Me and Leslie

Leslie and I grew up in the same ward in Van Nuys though her family moved when she was about 11.  Leslie was Robert's age and her sister was my age and then we both had two younger brothers (and she ended up with a third younger brother).  We totally lost track of each other after they moved.  About 10-11 years ago I recognized Leslie singing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir during General Conference!  I made a phone call to a mutual friend to get her phone number and I reached her a few days later.  It was fun to reconnect.  In 2003 the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed with the Boston Pops and I attended the dress rehearsal and saw her then.  The next morning, on the 4th of July, I picked her up at her downtown hotel and we drove to Maine -- I was sure she was the only choir member who left the state that day (I'm sure a majority of them spent the day on the Freedom Trail).  A few days after the 4th, I drove to Tanglewood where the choir performed, on my way to see friends in Rochester, NY.  I've seen Leslie in Utah a few times too.  When I was last in Utah for my friend's wedding, I went to Music and the Spoken Word in hopes of meeting up with Leslie.  I didn't tell her I was in town and didn't take my cell phone with me so after it was over I went to the front of the Tabernacle and hoped that Leslie would look up and see me while she was practicing her music (she didn't) so we didn't connect during that trip.  This morning I got email from Leslie that she and her husband were in town today and so tonight after a baptism and party and before a movie I drove downtown and met them near the World Trade Center where they had gone on one of the tall ships.  They were hot and tired so I picked them up, found a parking spot, and we chatted in my car for a while and then I dropped them at the train station.  It was really nice to see Leslie again!

Note: I used the "1960's" setting in Picasa on this photo since Leslie and I met in the 60's.

Downtown Boston

I don't go downtown very often on the weekends but did tonight to meet up with a childhood friend that was in town.  I took this photo--of South Station--while waiting for a red light.

Robert's baptism

My favorite barn in Lexington

Hot night

Dishing out advice

I got this email from my friend Anna this week:  I love Road trips.  I really took what you said about making memories in the car to heart after our chat.  And guess what, I drove the kids to Utah, all by myself without the DVD player or their leap pads!!  I was pretty happy about that.  We played travel bingo, we listened to books on cd, we sang and played alphabet games and i-spy.  And my kids looked out the window!  It was so fun.  Honestly, the best road trip I have been on in a while. I am thinking of taking the kids up to Santa Cruz in July to kill some time before we move in.  I am dying to go to the Redwoods.  I think my kids would love it. 

Colin

Colin came with his mom to get frozen yogurt tonight.  While the gals chatted he entertained himself by taking pictures of his ear, nose, and arms with an iPhone.  I love this blurry picture with his toothy smile.

Parting gifts

Two people I work with are leaving this week and I wanted to give them gifts.  Last night I made these table runners/toppers out of vintage modern and ruby.  Now I want to make one for me!

Best R.S. Summer EVER

I decided this is going to be the BEST R.S. SUMMER EVER for the Arlington Ward!  I'm organizing an activity for each week of the summer.  Last week it was the Temple; this week it was frozen yogurt.

What scares you?

Last night I went to a friend's house for Family Home Evening.  Four missionaries had joined them for dinner and they were wrapping things up with a short message.  One missionary read a scripture from the D&C and then another missionary asked what we were scared of (the scripture was about not being afraid).  The oldest son said he was scared of going into the dungeon (referring to the downstairs of their home) and monsters getting him when he was asleep at night.  When the missionary asked again what scared us, I whispered to my friend's husband, "on-line dating."

Elephant parade (to Thailand)

I love writing missionaries.  I've been writing a sister missionary who grew up in the Boston area but moved a few years ago and is going to Thailand on her mission.  She mentioned something in a letter or on her blog (letters to her family) about elephants and I thought: MUST SEW HER AN ELEPHANT!  So I did (one of these went to Sister Carter--I think the one on the far right).  Then I got a letter from her saying she loved the elephant as did the elders in her district (also going to Thailand) and would I make 6 more elephants for them.  How could I not?!?  They sent some $$$ and their color preferences and I made these 6 elephants Saturday night.  I hired some child laborers/expert elephant makers to stuff them, sew on the eyes, and sew them up.  The missionaries are flying to Thailand next week so these will go in the mail tomorrow.

Church ladies

I saw a license plate this morning (LMACK) that reminded me of a story.  When I first moved to Boston I was a temp at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.  One of my friends also worked at Harvard and when I called her and the receptionist asked my name I'd say, "Lucy Mack Smith".  When my friend called me she said she was "Eliza R. Snow".

Dinner guests

Jared and Joel are my church buddies.  They came over for dinner tonight and brought homemade oreo ice cream!

Tree climbing after church

Bentley mowing

Gage's game

Cutler's scrimmage

Baseball day

I went to hang out with my friend Jana today (she's moving this summer) and went to two of her boys' baseball games.  More photos to follow.

Some Summer reading

Heat wave

Strawberry Shortcake

I hosted a little celebration for a friend tonight and served strawberry shortcake.  I made an angel food cake from scratch (try it -- it's easy), and we had another cake, some biscuits, lots of strawberries and, of course, whipping cream.

One word: yum.

One of my favorite views

When I lay on my couch this is what I see and I love it.

Colin's last game

I wanted to get to one of Colin's baseball games so I could take some photos of him (I posted some photos of his brother Ian here) and I got there in time tonight to capture Colin playing catch, giving high fives after the game, and eating pizza.

My favorite thing about this photo is Colin's name hand written on the inside of his cap.  And my least favorite thing is that DeVito's Funeral Home took care of the funeral and burial arrangements when Colin's dad died.

Another skirt

Back in the Big Apple

This is my nephew Ian, 24 years ago, on his first trip to NYC.  My brother Robes said about this photo, "I don't ever want him to say I never took him anywhere." Ian flew to NYC last night.  I'm looking forward to seeing him (I'm a quick/inexpensive bus trip away).

Kan after Church: the series

Wilson Farm Strawberry Festival

I stopped to buy some flowers and take a photo of strawberries.

Baby shower

I made a skirt last night

After looking at this post numerous times, I decided I wanted to make that two-tiered skirt.  I've never really tweaked a pattern before (see photo #1--blue painters tape isn't just for painting) but it was easy and I think I did it right.  From start to finish it was about a 2.5-hour project and I'm sure the next one won't take as long (unless the skirt looks better on the hanger than on me).