...

M&M store (for Jensen) this is his favorite candy and he asked if he could have a copy of this picture showing the "wall of M&M's" for his room... silly kid.The statue that was standing in the plaza between the twin towers. It's now in the park that looks out on the statue of liberty. The top was crushed in but the art itself survived.

And last but not lease... the naked cowboy singing in Time Square.

NYC day 3

It's Saturday and this city really comes to life...

More shopping and the rest of our tour. The best part was hitting Chinatown and buying up all the knockoffs. I went a little crazy with the bags. I even gave a "designer" bag to my 2 year old. I'm bringing this girl up right! You may have to go grocery shopping but always wear lipstick and take your Gucci purse!

(The loot, not bad for just two hours.)

That nigh we saw Mama Mia! It was very theatrical. I liked it but I think I liked the movie a little better. The best part was at the end when everyone got up and started dancing. I was on my feet fast with all the men and their partners who were sitting by us. Can't miss a moment to make a fool of yourself. When Rich and I saw the movie he warned me he'd walk out if I stood up and danced-- so I waited until New York.







Dinner was at a swank little Mexican place off Broadway. Dinner was fantastic but the real fun was upstairs where the Salsa dancing was happening. I wondered up to watch and was amazed at the show on the dance floor. I don't have a husband that dances so I was especially impressed with all the men out there shaking their hips and how do those girls dance in six in heels? It was a wonderful way to end the night I mean morning, it was about 1 a.m.

(At dinner on Saturday night)

Ground Zero

(ground zero looking from across the street at the construction)

Call it closure for this former producer... a visit to ground zero.

(Looking into the "pit" of tower two)

Not sure what I was expecting but the emotion in the makeshift memorial room was palatable. It was a big deal for me to visit the "hole" while in NYC. While I wasn't there when the towers came down I saw it live, wrote the words that were spoken and pushed aside my emotion to get news on the air.

(Notes and mementos left during the weeks that followed the attacks at the makeshift memorial. They were gathered up and hung on a Statue of Liberty that is now on display.)

It was a pivotal moment in my life. I remember calling my mom after the first few hours. I can't remember anything other than she told me to sit down and write. She told me to write every feeling, every emotion and every thought down so I would remember. I did; it was my therapy. I sat in the corner of the darkened set and wrote a very long letter to my only child at the time, Carter. I still have that letter and some day it will be his connection to that day.

My visit there was emotional, I cried. When I got home I wrote the next part to that letter-- the final paragraphs that will close that part of my life until we go back as a family to see the finished memorial.

NYC day 2

(Standing in front of Central Park)

We woke up very early and headed out on a tour bus. We decided the only way to see it all was to get on a bus and head through Manhattan. We spent several hours on Time Square, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Financial District (Wall Street) and finally Battery Park (Statue of Liberty). We made a list of all the places we were going to go back to the next day.

(LDS temple across from Central Park)

(Happy place if you are looking for toys!)
(Looking down at Time Square)

That night we went to Wicked. We went to grab a cab but the like was so long Cec got adventurous and waved down a peddle cab (bike with a trailer on the back). The seat wouldn't fit all of us so I sat forward and that was a very scary place to be. Every time the bike came to a stop I thought I was going to end up on the street. Not something I would do again, but hey, it was an adventure.

(Wonderful show!!)
Wicked was fantastic. I love the "bigness" of this show and the humor in the writing. The theater was one of the older ones on Broadway. The seats were uncomfortable but the history in the building made up for that. That night we ate at a little cafe place near the hotel.