We made it!

I've been on an extended hiatus from real life. The boys and I went to beautiful, green MN, where my parents live. For 5 days, I attended the SAA 12th Biennial Conference in downtown Minneapolis and the boys stayed with my parents. What a treat! My focus was the Suzuki Early Childhood Education teacher training offered by Dorothy Jones. It was strengthening and enriching to be completely immersed in a Suzuki environment. I feel much more a part of the Suzuki community rather than 1 little teacher, teaching in a little studio.

After the conference ended, I joined the boys at my parents' home. They were so happy to run in the backyard and play with the neighbor kids and dig in the sandbox and blow bubbles on the porch and jump on the mini-trampoline and eat lunch outside on the deck and play in puddles in the cul-de-sac. It was a great break from urban, apartment life, where I never let them outside without close supervision.

All vacations come to an end, and we came home yesterday. It was 12 hours of travel. 90 minute drive to airport, then flights home through various large airports: Minneapolis, Chicago O'Hare, Las Vegas, and LAX. Picture it: me, 1 year old, 3 year old, my violin, my emergency carry on with clothes for all in case of who knows what, and 3 y.o.'s carry-on with food and distractions. We definitely had a few moments that were, uh, not worth reliving now. BUT, on the whole, it was a very positive travel experience. The man sitting next to us on the longest leg (3.5 hrs) was very helpful and accomodating and kept track of my youngest while I helped 3 y.o. in the bathroom. (As a side note, you can fit at least 3 people in those tiny airplane bathrooms if 2 of them under 4. Possibly more - has anyone tried more?)

Now we're happily home. We got up at 5:30 am, but the boys are napping now and I'm catching up on important things, like bills and blogging. Mr M is glad to have us back, I am quite certain, and we are very happy to be home. And now, on with real life!

Mormon Monastery

Here's a link to a new website that is a wonderful resource for studying the Gospel, Mormon Monastery. I am really looking forward to studying the temple pages. Check it out! I have added a permanent link on the sidebar.

If the cup fits...

My life is better thanks to Nordstrom. Yesterday, I visited a Certified Fit Specialist in the lingerie department and got fitted for a bra. Like 80% of women (according to Nordstrom), I was wearing the wrong size. The WAY wrong size. My new size is down two band sizes and up a cup. I feel comfortable, I look great, and I'm happy.

I think this was my first visit to Nordstrom. I was awed that it was just a Tuesday and there was live piano music floating up from the first floor near the escalator. They even piped it in to the dressing rooms.

My Specialist was friendly, professional, didn't bat an eye about the "t-shirt" under my bra, and didn't push any merchandise on me. I did, however, shell out the price of a week's worth of groceries for one bra - $62 with tax. But, I'm worth it! We all are!

Thank you, Nordstrom, and thank you to my MIL who gave me the idea in the first place!

Treasures in Heaven

Tonight for family scripture study, Michael was reading 3 Nephi 13. After the bit about laying up treasures in heaven, I interrupted the reading to ask, "Ethan, how do you think we get treasures in heaven?"

His immediate answer was, "You walk to heaven and then you get the pirate map and then you find the treasure. In the sky and not in the ground."

Orange wagon wheels

Ethan decided that he wanted to cook today. Fortunately, Ethan is into pretend food so we can encourage his culinary talents without having messes to clean up. After rummaging through the pot cupboard, he found an old alumninum pot. He told me the piano bench was a pretend oven and proceeded to cook. Actually, most of our furniture became a pretend oven at some point since Ethan kept moving the pot away from Scott's curious little hands.

All afternoon he served me pretend quesadillas and pretend ham pizza. Of course, I had to praise his excellent cooking skills and commend him on the flavor. After our family dinner (the real one) Ethan decided make us dessert: "pretend orange candies that look like wagon wheels." We had to take his word on it because they were invisible to us.

I told him that I thought they tasted really great... umm... like creamsicles, I guessed.

"Oh," said Mrs. M, "I thought they tasted a little sour."

What are orange candies that look like wagon wheels supposed taste like? We decided to ask the chef.

"Ethan, what does your candy taste like?"

Looking around, he answered thoughtfully, "Hmmm ... mine tastes like ... chicken."

Yum!