Adventures in Macy-sitting

A few weeks ago I got to have my summer adventure. My neice, Macy came to stay with me for a week. Last year I got her for ten days, but this year we were both pretty busy so we were lucky to find a week that would work for both of us.

She had just completed her first Trek experience, and was high on church history (she likes that kind of stuff anyway, but she was more excited than any normal 16 year old to do the things we had planned).

A few years ago when she was here, I took her and her sister up to the City Cemetery and kind of gave them some histories on individuals buried there. She rather enjoyed that and requested we do it again. City Cemetery is one of my favorite places so I was only too happy to oblige.

While we were hiking around, it began to pour rain. Big, huge raindrops- but the sun was still out. So we danced in the rain for a while. There is nothing quite like dancing in the rain. We made up a dance when she was really little- and we both still remember it. So here we are, two crazies dancing in the rain in the middle of a cemetery.

 One of the nights we went to see the new Alice in WOnderland movie. I introduced her (and me, it was my first time too) to the theater in Sugar House that has recliners instead of chairs. Oh. My. Gosh. I was so comfy... I uh... fell asleep. Oopsy!

One of the things she had planned to do was go to the Salt Lake Temple. She had some names she wanted to take to do baptisms for the dead. I've been to the SL temple several times, but never to do baptisms, so that was fun for both of us. I didn't do any, but I got to be with her while she did.

She brought 10 names to do, but it was so busy they only let her do five. That's ok.

 

 During her visit I had to work- so during the day she'd sleep in and catch up on her Netflix queue and then when I'd get home we'd go out and par-tay. I felt bad that there was so much wasted time, but I think she rather enjoys the chance to be a lazy bum. She's usually a pretty busy kid.

I took the day off work Friday though so we could do some special things. I didn't tell her anything about the day. It was all a surprise. All I told her was that it involved a picnic.

Because she only got to do half her names in the Salt Lake Temple, I took her down to the new Provo City Center Temple to do the rest of her names. That was pretty fun. I got a little nervous when we pulled up behind a bus load of kids... but things worked out in a way that we were in and out pretty quickly.

 

Another activity she requested was to visit the Springville Art Museum. We have a rather famous relative who is featured there and she wanted to see his stuff.

I have been there before, but it was under some construction when I went before, so I don't remember seeing this little beauty. I think I would like one of these (smaller, of course) for my nerd room. A dragon reading a fairy tale book- surrounded by little fairies. You can't see them well in this picture, but they're adorable.

 The big surprise was that I was taking her to see the Mormon Miracle Pagent in Manti, UT. It was a pretty uneventful drive. I had her pretty nervous though that I was going to take her into the mountains to kill her. Hahaha.. I know a 16 year old who is pretty gullible.

Speaking of gullible, when we got to Manti we were WAY early. We had a lot of time to kill so we went to visit their pioneer cemetery.

There we ran into a little old guy named Woody who pointed out all the highlights and famous names. There was one grave that interested Macy. He told us that the angle statue, if you walked around her clockwise seven times and asked her what she was doing she'd reply, "nothing, nothing at all." Macy had to try it.



(And yes, she threatned that if I told this story that she'd pay me back by telling everyone my embarrassing story- but it's too late, Macy, TOO LATE! Everyone already knows I have an irrational fear of sharks! And that I panicked when they were brought into the Salt Lake Valley.)

So she walked around seven times and asked, "What are you doing?" in a sultry voice I replied, "Nothing, Nothing at all."

To which Macy replied, "Heaboo! Stop it! That's creepy!"

When we walked back toward where Woody was working, he asked Macy, "Well, what did she say?"

Embarrassed, Macy said, "Nothing, nothing at all."

Hahaha! Maybe you had to be there, but it was hilarious.

Of the names of note in the cemetery, the one that stood out the most to me was that of Isaac Morley. His is a name I know well from church history, and it just tied things in with my trip last summer.

We still had a lot of time to kill, so we wandered the town. Macy had some pretty nasty ice cream, and was embarrassed by my conversastions with strangers, but she lived.

As excited as I was to see the pageant (it was extra special for me because it was the anniversary of my returning from my mission and the first thing we did when I was released as a missionary was to head to the Manti pageant) I was even more excited for the fireside they had planned before.

Because this year was the 50th anniversary of the pageant, they scheduled special firesides and concerts. I didn't really know this when I planned the trip- in fact, I didn't find out until the day before we left, but the group that was scheduled to speak on our day was the family that does Kid History and other Bored Shorts TV YouTube video. Macy and I are both HUGE Kid History fans so when I told her they were speaking she about had kittens!

They were very funny, and very entertaining, and talked about how this whole Kid History phenomenon (do doo do doo doo...) has been a great missionary tool for them.

Afterward people were gathering around to chat with them- I knew I wanted to put pics of them on my blog- but Macy refused. She was so embarrassed by me (who'd've ever thought I'd turn out as much like my dad as I have?) so I went by myself.

They were all very kind and obliging when I told them this was for a blog post. I didn't want to take up all their time- all the adoring fans that were crowded up- so I didn't talk to them for long. John (bottom right) actually engaged me in conversation and asked about my blog. I felt stupid telling him the name of it (I really don't rant and rave like I used to) and that it was about being Mormon and single. It was supposed to be at first- but no one likes a whiner- so I try not to complain as much. I was probably the most awkward I've ever been in my life (which is really saying something).  He was super nice though.

 

After they spoke there were a couple of concerts, a local group and then the acapella group, Voice Male. I was really excited for them too. I've not heard them before, but Melanie LOVED them so I knew they had to be awesome. Macy and I had an empty seat between us and I'd like to think that Mel was there with us. They were so funny and kept our attention so well- that I didn't even think to take pictures. Dangit!

After that was the pageant. We had great seats. Macy had never seen the pageant before so it was really fun to see her reaction to things. I promised her tears. And there were tears.

Even though we had an great parking spot- we still couldn't get out of town easily. So it was about 1:30 when we finally got home. I had to take her back to Idaho early the next day so there wasn't a lot of sleeping time.

It was a great week though. We counted 10 temples that we'd seen; Brigham City, Salt Lake, Jordan River, Oquirrh Mountain, Draper, Timpanogos, Provo, Provo City Center, Payson and Manti.

She sure is a good kid and a fun one to have around. She likes the same geeky things that I do so even though I'm an embarrassing adult, she'll still do some of the silly things that I like to do. I look forward to next year.

Life Lately According to My Phone Camera

Every once in a while I feel the need to clean the pictures off my phone. As I was doing the Ordinary Life Photo Challenge, I realized I had a bunch of stuff that needed to be deleted. But... I took the pictures for a reason, right? So I guess I'll share them there.

A month or so ago I had a day off in the middle of the week- a rarity for me these days. I decided to visit the Salt Lake Temple. It was probably the most beautiful, perfect day.

It's been a really long time since I've shown any updates on my home. Granted, I've lived here two and a half years now, so the topic is no longer hot- but Kim came down and helped me get things put together for my princess kitchen. My kitchen walls are no longer naked!

This one is what started the whole thing. I don't know why I got it in my head that I wanted a princess kitchen, and once a Baker gets an idea, the whole family gets behind it and buys everything pink they can find. This is the only thing I bought- everything else was gifted.

I never really fancied myself a pink girl, but I'm slowly turning into one. I've always loved glitter though, that's no secret.

I should have gotten a better picture of my aprons. My Aunt and cousin made them for me. One says "Princess Heather" and the other says "Ooooh, a tiara, put it on me put it on me!"

Last, but not least of all my princess items... This. This is probably my favorite one.

On Mother's Day I went to church, planning to just endure the day- but after sacrament meeting a kid (who honestly I'd never noticed before) brought me a basil plant that in a mason jar. He made them for the single sisters in the ward. I asked his mom about it later and she said it was all his (and his brother's) idea. Awww... What sweet boys!

Sadly, my house is the place where plants come to die. I did try to keep it alive. It didn't make it two weeks.

On Memorial Day I took flowers to all the family graves. Two Baker uncles, and grandparents...

Two Dallin/Lister uncles, a cousin and the Dallin grandparents.

Also that weekend I went to Nampa to hang out with my brother and his family. These two boys crack me up. They are so goofy. It's clear they were meant to belong to their parents.

One night my sister in law's sister and her husband came for dinner. They were in charge of dessert and made a special piece shaped like Utah. I'm related to a bunch of weirdos.

That's it for now. I have a ton more photos from my adventurous week with Macy, but you'll just have to sit and wait on the edge of your seat for that one.

Ordinary Life Photo Challenge

I was challenged by my friend Heather to do the Ordinary Life Photo Challenge, where you take a picture every day for seven days of something typical from your every day life. She probably thought I ignored it- but here I am. I was supposed to post them one day at a time and tag challenge someone to do it each day, but I play by my own rules. So I'm posting all seven days here at once. And I challenge everyone to do it!

Day 1.

Often on Sunday afternoons I will come home from church and just enjoy sitting in a silent home. No TV, no music. Just me and the thoughts in my head. I also like to include good books in that time if I'm reading one at the time. Right now I'm reading The Harvester, by Gene Stratton-Porter. I've read it before and I love Love LOVE this book. It was my pick for book club this year- and it's my month to host. So even though I've read it before, I wanted to read it again so it was fresh in my mind when my book club ladies come by (also to get some book themed refreshment ideas... I think I have a few so far).

Day 2.

A month or so ago this little guy showed up on our front desk. I have no idea where he came from, or why.. but I love him. I named him Fernando (get it? Fernando Lamas...?) Also because of the ABBA song. As a Disney fan I probably should have named him Kuzco- but Fernando was first and it stuck. Maybe the next one can be Kuzco.  I don't know why, but he just makes me smile. I also purposley included my water bottle in this picture. I never go ANYWHERE without my water bottle. I love water and I drink it constantly. I probably go through 5 or 6 of these a day.

Day 3.

To be honest, I forgot until I was sitting in bed that night. But then I thought this was totally appropriate. Every night before bed I write in my journal. I have kept a journal since I was 8 and have always been fairly consistent. But now I'm OCD about it. I've missed one day in 15 years (and I wrote twice as much the next night to make up for it- so I think I should be given a pass on that one). I lead the most boring life ever. Mine is definitely not one that should be documented, but there ya go. They say that good girls write in their journals... bad girls don't have time. So I guess you know which category I fall under. Pathetically good.

Day 4

This was the day I got my hairs did. It needed it. Yikes! I go to the school which often means I'm taking my chances as to what I'm going to get- the last time I got a pretty serious hack job. The learning leader came over to help my stylist when she was ready to do the cutting and said, "Oh my gosh- your hair is a wreck! You remember that big guy from Goonies? parts of your hair remind me of his!" Great. He compared me to Sloth. How flattering.

Actually, when you put it like that, the resemblance is uncanny!

Day 5

If you don't already think I'm a little wack-a-doodle, this one will help you out. A few months ago at work we started using pink folders. Pink gets dirty fast. Anyway, my coworker was going to throw out this one particular folder that had gotten some sticky paper stuck to it and then gathered some dirt... Not one to condone wastefulness, I told her not to throw it away because each time I saw that folder it reminded me that all is right with the world. I was kidding- but she kept it and is still is in our stack of folders. So as we rotate through folders throughout the day, I am reminded 3 or 4 times a day that all is right with the world.
It's the dumbest thing- but it really has brought me some comfort in the struggles of these last few weeks. It's completely meaningless to everything that has anything to with anything- but no matter how crappy my day is, when I see this one particular folder I am reminded that,though it may not seem so now, all is right with the world.

Day 6

I had to drive to Idaho for a quick visit. I know I talk crap about Idaho a lot- but honestly, in the spring time it is one of the most beautiful places. I love how green it is. The drive is so divine. But only in the spring. In about two months all those beautiful green hills, fields and mountains will be brown and dead and ugly. But in the spring, it might as well be heaven.

Day 7

When I got to Idaho I had the chance to play with this little batch of yahoos. When the first thing they said to me was "Heaboo (their name for me- don't you try to use it) are you water proof?" I knew I was in for something. I was grouchy and yelled at them for drenching me. But then I squirted them back and we went for walks and made s'mores over a pretty sad fire in the backyard.

 

There ya go. You can't get much more ordinary than my life. Rarely does anything truly exciting happen to me. But I do try to see joy in the most ridiculous things and just wanted to share some of those with you. Now go out and do the same.

Planning for the Big One

I am the queen of procrastination. Why do today what you can put off till tomorrow, right? Best philosophy ever. But not this time. 

I am planning way in advance for this because I really want this to happen. In about a year and a half I plan on taking a trip to Greece for my promotion. If I have to go alone, I will, but I'd really rather not. So if there is anyone out there who is willing, able and wants to go to Greece with me to celebrate, I'm all for it!  I'm trying to give plenty of notice because this probably isn't going to be a cheap trip.

I realize I'm not in a position to be choosy, but if you're a whiny traveler, please don't bother. This will probably be a once in a lifetime trip for me and I don't want it spoiled by someone who is a pansy. 

Also, I know a few of my friends have already been there, so if you have some tips and suggestions, I'll gladly take them.

Let's get the ball rolling on this! Let's get this party started!!!

Blast from the Past

Wanna time travel with me? Pull out your freshest neon, put on your LA Gears and let's go!

It's about 1989. Look, there I am! So awkward... (some things never change...) ...sad... huh, anyway {shakes it off} 

What is that funky beat...? Is that...

New Kids on the Block?

Heck yes it is!

I can't even tell you how much I loved New Kids. My friend, Summer got me into them. It was the first boy band I loved. The only boy band I've ever loved. Were they the first boy band...? Like, that wasn't a family (Osmonds, Jacksons, you know... they don't count). I don't even know. But I loved them. (I never geeked out over N'sync or Backstreet Boys- just these guys)

I am ashamed (proud?) to say I still have all the posters that once wallpapered my bedroom (and by "have" I mean they are all rolled up and shoved in corner in the basement of my parent's house). I also have a door poster size puzzle.. maybe two... that were only ever assembled once. And a board game. I even had the dolls once upon a time but I think the nieces have played with those until they are unrecognizable. (although none of the Ken dolls had rat tail hair styles, so maybe they'd be easy to pick out). I got most of those things toward the end of the obsession so they're all still in fairly good shape because they were rarely used. 

look at this one! They're just babies here!!!

It was because of these boys from Bean Town that I fell in love with a city I've still never even been to. I love Boston! I dreamed of going to Boston University (and wore BU apparel. Oh man... I forgot about that sweatshirt... I LOVED that sweatshirt...)

Joey was my favorite. He was the youngest- and by far (as far as 12 year old me was concerned) the cutest. My friend and I used to write stories involving them- Joey was always my boyfriend. I wrote him a fan letter once- but I never mailed it. Sorry Joey, I'm sure it would have made a difference in your life. You'll just have to move on without me. 

Then there was Jordon. Summer loved Jordan. She even had similar hair (although it was curlier... like Joey's). I always thought he was handsome too- but Summer called him first- which was fine. I still prefer Joey.

Jordon's brother Jon was super cute too. He was always a little more in the background. I wonder if he ever resented that. Hmmm...?

Donnie was everybody's favorite bad boy. Even though the other Whalberg has become the more famous of the two, whenever I hear about Mark (whom I still call Marky Mark), I still think of him as Donnie's little brother. Donnie wins!

And then there was Danny. Did he actually sing or was he just there as the beefcake? I'm sure he's very nice.

I was sitting here today having a bout of the blues- this grey sky is going to kill me. I need SUN! So I tried to think of a way to cheer myself up. I don't even know how it came about- but I ended up on YouTube watching the old music videos of these teenage heartthrobs. And giggling to no end. Really? This is what I thought was SO COOL? This is the music I couldn't live without? (I have the piano music too, btw) 

My sister's went to a concert once and I turned every shade of green with envy. They were fans too- but I was too young to take to Provo to a concert. sigh... and just a few years ago when they were doing their reunion tour my friend Lisa escorted them through the Denver airport. I may have retroactively fan girl-ed a little and asked to touch her hand- the same hand that shook theirs. AAAAAHHHH!!!!! 

ahem... sorry... we're cool. I think I've grown up enough that I can look back on all this with good humor. 

I've admitted a lot of embarrassing things in this post. I will NOT, however, publicly admit that I have a NKOTB pillow case anywhere in this apartment. No one needs to know that but me.