East or West, Home Is Best: 2011

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Birthday Girl #2

This is a tough time of year to be bowled over with end-of-semester deadlines. At some point, though, the brain turns to mush and the festivities scheduled long ago become a wondrous diversion from endless writing. Arwen’s birthday celebration yesterday was a prime example. The festivities started with a bang as Santa came riding by on a big red firetruck just after most of her guests had arrived. What a fun surprise!

A couple of months ago Arwen fell in love with Bakerella’s ice cream cone cake pops. So we started dreaming up activities around an ice cream theme. After the excitement over Santa, the kids did some ice cream cone coloring, then started in on the cake pops. While the cake balls chilled, Chad led the kids in an outdoor obstacle course, which they completed while carrying a double-decker magnetic ice cream cone.

Then they huddled around the table where they each tried their hand at dipping cake pops.

Next up was building a monster ice cream sundae, which they downed enthusiastically with slices of the mile-high chocolate ice cream cone birthday cake Arwen designed herself.

Between each activity (and the handwashing and on and off of shoes and coats), they fit in bouts of playtime in the basement. I was proud of them for how well the lesser-known friends integrated into the group. What a great time for everyone. Many thanks to Arwen’s wonderful friends for making it such a fun time!

In other news this week, Chad and I dropped in briefly to my department party Monday afternoon, and I attended my last Tuesday night class. (Have I mentioned that 7-10PM is brutal, particularly when you’re talking statistics?) Chad and I got to do some extra juggling with Gavin sick in bed most of Wednesday and Thursday. Arwen and I had a great time with several of Chad’s colleagues at our friend Rachel’s birthday party Wednesday night. Friday night we sampled venison pizza (yum!) at Chad’s annual pizza-making department party. And in between of all that, I’ve managed to draft about 45 pages toward next week’s deadlines, and Chad has made a sizable dent in his end-of-semester grading. We hope you are enjoying the season, and are excited for the serenity in sight next week!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Birthday Girl #1

The big news of the week was my birthday. The end of this first semester in grad school has been a bit more packed than I would like, but I managed to squeeze in some fun with the family, friends, and on my own.

The festivities started off Thursday night with a small get-together in honor of my birthday and that of another of our friends. After pizza and some conversation, we gobbled up an amazing homemade cheesecake. How I appreciate the chance to celebrate with girlfriends!

Chad kicked off the morning of my actual birthday started with a home-baked breakfast. We had puffed oven-baked pancake with a wonderful combination of applesauce, blueberry-rhubarb jam, and real maple syrup. Yum!

Not far into the meal it became apparent that I was supposed to open my gifts at breakfast. There was much excitement as I opened a small box and pulled out my new iPod Touch. For all my smartphone-toting friends, this paragraph will be old news for you, but given how slow on the draw some of my friends still are with the cell phone, I’ll put this out there. Having shelved my last non-laptop high-tech device four years ago, I was thrilled to see all I can do with this new toy without having to pay a monthly fee. (I usually pay under $20/month with my AT&T GoPhone, which I use sparingly.) Email, messaging, maps and directions, photos and video, and a host of downloadable apps. And that’s before you even get to the music and podcasts! While I lose some functionality while not connected, at least at this time of year I spend most of my time in wireless-enabled environments, so this was a great way to go at this stage of life. To all my iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch-using friends, I’d love to see you via iMessage and FaceTime.

After sending the kids off with Chad, I took off to redeem the massage gift certificate Chad gave me way back on Mother’s Day. All I can say is he did a magnificent job researching this place. Ellie at Health in Harmony Organic Day Spa in Mystic is amazing. She explained ahead of time that she likes to use hot rocks. I’d never tried that before but thought it would be interesting. All I can say is what a wonderful way to pull tension out of tight muscles! I figured she must have ordered them online somewhere and was intrigued to learn that she actually finds these out in the wilderness herself, combing through hundreds of candidates before finding a matched pair of the right size, shape, and smoothness to use for massage. I loved it. If you decide to visit Ellie, please let her know I sent you – she is fabulous on many levels.

On my way to campus I was about to pass Pennywise, one of my favorite consignment stores, and decided to take a look for just a few minutes. More than a few minutes later I came out with some great finds. It felt wonderful to just take that time for myself, and I’m now set with shopping for awhile.

In the afternoon I took the kids to hang out at Bean & Leaf, one of my favorite haunts. After sipping their deluxe hot chocolate they were anxious to check out my iPod and try their hand at Angry Birds. Once Chad joined us they played a wildlife board game, then we all had dinner at Mirch Masala. The kids were less excited about Indian food than we were, but we were determined to expose them to some good ethnic cuisine. On the way home Chad picked up our favorite Ben & Jerry’s flavors, New York Super Fudge Chunk and Mint Cookie, which we savored before sending the kids upstairs for their date while we watched The Blind Side for only the second time (how I love that movie!). What a great birthday.

In other news this week, last night we attended our church Christmas party. After my level of involvement in similar functions over the past few years, it was nice to center my efforts on helping Gavin prepare his entries for the Cub Scout silent auction. We had the most fantastic meal I can remember at a church function and enjoyed some casual activities and singing with the other 200 people in attendance.

Earlier in the week we sandwiched a stop at Gavin’s class nutrition fair between his karate class and Cub Scouts. His teacher is making a real push to help parents understand the impact of good nutrition on the students’ wellbeing, which I really appreciate. At the last minute I put together a few ideas about family breakfasts that we have developed over the past several

years to build strong relationships and healthy bodies. You can take a look below.

We hope you’re all taking time to enjoy the holiday season and appreciate the relationships and blessings at the heart of this wonderful time of year. Have a great week!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

An Early Christmas Present

Early last week Gavin came running in from the mailbox waving an envelope bearing a return address from the North Pole. He and Arwen excitedly ripped it open to find a note: “Gavin and Arwen, I know you love Legos and thought you might like an early Christmas present this year. Love, Santa.” Out tumbled three tickets to the Lego KidsFest in Hartford. Wow!

Friday afternoon Chad and the kids took the hour trip to Hartford where they explored a wonderland of Lego creations – a true paradise for Gavin and Arwen. (Quite possibly for the kid in Chad as well.) Gavin and Arwen immersed themselves in the neverending Lego pile. There were full-size Lego Ninjago figures, Harry Potter characters, Darth Vader, a giant replica of Lightning McQueen, even a Lego Santa to explore. Chad and Arwen built an intricate house entirely of pink Legos.

Several hours later Chad carried a sleeping Arwen in from the car. The next morning she snuggled up to me in bed, full of news and descriptions from the night’s adventure. With great gusto she introduced me to her many giveaways, including her own brand new Ninjago figure. Looks like Santa is spot on this year!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Thanksgiving with the Joneses

We all got up bright and early Wednesday morning to squeeze in the car with all our stuff. After about eight hours of Over the River and Through the Woods we arrived in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, where we met up with Chad’s parents and his sisters’ families. Being the first to arrive, Gavin and Arwen spent the first hour running between the three floors of our rented condo and turning the remote control gas fireplace on and off. Once the stragglers emerged from Washington, DC Thanksgiving traffic, our kids disappeared into the swarm of happy cousins.

Thursday was spent in catching up with each other while prepping all manner of celebratory dishes. I peeled, cubed, and spiced sweet potatoes, then rolled out five dozen rolls while Chad made pies with his own home-prepped out-of-the-pumpkin pumpkin. Gavin slaved over a hot stove, stirring a chocolate concoction for cocoa pies topped with whipped cream, of which he proved to be the greatest fan.

As you can imagine, with that kind of offering from just our family, we ended up with a pretty tasty spread – and one extensive enough to last the next two days. I think we made it out of the house toting only one of the original nine pies, and we all got to take home turkey and gravy leftovers (yum!). Between Chad and me, I’m sure we’ll polish off the rolls before we make it home tonight.

But enough about the food – what fun to see grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins! There was much game playing (Dominion, Bohnanza, Uno, Lord of the Rings, Scrambled States of America, Millebournes, and Lego Harry Potter) and much visiting during our time at the condo. Thursday morning (before my head cold set in with a vengeance) I stole away for a country walk, during which I passed a series of fishing holes, crossed the Mason-Dixon line, startled a deer, peered in the windows of a log church/schoolhouse, and spotted a young boy skulking around a thicket with a rifle.

Friday all 12 of us piled into two cars and drove an hour and a half to Gettysburg, where Chad led us on a first-rate tour of Civil War history. Our first stop was the spot where Buford set up his defense on the first day of battle.

Next we drove along the Confederate battle lines and scaled the tower for a view across the battlefield. (Gavin wants to be sure I don’t miss his purchase of a die-cast cannon pencil sharpener during our stop at the visitor’s center.) At Little Round Top we heard the stories of the courageous defense staged by the 20^th Maine and climbed the ‘castle’ monument of the 44^th New York regiment.

At the National Cemetery Grandma read the Gettysburg address from the same spot where Abraham Lincoln delivered it 148 years ago, then we saw where all the Connecticut soldiers were buried.

The final stop of the tour was a reenactment of Pickett’s Charge – in contrast to the real thing, it was cold, muddy, and dark. All in all, it was a very historic day.

Our final day in Mercersburg started with breakfast in pajamas (in honor of Arwen’s missed pajama day at school), and lots of games. After a late afternoon walk (we just had to cross the Mason-Dixon line again) and another round of leftovers and pie, we finished our time together with some words from Grandma, a prayer for cousin Zach in the hospital in Argentina, and a Primary-inspired, ukulele-accompanied family sing. How grateful we all are to have spent the holiday together!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Mini Getaways

The highlight of my week was going with a couple of friends to see Jake Shimabukuro in concert. This guy is often cited as the most amazing ukulele player in the world, and for good reason. I was mesmerized by the variety of sounds he created with his simple ukulele, also the extremes of volume and mood. The stories behind his songs were great, and he was generally entertaining in every way. If you’ve never heard him play, here’s the YouTube clip of While My Guitar Gently Weeps recorded in Central Park that made him famous. Let’s Dance gives you a feel for his showmanship and the drama he is capable of. And he’s even better in person!

Incidentally, the fun didn’t stop with Jake and his amazing music. The hour drive to and from the concert gave us gals ample time to chat. What a great getaway!

Speaking of getaways, Chad and I left the kids with some wonderful friends yesterday afternoon and snuck out for a beautiful autumn hike at Devil’s Hopyard State Park about half an hour away. This is one of the few areas that feels truly remote without involving a drive of several hours. All the leaves had just fallen from the beeches, and their stark limbs contrasted with the green of the hemlocks and mountain laurel was quite a sight.

This weekend Chad had a gang of guys over for game night – so many they had to split up into two groups and I could barely squeeze through the dining room to get across the house. The highlight of the evening (or maybe not) was an introduction to Killer Bunnies by a friend just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Grateful for friends and fun!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Week of Vacation (almost)

This was an exciting week for the kids with just two and a half days of school, thanks to election day, an early release day, and Veterans Day. We took full advantage of the chance for lots of free play with friends. I so love to see Gavin and Arwen with a good chunk of time to do whatever they want. These days that tends to involve building with Legos, hanging out with the toys in the basement, and playing Wizard 101.

After our friends left Tuesday afternoon, Gavin, Arwen, and I headed to the local elementary school so I could cast my vote. I’m always glad to take them with me (even at the risk of squirrely behavior) – I feel like it’s so important for them to see us taking part in the political process. This time the trip paid off triply – the proctors were handing out M&Ms for the kids along with the coveted “I voted” stickers. Plus, we ran into Arwen’s preschool teacher who we hadn't seen for over a year. She was thrilled.

Between playing with, feeding, and chasing kids, I managed to squeeze in a passable quantity of studying this week. My research project has provided an opportunity to reconnect with many of my former colleagues, which I have really enjoyed. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out my online survey - I'm looking at factors that influence whether mothers take advantage of employer-provided work/life supports. Just another week and half of data collection to go – I hope you’ll either take it yourself or pass it on to someone who might like to share their insights and experiences with employers wanting to create a positive work environment for mothers. (Qualifying participants will be entered to win a $25 Amazon.com gift card.)

Friday afternoon I stood under a sapphire sky with several parents watching our kids play at the park. I've found this to be a rewarding experience on many fronts. This time, in addition to

getting better acquainted with the stellar moms of Gavin’s and Arwen’s classmates, I got some helpful information about what the kids are doing at school. Does anyone out there have the same problem? Every day I ask what they did at school, and every day it’s the same meager smattering of information. Then, voila! I’m chatting away with another parent and learn more than I ever imagined about the special math program, or I find out that the whole school went to see the Chinese acrobats (I knew Gavin was going, but it had been weeks since I’d signed Arwen’s permission slip).

Friday night we joined several other families at a friend’s house for an 11-11-11 party. And yes, we all managed to stay up for the big bash at 11:11PM. The evening started with a luscious array of soups and bread. Then a good part was dedicated to a fun but somewhat sad attempt at Thanksgiving turkey cake pops. As is so often the case with craft projects, the actual item did not entirely resemble the pictures online. But we had a fun time in the process while the kids played video games in the basement and the dads hovered over their strategy games.

Yesterday Arwen and I attended the classical Indian dance program of a couple of her friends in her class at school. I was impressed to learn that this art form, Bharata Natyam, originated 3000 years in southern India. The forms and expression were so beautiful, and the girls did a fantastic job. Arwen especially enjoyed sitting next to her teacher. I’m so grateful for the many opportunities our school friends provide to learn more about other cultures and parts of the world.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

A Frosty Halloween

Last weekend Chad went solo with the kids while I headed West for the BYU Women in Business Conference. I had the pleasure of traveling with fellow work/life champion and friend Chrysula who lives outside New York City. We fully enjoyed every minute of our time at JFK (including a thrilling introduction to Muji) and the nonstop flight to Salt Lake City.

After a late-night arrival at Chad's parents' home, I met up with my sister Amy who was serendipitously in town for the weekend from Washington State. Together with a friend of hers we enjoyed a brisk, chilly four miles of stimulating chatter. There's nothing like walking and talking with the gals!

Friday afternoon I caught up with some friends and colleagues in the still-familiar Tanner Building, then Chrysula and I gave a talk to BYU's Women in Engineering group (what fun!). Then we headed across campus to the Women in Business conference for a day and a half of networking, talks, and discussion on all things relating to LDS women in business. It was a fantastic venue with a great group I hope to stay in touch with.

On the home front Chad juggled the Saturday morning sports lineup singlehandedly, cheering Arwen on at her last soccer game of the season. She's had a fun time on the field this fall and made some good friends.

Later that day the region was hit by an early snowstorm. Our area got only about an inch of accumulation, and we were SO fortunate not to lose power (though some in our town did for a few hours). And best of all - no school closures!

Gavin and Arwen, both heavy into Wizard 101, were crazy about being wizards for Halloween. In my insanity I agreed to take them to Goodwill the day before I left for Utah, where we found a couple of tablecloths in just the right colors and sizes to satisfy their longing for wizard cloaks. My last night in town was spent with Chad cutting and sewing, and we managed to come up with some offerings that satisfied the kids. Chad rounded it out with a craft store trip for some scepter supplies. The kids enjoyed the Trunk or Treat at church, as well as a trick or treating trip around the block. Not a bad Halloween!

Among the many culinary delights Chad's mom sent home with me were these pumpkin bread bowls, which we filled with her famous corn chowder for our Halloween dinner. Hope you had a good Halloween!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

A Quiet House (am I reading the right blog?)

This post was written 2 weeks ago:

The big news of the week was a quiet house while Gavin attended a nature camp with all the 4th and 5th graders at his school. While we knew he was having a great time, it was weird being out of touch all week. I was lucky to get to ride the bus up with the kids Monday morning, and Chad served as overnight chaperone one night, which gave us at least a little taste of Gavin’s experience.

While he was playing games, taking hikes, and singing songs, Arwen and I wrote Gavin letters and cards and had a sleepover in her new room. We took advantage of the one-on-one time to get together with several friends during the week.

I spent a good part of my week finalizing the proposal for my semester research project, which is now submitted and awaiting approval. My online survey investigating factors that influence utilization and effectiveness of work/life programs by mothers and prospective mothers will hopefully be live by the end of this week.

Friday afternoon I picked a zombie-like Gavin up from school, loaded his gear into the car, and stopped by the new Panera near our house to get the scoop on his experience at camp. The combination of experiential learning with relationship building was just what we had hoped for. The next day he summed it up with the perfect comment: “I loved camp, but it’s good to be home”. We’re so glad he could have this experience.

Thursday night my dear friend Treasure taught a cake pops class at church the night before moving out of state with her family. The kids loved the cake pops!

Our Saturday was particularly packed, with a Cub Scout service project, friends unexpectedly in town at the last minute, a make-up walk from last Saturday’s Walk for Food, and a neighborhood fall festival hosted by a neighbor, together with a park playdate with one of Arwen's best friends from school. We’re feeling ready for another weekend about now!

East or West, Home Is Best