The Night of All the Boys I've Ever "Dated"

Funny Story. I had my jazz concert on Tuesday night. In attendance was my new special friend, Joel Simmons. If mom hasn't gone into depth about said Joel, ask her to. For a brief description, he is 6 foot 1 inch (excellent), and very cute. He has reddish brown hair (sorry mom), and is strikingly reminiscent of David and Steve Low. He's from southern California (hooray Anna) and is super-duper cool. Being my special friend, I rather like Joel, and Joel rather likes me. So after the concert on Tuesday, which went swimmingly p.s., I went to Wendy's with a bunch of kids. But as I was leaving to go, I got a call from coolest kid ever, Graham Ward. I quickly informed Graham that I didn't have time to talk just then, but that he should call me later. [one down, two to go]. While at Wendy's I received a call from a certain Joey Riser, located in Salt Lake City. I missed the call, but got the message, expressing his desire to come down to Provo this weekend (assumedly for my birthday). Chuckling to myself of all the interesting phone calls, Joel and I set out to the dollar theatre (he paid) to see STEALTH. Possibly the worst movie ever made. It was so bad, that we laughed the whole time - thoroughly enjoyable. But that's not the point. The point is, working at the Dollar Theatre, I ran into none other than Shane Andersen. I almost died it was so funny. So that was my fantastic evening encountering all the boys I've ever dated. I told Joel, and he though it was pretty. Actually, he laughed for about two minutes . Not kidding. And two minutes is a long time when someone is on the ground laughing the whole time. Just thought I'd share with the class, hope you enjoyed this charming little anecdote.

Lake Waban

I was taking a walk the other day, i pod in stow, and was just overcome by the beauty of Wellesley's little lake, Lake Waban (wah' bin). Fortunately for all of us, I happened to have my phone on me so I could capture the moment. I think that Lake Waban is such a plain name for this here body of water. From hence forth, I shall call it the Lake of Shimmering Waters.*
The photo on top is so that you can see the lake. The photo in front is so that you get a sense of scale - just kidding; it's to prove that my smirk and I were really there. Sorry they're a little white - it was a cloudy day and I guess the camera overcompensated.

* if you didn't get this Anne of Green Gables reference, shame on you.

Clarke's First Sugar Cookie Truck

Yesterday Clarke and I made sugar cookies. He was very cute about it and tried to be very precise in rolling the dough to a perfect thickness. In all honesty his cookies always looked better than mine, which were a bit more lopsided. They all tasted great though, and I had a hard time frosting them without eating them. (Being on a high sugar, high fat, high carbs diet has its definite perks!) But Clarke made me promise to leave enough to still deliver them to people in our ward (he just failed to mention the least amount you can deliver on a plate and not look lame.) Clarke and I made sugar cookies to use the awesome set of 100 cookie cutters we got for our wedding - a totally useful present. Clarke made a truck, amongst our other shapes, which he was very proud of. We still have about 93 cookie cutters left to use, so there will probably be a lot of sugar cookies this season.

On a different note, I am beginning to change my mind about Boston. Walking around in the crisp autumn weather makes me think I will never want to leave this place. I have never lived anywhere so beautiful during fall. Coming from California, I thought Utah falls were amazing, which they are, but this is the mecca of fall weather! It is gorgeous! Today, as I was walking through Harvard Yard to get to class I looked up at the bright red and golden leaves and the historic brick buildings and thought "This is so cool." (very eloquent, I know) But I am finally really, really glad we are here.

Daily Quote

In reading my brother's email (he's on a mission in Belize), Clarke and I were really touched by one of his lines. Luckily, it was also intelligible English (sometimes his emails are not - more a mixture of Spanish and English) so we thought we could share it on the blog.

In talking about missions he said, "It never gets easy, it just gets easier."

Clarke and I felt how much this applies to mortality in general. As all of you know, it has been a trying summer for Clarke and I. After four months of being sick and flat- out with pain, I was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. I thought about blogging the top 10 best things about being in the hospital after our three day stint there; I couldn't come up with 2. So, no list, and I have decided to have all my kids at home. For those of you that don't know what Crohn's disease is - you can ask Aunt Jeananne who has been reading the book Gordon got for me, that I left at Laurie and Gordon's until I can handle reading all the details of my disease. But what I do know is that it is an intestinal inflammation problem, an auto-immune disease. My body has attacked part of my small intestine, making it hard for me to digest food and causing stomach cramping, fevers, fatigue, weight loss (lots) and other GI problems. The good news is, there is medicine and diet control to help me recover and live a normal life. However, it is a slow, slow process and takes about four months of recovery. I start school this week part-time and hope to gain strength each day.

Clarke and I have spent many, many hours hanging out in our apartment - reading and watching movies, since I have to rest quite a bit. I have made a lot of progress though. It is more like a roller coaster recovery than a climb back up to the top - some days are better than others. My dad came out for 11 days to take care of me while Clarke started school. Laurie and Gordon win in-laws of the century award for all the help they have given and will have to continue to give. We feel so, so blessed to have so many people praying and helping us.

So, when we heard this quote, we thought of its truthfulness for us and for everyone (because as Elder Eyring said, "When you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.") Although it has been a very hard five months, and we have been pushed to our knees over and over again, we have seen the hand of the Lord in our lives, and we cannot deny the "tender mercies" of the Lord that have made each day, not easy, but "easier." Clarke and I have loved the time we have gotten to spend together and the closeness it has brought us, the closeness it has brought us with all our family members, and the eternal perspective it has helped us gain. Of course, I lose this perspective every once in a while, but Clarke is an incredible husband and source of strength. We are grateful for so many things that have come from this trial, and most of all grateful for the Savior and a loving Father in Heaven.

Sorry for the un-funny blog. But on my hardest days, when I spend more time crying than not, I am so comforted by the faith and hope of others. We want you to know a little of what we have been doing this summer, and to know how we are now. We have been so blessed, and that we have made it this far is by no strength of our own. I cannot tell you how many hours I have spent on our couch staring at this framed quote we have in our living room (it was a great wedding gift) - "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome recreational activities." We cannot thank you enough for your examples. We love reading on the blog about your families, your activities and your strength. We are constantly amazed and grateful to be part of this family.

I want to be a super model!

My friend Krystal gave me a make-over last night - just for kicks. And then, convinced that she's quite the photog., she took a bunch of pictures with my camera phone. I just had to post them for you because I think that this soft poof is a good look for me. I should have lived with Louis XVI at Versailles. But I guess I wouldn't have been able to wear a navy polo shirt, and that's a shame.

B34 - the bathrooom. My room's right next door.

Happy MIT suicide prevention weekend to everyone!

I have to apologize for Clarke's lack of blogging as of late, but MIT has claimed his life (including sleeping hours) for the next four months, at least. He was told that that would be when the hazing eases up a bit. To help students get through those four months, they have made sure that there is one holiday every month. Thus, this weekend is a long, three-day weekend commonly called "MIT suicide prevention weekend." Of course, that doesn't mean you really get a vacation, just more homework and less class. Poor Clarke - good thing he loves chemical engineering.

No First Day of School For Me

Hello everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged. If it's any consolation, I'm a whole lot better about blogging than I am about e-mailing, journaling, or remembering all of your birthdays (I suck). I wish I could say that I've just been too busy, but that would simply not be true. This is the first September since I was 4 that I'm not going back to school as a student or teacher and it's freaking me out a little bit. Hearing about your first-day outfits and crappy student housing has made me nostalgic for school and that getting ramped up for the year feeling that Setpember always brings. But, then again, I do enjoy getting up at 9am or later.

I was just recently "promoted" from Relief Society secretary to the Enrichment Counsellor in our ward, so I've been figuring out quantity cooking (with mom's help of course) and worrying about my general lack of crafts skills (Amy-- I need you!).

I've attached some recent photos of Bennett to make up for my long break from blogging.

Photo 1: Bennett's first day of jeans. I guess I should have put these on a little earlier seeing as he's bursting out of them. Someone should tell him that stripes are not flattering for his body type.




Photo 2: Here is Bennett with his Nana at the Ranch in his only designer outfit (can you make out the Polo horse?)


















Photo 3: Showing off his tummy-time skills















Photo 4: Wearing the Christmas outfit from Mom and Dad after a BBQ in the pouring rain with Morgan's law firm.

















Photo 5: Bennet showing how good he is at standing and how much he wants the photo shoot to be over.











I will conclude this post by doing a family poll. Please let me know your opinion on the following: is it appropriate to knit during Sunday school at church? This is what a woman my age was doing last Sunday at our ward and I couldn't believe it. I suppose it would have been even more rude to take a picture of the knitter with my cell phone to prove to you all that it really happened. Am I just overreacting? Has the knitting craze become so widespread that it's considered as innocuous as note-taking? My hunch is that there's something about our ward that just invites such behaviour. We've seen two different people pull out complete sandwhiches during sacrament meeting (one ham and one peanut butter, if you're curious) as if it were a picnic! And, Heather, do I need to remind you about the involuntary bulimic at the Ward Stampede BBQ? Just wondering what the family thinks. Granted, it's no fecal matter in an Old Navy, but I thought it was blog-worthy.

A Blog for Amy

Everyone else is welcome to read this, but I wanted to tell Amy about one of my classes. Here is a hint:

My class is on the history of women's education in America. On the front cover of this book (one of many for the course) is a pictue of Wellesley girls marching in a parade for the right to vote. Here is a close-up of the picture - you can see the Wellesley banner (sorry for the poor quality). The book, of course, looks extensively at Wellesley and features some nice pictures of the Wellesley cycling club from 1893 and the chemistry club. It should be a very interesting course. I also have a class on the use of the historical novel in the classoom; the required books for the class are: Johnny Tremain, Sounder, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry. Pretty great reading list for a graduate course; and if I have any problems with the material, I am pretty sure my 10 year old sister read all these books last year in 4th grade and can help me out! I also included a picture of our new chair from Crate and Barrel, which nicely complements the lamp and bookshelf to create a little "reading corner" in our living room. Amy, you are welcome to come read your AS Byatt or Kierekegaard in our new reading corner.

A Tip!

Some of you may or may not know that this past Saturday was my last day of work at the florist's. Let me just say that it was an eventful last day. The best part of it was that I got my first and only tip of the summer. Two whole dollars! I was quite excited.

Back to School!

Wednesday morning we packed up his little Red Sox lunchbox, picked out his "first day of school" outfit and said goodbye to summer. Yes, Clarke is officially an MIT student - "the Institute" as he calls it. Although he did not have his pocket protector (we have to pick one up this weekend) Clarke felt confident for his first day. I will let him talk about his classes and such, but all I can say is that he looked great for his first day.

The other picture is the last memento from our summer adventures. Unfortunately, we did not take any pictures of playing Nintendo 64, hanging out on the couch or the hospital (the adventures of August), but this is a picture of us on a Duck Tour. We took one with my family when they were in town and really learned a lot about Boston. It was a beautiful day for cruising the Charles River in a WW II landing vehicle.

My shoebox of a room

I just had my first day of classes and I think that it's going to be a pretty interesting semester. Today, I had biological pyschology, Christian thought since 1500, and a literature class where we'll be looking at the Modernistss and Postmodernist's view of love. Clarke, Anna, and Mom helped me move in last Saturday to my room, which is room 328 in Pomeroy Hall (Pom. for short.) We also had some help from these girls that were raising money for the Hurricane Katrina victims. Mom said it was the easiest move that she's ever helped with; she didn't lift a thing.

Here are some photos of my beautiful room that I have all to myself.


The door on the left is the door to my closet, which is huge. Practically the same size as the rest of my room.






Here's my desk and tv. The Super Nintendo's tucked in where the keyboard would go.



Here's my window, out of which is one of the busiest roads ever and railway tracks for the comuter rail. Needless to say, it's pretty noisy. I had the window open last night to get some fresh air, and I'm pretty sure I woke up for every train passing.



My bed and my fridge.

So, the walls are lacking some serious decoration, but just give it time.

Oh, and this is a comic that a girl on the Multi -faith Council sent out last year. I don't know how many of you have seen it, but I thought it was pretty funny.

Bennett vs. Anna - The Weight Challenge

Bennett is truly an inspiration of weight gaining possibilities. Thus, I propose a little friendly competition - since I have to work on putting on weight for the next few months, and Bennett needs to continue climbing the charts of healthy development, we should place a little wager on who can gain more. Judging from recent pictures, I realize I may be setting myself up for a big loss, but it will give me something to strive for. May the best, I mean worst metabolism win.

EUREKA! BLOGGING!

I totally understand the wonderful world that is blogging. I know that I "poo-pooed" the idea at first, but now that I've been exiled from immediately family, I see the joy that is the blogg. College is great - well, yeah I guess it is. I just forgot that school sometimes means working. Karen and I are doing swell. We're the new Canadian cousins, greeted by shouts of "EH!" wherever we go. The ward is fantastic, and everyone is just so much fun. Our new project is decorating the dorm room walls - they are absolutely bare! But here, for your viewing enjoyement is a picture of my lovely bed and desk courtesy (as mom said ) of Bed Bath and Beyond. Never mind. I'm still having problems figuring out how to get pictures onto my blogg. If any one would care to leave a note at the end of this post, explaining how such a task is achieved, it would be greatly appreciated.
Today at about 4:00, I have call backs for Women's Choir. Yesterday I had call backs for Concert Choir, and they went really well. Whatever the director wanted out of me, she got almost immediately. So it was either, great your perfect and your in, or not a chance try you later. Either way, she seemed to make up her mind about me pretty quickly, so here's hoping for the best. It's great to get to see all my cousins so frequently! The other day I was in BYU bookstore when all of a sudden I was being full on hugged by some complete stranger! I was so confused until they released me and I saw it was Richard Low. He thought it was pretty funny; I thought it was pretty scary - and then Brian came out of nowhere! It was a cute little family reunion.
Hey Clarke - I hope that your first day of orientation was swell! I hope that it's jogged your memory and you now remember how school works (I remember you were nervous about that). Oh, and Anna, there's this girl in my French class who knows you! We had to bring in a picture of our family today and I brought in one that dad emailed me of Bennet's blessing. Anyways, this girl saw you and was like, that's your sister? I know her! I explained that she was the coolest sister-in-law ever, and she said that you were in her French class last year. Her name is Ashley, but she said she'd be surprised if you remembered her. Anyways, I've gotta run go do homework. Catch you guys later

Bennett and Seth - born 1 day apart

What I did over the Summer, er at the end of the summer

I had a great, though short, visit with Bennett, Beth and Morgan over the past weekend. After dropping Heather off at BYU I headed up to Canada. This picture was taken on Sunday. He really is the best baby ever! Very good natured and starting to do all kinds of fun things. Like shout. Beth and I were driving over to the Laycocks to visit Amanda and twins Seth and Eve. Bennett was happy and was just "talking loud" in his car seat. Really loud. There is talk that Morgan may have business here next week - if so Beth and Bennett might come. We hope so!


Heather is completely settled in Chipman Hall (the other side of the dorm from where Amy was - and thankfully on the first floor). We really had fun moving her in, though I must say that the first day was pretty tough. What with foraging (yep, foraging) through a woefully under-equpped WalMart (who'd a thought) and experiencing a major brain melt down (imagine Heather wandering around WalMart with a blank look trying to find a laundry basket). But thanks to Bed Bath and Beyond and especially our new fave TARGET she is organized and good to go (thank heaven for 4-skirt hangers!) The room is great - and all we need now is a PICTURE! Special kudo's to Heather for her courage and talent in the nerve-racking vocal try-outs, and making it to the final cut for both the Concert Choir (practically unheard of for a freshman) and the Women's Choir. She should know by the weekend. Good luck Heather.

It's great to be home - I'm going to be boxing up "stuff" as we anticipate moving out soon. Gordon is going great guns on completing the sewer design for the Conservation Board hearing next week. Yikes. I can't hardly imagine what will happen.

(I just heard from Beth - Bennett is teething! Two little buds on the bottom (I think). He was kinda drool-y, and loved to "chomp" on my finger when I was there.)