maddie's day to mother's day

May 8, 2011

Dear Family,

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!! We've had a great day here—starting w/ a homemade breakfast from the children (omelet-turned scrambled eggs w/ ham, tomatoes, & Romaine lettuce—usually a safe spinach subst.--toast, w/ a side of honey and strawberry jam, and delicious smoothie!--AND beautifully garnished w/ blossoms from the yard and many homemade cards and gifts! (We were totally late for church after all the fanfare, but I've decided it's good to sit in the back every once in a while—someone even asked, “What're you doing way back here?”--so I'm worried about becoming frontrow snobs!). We came home and Brian prepared a delicious recipe of mushroom ravioli & asparagus w/ sage & garlic browned butter sauce (I found the idea online!) and we enjoyed some artisan bread I finally got around to attempting yesterday w/ our “gourmet” balsamic vinegar & olive oil.--YU-UMM!!

We started the week off getting OUR FIRST TEENAGER!!! We are so glad to have Maddie as our first exposure to teens!--she is amazingly easygoing and peace-loving. Maddie had her 13^th birthday Monday—we enjoyed Hawaiian Haystacks & lemon poppyseed cake (food=celebration!), and she was excited to get a copy of the book Les Miserables that she's been reading so long that her library copy's way overdue, AND we were able to find her some awesome tickets to go SEE the musical here @ Capitol Theater, but THAT is a story in itself:

First—getting the tickets was a FIND—I kept an eye on the online classifieds for a few weeks right as the tickets went on sale, and came across these VERY reasonably priced pair from a school teacher who hadn't realized that the day she bought them for was a matinee—while she is still in school—so sold them at the early/discounted price she got them for. We quickly snatched them up (hooray!)

THEN-as I was exhaustedly saying prayers late Sunday night, I thought, “Hmm—I probably need to go get those tickets into a card for tomorrow...” followed by, “Hmmm—I don't remember the last time I saw them after keeping in that same drawer for 3 months...” then, “OH NO!!!!---THAT WAS THE DRAWER THAT GOT FILLED W/ WATER DURING OUR MINOR KITCHEN FLOOD, AND I SURELY HOPE THEY WERE NOT THROWN OUT!!!!!!” I was quickly awake, and frantically went to look for the tickets—NOT in the drawer, NOT in the cupboard, in any other drawer, anywhere in my dresser, closet, nightstand, not ANYwhere I could look in 2 ½ hours all night long. I was even more frantic, as I later checked online to not only find that there was a horrible and expensive selection of tickets left available to buy, AND that most websites offered NO guarantees for lost tickets!!! I had just taught that Sunday school lesson on putting our hearts on the right treasures, so I TRIED to keep a proper perspective, but it WAS Maddie's only gift, and hadn't I stayed up the same number of hours the night before preparing said lesson?? It was a restless night, when I finally decided to go to bed, and a pretty quiet breakfast w/ no presents to open, and NO reply from Mom who was too numb to even explain.

BUT-there was a glimmer of hope when I found the email address for the woman who sold them to us, checked w/ her, and with the ticket office, and found out that early sales, and SOME places DID guarantee and COULD reprint tickets. She was SOOO kind—we blessed her name for days at our house, and after a couple of days, she had worked it out to have them waiting for us there in will call—whew!!! WHAT a TIME!! Better enjoy those tickets Maddie!!! (Did I mention I even drilled a hole in the cupboard to make sure they hadn't slipped into a hollow gap?--and the Sunday School lesson this week?--the lost coin!) 

Here are other updates:

Brent was chosen as one of 2 boys in his grade for the Athletic Decathlon to be held in a few weeks between a number of schools!! He was also one of the finalists for the Academic Decathlon, but that takes place the same day, and since they chose the others first, he had to stick w/ it.

Emily got to dress me up at her Mother/Daughter Activity Day Fashion Show of Modesty this week—she kept trying to get me to pose right: “Mom, girls just know the poses—except for people like you!”

Spencer had to do a minor project for First Grade on any subject of his choice. He had to narrow down these options: how money is made, where water in our sink comes from, minerals, and earthworms---he settled on earthworms. 

 

Anne is still a scratching maniac—she has an appt. w/ a different allergist tomorrow—one who seems to have more pediatric AND more eczema experience, but we'll see. We also need to give goatmilk soap a try... In between her cries of misery, she is still adorable. Had been consistent in waking up every night for about an hour to scratch and ask for “cream.” Mom is learning patience and purpose in trials...still.

Lucy is our tender mercy capstone to things. For all of Anne's tears, she has twice the giggles and smiles. She is walking all over—is HILARIOUS at dancing to every hint of music she hears (looks something like a German windup doll, Brian said), actually lets other people hold her (most times), shakes her head no, loves to carry babies everywhere, talk on the phone, put cream on Anne, brush her hair, say “hi”, “bye,” and “Ma,” and plenty of other adorable things that keep us all smiling. She LOVES Spencer's zhu-zhu pet (electronic hamster toy), and still loves to eat most anything.

Brian's still chipping away at the bathroom, in between bishopric and work responsibilities. He worked on our garbage disposal leak while I hooked up our router (zapped in a storm), and is convinced this cold, cloudy spring is robbing us of our Vitamin D!

For Mother's Day this year, I asked Brian about getting a bike—Since my banana seat Schwinn when I was 8, the only other bike I've ever had was a simple mtn bike that someone gave to us in GA, while they were getting ready to move. The gearshift had just broken at the end of the summer last year, and the tires were pretty warped as well. I love being able to hook up the bike trailer for rides, AND we have these great bike trails just a mile away that I've enjoyed, so Brian and I went out and BOTH picked out Beach Cruisers!! (his bike came from the same source, and was in similar condition). They are “retro” w/ big fenders, huge soft seats (my favorite feature), and a smooth beautifully easy ride. I did feel pretty funny when we got it though, since I had also just gotten my retainer (yes, from my braces!) outfitted at Maddie's orthodontist---I felt nearly 11 all over again! It's been a rainy day today, but yesterday we finally had some spring, and after a stake Primary choir practice, community theater “Music Man” tryouts, cleaning the chapel, and Saturday cleaning, we all (except Maddie babysitting neighbors) got to hit the trail, and get in a great 5 mile ride (until Brent's flat). Now we can ride to the school, to the library, to the park, and even Wal-Mart! We laughed as the cashier even said to Brian as we bought it, “Oh, please don't tell me this is for your Mom!” It made my day! We sure do love the mothers, and generations of mothers in our lives!! What an effect you have on us, and what strenght I find in all of my daily hurdles, to know of all the women who have crossed them before me. Love to you all!-The Duncan's