Even If You Could...Why?

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The Birthday Party

March Madness surely must refer to the amount of birthdays that occur in one family during the month of March and not to some basketball tournament, right? Anyway, here are some pictures from Clara's first birthday on Friday. She had plenty of help opening her presents from enthusiastic siblings and cousins,but she didn't seem to mind. I think she enjoyed herself although she never did say one way or the other.

(This last picture, Sarah, is not of a new pet, but rather Clara admiring my mom's dog, not birthday related, but cute so I thought I would add it on this post).

Buddy Old Pal....(or Happy Birthday Jennette)

Who I am today would just not be who I am without Jennette.  I probably would be a painfully shy awkward creature for one thing.  But with our "get a life" campaign was able to muster up some social skills and consequently had a mahhhhvelous time at PHS with Jennette.  I have endless fond memories....our international themed locker (so funny) in the violently frightening D-Wing our Freshman year, Sundance ticket office and Sr. Sue, ditching Sunday School to cruise around listening to our cruising mix, studying hard for our AP classes, having a horrid crush on those twins that moved from DC, our see it all trip to DC and our teacher crush on Dwanna Riddle, Room With a View (of course), Lori Liu and Julie Buck and David Jeppeson, art nights with Joey and Alex, good times with Emily, Ted, Matt, Devon, Danny and everyone our senior year (Bob's cabin, murder in the dark, Senior Seminar, Supertramp, Metallic Terra Cotta, Thespian experiences), Anatomy with Emily and Ted, St. George with "the gang", Haywood, almost drinking that schnaps in NYC when you came out for model UN, our Elms semester of exclusively not dating others so we could hang out with Victor and Kelsha, finally after much dreaming and planning making it to Europe and looking frumpy together as we conquered the continent and ate more gelatto than should be allowed and enjoying the oh so delicious Whopper Jr's in Budapest,  that perfect day in Paris when we called Matt Burton fresh off the mission whilst eating pistachio magnum bars outside Les Invalides, Portabello Road,a too short visit with you in Berkeley with a tiny Lucy, getting together with our kids and not quite understanding where the time has gone since we were in weekly fights in the 3rd grade to mothers of actual people married to men that have real jobs and living in houses and worrying about our lawns and gardens and who will be president.  Here is to hoping that someday we actually will have that shared back yard!  Happy Birthday, thanks for everything Jennette, I couldn't have done it (meaning life) without you.  "Buddy old pal...."

I Guess It Is All About Food

 Millie posted this on her blog.  (I am not trying to copy everything you do Millie, even if you are pretty worth copying).  Her equally amazing hubby, Colton's restaurant got a great review in the Salt Lake Tribune.  Check it out.   Way to go Colton! 

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I have a new love, and it is a grocery store.  That's a bit sad, you may think, but really I love the local grocery chain, Harmon's.  They just started making their own artisan breads (using organic wheat...hoorah) and they are AMAZING.  It is the best bread.  I am addicted.  I think this week I have purchased 6 loaves. The white chocolate pecan is to die for, as is the blue cheese walnut.  The whole wheat and multi-grain are perfection.  The cibatta is a favorite. The country french is out of this world.  The baguettes could be from a boulangerie in Paris (wait a boulangerie, right?  It's been a long time since j'ai parlais francais) All of it is sooooo yummy.  Soooo good. 

And on top of that, their organic produce and selection is unreal.  So much better than what I've found at other grocery stores.  AND they started carrying all this amazing cheese.  Sometimes I think I've died and gone to Europe/Heaven (hopefully in Heaven they have lots of yummy cheese). And they have Winder Farm dairy (local and hormone free: double bonus).  And Oakdell eggs (local and somewhat organic).  And they give me five cents off for every one of my "bring your own bags".  I love that place.  

Michael Pollan

Last night I had the great opportunity to go hear Michael Pollan speak at Abravenal Hall with my Dad and sister Katy.  It was fantastic.  The place was very full, which makes me happy because it implies his message is going mainstream. Many of you may remember when I HIGHLY recommended the book Omnivores Dilemma.  He has just written a new book which I am dying to get my hands on called In Defense of Food;  An Eaters Manifesto.  It gives the history of the "science" of nutrition.  I feel so passionatley that the stuff he talks about is vitally important.  So I would highly recommend you pick up his books and read them too.  

A few tips:  Ignore all the food science and nutrition hype.  Food Science and Nutrition is a Capitalist playground and we are the suckers that buy into all the hype...at great cost to our health and the health of our planet.  The politics behind food and nutrition claims is dubious at best.  Don't eat food that your great grandmother wouldn't recognize.  What would she do if she were handed a go-gurt?  If it isn't what it says it is don't eat it.  (Have you ever read the ingredients of sour cream?  Only Daisy brand actually contains cream).  Cook.  Learn how to make food that doesn't come out of a box.  Eat fruits and vegetables.  Some foods have heavy pesticide residues and if you can you should buy organic:  Apples, Pears, Strawberries, Raspberries, Nectarines, Peaches, Cherries, Celery, Bell Peppers, Potatoes, Spinach and Grapes.  Some that contain little residue, and so you can just buy conventional are Bananas, Asparagus, Papaya, Kiwi, Mango, Onions, Cauliflower, Peas, Corn, Brocoli, and Avacados.  Anyway, the issues he discusses have significant ethical, political, environmental, and nutritional importance and really are very important.  If you would like to hear the lecture you can on KCPW podcasts.  But most of all I think you should pick up his books.  You won't regret it.  

What A Difference A Year Makes!

I can hardly believe it has been a year since Clara was born.  If I hadn't been here to witness her growth, I really don't think I would believe it.  She has been so much fun.  She has transformed from sweet little angel into a busy, messy, curious tornado of activity.  She is beloved by her siblings (she is now wary of the boys but runs into Lucy's arms when Lu gets home from school) and parents.  She walks in the most adorable wide-stanced, bowlegged fashion that makes me giggle quite a bit.  She gives a deep grunt when we ask her what a dog says.  She is just starting to say Mama and Dada.  She tries to put her shoes on and loves to use the brush to rub across her bald little scalp.  She likes to hold and lick baby dolls.  She loves to eat.  She apparently is starving because she is constantly wanting food.   She loves to go outside and visit all the dogs in the neighborhood.  She loves to hold a cell phone (or anything for that matter) up to her ear and say "hi." She goes absolutely beserk when we sing during FHE;  she can barely contain her glee (also in primary when singing time rolls around, she really expresses a huge amount of excitement).  She has been a go getter;  anxious to crawl, anxious to walk, and now is discovering she can climb up on to things (SCARY).  We love this little baldy and are so lucky to have her in our family.  We love you little Gocho! (Rob has more nicknames for the kids than I can keep track of, but this one seems to have stuck).  May you grow some hair in your second year, may you continue to be adored and beloved, and most of all may you remain uninjured as you climb up on things you shouldn't.  Happy Birthday little Clara!