ABC's of Summer

At the beginning of the summer, I was in charge of a Relief Society activity where we talked about the "ABC's of Summer."  We gave everyone a sand pail and encouraged the sisters to make a bucket list of activity ideas for summer that corresponded with each letter of the alphabet.  Of course I didn't make my list in advance; I filled in my letters as the summer progressed.  (Remember I can't handle the pressure of making New Years Resolutions!)  Here is my bucket list. 

A      Aladdin at Tuacahn

Tricia and I had a delightful trip to St. George over the 24th of July.  Aladdin was wonderful and the Tuacahn Theater is fun.  It always makes me happy to see palm trees... and the beautiful St. George Temple as well.

B      Bountiful Handcart Days Parade
This year's parade was complete with 2,000 Stripling Warriors.  A truly historic event for Davis County.

C       City Creek
There's a new mall in Salt Lake City, and Heather and I spent a morning wandering through Tiffany's and toy stores.  We also shared treats from Kneaders, a fruit tart and a berry pastry.  Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.

D    Dates with Lauren
To further cement my status of being a cool aunt, I had some play-dates with Lauren this summer.  We learned that Lauren loves Bountiful Park and could spend hours going up one set of stairs and down a particular slide.  I also learned that Lauren doesn't like it when store employees at Cutler's Cookies give her stickers.  She wanted a cookie, dang it.  What's the deal?

E     Ensign Peak

This was the most challenging of my alphabet activities.  Hiking and I don't exactly get along very well and I am 99.9% sure that hiking triggers migraines.  Along the trail, I kept motivating myself with sayings such as "If Cub Scouts can do it, I can do it too."  Which isn't true, because there are  a lot of things Cub Scouts can do that I can't do.  (Tie knots, cook pork and beans over a buddy burner, etc.)  But I did climb Ensign Peak.  And I was rewarded with this lovely view of air pollution in the Salt Lake Valley.

F     First Stitches Ever

My dinner at Texas Roadhouse with some friends turned into an adventure at Urgent Care when I sliced my finger with a steak knife.  Don't try this one at home.  I ended up with 3 stitches, a tetanus shot, and a neon green bandage that would have been perfect for a 4 year-old boy.  Semi-graphic picture to follow of my finger five days after the accident.  I can't believe how well it healed up.

G     Grandpa Moments


Carly's blessing in July. She was pretty angelic in her white dress and strawberry blond hair. I think her Grandpa likes her.


H      Happy Birthday Celebration for President Monson
I celebrated President Thomas S. Monson's 85th Birthday at the Conference Center with 19,999 other people.  It was a night of Broadway performers and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.  It doesn't get much better than that.

I     I Love My Look-Alike Nephew
Despite the fact that he looks shockingly like Aunt Traci, Tanner is super cute.  It was so fun to see him take off walking and talking this summer.

J     Javier and Jean Valjean in LES MIZ

I would be hard pressed to say I have a favorite musical.  You can't compare "Wicked" to "White Christmas."  It just can't be done.  With that said, however, the Shakespeare Festival's production of Les Miz was incredible. 

K     Kimball Arts Festival in Park City

I got a postcard in the mail about the Arts Festival in Park City.  I texted my friend Sara in Boise that she should come.  And she did!  It was like magic.  We had a fantastic weekend, eating cinnamon scones at Granny Annie's, wandering through the upscale booths at the festival, being jealous of the 12 year-old singer we saw who was amazing, sharing onion rings at Training Table, and watching Christian Bale in "The Dark Knight Rises."  So good to have My Sara in town.

L     Las Vegas Temple

I have a goal to attend one new temple each year.  This summer I visited temple #22, the Las Vegas Temple. 

M     "Merry Wives of Windsor"

The outdoor theater in Cedar City is how Shakespeare ought to be done.  The play was hilarious.  Tricia and I had a marvelous time.  The Shakespeare Festival is one of my favorite summer traditions.  (Two years in a row now... that's a tradition, right?)

N     New Swimsuit

Once every decade, I buy a new swimsuit.  2012 was my year.  Thank you Lands End.  I'll see you again in 2022.

O     Open House for the Brigham City Temple

My family went to the Open House for the Brigham City Temple.  We completed our Brigham City experience with dinner at Maddox and peaches on Fruit Way.

P     Patsy's 60th Birthday Celebration

How excited were we that Aunt Patsy wanted to celebrate her 60th birthday in Mountain Home, Idaho? VERY EXCITED. And Patsy and Hal got to meet Carly too, which is a great birthday present at any age.

Q     Quiet Time Reading Anna Quindlen's "A Short Guide to a Happy Life."

And "Being Perfect."  And "Black and Blue."  And "Blessings."  And "Rise and Shine."  Some fiction and some non-fiction.  But this summer, it was pretty much all Anna Quindlen for me...all the time.

R     Red Barn in Santaquin

No offence to the city of Santaquin, but you never feel like stopping there on a road trip.  You've just past Provo, so you really haven't been on the road long enough to justify stopping.  You want to keep going to Nephi at least.  And on the way back, Santaquin is about the point where if you got out of the car, you might not get back in.  You're just ready to be home.  So I have glanced longingly at the Red Barn just off the freeway in Santaquin many a time.  On the way home from St. George this summer, I finally made the effort to stop.  And was rewarded with all the fudge, ice cream, and jams you can eat.  It's my kind of place.  My first stop at the Red Barn won't be my last.

S     Snowcone.  With Cream.

All last year I meant to stop at a snow cone shack near my house.  I never did.  So this year I made a special point to stop there.  No Regrets!  I had strawberry with cream (ok, it's evaporated milk) and I felt like I had really accomplished something.  Go Me!

T     Tyler and Bryce - First Trip to Lagoon

They've been doing their jobs and saving their pennies.  And finally the big day was here.  We went to Lagoon!  The boys loved it.  I wonder how many summers we'll get before they learn what "season passes" to Lagoon would mean for them.

U     Utah Landmark - Cove Fort
I've passed the billboards for Cove Fort in the Middle of Nowhere a million times and never stopped. But when Biz and I drove home from St. George on the 24th of July, it seemed wrong to pass this landmark honoring the pioneers. Really, the only obstacle was that my sister had a kidney stone, and if you time the Lortab just right, that's not as big of an obstacle as one might think. She had a great time, trust me.

V     Violinist Jenny Oaks Baker
I went to a fireside where Jenny Oaks Baker performed.  She plays the violin and she has great hair.  I want to be her when I grow up.

W     Waterslides at Lava Hot Springs
My family spent a great weekend at Lava Hot Springs.  We liked the hot pools (of course) and the water slides.  It's just so fun to have everyone together!

X     eXperimental Recipes

I experimented with some new recipes.  Loved the cinnamon baked apples, strawberry jam and peach jam.  Liked the butterscotch potato chip cookies.  Will not attempt cinnamon rolls again without a specific measurement for flour.  It's kind of an important ingredient.

Y     Yogurt - Dannon's Light and Fit Greek Yogurt With Strawberries

This is a new product and I would like to be their spokesperson if they will let me.  It's 80 calories, 7 grams of sugar, and so rich tasting and yummy good, I can't always finish one serving.  Try it, people.

Z     Zoo

For Fathers Day, we decided to take my Dad to Hogle Zoo with all the grandkids.  (A plan he effectively spoiled by buying tickets for all of us online in advance so we "didn't have to wait in line."  Happy Fathers Day?)  But we had a great time at the zoo.  I love the new polar bear exhibit.  And I had the best job of waving at the kids as they rode by on the carousel. 

So there you have it.  My Summer Alphabet.  And now I believe it is time for a nap. 

 

It Makes You Wonder

Saturday I went to my local Fresh Market to get some canning supplies.  The sign above the aisle read "Beer...  Canning Supplies..."  And sure enough, the aisle had beer on one side and canning jars on the other.  Who hates canning so much that they have to pick up a 12 pack before they make jam?  That's what I want to know.

Weekend Recap

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend President Monson's 85th Birthday Celebration at the Conference Center.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra performed, as well at three Broadway soloists.  And Steve Young (one of the MC's for the night) sang along with the Choir for the closing song.  Do you think he ever thought he would sing with the Tabernacle Choir?  There were short video clips throughout the night highlighting President Monson's life.  Would you believe he has seen the musical Annie in 11 different languages because he likes it so much?  I found this to be particularly endearing.

Also endearing?  Lauren sharing her drink with Corduroy and giggling every time it was his turn for a sip.  Saturday we went to the Open House for the Brighan City Temple.  It's a beautiful building and it was a very peaceful experience.  We also went to Maddox before our tour (as did most of the intermountain west - CALL AHEAD FOR RESERVATIONS) and enjoyed fried chicken, rolls and the best peach pie ever.

Yes Sir

My boss dropped a list of projects on my desk last night that he needs before he flies to Paris for 10 days later this morning.  Sure.  I'll get right on that.

How would it be?

Life Changing

Several years ago, I remember hearing one of my Mom's good friends refer to Les Miz as life-changing.  I'm going to admit that I've seen the musical and I love it, it's one of my favorites, but I always thought "life-changing" was a bit much.

And then I saw Les Miz at the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City last weekend.  It was the most incredible production I have seen in my life.  Life-changing is the only way to describe it.  The actors were excellent and the man playing Javier was extraordinary.  I think everyone in the audience was giddy when he walked onto the stage.  You could feel the excitement, "He's going to sing again!!!"  And Javier is not a sympathetic character.  But we couldn't get enough.  It was emotionally gripping and each song was better than the last.  By the end, I had determined how I could improve my most troubling relationships and how I needed to treat people.  Are you getting the picture here?  Life-changing. 

Here in Utah, we give standing ovations for EVERYTHING: a 3 year old's dance recital, a home school play, a preview for the next Twilight movie, everything.  This play, however, deserved to have  the entire audience on its feet by the end of the last song.  We really couldn't jump up fast enough.

I also need to say that I thoroughly enjoyed "The Merry Wives of Windsor," even though I haven't read it.  (My Dad reminded me that some people go through high school and college without reading a single book.  So it was okay that I hadn't read the play before I went to see it performed.)  And I should note that I brought two pairs of shoes on this trip - and Tricia only brought one.  Which is much more representative of our relationship than the strange phenomenon in St. George where I had fewer shoes than my sister. 

All in all, I love the Shakespeare Festival.  It's a tradition I started last year that I hope will continue for years to come.  I invite any and all to come to Cedar City with me to see Les Miz again in the next two months.  Or if that doesn't work for you, I am available next summer as well.

My Grocery List

You know when you go to the grocery store specifically for string cheese?  And walk out with milk, yogurt and cheddar cheese.  But NO string cheese.  It's so irritating.  Why do I even make a grocery list if I'm unable to follow it?

Am I A Bad Person?

I'm going to see "The Merry Wives of Windsor" this weekend at the Shakespeare Festival.  I haven't read the play.  The English major in me is having a hard time with this - but not enough of a hard time that I've been able to force myself to read the play from the Norton Shakespeare Anthology that has been sitting patiently on my kitchen table for weeks now.  That big red book reminds me of college and the pain and anguish of Dr. Jensen's Shakespeare class. 

Am I a bad person if I don't read the play before I go to see it performed?  I should know the characters, the intricacies of the language, the societal norms of the time and how Shakespeare was cheekily critiquing them with his words.  And I don't.  I feel like I'm going to hell  I mean...  H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks. 

I am a bad person.  DANG IT.