Aspen Quips

Dennis is out of town this week, so we decided to have breakfast for dinner (something Dennis hates, but we enjoy when he's away). Aspen called Dennis as I was preparing dinner, and this is the conversation I overheard (on speakerphone):

Aspen: "Guess what dad? We're having breakfast for dinner."
Dennis: "Really?"
Aspen: "Yeah, we're having eggs, ostrich, and muffins."
Dennis: "You're having what?"
Aspen: "Eggs, ostrich, and muffins."
Shauna interjects: "Eggs, sausage, and muffins. We're having sausage."
Aspen: "Oh, we're just having sausage."

That girl!

The White House

I probably should not blog about this, but I am going to. As a preface, I am not racist, or prejudice, and I run a literacy program where 80% of my clients last year were from another country. Some of my best friends in the entire world are from Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

That said, I called the White House yesterday to encourage the Obama Administration to support adding S.609 (Nonprofit Capacity Building Act of 2009) as an amendment to S.277 (Serve America Act). That may not mean much to any of you, but I run a nonprofit organization, so I was voicing my support (I also called the offices of Senator Hatch and Senator Bennett).

Anyway, when you call the White House to leave a message for the president, you have to wait on hold for a live operator (you can't just leave a message). The woman who finally answered my call (after 10+ minutes on hold) didn't even speak English! HELLO! Is this an operator for THE WHITE HOUSE? Are you kidding me? I'm all for supporting immigrants, helping them get ahead in life, etc., but this was ridiculous. I swear I was speaking at 2 words/minute, and she hadn't a clue what I was talking about--is that a Senate bill? What? Huh? She was so confused and I was so irritated. This is the United States of America, and we speak English here. Get help.

Okay, I digress.

Feeling Domestic

Not to sound prideful, but I have been proud of my domestic skills the last few weeks. I have been diligently helping Shaylee sew a skirt for her final value project for her Young Womanhood award, and it's turned out really well! I only had to call my mom a couple times in desperation because I couldn't read the pattern.

Then on Sunday, as we were getting ready to leave for the dedication of the Draper Temple, one of my white handkerchiefs came up missing. I ran down to my sewing machine with another handkerchief, cut out a new one, and sewed it up (zip zip). Go me!

Then last night, a new pair of pants that I got on clearance, then wore once, had the hem come out of the bottom. Rather than sitting it on my sewing machine and leaving it for days (or weeks or months), I pulled out the needle and thread and sewed them right up--good as new (maybe better)!

Next project . . . curtains for my kitchen. Thanks mom, for making me learn to sew, and buying me a sewing machine for my birthday one year when I'm sure I was not appreciative, and for supporting me in my domestic endeavors. :)

Night Dance

Shaylee attended her first night dance at the junior high this past weekend. I took her and a group of girlfriends over to the school around 7:30 p.m., and another girl's parents brought them home just after 10:30 p.m. They had a blast! I was less nervous since the guy Shaylee likes is in high school and would not be attending this shindig.

Here's the best part of the story (reminiscent of my high school dating days). I get up at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, so I was in bed by the time Shaylee got home (which is why I offered to drive them there at 7:30 p.m.--before my bed time), but I told Shaylee she had to wake me up and tell me all about it when she got home. Apparently she did, and I was awake and coherent and asked questions about every guy she danced with, etc. Of course, I did not remember any of this (except for her waking me up) the next day, when I obviously asked everything again. "I told you last night mom," Shaylee told me. "You did?!?" Oops. Now I know how my parents felt! "Did Shauna come in last night?" "I don't know . . ." One of those things you swear you'll never do.

Love you Shay! Isn't she beautiful?

Basketball is over!

Thank heavens! This was a rough season. They struggled to find a coach for Devin's team, and he had some rough boys and lousy players (who thought they were good on his team). Ugh. They did not win a single game, but I was so proud of Devin and the way he handled himself and strove to perform to the best of his ability, regardless of the performance (or lack thereof) of his teammates. Dennis and I just encouraged him to play his best and improve his own game, which he did. There was a marked difference in his ability to defend (stay on his man), not travel or double dribble, and get inside for the layup between his first game and his last.

For Devin, basketball is just an indoor sport that will hold him over until it's soccer season again. Don't get me wrong, he loves shooting hoops in the front yard (actually, the neighbor's driveway), but he has not had overly marvelous team experiences thus far.

Sports are a family affair--we are always there to support one another:

Hunger Banquet

So this post is a bit dated, but I just uploaded the photos from the 17th annual BYU Hunger Banquet. What an awesome event! The purpose is to raise awareness among BYU students about global poverty and wealth inequality--they do a great job! Everyone pays the same ticket price ($7), and then they are randomly selected to be seated in poverty on the floor and eat a meager meal of beans and rice (60%) or to be seated in the middle class chairs and eat pizza (25%) or to be seated in the upper class at a table and eat a 3-course meal (including ice cream for dessert!).

This year I was privileged to be the keynote speaker at the Friday night banquet (it runs two nights) and I was able to speak about the relationship of illiteracy to poverty not only globally and nationally, but right here in our backyard. I thought it went really well as I passionately implored the students present to find a cause they are passionate about and join others to make a difference in the world.

My children (Shaylee and Devin) came with Dennis and I, and they really lucked out because they got to be seated with the upper class. I think they both might have preferred middle class, but definitely not poverty--and I was certainly threatening them that if they didn't eat every bite of their meal, I would make them go feed it to the poor (who were seated on the floor all around us salivating). Anyway, it was a lot of fun and hopefully and eye-opening experience for my children.

Camelback

Hey Summer D.! Sorry these took so long to post. At the beginning of February, I went to Phoenix for a conference on teaching adults to read. I got to stay with my cute sister Summer and her husband Tyler, who moved to Phoenix last summer. I flew in Thursday night, went to the conference all day Friday, then all morning on Saturday. Then we went on a "short, easy hike" up Camelback, "The Mountain" in Phoenix. Well, it started as a walk on a paved road, then a rocky hike, then a rock climb to the peak. Phew! If you know my sister Summer, this is a huge accomplishment--she and Tyler hike practically every weekend, and this from a girl who HATES, and I do not use that term lightly, hiking. Anyway, we made it to the top (and back down) in time for me to shower and make it to the airport on time for my flight home. Hurrah! Here are our pics at the top of Camelback:

The Best Kids in the World

Can I just brag a little about my fantastic kids? Last night at dinner, apparently I was seeming a bit stressed--more snippy than normal, perhaps. Anyway, the kids noticed and so after we had cleaned everything up and popped the youngest two into a bath tub, they shooed me out of the house for a walk. I actually went roller blading for 45 minutes, and it felt fantastic! I came back rejuvenated, and the kids and I made churros and then watched a movie together until bedtime. Are they sweet or what?

Thanksgiving Point Dance Competition

Shaylee competed in her first dance competition this weekend at Thanksgiving Point. It was a lot of fun, and she and her team did a great job. Her team is "Expressions," and they got 1st place on one number and 2nd place on the other. Her studio also won overall best dance studio on both novice and beginning levels. Congratulations! You can see the blog for her studio here.

Being the lousy photographer I am (and having Dennis out of town in Las Vegas), I only got one picture in focus of their car at the end of the first routine and a couple of the second (sorry!):

Thanks also to Grandpa & Grandma Pearson for coming to cheer her on and for the beautiful flowers!

Also, Shaylee tried out tonight for the Westlake Dance Company. She made the first cut and was accepted into the advanced dance class, but didn't get one of the 20 spots available in the dance company. We are so proud of her! (And she is thrilled with her performance). Way to go sweetheart!

Aspen Quips

On Saturday, we do our major chores in the morning. Shaylee was in charge of vaccuming this week, so she was picking up some things on the floor in Aspen's room so she could vaccum. Aspen came running downstairs to tell me, "Mom, Shaylee is doing my chores!" "You better run up and help her," I replied. "No, mom," was Aspen's response, "she's doing just fine." Smart kid.