just call me "Hildy"

This is out of order because I don't have time to tell all about my Canada trip right now but my flight home today was eventful.

I got up at 4:20 to make the early morning trek to the airport. I couldn't get my pass to print at the hotel or at the kiosk so I had to wait in line for a ticket agent - LONG line! My eyes were probably blurry from lack of sleep (I got up at 3:30 am the day before to catch the flight to Canada) and I guess the ticket agent's eyes were too because...

Anyway, she gave me my tickets and I got in the super long Customs line and waited. After a while I took a closer look at my tickets and noticed the first one was going to San Francisco - check! But the 2nd one had me going to Maui. What? Huh? As tempting as that was, I certainly wasn't prepared to be shipped off to Maui. I looked closer and saw that I'd been given tickets in the name of Hildegard Morisette. Who?

I went back to the ticket agent (walked straight to the counter) and explained the problem. She snapped, "Well, it's the same last name." Again, what? Huh? Morgan and Morisette are NOT the same last name. How does this happen when she had scanned my passport?

Finally got the right tickets and went back to the HOUR-LONG Customs and Immigration line. Got through and got on the plane only to have the pilot tell us that San Francisco airport was closed and we all needed to get back off the plane. After 1 1/2 hours we got back on and took off. Circled San Fran for 20 minutes and then finally landed.

Of course, I'd missed my connecting flight to SLC. The next United flight wasn't until 3 pm so I switched airlines and found a Delta flight at 1 pm. By the time I took the train to the other terminal and got through security again, the flight was reported as being delayed. Yep, it didn't leave until 2 pm.

I am now safely home and I am certainly hoping Hildegard is enjoying her trip to Maui!

FHE

My children have been begging to do fun family home evenings sometimes. I guess lessons just get too boring - imagine that!

So, last night I invited 2 other families and we went and picked up garbage on a stretch of road. (That will teach my children to complain about the lessons!) just kidding!

After we cleaned the roadside, we came back to our house to wash up and enjoy sugar cookie bars. Then we went to Fongo Bongo Games. They have lots of tables set up in their back room along with shelves chock full of games. We played games (dividing out by age group) and really did have a lot of fun.

It was the first time I've ever played Carcassone and I enjoyed it.

running with a fox

No, I didn't run with Kevin this morning (brings back memories of the song "fox on the run, you scream and everybody comes a runnin', take a run and hide yourself away. Foxy on the run." but I digress).

No, I saw an actual fox. Even ran with the fox for a quarter of a mile. Well, I guess it's stretching it to say I ran WITH the fox. The truth is I followed the fox. The closest I ever got to catching up to it was about 50 yards behind.

I had completed about 5.5 miles when I spotted a fox ahead on the trail. He noticed me too. I kept running. The fox would move along the trail for a bit then turn and watch me. Then it would move and then it would stop, turn, and watch me. I am sure the fox was evaluating what kind of a threat I was. I could have eased its mind considerably if I just could have told it that after 5.5 miles, I'm not much of a threat to anyone.

Or maybe the fox was sizing me up as prey...

mother-daughter time

I made it a goal this year to take each of my children on a "date" once a month. Yesterday's "date" with McKayla was probably the most fun.

We drove to Orem to buy her new running shoes. Her coach helped us and we have some fun laughs with him. Then she and I went to Sub-Zero. Neither of us had ever been there. You pick your base (premium, custard, low-fat, yogurt, soy), your flavor, and your mix-in and then you watch as they use liquid nitrogen to freeze your ice cream in mere seconds. Cool!

We drove to the mall and window-shopped wedding dresses (no, not doing any planning). Then we went to Plato's Closet (a name-brand only used-clothes store). We found her 2 pairs of capris, a pair of shoes, and a cute ring for only $12.

Lots of good conversation and some laughs - good day!

the horrors!

In Utah, the only rivalry is Utah vs. BYU. It is huge. Offices have pools regarding their games. Schools have contests in their names. I ran a Rivalry Relay last year (BYU vs. Utah and we ran from the U to BYU) It seeps into wards and at times is even included in testimony meetings (not very spiritual). Even the Red Cross has contests to see which fans donate the most blood.

I am, of course, true BYU blue through and through.

I am also a sucker for free things, though, and the U sends us free tickets for its gymnastics meets every year. Add to that the fact that the U gymnastics has won many national championships and it does make for good viewing. So, over the years our family has attended its fair share of Utah gymnastics meets.

Last night Alec and I attended the meet between the U and BYU. Once more it was one of those sacrificing for your kids things. I tried really hard to talk Alec into going to RHS basketball but he was set on gymnastics. So....

Have I mentioned that over the years I have been highly unsuccessful at getting Alec NOT to stand during the U's fight song? (I have tried to raise him right - honest, I have.)

Last night I couldn't even get him to cheer at all for BYU. He saved all of his hyper-enthusiastic cheering for the Utes. He danced. He chanted. He clapped. He caught the attention of another Utes fan which is when the unthinkable happened. This man gave Alec a Utes beanie (bright red and all). The horrors! Can I really be expected to allow him to wear that out in public? What will the neighbors say? Oh, the shame of it all.

I might not be able to show my face in public for a while. Or, at least, I can blame it on the Utes hat rather than the horrid haircut I got a few days ago. heehee!

on strike

My children used to be very good eaters. I was happy about that! The only picky eater was Chandler and he was horrid but at least the others ate well.

I don't know what has happened but Alec, McKayla, and Shanley have all joined Chandler in pickiness. No matter what I fix, someone won't eat it.

I've had it so I've decided to go on strike. I will not fix any meals for the next week. (or I'll fix only enough for Kevin and I) I'll keep you posted on whether or not the strike makes them miss my cooking thus getting them to actually eat what I fix.

Sacrificing for Kids

As parents, why do we sacrifice so much for our children?

Not that I am whining about that. I do it willingly. I just wonder why. I think it's more than just love. Do we feel it's owed them? Do we just want them to have things we never had? Is there an element of competition in it? Did any of these same things motivate Christ's sacrifice or was that done purely out of love? Would our sacrifices mean more if they were made solely for love?

Last night I sacrificed sleep. What parent doesn't?

Chandler had 2 tickets to the Utah Jazz basketball game. Not that I don't love basketball (or any major sporting event) but I was tired. I've had a horrid cough and am not sleeping at night. The idea of a 4-hour stint (drive + game) not to mention traffic, crowds, noise, etc was too much for me when all I wanted was pajamas.

Still, it's your kid and he's excited to go so what do you do? (After you try to talk McKayla into taking him but she has far too much homework)

I grabbed Alec as well since I knew he would LOVE it and the three of us headed downtown.

The game was very exciting and I ended up really enjoying it (after I finally turned around and asked the little boy behind me - very nicely - to please stop kicking my seat).

Of course the game had to go into double overtime ensuring that what I thought would be a 4-hour stint turned out to be closer to 5 hours.

The things we do in the name of love.