Well, get comfortable. I just realized that it has been 10 years today since I met Chris. So, I thought I'd entertain everyone with a story about said meeting.
One lovely saturday in March, I got home from work wanting to go to a baptism. A girl (Marsha Mark*) in my ward was being baptized. Now, I hadn't officially met her. She technically didn't live in our ward boundaries; her "friend" (now "husband") did. She had only been to our ward twice. And I was usually playing prelude while everyone else was socializing. However, I like baptisms. I was anxious to meet her and get to know her. Plus, I was in the Relief Society presidency and felt a little obligation to go. But I didn't have a car and Carrie wasn't home. I called around in the ward, but couldn't find a ride. So, I decided to stay home and clean out the fridge instead. (Also a worthwhile activity.)
Luckily, my friend, Danielle, arranged a ride for me (and for herself). So I went to the baptism with a bunch of people. We were squished in the car and I didn't even have a seatbelt on. Oh no, I thought, my mom's not going to like this. When I turned 16, she made me promise her that I would never, never ride in a car without a seatbelt. And if I ever died without a seatbelt on, my mother would never speak to me again.
Anyway... (I can tell this is going to be a long story.) I got to the baptism and quietly found a seat by my friend whose name I can't remember. She was a really pretty Maori girl from California. Hmmm...we used to visit teach her. I worked with her. I supervised her, in fact, at the MTC. We sat in the back row. ELSA! I think her name is Elsa! I saw a few people milling around in the front preparing for the service. I saw one particularly handsome young fellah holding some music and standing near the piano. I thought, "Wow. He's good-looking. I should talk to him after the baptism." And then I laughed at myself because by that point in my life, I had sworn off ever, ever talking to a boy ever again. Too much pain.
The service started. It was lovely. There was one musical number. The boys from the BYU a capella group Vocal Point sang "In This Very Room." Eight of them sang back-up. They were all off-key. But that good-looking boy I had noticed previously sang the lead. He was on-key. (I know what you are thinking--maybe he was the one off key and everyone else was on. Give me credit for enough of a musical ear to at least know the difference.) I thought his voice was rich and beautiful. So I said to myself, "Well, there is a perfect 'in.' What an easy way to start a conversation--by complimenting his singing." And then I nearly laughed right out loud at myself. I was really done initiating conversations with boys. They're so dumb and they cause so much pain.
After the meeting, I was standing by myself eating refreshments. I'm better at eating than socializing. My friend Scott came over to chat. Scott and I were in the same ward and we also worked together at the MTC. I really liked talking to him. It turns out, Scott was in Vocal Point. I didn't even know he could sing. We chatted along and then Chris (oh wait, he was still nameless in my story)...and then that good-looking boy came up, pointed at me, and said, "You're cool and I don't even know you." I took the opportunity to compliment his singing. We began to chat casually. And I noticed out of the corner of my eye Scott looking back and forth at us and then slowly backing away.
Chris and I chatted for a while. And then he left. He didn't get my phone number. That was weird, I thought. I went home. At the next Relief Society presidency meeting, my friends asked me, "Who was that guy at the baptism?" I said his name was Chris and he didn't get my phone number. They couldn't believe it. One of them said, "You could actually see the sparks flying between the two of you." I was embarrassed, but I couldn't stop smiling.
The next Saturday, I came home to find a very weird message on my phone. It was my friend Scott laughing his head off and asking me to call back. I talked to him the next day at church. He said, "Remember my friend Chris?" I tried to casually say that I did, but instead I got a big cheesy grin on my face and I probably turned bright red. Scott asked permission to give Chris my phone number. Now I had expectations.
Time passed. Chris didn't call. I didn't see Scott for a long time. One day in mid-May, I ran into Scott at the MTC. We talked for a while. I kept wanting to ask him if his friend Chris would ever call me. But I didn't want to appear interested. That would ruin the aloof demeanor that was so important to me in a dating relationship. "Always keep 'em guessing"--that was my motto.
It wasn't too much later that Chris FINALLY called! It was maybe May 18 when he called. He asked me out for the next Friday. I remember the date because the next day, May 19, was the day Star Wars Episode I came out. I went to a showing with my family. I told them I had a date that weekend. My mom said I must really like this guy because I never told her when I had a date. I didn't know I didn't tell my mom everything. But most boys weren't worth talking about. My sister Brynn asked, "Is this that guy from the baptism?" I said, "I told you about that?!" That was evidence to me that Chris must have made an impression on me.
Well, why don't you wait until May and I'll tell you the rest of the story.
*You may have heard of Marsha Mark (now Marsha Mark Baird). She ran track in the Sydney and Athens Olympics. She ran for Trinidad and Tobago. Um, maybe you haven't heard of her. But I have. And now I can call her my friend.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Beth's determination
As the kids were finishing their cereal, I ran upstairs to post a blog about Nathan--all for your reading enjoyment. The kids finished eating and trickled upstairs to play. After a few minutes, I asked, "Is Bethie in there with you?" She wasn't! (Just a sidenote--if this had happened--you know, a 2-year-old left alone--when Sarah or Nathan was two, it would have been a cause for concern and I would have gone downstairs to find a major disaster!)
Anyway, I eventually went downstairs to find Beth, still at the table, trying to eat her dry cereal with chopsticks. (She chose to go milkless today.) She was eating something of the flakey variety. She said, "Mom, I can't do it!" I said, "Use your spoon." She said, "Oh, okay." And was able to finish her breakfast.
I just heard her putting her dishes in the sink. Where did such a sweet little girl come from?
Anyway, I eventually went downstairs to find Beth, still at the table, trying to eat her dry cereal with chopsticks. (She chose to go milkless today.) She was eating something of the flakey variety. She said, "Mom, I can't do it!" I said, "Use your spoon." She said, "Oh, okay." And was able to finish her breakfast.
I just heard her putting her dishes in the sink. Where did such a sweet little girl come from?
Life According to Nathan
We dropped by on Sunday to take my dad some beautiful artwork for his birthday. Oh, the things you can create with a crayon! Nathan had made a book--a few pages covered with letters and stapled together. Nathan has just recently become interested in writing letters at all. And there is no rhyme or reason to the way he writes them. Grandpa opened the book and Nathan said, "What does it say?" Grandpa said, "I'm not sure. Nathan, will you come over here and help me read it?" Nathan looked at him incredulously and said, "I can't read!"
Yesterday, we were playing with cousins. Naomi and Sarah had teamed up and Nathan was feeling a little left out. So, because he is a boy, he resorted to teasing and annoying the girls. When this behavior ran its course, he decided to find a compromise--something they could do together. He suggested "Ninja Ballerinas!"
Yesterday, we were playing with cousins. Naomi and Sarah had teamed up and Nathan was feeling a little left out. So, because he is a boy, he resorted to teasing and annoying the girls. When this behavior ran its course, he decided to find a compromise--something they could do together. He suggested "Ninja Ballerinas!"
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Daddy's turn
I promise we do more with our kids than force them to clean their own messes.
Nathan is 4.
Sarah is 6.
Ammon is 8.
1. What is something daddy always says to you?
N. Clean our rooms.
S. Clean your room.
A. Cool, man.
2. What makes daddy happy?
N. Cleaning our rooms.
S. Our rooms clean.
A. If we clean our rooms.
3. What makes daddy sad?
N. Not cleaning our rooms.
S. Our rooms messy. That makes him mad.
A. If we don’t clean our rooms.
4. How does your daddy make you laugh?
N. He dances funny. And when he plays "Fly and be free" with us. And that makes me happy.
S. He tickles us.
A. Shakin’ his bum.
5. What was your daddy like as a child?
N. He liked making fires.
S. He liked to play with Doug.
A. He always got in trouble with Doug.
6. How old is your daddy?
N. 26.
S. 36.
A. 36.
7. How tall is your daddy?
N. 26 tall.
S. 52 30 a million.
A. Not a 100 feet. 1 meter?
8. What is his favorite thing to do?
N. Clean our rooms and throw away toys.
S. Have our rooms clean and go fishing.
A. Go fishing.
9. What does your daddy do when you're not around?
N. Eats.
S. Throw away our toys.
A. Working on the computer.
10. If your daddy becomes famous, what will it be for?
N. He’s so good at something.
S. Movie maker.
A. A movie star.
11. What is your daddy really good at?
N. Singing.
S. Jump roping.
A. Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
12. What is your daddy not very good at?
N. Not good at painting.
S. Hula hooping.
A. Hula hooping.
13. What does your daddy do for a job?
N. He goes to work.
S. He goes to work. He teaches Westridge Academy.
A. He’s a musician.
14.What is your daddy's favorite food?
N. Spaghetti
S. Fish.
A. Doughnuts.
15.What makes you proud of your daddy?
N. Cleaning our rooms!
S. Not throwing away our toys.
A. Picking me up from Scouts. I love it when he picks me up from Scouts.
16. If your dad were a cartoon character, who would he be?
N. Bumblebee (Transformers)
S. Captain Jack Sparrow
A. Little Charlie Bucket
17. What do you and your daddy do together?
N. Play together.
S. Go on dates.
A. We go to football games, go to Chinese restaurants, and Arctic Circle to get fish there.
18. How are you and your daddy the same?
N. We’re both boys.
S. We’re both good jump ropers.
A. We’re both boys.
19. How are you and your daddy different?
N. He doesn’t mess up the house.
S. He’s darker than me.
A. He’s black and I’m pretty light.
20. How do you know your daddy loves you?
N. He plays with me.
S. He says so.
A. He always says that.
21. What does your daddy like most about your mom?
N. She cleans our rooms.
S. That you help clean the kids’ room.
A. He loves her. They go on dates together. They’re both black. Ha ha ha.
22. Where is your daddy's favorite place to go?
N. Out to dinner.
S. Chinese restaurant.
A. California.
Nathan is 4.
Sarah is 6.
Ammon is 8.
1. What is something daddy always says to you?
N. Clean our rooms.
S. Clean your room.
A. Cool, man.
2. What makes daddy happy?
N. Cleaning our rooms.
S. Our rooms clean.
A. If we clean our rooms.
3. What makes daddy sad?
N. Not cleaning our rooms.
S. Our rooms messy. That makes him mad.
A. If we don’t clean our rooms.
4. How does your daddy make you laugh?
N. He dances funny. And when he plays "Fly and be free" with us. And that makes me happy.
S. He tickles us.
A. Shakin’ his bum.
5. What was your daddy like as a child?
N. He liked making fires.
S. He liked to play with Doug.
A. He always got in trouble with Doug.
6. How old is your daddy?
N. 26.
S. 36.
A. 36.
7. How tall is your daddy?
N. 26 tall.
S. 52 30 a million.
A. Not a 100 feet. 1 meter?
8. What is his favorite thing to do?
N. Clean our rooms and throw away toys.
S. Have our rooms clean and go fishing.
A. Go fishing.
9. What does your daddy do when you're not around?
N. Eats.
S. Throw away our toys.
A. Working on the computer.
10. If your daddy becomes famous, what will it be for?
N. He’s so good at something.
S. Movie maker.
A. A movie star.
11. What is your daddy really good at?
N. Singing.
S. Jump roping.
A. Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
12. What is your daddy not very good at?
N. Not good at painting.
S. Hula hooping.
A. Hula hooping.
13. What does your daddy do for a job?
N. He goes to work.
S. He goes to work. He teaches Westridge Academy.
A. He’s a musician.
14.What is your daddy's favorite food?
N. Spaghetti
S. Fish.
A. Doughnuts.
15.What makes you proud of your daddy?
N. Cleaning our rooms!
S. Not throwing away our toys.
A. Picking me up from Scouts. I love it when he picks me up from Scouts.
16. If your dad were a cartoon character, who would he be?
N. Bumblebee (Transformers)
S. Captain Jack Sparrow
A. Little Charlie Bucket
17. What do you and your daddy do together?
N. Play together.
S. Go on dates.
A. We go to football games, go to Chinese restaurants, and Arctic Circle to get fish there.
18. How are you and your daddy the same?
N. We’re both boys.
S. We’re both good jump ropers.
A. We’re both boys.
19. How are you and your daddy different?
N. He doesn’t mess up the house.
S. He’s darker than me.
A. He’s black and I’m pretty light.
20. How do you know your daddy loves you?
N. He plays with me.
S. He says so.
A. He always says that.
21. What does your daddy like most about your mom?
N. She cleans our rooms.
S. That you help clean the kids’ room.
A. He loves her. They go on dates together. They’re both black. Ha ha ha.
22. Where is your daddy's favorite place to go?
N. Out to dinner.
S. Chinese restaurant.
A. California.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Is this how they see me?
I interviewed the kids and asked them what they thought of me. Here it is. (We did this separately so they didn't hear each others' answers.)
Nathan is 4.
Sarah is 6.
Ammon is 8.
1. What is something mommy always says to you?
N. Clean our rooms.
S. I love you.
A. I love you.
2. What makes mommy happy?
N. Cleaning our rooms.
S. Our rooms cleaned.
A. When we clean our rooms.
3. What makes mommy sad?
N. Not cleaning our rooms.
S. Our rooms are dirty.
A. When we yell at you.
4. How does your mommy make you laugh?
N. I don't know.
S. When she tickles me.
A. When she is funny, of course.
5. What was your mommy like as a child?
N. A kid.
S. She yelled at her big sister, Lisa.
A. She had fits. That was a joke.
6. How old is your mommy?
N. Don't know.
S. 36 or younger.
A. 34.
7. How tall is your mommy?
N. 40 feet tall, I think.
S. Like, 40 feet. Or 100 million.
A. Oo, that's a hard one. I don't even know.
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
N. Cleaning our rooms.
S. To cuddle.
A. Go out to dinner at Gecko's.
9. What does your mommy do when you're not around?
N. Clean the house when we go fishing.
S. Clean the downstairs.
A. Go on dates.
10. If your mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
N. Don't know.
S. Being a great, great art painter.
A. A rock star.
11. What is your mommy really good at?
N. Cleaning our rooms.
S. Caring about her family.
A. Singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." That was a joke, too.
12. What is your mommy not very good at?
N. Not good at messing up the house.
S. Not good at jumping on the bed.
A. Not very good at burping.
13. What does your mommy do for a job?
N. Clean our rooms or clean the house.
S. Go to sleep.
A. Clean.
14.What is your mommy's favorite food?
N. Salad.
S. Lasagna.
A. Burritos.
15.What makes you proud of your mommy?
N. Cleaning our rooms.
S. Cleaning my room for me.
A. When you let us get a babysitter. We always obey the babysitter.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
N. Woody (from Toy Story)
S. Cinderella
A. Spiderman
17. What do you and your mommy do together?
N. Go to the carousel.
S. We go on dates.
A. Now that one's easy. We play board games, go on dates, go out to dinner together.
18. How are you and your mommy the same?
N. We're both humans.
S. We both are girls with long hair.
A. We're part of a family together. We both have two hands and two feet. We both wear clothes and socks.
19. How are you and your mommy different?
N. Mommy didn't mess up the house and I mess up the house.
S. She has blue eyes and I have brown.
A. I think burping is not gross and she thinks burping is gross.
20. How do you know your mommy loves you?
N. 'Cause I hug you.
S. 'Cause she says she loves me everyday.
A. Ah, that's easy. You're my mom, of course.
21. What does your mommy like most about your dad?
N. He mows the lawn.
S. That he helps clean our room once.
A. They love each other. They'll never get divorced, never. Even in heaven.
22. Where is your mommy's favorite place to go?
N. Carousel with me.
S. Co-op. (homeschool co-op with other families)
A. Grandma's house. (my mom's)
Nathan is 4.
Sarah is 6.
Ammon is 8.
1. What is something mommy always says to you?
N. Clean our rooms.
S. I love you.
A. I love you.
2. What makes mommy happy?
N. Cleaning our rooms.
S. Our rooms cleaned.
A. When we clean our rooms.
3. What makes mommy sad?
N. Not cleaning our rooms.
S. Our rooms are dirty.
A. When we yell at you.
4. How does your mommy make you laugh?
N. I don't know.
S. When she tickles me.
A. When she is funny, of course.
5. What was your mommy like as a child?
N. A kid.
S. She yelled at her big sister, Lisa.
A. She had fits. That was a joke.
6. How old is your mommy?
N. Don't know.
S. 36 or younger.
A. 34.
7. How tall is your mommy?
N. 40 feet tall, I think.
S. Like, 40 feet. Or 100 million.
A. Oo, that's a hard one. I don't even know.
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
N. Cleaning our rooms.
S. To cuddle.
A. Go out to dinner at Gecko's.
9. What does your mommy do when you're not around?
N. Clean the house when we go fishing.
S. Clean the downstairs.
A. Go on dates.
10. If your mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
N. Don't know.
S. Being a great, great art painter.
A. A rock star.
11. What is your mommy really good at?
N. Cleaning our rooms.
S. Caring about her family.
A. Singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." That was a joke, too.
12. What is your mommy not very good at?
N. Not good at messing up the house.
S. Not good at jumping on the bed.
A. Not very good at burping.
13. What does your mommy do for a job?
N. Clean our rooms or clean the house.
S. Go to sleep.
A. Clean.
14.What is your mommy's favorite food?
N. Salad.
S. Lasagna.
A. Burritos.
15.What makes you proud of your mommy?
N. Cleaning our rooms.
S. Cleaning my room for me.
A. When you let us get a babysitter. We always obey the babysitter.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
N. Woody (from Toy Story)
S. Cinderella
A. Spiderman
17. What do you and your mommy do together?
N. Go to the carousel.
S. We go on dates.
A. Now that one's easy. We play board games, go on dates, go out to dinner together.
18. How are you and your mommy the same?
N. We're both humans.
S. We both are girls with long hair.
A. We're part of a family together. We both have two hands and two feet. We both wear clothes and socks.
19. How are you and your mommy different?
N. Mommy didn't mess up the house and I mess up the house.
S. She has blue eyes and I have brown.
A. I think burping is not gross and she thinks burping is gross.
20. How do you know your mommy loves you?
N. 'Cause I hug you.
S. 'Cause she says she loves me everyday.
A. Ah, that's easy. You're my mom, of course.
21. What does your mommy like most about your dad?
N. He mows the lawn.
S. That he helps clean our room once.
A. They love each other. They'll never get divorced, never. Even in heaven.
22. Where is your mommy's favorite place to go?
N. Carousel with me.
S. Co-op. (homeschool co-op with other families)
A. Grandma's house. (my mom's)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)