Hello again! It's been simply ages and where HAVE you been, darling? (reading Sherlock Holmes, can you tell?)
I have so many random little stories from the happenings here at our house, I hope I can remember them (and do the stories justice!)
Let me see....
Grapes had another soccer game. It was actually a double header (which, turns out, is a bit merciless in the world of 6-year-old soccer. the poor darlings were truly wiped out before half time of the second game!) Anyway, during the first game, Grapes' team got a goal!! (our first one!) and it was scored by none other than my Sassy Sue. She was elated! And who can blame her? The other team also got one goal. And it was let in by none other than my Mrs. Monkey.
Oh, well. You win some, you loose some.
Their second game was against the national kiddie team of Mexico-- I swear. They were mini-professionals! And their coach was spouting Spanish at them and they were this obedient and organized machine! A machine ready and able to efficiently make the most of our team's tiredness. They basically wiped the field with our tall socks. Sheesh.
Don't worry, the team drowned their sorrows in capri sun and then as a family we headed out to Pizza. (to... celebrate?) My three kids at an essentially empty pizza parlor was a great way to end out outing. We laughed and talked and ate. I enjoyed every minute of it.
The Doctor and I were also able to run away to a date. It was an Alumni Dinner hosted by the Medical College for doctors and spouses here in AZ. We had received an official invitation with a response card. I got curious if this thing would be fancy Schmancy. What would I wear to a fancy Schmancy?! (This is how I measure the fancy-ness of a thing. USPS sent the invite? check! Real card that opens with a fold and printed in color? Check! RSVP requested? Check! Response card with pre-addressed envelope included? Check! Now, the envelope was not pre-stamped.... so we know it was NOT an invite from the Queen..... bit still, people. Fancy.)
So we went, and obviously it was at a fancy schmancy restaurant. But we were a smidgee late because I had to pick The Doctor up at work and wait for him to change into the suit I had brought. (NO scrubs at a nice restaurant, people!) *Side note, I had to pick out the outfits for BOTH of us that night. Talk about clothing anxiety. But we were dressed just right, it turns out. He in an interview suit with blue shirt and striped blue/green/brown tie. I even remembered the brown shoes and belt. (I know, right?!) Me in a brown knee-length dress with white beads around the neck (like a bib necklace) and a white sweater. (I remembered the shoes, but forgot the camera. I know, right?)
And we walked in during the middle of the salad course. The only seats left ended up being between the head of the Alumni Association and the new president and CEO of the Medical School. When they learned The Doctor was a first year resident they looked at us like we were cute babies.
Oh well, the food was good. We got to order from a lovely menu (fillet minion for both of us) and turn down 3 kinds of wine. (Too bad we don't drink) Then there was desssert. (yes, there are three 's's in that word. I remember how to spell that word because you want two desserts, but not two days in the desert. But that night, it was a desire for 3 dessserts that I will remember.) The doctor ordered Triple Chocolate cake. Soooo goood. I ordered Creme Brulee. (do you hear the angelic choir? *Ahhhhh*) I loved it.
My other favorite part of the evening was when partway though my delicious dinner, I realized that I was in a room full of doctors. People who were well established in their careers and comfortably in a totally different income bracket that I have ever been. I overhead snippets... gems, really... like these: "We decided after the second Porshe...." and "...but the maid's quarters were too small, so we kept looking..." It's a different world.
It was a good night. We met lots of really nice people, and learned about the new plans at the Medical College. We even met a young couple who had attended BYU and MCW and are now here for a radiology residency. It was fun to talk to them. I'm so glad we went.
I have one more story to leave with you today. This one is from Sunday.
During the third hour of church, my littlest monkey was feeling rowdy. It's hard for one so small to sit still so long. I knew he was done, so we went to wander the halls and burn some energy. (The Doctor got to sit and listen this time)
So up and down the halls we went. We tested drinking fountains, and peeked into any doors with windows. At one point I paused to say hi to another mom in the halls with her 16-month-old. Pencil took that opportunity to bolt down the hall. I could still see him so I was not worried. Silly me. Three children emerged from the chapel at that time to get drinks. (the other ward was having Sacrament Meeting in the chapel while our ward was in the classrooms for Sunday School) Pencil followed those children to the drinks, and then right back into the rear chapel doors before I could do anything about it! I stuck my head in the door and looked at the backs of a million heads.....but the little monkey could not be found.
Now, you'd think that some spare kid, wandering around a large room full of devout worshipers would stand out. (especially one as cute as this one in his tie!) But the few people I asked said they had not seen him.
Weird, I thought. Maybe he didn't really follow those kids in like it looked like. But, where did he go then? So I began to search the halls, and spare classrooms, and then to question any on-lookers and other mommies. He was really gone. I was near panic at this point. Three other adults began to help me look. We all stuck our heads into the chapel again to look for him. But he was not being found. We split up. I began to wonder if some monster had grabbed him and ran.... oh- NOT a good thought. Then my friend found me and said that she had located my missing baby.
But he was not in her hands, so I was not very relieved.
He was not in her hands because he was ON THE STAND. Yes, he had indeed made it into the chapel. He had casually wandered from the very back to the very front, then climbed the stairs and wandered around near the podium. When Alyssa saw him he was on the left side of the front, playing on the stairs. When I mustered the courage to enter the front chapel door and climb the stairs to the stand he had wandered to the right side and was just locating the bread used for the Sacrament when I grabbed him. The other ward's bishop was looking at me like I was crazy. I was trying not to die of embarrassment.
It's a good thing he's cute.
