follow me boys

There is an old movie titled 'Follow Me Boys' starring Fred MacMurray (he is also in the original Absent Minded Professor). I haven't watched the movie in years...however, I think of it every day.

Every day and time when Madeleine calls out "BOYS!"


She really is another little mother - I hear my own words through her, and some of her own as well. And so often, I try not to laugh, and sometimes I vow that I need to not say some of the things I do, or improve my tone of voice.

Today as we were getting ready to run an errand, I heard her say:

"Boys! get your shoes on" and "Boys it's time to get on your coats," and my favorite was at the store with, "Boys, you know you are supposed to stay by us!"

She is already in great training....or she is a bossy older sister.

Perhaps she is the best of both :)

Once there was a snowstorm...

The BIG Blizzard of 2010.  We hear it was historic, something like the 3rd largest storm that hit the city in the past 100 years.  To credit the reports - we did get A LOT of snow.  There was A LOT of wind.  There were A LOT of people that were supposed to be doing their jobs plowing roads and clearing the snow...that somehow forgot they were actually working!  We noticed there was definitely more wind than snow, which then makes it hard for someone like me, an average weather observer, to not really be able to tell how much snow we really received.  Reports are that areas received anywhere from 16-33 inches.  I think our island probably had areas of 24 inches and more....we just get SO much wind that the snow blows into banks and drifts and it's so difficult to tell an average height.

The important part was that the children were of course super excited to have SNOW!  I wish it could have come just a few days earlier so we could have had a White Christmas....however, the snow here mostly falls between January and February...so the good news, we were beating the average on that one by a few days with a snowfall the last few days of December!

The snowflakes started trickling down Sunday evening, and the wind really picked up that evening.  Later that night the snow was coming down so fast and there was so much fog that we couldn't see the light across the river in Manhattan - it's only about the length of a football field!  Then there were deep rumblings and we realized that there was lightening and thunder with this storm.  Crazy!  As a friend of mine from down south said, it was like a hurricane with the high winds, storm conditions - and with snow and not water!

The wind was still whipping through on Monday - winds between 30 and 55 mph.  We get some amazing wind gusts as it is being on an island off of the big island of Manhattan - but this wind was really intense!  We hear it howling around the back corner where our apartment is....it will literally shriek, and I'm sure Jacob is convinced that the monsters and ghosts from Scooby-Doo are real, despite our promises that they are only pretend, when he hears the wind roaring around when its' that strong.

I finally decided to let the children go out and play in the snow on Tuesday, and by the time we got serious about the day's plans - we were all bundled up and out in the snow by 3pm.  With 1 hour of good daylight left!  It was a beautiful afternoon - the sun looked magical on the snow at that hour - and for me, it was the perfect amount of time to be outside, because as the sun started to really get low and I couldn't fell my toes anymore...it was easy to convince the children they had been out long enough and that we should all go inside for some hot cocoa!

 The kiddos have figured out a fast and easy sledding hill.  They use the slides on our small playgrounds behind our buildings.  It isn't a very long "hill", but they do go down fast and since I wasn't going to walk down to the other end of the island or go into Central Park for the day - this option was first choice for the day!

 Jacob zooming down! 

 Jacob is now sporting Bryson's coat and hat from last year - I constantly have to remind myself to call him Jacob because I'm still living in last year when I see the outfit!

 The snow crew! - adding in a neighbor friend that lives in the building over

A few days later we drove over to Costco to go shopping.  Jacob was playing in the snow bank up on the roof of the Parking Garage, while I was cleaning off the truck.  I love being up there and seeing the view of 3 different bridges - it's a sight that I still can't believe each time I see it.  This is the Triboro bridge behind Jacob - it connects Queens to the upper Bronx/highway up to Westchester and Connecticut.

I believe we'd all vote for more snow to come back and possibly without the wind - so that we can get outside and play in it a little bit faster and enjoy it a little bit longer!

makes me laugh

Since we've been back from the hospital, there has been an abundance to do and catch up on. I've asked Jacob a few times for help....this is a little bit of our dialogue.

"Jacob, can you help Mommy with making the bed (or other task)"

"No. {slight pause} What's that you said Mommy"

"I asked you if you'd help me make the bed".

"Oh no. I don't want to help"

Great. Honestly counts for something I suppose.

unexpected visit

We had an unexpected visit last night....the hospital with Bryson Sr.

He was having stomach pains throughout the day - mainly in the afternoon and increasing my evening. We are so blessed with amazing neighbors - which I will write more about, but our children were watched, we had a ride to the hospital and a physician's attention all from the family that lives upstairs.

After 3 hours between ER and triage units, blood work, funny drinks to coat your innards, IVs, and a CatScan....we found out that indeed Bryson was having an appendicitis.

Thankfully, looking at the chain of events things went quickly - his situation was something we needed to address soon, but it wasn't the point of emergency that it could have been.

He went into surgery at 1am and came out just before 3am. We are in the post-op room still, as there is no room in the inn for a private room....as of yet. I'm going to ask again - it would be nice to have a little privacy and try to get some rest.

Anyway, I had a moment where I needed to get up and stretch my legs so I wouldn't fall asleep and I found Au Bon Pain to get a bite to eat and saw the computers...and again, for cheap therapy thought I'd do a quick blog entry.

I'll post when we get home...which we hope they'll go for the release this afternoon, instead of keeping him here overnight. Ugh. I really don't want that option.

And the blessing in all this - Daddy now has the week of Christmas vacation off to spend with us as a family....in a very quiet way, but nonetheless we'll take time with him anyway we can!

Visions of Sugar Plums danced in their heads...

We had a special treat this afternoon with a Matinee performance of The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center.  They are well known for their Ballet Company, which they pull from all over the country (maybe the world...that I don't know) - and the training and dedication of those that dance with this company is admirable.  I've seen a few showings of The Nutcracker - and by far this was THE best dancing I have ever seen.  It was absolutely incredible, the scenery was rich and breathtaking, and the costumery was bright, vivid and magnificent.

The best part of the afternoon....the tickets were FREE and we sat in the Orchestra section, row 18 - close enough to see the facial expressions on the dancers faces, and the little wavering in the hand or their legs as they held a pose a bit too long!  How we came about getting tickets is that our friend that lives on our floor, asked me on Tuesday if I'd be interested to take the tickets that her husband got through his company for the Saturday Matinee - and I jumped in with a big "YES!". They offered us Opera tickets as well about 2 months ago, but we could not find a babysitter anywhere...so I was thrilled that once again tickets were being offered and that this time we could use them!

The one glitch...only 3 tickets.  Bryson offered to stay and watch the BYU game - oh and the boys as well for the afternoon! :)  My mom was asked if she wanted to fly in...which she did, but with the unpredictable weather of the season it would be too tricky if flights get canceled and she were stranded here as she flies standby with her work at Delta.  We'd love for her to be stranded here - however Delta wouldn't be too fond if she didn't show up for work, they are a really strict company.

Madeleine decided that she wanted to invite her teacher at school - we weren't sure if she would be able to come as she is of the Jewish faith and with Saturday being their Sabbath - I told Madeleine to be prepared she might not be able to come.  However, we were both thrilled and surprised when she said she wanted to come!  We made plans and today was the day....thankfully the weather was in our favor - cold but not a brutal wind like we've had this past week.  Madeleine and I had a girls' morning going to her piano lessons and wrapping presents and then getting ready to go, while the boys went and cleaned the church building and then stayed for a baptism before coming home for the football game.  Madeleine and I had a fabulous time until it was time to get dressed - we both had very different ideas of what we should wear, and Madeleine was NOT going to go with any of my suggestions and requests that we dress up just a bit for this event!  It was an emotional 1/2 hour before we left - she changed twice, I changed 3 times - and then finally we were somehow both dressed and out the door to catch the subway.

Traveling up to the Lincoln Center is not the easiest route...it's not tricky, just not easy.  And I manage to mess it up almost every time we go there for a visit to the temple.  Seriously!  There are 3 transfers that you need to make - 2 if you want to walk a few blocks up to avoid the last transfer - which I usually opt for that because the 3rd transfer usually takes the longest, and it's for only 1 stop of a ride.  Much easier to walk....and I love walking up from Columbus Circle to Lincoln Center - it's a beautiful walk and it really goes quickly looking at so many things in the windows...and people - people watching here is so interesting, although you have to be careful while you are also walking!

The problem with this specific train ride - I got antsy, and after we waited for a LONG time to finally get from the F train onto the D train - I jumped off after the 1st stop....confusing it with the 3rd transfer that we would have gone just one stop - we really needed to be on for a total of 3 stops.  Argh!  We sat at the station for a few minutes - and I looked at the time.  We were supposed to meet Madeleine's teacher in 7 minutes!  If the train came right away - we'd be fine.  But the train didn't and after a few more minutes and second-guessing myself about a dozen times (which then would be dozen guessing myself?!)...we finally decided to walk.  I looked again at the map and thought to myself.....'self - this isn't so long, it's just a few blocks more than if you had come up out at Columbus Circle'.  True.  However, we were already late AND I have a hard time navigating myself out of some subway stops....you come up out of the stairwell and you have just plunked yourself down somewhere in NYC.  Life does not stop for you to orient yourself - people are zooming by you both ways, and in fact can get a little miffed if you take too long to decide where you should go - should I go right, or is it left....what about straight ahead?!  I was definitely feeling lost when we came up - I had no idea where to go and so decided to at least walk across the street in the direction I thought we should go in and while doing so, saw a taxi waiting at the light right in front of me....I motioned to him that we were going to get in, and that was the best decision.  Whew - saved the sanity and the feet from walking what ended up being a FEW more blocks than I thought it would be and we would have been very late!

We arrived just a few minutes later than planned and met up with Madeleine's teacher.  We were swept up in yet another crowd, however this was a crowd that was dressed up with a lot of little children excitedly talking about the show and the afternoon....and getting treats (of course - what is any show without treats these days!).  We found our seats - and truly they were better than I had hoped.  We sat down and chatted a little bit while waiting for the show to begin - and once it started we were whisked away to the land of Sugar Plum Fairies and where Nutcrackers turn into Princes and snow falls from the sky on ballerinas that dance around the stage as if they are mere angels floating around with their wings.  It was absolutely enchanting!  The most favorite scene was the Sugar Plum Fairy dance, where the snow is twirling and whirling around them in a way that we found completely fascinating...I've never seen such a beautiful fake snowfall!  All 16 ballerinas were out dancing with a Snowflake configuration in their hand, with costumes that were perfection - and the music is by far the most beautiful arrangement I have ever heard.  It had a chorus with voices that sounded like the hymn says 'sing choirs of angels'.  It was absolutely breathtakingly magical and magnificent!

Now....if we could only hope for more magic each Christmas season and score free tickets to this show each time.  Madeleine and I would be more than happy to take anyone's tickets they aren't using....just let us know!

that means I love it!

As Bryson Jr. was bringing his plate into the kitchen after dinner, he let out a little burp. He looked a little sheepish, until he said, "If I let out a burp - that means I love it".

So matter of fact was his little face and statement.

I do hope this child gets called on a mission to the Polynesian Islands where burping is still fashionable after a very good meal. His manners at this point are prime for such an experience!

Madeleine's notes...

Madeleine has been known to kidnap my phone and write in the note section. I love reading these after the event....what she saw of a situation, or what was in her heart that must be put down to "paper" in that moment.

Here are a few that I pulled off my phone today from the previous months. That girly-girl can write and write for hours on end....obviously these are little snippets, however her creativity and imagination is limitless - she writes about many things, people, places and experiences or would-be experiences in life. Her mechanics of writing have become more solid in this past year, and thankfully her teacher is someone who truly encourages writing to a great extent. Perfect for our Miss Madeleine.

Now, if only every so often I could get her to stop writing and say....get dressed? Eat breakfast? Or practice the piano?

I've even been known to tell her when she is taking notes for Social Studies with her homework that she needs to LIMIT what she writes. After she will write 4 pages for one answer, I tell her it's time to move on. :)  Crazy enough, she is completely my own daughter. I remember my 7th grade Social Studies teacher telling me that I didn't need to take such copious notes or do such detailed responses for EVERY question. However, when you have a love - no - passion for writing, and using the written word to express your thoughts and feelings....there is no such thing as a limit to what one can write.

It's so wonderful to have this writer in our family!

p.s. I forgot to write down the dates she had written these notes on my phone before I deleted them...I'm going to give a guess-timate on time frame.

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{sometime this past month}

My family Reading fhe Scriptures

My family and I are trying to read the scriptures every day and night.

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{end of September} 

Sunday
Today we went to Larch Mont {note edited spelling: Larchmont}.  
Boy are the kiddos really excited!  We are all excited to see the colurful leaves.  The only colors we have seen are yellow and green.   We do hope to see other colors.

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{Memorial Day Weekend/2010}

Hershey Park

Today on May 29,2010 my family and I went to Hershey Park.  I could really tell they always wanted to ride more rides.  Here are some of the rides:
pirate ship, merry go round, starship, monorail, musical express 2, trains, swing thing, flyers, tiny timbers log, wild mouse/mousetrap, wild cat, big slides, lighning/thunder, ferris wheel, ballon ride.  Well that's all the rides!  And we also went swimming!

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{last spring/2010} 

Didn't go on walk today!  "Yay!!!!!!"
Today I didn't go on a walk with my friend Aiesha.  I loved the walking but now is my rest time for 1week!  No just kidding just a break on 1 day!   Well today is my daughter Madeleine's test day!  I just hope she does good on that test of hers!  That's all for today!

Bye-Bye everyone!!!!!!

P.S I had a faboulous day 

- madeleine