Nearer: A New Collection of Favorite Hymns

Scott's latest Deseret Book project, Nearer: A New Collection of Favorite Hymns, just came out and it is another great album, in my completely unbiased opinion. It is a collection of favorite hymns done in a modern style designed specifically to appeal to a younger audience. The arrangements are beautiful, the collection of singers unique and interesting, and the whole album is overall inspiring. Really. It gives me the chills.

Listen to a great behind-the-scenes interview with Cherie Call.

Read another nod from Orson Scott Card here.

I'm so proud.

more fun stuff

Last weekend was nothing but action packed family fun, and I have virtually no pictures to show for it. (I think Rachel & Mom might have some so watch their blogs.)

On Friday after school we went to the Wasatch Elementary Fall Festival. As parents, this is not necessarily an event we've looked forward to or enjoyed in years past. But this year the boys were old enough to take their tickets and go off on their own to play games, and June was tired and fell asleep in the stroller, which left me free to spend as much time oogling the silent auction items as I wanted. (We got a super-cool DC backpack, dessert at Rooster, and Crest refillable mugs out of the deal.) Plus it turns out that after 3 years of staying at the same school we actually know people and have friends we run into at events like these, so that was fun.

Poor Scott, though, didn't get to enjoy the Fall Festival. He launched into the daunting and overwhelming task of emptying out our basement -- sorting stuff, throwing things out, giving things away, and carrying boxes and boxes and shelves and junk up the stairs. Sore back. Oncoming flu. No fun.

Friday night I got to go (I mean, we got to go) to the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus! It was awesome. Elephants, tigers, trapeze, clowns, people shot out of cannons, dogs doing tricks, cheesy ringmaster, creepy mullet roadie crew, the whole 9 yards. Grandma & Grandpa and Christine & Nate came too. Mom made the point that although the circus is a regular and common part of our vernacular, a relatively small percentage of the population actually gets to go and see a real circus.

Saturday we (and by "we" I mean "Scott") did lots more work on the basement and now he can't park in the garage anymore.

Then on Saturday afternoon Ken invited us all to use his first-rate season BYU football tickets (2nd row, 50 yard line) so we went and watch BYU slaughter Colorado State. It was fun to be in the stadium and feel the energy there, although it would have been nice if the energetic students sitting all around us would have sat down a little more. Grandma was happy for the excuse to not sit and watch the game and took the kids out for snacks. Huck slept the whole time. We should have worn blue.

Sunday was Huck's blessing day. After much deliberation and preparation, Huck was well outfitted from head to toe, including beautiful custom-made-to-match-his-outfit booties from Great Grandma Z. Scott's blessing was absolutely beautiful, and he made the switch from name-on-the-records "Harrison" to nickname "Huck" very well. Gratefully Dad made it in time, and thank you to Paul & Darin for coming too.

Unfortunately the 4th baby and XXth great-grand child doesn't get quite as much of a todo as the older ones did. But his blessing day will not be forgotten, since immediately after the blessing, and before the sacrament, the conducting counselor got up and said there was smoke in the building and we were to evacuate immediately and canceled the rest of the meetings. So, grateful to get out of sharing time and YM lessons, we moved the party over to Mom & Dad's for an early supper and dessert with cousins Justin Hale and Davy & Janie Widtfeldt.

Between all the special events, we're just trying to keep up with with regular life. We did finally get our new dishwasher this week (gotta love RC Willey for their free hotdogs and good return policy). I made myself some delicious bruscetta using tomatoes and basil from the garden. Grease was on TV yesterday so of course I had to watch that (one of the only movies I can watch over and over - that and Sound of Music). Tonight is the Pinewood Derby (more on that tomorrow) so there has been much preparation for that going on.

Huck went to his 2-month appointment yesterday and weighs 12 lbs 4 oz -- 64%tile weight, 72%tile length, 30%tile head size. He's strong and healthy and still doesn't like riding in the car or taking a pacifier, and has just in general decided he'd rather be held than ever be put down, so as you can imagine I'm getting a lot done these days. He's starting to find his thumb, which is cute and helpful. He is just starting to smile, which is the ultimate payoff.

Of course there's been plenty of twirling to do too. And Oliver went for a couple trial Karate classes. I've tried to get him interested in karate for years, but finally after a guy came to do a demo at school he was eager to go and break a board himself. It was cute how into it he was and enthusiastic and precise he was with his punches and kicks and "ay-a"'s. Of course now he says he doesn't want to go back.

Hopefully next week I'll actually be able to help Scott empty out the basement, as well as get the baby announcements done, work on Halloween costumes, and start knitting Huck's Christmas stocking. Does that sound realistic? I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

Brenden's Birthday Weekend

Brenden's birthday was celebrated in fine fashion. On Friday the 18th, he woke up to balloons and streamers and a stack of presents to open before school.

Then to school he took his character bag (things to show the class that describe him) and Reeces for everyone (only store-bought treats allowed -- too bad!).

After school Scott took the afternoon off and took the boys to Salt Lake for the Dew Tour -- a big skateboard/BMX/motocross show. (Brenden got this fedora hat that he's been wanting and has worn it every day since. Kind of rad.)

Saturday we took 6 friends to the movies to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in 3D, with plenty of popcorn to go around. We rented out the party room at the movie theater and had pizza and cake and opened presents after the movie. Then we broke out the rolls of quarters for the arcade while we waited for parents.

The kids loved the movie and were very good, but being with a group of 9-10 year-old boys all hopped up on sugar and popcorn and birthday-party-cheer is a bit like visiting another planet.

After the birthday party we went to the mall where the boys got to design their own hats at Lids. It's a bit like build-a-bear for boys -- pick the hat, the font, the logo, the colors, etc. Even Scott got in on the action (Microphone Action Squad is the name of his new studio).


Sunday we invited the family over for a BBQ dinner and s'mores and a few rounds of The Beatles Rock Band.

I think by the end Brenden felt duly feted.

Our first born turned 10 today??!!

What happened to this guy??
Wasn't it just yesterday?!


Happy Birthday sweet boy.

Thank you for the peaceful spirit you bring into our home.
Thank you for your help.
Thank you for being an example.
Thank you for teaching me how to be a mother.













I love you more than you'll ever know
until you have a child of your own.


And look at him today -- what a heart breaker!

I'm so proud.

I know I should be blogging right now

But I'm seriously at a loss for what to say and I don't have any good pictures. So how about a little stream-of-conscience exercise (remember those from english class?)

I'm bored and lonely. Scott's working a lot of late nights this week, which is dumb, but at least I've managed to get the kids to bed early every night, which is heaven. Last night I caught up on our finances and paid bills. Tonight I've been working on laundry and chatting with [brother-in-law] Brett.

Brenden's birthday is on Friday. My goal is to have all the birthday celebrating wrapped up by the end of the weekend. On Friday we'll take treats and do his spotlight at school. Then Friday afternoon Scott's taking the boys to the Dew Tour in Salt Lake and then we'll meet them for dinner at a restaurant of Brenden's choice (lucky for me Pei Wei is one of his favorites). Then Saturday he's having a friends party. We're taking about 7 boys to the movies to see "Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs" in 3D on opening weekend, then renting the party room (better call about that tomorrow) at the theater for pizza & cake afterwards. Sunday we'll have a family party with Grandma & Grandpa Z and Rachel & Christine & friends. Brenden has requested s'mores in the back yard. Maybe we'll make it a BBQ.

We'll have to eat on paper plates because we're back to NO DISHWASHER. As per my prior post, RC Willey took our dishwasher back, and we are currently awaiting the arrival of our new free dishwasher which should hopefully come soon and hopefully not leak.

I want to send out birth announcements for Huck. Is it too late? I hope not. Emily has kindly designed an awesome card, which we will have letter pressed. But now I need to get a picture taken, which is proving to be harder than it should be. I need to choose a background and find a time when there is good light and he's happy and cooperative and there is a decent photographer around -- basically when the stars align. I need to really focus on that and get it done this week.

I really want to go to the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey circus. It's in town next week. I've been wanting to go for years and here it is coming again and there are all sorts of reasons why it's probably not going to work again. I have a happy memory of going to the circus as a kid (Mom - did that really happen? did we get cotton candy and was dad there too?) I took the kids to a cheapo fake circus a couple years ago which was lame and creepy but still the kids thought it was cool. I think they would really be impressed by the real thing.

It's really fun having my parents living so close by now. The other day my mom took June & Huck while I went to the doctor. Then she basically insisted that I go get a pedicure while she went and got my car washed and bought June some treats. Later that same day she walked into my house carrying my dry cleaning that needed to be picked up (she found the ticket in the car when she was at the carwash), and then entertained a tired & hungry & grumpy June while I made dinner. Maybe she's trying to make up for lost time for all the years she's been so far away, but whatever the motivation, I'll take it. Today she called and invited June & Huck and I to go to the movies with her and Rachel. We picked a matinee time when the only other people in the theater also had a 2 month old baby with them, and we saw Julie & Julia. I thought it was cute, but unfortunately for Oliver who had to wait a little extra at school, a little longer than I expected.

June started going to a pre-pre-school class that my friend Jodi teaches at her home. She loves it! She tells everyone about her class at her school and she sings the songs and shows everyone her crafts. It's very cute. I've been feeling bad that June is rather under-stimulated at home these days when the big brothers are gone to school. I need to come up with some new good activities to do with her, but in the mean time, I'm happy for her to at least have these two hours a week to do fun stuff that we wouldn't do at home.

Huck is a little chub-o now. He's really chunking up complete with rolls on his neck, arms, legs, cheeks, and tummy. He doesn't like his carseat, which on top of the fact that he won't take a pacifier makes for really uncomfortable car rides. In general he's figured out he prefers to be held to being put down, so I've been making more use of my beloved Moby Wrap to free up my hands around the house.

The boys have been doing a really good job of getting their homework and reading and practicing done right after school. I am so proud of what good kids they are. Every day Oliver tells me more words he's learned in Chinese (today it was whiteboard and triangle). I try to repeat them and he gets frustrated that my pronunciation is so bad. Brenden's been learning about the state of Utah and yesterday brought home a giant Utah-shaped sugar cookie which he decorated with frosting and toothpicks to depict the geography. I am grateful for their great teachers.

That's all I can think of for now. I'm tired and should probably head up to bed. Huck will be waking up soon.

This is so boring. Should I even publish it?!

Here - I found a picture.

uhhh is this a joke?

Sunday: Wake up to find dishwasher has leaked all over wood floors AGAIN (remember this?)

Monday: With impressive and uncharacteristic efficiency and decisiveness, I went to RC Willey and purchased a brand new dishwasher in less than 15 minutes. Ouch!

Tuesday AM: New dishwasher was delivered

Tuesday PM: New dishwasher was installed.

Wednesday: Completely unrelated to aforementioned break & replacement, a guy calls from Whirlpool saying they want to buy us a new and upgraded dishwasher and take our old one for a study on how water quality across the country effects the machine. Doh!

Couldn't he have just called 2 days earlier?! That'll teach me to move quickly again.

she has stars in her eyes

Thanks to Rachel cleaning & moving out of her apartment, June inherited these fun star stickers that kept her quite entertained during church yesterday.

a glimpse at our "nothing"

Annee requested a view into our world, even if we don't think we're doing anything exciting. So here's a little bit about our "nothing" lately.

First off, Huck is getting bigger, which is not OK with me. He's started growing out of his first round of clothes and diapers and his cheeks and legs are filling out. I think when you're raising your last child you should get to pick an age to prolong, and for me this would be it. He's made it abundantly clear that he's a stomach sleeper (gasp!), and he will not take a pacifier. Did you hear that? I've never had one of those and frankly thought people were making it up or not trying hard enough or not doing it right when they claimed such a thing. But I must repent.

June's come around and is becoming a nice, sweet big sister. She is attentive but not overly so (usually) and helpful and excited. She's learning to be soft, which is a new concept for a girl growing up with 2 big brothers. She likes to hold "baby Huck" and lets me know when he's sad and needs me.

Last weekend we went to Christine's horse show in Spanish. That really took me back to our California days when we got to watch her ride frequently and it was a big treat to take the kids to see her horses. She looked great and performed well and seemed so happy and graceful and just like she belonged (atop the horse, not necessarily in Spanish). And I got the pleasure of bragging about her to a guy in the audience who was impressed and asking around about her.

Then the next day we "celebrated" her 22nd birthday. I say "celebrated" in quotes because there weren't any presents and Mom & Dad weren't there, so there will be more real celebrating to come this weekend. I love you Christine! Thank you so much for all the service you do for me and our family. You are a joy to be around and I'm so lucky to get to live near you for a few years (or maybe longer?!).

*photo courtesy of Stephanie Wiley

We've been following the progress of the "Station Fire" closely (thanks for the hourly updates, LCF). Scott's parents and sister all got evacuated for a couple days, but thankfully there was no direct damage to their houses -- only to their views. Check out Stephanie's first-hand account.

*photo courtesy of Dorothy Zackrison

My parents have arrived from Germany - in Provo for good (well sort of) I spent the past month working with design/construction duo (and cousins) Katie & Larry Christensen helping to fix up their townhome and it looks great. It was a fun outlet for my late-pregnancy nesting needs (on someone else's dime!). They have been staying with us for a few days while the last details were finished which has been a huge blessing since, while jet-lagged Mom was nice enough to take the 5-7am shift with Huck.

Brenden's baseball team was invited to participate in an Orem Owlz game. The kids on the team got paired up with Owlz players and got to run out on the field and get announced with the guy playing their same position. Then they got to stand out on the field for the national anthem. That was pretty cool.





Here's a little series showing what the kids like to do while Mom is nursing the baby - build a huge pile of pillows and jump off the bed. It's one of those activities where you have to weigh the huge mess & chance for them to get hurt against the value of them having something to do & actually getting along for a while, and the latter wins every time.


In the ongoing saga of my lemon tree, check out the 11 beautiful healthy growing lemons which are getting pretty big and haven't fallen off, been eaten by deer, or turned yellow too soon. This is going to make one much appreciated and anticipated pitcher of lemonade one day (wonder when that'll be -- seems like they've been growing for a long time!).

We also have 3 apples growing on our baby apple tree,

a pumpkin that's grown completely wedged between the rocks (Scott and I both tried to get it out to no avail. It is totally stuck.)

And more tomatoes, peppers, giant zucchini, and herbs than we can possibly know what to do with. I've made salsa and a tomato/cucumber salad. Does anyone have a recipe they love for homemade tomato sauce?

Don't you love the harvest update? Sorry - this is rather boring. I told you we weren't doing anything good.

*photo taken by Jon Canlas

In other news, Scott finally got tired of being our family representative on Facebook and, unbeknown to me, went and signed me up. And so my addiction begins.