Jamie's Super Terrific Day Out.

I don't get out much....

It's a fact.

I'm a homebody- and I like it. I don't usually feel like I'm missing out on anything. I like steadiness and knowing what's coming next and feeling in control. But like anything else..... Too much of a good thing can be just that.... Too much. When you let yourself get too comfortable you miss out.

I almost missed out big time recently and am so glad I didn't

Early in May, my brother David and sister -in-law Jena invited Mark and I to go to a concert with them. They had 2 extra tickets and thought of us! These were not just any concert tickets. These were e "U2 360 concert tour" tickets!!

Mark wasn't interested so I thought "well that's it for that" and told them to invite another couple. Instead they opened up the invitation to Carly and I. Carly had never been to a concert before.

I almost declined. I kept thinking I didn't know what would be going on that close to the end of the school year and it was a school night (work night) and maybe it would just be too much trouble and then I wondered when I became such a stick in the mud.

We accepted!

David & Jena arrived in early afternoon after we'd all gotten home from work and school. Carly and I changed into our "day out" clothes, filled our water bottles and hopped in the back of David & Jena's car and we were off.

Poor Mark.

I left him with quite the evening line-up to take care of. If truth be told, I was kind of excited for him to see what many of my evenings are like....

5:oopm Drive Samantha to her softball game and make sure that Jacob has all his baseball stuff in the car and Mason is in his scout uniform.

5:15 pm After dropping Samantha off a few blocks south of our house, turn around and proceed to drop off Jacob several blocks North of our home for baseball practice at 5:30pm

5:30pm After dropping Jacob off at Baseball practice, turn back around and go back to Samantha's baseball field to watch her game.

6:30pm Pack up chairs, water bottles and kids when Samantha's game is over and drop off Mason at scouts and then go to pick up Jacob at his baseball practice.

7:15ish Go home and figure out what to feed children. Get them to brush their teeth, get Pj's on and get to bed.

Jacob's baseball practice got cancelled because the days before had been raining however that Tuesday was a beautiful day. So Mark got off easy. His running around was lessened considerably.

The first stop David and Jena had planned on Jamie's super Terrific day out was a doughnut shop in Draper? I can't remember where it was except that we were past the point of the mountain.....

It is called "Beyond Glaze" and it is soooo good.

Jena had heard about it and tried it out on a previous visit and had raved about their maple bacon doughnut. I just wasn't so sure about that.... Maple Bacon doughnut? sounded weird but can I say after trying it that it is

WEIRDLY DELICIOUS!

We tried several different kinds: coconut, mint "grasshopper", raspberry, and more. I remember that my favorites were the coconut and the maple bacon.

Carly was very excited about the doughnuts...

Stop #2 on Jamie's super Terrific day out was a kitchen store in salt lake called Orson Gygi's. They had everything for the hobby baker! It was fun to browse and look at all the different cooking gadgets, pans, decorating tools and candies and just in case you were looking for a giant bar of chocolate for a guy named Peter. They have it!

My super terrific day out got even more super terrific with Stop #3 : dinner at "The Garden". I was the only one of the 4 of us that had never been there. (Another sign I need to get out more.) I got a strawberry chicken salad that was, indeed, super terrific!

The view from the "The Garden"

Beautiful.

The players in JSTDO:

Jamie, Carly, Jena, David

After leaving the restaurant we drove to Rice Eccles stadium at University of Utah. I hadn't really been aware that it was an outdoor concert until that day. I am glad I didn't know that because of all the rain and cold we'd had that month I would have been stressing.

It couldn't have been more beautiful. The sun was shining. It was cool but not cold. It was wonderful.

As we approached the stadium from the parking lot Carly could hear the band "The Fray" already playing. At that point I think she was more excited to see them than U2. She wasn't sure she knew much by U2 but was up for her first concert experience.

She was pulling my hand pretty hard, trying to get us to hurry, hurry, hurry!

We were trying but you should have seen Jena's shoes!

They were not hurry, hurry, hurry shoes but we put a little more skip in our step for CarCar.

First Glimpse while David found out about a change with our seats.

To prove we were actually there!

I learned darkness and anonymity are very good for releasing inhibitions.

I danced and danced and sang and nobody laughed at me.

Not even my 17 yr old daughter.

Bless her.

She began to realize just how much U2 she really did know..

I kept hearing "oh... I know this song!"

We had such a good time.

The show was amazing. The music was great.

The atmosphere was fun. There were people of all ages there. We didn't encounter anyone obnoxious.

The weather couldn't have been nicer. I had a light jacket and was so comfortable. I loved the outdoor atmosphere. The sound, although loud, wasn't overwhelming. It was just invigorating.

Carly bought a concert shirt. The frugal mom in me counseled "don't do it" (they were $40) and I didn't get one but she said "It's my first concert! I have to" and she did and has been wearing it proudly.

It was a perfect "super terrific day out" and I am so glad I didn't miss it.

Thank you David and Jena for getting this stick out of the mud!

Lyric confusion

Mason's had his first case of lyric confusion. This might be my favorite one yet....

It might top Rachel's "I'll put my rubber jeans on" (real lyrics: I'll put my old blue jeans on)

The other day, with the look of one who has made a great discovery, Mason asked me:

"Did you know Taylor Swift is saying "Then he pulled out a ring and said Marry me Juliet"?

"yes, I knew that"

"ohhh... I just figured that out mom! I thoo-uuu-ght she was saying "He pulled out an orangutan, said Marry me Juliet."

He mistook my silence and the strain on my face from holding in my laughter for confusion and clarified, " Mom... an orangutan is a kind of a monkey"

Ayden... Kate.. little 6 yr old girls everywhere...

I hope you get a diamond when the day comes. Not an orangutan.

What are your best lyric confusion stories??

For Grandpa Mike

Grandpa Mike gave Carly this piano on her 8th birthday. He is a piano tuner by trade and also dabbles in restoring pianos. He found this piano and brought it to Carly 7 years ago, before that we had a keyboard. A nice keyboard but a keyboard just the same. She was so delighted to have a real live piano to play on. Rachel took piano lessons also, until last year when she had piano, guitar and clarinet all going and it was time to give something up. She's never been passionate about piano the way she has become about her guitar, the way Carly is about her piano. I never have to remind Rachel to practice her guitar or remind Carly to practice the piano. Samantha takes lessons too and I think might follow in her big sister's footsteps. She seems to really enjoy playing as well.

I love hearing Carly doing these more difficult pieces. For her young women Personal Progress Faith project she spent 10 hours teaching herself hymns. I love to hear her sit and play on Sundays. Here is a recording of her playing Fur Elise by Beethoven. She loves this song and has spent many hours mastering/memorizing it. Enjoy gramps. She STILL loves that piano. Thank you so much.

For Grandma Donna

Hi Mom/Grandma,

Just thought you'd enjoy hearing a little Rachel music. This was from the talent show portion of our family reunion on my mom's side this summer. I used to go to sleep listening to Air supply when I was in high school. I'm biased but I like Rachel's version better! :) I'd much rather go to sleep listening to her sing/play these days. what do you think mom?

Love,

Jamie

Enchanting Ella and the magic purse....

So Last Monday Carly & Rachel had their first paying music gig.  

Lili, A lady in my ward, (church congregation) sent an email around the neighborhood saying that An Assisted Living center where she volunteers was looking for someone on Monday to do some form of musical entertainment for 45 mintues and would pay $20 for their time.  

I asked Carly and Rachel if they were interested since they didnt' have school that day and they said sure!  I figured it would be a good opportunity to practice their music and being in front of people and the audience would be easy on them.

We called and made the arrangements and that was that.  

We got there at 11:00.  I wasn't sure if I would stay or not, that depended on the youngest 3's behavior.  I wanted to, and happily everyone behaved so I could.  

They had a little area with a microphone and a baby grand piano and some sound equipment on a platform by the dining area.  About 15 seniors congregated while the girls set up.  Carly was planning to play the piano and do a little singing and Rachel planned to play her guitar and sing.  

I was horrified when we got out of the car to see Rachel had on a pair of jeans with a big hole in the knee.  I told her that the people she would be entertaining would see that as sloppy.  I wished I hadn't said anything as I watched her face fall.  I hadn't really talked to them about what they should wear and it just made her upset.  Sometimes I really need to think longer about what I'm going to say.....  "is this going to accomplish anything or just make someone feel bad?"  

There was a little confusion as to the type of music my girls would be performing.  Lili, the friend who we heard about this through is Polynesian and when she performs she does Polynesian music so as Carly and Rachel, who were obviously NOT Polynesian, began to set up we heard lots of loud "Where are the Polynesians?" comments.  

Carly and Rachel took the mike and shared their names and ages and the type of music they would be playing.  Carly would play a song on the piano and then Rachel would play one or two songs and then back to Carly.  They were good at setting up their songs and giving some background on why they chose it, etc.  

The audience seemed appreciative overall.  One cute little lady sat next to me and talked to me a little about Rachel's holey jeans, of course!  She wasn't obnoxious at all, more trying to commiserate.  She just commented on how it looked so sloppy but she knows how kids are these days.  I agreed with her so I wasn't offended.  I did not feel it prudent to tell her, however, that when I was 17 I paid $20 for a pair of jeans with holes all over them and wore them proudly.......   Darn Teenagers.......

Our favorite groupee was Ella.  She was so anxious to clap that sometimes she clapped before a song was finished.  She would enthusiastically clap after every song and exclaim "we love you kids! Thanks for coming!" or "I love that song! It was beautiful."  Sometimes she would sing along with the hymns Carly would play on the piano.  

After the show was over Samantha went over and hugged her.  She told Ella that she liked her white plastic bead necklace. Ella immediately took them off her neck and placed them on Samantha's neck.  "I want you to have them honey.  You're a beautiful baby."  Samantha hugged her again.  Then to my horror Mason said "what do you have for me?"   ARGHHHH!!!! 

She started rummaging in her little black purse and I tried to stop her saying "he doesn't need anything"  and giving Mason the "stinkeye" for asking.  She found an orange and an apple that she gave him and then to Mason's delight a hershey bar was lurking around in the bottom of that purse. She also pulled out a pretty mangy looking banana and some an almost full pack of Juicy Fruit gum.  AND... it wasn't a big purse.  It was fairly incredible she had all that stuff in there.  I kept telling her no, they were fine but she wanted to give them so much and who am I to take away her "giving joy" so I finally consented and we left the old Folk's home with $20, an apple, an orange, A hershey bar, A pack of juicy Fruit gum and a strand of white plastic beads.  It was quite the haul.  

When I meet sweet little old ladies like Ella; so happy, so quick to love and give and complement, I like to wonder about who they have been before....As a girl, a young woman, a mother, a friend.  She told us she had 12 sons, no daughters.  She complemented the girls over and over and told us she used to sing with her family as a girl in St. George but after her husband was killed in the war she ran away from St. George to Utah county because there was a doctor there that was pursuing her and she didn't want to marry him.  She laughed and hugged and was so delightful.  I imagine she must have been a kind mother and a good friend.  How could she not be, with that much love bubbling up inside her to share with us, a group of strangers who she'd only known a few minutes.  

Of course for every enchanting Ella there must be a wicked stepsister to throw a wrench in happy stories.  When the girls finished their set a stern looking woman rolled over to me in her wheelchair. I guess it was obvious I was their mother and she had "Something to say".  Her lips were a hard line, her eyebrows slanted in a "V".  Not a happy person, I think.  She didn't introduce herself or say anything to break the ice.  She said grumpily, "if they ever come here again tell them to do some sing along stuff, the people really like that and then maybe they wouldn't fall asleep!"  She started to wheel away and then turned and looked back and threw over her shoulder "they were good though".  

yeah... whatever.  I like to think as a mother I can be objective about my kids and their faults and their gifts.  My girls had a couple of flubs in their set but overall did a great job and they DID do one singalong song with Rachel singing the main part and Carly doing the echo and trying to get the Seniors to join her.  I was watching. Nobody was falling asleep.  They were singing, watching and engaged.  I was a little annoyed with her "constructive criticism" and was just glad she said it to me and not to them.  I wonder what she was like in her younger years.....

I'm going to try to forget Ms. Grumpypants however, and choose to  remember Enchanting Ella and hope that someday when I am in her shoes and white plastic beads with my black purse full of carefully saved chocolate & fruit... I'll want to give it all away too with hugs and love and complements to strangers who sing for me.

**********

Okay so I posted this last night and went to bed.  Then I came back downstairs and unposted it because I got to thinking about Ms. Grumpypants and had the feeling I had been ungracious towards her in my narrative because I was, in fact, irritated with her.  

We had a Sunday School lesson on Humility vs. Pride.  I missed the 1st half running Carly home to get cough drops and getting my Relief Society notebooks updated (I'm the secretary).  I'm so glad I didn't miss the whole thing.  It was a really good lesson and our teacher pointed out some ways of being prideful that weren't as obvious and really made me think about the ways I am prideful that keep me from having the Holy spirit more closely in attendance in my life.  

The more I thought about Ms. Grumpypants, the more I began to identify with her rather than Enchanting Ella.  Remember my "holey pants" comment to Rachel?  And after church  when Carly was helping me with dinner I was a little critical of her broccoli trimming style".  I definitely wasn't all about making people feel good in those moments.  What would Ella have said?  

I thought a little more about Ms. Grumpypants parting comment.  She was trying to make up for being a little gruff I think.  I thought more about what she might have been like as a younger woman and came up with this:

 She was probably a "Get er Done" kind of gal.  When she saw a problem she tackled it and tried to "help" when she saw others doing things in a way that didn't make sense to her.  Sometimes she wasn't long on tact or empathy but she was one of those people you wanted to have around because she got things done and didn't sit around waiting for someone to do it for her.  I'm sure she was not nearly the hateful, mean person I first imagined her to be.  

I'm going to try harder to give people the benefit of the doubt.  Look for something good in them because, well... that's what Ella would do.

Sing for your supper

Tonight we went to a concert put together by Mic, a boy from our ward.  The concert was part of his Eagle scout project.  Admission to the concert was food.  He is putting together holiday dinner kits for those in need.  It was requested you bring instant potatoes, stuffing mix, gravy packets and canned vegetables.  

The whole family attended.  Before it started Samantha started....  She was in argue mode.  She demanded "why are we here?  Is there someone that we know? Why did we come?"  I took the program and patiently went through the whole thing.  

"See Samantha, this first group is a choir from the high school that Carly will be attending next year.  They are going to sing 3 songs.  Next is a girl that is Braydon's  (a classmate) cousin.  She's going to sing a song.  Then we will hear a boy named Micheal sing. ( I pointed him out as he was 2 rows in front of us.)  He sounds a lot like Josh Groban and he's going to sing some of his songs.  Then there will be a guitar group that will play a song.  Last Mic is going to play the piano.  He's very very good on the piano and writes his own songs.  He is sister Lopp's oldest son.  He organized this concert to collect food for people that don't have enough money to buy their own food.  Remember the food we brought?"

I thought I gave a lot of detail and gave a thorough explanation.  Her response was "so Reilly's going to sing?"  (Mic's younger brother who did not figure at ALL in my explanation)

I said "NO, Reilly is not going to sing".  She started in again.  "Then why are we here?  Who are we going to see?"  There were a couple more exchanges of me trying to explain and her tenaciously adhering to her original question.

I felt like an adult in a charlie brown movie.  "All she heard was "Wah wah wah wah wah"

To Save my sanity I switched seats and put Mason between us.  That of course did not go over well but now she was sitting by Mark and it was his turn.  

Once the concert started she was engrossed and Mason kindly switched seats with her and so she was back to sitting next to me.  She snuggled under my arm so I knew I was forgiven.  

The music was great and it was a nice evening out.  After Mic's piano numbers she started yelling.  

after song #1 she yelled "Good job Mic!"

after song #2 she yelled "That was relaxing"

After song #3 she yelled "That was cool and relaxing"

after song #4 I shushed her. 

After the concert she begged for a pen to get his autograph. 

When he becomes a famous pianist we'll say we knew him when.....

She's very interactive at concerts.  This summer we took all 3 girls to see Jordin Sparks at an outdoor theatre.   While setting up a song, Jordin asked the audience "How many of you girls out there have liked a guy and found out that he liked your best friend?" I looked over and there was Samantha raising her hand and nodding her head.  

I looked at her....

"What???!!!!"

She smiled sheepishly and said "well I have!"