Classic Timing

We are getting on a plane to Chicago tomorrow, and I spent the late hours of the night last night with my face in the toilet. How am I supposed to get all of us packed and ready to leave when I am so depleted? I do think I am feeling a little better right about now but I am still prone to curl up in a ball and lay on the floor. Olivia and I actually fit in a bunch of play time this morning because toddlers don't care if their mamas lay down to play Little People or do puzzles :)

I knew this was coming because Bentley was sick Friday night, it hit Cares on Sunday evening, and Olivia's version is working itself out in her diaper. Let me tell you it has been quite the weekend. But I am trying to see the silver lining in it all--we leave tomorrow and at least the virus has cycled through all of us before getting on the plane...except for Joseph...oh dear.

Krista--we will park ourselves in a hotel if we are sickly upon our arrival tomorrow--but let's hope that is not the case!

New Hobby

On yesterday's chilly ride out to Bingham Canyon

Joseph has a great friend/relative who happens to be my sister's husband (so yes he is my brother-in-law--I take full credit for their friendship because I introduced them :) Anyway, my brother-in-law happened to have a great road bike he was no longer using and he offered to let Joseph test it out for a bit and see if it was a good fit.

So, the past 2 weekends my hubby and I have scheduled Saturday afternoon "day dates" for biking together. Last week, on our anniversary, we planned to ride around the Swaner Preserve near Park City after spending the night at the cabin. We woke up early (I still wonder how that happened when the kids slept at Nanny and Grandpa's and weren't even there to wake us up...?) got dressed in biking gear and ate a quick breakfast. As I was finishing my muffin I suddenly realized that I had packed up both of our bikes and both helmets but only packed my front wheel and not Joe's. Kind of an essential thing for a bike ride...boo. It was such a lovely fall day and I had wanted to ride up in the mountains...

Luckily, my husband is rather easy going and thought that riding in our own neighborhood (where we could retrieve his forgotten wheel) would be a great solution and he was right--we still had a good time together (although it was about 20 degrees warmer down here in the valley...)

the wheel-less bike last weekend
(and my hubby's skinny legs which are highlighted nicely in his biking shorts)

Family of Four

Just a fun look back: October 2007 (Caroline 18 months, Bentley 3 1/2)

What's In a Name?

Our darling Olivia has grown quite fond of a certain pink pig who happily shares her same name. We love the Olivia books and the new(ish) cartoon about her--our baby sings along when the title sequence plays her name again and again. It is very cute. And we do enjoy Olivia the pig around here.

But...

I want my baby to know she was most definitely not named after a farm animal. She is named after the beautiful and endearing (if not overly passionate :) character created by none other than Shakespeare himself in the play Twelfth Night (a long time favorite of mine--my adoration most likely beginning with my stay on a certain island in Cornwall many years ago...)

So, when Olivia asks me about her name I will refer her to this and then hope she'll indulge me in a little iambic pentameter while I read her a few lines spoken by her namesake:

OLIVIA

O, what a deal of scorn looks beautiful
In the contempt and anger of his lip!
A murderous guilt shows not itself more soon
Than love that would seem hid: love's night is noon.
Cesario, by the roses of the spring,
By maidhood, honour, truth and every thing,
I love thee so, that, maugre all thy pride,
Nor wit nor reason can my passion hide.
Do not extort thy reasons from this clause,
For that I woo, thou therefore hast no cause,
But rather reason thus with reason fetter,
Love sought is good, but given unsought better.

Talks to Remember

So much to remember from conference this weekend. I find more and more lately that the counsel and direction are just what I need to hear. And more often than not I feel humbled, inspired to change, and motivated to try harder and become a more dedicated, more obedient, latter-day saint.

A few talks I will be listening to again very soon (and re-reading when I get them):

1) Elder Christofferson's talk about simplifying life and focusing on the essentials.
2) Elder Larry R. Lawrence's talk on parenting.
3) President Monson's talk on living a life of gratitude.

I was also very grateful for Sister Thompson's talk about visiting teaching from the General Relief Society meeting because she reminded me of its worth and how I need to approach it with a desire to love and serve rather than a desire to get it done. I'm pretty sure I still have a lot to learn in that area.

And Elder Holland's loving talk on Saturday morning filled my heart. I loved his stories about quiet service and how small and simple acts of love and kindness define a truly good soul. His humble gratitude for each of us trying our best in our own little ways was so lovely to hear and very gracious of him to share.

Of course watching/listening to conference with 3 busy (and verbal) kiddos around is not the most productive way to take it all in--so I will have to dig in over the next few weeks. Don't you love how easy it is to do that these days? We are so spoiled.

Here's my new favorite conference link...

And my favorite primary children filling out conference bingo like crazy (all during Elder Eyring's talk--almost gave them blackout with just the one speech!)

Still in Love

Us

Today Joseph and I are celebrating 11 years of marriage. We were crazy in love on our wedding day. And we still are. But I am always amazed how time has shaped our love into something more deep, more real, and more permanent than I ever knew it could. It has afforded us the chance to have real discouragements and telling fights as well as amazing successes and beautiful memories (many of which include the 3 darlings we created together). Seems to be what building a life together is all about anyway. And we are just getting started...

Something to keep us focused on each other:
11 love songs for 11 years

Stolen: Dashboard Confessionals
Your Body is a Wonderland: John Mayer
Endless Night: The Lion King
Mystery: Indigo Girls
I'll Be: Edwin McCain
When We Dance: Sting
Sky: Ingrid & Joshua
She: Elvis Costello
Unlike Me: Kate Havnevik
The Luckiest: Ben Folds
Grow Old Along With Me: Peter & Nancy

We're going to have fun listening to these tonight babe. Each one reminds me of a particular memory from the past (and often defines our love in one way or another). I may try to quiz you about it on our date tonight...doesn't that sound romantic?

Thank you for 11 years Joseph. They have easily been the best of my life because of you.