A rootin' tootin' good time!

Last year when I saw Busytown at the Childrens' Theatre, I wished I'd taken my nephew with me. It was absolutely adorable, and I know he would have liked the apple car, the pickle car, and Lowly Worm.

This year when I decided I could not miss The Tall Tales of Pecos Bill, I decided not to make the same mistake again. I asked my sister-in-law last Sunday if I could take him on Friday night. She said it was fine with her, but expressed some concern that he might not be a great theatre-going buddy. I know the G-unit doesn't often like going to the movies, but he really, really liked Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat when I did it last year, so I crossed my fingers.

Even so, I didn't mention anything to the G-unit, just in case I chickened out. To be honest, I was a little scared of having this energetic, clever, handsome, sometimes shy, six-year old to myself. We haven't had a lot of one-on-one time together lately and I'm not always sure what to talk about with him. What if I really am the lame aunt?

But I still wanted to see the play, and I still harbored hopes that he would like it (especially when I heard it was in the same vein as Busytown), so I plunged ahead and left a message with Lindsey on Thursday morning asking if it was still okay to take the G-unit with me the next day.

That afternoon, my nephew left the following message on my phone:

"Hi Megan. I was just letting you know that, um, I want to come tomorrow and I'll be at Grammy's house and pick me up at six! 'Kay, bye."

Cue some very subdued waterworks.

Now, you have to understand that the G-unit has never called me before. And you also have to understand that in my mind he's still a very little boy, inspite of his lengthening limbs and widening vocabulary. So to hear his voice on the line, so excited to come and sounding so grown-up... well, it made my whole day! I was SO GLAD that I didn't chicken out! I immediately bought tickets online and then walked around the rest of the day with a huge, silly grin on my face like the boy of my dreams had just told me he loves me.

My mom was baby-sitting the girls Friday night, and Adam and Lindsey were meeting there for a date night, so I picked up G-unit from there, assured Lindsey that the tickets were on me, buckled his booster seat into my car, and off we went! We chatted about school and plays and G-unit's summer plans during the car ride and found a parking spot right in front of the theatre, which almost never happens for me. We also didn't hit many red lights. I've decided my nephew is a good-luck charm in cars.

We were there for opening night, which I didn't take into account, so they started a bit late. I knew a lot of people there and felt guilty whenever I talked with them, although at least G-unit knows and has opinions about Disneyland (he's very jealous that I went last month)... he seemed pretty bored while we were waiting. I finally pulled out my iPod and started teaching him Solitaire. Maybe not the most kid-friendly game in the world, but it's all I had! I did ask at one point if I could take a photo with him in front of the set. The G-unit doesn't care to have his picture taken (I have a lot of him jumping out of the way or hiding behind things) so he said, "Maybe later." Of course, I forgot about it "later". Clever boy.

Once the play started, though, there was no time to be bored. It was awesome! I laughed so hard, and my nephew laughed and smiled through the whole thing. He really could not get over how Pecos Bill caught a bullet in his teeth (he's come up with a few theories since that night). I offered to buy him a treat during intermission, and had to giggle when he picked a container of mini-M&Ms. The lid makes a popping sound whenever you open it, and I happen to know the actors hate it... sure enough, he popped that thing many times during the second act, but nobody seemed to notice. We were too entertained by the crazy antics going on. The flashy costumes, the actors teasing one another, the inventive props, the hilarious ad-libs, the wonderful music played and sung by actors who could apparently play every instrument... it was wonderful. They encouraged the audience to sing along during the chorus of "Home on the Range" and I was a little surprised that none of the kids seemed to know it, though all the adults did. The G-unit, however, is very good at following along, so he sang with gusto! It was seriously adorable.

Afterward, my nephew was kind of in a hurry to get going, so I didn't get to stop and say Hi to everybody as I would have done otherwise. The G-unit was so anxious to have more time to play at Grammy's that he didn't even want to stop for ice cream on the way home! So, we headed to my mom's house where my nephew spent the rest of the night playing Wii games with Grammy and me, and I played with my rambunctious, impossibly enchanting nieces. They both amazed me with their sign-language skills... there were several things they signed that I had no idea what they were. Kinda nice to know when they want a cracker, and to see them say "Thank you" when they get one!

When Adam and Lindsey arrived, they were surprised to learn that the G-unit had wanted to stay for the entire play. Apparently he usually requests to leave during intermission. I am really glad that I hadn't known that ahead of time, because I would have been even more nervous than I already was! He recounted some of the cooler stage business and his parents thanked me for taking him with me. It was my pleasure. I was so proud to introduce him around and enjoy the experience with him. It was a great night!

So, if you and the kids in your life are looking for something to do on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon for the next couple of weeks, I highly recommend the Tall Tales of Pecos Bill. It was a lot of fun and made for a great auntie/nephew date night!

My Birthday Weekend

My birthday this year ranks up at the top of awesome birthdays. And by "birthday" I really mean "birthday week" because even though the birthday itself was a terrific day, it was no doubt amplified by the three days that preceded it and two days that followed.

It started on the Friday night before. I left work at about 8:45pm (because I was a total slacker that week and tried to finish everything I had to do on Friday which of course never works) and met my dear, dear friends Kate, Brandon, Sharon, and Tyler at the movie theatre to see Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Loved it! And it was so funny watching with this group of people. Kate laughed at me when after the trailer for Devil I said "I am NOT going to see that movie!" I'm not really a video game player, but I could appreciate the art in Scott Pilgrim, and I loved the special effects and hyper-reality. It was pretty surreal. I could see why most of my friends were seeing it a second time. I wouldn't mind seeing it a second time myself! As a birthday present, Sharon took care of my ticket. She's such a cutie! It was a fun night -- a great kickoff for the weekend :)

Saturday I went swimming in the morning and then saw a bunch of my friends in the Pirates of Penzance at Hale Centre Theatre. Pirates is one of my favorite musicals, and I was glad that my friend Carrie invited me to go with her. She was one of my favorite castmates in Kiss Me Kate and I don't get to see her nearly enough.

Sunday night my family celebrated my birthday over at my parent's house. I got to pick what I wanted to eat, which included tacos, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and a chocolate pudding/cream cheese dessert my family likes to call "the best dessert ever." Sadly, it was really windy outside, so we couldn't get the candles to light and I didn't get to make a wish this year. But everyone still sang "Happy Birthday." The gifts were wonderful and thoughtful. My family knows me so well! I sure do love hanging out with them!

Monday was Labor Day and I was thrilled to have the day off work. I spent the morning cleaning my house! I even vacuumed! My little home looked and felt so lovely! Then I spent the afternoon at my grandma's pool with my parents, my brother, and my brother's kids. The G-unit was a little frustrated that I took so long to eat lunch but when I got in the water we played and played and played! I'd never seen the girls in their swimsuits, and it's so fun to watch their personalities come through. I stayed for a while after everyone else left, so I could swim a few laps and just sit quietly. I don't feel like I have a lot of quiet time lately.


That night I was late to a barbeque at my parents' house. Fortunately there was still some food left :D

Tuesday was my actual birthday and I took that day off work, too! Mom and I took my nieces to Hogle Zoo and I LOVED it! I'm a huge fan of the zoo, and an even bigger fan of my toddler nieces. It wasn't their first trip there. All I really wanted to do was see the baby elephant and the giraffes (Breezy kind of hated the giraffes at first. I happened to be holding her at the time and she gripped me really tightly when I stood too close). We ended up seeing nearly all of the animals, took the train (which was really lame, by the way), ate cotton candy, and still had time for the girls to just wander around and play. Like lemmings, they'll follow any group wherever they're going. I had a bit of stress trying to keep track of both of them while Mom fetched us some lunch. Zonks wanted to walk around and Breezy wanted to be held. It was difficult to handle them both with just one good arm. I've decided my sister-in-law is truly amazing being able to take care of both of them at the same time. I was exhausted by the end! So were the girls. They fell asleep in the car.

That night I went to Romano's Macaroni Grill with three of my favoritest people: Kate, Steph, and Candice. I even got to meet Candice's baby! I chose that restaurant because their chocolate cake is DIVINE and it did not disappoint. Neither did anything else about that meal. Terrific food and even better company. Thanks again, Steph, for treating me!

My dear friend Rach came over to my house later that night and I finally got to show her my condo! She and I ate some of the leftover "best dessert ever" and watched the pilot episode of Pushing Daisies, which never should have gone off the air. I forgot how enchanting the show is! Rach liked it enough that I loaned her DVDs :) Nice to share something I enjoy with someone I like to spend time with!

Seriously, I don't get to see any of my friends nearly enough.

The next day I went to work and experienced some hardcore post-birthday blues. I admit this milestone is a little depressing for me. I'm having a hard time saying my age out loud. I might just start telling people I'm 28. I'm still youthful, and that was a crummy year so I should get to do it over!

But I digress! Kate invited me to be her plus-one at the annual Hale Thank You party on Wednesday and we had a marvelous time, despite the fact that she was worried about school and I was worried about work and being old. We met up with Karrie Ann and enjoyed the performances, the food, the games (which we thankfully didn't have to participate in), and best of all the renewing of friendships. Kate introduced me to absolutely everyone she talked with. More than once I had to stifle the impulse to go all "rabid fan" on people. I see all the shows and those actors are seriously talented! And nice people!

Thursday and Friday were forgettable, but Saturday was NOT! I met Kate for lunch and we hung (hanged? did some hanging?) out at Fashion Place Mall for awhile and ate some frozen yogurt. Then I went to the Jordan River Temple that night, and spent some time with my Heavenly Father. It was the perfect cap to a great week.

There you have it: one of my top 5 favorite birthdays ever. Thank you everyone who participated and sent me good wishes! I have very high hopes for this year. It'll be exciting to see what happens!

Lagoon Day!

The company I work for decided at the last minute that we should probably have a summer office party. About a month ago, they sent around a survey asking which of the following we'd prefer:

1) Lagoon with our families
2) REAL Salt Lake game with our fammillies (I like this typo so I'm going to leave it)
3) Bees game with our families
or 4) Lunch at the Sky Box for employees only

The Lagoon option won, so a few days later the party planner came by to ask me how many people I wanted to invite. I literally pulled the number 5 out of the air, but that's how many I actually brought. It was a pretty sweet deal: free tickets for all into the park, free parking, and a free lunch.

Can I just say that it's been a long time since I have worked with a company who would go to so much trouble for its employees? Especially for a non-corporate branch. The last place I worked for didn't even give Christmas bonuses. I am so grateful that I not only like my job, but the company I work for seems to like me, too!

I invited my parents and my older brother's family. They are awesome. We had the best time! Adam took the day off on Friday (the day of the party) and his family picked me up on the way to the park so that I could work for two hours in the morning. The G-unit was pretty excited. He had never been to Lagoon and I think he was glad to get to go with his Grammy, Boppa and me. I gave him a present I thought was pretty cool: a water bottle that has a built-in dry compartment which I filled with honey nut cheerios. I bought a Cars-themed bottle for him, and a Disney princesses one for me. G-unit ended up eating most of the cheerios from both. The best part was that the water bottles had a strap so he could carry his own. He was pretty resistant to carrying it at first, but after a few hours of persistence on his mom's part he accepted the responsibility as a given. Good kid.

We ended up arriving at the same time as my parents, who drove separately (and by "at the same time" I mean they happened to be the car in front of us at the parking lot toll booth).

I haven't been to Lagoon in 5 years, and I was really surprised by how much it has changed. There is a whole "kid land" section in the middle of the park that hadn't been there before! In fact, a lot of the rides were unfamiliar.

We started with the Log Flume ride, which had issues while we were in line, so we waited for nearly an hour. But when the ride was working again and we all took our turns, we succeeded in getting very, very wet, which was our goal since it was about 90 degrees that day.

Unfortunately, the long line apparently kept me from winning a prize in the raffle at lunch. Pretty much everyone stopped by to tell me my name had been called but they gave the prize away because I wasn't there. Even my NEPHEW told me which was funny because he had been in line with me. He must have overheard my mom tell my dad or something.

The boys and I decided to head over to Lagoon-a-beach for awhile and take advantage of all the water. We decided later it wasn't a great idea, since water and the extra exposure to the sun seemed to sap us all of our energy (by "all" I mean the adults -- G-unit seemed impervious to the sun). Meanwhile, my mom and Lindsey took the girls on the carousel and another ride. 'Twas nice to have an excuse to put on the bathing suit for the FIRST TIME THIS SUMMER (seriously, where did the summer go?) and fun to see the G-unit get excited about some of the water slides.

The park was PACKED. I think since it was the last Friday before most school started up again, everyone decided to get in their last hurrah. Consequently, the lines for everything were ridiculous. This did not keep us from standing in plenty of those lines, but it kept us from trying most of the new rides, like Wicked, Tsunami, and the Spider.

By the way: the Bat was a HUGE disappointment. We waited in line for just half an hour, but I would be shocked to discover that the ride itself was any longer than about 20 seconds. It felt like it was just getting started and all of a sudden it was over. Lame, lame, lame!

But the Tidal Wave, Music Express, Turn of the Century, Collossus, Centennial Screamer, and Jet Star 2 were as good as I remembered. Even better was the fact that my dad and the G-unit loved them too (well, G loved the ones he was big enough to ride, especially the Tidal Wave). My mom and Lindsey took turns watching the girls while the rest of us rode the rides.

About dinnertime, Lindsey took the tired babies home. They had played hard and won the hearts of hundreds of passersby (including my coworkers) and having conquered the park had had enough for one day. The rest of us ate a quick dinner, then split up for some more crazy adventures. Adam and I went on some of the wilder rides while Mom, Dad, and G-unit discovered the fun located in the aforementioned new "kid land." Adam and I were pretty suprised when we rejoined the others at 9:30pm to discover that G-unit was still going strong. The rest of us were exhausted and didn't want to fight the crowds any longer.

Not surprisingly, G slept the entire way home.

So, is Lagoon really "what fun is?" Sure. Definitely not as well-run or well-supplied as Disneyland, so we were disappointed there, but my family had a great time together. We didn't push ourselves too hard, and we loved getting a break from the regular routine. I am so glad I invited them!

Saturday morning, I slept in as much as possible, then went in to work for six hours. Not really fun, but definitely necessary since I hadn't managed to finish my project before that paid Friday holiday. I am grateful for my office which made Friday possible. So many people hate their jobs or are out of work and looking for a job. I am so blessed. It's good to be employed by people who care and to be doing work I don't mind doing!

A new sister-in-law!

My younger brother, Peter, married his gorgeous Jordyn on Saturday. It was a great day and fun party, and I am glad that I got to share the experience with them as they committed to love and take care of each other for the rest of their lives.

My top 5 favorite moments of the day:
1. The whole wedding ceremony. Jordyn had worked hard not to let Peter see the dress before she walked down the aisle, and as soon as Peter saw her in it he started to cry. It just got better and better with the vows, the officiator's words, our nephew's dilligent and successful job as ring bearer, seeing the ring actually on Pete's finger and realizing he really is a married grown-up now, and the bride and groom's joyful kiss when pronounced "man and wife."

2. Peter dancing with Mom to "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Only Peter would think to choose such a meaningful song for the two of them. Mom used to sing it to us as babies, and as soon as the music started playing, all of my brothers, my mom, and I started to cry. It was beautiful.

3. My nephew dancing. PURE. AWESOME! That kid had boundless energy and even has a few good moves! The photographer loved him and took about a hundred pictures of those dance moves. The best was when his dad would dance with him and demonstrate moves that the G-unit would try to copy. "G! Do the bum-wiggle!" Then, of course, all the rest of us on the floor would jump in and do it too. The dancing was a great idea -- Thanks Jordyn for encouraging us all to party with no shame or embarrassment!

4. Jordyn's sister catching the bouquet. I was worried that our "single ladies" group was too far away and the bouquet would hit the ground, but Whitney ran right up and caught it. Then she and Jordyn proceeded to squeal happily and jump up and down in perfect sync. It was too funny! I wished I had a little sister who could catch my bouquet! (Sidenote: I usually hate standing in the group to catch the bouquet, but I didn't mind at all this time. It just felt natural and fun and not at all humiliating for once! Also, at my wedding, no one will be playing Beyonce's song "Single Ladies" when I toss the bouquet. Love the song but...no.)

5. Seeing my family all dressed up. We don't have many occasions where we can get decked out together, and this time we even matched! My parents looked classy and elegant; my brothers were exceedingly handsome in their suits and ties; the G-unit looked too grown-up in the tie, shoes, and belt he proudly informed me were "just like Daddy's, except black instead of brown"; my sisters-in-law were radiant and beautiful; my nieces were completely adorable in their matching dresses; and I felt waaaay too attractive to be the old maid big sister. It was fun to be photographed together and appreciate just how good-looking a family we are!

Let us take a moment to appreciate how awesome my outfit is:

Note the freakishly high heels! They were not as uncomfortable as you might expect, though I changed into lower, comfy cork sandals to dance in. My mother finished this dress the morning of the wedding, if you can believe it. I had a bunch of back-up dresses on hand, but they were the wrong color green. The pattern on the first dress my mom made didn't work so we were scrambling to finish this one in time. It was quite the adventure trying to buy a necklace without knowing exactly how high the neckline was! In the end, I bought three belts, three necklaces, a couple of bracelets... it was pretty hectic. Thankfully, Lindsey was able to help me choose which accessories to actually use and I felt really pretty on the day. I liked the high shoes, because my brothers and Jordyn's family are all so tall, as you can see in the photos (Peter is 6'3" and Jordyn is about 6', in contrast to my 5'5"). Like I always say: "If someone in the family has to be short, I'm glad it's me." I've become quite the fan of heels lately. They make me feel totally sassy and grown-up. (Sorry Aaron for posting such an odd photo of you, but this is my favorite one of me! Why are you frowning, anyway?)

Congratulations, Peter and Jordyn! Thank you so much for inviting me to celebrate your special day with you. I can't wait to celebrate many more special occasions! I'm thrilled to have another terrific sister-in-law in the family and am looking forward to seeing what happens for the two of you. I love you!

Bear-y Christmas Presents

**WARNING FOR ADAM AND LINDSEY -- Do not look at the photos until after Christmas unless you want to spoil the surprise! I couldn't resist posting them, so if you look I'll have to blame myself.**

Mom and I took the G-unit to Build-a-Bear this week to help him pick out his first Christmas gifts for his little sisters. Since he doesn't have a lot of experience with girly things, he relied quite a bit on Grammy and Auntie Meg's advice... and by "advice" I mean Mom and I voting down his "guitar hero" and "Star Wars" selections in favor of something pink. Truth to be told, Mom and I probably enjoyed the shopping and selecting than he did, but the bears turned out really cute. They are very soft, and I hope that the girls like them.

Putting the bears together

The finished presents -- a blue bear and a pink one. I want one of my own now!

(Mom and I are wondering how soon after they open the bears Adam and Lindsey put the sunglasses on the twins. The glasses are probably just the right size for our tiny girls.)

For some reason, G didn't want his photo taken. I got a lot of photos like this:

Finally, in an attempt to get me to stop taking pictures, G took my camera case away from me. When he realized the camera wasn't in the case and he turned to demand it from me, I shot this photo:

I promised to stop taking photos after that, even though I very much wanted a picture of the two stuffed moose Mom stowed in his hood. You can kind of see one in the photo above.

It was just fun to watch G-unit be a boy and play, be excited about the Darth Vader bear outfit, eat a cinnamon pretzel, engineer fancy straws with which to drink his hot chocolate, and convince his Grammy to take him back to her house to play instead of taking him directly home afterward. What a great kid he is! I'm a lucky, lucky Aunt.

I sure do love that kid and my mom. They are a darling duo! I am glad they invited me on their trip!

Another Happy Conference Weekend

Conference Weekend is pretty much the only LDS-only holiday there is, though, technically it isn't a holiday. And it isn't exclusive -- non-LDS people are encouraged to watch. Instead, it's an opportunity to hear the leaders of our church give us advice and counsel, and remind us of what we're already supposed to be doing. I love it! I'm one of those people who will sit in front of the t.v. for all four two-hour sessions on Saturday and Sunday. I'm not saying I stay awake the whole time, but I love to listen and take notes.

Yesterday I slept until noon, so I'm grateful for DVR. As of now, I still have a half-hour of the morning session to watch. Today, I watched both sessions at my parents' house while we ate french toast, quiche lorraine, chocolate-covered strawberries and other fruit, assorted juices, sausage, and bacon. Adam's family all came over, as well as Lindsey's parents, Bob and Sandy. It's nice to be together all day long. G-unit helped me color during President Monson's talk in the morning session. We only color in my Cinderella book during Conference, so we've been working on it for years. G is really nice about not coloring in it until I give him permission.

In between sessions, my parents taught us a card game they learned earlier in the week called "Boonda", which is a lot like "Scum." I like when we play games together and laugh and are silly. The best memories are made that way, don't you think?

As for Conference itself, the messages were great! The have all of the talks available online at lds.org (text copies will be available on Thursday), but I'm glad that I took notes when concepts and quotes jumped out at me. My favorite talk might have been Neil A. Anderson's "Come unto Him and be wrapped in His arms." He talked about how the Savior is eager and able to forgive our sings and that even if we continually mess up, as long we we're trying to overcome our sins and weakness we are repenting.
And repentance not only changes us, but blesses our family and those we love. My other favorite quote of his is, "We each need to feel the Savior's arms of mercy though the forgiveness of our sins."

I also appreciated Elder Russell T. Osguthorpe's talk, where he reminded us that we can accomplish more than we think we can, so we should "Aim high!" He told a story about how his first talk in Primary went badly, so when his teacher asked him to speak again he didn't want to. However, the teacher persisted. "She expressed so much confidence in me that her invitation was hard to refuse." How great is that? Just a reminder to be supportive of others, and help them to be the best they can be. I love it!

Tomorrow, I'm in charge of FHE in my Singles Ward. Since we didn't have church this week, we thought it would be a good idea to do something low-key just at the Ward building because everyone will probably drift that way tomorrow anyway. We decided to just get everyone together and talk about what we liked at Conference. I agreed to lead the discussion, but I don't really have any sort of direction for the discussion at the moment. I probably won't worry about it until 5pm tomorrow, at which case I'll really stress out... and yet, I'm sure it'll all work out in the end.

Whether you spent it watching Conference, or not, I hope you enjoyed your weekend. I know I did!

Names and Blessings

My brother and sister-in-law took their daughters to church for the first time on Sunday! My parents and brothers, Lindsey's parents, and many of the Craven cousins were there to support my brother Adam as he gave his two daughters each a name and a blessing. Five years ago when he blessed his son, G-unit, I took notes to record as much of the blessing I can (my shorthand isn't great), and I determined to do the same for the girls. I did all right, but was glad to hear another lady had also taken notes and one of Adam's friends audio recorded it. I have a copy of my baby blessing, and I really wanted the girls to have theirs, so I'm glad so many people were paying attention!

The little girls were darling in their dresses -- Summer in one that Mom bought and Zoe in one that Lindsey's mom had picked out. After the meeting, the whole family trooped to my parent's house for yummy sandwiches and together time. I do love to be with these people!

Adam and Lindsey asked my dad to take some photos of his granddaughters and he was happy to oblige! The girls were mostly content to have their photos taken, both pulling faces and looking confused at all of the attention and clicking sounds. How happy we are to have these little sweeties in our lives!

Summer

Zoe

Summer and her proud papa

Zoe (the baby whose face you can see) wonders how many more photos Boppa wants to take

Sisters who seem to have the same thing in mind!

A darling little family

Family Photos

Sunday was a big day at the Smyth house. Not only were we celebrating my dad's birthday, but it was the first day my brother Aaron was in town for a week-long visit from D.C., AND Adam and Lindsey brought the twins over for the first time! I hadn't seen the girls in weeks, and Aaron had never met them! Needless to say, there was a lot of cheering and hugs and excited chattering. I had my unexpected reunion with Aaron when he showed up in Sacrament meeting at church a few hours earlier. If I had checked my text messages I would have known he was coming; it was better this way, though. I was thrilled when Adam asked if I wanted to hold one of my nieces. I literally RAN to wash my hands and lather up with antibacterial goo! Those little girls are so gorgeous. My dad couldn't resist a few shots of him with both of his granddaughters in his arms:
Summer, Grandpa, and Zoe

Since it was the first time we'd all been together since Thanksgiving, we probably won't all be together again until next Thanksgiving, and we have new family members, we decided to take some family photos. Here are some of my favorite shots:

G-unit and Zoe (note Zoe's "baby jazz hands")

Being tough (Broadway Style, in my case)

bright-eyed Summer (also showing off "baby jazz hands")

Peter and Jordyn

The whole family

Many Milestones

Every once in awhile, I think of the biblical phrase "marrying and giving in marriage." It's used to illustrate times when there are no big earth-shattering events, just day to day living, because what is more normal than people getting married, going to work, raising children, having birthdays and so forth? It's a relevant phrase in the scriptures and in my own life.

This last week was been a lovely one, where I've seen my friends go through milestones in their lives. None are terribly exciting to the outside world, but each have changed for the better the lives of the people involved.

My friends Brandon Rufener and Kate Lowder were married on Memorial Day Monday. I was privileged to attend the rehearsal barbecue the night before, and the actual ceremony. I smiled wide when I saw Brandon walk to his place wearing green socks, and I nearly started crying when I saw how incandescently beautiful Kate looked in her brilliant gown, veil, flowers, and pink shoes. They had been planning this day for a year, and everyone there was thrilled it wasn't rained out! It was fun to watch Kate and Brandon dance and socialize, and her gorgeous bridesmaids running around taking photos, making sure the bride and groom were happy, and ensuring there were no huge problems. I visited with many loved friends there. It was truly a celebration to remember. I am excited to see how Kate and Brandon's life together affects each of them and the changes they will no doubt make to the world around them. Congratulations, you two!

Tuesday, Michelle B called me to invite me to an impromptu barbecue in honor of her 30th birthday. Michelle hadn't been looking forward to that particular milestone, so her new boyfriend took her on vacation to southern Utah for the actual big day. Sounds like they had a great time! By the time I arrived at the party on Tuesday all the food was gone, but all I wanted to do was talk with my friend anyway. That's when I learned about the new boyfriend (whom I know well and fully approve of for her). Apparently, Michelle's daughter absolutely loves Ryan and already wants them to get married. She wanted Michelle to ask him if they could get married... how do you explain to a 5 year old about adult long-term relationships? It was pretty funny. I'm just excited for her. Michelle deserves to be with a guy who will make her laugh and completely adore her and her little girl, and Ryan does that for her. Her ex-husband didn't and isn't doing a good job of making either of them feel wanted. I'm trying not to get my hopes up about her and Ryan... but they already are :^D

My nieces Zoe and Summer are finally sleeping in cribs, wearing clothing, gaining significant weight, and successfully using a bottle. The nurses even let my mom hold Summer earlier in the week (only the parents had been allowed thus far), and Adam got to give Summer a bath yesterday. Big steps! It's only a matter of time until they can come home!

G-unit graduated from pre-school on Friday, which means he'll be starting Kindergarten in the fall. That's crazy! He's such an intelligent, articulate, creative, picky, bossy, happy kid. Lindsey and Adam threw him a party Friday night and invited my parents and brothers and I. We ate pizza and cupcakes, talked with each other, and played several board games with G. He showed off his new room (he moved downstairs so the girls can be close to Mom and Dad), and we laughed hysterically while I used his stuffed orangatang as a puppet while singing "I Wanna Be Like You" from Disney's Jungle Book. It's been really fun watching him become so self-sufficient and yet so personable. How I love him!

I saw Spotlight Production's Pride and Prejudice (the one I auditioned for and decided not to do) on Saturday. I have been regretting for a few weeks now that I chose not to do it. I love the story and the language and the characters but at the time it was the right choice to make. I talked with director Brighton at the show and she said I had been her first choice for Jane. As I talked with her, I realized how much it would have meant to Brighton for me to do the show, as I was one of the first people she'd met in the theatre community. She was kind and super-excited to see me, but I felt very keenly how much I'd disappointed her. Well, hindsight is always 20/20. I hope that I have another chance both to work with Brighton and to be in Pride and Prejudice. It was still a great show without me! I was most excited to see Kate S. play Elizabeth. I met her during the callback, and almost did the show just to play Jane with her. She told me about how passionate she is about the book and the characters, and it came through in her performance. She and Mr. Darcy were great together. It was a well-done production (especially the second act). I am seriously considering seeing their final performance tonight.

Yesterday, I attended Allyson H's farewell. Allyson played Laurey when I was Ado Annie in Oklahoma!, and Fiona when I played Jeannie in Brigadoon, so we've had the opportunity to become pretty close. As I listened to her talk, I realized how jealous I am of her! I always wanted to serve a temple/visitor's center mission (I love Latter-day Saint church history), and she has the whole thing ahead of her. My mission seems so far away sometimes. I leafed through my missionary journals on Saturday while I finally unpacked them, and was surprised how much I didn't remember, how much I'd admired and loved my companions, and the depth and strength of my testimony. I look forward to learning some of Allyson's experiences and about the lessons she'll learn. It was a wonderful meeting. I gave her a hug afterwards and wished her luck (her dad spotted me and said "Is this the girl who can't say no?"). I'm glad I went!

So many lives changing; so many happy events. It was a full and happy week! This week promises not to be as busy, but I am looking forward to finally hosting a baby shower for Lindsey with our relatives. Keep your fingers crossed that it goes well. I'm a little nervous to be the hostess!

Nieces News, a Graduation, Soccer, and the Star Trek Movie

I decided to write one really long post rather than divide it into four posts and risk anyone missing out on something they're interested in ('cause honestly, I have no idea what you all care to know, and what you don't). Feel free to read or skip sections according to your whims!

Baby Update: Summer and Zoe are doing really well! Lindsey was released from the hospital on Thursday, so now she is juggling time with G-unit and time at the hospital. The nurses have a strict schedule for the twins and a bunch of rules. They recommend Lindsey and Adam spend at least an hour a day holding their daughters (not sure if they both need to hold both babies). Both girls lost 10% percent of their body weight pretty quickly -- which meant that Zoe dropped below 3 pounds -- but are thankfully starting to gain again. Summer's lungs are strong enough that she was taken off forced air this morning and is now breathing room air on her own! Both girls are learning to eat from a bottle (their sucking reflex was delayed because they were born so early). I haven't seen the twins since their birth day so I have not been able to confirm Adam's belief that Summer looks like me... but I'm delighted with the idea! No word yet on how soon the twins will be independent enough to come home and flourish under the care of their darling, devoted mother, or when their big brother will get to meet them. Lindsey's mother, Sandy, is in town to help out in any way she can.

Lindsey apologized that she hasn't updated Facebook or sent out announcements yet. The hospital has a Web site where parents of premies still in the hospital can post status updates and photos, and she plans to recruit her brother to get it started in the near future. Meanwhile, I'll continue to make updates, too, and post photos when I get some!

Here is the one photo from last Sunday that I feel comfortable posting -- Adam standing in front of Zoe's isolette and all of the machines she's hooked up to. Summer has her own set of machines watching over her...

Work Schmerk: Thursday one of my co-workers asked for some help updating the page numbers on a file she was working on. This sort of question always makes me nervous. I know I know how to do my job, but I feel like I've said "I don't know" a lot lately. Sometimes if I have no idea I'll say "What if..." hoping to come up with an idea by the time I finish the phrase. It's worked once or twice! This time, I started by asking what the co-worker had been doing. Then I suggested the only other option I know of, which luckily worked! Hooray! Instant professional self-esteem. I needed it, especially as I begin to feel more and more overwhelmed with the upcoming release. More and more, not doing a play has proven to be a smart move...

David's Graduation: Yesterday, my youngest brother, David, graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering. David worked hard not only finished all the Engineering requirements but spent a year taking Art major classes. Total, he completed about 180 credits! I find that amazing -- I am so proud of him! I missed the university-wide ceremony, but attended the college commencement with Dad, Mom, and Peter. It was fun to see David looking so distinguished and gorgeous in his tie, cap and gown; I don't get to see him dressed up very often. Adam, Lindsey, and G-unit joined us for dinner at Mazzo (middle eastern food) and I very much enjoyed my chicken and cauliflower tabseh. It was a good day for my beaming parents. They put five kids through their Bachelors and the rest is up to us. It was nice to celebrate David's accomplishment with so many of my family!

Congratulations, Dave! I am proud of you!

G's Soccer Game: The G-unit is playing soccer this spring and I finally made it to a game this morning! G's team is called The Dark Knights, and they wear all black. Those little kids are awesome running around that field! Adam seems to be doing a great job as the coach. The team members don't really get the nuances of the game, but they all like to crowd around and kick the ball. G stood as a goalie for a minute or two, but it seemed his favorite part was being offsides. He had a lot of enthusiasm playing that first half, but he droopped during the second... at least, he droopped until he got to come hang out with his Grammy, and uncles Russell and Peter who ran drills with him with an extra soccer ball. It was pretty entertaining. The G-unit had quite the cheering section, including my dad, Lindsey, Lindsey's mom Sandy, and Peter's girlfriend Jordyn. I was glad I made it. It was a nice morning to sit in the sun and I love the company!


The Star Trek Movie: I've seen it twice! Last night I went with some friends from my ward, and today I saw it with Adam, Lindsey, Sandy, Russell, and Angela. I think the actors were brilliantly cast, did their homework, and were fantastic in each of the roles. I love the costumes, the special effects were awesome, and I thought the nods to fans were appropriate and tasteful, though I can see why non-Trekkies would be confused when Trekkies would laugh at seemingly random moments. All that said... I didn't love it. I'm not sure why. I liked it a lot. I'll probably see it again next weekend and maybe even buy it when the movie comes to DVD. It was a good movie. But I felt a little unsatisfied with something, perhaps because it conflicted with my limited knowledge of the science behind some of the fiction. My favorite Trek films remain First Contact and The Undiscovered Country. Still, it was genuinely funny and well-thought out, and I got emotional at a couple of moments. It was a lovely prequel, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good, fun, action flick!

My IMDB Profile: Last week I was up something like 536 percent. This week, I'm down 45%. My fans are fickle! What I really want to know is whether I'm 45% down from 0, or if I'm 45% down from 536%, because that's still 119% popularity. And if it’s the latter, how in the world do I ever know – forget it. My brain is starting to hurt. (Don't worry, I'm not deluded into thinking being on IMDB means I'm famous. I just find the popularity percentage interesting!)


C'est tout!

The Von Smyth Family Singers

Today at our weekly family dinner, Lindsey announced that Adam had a brilliant family-activity suggestion. Adam was really excited to suggest we all sing karaoke. Now, if you've ever spent any time with my brothers, you know that I am the most boring person in my family. My brothers have way more charisma, imagination, and talent than I do, encouraged and matched by our fearless parents. Consequently, the foray into karaoke was hilarious -- all of us just singing together instead of one at a time -- especially since we started with songs we only knew part of, like "My Boo" and "Rock with You". It's amazing how unhelpful the instrumental is for those songs. "You Really Got Me" was a hit though, followed by "Bad Moon Rising", "Great Balls of Fire", "Can't Buy Me Love", "Tiny Dancer" (possibly the worst song ever), and "Heartbreaker". The G-unit accompanied us with some killer dance moves, which inspired Uncle Pete, Boppa, and Jordyn to try a "Dancing: Bollywood Style" tutorial. And hey! With karaoke on Demand with my parents' comcast subscription, we didn't even need to leave the house! Schweet!! Good times spent together makes for the best of Sunday evenings.

(The photo is from Christmas a couple of years ago.)

Twin Girls!

My sister-in-law is pregnant with twin girls, and I can't even begin to describe how excited I am! I get to buy the Pretty Pretty Princesses game, and play dress-up and Barbies, and play with their hair, and buy frilly dresses, and hopefully Lindsey will dress them in those tights with lace on the fanny. I love it! I am fully aware that they are not my daughters, but being an aunt is the next best thing! And since I'm a girl maybe -- just MAYbe I can be a worthy opponent with my brothers for their affections. Although, I'm the first to admit, I think my brother will be an adorable little girl daddy, and seeing the way my sister-in-law deals with her son I have no doubt she won't let those two little girls get away with too much. They are such good parents!

I am excited enough about these little girls that I feel a little guilty about my nephew. I don't love him any less, I just don't know him very well. I am excited though to see him play soccer, or t-ball, or have him audition for a play with me, or be involved in whatever he wants to do in the future that doesn't involve video games or legos... I feel guilty enough that I compiled a list of 10 things I love about G.

Top 10 reasons I love the G-unit:
10. His dimples. They give his already gorgeous face a dynamic that perfectly compliments his personality.
9. He's happy. This little boy is the most cheerful kid you'll meet in your life. He smiles and laughs all the time, and it is completely infectious!
8. He's entertaining. Whether he's pinching our toes under the table at Sunday dinner, or patiently explaining how to play the Lego Indiana Jones game, his energy level is always at a 10.
7. His opinions. My family is always surprised at G's thoughts on whatever is going on at the moment. Once, he answered a phone call from my brother Aaron in Washington D.C. The G-unit was aware Aaron's birthday was coming up, and asked what presents Aaron wanted. Aaron said he just wanted my parents to pay for Aaron to come home for Christmas. G replied, "Oh Aaron... that's not a good gift." The best part was his pittying tone! He sounded very much like Aaron had a lot to learn.
6. He is a fan of Star Wars. Truely his father's son, and it's something I have in common with him! This is not to say he's seen any of the movies in their entirety, since they are somewhat violent, but apparently Adam has told him and shown him all G needs to know. I love to watch him fight lightsaber duels. Since we have four (one red, blue, green, and purple) they can get pretty intense. For awhile, one of his favorite activities was to have David play "The Imperial March" (the Darth Vader theme) on the piano, while the rest of us marched around. Heaven help up -- we indulged him!
5. His lower lip. When G is upset or hurt, his lower lip sticks out when he cries. I know it's mean of me, but I always laugh (empathetically, of course). It's so cute!
4. The G-unit loves a villain. For some reason, his favorite character when Adam describes movies like Star Wars is the bad guy. Whenever he playacts, he's always the bad guy. This kid already recognizes that the bad guy in a story has the most fun, and that if the villain isn't believable the story is lame. Smart kid!
3. His excitement. I felt very lucky to accompany G (and the rest of our family) on his first trip to Disneyland. You never saw a kid so thrilled -- and yet shy -- when he finally met Mickey Mouse and Woody from Toy Story.
2. His compassion. G truely cares about the people he loves. Mom told me about a conversation she had with him, where G asked who lived with Aaron and I. Aaron and I both have our own apartments, so Mom told him we live alone. G was horrified. No kids? No husband or wife? No Mommy or Daddy? He was very, very worried about us being lonely, which I think is about the most adorable thing ever. Thank you for your love, Buddy!
1. He has brought out the best in his parents, grandparents, aunt, and uncles.
The G-unit is really the best first grandkid my family could have asked for. He has been the center of all of our lives for the last almost-five years, and we have had a LOT of fun. It's been great to see how we all interact with him. We all like to play with him, learn who he saw and what he did on any given day, and watch whatever he's going to do next.

It's definitely going to be a big change for the family when the twins come. Fortunately, they'll be small at first, and G is usually okay with playing with one person at a time at Grammy's house, so hopefully it won't change too much too fast. It's exciting! We'll have girls! Thank you, Adam and Lindsey, for evening the odds a little bit!

G-unit's Primary Program

Today I attended my nephew's ward so I could support him in the annual Primary program in Sacrament meeting. He rehearsed his line for us last Sunday, so I was pretty excited! It was also fun to be there with my parents, my brother Peter, and his lady friend Jordan.

I wasn't disappointed. My goodness, our little boy is something special! He started off strong, with a very serious expression on his face. He used every muscle in his jaw and mouth to enunciate all the words. He really wanted to do a good job. I could tell the point when the music director reminded the kids to smile when singing. I cannot describe how funny it was to see the G-unit try to smile while he was already using his whole mouth to sing... all while keeping that intense look of concentration. The littlest kids said their speaking parts first, and G was one out of maybe 3 kids between 3 and 5 who didn't need anyone to remind them of their line. He even said it somewhat clearly!

About halfway through the second song, he started to get annoyed that he couldn't remember all the words. During the first song, he tried to cover it up by attempting to match the movements of the conductor's mouth, but he told us later that his stomach started to hurt, too, which was distracting. By the fourth song, he looked pretty unhappy. His lower lip stuck out and he glared at the conductor. Then he noticed his family sitting in the third row. Of course, we were all trying vainly not to laugh at his misery -- he was so cute! -- and when he saw me I stuck out my lip too. That's when he realized he could put on a show, so for a little while he pouted just to get a reaction...which we gave him, of course.

By the last song, his tummyache became too much for him, and he started to cry. Bless his teacher who pulled him into her lap for a hug. Adam and Lindsey leaned over to Peter, and Adam said, "He's just like you!" (Peter hated singing in the Primary program. If my mom could actually get him to participate anyway, it usually ended in tears.) We were awfully proud of G anyway. He wanted so much to do well and had worked so hard. If it weren't for that hurting stomache I'm sure he would have had more fun, poor kid.

Since I was there, I ended up finishing the block at Adam and Lindsey's ward. One thing I love about the church: every ward said it's the best one, and there are kind and accepting people everywhere. It was more than a little disconcerting to realize I was probably the only unmarried woman in Relief Society, but what can you do? The lesson was on maintaining a happy marriage, so I made a few comments based on my observations and stored the rest of what I learned for the future. The teacher did a terrific job. I am glad I stayed.

I will, however, have to decide on a ward soon. It's kind of depressing being so transient. I need a calling and ward friends so I can start feeling comfortable again!

Glad I took the opportunity to see my nephew perform, and spend some time with Adam and Lindsey. I love their little family. I hope to have on just like theirs someday!

Conference Weekend

This weekend was over too fast! I look forward to General Conference weekend, and revel in the excuse to stay home for two days and learn from smarter and more faithful people than I. I spent Saturday morning cleaning my condo, and the afternoon just listening. Then I saw the movie Ghost Town. It was really good! I laughed so hard, felt invested in the characters, and the last line made me feel all gushy and like I want to be in love. Two enthusiastic thumbs up, in spite of the two instances of the "F" word which I had been warned about previously. (How I loathe that word. It's never necessary and always ugly and shocking. My mother is convinced that it was put in just to keep the movie from getting a PG rating. I bet she's right, and I'm annoyed that's the way Hollywood works.)

Sunday morning my family continued our tradition of a morning brunch that spills into the afternoon. Mom went all out, preparing shrimp, salmon, chicken wings, chocolate-covered strawberries, mini-cheesecakes, sticky buns, orange rolls, cheese and crackers, grapes, cantaloupe, and several kinds of juice. I made deviled eggs -- also part of the tradition. It is just lovely having my parents, Adam, Lindsey, the G-unit, Peter and Dave all there to feel the Spirit and be together. I couldn't help peeking at everyone once in awhile to see the expressions on their faces and spy on whoever was asleep (which, according to Elder Oaks, is okay because at least they are reverent). G has a hard time sitting still at Grammy's house where there is so much to do, but he was mostly reverent. I enjoyed letting him color in my Cinderella coloring book (bought a couple of years ago especially for Conference Sundays), and giggled when I noticed he only wanted to color "the princess" and not the mice or anyone else.

Adam, Lindsey, and I made a special trip to my condo between sessions because they hadn't seen it yet. I admit, I felt quite a bit of pride over their oohs and ahhs! I love my little home, and I'm excited that the people I love think it's a good place, too. Sunday afternoon we continued to snack on brunch stuff and more than one of us, including me, feel asleep at one point. I want to check On Demand and watch Elder Wirthlin, Elder Bednar, President Eyring, and President Monson again, since they were the ones I missed. I very much enjoyed Elder Oaks's talk about being reverent during the Sacrament, Elder Holland's talk about the angels Heavenly Father sends to help, and Elder Nelson's talk about not settling for anything less than a loving and committed temple marriage.

The rest of Sunday was spent with the family. It was peaceful and relaxing, and it just felt good to be with everyone. I am so blessed to have the family I do, and that we get along and like to be together! I am thankful for parents who do their best to teach by example, and who are active in church and who want wonderful lives for all of their children. I am surrounded by supportive, kind, creative, fun, thoughtful people and I know that I am who I am because of them. It was a great weekend with them, and I was sorry for it to end.

Dinner and Family

My birthday was a good day. Nothing out of the ordinary, but it was peaceful, and I was glad to spend it with the people I love most in the world.

After sleeping in that morning, I prepared myself for church physically and spiritually, and then watched some soccer with Peter. Truth to be told, I wouldn't have chosen to have my 30th birthday on a Sunday, but since it was I felt excited to go to church and feel the spirit there and talk with my Heavenly Father and thank him for these last 30 years. I have been very blessed. It felt right to share some of my special day with Him.

Turned out, the next week was Regional Conference at the Conference Center, so it was my last chance to be in that ward and say good-bye. I hadn't told many people I was moving, so it caused quite a stir during Good News Minute. My Relief Society President and I get along really well, and when I told her I was leaving she said, "Oh no! I'm going to miss you; you're one of my favorites." I'm going to miss her too! It was a good ward. I loved my calling (Relief Society choruster -- how perfect is that?!), the Bishopric was genuine and kind, and I made friends there that I hope to keep for life.

After church, I went home and asked Dad to take some pictures of me while I was still dressed up. I felt very pretty in my floaty while dress, and wanted a photo of myself dressed up on my 30th birthday!



When Adam, Lindsey, and the G-unit arrived G was grumpy. To cheer him up, I told him we had chocolate-covered strawberries. I then said "G, we're going to have the Best Dessert Ever!" (That's what my family calls this incredibly fattening and delicious cream cheese and chocolate pudding dessert that I love). Well, G looked up at me with those big, blue, tear-filled eyes and said, "Cake?" I laughed and told him that the Best Dessert Ever is the name of the dessert. He's such a joy! How I love that little boy!

Mom served the dinner I'd been planning for a month:

steak and chicken shishkabobs grilled with green peppers
hummus and pita bread
squash, tomatos, onions, and zucchinni baked in Italian dressing
chocolate-covered strawberries
Print Loft (cheese) soup
the Best Dessert Ever

It was, of course, excellent, and I was delighted when everyone liked it. Everyone took leftovers home and I still had enough for myself to eat for 3 lunches!

The gifts were terrific. I love to open gifts, and very much appreciated my family's thoughtfulness. Adam's family gave me the Stardust DVD, Dad bought me movie discount tickets, Mom gave me the Hairspray DVD, and Mom and Dad together gave me a new VCR/DVD player! I loved that Peter and David chose to give me the globe I'd hoped for. It will be nice to have a visual idea of where the places I read about actually are!



In my honor, the G-unit sang "Do, A Deer" from the Sound of Music. Lindsey started him off, and he rattled off the song in silly, giggly fashion, ending in "Do-oh-oh-oh-oh!" I was impressed that even though he kept interrupting himself to giggle, he came back into the song at the correct pitch! He didn't even change keys when the tune seemed too high! It was awesome!

Aaron called after dinner to wish me a happy birthday. I love my Aaron and have kept lousy touch during the last year. It was nice to hear how his adventures are progressing and to have his encouragement for mine. He sounds happy. I miss him. I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas when he comes to visit! Yay! Two weeks! I hope he doesn't get bored...

The rest of the evening went much the way most Sunday evenings do lately: Mom played with G, and the rest of us watched Project Runway and other stuff on t.v. When the others left I felt I should watch something Dad would like. Then Mom reminded me it was MY birthday, so I decided to watch what I wanted: Monk, Psych (both on DVR), and Spanglish (the only one my dad actually watched; I think he liked it!). I took today off from work (Yes, I took both Friday and Monday surrounding my birthday off. I think everyone should!) so I didn't have to worry about going to bed early. I love to stay up late! And it was my birthday; I wanted to wring every last drop of birthday-ness from it I could.

The day ended far too quickly, as they often do. Fortunately, I have something going on every night this week -- let the Birthday Week continue!