what we still had to learn about opposable thumbs

Dear man in the fancy suit who walked in to the orthodontist's waiting room and sat down across from me,

You look very important in that fancy suit.  And very busy.  Your half-crazed eyes are fixed on that little phone in your hand, thumbs flying, and you're giggling like a pre-adolesent who just peeked at his first Playboy magazine.

You look a little demented, but'ya still got it. You're still charming.

Excuse me for bothering you, but did you notice that person sitting next to you?  No younger than eight, no older than ten?  Big soulful eyes and long brown ponytails, head turned away, arms wrapped around her long, thin legs, knees tucked under her chin, rocking back and forth?

Could that be your daughter?

Some people call that the fetal position.  Do you think she might need something?

(Oh wait, he's going to speak to the young girl....)

Now we all know that your pressing matter has a name...."Georgia."

This information doesn't seem to be quite as fascinating...or comforting to the young girl as it is to you,  but you insist upon elbowing her, because Georgia sent a picture, and your daughter must be eager to see it.

That's why she's pretending  to smile.  Head's turning away again.  Rocking again.  Now her thumb is moving too, right up to her mouth. But you don't seem to notice that.

She is young to be at the orthodontist-- and old to be sucking her thumb.

A little extra attention won't straighten teeth, or change a habit, but it would seem to be in order here.

Maybe you'll make the connection when the office woman comes to talk about the payments.  Maybe you will turn to her and hold her in your arms, and give her what she needs, or maybe you'll go back to your phone, and put braces on her teeth.

(Wait he's making physical contact...)

You lean your head against hers. Cheesy smile at the phone.

"Selfie at the orthodontist!"

(I can't believe that just happened.)

Georgia must have been impressed because she replies with a video.

Now you explain that she has a British accent....

because she is from England...

Oh. That's why.

We are all relieved.

Do you ever worry, man in the suit, where will she be when she finally gets your attention? What will your daughter need to do to fascinate you?

You let one hand leave the phone so you can reach up to the top of your head, and rub that yes-it-is- thinning spot, a gesture that is often endearing, but not really today.  Because you seem worried about losing something.

But other things, not so much.

surprise snow

 Now that my tulips are dropping their lovely coral petals, and the daffodils bowing their heads in resignation to the roses, who just last week, seemed to show no promise of life, and are now leafing out like reminders of summer mornings, I think it is safe to say one more big thank you to God and Mother Nature for the mild winter of 2014. 

Thank you for a handful of snowy days, lovely enough for pictures, including this odd late March snow squall. I promise you that five minutes before I grabbed my camera, we had warmth and sunshine. An enormous wind blew in through the canyon and brought a mix of rain, snow, and sleet. I saw Olivia dash through the back gate, running in to find like-minded playmates.

 

 Olivia, I love that you let weather fascinate you. I will not be surprised at all if you grow up to be a meteorologist. 

the many faces of birthday

 I felt quite happy that Kyle's birthday request was to do pretty much the same thing as last year... a boy  after my own heart.  We had our traditional gyro lunch at Burger Supreme and went to a matinee with Ben, Monuments Men.

Kyle's bright green cast was still the star of the day. The word of the month, definitely malleolus, even  Sophie's been enjoying a larger anatomical vocabulary. Right posterior malleolus, to be exact...fractured in a skateboarding accident, just in time for his birthday.

Kyle's birthday dinner has become a tradition as well, chicken pot pie, admittedly from Costco. Kyle, thank you for becoming remarkably easy to shop for...banjo music, records from my day, and a few new additions to your favorite collection, beards.

 We all had a great time celebrating with you.

valentines 2014

 Valentine's day 2014

 Mary's artwork.

grandma's v-day crafts

 Thank you Grandma Martha, for February craft night.

 Ready for the big day.

macbeth

In February, Ben and Sam performed in their high school's MacBeth.

The same week, Ben's honors art class held an exhibit at the school.
 Proud of you, guys.

downs, dumplings, dinosaurs

 The first weekend in February the girls insisted on dumplings to celebrate Chinese New Year,

and bread bowls and clam chowder on Superbowl Sunday.

 Sophie's preschool class went on field trip to the BYU Paleontology museum.

 Grant tried  to be brave around the T-Rex.

like penguins

I think God has been merciful this year.  Our January passed, and I had no complaints about the weather. There were only two real snowfalls. This was the second. William and Sophie and I met Grant at the kindergarten bus, and we threw rocks at the ice on the pond, and they rode the swings, and slid down the big hill "like penguins," since we had not brought the sleds. Then we went home for cocoa, of course.