Baseball!

On Saturday we took the smalls to a Giants game. I love AT&T park! It is just so fun to watch a game and watch the water at the same time. At the risk of using the word "love" too much, I have to say I love living in the San Francisco Bay Area! It's a win.

I mean, just look at that!
Sail boats from the American Cup were also in the bay and I couldn't resist taking some pics. They were actually sailing around really fast, it was so cool.

I tried playing around with some photo filters on these pictures of the kids and Marc. They are just such cute models-I love them too. 

And Robby, I love Jonathan's best friend Robby. Mostly because he had five bucks with him to get across the bay bridge (we are lame) and we could pay him back, literally, with peanuts when we got to the stadium.

Painting Impossible

A few weeks ago I posted about painting our house. Now everywhere I go people ask me how it's going. You too, may want to ask me about that.

And I would have to tell you, "Sheesh, don't pressure me! It's not done okay? We can't hardly get a Saturday to work on it."

And then you might say, "Good grief Shelley, who spit in your bean curds?"

And then I would have to admit that I'm kind of frustrated because we have come to a bit of an impasse when it comes to our trim color. We have five different colors under consideration and we, meaning Marc and I, can't quite agree on which we like best. We're not fighting-but we're also not painting.

Want to see?

This is a picture of the patio side of the house with a few samples of the green paints we were trying to choose from.

Here it is again after Marc sprayed it with the winning green, "garden sage" from Sherwin Williams. We did finish prepping and spraying the whole house. Honestly, prepping was the largest part of the job. If I'd known how much work it was going to be I'm not sure I would have tried to tackle it.

Look how how much of the paint needed to be scraped on just that one little part! It was like that all over! Neither of my men look too pleased at this point. It got really hot up on that part of the roof.

Here are some of the trim colors we tried out:

What do you think of terra cotta or gold?

We both really like this sassy green (that's its real name), but we wonder if it will blend in with the whole house when you step back a bit?

I'm pretty fond of the black on the right,and Marc likes the bottle color on the left. Which one do you like?

Can you even see a difference? It doesn't matter I guess because I like the black and Marc thinks it's too harsh; he likes the bottle but I think it looks like faded black. Impasse!

I think we'll mess around with painting out a whole window with the sassy green and see how it looks. We're also still trying to figure out what color to paint the front door and porch trim.

Can I just say "Aaaaarrrrrrggggg?" All ideas and recommendations are so very very welcome. Help, please.

Sticker Shock Road Trip

In front of the Chapman Library

News flash: it turns out that not all of your, or my, children are going to go to BYU, otherwise known as the biggest bang for your buck. With that in mind Marc and I set out with Katie and her friend Jillian for a quickie tour of some small, private, lovely (expensive!) universities in southern California last weekend. They were schools that the girls really wanted to see.

Of note: Highway 5 is still under construction and is an ugly drive. The scenery continues to get more glum as fewer farms boarder the freeway.

The first school we visited was the University of Redlands. It was small, private, lovely, and EXPENSIVE! Then we went to Chapman University which was more lovely, private, EXPENSIVE and small. All and all we discovered that Marc and I need to plant a money tree in the backyard before we go to bed tonight.

We did have a chance to visit with the dean of admissions at Redlands and he was very positive and encouraging about financial aid. I'm not sure if this is just a trick to get us to apply and get our $50 application fee or if there is actually hope. 

We intended to visit UC Santa Cruz on our way home but we were delayed by the wicked highway 5 construction, which, incidentally, involves lengthy stretches of one lane stop and go traffic but no actual construction workers or *gasp with surprise* construction. I'm not bitter. We will have to swing that another weekend.

So, to sum up, we had a fun time with the girls, Marc and I have a lot to think and worry about... and to paraphrase Phil Dumfy, "Worst case scenario, all four go to college."

Sophomore Already

Maddie just drove off into the wild, (Big) blue sunset. She's on her way to her second year at BYU and although it is hard to say goodbye it is nowhere near as agonizing as it was last year.

She is going to be a Resident Assistant, which, cha-ching, pays for her room and board, and made it possible for Marc and I to buy her a bright red Toyota Prius. We feel like such good parents, really. 

My only concern is that she will be overwhelmed caring for the 38 girls she will be responsible for. I have had her practicing this mantra all summer, "Their problems are not my problems. I cannot solve their problems. I am a gateway to counseling." Let's hope she remembers her mom's sage counsel, although my Dad laughed when he heard her mantra. He said I was raised by my mom and Maddie was raised by me and that's just funny.

Whatever.

It Goes with Everything

Yesterday I cleaned my room. And tried to catch up on house type chores like washing clothes, folding clothes, and putting clothes away. Ah, dear laundry, so much goes into being dressed.

I also had time with Ellie. Last week was so busy that even when I was home I wasn't plugged into my  kids the way I usually try to be. So she had a LOT of talking to do-making up for lost time and whatnot. On a side note, once she asked me, "Mommy, if you die and go to heaven will you still be able to hear every single thing I say to you?" and Marc whispered, "It depends on if she's in heaven or not." Such is Ellie's need to keep me apprised of all things she is thinking.

So here are some of the gems I got to enjoy today.

When we were in the car on our way to Trader Joe's she said, "Mommy, did you know some people think that the sun is alive?"
"No," I said, "Some pretend people on Doctor Who thought that the sun was alive."
"Right," she answered, "But the people who made up Doctor Who thought it."

Later we were at the mall and when we walked past Abercrombie and Fitch she asked, "Mommy? What is that place?" "It's a clothing store," I said. "Then why does it look so much like a club?" she wondered. "I don't know," I answered, "Maybe it's so people feel like they are part of a special club when they shop there."
"That's dumb," she decided, "Anyone can go in. It's not that special."

Right on I thought.

We were at the mall because Ellie got her ears pierced for her birthday and now she has had the earrings in long enough that she can take out the original cubic zirconium studs and get fun ones from Claire's. She has been living for this day, I tell you what. 

So we were at Claire's. Looking at earrings. Lots and lots of earrings. For a really long time. And I was oohing and ahhing over all of the cute little animals, and peace signs, and butterflies when she exclaimed from the front of the store, "I FOUND THE ONES!" 
"You did?" I said, "What are they?"
"They are DONUTS and they have GOOGLY EYES and they are so CUTE and I LOVE THEM!" she told me excitedly.

So we bought them and put them in her ears right there in the store.

It's a donut. With google eyes.

And it just made me happy, listening to her all day today...in a way, it is heaven.

Remembering a Long Week

This past week has been long and hard. I hate writing about serious things, but I cannot move on here without saying how much I love Eleanor Lyon and her beautiful children. 

On July 27th Matt Lyon, her husband and the Bishop of my ward (church congregation), passed away while hiking in the high Sierras. He was on his way to meet Jonathan's Boy Scout troop on their 30 mile hike.

We've spent the past week grieving, praying, planning. Jonathan has hung on tight to Connor, the Lyon's oldest son, and had him over several times. Maddie and Katie have helped me prepare meals and plan for the memorial service and family lunch, each slipping into the car with me as I drive to Eleanor's, anxious to hug their previous Young Women's President.

Marc and I lie in bed at night and make whispered promises that we will always be there for the Lyon family. I think that promise has been made hundreds of times in hundreds of hearts by people who love Matt and are so grateful for his loving service and friendship. 

Saturday was the funeral and memorial service.
Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting.
How can our hearts hold so much sorrow, love, and hope at the same time? 

I love you Eleanor. I love you Bishop Lyon. Thank you for everything, even this time to remember our Savior and recognize His angels all around us. 

If you'd like to leave a message for the Lyon Family, help with meals, or find other ways to serve please visit this website: http://www.lyonfoundation.com/