Uno Fail and Draw 20

Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .

. . . initiating my master plan of Uno domination, then forgetting to say "Uno!" when I got down to one card.  Curses!!

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . Anna kicking her feet when she's happy.  I know I write that a lot, but it's just so cute that it makes my day every time.

. . . playing Imaginary Uno with the big kids when we were out for a walk.  All we really did was slam each other with Draw 2s and Draw 4s over and over.  I think I drew 20 imaginary cards at one point.

. . . reading with Joy at bedtime.  Reading a good book together draws us closer and ends our day on such a happy note.  We were also relieved to learn that Jack the dog came through the creek safely.

And another thing . . .

. . . I loved the original Fantasia when I was young and watched it countless times.  Now I never hear Beethoven's 6th Symphony without having centaurs and fauns dance through my head.

Cousins and a Concert

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . gathering with about twenty relatives for my grandparents' birthday party, and hearing the boisterous crowd sing our family birthday song in several different keys.

. . . Joy and Daniel playing happily with her second cousins.

. . . sitting in the car together for a few minutes after we arrived home, listening to the end of Schumann's Piano Concerto in A Minor, Opus 54.  It was a lovely performance, and it's fun to see how much Phillip gets into good music.

Sprinkles and Drawing Two

Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .

. . . making the colossal mistake of trying to do something on the computer while the kids were all awake.  It always takes longer than I expect, especially since I'm being interrupted every twenty seconds or so.  Unless the task is urgent, it usually isn't worth the stress and frustration.  You'd think I'd learn to just wait until naptime.


Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . decorating sugar cookies with Joy.  Eating them was fun, too.

. . . playing Uno with Daniel.  Inexplicably, our favorite part is when he slaps a Draw 2 on me, and I assume an attitude of hyperbolic shock and dismay.

. . . cuddling Anna.

. . . reading more of Little House on the Prairie with Joy.

Bubbles and a Book

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . blowing bubbles for my kids at the park.

. . . having the missionaries over to dinner.  One of the elders was really excited to hear we'd be having pancakes, partly because they're tasty, but also because they are very easy to chew.  The poor guy had two root canals earlier this week.

. . . Phillip showing me photos from his recent Half Dome hike.  For some reason, I really want to climb that rock.

. . . reading the first pages of Little House on the Prairie with Joy at bedtime.  I think she's old enough to enjoy chapter books, so we'll give this one a try.

I Like Like Muffins

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . finally finding a great blueberry muffin recipe.  They all got eaten this afternoon so I had to make more.  Now the second batch is gone, too.

. . . playing cards with Phillip tonight.  It was a close game, which is my favorite kind, regardless of who wins.


And another thing . . .

. . . this evening, Joy related the following conversation she had with my mom:

"I was like, 'We should play Monopoly,' and Grandma was like, 'There isn't enough time,'. . . "

"Like"?!?  Seriously?  Are you like 5 or 15, child?  Sigh, they grow up so fast.

Hearts and Curtains

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . chatting with my mom for a while as she helped me sew curtains.

. . . watching Anna happily kick her feet.  You never have to guess whether she's excited about something.

. . . seeing a heart picture Joy and Pink Grandma made then hung in our front window.

. . . meeting a friend's new little baby.  Awwwwww.

. . . getting stuff done.

Check, Check, Chopsticks

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . finally tackling two nagging tasks.

. . . visit teaching Linda (and George).

And another thing . . .

. . . if you want to exercise your brain, try spoonfeeding a hungry baby while trying to eat your own dinner with chopsticks.