My Favorite Things...

Hi, my name is Stacey.

And I'm a Julie Andrews fan.

As a child, I tried to jump into my own chalk pictures.

I jumped off of my porch railing with an umbrella.

I soaked my clothes in a bucket and then put them on to see what it would be like to fall out of a canoe (ala Sound of Music, mom wasn't too happy on that one).

I watched the Sound of Music three times a day for a week during the summer of '92. (My poor brother can recite the entire movie.)

I dragged my husband to the Sound of Music sing-a-long for the 50th Anniversary. It was awesome.

Yesterday, I met Julie Andrews.

I found out a week ago that she was coming to Seattle to do book signings at some local bookstores. I wasn't going to go until Jeremy convinced me that it could be a once in a lifetime thing. When I called for more information they told me she was only signing 200 books and it was first come first signed at Costco. All the other bookstores you got a ticket when you purchased the book and they were already sold out. We couldn't make it to Costco when it opened because of our schedules so I had resigned myself not to go because we wouldn't be able to get there in time to be one of the 200. But once again Jeremy convinced me. He said, "When are you going to get this chance again? It's Julie Andrews. Go. What's the worst that could happen? You don't get a ticket and you come home."

So I went. I packed up Grant, picked up Abby, my fellow Andrews fan, and drove to Seattle.

And low and behold we were number 136. (Then of course we had to hang around Costco for a few more hours before 'go' time.) 

We went outside to line up a bit early and as we rounded the corner there were three screaming teenagers. Yes indeed we'd arrived just as Ms. Andrews car pulled up. The three girls screamed as she got out but she was very gracious and waved. I personally was annoyed by the teenagers and thought they were a bit silly (can you imagine people acting like that everywhere you went?), but on the inside I wanted to scream and jump and clap like they were. Thank goodness I was holding Grant's car seat AND I didn't want to embarrass Abby so I contained myself. (I warned Abby that when I get nervous I giggle uncontrollably. Secretly I hoped I wouldn't embarrass MYSELF.)

It was a great experience. Ms. Andrews looked and acted like I imagined - kind and gracious. She pointed out what a long wait it must have been with a 6 week old baby and thanked us for coming. (And she got a kick out of Abby's Yoda shirt.) Hearing her voice was surreal. I've listened to that voice since I was a kid. It was like all my childhood fantasies came flooding back by talking to someone for less than 60 seconds. Weird, yet awesome.

Oh, and yeah, she really does walk and talk like a princess.

Easter(s) Part II

Dyeing Easter eggs outside is the best idea EVER! Please note in the top picture that Garrett spilled the blue dye two minutes after we started. No big deal. Jer hosed the table down when we got done. It was barely warm enough to do the eggs outside but so very worth it. I actually enjoyed it instead of biting the inside of tmy cheek trying to be a 'fun' mom instead of the one freaking out about all the dye she has to clean up. Woohoo for the great outdoors.

Harry Potter Party!

 We had a Harry Potter party on Friday the 13th, how cool is that? But where did the last 8 years go? We went from reading How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? to Harry Potter and now she's obsessed. Can't say I blame her. 

Madilyn was Hermione of course and all the family were very good sports and dressed up. Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Belltrix Lestrange, Hermione (after the final battle of Hogwarts), Professor Trelawney, Gilderoy Lockhart, Harry and Hermione's muggle parents all came.

Celeste helped make (made) the cupcakes for school and the birthday cake, Brenda came over and helped me make a bunch of the goodies, and Sandi brought most of the decorations and the other half of the goodies. We had cauldron cakes, licorice wands, acid pops, treacle fudge, lemon drops, rock cakes, blood worms (spaghetti), and yummy butter beer.

Madilyn loved it.

I like to put some of my observations about each of the kids on their birthday post. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the 8th birthday is a big deal. Madilyn is old enough to be baptized and become a member of the Church. Madilyn has always been a deep thinker. She has asked questions that seem well beyond her years since she was young(er). Last year her and I were talking about baptism and Jesus Christ and she asked me, "What if its not true?" Basically, What if everything that we've talked about and taught her isn't true? What if there isn't a God? What if nothing we do here matters? I told her that was something she would have to come to know for herself. We have tried to teach her how to go about finding answers.

She isn't always so deep and has been less doubtful since several of her friends at church have already been baptized in the last couple of months. But I know that she has felt her Heavenly Father's love for her. She'll be baptized in a couple of weeks. I am happy she's made the decision but sad that she's growing up so fast.

Madilyn is a special girl. She is strong-willed and wants to make her own decisions. I think she may become a lawyer one day because she'll argue about anything and doesn't back down even when she knows she's wrong. Let's just say I want her on my side of the argument. She loves to dance. She is a great reader. She likes to write plays and direct them (Emma as her fellow actor is not quite as keen but goes along because Madilyn is so persuasive). She has a strength of will well beyond my own. Example, if she doesn't like whats for dinner she'll not eat. Refuses and doesn't eat until breakfast. That's will power and conviction if I ever saw it.

She loves her brothers and sister and has been a great help with Grant.

We love her lots.

Easter(s)

Urgh. 3 of my 4 cute Nashlings on Easter. Terrible pictures but that's what I got. Grant had a cute outfit too but he pooped on it. Shocker. Love these funny kids.

Getting to Know You

Grant is almost 1 month old. How did that happen? We're still trying to find our new "normal" with this new little person. I am going to admit that the newborn phase isn't my favorite. The lack of sleep, the diapers, spit up, etc.

BUT I am really trying to enjoy Grant. Mostly I want to remember those things that are unique to newborns. I want to remember that newborn smell, the soft skin, the way their breath smells like sour milk (OK that's not quite so cool), the way he tries to keep his eyes open by scrunching up his forehead, and the way he snuggles under my chin and falls asleep. It's a very short stage and its almost over. I'm mostly posting to remind myself what a truly special stage it is.