hoping

ragamuffin Ashton

A couple of years ago, if you had told me that my sweet baby Ash would be a bit of a terror and Johnny would be saintly, I would've laughed in your face. Hard.

I'm not gonna lie, Johnny was a handful. And then some.

When Alan lived up in Utah during the week and I was alone in AZ with the kids trying to sell our home, Johnny tried my patience to no end. He was THAT KID that yelled at his sweet, sweet mother in the grocery store, ran into the street 2 seconds after you asked him not to, and threw his toys at the door when in time out in his room. He also had this smirk (still kinda does) when being reprimanded. That one was difficult.

And then there was Ash, so sweet and lovable. Easy as a Sunday morning.

My how the years have changed my darling boys. Johnny is a genuinely good boy. He cleans up after himself, does chores after ONE asking, gives lots of awesome hugs, rarely complains during long shopping trips, AND says "bless you" when I sneeze. (obviously, this is most of the time, not always)

Johnny helping make bread

Johnny doing his daily chore of unloading the dishwasher

Now my once-sweet Ash is not afraid of strangers, berating his mother, running away, yelling in public places, throwing his cup of milk when it is in the wrong cup, refusing to help clean up, hitting his siblings, etc.

I just like to ignore his bad behaviors and look at Johnny with hope for Ash. I'm thinking it's a stage, but I can never be sure. Maybe God gave me two years of the sweetest baby boy in the world to fill my cup for the subsequent 16 naughty years. I'm hoping that's not the case.

Regardless, I know I'll have years of laughter with this crazy nut of a kid. Ash does keep us laughing.

Please give me a daughter! ;)

Blame it on the Boogie

This last week chez nous, we've been playing a lot of Michael Jackson and trying to "teach" our kids about him and the huge icon he was and will now be. We explain to Maggie that he is probably the Hannah Montana or Jonas Brothers of our youth... but bigger and more talented.

I mean, really. When Michael had a new music video come out, it was HUGE news. We'd watch the Super Bowl just to catch the 15 minutes of Jackson singing, dancing and "woohoo"ing. Even if it included Eddie Murphy and Magic Johnson.

The kids love watching his music videos, even though they are admittedly confused at how different he looks each time. From the Jackson 5 to more modern videos, I nod my head knowingly at their confusion, but his transformations were so part of pop culture and his intrigue (however disturbing), that it somehow became a part of me. But I can imagine seeing his metamorphosis over a week's period could be unsettling for anyone.

If you would have asked me a month ago what my favorite Michael Jackson song was (and you know you would have asked), I probably would have said "The Way You Make Me Feel" or "Black or White" or even "Heal the World" if I was feeling more altruistic. But this week's inquiry has changed me forever. There are many great songs, many memorable songs, many nostalgic songs, but this is our family's new favorite Michael Jackson song, enjoy:

fhe in draper

Monday night we headed to historic Draper to listen to some free live music, eat some pizza, and enjoy the weather.

thanks for the heads up, Sarah!

utah arts

Saturday we headed up to Salt Lake City for the Utah Arts Festival at the City/County Building and City Library. I've always loved the City/County Building (pictured below)! The place was hoppin'!

Gotta stop for some huge french fries

dance and music on stages throughout the festival
we sat and boogied to this jazz ensemble with the coolest 90-something piano player we've ever heard.

Maggie and Johnny got to make a couple of creations to add to the huge kids art sculpture and one to take home.

I think next year we'll keep this kid at home!

friday flick

OK, so I know I am slightly more emotional than usual due to the extra hormones coursing through my body... but I sobbed while watching this (and the subsequent three). I think I would have normally teared up, but no -- I sobbed. I'm pretty sure my kids were worried and my explanation that I "was touched" didn't quell their anxiety over seeing me weep over a short movie message.

It's just awesome to see awesome people, don't you think?



via lds.org

Go Johnny Go

Johnny swims now. We are proud. He is good.

Good Job, John.

Haggis, my friends

I love summer and the re-introduction of festivals, outdoor concerts, farmers markets and art strolls galore. A veritable Summer Festivus!

This year we were able to try out the Scottish Festival for the first time. You see, Macfarlane is a Scottish name, believe it or not. And the Macfarlane Clan takes their Scottish ancestry very seriously. So, it was high time we attended a festival. Considering it was held about 2 miles from our home made it exceptionally easy.

(seriously, what's a festival without a fairy painted on your face?)

Alan got to try haggis for the first time, and he was complaining of the taste in his mouth for about 48 hours following his maiden culinary voyage. You can read all about his adventure HERE.

(I think he is smelling here. I think.)

It rained pretty fierce on the Scotsmen tents and cleared out the festival for a few hours. We braved the storms, and agreed that the damp atmosphere added to the genuine Scottish flavor. The constant bagpipes playing throughout and the raucous celtic fiddling definitely added to the ambience.

(revelers running in the rain)

(Aunt Sarah warming many children from the chill of the rain)

Good times!

(Johnny proudly defending the clan crest and motto)

Let the festivals continue until we close in the fall with our other ancestral celebration: the Greek Festival!!

backyard adventures

A couple of Sundays ago, my parents invited us over to their casa to check out the poppy fields "in their backyard" (or near). We piled into my Dad's pickup and checked out the gorgeous scenery. I gotta say, it was pretty remarkable.



The kids all agreed that riding in the back of the truck was the highlight. Ahh, innocence of youth.

Oh, and YES, for those of you who questioned the congratulations on the Father's Day tribute cheesefest, we are indeed expecting our fourth child. Thank you. If that's the only way I can get some comments on my blog, I may announce it every week!! ;)

Schmoopy Schmooperton Coming Through

I think I am a pretty lovable, funny, caring, smart, awesome, witty, unique, cool person. And I know only a few people who would disagree with me. It wasn't until I was the ripe old age of 20 that I met my equal. All other men (and let's be honest, boys) that crossed my path before HIM were my inferiors. I'm just sayin'. Suddenly with Big Al I realized I had never laughed with someone as much. Naturally, all other suitors had laughed at my clever lines, and occasionally they were so loud and overbearing that I only had the chance to laugh (occasionally) at them. But, we were equally yoked in wittiness and fun.

And then there was the SMARTS factor. Without taking away all of my pride of intellect, there have been a few occasions when I was actually wrong, and HE was correct. Shocking, but true. I can't think of another man (fathers and teachers aside), where this has occurred. Even in the class where we first met, it was obvious that we were equals (if you don't count my blatant ignorance of the word "lush" as in boozed).

Don't get me started on handsomeness. There are days when I am sure he is the more handsome one. And then there are the times when I give him a compliment and he acts as if it is understood (please, just pretend you are humbled at the idea of your beauty, for my sake). I'll just keep telling him that he married up, and that most women are veritable beasts without their makeup on... unlike yours truly, of course!

But the kicker is, I could have never imagined that he would have been as wonderful and caring as a father. I hoped, of course, but you just never know. And almost eight years ago, I saw how much he cared for our children. How he would wake up with the babies overnight, even though he is the one who has to go into work the next morning. How, as a father, he may gag while changing diapers and loudly express his disgust at a child's vomit that has not made it into a toilet bowl, he still cleans it up, changes it out, helps us all.

I remain amazed at how he can turn bedtime into a 30-minute story session. I cannot match his made-up novellas with recurring characters, nor his patience in plowing through books written by Roald Dahl and John Bellairs. My bedtime routine pales in comparison and it is no wonder the children prefer him at night.


It's really way more fun to have a spouse who loves holidays as much as you do. It may make our kids think that everyone has this much fun, but we don't mind raising optimists. Can you imagine--a father who would rather go to a festival than golf, or mow the lawn, or watch some obscure game on the tv? Pretty dreamy.

But don' t think it's all fun and games for Big Al the Dad. He also teaches our children to work hard, scrub toilets, clean dishes after dinner, mow the lawn (when we had a lawn), organize the basement, etc. And I have to say, his service to others in the work-hard department is the best example to our kids. They will remember that many Saturdays Dad was gone to help people move, that he never said "no" to helping neighbors and strangers, and that he worked hard to provide for us.


Yes, I am completely grateful for an equal who loves me and our children. I am entirely thankful that he is patient when I am not, happy when I am sad, kind when I am irritated, awake when I am asleep (to help the kids), and working so I can be home. How did I get so lucky? What did our kids do in heaven to deserve this man as a father?

Happy Father's Day, Alan! I am so glad you are mine and ours, and that you will get to show one more kid how lucky they are!

Love,
Anna

End of the School Year

Good times!

Maggie is on the very left, middle in pink rain jacket!

Field trips, Dance Festivals (don't ask, I still don't understand its purpose), "Graduations", etc!

Johnny is in the green shirt and blue plaid shorts.
(yes, I let him dress himself AND do his own hair!)

Ashton's birthday celebration

Ash's birthday fell on Memorial Day this year and everyone was home to celebrate. We drove up north, grabbed some donuts, and headed to the more diverse Liberty Park (I don't recall even seeing ONE blond mother... crazy!).


The kids played, we ate, walked over to Tracy Aviary and watched the birds. Ashton loved it, and that's all that matters on birthdays!



After a lunch of burger, fries, and shakes, we headed home to rest. Then it was time for cupcakes and presents. It was a great celebration of our baby boy!


yes, I realize it is sideways, but I am admittedly too lazy to figure out how to turn it. Cheers!

story of my life

via brownbutton

I can HARDLY wait...

I can't stop playing this video, I am so excited for the release of this album! I'm also pleased as punch to be getting Rhett Miller's new album (SIGNED, I might add) in the mail in about a week.

It's going to be a beautiful June full of LOVELY new tunes.

Thank you, Regina, I need this!

Dance Anthem of the 80s

Happy Birthday, Mr. Sizzles!

Our Ashton! We love you so much and cannot believe how much you have matured over the last few months. You talk and act like such a big kid now, you must be THREE! You came into the world a little later than we had hoped, and a bit more painfully than your siblings, but you are always worth the wait.

You were a great baby, and I mean GREAT! You were so sweet to everyone. Even as a toddler, you would go to almost anyone and give them hugs and loves. Pretty dang cute. This last year has brought on a bit more sass, but you still like to snuggle and hug.

This last year you love CARS, balls, dogs, swings, slides, and dinosaurs... but mostly cars. Madly in love with cars. You are rarely spotted without a car planted firmly in each hand. It's all about the cars.

And you are crazy funny. Wickedly witty for such a young'in. Can't wait to see what this third year brings, Ash. We love you so a-mutch!

Grace-lynn

So, I found out while at the actual Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee, that the "correct" way to pronounce the hallowed living space of the King is "Grace-lynn", not the more obvious "Grace-land". And the faster you say "Grace-lynn" (with less emphasis on the "lynn"), the more native you will appear.

You're welcome.

Yeah, Paul Simon was WAY off in his pronunciation, but kinda dead on with his observation that "poor boys and pilgrims with families" were all there in Graceland. Quite an interesting and eclectic group of humans all willing to pay the minimum $30 (up to $90) to tour a portion of a deceased, disturbed, prolific, fascinating rockstar's old home and grave site. I still can't quite explain how baffling the whole thing is to me. Baffling.

I know. Just to prove I was in Elvis' kitchen. not my best.

I'm glad I got to go. It was all part of a whirlwind weekend that included a day in Arizona playing with my niece Brownyn, lunch with some sisters, and a party that celebrated the reason I went:

This scrumptious kid getting sealed to his family forever. Awesome.

And then I was able to fly to Memphis to hang out with my parents and see my cousin get married.

cousin Jayme and her husband Josh (pic stolen--sorry!)

Thanks to my brother for my plane ticket, my parents for my OWN hotel room, and my husband for taking care of the kids for FOUR days! I'm pretty spoiled.