...and every splendid element that accompanies this fabulous city!

Just shy of a year ago, after coming to terms with the sad truth I would not be able to accompany my high school friends on a girls' trip to the Mexican Riviera as a celebration of our fortieth year, I resolved to plan an alternative means of commemorating this milestone birthday. New York was the obvious choice of destination and Jennie and Rachelle were must-have companions on this momentous adventure. We plotted and planned a vacation that seemed so far away in time...

When it finally arrived we were fully prepared to take the Big Apple by storm and leave no sight unseen, no experience...un...experienced!

How can I even begin to describe four days brimming with freedom, shopping, stalking, exploring, adventuring, eating, strolling, hailing, applauding, screaming, all while laughing over everything and nothing, creating memories and taking full advantage of an incredible once in a lifetime (hopefully not-we REALLY want to go back) event!




At the airport as we awaited our long plane ride home, much more subdued than we had been for several days, reflecting on our experiences, and anticipating reentry into real life, Rachelle questioned,

"K...What are your top three highlights?"

I answered first though Rachelle and Jennie both had identical lists.

1. "Constantine"





After four years of obsessed infatuation we finally were able to meet/accost the stunning long-haired rocker/American Idol Alum (season four for those not quite as obsessed). He was gracious and humble, accommodating and charming...even the second time we came around to see him! His Broadway hit Rock of Ages was delicious, rowdy fun that took us back to the famed rock and roll era of our youth!


2. "Wicked"




The music, the story, the emerald themed theater all created a Broadway experience unlike any other! I was so consumed with the mesmerizing production that when it ended I felt as though I was saying goodbye to a long forsaken friend!

3. "Shopping...SoHo and Canal Street."



While taking in the outrageous awesomeness that is Canal Street we were approached by a tiny Asian woman.

"you like designer purse?"

"yes we do!"

We followed our swift little guide down two blocks, around a corner and into a little store. The shop looked just like the many lining Canal Street, but then we were led through a door and down a long unfinished staircase into a musty basement below. I figured we would either come out of there with some rockin' purses...or we wouldn't come out at all...Luckily we were ushered into an obscure room filled to the brink with beautiful handbags and purses of every shape, size and color. Dolce and Gabana, Juicy Couture, Guess, Prada, Coach, Louis Vuiton...displayed in all their lovely knock-off glory! Needless to say, we walked out with humongous smiles on our faces and black plastic garbage bags containing two purses a piece in our hands!

Can I really limit it to three...? Of course not, here's the rest...

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge and strolling through Central Park. Gazing at the illustrious Statue of Liberty as we skimmed by on the Statten Island Ferry. Oh how I loved the infectious energy of Times Square, and the pizzeria in Little Italy where we each ate an entire pizza while guessing how many people were named Vinny and Tony in the vicinity. Riding the subway where I had hoped only to not be knifed, and to see rats--both were accomplished. Watching Rachelle hail a cab like she was a NY native, and posing every two feet so Jennie could take another picture. The people, the sights, the sounds...






All culminated into a trip that was so much more than a trip! It was a much needed escape from the worries and trials of life. A celebration of reaching forty...

...and a reminder that best friends are are a gift unparalled, to be appreciated, adored and admired!



(even more than a cheap G&B purse!)

Who dyes Easter Eggs at nine o'clock at night?

...someone who just can't seem to get her (c.r.a.p.) together...!!!

At eight thirty five Friday night before Easter I said to Jaycee and Luke,

"Go get your pj's on, I'm running to the grocery store, when I get back we'll dye our eggs."

They looked at me, then looked at each other.

"Yay! We get to color eggs AT NIGHT!!!"

I put a pot on water on the stove to boil and filled it to the brink with pure white fragile looking eggs.

"Keep an eye on the stove, guys!" I hollered on my way out the door.

Twenty two minutes later our kitchen smelled of vinegar, as eggs, hands and counter tops began to turn shades of green, blue, hot pink and orange.





Thus began our whirlwind weekend of celebration.

Why must everything be so rushed?

Saturday commenced with a memorable trip to the temple to witness the sealing of sweet Trey to his family. What a beautiful experience watching my sister and her family all dressed in white standing together in the plush glory of the temple sealing room. It was a rare glimpse in an eternal perspective...so appropriate this Easter weekend.

A quaint family gathering organized to perfection by my fabulous younger sis was a nice time to visit with relatives and celebrate Trey's official conduction into the Halling family and onto the records of the church.

Work followed.

Then a late night filling baskets with goodies and toys. No secrecy needed as we do not believe in the Easter Bunny in our family. Years ago one Easter Eve when Lexi and Kelsey were young I spent the better part of an hour (at least) attempting to calm two hysterical little girls who were suddenly terrified at the notion of a giant bunny hopping through our house during their slumber. I finally had to dispel the ridiculous fantasy in order to soothe their worries...

"THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS THE EASTER BUNNY!" I exclaimed. "Dad and I fill your baskets, hide the eggs, EVERYTHING!"

They just looked at me with eyes wide and tear-filled.

"Ok, that makes me feel better..."

and that was the end of the bunny!




Easter Sunday was lovely...up until Primary where I attempted to teach the story of the Resurrection to a group of nine six year olds visibly rushing from the gallons of sugar engulfed in the form of marshmallow peeps and jellybeans. A young visitor to our class added to the mayhem as he recounted experiences of helping his grandfather slaughter cattle (what?!). Before I realized what was being said, he explained in great detail the slicing, bleeding, and whining of a dying animal to the horror of myself and the rest of the kids and compounded the attention issue by regaling my young class with a nauseatingly nightmarish story. Attempts to bring focus back to the sacred subject at hand were hardly possible, so I relented and passed out plastic eggs containing...even more sugar.

After church we hosted an Easter dinner with Scott's side of the family and each of the kids gathered multi-colored eggs hidden within the nooks and crannies of our backyard. Bubble gum, tootsie rolls and even a few dollar bills (slipped in by Grandma) ended up in the baskets of the enthusiastic children.







As the day came to a close I had just a few moments to reflect on the holiday that had just taken us by storm. Despite late night egg coloring, out of control primary kids, and organizing Easter dinner, I was somehow able to hold consistently in the back of my mind an image of the Savior in his resurrected glory and feel his sacrifice and love for me...


...the one who just can't seem to get things together.

What's for breakfast?

How bout' a little boy bundled in a bright blue blanket, nestled in the "big chair" gazing sleepy-eyed at the tv awaiting Scooby Doo while tolerating just four more minutes of Baby Looney Tunes...

A Lukey burrito...sounds delightfully delectable to me!

Mid life crisis?

Perhaps. Or maybe I'm just a little nonsensical these days, what with the never-ending winter, turning forty, etc. and so on. Whatever the explanation, something's in the air, and I'm taking on whole new rebel lovin' obsession!

Sidenote: (I am, on average, a pretty conservative gal. I am (usually) content with my role as housewife (only occasionally Desperate!) and mother of four and find joy (most of the time) in the simple pleasures afforded by the luxury of staying home and caring for my ever-growing brood...)

Lately...however, the words to "Satisfaction" echo through my head complete with high notes and visions of half smiles...and I have found myself drawn to my computer, (specifically to YouTube) typing in the name A D A M
L A M B E R T...



You know who I'm talking about, don't you...? The absolutely stunning, blue-eyed, eye-lined, black nailed, ring adorned, sleek leather jacket donned, multi-range, belting sensation that has me riveted to my TV every week tuning into the most exciting season of American Idol since season four...

when I met Constantine...

(I have a history)

Once again I find myself attempting to take an introspective look at myself and question why I cannot simply "enjoy" something. I hurdle average levels of interest and propel my greater-than-normal fixation right into a realm of complete oblivion to all but the object of my obsession.

If this is, in fact, a crisis seeped with insecurities about reaching the middle of my life, I must say... at least my current obsession is safely tucked into a flat screen hanging on my wall and not taking the form of a dangerously fast automobile or two-wheeled "death cycle." Am I right?



(Gotta go--my favorite spiky-haired, gothic-inspired genius of a musical artist is about to make his entrance!)

BECAUSE

I pampered myself today. It was therapeutic and crucial to my current well being, but it was pampering nonetheless.

After I made the appointment I second guessed my motives and considered self-indulgence, but then paused to acknowledge the reasons why I sought out a refuge of hot stones and deep tissue massage in the first place...

BECAUSE

...I have two teenage daughters who depending on the direction of the wind will choose to engage with me in conversation or roll their mascara-ed eyes when I inquire about school or friends.

BECAUSE

...I have Jaycee (who is my darling) but whose issues with such tricky things as weight, anxiety and academic/social situations at school make me weary on a daily basis as I strive to protect her and encourage and challenge her all at the same time.

BECAUSE

...Luke, who creamed me in a game of Super Smash Bros. on the Wii responded to his victory with a resounding "I sure beat the hell out of you!"

BECAUSE

...I am eating chicken for at least two meals every single solitary day.

BECAUSE

...I have not had a Hershey's Kiss for over a month.

BECAUSE

...My hormones are completely messed up and to remedy the associated symptoms I have been overloaded with doses of estrogen which make my moods swing like a gigantic pendulum, my head ache despite large doses of Ibuprofen, and a little thing called patience extinct within my existence.

BECAUSE

...I sit between at least two children at the kitchen island every evening bouncing back and forth completing stacks of homework rendered by teachers who have doled out enough punishment for taking my kids out of school for a week to keep me from ever doing it again.

(and lastly)

BECAUSE

...As I lay under the warmed sheet on the massage table my therapist ran the heel of her hand down the right side of my back and I felt the uneven "bump bump bump" of knotted muscles down the length of my trapezius and latissimus dorsi. An accumulation of stress, obligation, worry, time constraints, and self doubt (aka motherhood) all imbedded in the musculature of my spinal area.

Tonight I feel much better, more relaxed...BECAUSE I chose to put off doing a load of laundry and vacuuming my family room to take care of me and my needs.

Selfish? No way. Smartest thing I've done all week? Definitely.

BECAUSE... I deserve a little pampering...



(and you do too...)

(our) Fun filled February fling in fotos (and a few facts)

First time fliers, my kids along with cousins spent two hours acquainting themselves with the nooks and crannies of a commercial airplane (especially fascinating...the miniature bathroom with a turbo-sucking toilet, and barf bags in the pocket of every seat which were filled during the flight with with various toys, lip glosses, and even a cookie or two).



Welcomed by a drizzly California winter day we explored Seaworld under cloudy skies, and our first day of Disneyland under multi-colored plastic ponchos. By Wednesday our pleas to the sun god were answered as the thermostat cleared 70 (!!!!) and jackets were shed by noon. Our fun increased each day, as did the temperatures, and our lily white, dead of winter skin began to turn various shades of pink as we stood with arms outstretched faces tilted to the sun soaking in every last scrumptious ray!






Sights and sounds of the most magical place on earth were dampened only by a slight (actually a pretty wicked) case of bronchitis (yours truly--who never gets sick...had to take a trek to an urgent care--ironic, huh--for antibiotics and an inhaler).






Our final day was spent at Legoland which was adored by the little boys and endured by their mommas...



(Cami and I got a little bored...)



Oh, the memories of California 2009--Nineteen people in one suite? Elevator antics, Tower of Terror, where's Braxton? Trey, our angel. Six Flags is closed? Minivans on the California highway. Loads of love, laughter to last until next time...what fun we had!

"I can't believe you're 40!"

Cami called me last Wednesday evening, "I'm calling to wish you happy last night ever in your thirties!" and thus began the extravaganzic (you can make up words as you mature...) event that was my 40th birthday...

I awoke to a bright sign in my front yard declaring me "over the hill" which garnered several honks and phone calls from neighbors and friends, voice mails squeezed in between multiple calls from family, relatives and best friends all laughing while exclaiming "I can't believe you are 40!"

An eagerly-anticipated traditional birthday lunch with my fabulous mom and sisters propelled my already incredible day into an afternoon filled with friends streaming through my door delivering thoughtful cards, decadent treats and generous gifts.

An evening surrounded by my husband and kids all looking at me like I'm going to start wrinkling up before their eyes (mom, do you feel old?) was highlighted by a gift consisting of forty envelopes containing love notes declaring forty reasons why they love me...(one of the best gifts I've ever received!)

Smothered with just the right amount of attention to make me feel extremely special and loved I mourned the day coming to an end and all the festivities and well wishes along with it.

Little did I realize that this monumental birthday was far too significant to be contained to just one day...

Another annual lunch (the following day) scheduled with my best friends (extraordinaire) was absolutely not what it appeared--which was an intimate get-together at Cheesecake Factory--it in fact turned out to be a grand surprise party including a group of those most dear from my "old" neighborhood, and my very favorites from my "new!" I was shocked and amazed, but, unfortunately not speechless as I rambled about "my old and new lives coming together..." (in a high pitched, slightly manic manner).





Turning forty was unlike anything I had imagined. I felt the significance of entering a brand new decade and celebrated with the enthusiasm this birthday deserves!

As I sit, five days post-new-decade, two celebratory lunches remain, as well as a load of gift cards and b-day money just waiting for spring shopping. I'm thinking, I'm a pretty lucky girl...a little old...but lucky!