Saturday Adventures

Saturday was a busy day. I went to our Relief Society breakfast, then to a bridal shower, and then crashed an Arizona party (they actually got it up to ninety degrees in the room!). The weather was gorgeous that day, I didn't even need my coat. The sky was my favorite color of blue and the sun shone bright in the sky. When I arrived at home, Katie approached me with a gleam in her eye and convinced me to go on another adventure. I was worn out, but she wanted to go to the beach, which I couldn't resist on such a gem of a day.
We decided to head out to Castle Island, where Fort Independence looms. As we drove along the Charles River towards the city, I looked up and saw some mistiness in the air... what was that? We soon realized that fog was rolling in and by the time we made it through South Boston to the beach, we couldn't see the sun anymore. It was a little bit disappointing, but still a good discovery. We will definitely be back when the sun is shining.
Katie was sorely disappointed that we were not allowed inside the fort. She had seen the fort from her whale watching boat ride the year before. The green grass growing on top is quite enticing. Pity the doors are locked... and you know, a fort is meant to keep people out, so it would probably be difficult to break in. ;)
The wind picked up a little as we walked around the fort. There was this cool monument for Donald McKay, shipbuilder, with the names of all the ships he built. My favorite was Empress of the Seas, not to be confused with Romance...Champion... Sovereign... or Glory... of the Seas.

I loved being by the water. There is something rejuvenating about smelling the salty air and hearing the waves break against the shore.

It was a lovely Saturday adventure... even if the fog followed us all the way home.

Colin's Demise

Yesterday I visited dear Bethany at the hospital. She has been going through a horrible flare-up with her colon (who she named Colin) for over a year and Monday she gave him the boot. We made the little chain below to count down to the big day. I just have to say that Bethany has been such an example to me of courage and charity throughout this ordeal. She had many a hard day, but always managed to pull through with a smile, with optimism, and still managed to have concern for those around her, which is difficult when you have so much to be concerned with yourself. Please pray for her that she may have a full and fast recovery.

Officially Spring

This has been a good week. Katie and I went to two movies in the middle of the week... which I normally wouldn't do, but they were only showing this week. The first one was incredible. It was a Russian remake of "Twelve Angry Men", called "12". I loved that I could still understand most of what they were saying and how much Russian culture was incorporated into the story. The boy on trial was Chechen, so the movie also brought in the war and an amazing Chechen knife dance. It was inspiring to me, and really made me want to go back to Russia. The second movie was "Phoebe in Wonderland". It had a good balance of seriousness and humor. It made me think about how often we feel like we need to be perfect, but its just not possible. I highly recommend both movies.

In honor of the Spring Equinox on Friday, Kristie and Victoria had a gathering with yummy food, good conversations, and entertaining hairstyles. Saturday morning, I woke up and sauntered in to find Katie watching Saturday morning cartoons. I joined her on the couch and glanced over to see these flowers near the window. I jumped up and started squealing like a little girl. Katie had to keep shushing me because Jan Marie was still asleep. I love my narcissus! They smell heavenly. I had planted the bulbs a few weeks ago, but the box said it would take six weeks to bloom, so I wasn't expecting them yet. It was a nice Spring surprise. That afternoon I went on exchanges with the sisters in our ward. We actually knocked a street near where I live. It was actually fun... everyone was really nice and it was just good to talk to people. My friend Mollie then colored and cut my hair. I was so excited to have my hair done. I had it done regularly in Utah, but haven't so much in Boston. It was really time.

Afterwards, we went and bought Twilight at Target and watched it. I know there are cheesy parts, but I love Edward. Does anyone know someone like him? :)

So... I will be travelling quite a bit in the next couple of months. My friend Denise and I just decided to go the Met in NYC in a couple of weeks. I go to the ASCA conference in Nashville later next month, after which I'm going up to Louisville, KY with Michelle. Then in May, I am going home to SLC before our work conference in Jackson Hole. The week after which, I am going to Ireland with Michelle. Have I ever mentioned that I love to travel?

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Green

Do you like my green for today? What did you wear?

Pi Day

On Saturday, my roommate Katie approached me in the afternoon and asked if I wanted to go on an adventure. Normally, I jump at the chance, but I have to admit that I was feeling rather cozy, nestled in a blanket, watching Better Off Dead. She convinced me, though, when she told me she wanted to find a farmers market that I'd been wanting to go to called Russos. It was amazing! I fell in love when I walked in and saw beautiful fresh flowers. Katie bought her favorite, Stock, and I bought some Irish Bells, in anticipation of the holiday.

All the fruits and vegetables looked amazing... I would have gotten more if I hadn't just gone grocery shopping that morning. We did find yummy Armenian bread that I used to buy in Russia. We made an amazing alfredo chicken pizza on it for dinner. We realized that it was in fact appropriate to have a pizza pie for Pi Day (3.14). Kristie came and helped us make some mini fruit pis to celebrate.

Happy birthday to Ethan on Saturday too! I can't believe my boy is nine. I hope your parties were lots of fun. :)

Tired

Last night I had the opportunity to go to a testimony meeting for the missionaries going home from the mission... and it just happened to be the exact seven-year anniversary of when I went home from my mission. Wow.

One of the sweet sisters who has served in our ward is returning home today. I am going to miss her sweet example. It was so great to hear the sincere, pure testimonies from those who have spent the last eighteen months to two years in serving the Lord. A common thread shared was that the Lord knows, more than we do, what is best for us. When we are following His Spirit, things will work out better... maybe not always as we planned, but better. One funny for the night. One Elder went up and said, "so it's been two years... I'm kind of tired." :) I remember the feeling. Working hard and being so tired, but feeling so good about it.

Being there made me think of all of the people that I loved and served on my mission. The day I left, sweet Vika was at the airport. She didn't know that I was going home, but had gone with Alyesha to see another Elder off. When she saw me, she just started crying at the thought that she might not have been there to say good-bye to me. Vika was one of the first people that I met and loved in Russia. I remember about a week after I arrived, we met at a branch Halloween party. She and I sat at the side and exchanged one word in Russian and one word in English (which she loved learning), because that was about the extent of my communication at that point. I remember that she taught me the word for butterfly (babochka). I have so many sweet memories of the times we laughed and cried together over the next five months.

My Family Loves Me

So, I finally got pictures last night! I guess I just had to blog about not getting any. ;) These are my favorites...
He's holding his own pacifier! I loved my pacifier as a child and think they're so cute. Isn't he precious?Here are Jessica's kids before their piano recital last week:

I talked to Audrey the night before and asked her to play her pieces for me. She went in and started playing and it sounded like she was having trouble. Jess walked in to find her switching the phone back and forth between her hands, trying to still play all the notes.

The boys played their pieces for me today. (Julian snuck in and stole the phone while Preston was playing. I suddenly just heard Julian giggling and Preston chasing him, shouting, "He's taking it!") They are so good! All three of them received Superior ratings at the Federation competition on Saturday. Way to go! One more funny tonight... Preston told me they went back to school today and it is so boring. When I asked why, he replied, "well, I wish it were like School of Rock." Don't we all.

Edible

Yes, they are. Our upstairs neighbor Trisha received this Valentine's Day gift from her fiance. They are heart-shaped paper-like wafers and come with a marker with edible ink! Katie loved them so much, that he got more for her too. We had a little fun during church yesterday.
That one was because of a comment made about humility in Sunday School...

Massacre Day

It was time, once again, for the children's reenactment of the Boston Massacre. Luckily, it was not raining this time, but it did mean it was pretty crowded. I felt bad for poor Captain Preston, though. The kids were out of control and kept throwing the snow balls at his head, even though he specifically asked them not to. Some people should control their kids. As if this weren't bad enough, someone actually pegged him right in the head with a real snowball! He told us this was his third year and he probably won't be back again. He was nice though, and gave me a Spanish coin (replica)... which were actually more common than British coins then. This kid has a career in show biz. He was the wigmaker's apprentice who started all the taunting. He took the most realistic fall when the redcoat hit him with his rifle in the head.

Jan Marie, Katie, Victoria, Charlotte, Denise

The trial was a little too long, so we had some fun with the interactive displays, before heading out to do a little shopping.

The weather this weekend was incredible... around sixty degrees, mostly sunny, and gorgeous. It was so nice to be outside without my heavy coat. On the way home, we saw this pimped-out Smart Car. Do you love the lights under the carriage? He was eating up the attention when he saw us taking a picture, and honked his horn. It sounded like a diesel horn, but kind of fancy.

Just have to mention... Friday night after dance class, Denise had a little game night. We played extreme charades. It was pretty intense. Everyone writes ten words, then two teams in different rooms race against eachother to see who can get all ten first. Whoever guessed the right word goes out to get the next one. I had some challenging words... while I managed to portray "Babylon" and "Land Before Time", I couldn't get my team to say "sneaking cookies from the cookie jar". Cookie was the hang up. It was absolutely a blast.

So Cute

Jeff says that every so often Maggie will just sigh and say, "I miss Charlotte." So this is what I got in a package at work today. It totally made my day. Thanks, Maggie. I love and miss you too!

Cultured

Friday, my friend Jenny Faith was asked to sing harmony with a girl performing here in Boston. We went and heard her do an amazing job. I loved her sound and lyrics. Afterwards we went to a fun party. For her 29th birthday, Carly had a Roarin' 20's Party. We took pictures in the photo booth, watched an old silent movie, and drank Shirley Temples. Good times.

Saturday, I went to Cafe Brazil for some amazing food. There are two Brazilian Elders serving in our ward. We had three people who served in Brazil and one girl from Brazil there that night. I should have learned Portuguese.
Afterwards we went to a performance of an opera, Dido and Aenaes. A friend in the University Ward, Krista, was playing the lead. She has an amazing voice. Some of her family had come up to watch, and her mom is Brazilian. It was the theme for the night. She was actually such a cute, fun, bouncy lady. It was great. She prompted Joseph, who also has an amazing voice, and Krista to sing an impromptu concert out in the foyer afterwards. We ended the night with some yummy Cold Stone.

Just a little funny from Sunday. I have been having trouble sleeping lately, so when I woke up early, I decided to put my hair in an updo, and watched some YouTube videos about it. Well... it felt like it was really big, and when I got into my car it was hitting the top of the door. I asked Katie to just hold her hand on top of my head until we got to church to try to flatten it a little. She just laughed... which was good, because I was just partially kidding.

Monday there was a ginormous snow storm. I had thought the snow was done for the year, because we had been enjoying lovely sunny weather. It was crazy bad and when I saw how bad the roads were even after being plowed twice, I decided to stay and work from home. I loved working in my pajamas. I think we should have a work from home day every week... or have a pajama day at work. ;)

Homesick

My brother is officially a daddy! David Ganon Turner was born on 28 February around 4:30 a.m. I guess he didn't want to share in all the March birthdays in our family. He was 8 lb 4 oz and 22 1/2 inches long. Congratulations Patrick and Hilary! Unfortunately, this is the only picture they have sent me so far. I know... I haven't really seen what he looks like yet.

I had turned my phone off when I went to bed that night and when I woke up, there were three calls/messages saying that they were going to/at the hospital. Such exciting news! My cute abuela called me that afternoon to make sure that I knew. This is making me homesick for the first time in a little while. I'm sad I won't get to see him when he is just a little thing.
That morning, Katie and I made buttermilk pancakes for our roommates... in celebration of the end of February. I even made a Mickey and a heart shaped pancake. I taught everyone about "bleen"... In Russia, the word for pancake (theirs are more like crepes) is used like a "dang it" type expression. This is because the first one always turns out bad. We even had a "bleen" that morning... it ended up in the garbage.

One crazy thing... we had to go and pick up the BBQ on the deck. The winds had blown so hard the night before that it just fell right over. Glad I wasn't out there!