Halloween Eve

Tonight I took Juliette to our 5th Halloween party since last week...Boo Bash at the Y. Juliette loved it. We came home and carved pumpkins. If you look at the photo, it is easy to see which two Adrian carved and which two I carved. Honestly, I really struggle in the visual art department. Adrian quickly sawed his pumpkins, like it was nothing. It reminded me of my Dad. One of my fondest memories is carving with my Daddy every Halloween, and he would make the scariest jack-o-lanterns. I always thought they were the best in the neighborhood! They were. The thing is, both of my parents are good with their hands...I don't know how I missed the gene, but I did.

Juliette wanted a pumpkin with eye lashes...she also wanted a tear drop on one of the eyes. Gansta Jack-o-lantern? Then we realized she was wanting it to look like Johnny Depp in Cry Baby...a John Waters movie she saw at a friends house, that she should not have watched, but that's another story.

I tried to make Vaughn's pumpkin look sleepy. I tried.

Anyway, trick or treating tomorrow, and then we will have a small bon fire at our house. Nothing like we usually do, it's just too much this year, but Juliette has been asking to build a fire for a while, so we will do s'mores and have the neighbors over.

The great thing about this year is that the weather is fantastic....finally, a Halloween without winter coats!

9 weeks

Vaughn is about 9 weeks old! Wow! Time was dragging for a minute there but now it seems to have passed me by. He's a charming little baby. He giggles and grins, and talks to his Daddy more than anyone else. He listens to his big sister...every sound she makes, he follows. When he was a week old, Mamow would say, "He hears you Juliette, he's listening for his big sister." She was right, and he still waits and watches for her.

Last week Adrian caught him rolling from his tummy to his back while I was at a rehearsal. He captured it on video for me to watch when I came home. What a strong little man! I can tell he's bored...ready to get up and get going.

Juliette was a grunter. She always had this little grunt, and not just when she was busy doing you know what. He has a cute little sound of his own...it's kind of like a grunt, only more raspy I guess. It's hard to explain but it is music to my ears.

Vaughn does NOT like to be put down much. He loves to be held and walked around. The only person he will allow to put him down and walk away is Adrian. They have an understanding.

He will fall asleep in the swing anytime...loves the swing.

Juliette is still such a wonderful big sister. One funny, scary story....I put him down on the floor in the living room one day while Juliette was watching a movie. I went to grab something, came back, and Vaughn was in the swing all the way across the room. Juliette looked at me as if I should be so proud! I didn't know if I should hug her or spank her! I don't even want to know how she managed to get him in that swing..but he never made a sound. What a little helper...?

We love our kids. They sure are happy little people!

A Beautiful Day

One day this tree will be soooo big...and so will she.

Jazz at The Eldridge

I'll be singing with a great band at The Eldridge Hotel in Lawrence, KS. Wed night. 7-10.
IT's my favorite gig. The sound there is fantastic, and the atmosphere is cool. The food is really yummy, and for those of you who drink I'm sure the martinis are fab. But the most IMPORTANT part of the night will be the great music. I love this band, and I love the music we play. Jazz, blues, bossa nova, swing, torch songs, everything...
Plus, if you've never been to Lawrence on MASS Street...you MUST go. The most unique shopping street around. SO many fun boutiques and restaurants, and the coolest toy store I've ever been to. All on one street. SO go shopping, and then come hear us! Or just come hear us, and sip on a soda with your friend or loved one.

JuJu Lately

Gymboree Night...she'll be too big for this place before too long. Ashlyn came and they had great fun!

She will never need mascara....but if she's like me she'll gob it on anyway, until then, I want to remember how naturally, absolutely beautiful my daughter is. When she is 16, and she wants to use a tanning bed, I am going to show her these photos first. Virgin skin.

I'm just mesmerized by Juliette. She is the light of my life.

More about Juliette lately....She officially has an imaginary friend. His name is Beatlejuice, and she takes him everywhere, and really wanted me to give him a vitamin along with hers. I've had to shake his hand three times today, once while driving. She made a bed for him on the floor and took a bath with him.

Juliette is singing "Castle on a Cloud" from Les Mis on a regular basis. She practices with her microphone.

I have heard this song a million and one times since yesterday. I think she's got it. And boy is she dramatic about it...I just watch to see whats next.

Recently, she said to me, "Mom, I don't want to be a singer, I want to be a chef....a chef and a dancer, a chef dancer." A dancing chef, Okay cool.

Today she told me, "I want to play the violin and sing in the opera." You can do it all JuJu, whatever you want to do.

All Smiles on Tuesday

Today we headed to Kaleidoscope at Hallmark Crown Center, the fail proof cure for a kid on a cold and rainy day. Vaughn loved the eye candy, and Juliette enjoyed making a picture book. Thanks to the colored lights everywhere, I was finally able to capture Vaughn smiling.

A case of the "Mondays"

I went to the store tonight after realizing that I am out of contact solution. So I had one thing on my list...contact solution. What did I walk out with? Cilantro, a bell pepper, milk, cheese, and cereal. No Renu. Of course, Adrian received a call soon after I returned home. He is used to these calls by now..."Hey, I went to the store to get Renu and forgot to get it, could you grab some on your way home?" He'll get another call here in a minute, "Hey, while you are there could you also grab...."
I made veggie tacos for Juliette and I, and then said to her out loud, "You need your multivitamin, let me go get it." I walked into the kitchen and I'm not sure what I did, but it didn't involve grabbing the Flinstones. Forgot about it as soon as I said it.
Oh, and the laundry...I've just forgotten about that too. I have apparently lost sight of the fact that we need clean clothes to wear, because they are alllllll in the laundry room just waiting for Mama Frost. I wish we had disposable clothes...Adrian had this idea with socks once. He said he wanted to buy socks in bulk and just throw them away after wearing them so we never have to look for a match again. Very practical. Wish it was that easy. Wish it made sense.
There is rice and cheese on the floor. Happens every time I make tacos. I just looked at it and walked away all zombie-like. I am so tired. My body hurts. I keep thinking of that commercial.."depression hurts." You know, where everyone is wearing a grey sweatshirt with uncombed hair...I feel like that. I look like them right now.
Vaughn is back to his old eating schedule...every hour, no joke. That can of Enfamil is looking better and better each day.
I miss the old Emily. I want her back. I liked her. But she'll be back, I know it.
Okay, now before people start worrying...I'm okay. I am. I know I'll be back to my old self again...I'm shooting for December. I have given myself until Christmas to get it together. It will be a gift to myself....and everyone around me!
Sorry for this fragment filled, frustrated blog. I'll write a song instead next time.

Disclaimer

I'm just going to apologize for my bad gramar and spelling. Lately I've noticed that I need to proofread my posts about six times before posting. Sometimes when I look back at things I've written, I get so embarrassed because it seems as if a 3rd grader is behind this blog. I was once a decent writer...not anymore. They say with each child you lose more brain cells. I'm a believer.

La Scala 2008

Adrian and I at "La Scala" Opera Dinner.

I was performing and Adrian was on sound but I guess you could call it a date! I have a video of my aria but I don't know if I will dare to post it...don't even know if I will figure out how to do so. I sang "Quando men vo soletta" from La Boheme. It went well...I surprised myself. I haven't touched this aria since my senior year of college. Vaughn snuck in with us and didn't make a peep until her heard me singing on stage....then he made a peep alright. He loved listening to all of the music. The whole evening was beautiful and I was glad to participate.

Rooting for the other team

This is another JuJu story. I know, I blog about her constantly, but I don't want to forget a moment of her hilarious little life.
So Alison, our dear friend and neighbor, took Juliette to another football game, but not just any game...the Park Hill vs Park Hill South game. For my hometown friends, it is like the old Camden vs. Fairview game....major rivals. We are with Park Hill South, the purple team. So Juliette was totally decked out in purple and black, with a panther paw on her cheek. I didn't get to go, but here is what I was told happened at the game.
Juliette arrived, and was greeted by her usually fan club of teenagers. By the way, it turns out that she has become popular through her pre-school, which is held at the PHS High School building, so she has gotten to know everyone that way. I went to pick her up today, and they were in the gym. As we walked though the cafeteria together, at least six students high fived her on the way out, asking her if she would be at the game. I asked her what it was like to be popular...I don't think I was ever that popular in high school.
Back to the game,...so she was there for less than thirty minutes when she started insisting that Alison take her to the "red side." GASP! Apparently, Juliette thought they were louder, so she wanted to be on their team. Alison took her over, and of course Juliette rushed the track to hang with the cheerleaders. And even THEY knew her..we don't even go to their school...she knows everyone...I don't understand! Anyway, I keep wondering if her being on the track is against the rules and why no one has complained, but they allow it every time. So Juliette, in purple from head to toe, ended up on the shoulders of two RED Park Hill cheerleaders, red and black pom pons in hand...rooting for the enemy. That's my girl, the little rebel. I hope she still has friends when she goes back to school on Monday!

Sing them to sleep

Tonight when I returned from singing a jazz gig, I picked up Vaughn and held him in my arms, and sang him to sleep...four jazz ballads and his eyes closed for the night. When everything seems to be falling apart, I still have my voice...I can sing. My daughter can sing to me.

There is always music. Adrian can always play the guitar for us. Music is always there with us, in our home. I've often wondered what a waste of talent I am....I should be singing more gigs, more opera, traveling and singing, more recording, etc....But I've decided that singing my kids to sleep at night is the best gig I've got right now. Hands down. The best gig of all. This is what I do best, it's what feels the best, and that's enough.

I always knew that God gave me this one gift and I was to use it in many ways. I never knew that singing for my children would feel like one of the most important ways to use my voice. I hope they like it. I hope they remember it and I hope they sing to their children one day. I hope music trickles down in this family, and becomes a part of who we are. Because music is always there, when all else fails, music never falters. It has saved my life more than once. I thank God for music and all of it's power to heal and to inspire. I don't know what I'd do without it.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of every life" - Auerbach

"Without music life would be a mistake "- Nietzshe

"Why waste money on psychotherapy when you could be listening to the B minor Mass?"- Torke

"Music is what feelings sound like "- unknown

"If I were to begin life again, I would devote it to music, it is the only cheap and unpunished rapture on earth "- Sydney Smith

"Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them!" - Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Music is the medicine of the mind "- John A. Logan

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent "- Hugo





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He Knows.

We heard a church talk recently about a family who had been in a minor car accident. After the accident, one of the children called a family member...I may have this all wrong, but anyway, the child said over the phone, "Hope ya know, we had a hard time today."
The church speaker related this to our prayers to God. I myself have been looking up lately and saying/praying, "Hope ya know, I'm having a hard time."

Well today was one of those days. I needed to go to the store for food and garbage bags. It was cold and rainy outside, I was low on cash, and we don't use credit cards, so going to the store was not an option today, and I was just feeling gloomy in general. My sister talked to me on the phone for a long while, which always makes me feel better. Prayer number 1, answered.

I went to my totally destroyed bedroom, sat on the bed, and just started thinking. Juliette then ran into the room screaming because we had a package! My mother is notorious for sending packages, and they are always the best! Juliette knows by now that when she sees a big brown box on our front step, it's on! She screams, she squeals, she runs around...with scissors to open it, yikes! Well, today we opened our package and what did I find? Food, garbage bags, and cash, with a few other gifts for Vaughn and JuJu, and even a pretty nightgown for me. But what mattered most were the three things I needed on this particular day. It felt like a small miracle. Prayer number 2, thank you God, and thank you Mom and Daddy.

Later my teenage neighbor, Hannah, came over to help me clean and organize so that she could earn a refrigerator she wants for her new downstairs room. She has the whole finished basement to herself now, and she wants to make it apartment-like. So I told her if she would help me make sense of my house, then she could have our dorm room fridge. Well, not only did she completely organize my closet by color, style, and season....she also made the bed, picked up, organized the shoes, took laundry downstairs, etc...THEN...her little sister, who is 8 came over, with her little friend Chase.

They wanted to help. Um, I had nothing for them...but they didn't care, they just wanted to help. Next thing I know, I have Abby tidying up the nursery, and Chase making Juliette's bed and picking up toys. Prayer number 3, wow. Luckily I had two bags of candy to give to the kids...but how sweet of them! I think God just sent a few angels to help me with my funk...and my funky house! SO, I count my blessings. Every little bit. And I think God may have been listening lately to my "hope ya know...." He knows.

Vaughn 6 weeks

Mmmm, caramel apples!

What's more perfect on a chilly autumn day than caramel apples? My favorite treat!

Rome, Capri, and Olivia came over for some fall fun. They loved making the yummy treats, but had no interest in actually eating the apple...just scraping the caramel and chocolate off with their teeth!

KC Ren Fest Freak Show

Ju Juliette's first Ren Fest...oh boy..

Little Butterfly

Little Naked lady...

The Joust!

The Jump!

The Dragon!

The Swings

Don, the...hard core Ren Fest dude

Holly the fairy with her perfect accent.

Ren Fest was fun. It was my first time to go. I don't know how I lived to be 29 and never saw a Renaissance Festival. It was HUGE...we could have spent the whole weekend there, but thankfully we chose to stay a few hours. Vaughn enjoyed riding around in the pram, Juliette enjoyed the rides, powered by strong men...half dressed, and I enjoyed watching the Freak show that is the Ren Fest...great place to just watch...people watch.

Alison was great. She bought us lunch, gave us the tickets...just spoiled us. She is always generous, and won't take a dime from me, no matter how hard I try. The weather was perfect. I saw a ton of cleavage, good and bad...but really, is major cleavage every good in public? We observed plenty of men in tights and you know that that means. Good grief.

The costumes were pretty amazing on some, others...not so much. There were plenty of people eating giant turkey legs, gag....and the super giant sausage on a stick...mmmm, no.

All in all, it's a fun place to go and it is family friendly for the most part. Juliette had so much fun, and that's what really matters. I'm going to try and get Adrian to go next year, even though the Renaissance Festivals scares him. The video below is Juliette on the bungee trampoline thing, no idea. She's brave!

The Cheerleader

Juliette went to homecoming with Alison and Casey. Accordidng to them, half of Parkhill SOuth knows Juliette by name, as they shouted at her in the stadium, "JuJU!, Juliette! IT's Juliette!etc...."I wasn't there, this is just what I've been told. It doesn't surpise me though, because even when we are out as a family, random teenagers will come up and talk to Juliette, and she usually knows them by name. I think she has a secret life. Anyway, I guess the cheerleaders invited Juliette to cheer with them. Watch the two videos below. I'm sorry I missed this game!

More Cheers

Cheerleading

Anneke is ADORABLE!!!

Here is Anneke, my sister's little girl.

I LOVE these pictures...I love my niece!

Iowa

I am in Iowa, relaxing with my mother-in-law. I needed to relax. Just when I thought I had had enough last weekend, I got a call from Viki, "We are on our way to KC to visit Vaughn and then we are going to take Juliette to our Iowa for a week. Sweet!

They do this often, I love it...Juliete loves it, they love it...everyone is happy. Lately, with the new baby, Juliette has needed a little extra attention, and she gets allll the attention she needs with Grandma and Honey. This trip, they surprised her with a new Barbie Jeep. She is going to spit on her green gator at home after riding around in a pink jeep with a cell phone to boot.

Yeah, the Barbie jeep comes with a cell phone so that kids can learn to talk and drive. Not good. In fact, Juliette has been driving around in the jeep while talking on her cell phone...she holds it under her neck while driving, saying "Look, I'm just like Mommmy!" Busted.

They've taken Juliette to the pumpkin patch, gone shopping for her, she has new dolls to play with, and stamps for her art box. She stands in front of their bay window and uses a wicker chest as her desk for her "office." For hours she worked in her office today.

So, after spending a few days up here by herself, Vaughn and I drove up to join them. I've never come up here with out Adrian, but we are having a great time. I have a great mother in law. She and I stay up late watching Bravo TV shows, and chatting about everything and anything, eating chocolate. Vaughn adores her, and I wish I had a picture of how much he smiles at his grandma. Darlin, I know this is making you crazy, we need to see you again very soon!

Viki watched Vaughn and Juliette so that I could go to the Winter Quarters Temple today..by myself! I've never been to the temple alone...I needed it, though I missed Adrian, I just needed a little peace and reflection on my own. As many of you mothers know, alone time is good as gold.

The temple was great, except for one thing. As I was putting on my temple dress, it seemed a little snug...okay, I could hardly zip it up. I had to get help from a temple worker to squeeze me in, and then it was skin tight. It used to hang on me. I told the temple worker, "Um, I don't think I've lost the baby weight." She replied, Honey, I don't think it's the baby weight in your tummy, it's the baby weight up there...you must be breastf--" "I interrupted, YES, I AM, thank you, I know."

I have twenty more pounds to lose, and it's moments like these that remind me of it. I walked around the temple with my tight temple dress about to burst at the seams...so embarrassing. Never again. But I was just so happy to be there, and it was a wonderful trip. What did I learn in the temple today? Tons of things I'll keep to myself, but I also learned that I need to listen more, rest more, read more, pray more, and.... lose the pudge. fast. Maybe I should just get a new temple dress in the mean time.

Tomorrow we are going to wake up and make cupcakes for breakfast, and then head back to KC.
Adrian hates it when we are gone. He complained the other day about not having "alone time." Well I gave it to him this week, and he says he is lonely when we are gone....be careful what you ask for Adrian! I miss him too. I really do.

I'll try to get some photos posted, but I don't have my camera with me. I know Robin took some, so I'll have to get them from her...anyway, we've had a great week in Iowa. It was nice to get away.

Right around the corner!!!!

While working on my resume, I checked out the church website after Abby told me the good news....
I can't believe it. It's true! The new temple is going to be in Shoal Creek, which is about ten miles or so from our house! It's right around the corner for most of the stake! I can't believe it...I thought only people in Utah lived this close to temples! Wow!
Shoal Creek is smack dab in the middle of Liberty and Kansas City/Parkville. The location is kind of symbolic. Liberty is the first town I lived in, where I went to college, and where I lived when Adrian and I met. Kansas City/Parkville is where we ended up...and somewhere, somehow in between living in Liberty and Kansas City, I became a Mormon...gasp! It's as if this future temple connects my past and present.
I can't wait until the open house, because I want to be able to take my family and friends inside so they can see what it looks like...so they can see that it's not so weird, but just beautiful...open house is the only time non members can go inside a temple. I grew up in a beautiful Presbyterian Church, and I have to admit that I was bummed when I found out that LDS chapels are kind of boring aesthetically. But the temples...there's nothing boring about it.
Yay!
Okay, back to working on my resume....

Tag I'm It

I shot off my mouth to Cheryl about how I never get tagged, and then she tagged me...I set myself up for that I guess. So I'll do it...I've never been tagged before! If I remember correctly I am to include seven random facts about myself that yaw'll don't already know about...let's see...

1. When I fetch the mail, I grab only the fun mail, like magazines or packages or letters, and I leave the junk mail in box. I guess I'm just hoping that the mail man will take it back, or that they will just go away. Sometimes I even leave the bills in there, but Adrian is good to grab those.
2. I am a product junkie. Hair and skin products. It is a little excessive. But I get these products at a super discount...Mamow and Randi hook me up at the State Beauty Supply.
3. I am extremely impatient. Always have been, always will be.
4. I love antiques...or vintage anything, I love it all. I'm not a fan of modern living.
5. I've always wanted to be a visual artist, like my Mom, or Anna, or Adrian...I'd love to paint something worth hanging. But I draw and paint like a four year old...but not as good as some.
6. I like for my night clothes to match when I go to bed...from head to toe. Didn't say they always do..but I'd like for them to.
7. I've done opera, jazz, blues, Broadway, pop music, brazilian,...But you know, I've secretly always wanted to sing....country. I want to be a country singer!

These seven people are tagged...I don't even know if seven people read my blog so this will be hard:

Caroline
Hannah
Abby
Ali
Jen W
Kate George
Tiffany Nasal

Good News!!!

We had the first session of General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and there is good news! They are going to build a temple in the Kansas City area! This is HUGE! I mean, there are over a hundred in the world but to have one so close....I have been trying to convince Adrian to move to California lately where all of the giant skateboard companies are....and I've been dead serious about it, even though something has always told me I belong here for some strange reason. But, I know now that we'll be staying here...I'm not going to miss out on this open house!
To think that I will be able to attend the temple weekly...even daily, or to be a temple worker...wow! I thought that was something I would have to wait to do when I was retired!
Cali can wait. Besides, I am soooooo not a west coast girl.

MUSIC!!!

Well, thanks to ALI, I have music...gosh Ali...it only took me an hour, but I actually figured it out. Next time I need to do anything that involves step by step instructions, you're my girl!
I love music...this is a short playlist...a teeeeeny sample what I've been listening to lately, and a few old favorites as well. I spared everyone with the choral music that I like to listen to.
I like depressing music, so sorry if this bums you out. I threw in a couple of happy songs though...I think.
But really, does anyone actually listen to the music on other blogs? I do sometime...if it's good music. I hope if you do listen, that you hear something new that you love. I remember how I got started with every artist I listen to. Caroline got me hooked to Low and M Ward. Ryan gave me Digable Planets. A local radio station introduced me to Sia. Hannah had me listening to The Story for months..ooo, I forgot to put that one on here...anyway, you get the idea. Maybe one day you can say that Emily Frost introduced you to mind numbing sad songs (:

Big shocker, EMily needs help

I need help. How do I add a music player to my blog? They quick and easy answer please.