Month: May 2023

Arches with Anooj

Today we took Anooj to Arches National Park. We left our house by 9:30. The kids were enchanted with Anooj and his gentle and joking personality (he told Ammon that his name was also Ammon). Lily and I had a great time talking to Anooj on the way to Arches. We arrived around 1:50, which was just in time for our reservation. On the way down and in the park we were blown away by the mega bloom of orange flowers. We’ve never noticed the orange flowers before, and that is because there has never been so many of them when we visited. I’m sure the bloom was due to all the moisture Utah got over the winter and into the spring.

First we went to Park Avenue for a quick viewpoint. Then we went to the Windows and Double Arch. The kids had such a blast climbing all around the rocks, especially at Double Arch. Here is video of Ammon giving me a tour of their cave house (which has a slide):

While we were at Double Arch, a lady I met effused at Ammon and Clarissa’s imaginative play. She gushed and told me that watching them be so excited and imaginative with nature was a highlight of her entire trip to Arches. That sweet comment was a very nice counterpoint to man who only 3 minutes earlier yelled at Ammon and Clarissa to be quiet (which they didn’t hear because they were loudly absorbed in their play).

After Double Arch, we saw some viewpoints, including the lower viewpoint for Delicate Arch (so that Anooj could see the Arch that is on Utah’s license plates).

Then we went to Pasta Jays, and it was so delicious as always (and they were extra fast and friendly this time!). Then we got ice cream and drove home. We hope this day left an impression in Anooj’s heart for the natural beauty and warmth that we have found so inspirational in Southern Utah. He was the most gracious guest and a true joy to have with us for the day. The kids were also very well-behaved for our guest and we were so grateful for that. They were also very well behaved for pictures yesterday, and we are feeling especially grateful for all of them lately! We got in around midnight after dropping Anooj off in Salt Lake. What a great day!

Cycling Saturday, Picnic and Family Photos

Today we all went biking on the Provo River trail near Utah Lake. Clarissa continues to progress with biking!

We then had a Subway picnic at a pavilion at Utah Lake. Lily had her bird app and it was very fun to see the App tell us what birds were chirping, and we got a really good look at a beautiful Grackle. Lydia and Mary were very unhappy with the big situation, but otherwise it was a good time.

I then planted a tree while Lily did some last minute shopping with Lydia and Mary for our family photos, and then I worked on the computer, and everyone got ready for family photos (with lots of help from Lily, thank you babe!)

We had family photos at Little Dell Reservoir. Suzanne organized everything, and it was such a beautiful location. All of the kids cooperated (even Ozzy) and we all had such a good time being together in the beautiful weather. The photographer was great too! We continued the party at Spitz where we ate together. Lily and I felt very happy at the end of the day with how enjoyable everything was.

These four pictures are some fun pictures from the day that Jere captured and sent our way.

Lydia and Mary Fun Run, I come home, and Anooj visits

Today Lydia and Mary had a fun run in the gorgeous weather we have been having:

Also, I flew home today and was home around 3:15. I was so exhausted that I completely passed out in bed until it was time to meet my good friend Anooj. When I traveled to India last fall, he used time from a vacation day he had already scheduled to take me around India and it was near his child’s birthday. I just remember him saying it would not be right for me to be in Mumbai and not see some of the sites. I’m so grateful for the chance to reciprocate to such a wonderful man and show him around Utah. Tonight we went to the Utah Symphony to see Messiaen’s Turangalîla. It was delightful. Afterwards, we walked around and I showed him some of the LDS sites and then we got ice cream. It was so fun to catch up with him!

A Busy and Fun Day

Last night In only slept 2 hours because the team was prepping late for our onsite meeting the next day and then I couldn’t sleep well due to nerves and having napped on the plane. We also got up early to prep more. But the day was very fun. I love the people I worked with and we all showed up and delivered a great presentation. Afterwards, I helped support an event in Manhattan (the morning meeting was on Long-Island) and as I was walking into the venue, I met Darius Rucker, one of my favorite musicians. He was very nice and asked me my name and agreed to a photo. I told him he was my road trip music.

The event was fun and exhausting. Between the event and dinner, I was entertaining people for about 8 hours straight after the morning onsite. When I got home, I collapsed into my bed and woke up 10 hours later, which was delicious.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Today was Mother’s Day. It was so wonderful to celebrate the incredible mothers in my life. I was able to connect with my mom, Suzanne, and my grandma, and we had Georgia over for lunch. All of these women mean so much to me and have impacted me in unique and special ways. It is also a very special day to acknowledge the incredible mother that Lily is and the kids made her gifts of love and appreciation. I booked Lily a massage in the afternoon, and afterwards we all visited Georgia again at her place and Lily gave her a foot massage.

Afterwards, we all had a delicious dinner at Via 313.

Transparently, Mother’s Day tends to be a hard day for Lily as she is hard on herself, but I’d like to put a few thoughts on paper for you sweetie.

I love the way you mother with so much intention. Thoughts, hopes, dreams and concerns for our children are ever in your mind and heart. You intentionally design a life for them that is structured, rich, cultured, grounded in values and depth and with the right amount of openness to their own personalities and desires. You have jump started their reading, exposed them to languages, passed on a love a cooking, painstakingly instilled musical talent, nurtured, orchestrated trips and adventures to show them the world, modeled humility, apology, and getting it right over being right. You laugh with our kids, play wingspan with them, play with Clarissa, organize playdates with them, set boundaries for them, teach them, instruct them, listen to them, give the massages at night, strike a balance on what to allow them to be exposed to and what not, watch family movies with them, host parties for them, listen to them talk and so so so much more. And as much as I try to help with the house, there is no question that you do the lion-share, and it is so deeply wonderful to live in an environment that is beautiful, clean and organized. Thank you. You also have the best ideas, like our pet dog, our home, our fruit trees, going to Palm Springs as a family, Orchestra tickets and other artistic performances, ski school for our kids, and the list goes on and on and on. You are also deeply wise and kind. When I read your writing, I see the beautiful thoughts, values and life philosophy that underpin the beautiful person you show up as. You are beautiful inside and out and I cannot imagine a better mother for my children. Thank you, thank you, thank you thank you for being my best friend and partner, and for for all the time, energy, intention and heart you put into this family. We flourish because of you.

To my mother, thank you for always loving me unconditionally. I never once had a question if you loved me or thought I was cute and smart, and I still don’t question that. I always feel like we get each other and I feel a sense of home when I talk to you.

Suzanne, thank you for taking my brothers and I and our families fully into your life. You invest in us, care for us and truly love us and it is a joy to have you in our lives. I love your cheer and really enjoy our chats.

Georgia, you too have become a mother to me, and you have loved and supported our family in every conceivable way. When I go through something hard, I feel your love and support and genuine care, and on your current difficult road, you are modeling breathtaking courage and faith.

Grandma, I love your sense of humor, and your never-ending cheer. You are always gracious and kind and have a smile on your face. You show genuine interest in our family, and your heart is so gentle. Your love and good energy radiates and I’m so grateful for our visits.

Harp Honors Recital, Bappa Birthday Brunch, and Gardening

Today Lydia had her honors recital and she did very well. She had a couple of false starts, but she maintained her poise, got her fingering right and then proceeded to play majestically. I’m so proud of her. She was wonderful.

Dad and Suzanne came to the recital also, and Lily was taking Ammon to a haircut during it since she’d heard the piece many times and Ammon really needed a haircut. The original plan was for her to take him and Clarissa (since they have a hard time sitting still for recitals), but Clarissa begged to stay, so Lily just had Ammon.

After the recital, we all went to Gourmand’s to celebrate my dad’s birthday (today!) and Mother’s Day for Suzanne. My dad turned 66 today. It was so fun to talk to him about his reflections and goals. He’s grateful for his great health (which I’m sure has something to do with his intentional diet involving eggs, sour kraut, a 15 ingredient salad, oatmeal with 15 supplements sprinkled on it, and 15 vitamins he takes every day–maybe he should call it the 15 diet) and he wants to make progress on his civic engagement, his articles/website and on his home.

People got yummy deserts at the end, and Clarissa had fun looking cute in my glasses.

At home we spent a ton of time gardening. While I was away on business last week, Lily purchased a bunch of trees, bushes and flowers. Lily did a lot of planting (and involved Clarissa) and I mostly dug holes for trees, which was back-breaking work, but it made me happy because I love manual labor (especially with all my sitting at work).