This American's not in Paris - he's in my subconscious. And what a lovely place that is...

Last night this American icon visited me in my dreams. In real life, tonight I am taking the teenage girls from my church to sing to and visit with residents at an assisted living center. One of the songs they are performing is "Singin' in the Rain". I suppose that's what made me dream of him...

In my dream, I dreamt Mr. Kelly drove up in a rickshaw (?!) and asked if he could come along.
"Of course!", I tell him. Then I ask someone with a camera to take our picture and when he seems confused by my request, I proceed to gush over him and say things like, "This is the best day of my life!" or "I've seen most of your movies" or "As a teenager my mom was in love with you" and even "Will you teach me to dance like Cyd Charisse?"

The rest of the dream is a blur, but I recall cameo appearances by Judy Garland and the guy that plays the cop on Dumb & Dumber. No matter how it ended, there are worse things than waking up with Gene Kelly on the brain. ;)

Forget that he passed away when I was sixteen years old. I mean, look at this guy - such a strong, graceful dancer! Not to mention he could sing! True, his voice didn't sound as refined as Frank Sinatra, but maybe that's what I like about it...it seems untrained in a genuine, down-to-earth way. Ever heard "Moses Supposes" that he sings with Donald O'Connor from Singin' in the Rain? Don't forget his million-dollar smile. What woman wouldn't swoon with those eyes (and lips!) pointed her direction? ;) I love whenever Gene Kelly smiled his eyes smiled, too - with a little twinkle!

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And the thing that amazes me most about Gene Kelly is the same thing that blows me away when I watch Fred Astaire - that overabundance of creativity! The moves and ideas they come up with in their dance routines is jaw-dropping. For example, watch this video from It's Always Fair Weather (normally, I'm a big musical fan but I have to admit the lyrics of this song bring a new element to cheesy...however, watch it at least for 2 1/2 minutes. Even a non-musical critic would have to be impressed that Gene could time and pace his skates to reach his marks so precisely and then to TAP dance on skates??? I can barely make it around a rink (not straying too far from the wall, mind you) without falling on my keester!):

I love one fan wrote about Gene Kelly:

"I wonder if he ever falls during his routines.

Oh, wait, he's Gene Kelly. He never falls -

instead the rest of us just fall for him!"

Amen!!!

some handcart pioneers left precious family heirlooms behind on the trail, others must have left this:

At my mom's house there is a 9" TV/VCR combo machine in one of the guest bedrooms. When we let the kids lay in bed and watch a movie (VHS, nonetheless), they thought they were in heaven.

Tonight I overheard Halle telling her best galpal, Lauren, about the experience. In her words, she said:

"My Grandma Kremin has a TV in the bedroom we slept in - you know, the kind from the olden days - and we watched a videotape at bedtime!"

It makes me feel old to know my memory recalls the days before something that came from the OLDEN DAYS!!!!

there's something in the air...

I'm in Vernal this weekend.
10:30 p.m. found me walking around my parents' backyard.
I stopped by the willow and looked up, moved to see there were so many stars - and absolutely no clouds - in the dark night sky.
A hint of fall was detected as the branches swayed slowly back and forth.
I inhaled the crisp air and it was oh, so sweet.
And then before I knew it my cheeks were damp because everything about it was beautiful and simple, and gratitude overwhelmed me.
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I love it here.

our Kindergartner turns SIX!

new set of wheels for the birthday boy!
opening presents...
in addition to the bike, we gave him 2 books and a game. opening the game last, he said, "Whew! For a moment there I thought all you were going to give me were books!" (And yet, when asked what his favorite gifts were, his reply was the BOOKS!)

Junie B. Jones - I love these as much as the kids do!

"Dinosaur" movie from Grandma Dixie & Grandpa John
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family party birthday cake - my own creation: Key Lime Bundt with Lime Glaze, served with Lime Sorbet. Yummy, but SUPER rich!

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soooo fun to get packages in the mail from Grandma & Grandpa K.!

He loved his "Knights of Right" books (#2 & 3). For early readers, we'd highly recommend these simple chapter books!

a check!!!!!!!!!

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Party @ Bountiful Bowl

(Totally recommend it - easiest bday party I ever threw!)

you can't see the cake very well here but it was from Dick's Market and they did such a cute job. They had the bowling ball "knocking" down the pins.

Unfortunately, we'd already taken the decorations off the cake by the time we took this.

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the kids had bowl crazy ways, like backwards, walking a tightrope, spinning in circles, singing a song as they throw the ball, predicting which pins will fall, etc.

Ian V.

Sabrina E.

Sage H.

Big Sister Sue

Kobi V.

Miss Maryn S. (possibly future Mrs. Wyatt Taft? Who knows, but the two lovebirds claim it will be...)

Bella C., our newest friend and classmate from LPA

"school is cool"

Wyatt loved meeting his teacher at his Legacy kindergarten assessment. Get this: BOTH our kids have a "Ms. Merrill" for a teacher at their DIFFERENT schools! At least that makes Parent Teacher Conferences easy!

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Back-to-School breakfast: Waffles, Berries, Whipped Cream, and Orange Juice
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Isn't he handsome in his uniform?! I only cried a little on the way out, and I'm so proud of myself that I regained my composure before any tears could actually fall out...
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Our beautiful 3rd grader at her new school - a little nervous - but excited! (Can you tell Carson was disappointed he wasn't staying? That disappointment went away as soon as he realized mommy was taking him to the park, just the two of us!)

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a little frozen treat from Nielsen's to munch on while we talked about our first days!

"Faith will not give you what you want; it will help you know or understand what is divinely intended for you."

My friend, Ganel-Lyn, posted this quote on her blog today, and boy did I need it. (I hope she doesn't mind that I borrowed it, but I thought maybe other family members reading my blog could be uplifted by it as well and couldn't resist sharing.)

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A dearly loved family member who has been ill had a set-back this week. It's difficult, especially since he had been doing so well lately, running and playing with his boys on a recent camping trip. This reminds me that He is all-knowing and our mortal vision can be so short-sighted. Our desires, no matter how much we want them or feel deserving of them, are not always part of a loving Heavenly Father's plan, and that FAITH means TRUSTING that His intentions are truly, and lovingly, what's best for our learning and growth. There is nothing He wouldn't do for us, no hurt He wouldn't love to take away, and yet He loves us enough to let us experience what is necessary to help us reach our full potential.