Rimsky-Korsakoffee house

On Sunday I was driving home from meeting with Dr. Liss, our insightful homeopathic doctor. I like all kinds of music but rarely get to listen to classical as it is my family's least favorite. (except Coleman!! We are going to go to some serious concerts SOON!!!) Anyway, I was listening to some lovely and relaxing classical music when the Russian musician and composer Rimsky- Korsakov came on. I have a fondness for this composer for many reasons. His music is beautiful, he was very eccentric (which I appreciate) and during our 2nd blissful year of marriage, Eric and I patronized an unusual and special place called the Rimsky-Korsakoffee House in Portland, Oregon.

I haven't thought of that place for years until Sunday morning. It immediately put a smile on my face and later that night I googled it to see if it is still around. Good news!! It is. This "koffee" house is in an old Victorian home in the middle of a busy neighborhood in Portland. At the time, your table would move up and down while you enjoyed your delicious dessert and exotic type tea. Musicians and poets frequented the "koffee" house. The upstairs bathroom was a world in itself. You looked as if you were stepping out into the clouds and the ceiling was painted as if you were looking up underwater. They had a mannequin that they would hide here and there, often scarring you to death or making you laugh til you peed. It was a very eccentric place and we loved going there. Our good friends Ira and Cathy Chudy-Lowery introduced us to the place. Ira is now dead, but I am glad that the Rimsky-Korsakoffee house still lives on!!

Williamsburg part zwei

Texts to my love and firstborn in Willliamsburg.

Me: What are you doing?
Eric: Yorktown.
Me: Nice. Exhausted?
Eric: Beat!! This is hard.
Eric: But, fun.

Eric and Coleman had a great time. I think Eric was surprised at how hard it is to herd cats, oops... I mean kids. 5th graders are squirrely and require a lot of supervision and energy. Coleman loved the trip and more. He was able to answer many questions during the tours (yes!, he has been listening and soaking up all the info throughout the year!!) and even got to play the harpsichord for his classmates. Eric is even a new fan of the Golden Corral in Williamsburg. Good food makes a good trip! Hopefully one of us will be going again in another year. Looking forward to it!! (O:

I really love...

when Gabe wakes up and comes in just to give me 14 good morning kisses.
It is good for my soul!

A part of me

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.
~ Thomas Jefferson

When I was growing up, Utah was the best place on earth. I spent every Christmas and summer there with my Grandparents and cousins. California was also a treat, but Utah felt like home. I have different opinions of Utah now, but I enjoy visiting there and consider it a very family fun and "homey" place to visit. Utah is a little part of me that I can't shake and I am happy my parents are moving there so I can VISIT more. I want my children to know their cousins and love them like I know and love mine. It is nice that we are getting closer and closer together.

I was so happy to see my aunt from California, Aunt Jackie. I haven't seen her in years and it was so wonderful to sit, visit and laugh with her. She hasn't changed in years and for me that is so fun. I adore my aunts and feel so fortunate to know them like I do and have such good relationships with them. My Aunt Julie is one of a kind and has the sweetest heart of anyone I know other than my mother. I love and adore them both!!! Sitting with my cousins at my Grandmother's party was a highlight of my trip. I have a great relationship with all of my cousins and I love them today as much as I did when I saw them a whole lot more. Love only deepens with time. We are all very different, but that only makes things more interesting when we all get together. I miss my cousins in California and wish they could have made it as well. I am hoping to see them in the next year or so. We need to get ourselves to California before Eric pops!! He is a California boy and needs to get there every now and then to feel good and normal!!

Spending time with my sisters and their darling families was also very special. I love and adore them. They add so much joy and goodness into my life. I am crazy about my nieces and nephews!! They are wonderful and I can't get enough of them. I even was able to spend some time with David's daughter, Paris. She is growing up so fast and is such a beautiful, funny young woman.

I was not able to see my Grandmother as much as I would like to have this trip due to the many visitors I had to compete with. She was very nervous about her party and was very happy when it turned out beautiful and perfect. My sweet dad came out and it was great to see him. He is such a good son and takes such good care of my Grandmother. The party was amazing. My Aunt Julie arranged all the food, flowers and decorations (pictures of my beautiful Grandmother). Everything looked and tasted lovely. Many people showed up to celebrate Eva's 95 glorious years. My Grandpa's brother Frank showed up. He looks like a skinner version of my Grandfather and I am always taken back when I see him. He held my arm tenderly for about 5 minutes while he chatted with my dad. It felt so familiar and good that I didn't move a muscle the entire time. He felt like my Grandfather and I was sorry when he had to finally sit down. I miss that kind of touch and it means a lot to me to see the many generations of my family. We have a proud legacy.

Perhaps the most special memory of my trip was church the following morning. My Grandmother was tired but her spirits were happy. I sat next to her and held her tight. I had a very special experience during the sacrament that I will save for another day, another post, but I will say that I felt the spirit very strongly and could hardly contain myself. My Grandmother whispered to me, " I am so glad that you are here." and I knew that I was absolutely in the right place with the right person. It was a tender moment and one that I will never forget. She is so sweet, loving and kind. I am blessed.

I am still collecting pics of the party etc. I will post the stragglers at a later date. I did want to write about my experiences while they are still fresh on my mind. I love the pics of my Grandmother in her younger years and wish I would have taken more. I hope to get copies. (Dad!!!!.... Mom!!!!!!!!!) It was a wonderful trip and I am so glad that I went. My trips to Utah keep getting better and better. I am fortunate to have such a comfortable, nice place to stay while I am there, a great spa down the street, a car that is cute and works and family to fill my time and make my life better!! Life is good!!

Williamsburg part eins

This morning, Coleman left for an overnight field trip to Williamsburg, VA. He literally JUMPED out of bed at 5:30. I woke him up and tried to leave.... he said he needed me for just a second and gave me a BIG hug. So sweet!!! He was very excited!! I think one of the best parts of the trip is that Eric is accompanying him. Hopefully Eric will take some good pics of the trip, but the parents stay fairly busy so..... I will be happy for just a couple if even that. The fifth grade has been preparing and studying for this trip all year. I hope he has a great time!! Coleman is such a good son. We are so lucky and blessed to have him as our first born. He is extra special!!I love you Coleman!!

Did I mention....

that Meredith is on board for summer child care.

I am so happy.

We adore Meredith. I can go to the gym, run errands, and maybe even get my house in order...

Life is peachy!!!

Eva Madonna Poulsen Coleman

I made it to my sweet Grandmother's 95th birthday!! I guess I should say we both made it!! (O: It was quite a celebration and I am so happy I was able to attend. I have lots of pictures and words on the subject, but need to get my life in order before I sit down to reminisce on the wonderful, memorable weekend. My time in Utah was very special. I was able to see a lot of my extended family and had a such a great time with them. I really love all my family and I love to laugh so the mix was good for my soul. Stay tuned for my thoughts, impressions and pictures. I am very blessed to have such a wonderful, caring, fun family and such a sweet, tender Grandmother.

I love this picture of my Grandmother. She is so young and beautiful. See my Grandfather peaking out of the picture on the right? He was a handsome man with thick, black hair. I miss him so much. No wonder my Grandmother wants to join him... Who wouldn't?!? I wish I could comb his black hair just one more time. Someday I will again.

I see London, I see France. I see Tia's underpants!! Just kidding... but I do see part of a family pic. Beakie!!!! Pinch pinch!! XO

I love you Grandma and Grandpa!!

Frozen buns and chocolate under the door.

The funeral was very nice and well attended. It was in an old, old church in York. After the service, we went to Hershey. Eric got us a beautiful suite at the Hershey Hotel. It is a 5 star establishment and is absolutely gorgeous!! What a sweetie!!

The suite was connected by two doors. Finn is quite good at escaping so I barred one of the doors and stayed in another. I thought we had all our bases covered. Well, as we were waiting for room service, Finn shut the adjoining door and it LOCKED. We called security. They assured us it would be easy to get him out. They used a hotel key only to find the door security bar was ON (yes... remember? I locked it so Finn could not get out..... WHY oh WHY?!?) They retrieved another tool to get the door open. It did not work. They man was very rough with the door and right before closing it again as hard as he could, Eric spotted little fingers. They could have taken his fingers right off.... I was horrified. I had to plant myself at the other door and feed him chocolate under the door. That's right.. chocolate under the door. I was desperate. I wanted him to be safe and to absolutely stay away from the other door. The room service lady served my other kiddies dinner while Eric stayed by the front door to assist the security men and to watch for little, sweet fingers and I stayed by the room door begging Finn to eat chocolate and to stay and talk to Mommy through the door. It was quite a scene!! They finally had to break the bar off. As you can see, that is not an easy task.

That was just the first of our adventures. It was so nice to be somewhere fun and exciting with the family, but neither Eric nor I checked the weather. What a mistake. It was freezing!! I didn't pack anything for colder weather..... Ick!! Hershey Park was soooooo cold. We froze our chocolate buns off!!! Eric went to Hershey World and bought us all a Hershey sweatshirt. We were "Hershey cute" for sure. The boys went on a few rides, we saw a show, ate in the wind and finally called it quits. The cold hurts my body still so I was ready ready READY to go. Finn gave up too and snuggled down for a long, "winters" nap. All in all it was a great trip. It is nice to get away no matter what the circumstances. It was a memorable Mother's Day and I loved being with my wonderful family.