SLC

My photos are in random order because I'm having problems with getting them organized. . . . Anyway, we are in SLC right now and the kids are being totally spoiled by their grandparents (and it's definitely in a good way). The blow up slide (above) belongs to Grandma Pat and Grandpa Jim and they take it out whenever Soren asks. Grandpa takes Dahlia on endless walks to see the horses, kitties and dogs and she has really bonded with him. Their garden is in bloom and black berries and tomatoes are gathered almost daily (along with ample zucchini). I was going to make zucchini bread last night and I'm not sure how that slipped from my mind. . . . today is another day.

The pictures of the kids with their Grandparents were taken at picnic we had in the mountains where the kids got to hold a garden snake! Both of them! Yes, little Dahlia was not going to let that opportunity pass. What am I going to do with this fearless wee darling? She loves holding bugs and petting animals. . . We also went to the Hogle Zoo and that was a fun adventure. Cats! Our family loves cats and it was so fun to see the leopard in the photo above. Soren was a fan. And speaking of cats Grandma and Grandpa Monson have a neighbor with a funny cat who sneaks into their back yard (and other backyards nearby) and gathers things to take home to her human. Sometime yesterday or this morning she found Soren's swimming shorts and brought the booty back to her queen. We got them back this morning. That was our delightful story for the morning. I just love that cat for it's quirkiness and Soren thought it was too funny.

The photos I promised

Happy 91st Birthday Grandma! We had a wonderful time celebrating with you at your lovely home.

One of my favorite parts of the house is this darling fountain and the tiles with her name and our family name.

Uncle Wally and Dahlia

My sister Francie, my Grandma, and my sister-in-law Natalia

Little Dahlia giving cuddles to Great Grandma--A perfect way to end the evening.

My Grandma turned 91 today and we had a wonderful time with her tonight. I can't wait to share some of the lovely photos we took with her. As we were leaving and saying our goodbyes Dahlia gave her wonderful hugs and kisses and patted and stroked her beautiful hair. My sister Francie captured it with her camera so I'll post it soon. It was such a special moment.

And like always the whole evening was magical with beautiful flowers, greenery, fruits and vegetables growing all around us in abundance. The kids came home with raspberries and blackberries and some of her homemade jam. This year I'm going to make it with her and Soren is tickled that he gets to help too! Photos are coming! I promise you'll love them. Her home is like an Italian or Spanish villa. Part of my heart is always there and this became very clear to me while we were in Scotland. My heart grows as I age and I have pieces of diverse places in it or maybe I should say I take pieces and put them in my heart so that they are always with me. Maybe it's a bit of both.

I was sitting next to Soren in the car and he was sleepy and getting ready for our drive home. He asked if he could use my sweatshirt to cover his legs and I said, "sure". Then he said, "you look better spotted anyway"--I was wearing a polka dot dress! I thought that was an adorable way of putting it and also getting what he wanted.

Georgia and Peaches

I heart both.

So many people I know have just had little babies (peaches). It makes me feel goodness in the world.

Here are my peaches. xo

Tonight as I was tucking Soren into bed I asked him to tell me about a superhero movie that he liked. He's was really excited and I could tell the wheels were turning in his mind. Then he said, "OK, I'm going to start from the very middle." He's awesome.

Jason and Dahlia found a mama bird and babies in nest last week. We go and say "hi" from time to time. Yesterday after visiting the babies Soren said, "I wish I could jump up there and hug them all." At night the fireflies come out. I'd never seen them before and they are so magical and fleeting. You see them and then they're gone.

Hello, I'm still here. . .somewhere. I'm not in Glasgow anymore. I'll have to post more on that later. Moving was very hard on me emotionally. I grew to love that rainy city with so many kind people, my children's friends and the wonderful dance connections I made and the work I did. I cried often about leaving while we were packing and saying good byes. So, I'll save "the move" for another day. BUT, if anything can cheer me up it's my sister Charla and I'm with her right now in Georgia.

I'm not on facebook anymore. Maybe I'll do it again one day but not now.

I dyed my hair blonde but it's kind of gold. . .it's interesting.

I haven't taken many photos but my sister Charla has some cute pics of the kids and posted them here.

and a peacock

Need I say anything? Seriously. She's 1 going on 5. I love my chidren more than I can say.
I was telling Soren that I was proud of him the other day and he said ". . .and I love Dahlia. Dahlia is my jewel."
. . .and just to keep it real. They have some good arguments too. I think I captured this one about a month ago.




Soren made this Peacock today while I was at the computer. I love it and thought it needed to be seen. . . xo

My little Soren turned 5 yesterday. Here are five awesomely awesome things he's said lately:

1-Let's call Dahlia "Little Rico".

2-Monkey is actually bad in Kung Fu Panda. He's fantastically bad.

3-I'm being an artist right now. I can create beautiful things. Things from the earth. I'm being so create-able.

4-Dahlia, I think you're missing the point.

5-(This one is funny if you've seen the movie "All Dogs go to Heaven") You can't keep a good dog down. . .(shakes his head) You can't keep a good dog down.

I love my little boy!

On to Baking............

I think I've actually gone a bit crazy and you'd believe me if you knew how many times I've made Pear Polenta cake not to mention the Dutch Apple and Chocolate cakes (and Jason doesn't mind). . .It's been my therapy through the stress and cold.

Le Torte:

Pear Polenta dream

Dutch Apple Muffins and more Polenta Cake

Cake's I made on Valentines Day for my true love

Soren's Chocolate Fudge cake

Tea for one is so much fun. . .

I took this photo today.

I found this in the kitchen one day.

I'm happy.

. . .I almost forgot to post that Jason and I went out on a date last night! Don't we look happy?. .

PS. I did a guest post for Dance Advantage and you can check it out here.

I have a lot to catch up on. . . I'm not sure where to begin so I'm going to just start and see where I end up with this post.

We took a wonderful trip to the States and I've missed family so much that it was hard to come back (more about our trip later). Soren has sprouted up and grown out of many of his clothes and when I weighed him at his Grandma's house he was 43 pounds. Dahlia was 21.5 pounds and I thought that it was so cute that she was exactly half of his weight (it also helped me remember for blogging purposes). Dahlia has 11 teeth now and I hope she's taking a break because I sure need some restful sleep and I know her Daddy wouldn't mind either. The two year bottom molars were beastly (not to mention her double ear infections and eye infection). She's all better now. Now I just need to make sure Jason is well for his big week!! He's flying to California to present a lecture on Globalization, Buddhism and Ethics.

I am enjoying so much my 4 year old's company. He is such a delight and so creative. His fifth birthday is around the corner and he has started some annoying games that come with the territory. Do you know the game where someone copies EVERYTHING you say? Well Soren's pretty good at it. I decided to beat him at his own game a while back. I know, I'm really mature. So, anyway, while he was copying me I said, "Hi, I'm Soren and I don't like chocolate." After he repeated it he waited a few seconds and said in a commanding voice, "You made a fool of me." It was so funny.

My sister got Soren this really cool book called The Usborne Book of Art Projects. It's fantastic. Yesterday we were looking through it and picked out this extra cool fish design with fish made from kitchen foil. When we went to start it I realized we didn't have any foil. . .but I did have a gold foil from a dark chocolate bar. We made gold fish. We also had to improvise with the ocean so I cut out blue squares of magazine paper to make a collage ocean for our regal fish. . .in the end it was pretty different from the original instructions but it was so much fun and the original was our inspiration. I love doing projects using bits and bobs from around the house. Soren was thoroughly excited for his Dad to see it and said he would like it so much he'd "rip his eyes out." Things that make me go hmmm.

Sofia, Zoe and Soren at his friend Sofia's Brithday Party

La mama della festa with beautiful Giulia

Dahlia and her cousin Emilia