Inquiring Minds Want to Know ;)

7 yr. old Brookelle was feeling a bit under-the-weather, so she spent the good part of the day lying down in our bed - because she says we have the most comfy bed in the house (AND the fact that there's a T.V. in our room doesn't hurt, either, I bet! ;))
ANYWAY, she was just takin' it easy on our bed.

Then she started rearranging the pillows on our bed and she picked up one of our throw pillows, and looked at it.
Then she looked at it longer.
Then she turned it over and looked at the other side.
Then she wrinkled up her eyebrows and stared at it some more.

This is the pillow that we have on our bed that was in question:

 

FINALLY, she declared, "I don't get it!" 

I, seeing what pillow she was examining, played oblivious (she IS only 7 yrs. old!) and asked, "What?!?  It's a pillow." 
She replied, "I know.  But, I don't get it!"
Me: "It's a pillow with words on it.  Can you read it?"
B:  "Yes.  'Tonight.' (then turns it over) and 'Not Tonight'."  Why's THAT written on a pillow?  What does it mean?" 

At this point, some of her older siblings were in the room witnessing this and they start giggling, and getting a real kick out of the situation.  Then they start saying things like, "You'll find out when you're older" or "You don't need to know yet"....which only makes Brookelle more frustrated. 

Then Brookelle demands/half-whines [in her sickly state], "Tell me what it is!" 
So, then Matt explains, "When the pillow is on the 'Tonight' side, mom wants me to kiss her.  If it's on the 'Not Tonight' side, then I shouldn't kiss mom."
B: "What does it REALLY mean?"
Everyone: "That's what it means!"
B: "I still don't get it.  Because WHY would mom EVER put it on the 'Not Tonight' side?"
Matt: "My sentiments EXACTLY!"  

;)  

Make Sure You Have Plenty of Money, Can Hold in Your Laughter, and Don't Have to "Go"

...And other things I discovered on our "Christmas in NYC" vacation:

1. As I looked around, practically anywhere we went, but especially on the Subway, I was the only blonde.

Ya, I didn't look out of place, now, did I?  ;)

2.  Ice Skating is HARD!!

It kills your feet, calves, and bum.  When we first got on the rink, we were only able to make it HALFWAY around before we had to rest - seriously!  Then we worked up to one whole time around without stopping, then 1 1/2, and then two times around - if we went on the "inside track."  I figured it out; it had literally been 29 years since I had been ice skating!!!

(But, how can you NOT when you're in NYC at Christmas time?!?)

Matt tried a couple laps on his own to see if he could do it better/it was easier without me holding onto his hand........well, he wiped out!  I, on the other hand, never fell once.  I guess he knows now it'll NEVER be a good idea to ditch me!  haha.  ;)

Watching the zambonie is very relaxing, in comparison.  :)

3.  Their definition of money, is not the same as my definition of money.
As we got closer to Central Park, many bike carriages tried to solicit us.  The guy says, "Do you wanna ride?  It's almost FREE!"  Well....on the carriage was a sign advertising it was $3.00/minute.  So, if it takes a couple minutes to load up, and about 30 minutes to ride around the entire park, and another couple minutes to disembark....all of a sudden, "almost FREE" = $100!!
Also, as I was standing in line for the restroom (see #13 below) at Radio City Music Hall (BTW, it was the MEN'S restroom they'd opened up for all us women), I was chatting with the woman behind me in line.  She disclosed that she had paid $420 a ticket to bring her family to the show.  That was the EACH price, not the total price - and she had a family of 4 - she'd spent $1,800 (w/ taxes/fess) to come!!!   She said it was her anniversary, so she told her husband they WERE going to the city!
OK....#1 - the show IS spectacular (see #14 below), but I'm not sure it's worth that much money, and #2 - WHY are you bringing your little children on your anniversary??? 
(We were given our tickets, very generously, by one of Matt's business partners who's from the area.) 

4.  NYC really knows how to decorate it up for Christmas!

5. Thus, expect crowds this time of year! 

6.  ...And Security/Cops

(cops were all over in those yellow, reflective vests - other cops were guarding the street with big, military weapons)

See that cop (in the peaked cap) just right behind Matt?  

Well, 1.4 seconds AFTER I took this picture, he was right on me telling me to step down off that bench I had stood on to take the photo.  ;)    (otherwise I'm too short in those crowds!) 

 So, I guess you could say that I got in trouble with the law in NYC!?

7.  Apparently, I have a boutique in the city! 

8.  It takes 3 hours to get to church 

We looked on lds.org to find the nearest church (in Brooklyn) with the most convenient meeting times (i.e. NOT 9:00a.m.) and went there via bus, subway, and on foot.  When we got there, the gates were all closed up and not a person was in sight.  Matt called the Branch President who was listed on lds.org and found out that it had been their Stake Conference at a different building that day, and it was already over!
Really?!?
This has happened to us on a few separate occasions, when traveling, also.
What are the chances?!?
Well, I'll tell you, because I actually did the Math!  There's only a 3.8% chance that on any random Sunday, it would be Stake Conference.  (It's held twice a year).

So, then we got back on the Subway for 30+ minutes, then walked the rest of the way to this church building in upper Manhattan.

Aaahhh, being there, though, did help settle some of our frustrations from earlier in the day.

9.  Everyone claims they have "The Best Food in the City"

And they might be right!  :)

 {New York style pizza}

 {Mabo Dofu @ a Japanese restaurant}

 {NYC street food carts}

There's TONS of these around on many street corners, and they all serve similar food, yet each one claims there's "is the best."  
They don't want to lose you to one of their competitors, either.

While we were standing by this cart, he was filling another groups' order and it was taking some time, so we started looking at other carts to see if they had a wait.

This guy saw us "shopping around" and he kept trying to keep us there; since he made such a valiant effort, we ended up staying in line for his cart! :)

10.  There is some unique entertainment in the Subway

I texted my fluted-playing friend, who plays for free at church/community functions, that she should try it in NYC with her bag for people to drop money in instead!  

But, I'm not sure how lucrative that'd be; as you can see, he didn't exactly have a "captive audience."

I'd never before witnessed such a thing!  This guy literally pulls a speaker out of his back pack, plugs in his iPod, makes an announcement to our train that no one would get hurt, then the music starts and he proceeds to perform this circus act/break dance routine using all the poles and grab bars on the Subway.  *Notice how everyone is trying to ignore him!*  I just kept squeezing Matt's arm and given him a silent "look" while keeping a straight face.  Then he goes through with his hat out for people to put money into.  At the next stop, he leaves our car, and jumps into the next car....but along the way, gets into an "altercation" with some other young men who are demanding that THAT was their line to work!

11.  I have an instant adoration for missionaries 

And being with them, helped me feel close to my own missionary.

Our SIL's parents are serving a mission in New York, and they have the young missionaries over to dinner every Sunday - and they invited us there, as well.

It was so fun to be among them!

 Our spirits were definitely lifted and you couldn't help but feel GOOD after being in their presence!

12. Rockefeller Center is NOT the only tree in town 

 {Bryant Park}

 {Seaport Village}

see our reflection in the ornament?

 {a Toys-4-Tots tree with presents under it - including real bikes! - 

I've never seen those kind of toys, or that many!}

 {Although, we did go to Rockefeller, too!}

13.  Stay dehydrated, so you never have to go to the bathroom! 

Because there is no such thing as a "public restroom." 

One evening, we stopped at a diner to eat - not because we were starving, but because I HAD to pee, and the restrooms were only for customers!  Then we ordered the smallest thing on the menu that we could find!

Another day, we went into Sax Fifth Avenue to "shop" so that we could use their bathroom.  On my way in search for it, a "perfume lady" caught me to spray me with samples; she was very friendly and then asked for the sale - when I asked her, instead, where the restrooms were, her demeanor immediately changed and she pointed in their direction and "dismissed" me.  ;)

14.  They don't call it the "Radio City Music Hall Christmas SPECTACULAR" for nothing.

There's no better word to describe it: SPECTACULAR! 

Starring the Rockettes!

I was so surprised (because it is a "secular" event), BUT SO GLAD, that they included The Nativity, complete with REAL CAMELS, SHEEP, & a DONKEY on stage, recitation of scripture, and sacred music for the finale of the show.   Matt thought the applause for that number was louder than any other - it was such a SWEET ending that left a wonderful feeling!

15. The TRUE meaning of Christmas can still be found in the middle of NYC's hubbub

 {on taxis}

 {On the Jumbotrons and billboards in Times Square}

THIS is the sight that I acted most like an excited tourist about and snapped pictures galore of!  :)


Now, onto getting Christmas ready at home...... 
(I might be crying a little)  ;)

A Savior is Born

Love is Born 

Hope is Born

Joy is Born

#ASaviorIsBorn

DISCOVER WHY

christmas.mormon.org

Here's another excellent video that can answer the "Why?"

He is my (& yours) Prince of Peace, the Creator (and oh, what a gorgeous world He created for us!), and my Savior.
I have been blessed by the enabling power of His atonement for me; it has given me the strength to do, and bear, and be MORE than I could all on my own.  
I know He lives.  I know He loves me.  With all my heart, I want to be like Him, and I know I can see Him again!

We had the opportunity to visit with our missionary friends who are currently serving in Chinatown (Manhatten, NY), and they gave us one of their pass-along cards (as I'm sure our own missionary son will be sharing this with us in his next letter, as well) with this same great message:

Looks cool, eh? 

Can you read it? ;)

How To Impress Your Kids

This came in the mail:

Our daughters are SO AMAZED about the fact 

that their parents must be such Celebreties, 

that THE DANBURY MINT 

has made a Special Edition "Suzanne & Matt" ring to sell

and that it is featured in their exclusive catalog that they send out to millions!!!

(I'm sure it'll be flying off the shelves - or the internet!)

We chose NOT to correct their assumptions!

We gotta take any admiration and respect we can get from them!  ;)

NO-Post November

I guess that's what happened this month??!?

While all the guys (idk, maybe there were girls, too?) were doing "No-Shave November," I did my own version of "No."  

It was not purposeful.  It's never happened thus far since the inception of this blog in August 2008! 

What was I doing, you ask?!? 

It's called, "Mandatory Volunteering."  How's that for an oxymoron? 

Otherwise known as, "Volun-told." 

Katelyn was in a play, "Bye Bye Birdie," that was performed November 18-21.

So, towards the end, it got really intense.  (Like it always does with plays). 

It meant she had rehearsal EVERY day except Sunday the whole month.

Which meant that I had to drive her to and from all of those.

AND which meant that, as a parent, it was required that I put in so many hours (about 20) of volunteer time.  (They hold our $75.00 deposit over our head to ensure our compliance).

I'll be honest, during some of the rehearsals I was at, I thought: This is utter chaos!  How is a real show going to come out of this?!? 

But, it all came together (like it always does!) and was really quite GOOD and delightful! 

The play was the MAIN occupier of November, but here's the short version of the breakdown of my month:

1st weekend: Scrapbooking weekend

2nd weekend: Annual Park City Shopping weekend

3rd week: Bye Bye Birdie performances  x 5 (AND a Cub Scout Carnival that my group was in charge of putting on!)

4th week: Thanksgiving in St. George 

No wonder it ended up "NO-POST NOVEMBER!"  ;) 

Maybe I'll make it a "tradition!"  ;) 

Perfect Timing

Last Monday late afternoon, the person assigned to Family night treat had NOT planned ahead, and we didn't have anything around our home for them to use. 
Surprise, surprise!

And THEN....in the middle of dinner prep, Matt spotted a car of girls parked out front of our house, with another girl out walking/standing on our front walk and driveway, and then when she got back in the car, they drove away.   

Hmmmm? 

So I opened the front door to see what was going on.....


And WHAT did I see?

Manna Ice Cream from Heaven!!!

Yes!  Our Family Night Treat predicament had been solved!

  {Actually, it was all for Kyle - he was getting asked to Christmas Girls' Dance -

but he "gets to" share with his whole family in our time of need! ;)}

It turns out, Brookelle was out playing on her bikes & ride-in cars out in our driveway when the girls came, and she saw the whole thing, so the girls, not wanting to be caught while it was still light outside, set it up on the porch, then asked Brookelle to go ring our doorbell AFTER they had left.  But, I opened the door too early, when B hadn't made it over yet, and I caught her sneaking across our front lawn to "doorbell ditch" her own home!  haha.  ;)

You Say To-MAY-to, I Say To-MAH-to...

I say we have them coming out our ears!!!

LAST YEAR, I planted three tomato plants, and we had WAY TOO MANY tomatoes, so, as a solution, this year I only planted one.
WELL, I do believe our ONE plant has OUTPRODUCED the three that I had last year!!!

Every time I went out to pick.....

...I got this many!

And this has been going on for a couple of months now.

In fact, last month, when Kyle was trying to think of a way (translated: badgering asking me what to do) to answer a girl to the Harvest Dance.... after throwing around many different ideas, I said, "Can't ya do it somehow with tomatoes???"  (Since there's NO shortage of those around here!) 

So, he did:

(do you 'get it?')

So, now that it's October, there are STILL dozens (maybe hundreds?) of green and half green/half red tomatoes on the plant!  It's going to start getting too chilly at night to be good for the plant, so I tried something new that I heard about.  

Someone told me that I could dig out the plant, with roots still attached....

LOOK how monstrous that plant became!!!
It started out like this:

Instead of saying, "Growing like a weed," I'm gonna start saying, "She's growing like a tomato plant!"

 (A regular scene these days on my kitchen window sill - these are all the ones that fell off during the digging it up and transporting stages)

....anyway, after you pull it out, you're suppose to hang it upside-down in your garage, and the tomatoes will continue to ripen, and you can keep using your tomato supply instead of losing them all to the cold weather.  (At least that's what I heard)

So, I did it:

After each of the kids came in from school that day and ALL inquired, in half-panicked voices, a version of the same, "WHAT THE HECK IS OUT IN THE GARAGE????" question, I decided I better warn my husband before he got home, seems as it was hanging in his parking space.

So, I texted him, "You MIGHT be surprised when you come into the garage tonight.... just giving ya a heads up. ;)"

To which he replied back,  "A new Suburban?  HaHa."

Oh, man....now THAT would've been a first-rate surprise!!!

But, so sorry, Babe - you're going to be sadly disappointed when you open the garage door.......and discover it is ONLY an upside-down tomato plant!  ;)