Mom and I took our usual Saturday outing and headed to the Victoria & Albert Museum. An eclectic look at culture, the museum houses exhibits of fashion, sculpture, silver, and sony walkmans.

The highlights for me were several original Rafael cartoons of Christ, drawn for tapestry preparation---hung high in a hall that seems as big as a football field. And then, of course, one of the tapestries, itself. I am always amazed at how tapestry comes together---it's an orchestration of dyes, weaving, looms, fabric, patrons, and artists. I read a novel some time ago about the process that's worth picking up if you have an interest in tapestry ("The Lady and the Unicorn," by Tracy Chevalier).

OK. And the other highlight was the William Morris section. As I gazed over the collection both in the museum and in the stained glass he designed for the restaurant in the basement, I felt like I was back in my Pre-Raphaelite humanities course in college---one of my favorites, but instead of seeing a slide show, I was live and in-person.

And finally, it's a curious thing that the museum was built for the masses. It was one of the first to stay open late to accommodate the working class and also one of the first to have a refreshment area, the place where the Morris windows remain. Now we think of museum cafes as ubiquitous, but Albert was original in his ideas back in the 19th century.

Visit if you can. It's worth seeing. ---SM




(Above: My mom and me in front of the V&A Museum)

There's no place like the neighborhood park. ---SM

Watching Lennox eat is like watching a curious piece of choreography. He's well-rehearsed. He prepared by siitting on his chair with his legs crossed, if possible. Then, upon looking over his stage full of food, he begins his dance---his fingers doing the bulk of the movement, plucking up first whatever appeals to him most. But the mouth and the eyes join in, too. He chews and casually looks around. He's satisfied with his process, and that's what matters most. ---SM

This weekend I headed to NYC and felt like a teenager again. I flew seven hours from LHR, Justin flew five hours from SFO, and Jared and Matia flew a couple hours from ORD---all of us landing at JFK.

And to think, airports haven't been around that long but these days we use them like our lifeline.

I'm not sure what I did to spend my ten hours preparing for and sitting on that flight, but I gotta say, without having to be concerned about someone hitting someone, or someone else sneaking into the treat drawer, or someone else stomping on the stairs while Baby is sleeping, or where any one of six gloves and wellies are that aren't mine, the time went by faster than any work day I can ever remember!

Once grounded, we basically had a giant slumber party, except with separate rooms. I'm not sure what excuse we used first to get together: was it Justin's business trip? Was it Jared's residency interview? Was it seeing Will in "Hair"? Amazingly, all of the above coincided, and we packed a whole lot into a little bit of weekend.

In the end, the best part was less about what we did and more about being together again and hanging out. We ate our share of pizza and pastrami from greasy, tasty shops, but we also hit a few swanky places for brunch, including the restaurant Jane, whose french toast was divine.

At "Hair," we were treated to an amazing performance in some equally amazing seats. Will comes on and off stage as part of the musical, and at one point, he even sat down next to Justin and chatted it up---in character, of course. Was it bad that singer Josh Groban was sitting two rows behind us in the audience? Not for most of his fans, but I have to say, Justin and Jared's introduction to of themselves to him was memorable:

Jared to Josh: Hey, man, I don't know any of your music, but I loved your work in "Glee." [Groban had a cameo appearance and didn't even sing!]

Justin to Josh: My mother-in-law loves you! [Way to make an artist feel current!]

But the music lovers they are did try to penetrate the doors of the toughest concert yet: Lady Gaga at Radio City Music Hall. Even the scalpers didn't have tickets; the show was totally sold out. The boys managed to get themselves in, but Matia and I didn't stand a chance, so we bagged it, felt good already after having just attended the powerful Fuerza Bruta show and went to a movie instead.

Oh, and did I mention "hair"ports? On our way back, I got stopped for going through security with two miniature snow globe souvenirs in my carry-on luggage. Too much liquid, I guess---all of one ounce, maybe? So the lady made me check my bag. And, when I got home, one of the globes had broken. Good thing she let me through with a full water bottle in my purse. Gotta love bureaucracy. ---SM


(Above: Justin, Will-in-the-poster, and Jared)


(Above: Jared, Steph, Justin, Matia)

My good friend Michelle came to visit London for a few days, along with her sisters, and I think my boys thought they came just for them. The brothers woke up almost every morning with Michelle pampering their every need. She warmed up milk for Grant and Lennox and played a few rounds of dominoes or other games with Kellen---all before heading out with her sisters for the day!

I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with Michelle, Jennifer, and Rose Marie, and we visited Portabello Road---some good flea market shopping, the BYU London house---where Michelle was able to attend college for six months during her BYU experience, and then we walked through Kensington Palace and the grounds.

Having five women in the house was fabulous, since my mom and I are usually outnumbered, but having these three women was sublime since they all have raised sons and are living to tell the joys! ---SM


(Above: Michelle and the twins)


(Above: Rose Marie, Michelle, Jennifer, Stephanie at BYU house)


(Above: Michelle and Steph at Kensington Palace)

The boys are getting really good at hide and seek lately. Usually, they can't stand the pressure when I come to find them, so they'll pop out of wherever they're hiding. But today, they remained silent lying inside this toy basket until I got really close to them, called out for them, and eventually they giggled. ---SM

So my friend posted on her blog her family's recipe for amazing cinnamon rolls. And when I read it, the rain poured down outside. So, I instantly got it into my mind that I needed those rolls smelling up my house on such a cold, rainy day and then finding their way into my belly.

Oh yeah, and this was my first time making them.

Grant and Kellen were on board, too. They helped me mix all the ingredients and when the dough had raised and it was time to roll and cut those things----yikes! I'm not sure what happened, but I started sweating. I had a giant blob of a mess sticking to every inch of skin on my hands, two very patient toddlers ready to dig in, too, and I felt like this project may have been a disaster.

My mom ended up bailing me out and we had the deepest gut-wrenching laugh as we plopped the blobs onto the cookie sheet. They looked like cinnamon buns that had taken a wild roller coaster ride. We were up so late that I told the boys they had to go upstairs for bedtime, but I brought them down for a midnight snack to enjoy the buns of their labor. My, what big smiles they had!

Fortunately, the taste was great, but I think I will save making those again when I have the mental fortitude. ---SM

P.S. If you make the recipe from the blog above, there are no listed ingredients for icing or glaze recipe, so I used the Paula Dean glaze glaze and loved it.


(Above: The blobs---before baking)


(Above: The buns---after baking. Deliciousness rules!)

Fresh snow today and my mom opened the back door for an afternoon of adventure.

While the boys and my mom were in the midst of building Snowman #1---a beady-eyed midget no taller than a toddler, Justin came home for lunch. Justin started a snowball fight, and #1 was used as battle material. So, Justin raked up most of the snow on the lawn and started Snowman #2---a carrot-nosed sheriff warmed by Auntie Staci's handmade scarf.

All were pleased.

By the time Justin returned home at the end of his work day, #2 had melted, though, just like the song says...

Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman
Once there was a snowman,
Tall, tall, tall.

In the sun he melted, melted, melted
In the sun he melted,
Small, small, small.




(Above: Snowman #1)


(Above: Snowman #2)


(Above: The backyard boys)