the aftermath

This box of Puffs was nearly full when I brought it up to our hotel room last night. After saying our goodbyes, this was the pile left by Charlotte, Emily, and me.

This is a view out of the car window of the weather that welcomed us back to Colorado for the last half of our trip today. Very appropriate, considering my state of mind.

That box of Puffs is now nearly empty.

Happy Birthday Dear Charlotte!

My feet are killing me, but what a fantastically fun birthday celebration we had for Charlotte today! We (meaning Charlotte, Emily, my mom, and I) went shopping for the better part of the day; Charlotte received money for her birthday to shop for a new fall wardrobe. I have no doubt she'll post more about this. The four of us made quite a dynamic team as we scanned the racks and pulled things for her to try on. It's fun to shop with someone who looks good in everything she tries on--well, perhap everything except this scary 70's hippie dress Emily brought into the dressing room. . . .

In Emily's defense, it was one of those dresses that looked slightly better on the hanger.

My favorite part of any Wood birthday celebration has become our tradition of going around the dinner table after we're finished eating--but before we have cake--sharing our favorite memory, character trait, etc. about the birthday person. After everyone has shared what they like best, the birthday girl (in tonight's case) has to state what she likes best about herself. I love what Charlotte said about herself: "I like that I have faith, and that I know Heavenly Father knows me and has a plan for me--even when I don't always know what that plan might be."

I have also started a tradition this year of making a "10 Things I Love About You" album for each of my children on their birthdays. I love making these albums because I have found that magnifying another's strengths increases my love for that person.

Perhaps when it is not so late I'll share some of my ten things. For now, suffice it to say that I love and admire Charlotte for the beautiful young woman she has become, and feel priviledged to be her mother.

Happy 21st Birthday Charotte! I love you.

let the countdown begin. . .

One week from today Mark and I will be driving home from Provo, after spending three days getting Charlotte and Emily settled in their apartment and dorm respectively. That, of course, means that starting today I'll be doing a mental countdown of "this is the last time we'll. . . ." effectively making myself more blue in the process as I anticipate the change.

The countdown really began last weekend when Emily had her senior piano recital. Mark's Dad came all the way from Cardston, Alberta for the Friday evening event and it we had an enjoyable weekend.

This photo with Emily's good friend and piano teacher, Mrs. Duckworth, was taken after the recital in the Relief Society room, where we had a homemade cake buffet following Emily's performance in the chapel.

Today was to have been our last time at church together (listen to me, as if we'll never be in church together again--Thanksgiving isn't that far away!) but Charlotte, Sarah, and I stayed home with a nasty head cold. I rarely stay home from church, but admit that the extra sleep has already made me feel better. Perhaps it was for the best, as I may have gotten weepy; Emily is one of our ward organists/choristers and it probably would have made me blue to see her at the organ today.

This afternoon we're planning on having the annual back-to-school father's blessings--at once both comforting and sad. I am grateful, however, to send my kids out into the world with the strength of their father's priesthood behind them.

Both girls have had their last days of summer employment, so this week will be a week of packing. I confess that one thing I will not miss is the growing piles of stuff the girls are accumulating throughout the house.

Monday will be our last Family Home Evening together for a while and we've invited a cute couple who used to be in our ward over for a game night. Tuesday will be another fun "last," as we go shopping together on Charlotte's 21st birthday. Wednesday will be our last family dinner together with Grandma and Grandpa.

And Thursday morning we leave--bright and early--for Provo.

"Get your hands off of my corn fritters!"

The closest thing my family usually comes to going out for dinner is bringing home a take-and-bake pizza from Papa Murphy's. So you can see why we were quite excited when my mom and dad informed us earlier this month that they wanted to take us all out for dinner before the girls left for school. We decided on our favorite family restaurant, White Fence Farm, where the specialty is fried chicken served family style. They serve these delicious corn fritters that are worth the trip alone--I think John ate at least three dozen single-handedly.

Our waiter Ray was sweet to bring us an extra bowlful to take home for breakfast. He told us about one time when he was clearing someones table, he began to reach for the near-empty bowl of corn fritters, and was taken aback when an older woman made a menacing gesture with her fork and hissed, "Keep your hands off of my corn fritters!" He has been careful ever since.

Eating at White Fence Farm, however, is about much more than just the food. The grounds are beautiful, complete with play structures, a petting zoo, gazebo, a pond with ducks, several cute gift shops, and a large indoor slide (not at all Chuck E. Cheese-y, thankfully). I enjoyed watching Sarah have so much fun and tried to pretend I was Jill and Michelle--camera around my neck--unabashedly snapping photos. At one point when Charlotte, Emily and I were taking a self portrait, I suggested that perhaps we should step out the main traffic path to avoid annoying other restaurant patrons. To this Charlotte hastily replied, "Self portraiture stops for no man!" My favorite quote from the evening.

I love this picture of Mark and Sarah sharing a secret on the duck pond bridge.

And John made me laugh when he posed as Sherlock Holmes in one of the gift shops.

Aside from feeling too full and vowing (at least until tomorrow morning) that I'll never eat again, it was a fantastic evening. Thanks, mom and dad.

jumping in with both feet

Deep breath--here goes! After daily inspiration by celebrity bloggers like my nieces Jessie and Michelle and friend Jill (my claim to fame is that I actually vacationed with her once), as well as goading by my daughters Charlotte and Emily, I'm finally doing it. I'm starting my very own blog.


I admit to a little foot-dragging, as I'm concerned about adding one more thing to my seemingly endless list of things I want to do (and don't always get done). But a recent post by one of the above-mentioned blogging divas has inspired me to do it for me. I realized that I don't have to worry about how often I post, or whether or not anyone reads it, or what they think. I also realized that it may help ease the sadness in having my two oldest kids leave for college (they are probably the two main people who will read my blog).

So for what it's worth--here goes! I'm jumping into the blogging world with both feet (in cute shoes, of course).