Posh Party

As we learn from the fabulous Fancy Nancy series, posh is a fancy word for fancy! Gabby and her little girlfriends had an stupendous, a fancy word for great, time at her birthday tea party.

My brother served as the Mad Hatter maître d' at the soiree. Both maître d' and soiree are French and everything French is oh so fancy.

The girls played dress up, made fancy jewelry and dined on tea sized pb&j and other hors de oeuvres with frilly toothpicks. Nancy would have been pleased as punch.

All About Gabby

Day 3 of our week of "All about Gabby." I know you (as in grandma lue, mimi, and kelly) have been waiting patiently for the embargoed release of Gabby's first blog interview, so here you go.

Mom: Favorite color?

Gabby: Pink and blue and fuchsia and red and sparkles.

M: Favorite animal?

G: Tortoises

M: Favorite letter?

G: A

M: Favorite thing to do?

G: Open presents

M: Favorite food?

G: Cereal and tomatoes and avocados and oatmeal

M: Describe your momma

G: She likes to play and do yoga and give kisses.

M: Describe your daddy

G: He always plays with me everyday and we play nicely together

M: Favorite book?

G: Fancy Nancy and Alice the Fairy

M: What do you want to do in your 4th year?

G: Play with my friends and paint my mom's nails.

M: What kind of work does momma do?

G: She does typing and conference calls.

M: What kind of work does daddy do?

G: He does Obama's work.

M: Really, daddy is a lawyer, who is Obama?

G: He's dad's friend and he's president.

(Yes we've succeeded at brainwashing our Young Democrat)

M: Favorite song?

G: I love to see the temple

M: Name some of your favorite friends?

G: Caleb and Benjamin and their mom Lindsey, Makayla and Kayla, and Charlotte and Amelia

M: What do you want to be when you grow up?

G: A firefighter and then a flower.

M: Do you want a baby brother or sister?

G: A big sister and baby brother. Their names should be Fayne and Johnny.

M: Any last thoughts you want to share with people reading this?

G: Write to my father, he's nice and he helps me clean up my messes.

In Day 4's installment of "All About Gabby," we will attempt to capture Gabby's posh, that's a fancy word for fancy, Fancy Nancy Birthday party.

48 Months Old

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABRIELLA

(pink is her signature color)

Gabby, 12 Days Old

Gabby, 48 months old

I prefer the sound of 48 months to 4 years old--48 months sounds younger somehow and it seems we hit this milestone faster than one of Michael Phelps's Olympic swims.

Gabby agreed to go "On the Record" in an interview that will catalog her 48 months and what she hopes to accomplish in the next 12 months. The transcript will be available tomorrow.

You're Never to Young to be Pampered!

With Gabby's 4th birthday coming up soon, I decided it was time for her first professional pedi/mani combo. We arrived at Fantastic Nails on Saturday morning and Gabby was told to pick a color. She was very intent on getting just the right shade of pink, finally settling on a bubblegum pink. I am not sure if Gabby was taking it all in or a little shy, because I've never seen her so quiet and focused--very unGabby-like.

After our nails were done, we went and got lunch at her favorite place--she likes the chicken and wild rice soup. Then we made a stop at the dollar store so she could pick out a treat. When we got in the car to go home, Gabby said, "Mom, we had a great day!" Couldn't have said it better myself!

What I Learned on My Summer Vacation

The summer months are officially over, although in Las Vegas, the temperature still hovers in those summer 100s. I'm in a reflective mood and thought I would jot down some of the lessons I've learned this summer in the hopes that I carry them with me throughout the rest of my year.

#1 It is always good to make new friends. Gabby is particularly good at doing this. Because of my work schedule, we often go solo to things. But we are never lonely for long. Recently, at a local water park, Gabby met another Gabby and her twin sister. Upon leaving the girls gave each other big hugs as if they had known each other for years. When Jesus talked about becoming as little children, I think this is part of what he had in mind.

#2 Old friends are the best! Time seems to fly faster the older you get. I so appreciate my "old" friends who know me--flaws and all--and still want to hang out with me. Photo: Stephanie, Lindsey and myself enjoying a summer night. We dearly missed Museum Mama at this somewhat spontaneous gathering prompted by Steph's 'drive-by' on her way to Utah.

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

#3 Live for today. Tragedy filled the heavy summer air as we grieved for dear friends who lost loved ones. For a time, my heart was heavy and it seemed that death's fingerprints were everywhere. Even as I searched for solace, President Monson's August message, I thought at first glance, was about death. But the more I pondered his message, the more it became about living. Monson exhorts us to live for today by stating that "If we live only for tomorrow, we’ll eventually have a lot of empty yesterdays." He also challenges us to ask ourselves the question from the hymn "Have I Done any Good in the World Today?"

#4 Slow Down. #3 has forced to re-evaluate, slow down and realize that as Gandhi so perfectly puts, "There is more to life than increasing it's speed." This quote is our new family motto.

#5 Jump in the water's great! Again, being taught by my 3 year old to enjoy the spontaneous moments that make life great. Much of my summer was filled with endless cannonballs and underwater tea parties. I end the summer with a tinge of green hair, a stretched out swimsuit, and few more laugh lines and I wouldn't have it any other way. Here's to summer!

(Pre) School House Rock

Gabby's 4 year old preschool kicked off yesterday with flying colors. Can you tell how excited she was? Her teacher, Miss Heather, is a rock star with street creds in teaching kids how to read by the time they leave her class. We are excited to add a little structure back to our lives after a crazy summer.