Men on a Mission

(*Hayden and my dad, enjoying a "picnic" of chocolate milk, strawberry milk, and Pringles*)

*NOTE: This is Part II of my Mother's Day Story. You can find Part I HERE.*

* * *

My dad is an 85-year old World War II veteran.

I'm fortunate enough to have a father (my dad) and a husband (Ben) who get along like best buddies.

....and sometimes this friendship of theirs includes conspiring and keeping secrets from me.

Which was why when THIS Williams-Sonoma Salt Keeper (that I had been coveting for THREE years) was suddenly permanently discontinued, unavailable online, and nowhere to be found on ebay OR Amazon, these two conspiring men relied on their alliance and set to work devising a secret plan for my Mother's Day surprise.

It just so happens (after numberous calls to WS stores all over the state of Arizona) Ben found that there was ONE Provence Salt Keeper on the display shelf (only) in Scottsdale.

PROBLEM: We live 3-1/2 hours away from Scottsdale now.

SOLUTION: My dad lives approximately 25 minutes from Scottsdale.

NOTE: There is a very nice lady named Patty who works at the Williams-Sonoma store in Scottsdale and who (allegedly) upon hearing my sad sob story, was happy to carefully wrap-up the last remaining Salt Keeper (in AZ) and tuck it away in a safe place.

THE NEXT STEP OF THE PLAN: Ben called my dad and explained the story. I can just picture it now: My dad quickly whips out his map and asks Ben for the address to the mall in Scottsdale. He studies his map with the rectangle maroon magnifying glass that he has studied maps with for as long as I can remember.

(FACT: My dad loves studying maps just about as much as I love studying the Williams-Sonoma catalog.)

Ben reminded him, "Now, they will hold it for you until Friday night."

My dad thought carefully for a minute and then replied, "I will call you when the mission has been completed."

Apparently, Ben received a brief phone call the next evening. "Ben!" My dad's voice boasted on the other end victoriously and with purpose, "the mission has been completed!"

He then hung-up shortly after telling Ben how beautiful it was. "It's hand-painted in Italy or something. I didn't know they even still MADE such a thing!"

(How cute is THAT?)

I received my Salt Keeper just in time for Mother's Day!

(Now, I'm going to steal this next video idea from Cjane:)

Receiving the Salt Keeper for Mother's Day was nice enough, but the action was even sweeter because it made me feel just like THIS. (It's almost 10 minutes long. Fast-forward it to 6:40 if you want, but you should still watch it.)

I just love how when she calls out (from the stage) for her dad, that he doesn't hesitate for a second before letting her know that he's there for her.

It's nice to feel as though I have at least TWO dear men in my life who are always there to "whistle" for me (or secretly conspire behind my back...whatever necessity is calling for at the time).

* * *

(NOTE TO SELF: Maybe I should re-post this in a month for Father's Day.)

My Mother's Day Lesson

I like Roses.

I also like Daisies and Irises.

...I'll take ANY of them on Mother's Day (or any OTHER day, for that matter).

Look closer at what's in the background, though.

...There's a story about this:

Do you know what it is?

A lot of people don't because they aren't commonly used, but I've wanted this one for over THREE years! Month after month, I would study my Williams-Sonoma catalog and covet this Provence Salt Keeper.

Yet, every time I would get close to actually ordering it I would think of something ELSE I needed to spend money on and felt guilty. I really contemplate my purchases.

A few months ago, Ben and I were in a Williams-Sonoma store and I lovingly held this Salt Keeper in my hands. Ben watched me for a while and then piped-up, "You've been watching this thing for years, why don't you just buy it?"

"No," I answered (trying my best to be strong and disciplined), "Not yet; This is a WANT and there are too many other NEEDS right now." I painfully placed it back on the display shelf and quickly walked out of the store.

It wasn't long after that when I decided to just do it. I turned to Ben while we were in the kitchen one evening, "I'm going to give you a Mother's Day gift-hint!" I skipped over to the computer and pulled up the site. Typing "Provence" into the Williams-Sonoma search bar, I tapped the Enter key and all that popped up were napkins. "WHAT?!"

The Provence Salt Keeper was officially DISCONTINUED!
Not only that, it was NO LONGER AVAILABLE online.
(My heart sank.)

I proceeded to check Amazon and eBay religiously for the next couple of weeks.

Nothing.

I was sad.
Mostly because I realized that although as a Mother it is common to consistantly sacrifice your own wants for the wants and needs of other family memebers, it isn't always necessary or good. It was just a silly salt keeper, but it was a representation of me not making a better effort to take care of myself too. I could have afforded to buy this piece of art years ago. The thought of owning this simple beauty frequently brought a smile to my face. My husband even TOLD me to buy it, but I refused to. Ridiculous.

I believe that moms need a little something personal and special once in a while. You know, to feel pretty and beautiful; As a reminder that they are important and not just the maid, the cook, the nurse, the taxi...
Maybe it isn't something to be purchased. Maybe it's a regular pedicure, bubble bath, or 30 minutes of excercise. Or maybe it IS occasionally something out of a catalog. Who knows. It doesn't really matter. What matters is recognizing the need to "fill the tank."

I think it will make us better moms.

* * *

Have I mentioned yet that these Salt Keepers are each hand-painted (and numbered) in Portugal?


So, there I was: desperately searching the internet for ONE Provence Salt Keeper to finally buy (and call my own), but to no avail. SO! How did this Salt Keeper end-up in my kitchen, filled with coarse Kosher Salt? I'll have to save THAT part of the story for another day this week because 1.) I need to go bathe children, and, 2.) I'm tired of typing.


* * *


PS: What do you do for a Mother's Day dinner when the nearest nice restaurant is over an hour and a half away and you're tired of finding an "all-day" baby-sitter?

You throw a couple of Safeway lobster tails in the steamer, broil a bunch of asparagus, and toss a salad. We were very proud of ourselves. Neither one of us had ever prepared lobster before, but were relieved to find out that it is fun and easy. ("Thank you, Google!")

I'm glad we decided to have our special dinner a few days ahead, since Mother's Day weekend ended up being spent with an entire household suffering from a stomach virus. I spent my holiday standing in the driveway of a friend's ranch, locked-out of my car, and covered in baby throw-up. The finale involved me twisting my recently sprained ankle (while trying to cross the dirt driveway in yellow heels) and falling helplessly on the ground. I sat there on my knees in the dirt, unable to cry OR laugh. I would have thrown myself flat on the ground in a desperate act of surrender, but I was wearing a skirt.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

*Now, go do something special for yourself (whether it's Mother's Day or not)!*

"It's A Small World After All"

Hayden and his new Indian best friend

I have a son who loves to make new friends.

It's beautiful, actually.

He's sweet, tender, sensitive and fascinated by becoming best pals with whoever he meets. It forces me to come out of my naturally shy and guarded shell when he strikes up random conversations with the nearest soul.

Disneyland was no different.

Never in his life had he ever been surrounded by so many fresh potential friends.

And despite our frequent (frank and serious) conversations about "strangers" I found myself constantly listening to his amazing ability to mingle (especially with fellow victims of the dreaded wait in line). The spaces were tight and most people spent their energy just trying not to bump into the person next to them or stare too much at anyone in particular. Not MY son, though. For example:

(Actual Conversation)

Hayden: So! Have you been on this ride before?

Me: (Here we go again!)

Soon-to-be-pal: Yes I have (a little shocked that someone was engaging them in conversation).

Hayden: Well, is it fast or slow?

Soon-to-be-pal: It's slow.

Hayden: (Laying-on the timid voice) I'm a little bit nervous because I've never been on this ride before. What's it like?

Soon-to-be-pal: Oh don't worry! (relaxed and sympathetic) You'll be okay....the ride is like....

And VOILA! The (initially) reluctant stranger is now smiling, enthusiastically giving my 6-year-old a pep-talk and cheering him on. Soon, others start to chime in and it becomes a group interaction. The encounters usually last throughout the wait in line and end with a thumbs-up or a high-five (initiated by my social butterfly). Before you know it, everyone is smiling and chuckling. I just smile and nod and make sure we don't trip while stepping into the tiny flying elephant.

Watching my son effortlessly do something that is so difficult for me is humbling. He has a gift.

It was during a long wait for "It's a Small World" that I was especially touched. You know the ride: The boat voyage that takes you across all the continents around the world while you watch dolls singing and dancing and celebrating the idea that (at the end of the day) we are all just people; that despite our different cultures and languages we can come together as brothers and sisters and love each other. I went on it for the first time when I was four years old. I still remember it and let me tell you I was MESMERIZED! Granted, as a child hundreds of animatronic dolls seem magical, while as an adult they seem just a teensy bit creepy...BUT I can appreciate the message.

Of course, there was a line. So of course, my son scoped-out his next best friend.

He found him: A little boy (just 5 years old) who's family immigrated to the US from India 10 years ago. He was shy, but Hayden soon broke down the walls and they were buddies. While tending to Ella in the sling and keeping her happy enough to slowly drift off to dreamland, I didn't really pay much attention to the conversations until we were almost boarding the boat. "Hey, maybe we can ride together!" I heard Hayden organize the seating arrangement and before I knew it, Hayden was sitting in the front row with his new best friend while I sat in the second row with his mother.

We chatted throughout the entire trip. We talked about different cultures and countries, about immigrating to the Melting Pot and still teaching children about their ancestral heritage. She asked me about serving a mission in the culturally-diverse Montreal. Her name was Nuni and she explained how all her children are bi-lingual since she refuses to speak English in the home and refuses to speak anything BUT English outside the home. I asked her about her experiences of coming to the "Land of the Free" and she lovingly pointed out the Indian dolls (to the boys) dancing and swaying their heads side-to-side. She expressed her love of this ride, her eyes sparkling as she explained how overwhelmed she was the first time she saw it.

And in an instant we were back outside in the light of the setting sun.

The ride was over.

As we stepped out of the boat we joyfully said our good-byes and went our separate ways, smiling.

We never saw them again.

The next day I had to explain to Hayden that we couldn't go play at their house because we didn't know where they were.

"We were just there at the same place at the same time. We crossed paths for a half-hour and now we are miles and miles apart." I did the best I could to explain, but I found myself tripping over my own tongue, unable to adequately explain to him the importance of that beautiful experience.

After a moment of contemplative silence he stated, "I liked my new friend."

Then, I thought about the words to the song and realized that I never thought a ride at Disneyland could make me want to cry.

* * *

There is just one moon and one golden sun

And a smile means friendship to everyone.

Though the mountains divide

And the oceans are wide

It's a small world after all!

It's a world of laughter, a world of tears

It's a world of hopes, it's a world of fears

There's so much that we share

That is why we're aware

It's a small small world.

Disneyland Apologies

Hippie Ella: Chilling in the shuttle while entering Disneyland

Dear Hayden and Ella (in the future);

In case it ever comes up in therapy, I'm going to apologize now for not taking ANY pictures during your first visit to Disneyland.

But let's face it, we were too busy having fun and riding rides, weren't we? Especially when the three of us diehards stayed in Fantasy Land for over four hours while everyone else went back to the hotel for a nap. Carrying Ella in the sling and pushing Hayden around in the baby stroller, we were just too preoccupied scoping out Small World to even THINK about busting out the camera and finding just the right angle. Besides, I had run out of hands and arms. I hope this supports the fact that I love you more than my camera.

I would also like to apologize for taking you on three of the scariest rides first. You see, it was empty at 8am and Pirates of the Carribean doesn't even OFFER the fast pass. We had to go on that (and Splash Mountain and the Haunted Mansion) first. Sorry that it freaked you out and made you wonder for a moment if we had brought you to Hell for our family trip. I hope I made it up to you. (I think the fact that you later told me Pirates was your favorite ride was a good sign.)

I would like to remind you, though, Hayden, that I did in fact give up my fast pass TWICE for you so that you could take my turn and ride Star Tours over and over again. You're Welcome!

At least I pulled it together enough to take Before and After pictures of you both. I think these photos speak for themselves.

Love,

Mom

BEFORE:

(Buying Tickets at 7am)

AFTER:

(Leaving Disneyland at Midnight)

PS: Next time, let's get the three-day pass: 16 hours in one day was too much!

A Fish Tale - Part III

"JUST FOR THE HALIBUT!"

Did you know that Halibut have both eyes on one side of their head?

When they hatch, they have an eye on each side, but as they grow they start swimming on the bottom of the ocean, "laying down" on one side. As they get bigger, the one eye on the bottom moves to the top!

(Creepy!)

My first Halibut!

Hayden's first fish!

(Ben has already done this a-hundred times!)

"Kissy, Kissy!" (I WAS going to kiss him, but he slapped me with his tail....serious.)

These Halibuts are referred to as "Chickens" because they are SO small.

I like them though, because the bigger they are, the mushier they taste!

I'll take the Chickens ANY day!

* * * * *

Recipe: POOR MAN'S LOBSTER

Ben grew up on the Homer Spit and used to make this (every summer) with his family (over a campfire on the seashore) after a long day of Halibut fishing. YOU can make it at home!

Ingredients:

*HALIBUT STEAKS cut into 1-inch cubes

*A big pot (approx. 4 QT) of SALT WATER

(either ocean water or really salty water you make yourself)

*MELTED BUTTER

Directions:

1.) Bring pot of SALTY WATER to a boil.

2.) Drop chunks of HALIBUT into boiling water.

3.) Boil for 5 minutes, or until fish chunks rise to the top (whatever happens first). *Note: if the chunks are frozen, boil for 15 minutes.

4.) Drain and serve with MELTED BUTTER.

(We think it tastes just like lobster!)

*You can also serve with lemon

* Some people like to add vinegar to the water, but we've never done that.

Flowers At Grandma's House

Dear Hayden:

Thank you for being patient when I ask you to look up into the sun for the perfect shot. You are always a good sport when I tell you to "strike a pose" (even when your arm falls asleep from holding a daisy in the air).

Love,

Mom

*And with all these pictures of "Wild Flowers" listen to a sweet song HERE.

A day of playing "tourist" in Anchorage.

These pictures were taken on a cloudy day across the street from "Saturday Market."

PS: If you ever go to Anchorage and find yourself there on a weekend, ask about the Market; It's one of the best places to go for souveniers, snacks, and a broad "taste" of Alaska.

A Fish Tale - Part II

This is a mommy Otter holding a baby and hanging out in a kelp bed.

*Photo by Nancy

After two days of fishing on the ocean,

This is what we ended up with...

15 Halibut "Chickens"

14 Sharks

3 Irish Lords

(These are the ugliest fish; with HUGE gaping mouths and poisonous spines.)

1 Sting Ray ("Skate")

(Read the whole story HERE.)

1 Sea Cucumber

"...and a partridge in a pear tree."

(Everything except the Halibut went back to the ocean.)

Signs You Will Never See In Arizona

Wasilla, Alaska

(The official headquarters and starting line for the annual Ididarod Dogsled race)

Note: They "start" the race in Anchorage (for the tourists and photographers), then move the teams to Wasilla for the OFFICIAL start of the race.

Homer, Alaska

Have you ever wondered where Santa's Reindeer hang-out in the summer?
(After all, the North Pole IS in Alaska you know!)

Well, ONE popular place is the Park at Alaska Wildberry Products:

(Owned by a volleyball friend of our buddy, Mike.)

Feeding the Reindeer.

They were very gentle.

Slimed!

This one kept following me around...I guess he was extra hungry.
(Their antlers feel like a combination of velvet and felt.)

Slimed again! ("Thanks a lot, Blitzen!")

*Photo by Nancy*

Check out this photo I snapped while at a Golf Course in Anchorage.

(I'm pretty impressed with myself on this one...I must say!)

...and NO editing whatsoever!  The sun came out for about 20 minutes, which was when this fox decided to come up to me.  Priceless!

A Fish Tale - Part I

Let's just dive right in with the Alaska fishing stories, shall we?

This was the first time I had the experience of fishing in the ocean, even though everyone I was WITH had done it their whole lives.

We fished out of the famous Homer Spit (which is where Jewel grew up. It is also where some of the crab boats from Discovery Channel's show The Deadliest Catch sit when they are not out at sea). Funny story about that: I found out while we were there that my mother-in-law was childhood friends with "Mo-mo" (the sister of the famous Hildebrand brothers who own the crab boat The Time Bandit).

I feel as though I know another celebrity.

While married to Ben, I have heard countless stories about fishing for Halibut in the ocean bay of Homer. I've especially heard of the monsters: the not-so-uncommon 300-pound fish beasts that fight back and have to be shot before being pulled into the boat. (Not kidding!)

One problem: we forgot to bring the gun!

After arriving at the first "hole" and baiting the hook half-a-dozen times (since the king crab kept munching off the existing bait), I started to get bored. Filled with anticipation and wondering who was going to catch the first fish, I started vigorously bounching my fishing weight up and down on the ocean floor.

And, suddenly...a tug....

Then, a BIG tug....

Then, a down-right wrestling match!



"Oh, boy," I thought, "this one is a BIG one! Perhaps, a monster?" My mind started to race. "What are we going to do without a gun?"


Well, let's let the pictures tell the story:



I was excited and instantly tired, so I called for assistance (Mother-In-Law).

" Make sure you get this on camera!"

I and my MIL both became fatigued trying to wrestle this thing, so WE had to call for back-up (Ben)!

When Ben was tired of wrestling with it, he called in the big guns: "The Wookie" (Dad)!

Me: Do you see it yet?

Ben: I DO see something. It's almost here...here it comes...

It's a......

a......

(confused-sounding pause)

Me: WHAT IS IT?

Ben: It's a HUGE Sting Ray!

Everyone: A WHAT?

Oh yes, that's right. I snagged a Sting Ray.

We didn't even know they HAD those in Alaska!