A rather romantic hat.

In the classic novel Anne of Green Gables a funny and embarrassing event occurs and the line "I suppose it is a rather romantic way to perish, for a mouse" is spoken. I thought of that line the day we saw the lower falls of Yellowstone's grand canyon.

There sat the hat, dejected.

A cheap seven dollar Walmart hat.

 Not unique,

not fine,

not particularly appealing.

 Destined to be bought on sale by a Walmart shopper (not always the classiest crowd) and inevitably to be stepped on in the bottom of a closet, 

forgotten,

 until eventually the hat would be thrown away or given to DI where it would sit for years on a shelf and never be re-purchased. 

But not this hat.

This hat was bought, not by an average shopper wanting a gardening hat, but bought last minuet (by someone who makes every hat look worthy of Audrey Hepburn) as a hat to keep the sun off on hikes in the great National park of Yellowstone.

That's right, I bought this hat especially for our trip.

I could sense right away that this hat in the middle of the stack (because it had never been tried on before) was a rather romantic hat,

 and that totality a style I can handle.

The hat sat in a car for hours before it was worn outside, and then,

 oh the beauty this hat saw.

 For the first time the hat felt hope for a life that didn't end on the shelves of thrift stores or garbage cans.

The rather romantic hat felt a deep connection with the wild and rugged beauty of the National park,

 No mere playground could compete.

 The hat knew that for the rest of its hat life

 it would wistfully look back on these days at the national park as defining and freeing.

Hat began to form a plan.

Hat sat gracefully on the head of it classy owner through many sights,

 until at last at one fateful stop;

 it happened.

The hats fake straw heart lept with joy

 as in the windy rainy afternoon it overlooked the lower falls of Yellowstone canyon.

Beautiful.

Elegant.

Empowering.

With a graceful leap so quick it could not be stopped,

the hat lept into the wind and storm 

and with wings of golden (fake) straw

flew over the cliff edge

tumbling poetically down to the frothy river below.

Hat rode down the river,

 to lakes and valleys

 of the beautiful and exciting

 Yellowstone National Park.

I suppose it was the most romantic thing any hat could do. 

As I said I could sense from the beginning that this was a rather romantic hat.

                                                                   the end

The Valley Full of Sun

Last Wednesday we loaded up and headed to Sun Valley Idaho.

We got back Saturday.

It was beautiful.

And adorable

...It was really quaint and fun and pleasant.

Then we came home, and I was glad,

because I missed home a little,

just a little,

and now...

I miss the room service housekeeping that vacuumed the room for me

and left chocolates on my pillow

and took out the trash

...ya I miss that...

just a little.

:)

**Sigh** 

see you again some day Sun valley

Sun Valley is actually not so much a town but a resort. I had never been to a resort before, wow it was really nice. Everything was beautiful and high end and expensive.

I had a great time, the bathroom was entirely marble, I love marble, the floors counter tops, walls, everything. all of the walls where papered or upholstered-divine! Most of the shops and restaurants where inspired by Austrian decor and architecture. I loved it!

Also the food was ..well expensive, but so good! I had this Chicken Marsala, the mushroom sauce was ... wow so savory, and the hot coco at a near by bakery was so dark and rich. Basically we had a great time

the views where so pretty. I love the crisp feel that mountain air has in the mornings, there is nothing like it. The top part of "the graduate" which is one of the runs was still open so there was snow on some of the mountains still,-snowy mountains are one of my favorite things you know. We walked around and enjoyed the trails a lot it was a great vacation.

Now moving on the the more important details...the kiddos.

E and K had a wonderful time in Sun Valley but K did get sick on the long drive there. It seems that he has the family trait of carsickness. Poor baby. We did our best to clean him up and he certainly got enough comfort to mend his sadness once we got there. We bought him a toy car and let him eat as many apple sauce packets as he wanted while he cuddled with mommy. I was with the kids all day since Mitch had the conference. We really enjoyed the parks and the trails and the general feel of things. We also spent nap time each day in the room where Eli -who did not really nap on the trip, watched Disney channel-something that he does not have at home. I was able to catch up on my journal writing and my reading.

I read the newspapers while I was there and felt like I was catching up on current events.I don't mean to seem negative but catching up on current events was not the happiest part of my days. 

We are so glad we could go and had a great time!

Oh and one of my very favorite things, are you ready, no really this was the topper on the cake, for real! The bell tower rang each hour and half hour, it rang a pretty traditional clock sound and was beautiful but each night at 8 o’clock it rang a song, a beautiful bells ringing subtle rendition of “I could have danced all night” from one of my favorite musicals My Fair Lady. Yep. You heard me, the first night ,Wednesday, that I heard it I literally got teary eyed. It was so pretty and sweet, right at dusk you understand, which makes everything so fairy land-ish.

If you ever get to Sun Valley make sure you are outside at 8 pm to hear the bells sing goodnight to you.

PS. For those of you who wonder (AKA Grandma) our car made it just fine, it gave us only enough trouble for us to drive rather slowly most of the way home but we have to make these allowances as the car is getting up there in miles (and years). 

The truth. Or "The rest of the story"

Do you remember the radio program that used to be on i remember it from childhood as a deep voice saying "And that is the rest of the story" ? Well this is motherhood "the rest of the story"

You know those days when the kids are a nightmare (its sounds harsh but you know what I mean) you have no energy they have too much; they are just in the mood to fight with each other and spill things and ruin clothes and toys and your nice white china? Those are the days when nice compassionate people come by and tell you/remind you that you will look back and miss these days when you’re kids are older.

And you like to be reminded that you will miss these days because hey, at least you can tell yourself all about it as you sweep your mashed china off the floor right? At the same time perhaps you kinda wonder if that’s true… Well I have wondered at least. And now I know “the rest of the story” (please read that last part in a dramatic booming voice) .

A few months ago I was out to lunch with my two boys and my grandparents. They were treating us to lunch (it might have been my birthday, or the day before my brother left on his 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints)But the reason is not important. It was one of those times when my kids were especially boisterous and difficult to please with food or coloring books (or anything in the diaper bag) and my grandfather said comfortingly  “it’s tough but you will look back and miss these days…” to which my sweet and totally angelic (for real she is pure sugar candy)grandmother responded “really? I DON’T!” . You can imagine my face: Shock *gasp* confusion* I finally got the words “really grandma?” out of my mouth and then she explained. It made total sense she remembers all the food caked onto the high chair and the muddy screaming kids. Back in those days dad did more of the playtime stuff with the kids then house work, so grandpa just remembers piggy back rides and catching bugs in the yard.

SO after the shock subsided and after I consulted with my mother I have the ANSWER , you either don’t miss it or develop selective memory (you only choose to remember the good stuff,… like maybe when the kids are asleep). The End

Before you think I am turning into a pessimist ... don’t worry… I’m not (I know I really had you fooled just now) I love my kids and being a mom.

Here are some watercolor pictures to prove it:

oh and a picture of Mitchell's awesome Lego tree (he made this during conference). 

Have a happy Thursday people!