55 and shoe blessed

Early this morning a package arrived. Yup, Georgetown cupcakes in an adorable pink box. http://www.georgetowncupcake.com/ I had the lemon one for breakfast. Thanks, Megs. They are delish. Can't wait to craft something out of that box:)

Jiao baked me this wonderful cake. Tastes as good as it looks. I love her creativity. She didn't have a cherry to put on top so she carved up a tomato. This just makes me smile.

Lunch at La Jolla. Our favorite server (Lexi) snapped this pic.

Ld gave me roses, and apparently this is the year of shoes because I received a pair from Jiao and Janny, Kenzie and Brig and Ld, too. I be stylin' out, friends.

Celebrating with some of my little people.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. Love the people in my life.

i saw wicked. thanks, megs.

Last Christmas Megs surprised me with a ticket to see Wicked with her when it came to SLC in July. In April, when it looked like our plan would be de-railed, she promised me that in spite of her move to Wisconsin she would fly back so we could see it together.

Late last Friday night she and her little family flew in.

Highlights:

Saturday night a Bratt/Weenie roast at Kenzie's.

Sunday chuchin', Faye attended my nursery class and Jiao prepared a most delicious Asian meal.

Monday night an Arnett extended family BBQ/swim party.

In between all the above we crammed playtime with the babies, visiting, shopping, eating, etc. But the culminating event Megs and I were most looking forward to was Tuesday evening. As luck would have it, around 4:30 Meghan started feeling sick to her stomach and having big D. (TMI, I know) She was pale and miserable. Around 5:00 when it became increasingly apparent that she was not going anywhere, I suggested we could catch the show another time, in another city. No, she said. I want you to go. Kody reassured me he would take care of her and put the kids to bed.

A little after 5:00 I went into the bathroom to check on her again. There was my sweet Megs sitting on the toilet with a big bucket on her lap, all washed out and clammy from throwing up. I know, I know, TMI again. I asked her again if I should go and she nodded. Reluctantly, I kissed the top of her head, grabbed my keys and headed down to Spanish Fork to pick up Jiao.

So as the fates would have it, it was Jiao and I who watched Wicked mesmerized and amazed.

And it was with incredible sadness that I received texts from Megs during intermission asking me how it was, and how sad she was she couldn't be there with me.

There's life for you. What can you do? Except look at unplanned situations, unwanted circumstances and unexpected detours and ask, What can I make of this? Sometimes there's something and sometimes not. It is what it is. Or as Kenzie frequently tells Cate "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit".

Turns out Wicked is coming next June to Milwaukee and May in Madison. We'll be there at one or the other.

Even though things didn't go exactly as planned I wouldn't trade their visit for anything. It was one more opportunity to see them, be with them, love them in person. That's really all that matters.

They flew out the next day. Happy to report Megs is feeling much better:)

Was blind. But now I see.

After months of prepping—ptsosis surgery repair, weaning off my contacts, and tests, tests and more tests, I finally had it done. On Thursday, the 19th, I underwent Lasik surgery. Best thing ever. I wake up each morning and reach for my glasses only to realize I don’t need them anymore. I can see, friends. I can see.

Apart from my extreme sensitivity to the Valium they gave me pre-surgery, and ld’s enormous amusement of said Valium reaction, things went amazingly smooth.

Yeah, I went from 20/600 to 20/20.

I am giddy.

And unbelievably grateful.

gaudium #999,000

Bratts, Meghan's amazing guacamole, races and teeter tottering. Add in a light, cool breeze and you've got bliss.

because faith is a choice and requires a commitment

I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia.
~C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair

Except I know there is. I don't need proof, I just need some clues. Just as some state their unbelief, I state my belief. Some find no reason to believe; I find a million clues to believe.

Clues, a story, and a community to share it with. I'm on team Faith.

a hot americana

JLW and Jiao joined me for the parade downtown. I'm not into camping overnight to secure a spot so we took what we could find. Wasn't too bad but like I said it was hot and sunny and we had all forgotten hats. Janny, smart person that he is, grabbed a file folder I had in my big purse and fashioned himself this:

Voila. The man is a genius.

I tried to imagine what all the noise and colors and hoopla must look like to Jiao, seeing this all for the first time. I explained to her that all across America, in towns and cities large and small, parades were happening.

I hadn't been to this parade for a few years, but seeing it again, hot as it was, made me all nostalgic.

I have a good life in a great country.

Oh, and this. Because it's the 4th and because Andy died a few days ago which makes me so sad. I grew up watching this sweet and hilarious show.

time for another Grandy's SRC

Yup. Our Summer Reading Challenge begins today. This years theme is "Become a Reading Superhero".

The details: Runs from July 1st (today) through August 10th. Cate = 100 books. Faye and Maddie = 50 books. Refer to last years book list here http://csarnett.blogspot.com/2011/06/grandys-src-0-2-years.html or here http://csarnett.blogspot.com/2011/06/cobbled-together-list-i-compiled-last.html or make up your own. Keep track of books read and the date finished. When we've each reached our goal by the scheduled date then we'll all have a Super Reader party with prizes, games, and activities. Like last year:) http://csarnett.blogspot.com/2011/09/grandys-src-bookworm-party.html

Get going, gang.

Fight evil.
Read books.

guadium #99,995

The last two days have been a frantic frenzy. Jiao came out to help me and we pulled it off. Cate and Maddie were adorable and won their 3rd trophy. It's not the Tournament of Roses but still a children's parade is a pretty sweet thing. The marching bands, the balloons, clowns, the sirens and colors. Delightful.

A few pics of our adorable grand kidlets. Oh how ld and I are missing our Faye and Emer. Our eagles nest is not complete without them.

I know. Enough already.

chicago

We drove into Chicago on Monday. Amazing city. Walked and walked and walked. Trying to take the city in. Faye loved the Millenium Park Fountain. We walked all the way from Jackson Avenue clear down to Navy Pier. No small feat when towing two small children. Just like Milwaukee, Chicago has a river running through it also and ld discovered they have river taxis. We gratefully hopped on one and boated all the way back which was great because we saw even more city sites.

The city is huge and beautiful. I'll be back.

sunday with the staples

A crazy day of churchin'. Meghan had to teach primary and talk in church. Faye had a hard time in nursery so just hung out with her daddy. Emmer and I hung out together in relief society. And ld was happy to discover that a cousin he grew up alongside and went to school with is a member of Meghan's ward. Even better, she's Megs visiting teacher. I'm happy to know there is someone to look after her and call if she needed to.

A few pics then.

Meghan protested vehemently when I snapped this pic. "Not at church, Mom". Whatever. I took it anyway.

It occurs to me that I didn't get any shots of Faye. She was there, though. And she busted out the cutest grandkid move when she stood up on the church bench and shouted out "Mommy!" to her Mom speaking at the pulpit. She followed that up by blowing her a huge kiss.

Oh yes. Remarkable, I know.

Love this little family.

bronze fonz

Yes, I know we look ridiculous. Old fart tourists. Shudup. We're on vacation.

Arthur Fonzerelli. Man, we're old.

down by the lake

We flew over Lake Michigan on our arrival and I had no idea it was so huge and beautiful. Really impressive.

I also didn't know that Milwaukee borders the Lake, which makes for an awesome view. These pics taken down Oak Leaf Trail in the Veterans Park. It's down by the Milwaukee Art Museum and Discovery World.

There are beaches further down, just haven't had a chance yet to explore them.

milwaukee pt 2

The city has heavy German and French influences throughout in its architecture, names and food. Bars, beers and bratts. Sausage, sports and sailboats.