The (Mini) Martians Have Landed

Connor is just finishing up a winter gymnastics class. His class are called the Mini-Martians. Connor was so excited when we first signed him up. I told him "Go tell your Dad that you are going to be a Mini-Martian". A couple of minutes I hear him yelling "Daddy! Daddy! I'm going to be a MARSHMALLOW!!!!" He loves his class, especially that he got to take it with his good friend Grayson. He will be moving on to T-Ball after our Disney trip. Here are some highlights:

Honoring My Friend

Today, Jim and I have been spending time brainstorming how we can say good-bye to our friend Gwen. I am very excited that we may be able to plant a tree in her memory in Huntington Central Park (or Stuck Duck Park, to those of us who spent countless hours there). I have been dreading this, but it is acutally bringing comfort to us both. There are a lot of tears, but a lot of laughter (Gwen used to collect Penguins, or Pen-Gwens - get it. I think I said I would like to have a penguin there, but he missed the part where it was stuffed and we could send it to her son, and so he has been looking up penguin rentals - 'scuse me Zoo, can I rent your penguin by the hour?) but mainly I feel that we are making her proud. We want to be very creative (as Gwen was) and am wondering - what special ways have you said good-bye to people you love (and you can send ideas to me directly if you don't want to post them here)? Was there a special reading or song? Love to hear from you....
And California folks - the service will be on March 13th at Huntington Central. Not sure on time yet - just save the date! Jimmy says he's got the perfect spot.

PS - does anyone else think that Logan looks an awful lot like another little boy we know? That's an honor in itself!

New Year's Eve

Because I am throwing blog posts out there left and right, I have given up any order - so here we are New Year's Eve. We decided this year to have a very quiet one (if I ain't got a gig, my favorite thing to do is hang out at home, just our little family, eat, do puzzles and just quietly anticpiate all the good things to come. I remember doing that very thing, New Year's Eve 2006, and that June, the most amazing gift I ever received came to me - here's hoping for a repeat this year)Kind of went with a "Hat's Off to New Year's" theme... Lookin a little gangsta...
The not so quiet portion of the evening - midnight (well, 10:00 technically, we were celebrating with New Yawk!) - lighting eh hem, perfectly legal firecrackers then hiding in the house hoping the po-po are a no-sho!
We had a great time together. We are looking forward to what is ahead for us...and for you. May all your dreams come true in 2010.

A Tempest in a Teapot

In an effort to be PC at Conz school this year, they had a "Winter Concert" instead of a Christmas one. Kind of sad, but I understand. However it was after Christmas with no Rudolph or other innocuous holiday songs. Instead they performed "I'm a Little Teapot". Oh well. It was still cute as the dickens (just not Charles).
Tip me over and pour me out (and in case you are wondering, yes, that's a teapot on his HEAD)
They also performed the perinneal holiday favorite "One Potato, Two Potato"The Big Finish!
The program was very fun (including the after party in the dressing room with cookies and punch) and a good time was had by all. Especially Mommy, who breathed a huge sigh of relief that she could actually stand up out of the crouching position required to take these pictures.

He's My Sunbeam

I have been so negligent of my blog! I am sorry, it's just heavy things have been on my mind. However, all around me, lots and lots of happy moments. Here is one of my handsome new Sunbeam, his very first day:

Connor is doing as well as can be expected when, well, you're Connor. Here is an exchange I had with a lady at church (heretofore known as LAC) as Connor and I were walking down the hall a few weeks ago:
LAC: Oh! Is that YOUR little boy? He is so CUTE in Primary!
Me: Why thank you! I hope he is being so GOOD in Primary.....
LAC: (Pause) He is so CUTE in Primary!
Sigh. He does love his teachers. They are a cute young couple. Around our house, we like to play the "Name Game" as in "Connor, if you had a baby sister, what would you name her? - One recent response? "Brother Ellis"!

Little Red Riding Hood

Nope, I am not about to tell you a (horrifying, imho) bedtime story. I want to invite you to join me for an event this June (5th to be exact)! Little Red Riding Hood is an annual bike (as in bicycle, sorry my Harley peeps) ride up in the Cache Valley. It is an all girl ride to support womens' cancer research. I have gotten the word of mouth low-down that this is great fun in a beautiful setting. There are 5 different routes to choose from 18, 35, 57, 80 or 100 miles. There is the promise of "endless food" including a chocolate fountain at the finish line (if that ain't incentive....). If you would like to learn more go to: http://www.bccutah.org/lrrh2010/
If you would like to join me, let me know. I signed up for 35 miles, but may up that as race day gets closer. I have been hitting my spin classes pretty hard, so maybe I will feel sassy - but I won't do over 57 miles. Maybe. At any rate should be a good time, great cause. Lonny & Connor are going to cheer me on. They would be happy to cheer for you too!!

Pardon My Silence

Whew. Made it through January...tough stuff with a lot to deal with. Changes at work, the loss of my friend (you never know how much that will knock you through a loop and boy did it ever), a little bit (sometimes a lot) of discouragement but good things going forward! I will post more later, but the highlight of the month is that potty training may be finished! (for Connor, that is ha ha) This of course means we are planning our trip to Disneyland (my word is my honor). Also, we are working on a seperate blog on adoption, that will serve as a new profile for us and hopefully as a forum to educate. Very excited about that, but more later. I will be flying to California in March to say a final (earthly) good-bye to Gwen and spend time with my friends. Finally, working on bookin' the gigs for the summer...let's just say that it may be time to gear up for the Zoo again! So my focus has been all over the place. But I am grateful to everyone for their kind words and support...it is such a blessing to have all of you when the chips are down (dooby doo down down). And thankful for a husband who patiently endures. Love to all! And more blogging soon.