Téa Leoni has a new Biggest Fan

And that would be me. Not because of Family Man, or Spanglish, or Fun with Dick and Jane (hilarious). No, it is because she wrote to my daughter not as a celebrity, but as a mom.

About 6 months ago, Téa came home and lamented to Ben about how she didn't like her name. No one can pronounce it. Trying to say he understood wasn't cutting it. He told her about Téa Leoni and that maybe she could ask her. She wrote the cutest letter I've ever read ("Did anyone ever tease you? Call you Tortilla or Tommy or Tomagolchi?") She added her school picture and an origami bird. So sweet.

It broke my heart knowing the grim probability of Téa ever hearing back from her. After unsuccessfully searching for an address, I remembered a friend of mine's husband is a director and was able to get me her production company's address. (Thank you Trevi!)

Needless to say, the other day Téa got a letter addressed just to her.

Téa screamed when she opened it. It was the sweetest letter explaining what she went through and how much she loves her name now. And to top it off, she sent her a friendship bracelet.

The fact that she took the time to reply to Téa the way she did means the world to me. Téa has become really excited and proud of her name. It has been fun to watch.

So, yes, I am a huge fan and have a load of respect for Téa Leoni.

So from one mom to another: Thank you thank you thank you.

Just Read

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to rscheearch taem at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Such a cdonition is arppoiately cllaed Typoglycemia. Amzanig huh? And yuo awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt.

The 3 hour wait with 3 kids was well worth it . . . considering the ride we got to go on! Oh wait - there was a shot waiting for them at the end of the line; no ride. Better luck next time.

From the Mouth of Aves

Last week my brother called early and told us (on speaker phone) that my sister was in labor and that the baby should be delivered within the hour. The girls and I were excited as I put their backpacks on and sent them on their way.

We live in the back of a cul-de-sac and it wasn't until Avery got all the way to the corner that she decided to ask/shout her question.

She yells, "Hey Mom! Are they going to put the baby in a box or something?

Or is someone going to hold the baby when she's born?"

(Remember, she is 4 houses away.)

I yell back the obvious, "No. They are not going to put the baby in a box!"

She shouts back, "Well, Jake said she was going to be delivered.

Does Auntie Josie go home without the baby and they mail her to their house?"

Time to buy some Amelia Bedelia books. . .

You Are Welcome

It was one of those moments when you stop and realize it is strangely quiet in the house. I called for Téa and there was no answer. So I started opening doors. I eventually opened my bedroom closet door and Tay was on the floor and just said, "Shut the door, Mom." There was no blood, no tears, and a slight smile. So, I just smiled back and shut the door.

I forgot about that and she eventually ran over to play at a friend's.

It all started with noticing Rocco's freshly-filled bowls. Then the note above my bed that she had just made. Then Avery's bed, Eden's bed, and finally - our perfectly organized closet.

Each with a "Your Welcome" note.

Love her. Love love love her.

Wedding at Sundance

Jeannie and Julian got married on Saturday. It was in Sundance and it was so beautiful. We couldn't be happier for the two of them.

And I am going to make my own vows now. . .I Briar, vow to take a real camera - and not just my camera phone - if I would like to take a decent picture at night.

Beautiful Macy

My sister Josie had her 3rd child (first daughter) on Wednesday morning.

She is beautiful and so is Josie.

Now if we could only get her city of San Francisco to move closer to me.

What Happens in Vegas Sta- well, Goes on my Blog

Thanks to a 5 day break from school, we headed to Las Vegas. During the trip, Ben caught a flight to Austin, Texas for a concert with our brother-in-law, David.

Meanwhile, Megan and the girls showed me and my girls a good time.

We love the Bullochs!

Megan and I crafted...

Had a birthday party and got to swim...

Megan made sure I remembered how long my legs are...

Had a night-out with Megan and Roger and without the kids...

Forgot my legwarmers. . .

Sat VIP at a Vegas Show

And got to go home with a member of the band. . .

I Think it's Genetic

These are the feet of my girls today; a day with an outdoor high of 45 degrees. Today they pulled out their Fall clothes and shoes, got dressed, and we headed to Cabela's for a no-school day outing. I didn't think a thing of it until Aves complained of how cold she was. I told her she was crazy for wearing sandals on a freezing cold day. . .just as I become strangely aware of my own naked feet.

I have absolutely ZERO weight to throw around on this issue...I still wear flip flops in the snow.

Post Script: Why Cabela's? Well, because yesterday Avery asked if we could "go to that place with all of the dead animals where they take their skin off and put them on pretend bodies and then put glass eye balls back in??"

Oh, Cabela's. Of Course.

Racing the Horses

Another great year at The Races!

Thanks to everyone who came over and made the night. It's been eight consecutive years of serious competition. This year Lancelot took the race and Lorum Ipsom bet his way to a prize. Ben and I are grateful for such great people in our lives. Even though I am among friends, I still get insanely nervous every time I am called up to race! I'll never get over it.

Beth (aka Lancelot), our Grand Prize winner.

I think it was around 10pm that the effects of drinking about 12 abandoned drinks and leftover cupcakes took-over little Eden's body as she suddenly started to scream uncontrollably; she stopped - as if I had pushed a mute button - the second her head touched her pillow. I think I was the same way about 4 hours later.

The girls were put to bed, lights out and way way too late, when they started to cry that they were "soooooo hungry". I insisted they were just tired. But their insisting won out my insisting and they came downstairs for a midnight dinner. They were so sweet - refusing anything with sugar, just had a little chili and stumbled their way to bed. I am in love with them.

Paddle Boarding

Last night, the girls from The Mandate and I went out to celebrate Jeannie's upcoming nuptials. Brooks took us all Paddle Boarding at a reservoir near Park City. It was absolutely beautiful; the water was glass and there were baby deer nearby. Yes, baby deer.

Brooks gave me a 1 minute tutorial in the icy water and sent me on my way. I loved it immediately.

It was a great time. Thanks to Brooks for putting it all together.

Jeannie, the bride-to-be.

State Fair

Again, no pictures really taken. We were busy high-tailing it from one ride to the next (we got there late) and Ben, as he worked his way through all of the fine fair fare, told us to just call him Templeton.

Dear Self-Proclaimed Blog Stalker,

Is the second letter of your first name A? Is the fourth letter of your last name M?

Then yes, I am talking to you.

Ben tells me communication has been a little one-sided as of late.

It's not fair.

So, consider this your personal invitation to come over one night (or two, or three) next week.

We'll all have dinner. And yes, if you insist, we can start another Connect Four Championship.

Ben and I love you and the girls don't even know you! And that makes me sad.

We need to change that.

Email me or Ben, pronto.

Ode to Jake

Happy Birthday to Jake!

We got to have a rushed - and I mean rushed - party for Jake on Sunday afternoon. He had a photo shoot in Albion that evening ("Albion? Where's Albion? Right by Declo, of course.").

My mom brought "the party" over to our house in her car. Bless her heart.

I honestly don't know what I would do without Jake. He is one of the best friends I have ever had. He works down here a lot and we get to have him stay with us - sometimes weekly. We even transform the Toy Room into what I like to call "The Chateau."

I am grateful for him and for always getting me to laugh harder than I had all week. It is so nice to have someone around who "gets you." Everyone needs someone like that and I am glad to have Jake.

Great to be Eight

This weekend has been all about Téa.

And with good reason. We had a birthday and a baptism all within one day of each other.

It all started with a big jump - very early - onto our bed, hoping to spot the African Dwarf Frogs she had so desperately hoped for. We made her sweat it out a bit, but eventually pulled the little guys out.

That was followed by being VIP in class (large poster needed) and cupcakes delivered.

Followed by her main birthday request - to be dropped off at her dad's shop to spend the day working for him. . . with a change of clothes ("Very important, Mom.").

Followed by a (very hyper) "Late Night" with 2 friends.

Followed by a baptism the next day.

I'm tired.

Commercial Break:

When the cat's away, the mice will play.

Eden finally got her chance near the frogs after Téa left for school.

And. . . back to Téa:

Sweet Téa

My baby turned 8. It is all going too fast.

It was just yesterday that I was walking into the water to be baptized, worrying that my dress would come up. And it was just yesterday that I met a cute boy in Idaho named Ben. It was just yesterday that we sat silently on our couch with bottles of root beer staring at our 2-day-old baby sleeping in her car seat on the coffee table - not quite sure what to do next. It was just yesterday that it was winter and the little 3-year-old ran around the house in her bathing suit just in case it warmed up. And now it was just yesterday that she was baptized.

I am so proud of her and love her even more than yesterday.