To Utah again...

We went to Salt Lake earlier this month to see Disney on Ice with my sister and her family, to see my nephew perform in The Music Man and of course to visit the grandmas.

Just like these kids, I was mesmerized. I thought it was a fantastic show! I remember when my dad took our family to see the Ice Capades at the Salt Palace when I was a kid. My dad and I were both afraid of heights so we left our seats to stand closer to the ice. I always wanted to be an ice skater but I never took lessons. I still love to watch it. My only complaint was that the concessions were criminally expensive. I just can't bring myself to pay $15 for a snow cone + $2 for a spoon. Does that make me an unfit parent? The people at the booth would have us all believe that yes it does.

We splurged on cotton candy. Katie only wanted it for the mustache. She also ended up with mustaches on her hands. Oh the sticky delicious joys of cotton candy.

I don't care who you are, these cars are dang cute.

The Music Man curtain call

Here is Zach in the Music Man. He did an outstanding job! The whole play went really well. I can't believe how grown up he is.

Mike is always willing to help my mom with projects. He's such a good son-in-law. This mountain ash is dying (dead) and needs to be cut down. It used to be a beautiful tree when I was a kid. Mike is climbing it to determine how to cut it down while avoiding all the power lines on either side and the house in the back. I am ready to drive him to the emergency room.My big brave lumberjack.We were fortunate to have some good weather days while we were in Salt Lake. We went with my sister and her kids to the zoo to celebrate her birthday. Yes, Katie adores her cousin.
In an open display of childhood rebellion, this little monkey sat chewing on a twig. Would he get away with it?Nope, mom told him no chewing twigs for the last time. Now she would have to sit on his head. Monkey discipline.


Who doesn't love a baby elephant? Seriously, she's the cutest thing I have seen. My sister and I discussed stealing her but then we thought about the clean up and decided just to visit her now and then.

It was a great visit. We did so much in such a short period of time. My mom is doing pretty well. She is very tired. The treatment for this disease at times seems more harsh than the disease itself. She has just eight more treatments to go!

Then we got home just in time for the first day of Spring!

Happy Birthday Mike!

The kids love to make surprise parties for Mike's birthday. It was especially effective this year since we did it a week after his actual birthday. They put balloons all over the house and helped me make a robot/princess cake. Since Katie and Tommy have had split cake designs a couple of times this must be what they consider normal. When Mike came home from a trip, we had all the lights out and were hiding. Tommy was in a big box with a bow on it. They jumped out and yelled, "Surprise, Happy Birthday!" We gave him a few presents and Katie made him a bunch of cards. She still loves to paint and draw and make all kinds of crafts. One present that Katie gave him was a few toys from her room that she put in a pink unicorn bag. She has such a sweet heart. Tommy has gotten him Bionicles in the past. This year he said, "I get too distracted with those and I think they're mine so let's not get him one this year." He really is a clever kid.

Katie is taking dance lessons. She loves it! Katie made this candy necklace and she wanted to take it to Utah to show her grandmas. Then she decided she couldn't wait to eat it so she asked me to just take a picture to show them.Practicing for the surprise party.

McDonald's Playland

I took the kids to McDonald's for lunch so they could play and not just so I could eat fries. I had a salad as matter of fact and I only ate the fries they didn't eat...which was most of them. Anyway, when it's cold outside I still want the kids to play. They had a great time. Tommy was the biggest kid there so he quickly recruited the kids into being his minions. It's very entertaining to watch the political hierarchy that kids develop almost instantly when they play. It reminded me of the time we went to Chick-fil-A (dang we eat out a lot) and I noticed all the kids in the play area were sitting on the benches. Were they in time out? No, one boy was laying out the strategy for them. He was a young Patten and had the full attention of every child there. When his plan was delivered, he gave the signal to execute and they all leaped into action. Today, Tommy was that boy. The kids eagerly followed his plan whether they were transformers or flying on an airplane. One brave and maybe not so bright little boy thought it would be a good idea to hit everyone and make them cry. He hit the little boy whose mother was sitting next to me, and...made him cry. Later, he hit Tommy in the face. I thought, "oh, little boy, what are you thinking?!" Sure enough, Tommy waited until he and this little would-be bully were framed in the opening of the play land for all to see and punched him in the face (how about a little discretion next time Tom). An older woman who hadn't seen the first fight was visibly shocked. She looked around and asked, "what was that all about?" I was afraid she was with this little "victim". But she wasn't. The lady next to me (the one with the son who had been attacked earlier by this same kid) all but applauded. She whispered to me, "that was a good hit". The little boy's dad had luckily been sitting in the area outside of the playground and missed the whole thing. His son told him that Tommy had hit him and his dad politely laughed and said it was an accident. It was not an accident. At all. I know that a lot of moms and especially people who are child educators would frown on this whole incident. Children should use their words to resolve conflict. Usually I agree but I also think that children should be allowed to relish the sweet age when a good punch in the face may not result in a lawsuit. I have associates that I wouldn't mind punching in the face...but I can't. Why should I deny my child that right which is his for only a little while longer? Yes kids should play nicely but even when this little boy continued to hit Tommy in the face later, it was very hard for me to not shout, "kick his butt Tommy!" This may all be because I just read The Three Musketeers too. I really want to carry a sword and use it to resolve conflicts. These men were gentlemanly and civilized, they just happened to realize that a duel was an effective way to settle a disagreement. They knew it, kids know it now, let's not inhibit them anymore!

Mom & Blake updates

I went out to Utah last week to go with my mom to her third chemotherapy treatment. She has lost her hair now but remains beautiful. I am very thankful for my husband's job which allows me to fly for free. I was able to fly out Sunday night and come back Tuesday night after her treatment. I was even able to spend a little bit of time with my sister and her family and with Mike's mom. It was a very quick trip but I am so glad I went. I continue to be impressed with my mom's caregivers. I was thinking how nice it would be to work there. Every person is committed to helping people and showing kindness. My mom has one more treatment with this medicine and then she will have four treatments of a different blend. Many patients say this next round is more tolerable. I hope that will be the case for my mom. She is very exhausted but remains in good spirits.
Mike was finally able to speak to his friend Blake on the phone this week. He sounded wonderful! He sounds very happy and hopes to be transferred to San Diego soon where he will be close to family and friends. He will continue rehabilitation for the foreseeable future. We still hope to be able to see him sometime.

Story Time with Katie