Deseret Chamber Singers Spring Concert

As I've mentioned before, I sing with this phenomenal choir. Just doing a little publicity for our concert this Saturday, since it's always nicer to sing to a full house. Admission is free!

Deseret Chamber Singers Spring Concert

Saturday, April 24th, 7:00pm - 8:00pm

First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City

777 S 1300 East, Salt Lake City

Click here for a map. (Enter your own address to get directions.)

Two Related Images

Proud preschooler:

What I found on the computer screen a few weeks ago after Adam had called out to me, "Mom? How do you spell 'the?'" (Guess he didn't hear the 'T.'):


His internet searching skills are improving, even if he still couldn't find what he was looking for.

It's Made of Diapers

Much to Ellen's dismay.

If you've been to many baby showers, you've probably seen these clever centerpieces made of diapers that the mom can use later. The first I heard of them was the time I was helping out with a shower several years ago and my friend was telling me excitedly about the "diaper cake" she was making for the event. The more she tried to explain, the more confused I became, and the more wrong it sounded. "Well, you roll up diapers, and you put ribbons on it . . ." Once I got the key piece of information that we were not talking about something you eat, everything finally fell into place.

Snow On Snow

It must be spring. My blog seems to be all about the weather again.

Easter Duds 2010

I did it! I got a couple of dresses made in time for Easter baskets last week. My bed missed me.


Before I had a chance to make Ellen's, I came across this beautiful little dress:

Incredibly well made and 70% off. I wanted to make one for her too, and I have yards and yards of the other eyelet left, just not TIME. I can't compete with the third world seamstresses.

The whole crew:

Hurray for warm golden sunshine! Hurray for tulips!

Now for some outtakes.

Ha. I say that like most of the shots weren't "outtakes." Actually, the few that turned out are the ones above, while I got about twenty shots of Zuzu and/or Ellen crying, even though I was promising them cookies in exchange for cooperation the whole time. (Thanks for the cookies, Julie!) The benefit to taking pictures after church? They're already gussied up. The drawbacks? They've been at church for the last 3 hours and are tired and hungry.

(Cause of tears: Jane had the gall to set her on the bench.)

(Cause of tears: Jane and her friend moved the bench. Zuzu wanted to help move the bench.)

I Hope This Post Won't Give Mr. Sun The Wrong Idea

Peter took me on a wonderful trip to the Needles District of Canyonlands the last weekend in March. What an amazing part of the planet. Some of the places we saw are new entries on my list of all-time favorites. I ♥ the Colorado Plateau, I ♥ my camping partner, and I ♥ exploring a new-to-me place, so what was not to love? Some might answer: the sleet, snow, wind, hail and unseasonable cold that met us. Apparently our superpower is to bring unlikely snow to camping trips. Uintas in August? Check. Canyonlands, the last week of March? Check. But we came prepared with warm and waterproof clothes, and I had my love to keep me warm. Fact is, while we were out in it, I was making a mental list of some of the advantages of hiking in rain or snow:

• More saturated scenery colors
• Dramatic lighting/moodier skies
• That "hyper-3D" effect of the low light on the landscape (Do you know what I'm talking about? Please say you get what I mean.)
• Fewer people on the trails (we saw hardly a soul in some of the most popular areas of the park!)
• Comfortable temperatures for hiking. You stay warm enough because you're moving, but you don't get overheated.
• You don't have to worry about getting sunburned
• You don't have to carry as much water
• Your pack's lighter because you're wearing everything you brought "just in case"

Of course it's a whole different story with kids, so I was extra grateful they were at home under the expert care of Peter's mom for this one.

More pictures from the trip (and a video!) at Peter's blog.Meanwhile, as winter hangs on and on here in Utah Valley, I'm just dying for warm, golden sunshine. We've had some good times together, but Snow, I guess what I'm saying is, I'm over you, and it's time to move on.

Picture Peter took in our backyard the day before yesterday.

Blur Your Eyes For Best Effect

I believe that googly eyes are one of mankind's great inventions.

I submit the following as evidence:

Wonderful/Horrible

The other day I told Peter that I'm tempted sometimes to buy those chocolate Easter bunnies for my kids' baskets, just because when I was a kid they were something my friends got that I never did. And so it came to be that I woke up to find this 15-inch monstrosity in a basket for me:


Diva Da' Bunny! My kids were so excited. They couldn't stand how long I waited to open it. I was giving out the little candy embellishments and Adam said, "I want the eye of the bunny!" Suddenly, my house was filled with the sound of my children wailing, "And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night, and he's watching us all with the EYYYYYYYYEE, of the bunny!" because recently Zuzu has used her powers of Internet to learn (and teach to her siblings) the lyrics to Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger." This is hilarious, and also kind of horrible -- not unlike Diva Da' Bunny herself. I survived (no pun intended) 4 years worth of pep rallies and sporting events as an Orem High tiger without ever knowing what those lyrics were. And now I realize I preferred it that way.