Journey to Phantom

I, like most people, have been singing songs from the Phantom of the Opera since middle school. Last night, I finally got to see it performed in all it's glory. Doug got us tickets as my anniversary present. This is me being excited on my way to meet Doug in Olympia. Probably not the safest thing to do, take a picture of myself while I was driving, but fun anyway. We met up and headed north. The traffic was pretty bad, but we passed the time with some great conversation.
This is Doug dancing to some music in the car. We kind of had a hard time following the GPS thing, but when we finally figured it out and found the Paramount Theater we felt like...dancing.
We had plenty of time to eat something before the 8 o'clock curtain, so we went to The Cheesecake Factory. Not that impressed. The wait was pretty long, the tables were right on top of each other, and the food was not that great. We thought that since it was "The Cheesecake Factory," the cheesecake would be good. Well, it wasn't. The flavor was good, but not the consistency. Sad.
After dinner, we headed to the theater. There were so many people. They were dressed in things from ballgowns to Bermuda shorts and there was even a girl dressed up like a jester...interesting. I took a few shots with my camera and was still putting it in my purse when we came to the door. The guy taking our tickets said..."Ma'am, we don't allow cameras inside, at all." What was I supposed to do, hightail it 7 or 8 blocks back to the parking garage? I don't think so, not in the heels I was wearing. We went back outside, waited a few minutes, shoved my camera into my purse and zipped it up. We went through a different door. I was scared the other guy was going to chase after us and search my purse. It wasn't like I was going to take pictures of the actual performance. I figured that would not be allowed, I just wanted some shots of Doug and I inside the place. I was a little disappointed about that, but oh well.
The whole production was amazing. I was a little frustrated at times because I was having a hard time understanding what they were singing and saying. But, I think I got the jest of it. I was just trying to take it all in and enjoy. The singing was absolutely incredible. I mean, down right amazing. The guy that played the Phantom was an understudy and if he was that good, I wonder what the usual guy is like? Anyway, I have never actually known the entire story. Singing the songs since middle school, certainly didn't make me an expert. I was sort of glad about it though. I didn't know how it ended, so it was exciting to see. I got pretty emotional several times, I think just because of the experience. I am so glad that I was able to be there with my husband and see some amazing talent performed.
After the show, we headed back to our car. We could not figure out how to get back into the parking garage. The main entrance was closed so we walked back and forth, block after block, trying to get into the right place. We weren't the only ones. Most of the people were wondering around looking just as confused as we were. (This picture is of us walking around, being confused.) We finally figured it out, and man, were my feet happy about that. We got home around 1:30 am and I just wanted to be in bed. I had a great time. Thanks honey, it was fabulous!!

HOLY...CRAP!

(a potty training story)

So, this morning I gave Jillian and Isabelle a bath. Now, everyone knows how hard it is to find time to read the scriptures, so I took this opportunity to do so. I sat on the lid of the toilet, (so I could keep an eye on the girls) prepared with my red marking pencil. A few minutes passed and I was pretty involved in what I was reading. I looked up and saw that Jillian was placing something outside of the bathtub, onto the bath rug. I got up and inched closer, fearful of what it might be. My fears were realized...it was big chunks of poop!!! AAAHHHHH! Apparently I was so engaged in my quest for knowledge, that I was not paying close enough attention. She was smart enough to not touch it with her bare hands though. She had taken a washcloth and wrapped it around the "stuff" and then dropped it outside the tub. I am so proud.

The Gifford's

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Laundry, my Nemesis

Laundry, how I loath thee

With your never ending piles.

Laundry, how I loath thee

With your clothes for miles and miles.

Laundry, how I hate thee

Oh how you built up fast

Laundry, how I hate thee

My whole lifetime, you will last.

But how I love to wear your styles

How cute they make us look

How I love to wear your styles

Like models (yeah right) in a book.

So laundry, I know you MUST be

Our lives, you do bless

I know laundry, you MUST be

For without you, we'd be naked.

(and nobody wants that!)

.clarissa gifford.

The Boring Life of...ME!

Well, this past week has had nothing like superhero, or real life hero stuff happening so some might find this a little boring. I really have enjoyed all the great stories on some of the blogs I have been reading. If nothing exciting is going on with me, maybe I can live vicariously through other people. (Is that healthy?)
One thing that is happening this week is the dreaded POTTY TRAINING! Did I hear a gasp? Anyway, I will admit that I am terrible at potty training my kids. They do learn eventually, it's just that they would probably learn faster if I wasn't so lazy about the whole thing. I know there are probably those who are fabulous at it and never have problems (Traci) but I am not one of those people. I am way more likely to give up than my kids. But I really think that Jillian is ready and going to be able to figure the whole thing out without much help from me. We will have to see.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY!

Our little Isabelle Grace turned 1 on Saturday the 13th. I can't believe it! We had a talk about all the things that she has learned this past year. And this is what she said...

1. I have learned that I don't like the gross green smelly stuff that my mom tires to feed me.

(green beans and peas)

2. I have learned that I am great at climbing those things that lead to a whole new place. But I am not very good at climbing down.

(the stairs)

3. I have learned that if I scream really loud at the time when it is dark, my mom or dad will come and make me feel better.

(she only sleeps through the night once in a while)

4. I have learned that when the big white thing is open, if I crawl fast enough, I can get out and play in the stuff that makes my hands brown and the soft green stuff that tickles my feet.

(she loves to be outside...she eats the dirt and feels the grass. She cries when the door closes before she can get out)

5. I have learned that if I lift my leg up high enough, I can get into the big thing with all the water in it.

(she loves bath time and even when her bath is over, she tries to climb in with the other kids when they are in there.)

6. I have learned that when my mom has those things full of all the other things that we put on our bodies, I can grab them and throw them all over the place. It is so much fun!!

(she loves to get into the laundry baskets and throw the clothes out one by one)

7. I have learned that I am really amazing. Everybody is always laughing, and cheering for me and saying how cute I am.

(she likes to dance, and when I tell her to "get excited" she bounces up and down, waves her arms all over the place and does this thing with her breathing like she is hyperventilating or something.)

8. I have learned that my family loves me very much and that I am a very special blessing to my mommy.

WELCOME LITTLE ONE

This is the newest member of our "Gifford Family." Kathrine Mary Dobosz was born on the 22nd of August, (I know, I'm a little behind.) to Doug's sister, Nanci and her husband John. This picture was taken the day she was blessed. She in number 8 for the Dobosz family and grandchild number 28 to Doug's parents. This family just keeps on getting bigger! Isn't she beautiful??!!

The other day we went to the same spot that we had our engagement pictures taken. We tried to reenact it...it's not as good as the original but that probably has to do with the fact that we had an 8 year old photographer. Thanks Payton!

10 YEARS...ALREADY?

10 years ago today, my husband and I were married. It has been the best 10 years of my life. Doug is an amazing person who inspires me to want to be better. Here are 10 reasons (for 10 years) why I love my husband...

10. He is cool with the fact that I have bodily functions. In fact we have had competitions many times.

9. He doesn't think that I smell bad, ever.

8. He has a great singing voice. We make a great duet!!

7. He works very hard for our family.

6. He makes me laugh all the time...seriously, all the time!

5. He thinks that I am funny. And laughs at all my stupid jokes and remarks. Which most people don't.

4. He makes me feel beautiful.

3. He makes me very happy.

2. He loves me with every bit of himself.

1. He is my very very very best friend.

(There really are hundreds of reasons)

I love you Douglas. Thank you for our life together. Happy Anniversary!

Here is what he wrote me today. I hope that he doesn't mind that I am sharing it.

My Darling,
I can't believe it's already been 10 years since we said "I Do". It seems like only yesterday that my hands were trembling trying to slide that ring onto your finger! I also remember the feeling as we exited the cultural hall and I realized you were going to be mine forever! I will always treasure that memory!

I have so enjoyed watching you grow over the last decade. You have blossomed into a beautiful person, a lovely lady, and a world class mother! I feel so blessed to be your husband. I often find myself wondering when I will wake up from this fairytale. I hope it never happens! You are my sunshine! It is because of you, that I am who I am. And it is because of you, that I want to be better.

Thank you so much for your efforts over the past weeks to let me know how much you love me. I have noticed!!! I am thankful!!! I love you so much!!!

Your Eternal Husband,

Doug

Good ol' fashioned FAMILY TIME!

PRIEST POINT PARK Doug got home from Alaska yesterday so we decided to have a "family date." We drove up to Olympia and went to the wonderful world of Costco. The kids had fun tasting all their samples. We bought a few things, which at Costco always ends up costing a lot. Then we had their yummy pizza and chicken and turkey things. Although we made a huge mess and Savannah spilt her drink twice it was fun. We then headed to the beautiful Priest Point Park.
The kids had such a good time. It was a beautiful evening and perfect for playing at the park. My kids are such posers. I took over 80 pictures while we were there. I went a little crazy.
We give Payton a hard time for his "cheesy grins." So for this picture he just growled. It is kind of a cute picture of him.
We decided to try Isabelle in the swing. This is the "BEFORE" she started swinging picture.
This is the "AFTER" picture. She started shaking and screaming. Yeah, she didn't like it at all.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL...

Well, it has started. The early mornings, the early bedtimes, the making of lunches, ahhh, the joys of school. Payton and Savannah loved their first day. I was a little apprehensive about how Savannah would do...totally unnecessary. She went into the classroom and didn't even look back. She wasn't sad to see me go, or maybe she didn't see me go. The only one that was sad was poor Jillian. She wanted to go to school too. After I had dropped Payton and Savannah off at their classrooms, she said, "Are you taking me to my class now, mommy?" She started to cry when I told her no. I did get her a backpack which she insisted on wearing most of the day today. She doesn't understand about not being old enough to go. Every time Payton or Savannah mentioned going to school, she would say..."I am going to school too." Just a few more years.

When they got home, they were both full of stories to tell about their first day. I think Savannah is going to handle it a lot better than I thought she would. And Payton is an ol' pro. Second graders are experienced you know.

It is going to be interesting with only the two girls at home. I am hoping to have them take naps at the same time. It worked ok today...I actually took a nap too. I know, it's a miracle.

This is Prince William Sound.


















More shots from above. Pretty cool, huh?

Here are a few shots of some glaciers from the helicopter.

North, to Alaska!

Doug has been going up to Anchorage, Alaska once a month for work for the last few months. He finally talked me into going. I just got back at 7am and I am tired from a sleepless night on the airplane and really wanting to go back. I had a fabulous time. I got there late Thursday night. You should have seen Doug's face when he saw me. It kind of felt like we were sneaking off together, meeting him in a place so unfamiliar. We woke up pretty early on Friday because even though I was there, he still had to work. I hung out in his office during the morning just reading a book. We then headed to lunch at Boston's, a fun pizza place. He still needed to work, so being the good husband he is, he dropped me off at the, get this, 5 story mall! Come on girls, a 5 story mall with no kids, I didn't know where to start. I was there for several hours, and had so much fun just looking around. There were so many interesting things. Doug eventually tore me away from there so we could go out on the town. We ended up going to the Alaska State Fair. Now, I know what you are thinking...the fair? But we had fun. I think the thing was that we were together so it didn't really matter what we did. We saw some huge pumpkins, cabbage, old tractors, ate some funnel cakes and some yummy miniature donuts. Although it did rain on us it didn't last very long. There is one thing I can say about Alaska. It is NOT cheap. Holy cow, I didn't really buy much of anything because everything was just so dang expensive. Did I mention that they had fur stores all over the place? I should've gone and tried some on. Saturday was kind of an up and down day. I had done everything I needed to do to get my Temple recommend renewed the night before I left, dragging all my kids with me, so we could go through the temple while I was there. We got up, got ready, headed for the temple, got out of the car, took a few pictures, got inside, and had to turn around and leave. Doug didn't realize that HIS recommend was expired. Don't give him too hard of a time, he felt absolutely terrible. Especially when I started to cry. I was just disappointed. I could feel how bad he felt and his entire domineer changed. But, lesson learned, and we moved on. We decided to just go change and go for a drive. Now, there really isn't anything special about Anchorage itself. But once you head out of town, it is breathtaking. The mountains are spectacular and the water was perfectly still with their reflections. I took so many pictures that they started to all look the same. We were feeling a little adventurous so we headed to "Alpine Flights." Which gives helicopter tours. We shrugged our shoulders and said "why not?" When are we ever going to have a chance like this again? We hopped into the helicopter, put our head gear on (which I loved, no really I did!) and took off. I can't even describe how magnificent it was. Doug and I were both gitty. I mean, we saw things that we didn't really know about and things that we had only seen on the Discovery Channel. The pictures I took really don't do it justice. We were just trying to take it all in. There was so much to see. I will try to describe the pictures I download. At one point, our pilot, Keith, landed on this ridge of one of the mountains so we could get out, look around, and of course take pictures. It was one of the coolest things Doug and I have ever done. I highly recommend doing it, it is so choice!! (any Ferris Bueller fans?)

When we got done with that we got something to eat at this rundown little restaurant with the best french dip sandwiches I have ever had. Then we just got in the car and drove, and drove, and drove. We got out of the car and walked around a little checking out a few sights. We drove a little more and ended up in the town of Seward. Cute little town with a lot of people. We walked around the little shops, had some Gelato and headed back to Anchorage. What a day!

Sunday was very layed back. We found out what time church started and where but when we got there, there was not one single car in the parking lot, not one. We found out where there was another building with a meeting at the same time, so we booked it over there. We got inside and HELLO SINGLES WARD! Yeah, we felt a little silly. But we were there and didn't want to go searching for a different place again, so we just stayed. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. We just hung out together. We didn't even have that much to say, which doesn't mean anything bad, we didn't have to talk, we just existed, together. AAHHHH!

I had a remarkable time!