Lisa n Tom (n James n Joseph)

Lisa's mom wrote: Dad and I just got back from teaching the Young Women/Young Men the cha cha and swing ! We had over 40 people dancing with us, from age 12 to 18, along with all the adult leaders. It turned out so well. Dad had videos from Donny and Shannon on a big screen as an attention getting as they sat on the gym floor. Donny's "pretzel" was what Dad taught. The slow clips of Donny teaching us helped a lot. Dad had a wireless microphone for each of us to clip on as we taught our different steps and routines. I taught the basic cha cha and swing step with a few open moves and turns. Those kids were so cooperative and wanted to learn. We ended with our "Wedding Cha Cha" and they cheered for us. They didn't know we left out a part. I guess we will have to do it for the ward variety show next month so we can polish it again. I was dancing blind tonight after getting my eyes dilated this afternoon at my pre-exam for Lasik April 6th. It all wor...

Lisa writes: The parents and I went to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art. The first thing I learned: the National Gallery of Art isn't affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute. Neither is the National Archives. Not that it matters, really, it's just that I'd always assumed they was because ... they're all right next to each other? Mom took lots of pictures. Here's the Hope Diamond, temporarily out of its white diamond necklace setting. If you hit it with UV light, it glows blood-red for a while afterwards. In 2008, they definitely proved that it was one of the French crown jewels, stolen during the Revolution then recut to disguise its identity. Supposedly lots of people who owned it died (but Wikipedia begs to differ). The second-to-last crazy-old-lady D.C. socialite used to hang it from her dog's collar. When the last owner, Harry Winston (who died of natural causes at 82) donated it to the Smithsonian, he mail...

Lisa's mom writes: We left Colorado in a blizzard...Such joy to see spring! Lisa & Tom Rexene and a cherry tree next to the Capitol. Daisies growing on trees? Lunch at the new Smithsonian National Museum of American Indian (out of time to see - next visit). Lisa & Dad and I leaving the New National Harbor area. Lisa with the flowers & world's biggest typewriter eraser. Lisa and Dad with the World's Biggest Mosquito - "Oh, no!" Lisa's least favorite. Lisa and Rexene doing an ad for FTD at the National Gallery Art Washington DC- Breathtaking! The only Leonardo de Vinci in America! Rembrandt's self portrait - a painting of his wife and so many others. Walking from one gallery of art to another - Lisa - the prettiest flower of all! (These are real weeping willows of blooms).

Lisa writes: I read somewhere (maybe in "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell) about a company trying to sell jelly in grocery stores. When they offered shoppers samples of 20 kinds of jelly, shoppers bought less than when they were offered samples of just 4 or 5 kinds of jelly. The discovery was that although shoppers claim to want choice, when offered too many choices, they become overwhelmed and just run away. Tom and I feel that way in toothpaste aisle all the time. Now imagine us trying to pick out cabinetry. Vanity cabinet : Basically this, but with the flat-front, Shaker-style doors instead of the beadboard. (Shakers NEVER have to deal with this kind of decision-making.) Also, with drawers on both sides of the sink. Doors for those lucky, lucky Shakers. So, kinda like this. It's Kraftmaid because our contractor bullied us into it. The drawers slide like butter and the doors have pneumatic hinges. I can't think about how much it's going to cost or else I'll have ...

Lisa writes: I have a few opinions. And they're controversial opinions, too. You ready? Opinion #1: I think brushed nickel is a fad. Opinion #2: I think granite countertops are a fad. Opinion #3: I think the reason nobody in your family ever puts a new roll of toilet paper out when they finish the old one is because of how badly designed the conventional toilet paper holder is. Think about it: the conventional design almost requires three hands to swap out a roll. So, having said all that, here's what we're thinking about bathroom fixtures. Toilet paper roll : Vertical or horizontal? What do you think? Light fixture : Basically this, but with three bulbs. Sink faucet : This. (Click to enbiggen.) Same thing again, but with my speckled hand in there for perspective. Shower hardware : Same style. Looks like a regular showerhead and single-knob control. I'll spare you the pic. You're a busy person.

Lisa's Aunt Joyce sent this picture of my great-great grandmother, Mary Eliza Brunt, born in New Zealand.

Lisa writes: Tom isn't allowed to eat any of these until his birthday.

Lisa's sister, Lori, writes: Hey! These are some of the pictures I sent to our social worker for our LAST post-placement adoption homestudy. In other words we are TOTALLY DONE with any adoption related paperwork! Hallelujah! P.S. is there anything cuter than a two year old in pigtails?

Lisa writes: This is the flower (a crocus) and this is the sunlight and this is the first light of spring at our house.

Lisa writes: If you find yourself needing to dispose of a seafoam green sink and toilet, instead of a trip to the dump may I recommend a trip to your nearest Habitat for Humanity ReStore ? These stores function like a "Goodwill" for building materials: instead of paying the dump to take your stuff, the ReStore will take it for free and you'll get a tax credit. Also, your stuff will get reused by somebody who will love and appreciate it for all of its green seafoaminess.

Lisa writes: Here's our carport. We've become those neighbors. At least we haven't stuck the toilet in the front yard and filled it with potting soil and flowers. Not yet, anyway.

Lisa writes: Don't buy the sad, sad look in his eyes. He begged for this haircut and he LOVES getting his hair cut. That $30 electric razor kit we bought at Target three years ago has paid for itself a 100 times over and Tom's hair always looks great, right? Right??

Lisa writes: My brother, Don Don, put together some pictures and video of my parents' trip to visit him in California last month. Highlights are Beach Boys music, aerial Cheez-It seagull feedings, and Mom's new goatee.

Lisa writes: This is a fan-created video of a Magnetic Fields song as covered by Peter Gabriel that I first heard in the movie "Shall We Dance?" Got all that? The point here is that Tom and I sang this around the house every day for months last year and I can't believe I forgot to subject you to it earlier. Gosh, I love this song.

Lisa writes: My sister Debbie is famous! Well, maybe not all of her. Maybe more like her lower jaw is famous. In case you have to watch this twice to find her (like I did), she's at 00:07. When the camera pans across all the kids in the yellow shirts, she's the second kid -- to the left of the kid in the knit cap. She smiles and you only see her from the nose down. The important thing is that you get a good shot of her teeth. Dad should be very proud. This video aired on BYUTV. Deb is part of a group of students lobbying the school administration to use more natural gas and less coal for heating. They believe that the improved local air quality would be worth the higher cost.

Lisa's sister, Christi, texts: Holy cow, I have a teenager! Doesn't that entitle me to a midlife crisis or something?

My cute little 5-year-old niece picked out this fabric for a quilt. I started the project great guns, then ran out of steam. The pieces have been sitting in my fabric stash. I'm am pleased to announce that I finished it last week and mailed it for the niece's birthday today. I am mortified to announce that the niece is turning 13. 3/7/2010 Addendum: Madison left me a voicemail message saying, "I got the quilt. I love it. It's my favorite color -- pink." Of course, I told her she had to say that, and I know pink is not her favorite color, but it was still nice to hear.

Lisa writes: I made these little pillows for my friend Heidi and her daughter, Clara, who happen to share a birthday.