My name, in print

I'm just gonna give it to you straight: Orson Scott Card is launching a new online LDS Magazine called the Nauvoo Times, and I have been hired to write a weekly parenting column for it.

Big.Gulp.

How did this come about? My friend Becky has a sister Jenny who was in a ward in Virginia with Kathy H. Kidd. Kathy has been associate editor for Meridian Magazine, has written a number of books, is friends with OSC, and has co-authored a book with him. Kathy is serving as OSC's right-hand woman for the Nauvoo Times, and asked Jenny to write a food column. Jenny declined but asked around for other possible columnists, and my friend Becky said "I know someone who would be perfect!" And for some reason she meant me.

So I sent my resume and writing samples to Kathy. She responded that she loved my writing and thought I should do something bigger than a food column... like a parenting young children column. Kathy then forwarded my stuff to OSC and his wife Kristine. The Cards wanted to see an actual sample column, so I wrote one and sent it along. Yesterday I received word that I am officially a columnist, and will be writing a weekly column on parenting.

Nauvoo Times launches May 14, and I'd sure appreciate it if you follow me, subscribe to me, and whatever else you can do with me and my little column. But what I'd really appreciate is if you'd pray for me. Because I am freaking out that I am in over my head. What do I have to say and share? Can I produce anything that others will want to read? Can I be engaging? Interesting? Come up with 52 columns a year? It's daunting. Yet, it's exciting.

Here's to a new adventure! Hoping it proves to be a success.

Weekend goodness

You're gonna laugh when you read this, but I totally feel like I have been a major blogging slacker. I know, I know I blog more than most people these days. But it doesn't feel like quality blogging. An event here, a holiday there, nothing of real substance.

I want to make an effort to capture more of the everyday life again; problem is, it's just going so darn fast as of late. As in every day, time is moving faster. Maybe it's that my family is complete and  now they are just racing to grow up. Or maybe it's more activities and events with growing children. And it could be that I've had a few freelance work projects going on, something I haven't juggled in a while. At any rate, it feels quickened. Please, somebody slow it down. Please.

I did have a lovely weekend full of much goodness. I shopped. I have avoided the maxi dress craze, because I'm so vertically challenged. But I have found a couple of maxi skirts that work for me and make my heart go all flippy-flappy. One has a chevron print and that about makes me break out into a heel-clicking side jump routine.

I wanted a pair or orange sandals, and I found some that are rather joy inducing. Bright colors+flowers on my feet=happiness. It's a winning formula.
 

I watched my children enjoy sheer delight. Our incredibly kind neighbor brought home a cherry picker from work, and gave the neighborhood children a lift - an 85-foot-into-the-air lift! They wore safety harnesses and thought it was amazing. Connor and Lucas didn't waste a second in getting in on that action. Isabel never could be bribed coerced convinced. A true fear of heights, has she. It was such a lovely evening, the weather here has been gorgeous.

I took a trip back to the 80s. My friend Erica had an 80s-themed bowling party, so we dressed up and hit Fat Cats. When I came downstairs to wait for my friend to pick me up, Brian looked at me with such a very odd look and said, "what... are you dancing on Fame tonight???" Apparently I had forgotten to tell him it was a dress up party. It was an awesome night. I totally danced. Totally. Sometimes I get lost in music and a bit carried away. "Girl friend can drop it like it's hot," or so I've been told. And it might go down in legend that some very naughty and sneaky friends took a video of my moves and texted it to Brian, who quickly texted back "tell her to come home NOW!" It was awesome. It gave us all a good laugh. And I have to say, side ponytails hurt! At least when you have a mop on top like I do.

 

Brian and I watched an interesting movie, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I described it as strangely beautiful and sadly uplifting. I wasn't so sure about the journey, but I really love where it ended up. I think being the mother of a child on the autism spectrum made it more personal for me and I "got" that component of the story. Always gut-wrenching to re-live 9/11 memories.

I met my friend Wendie's week-old baby boy, Porter (friend Janae met up with us too). Wendie was my maid of honor when I got married; we have been friends for 12 years. She became a mama for the first time at age 39, and I was so so so excited to see her and her husband Nate in this new role. So happy for them. And Porter is truly scrumptious.

And HELLO, this post took me forever - what's with the major Blogger overhaul???

Easter joy

Fun activities, warm temps and sunny skies, and moments to reflect on our Savior's atoning sacrifice and resurrection pretty much sum up our Easter.

We had fun dyeing eggs and having peeps. Well, the children had the peeps. I can't stand them.

We had a fun Easter egg hunt with a bunch of friends. Mason was hilarious. Found his first egg, broke it open, and inhaled all the contents - including a bunch of grass - in about 5 seconds.

Easter morning was a bit crazed. Mason woke up at 4:45, and in my sleep-deprived state I watched the children discover and enjoy their baskets in a semi-fogged state. I didn't even remember to take pictures. And I had to teach Relief Society. So we managed to get everyone ready for church, although later I noticed boys were missing ties and a belt. But church was wonderful and my lesson went well. Then we snapped some basket pictures after church, although baskets had been fairly well disassembled by then. Connor loved a Lego Star Wars set, Lucas loved an R2D2 figure thing, Isabel loved new jewelry and Mason loved his new Elmo DVD. And they all loved the sweets. Duh.

I hosted Brian's parents and aunt and uncle for dinner. I made a brown sugar-and-orange glazed ham, au gratin potatoes, rolls, chocolate coconut oatmeal no bake nest cookies and a lemon berry tart - all from scratch, all scrumptious.

Hope you all had a beautiful Easter!

Scouting Connor

Connor loves Cub Scouts. Last month he earned is Wolf Badge, with 2 months to spare before his 9th birthday. Very proud of him! Here is his getting his badge and then pinning me with the Wolf pin.


Last month he also enjoyed his first-ever Pinewood Derby. He designed his car himself, did a majority of the work on it, painted it and named it The Angry Bird; it didn't fly as well as expected, but he still loved the experience.


Brian has some fun video equipment and has learned some video editing skills for work, and he put them to good use in making this fun video about Connor's first Pinewood Derby. Enjoy!