Desi Candor

Zoe? Do you like the beverage I made for you? Zoe? Do you love it? Can I give you a hug? (No response from her) Zoe? Can I give you a kiss? Argh! You gave me a slap?! Argh! Are you gonna throw eggs at my face too?!

I’m drawing a letter for Thomas to remind him that I love him.

It’s the season of Falling.

I’m mad cause I didn’t get any sleep – daddy was snoring louder.

Zoe dances like a bus.

I’m the Prophet, follow me Zo!

Me: I wonder what time it is?
Des: I think it’s time to go outside and get me a toy.

Will dad still be here when I grow up like another dad and my sons come?

Mom! I was in like a girl dream! (He was frightened!)

When I was a baby I wanted my name to be The Marshmallow Kid.

I’m stuck here, I can’t move – like a wall or a ceiling!

What a beautiful juice (then he took a long swig and sighed deeply)

Mom, can you make some North Pole Salad?

I want Zoe to ride in the Ogre (he meant Ergo)

That’s an important box mom. It has important papers in it that says: Go to Mars.

I’m making something special for Heidi. I miss her. It makes me sad when Heidi’s not around. It’s not fun when Heidi’s not around.

I’ll go inside and cheer her up (Zoe had just woken from her nap and was crying)

Zoe was relentlessly trying to eat all of Desi’s cereal when he finally snapped, “No more naughty babe!”

I love her cute little arm.

I poked her madly.

When I’m big I’ll walk around town.

Mom? I want more fun-ness.

Can you help me eat this so I can be strong and beautiful?

I’m refreshing!

Me: You’re cute.
Des: Thanks! Thanks for noticing that I’m cute!

You’re fun Zo!

Des: I think Zo wants to be like me. Zo, do you want to be like me?
Zo: Nonononono!
Des: Zo don’t you want to be like me?
Zo: No! ME!
Des: She said, ‘No ME!’ She talks now! She didn’t when she was a baby.

You will be the bum leader, Zoe will be the teacher, and I'll be the consonants.

It smells like Heidi's place. Isn't it great to think of Heidi? And smelling her apartment?

My boyfriend likes ballerinas.

After telling Des that he was going to spend the weeked with Heidi he said, "I'm gonna scream and cry out of loveness and cheer!"

Preschool, Climbing Trees and Ponytails

Preschool has started 5-days a week now, though there are plenty of Jewish holidays to shorten the week. Des is now attending the Y in our neighborhood for 2.5 hours a day. The walk takes us about 30-minutes and that's x 4 (!) I'm getting a lot of extra exercise and Zoe is getting a lot of extra stroller time ( and not always happy about it.)

Des really enjoys his time in class and is quite proud to show the art projects from the day. I love it and think that he is so ready for this. It's a miracle we got into the class really or rather its a miracle we found a class that was still only half full and for his age group and in the neighborhood.

Many of our friends had their babes on waiting lists for the schools in the Bronx. I wasn't sure how to proceed knowing that we'd be leaving the country and thinking we could continue to do our co-op preschool arrangement. Just days before the school year began our friend Natasha mentioned her son's preschool (the Y) and that there was still space and to contact them about it. Suddenly it all clicked and I knew what I should do and, most importantly, I felt like doing it. So DPJ was able to start the second day of the school year and he's so acclimated that I'm shocked he hasn't once (not yet) rebelled against going. Des and Porter B. have become fast buddies and the teachers there are so nice! Today one of them hugged Des and actually told him she loved him. They are going apple picking this month too!! AWESOME!

So Natasha and I stopped by a great climbing tree on the way back from preschool one afternoon and the babes really had a great time being monkeys. Even Zoe continues to be fearless and ape like the boys. This was also a big day as she kept the ponytails in her hair for longer that 2 minutes (they were in for 3 hours or more!) What can I say, this was a triumph!

While we're on topic: the pic above of Desi in ponytail glory was not the first day of preschool -- though wouldn't that have been funny!? It's actually from a recent Sunday, before church, when he decided to help coax Zoe into keeping her pony-do in and, well, he got a little too into it. I negotiated for only the walk to church and then a full removal of all hairbands once we reach the font of the church bldg. By the time we got there he complied without incident declaring that, "ponytails are for girls anyway." I marvel that he can sometimes reach these conclusions without my hinting at them.

DesmondDiscussions#1

Des shares his thoughts on insect biology and imaginary informants.


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Under the Influence of DPJ

Summer Wrap Up

September dawns and I'm feeling so full and content with our first time ever, fully local, summer -- read: we didn't go ANYWHERE. Well, except to Ohio.

M a r o o n e d.

But lotsa lifesavers. Here's a recap (in pics):

FAMILY

Mom and Dad's blissful visit sans Nate&I (Ohio). Babes& Grandparents had a lot of fun. Thank you!

My sisters ALL came to brighten our days – WE LOVE THEM SO MUCH!! Holly started off the summer – she is the epitome of sunshine. This girl lights everyone up! We love you so much sister/auntie! (ok, so we went to CT too)

Heidi – Des cannot get enough of her. CT is too far away for him and Zoe now calls any lovely lady who befriends her, “Heidi”.

Hailey came for a blessed 4-5 hours on a Sunday in August and we loved having her and Randy. THEY ARE SO COOL!! We love you guys!!

Grandma&Grandpa Jones hung out with us for two weeks and we were so spoiled! Most relaxing and rewarding! Grandma Jones (a committed Anglophile, an indifferent cook) and I had little YouTube sessions every night watching Posh Nosh (crazy stuff!) and we were able to escape once for some girltime shopping. ahhhh. . . nicenicenice. Nate and Grandpa Jones went to Phila for a few days to do something about that, er, house that we own . . . what house?

Vanessa stayed with us for about 4-days in August. She is so much like family to me and I thank my Father in Heaven for her every day. We’ve grown so much together. It’s great to grow with someone.

RANDOM

Zoe turned into a super walker this summer -- she'll walk 10 city blocks without complaint.

I made an attempt this summer to actually do some girlie-cutie things with Zoe's hair :::gasp::: (I've been pretty hands off) She's great about letting me put all the elastics in and do all the styling but within 2minutes she has it all undone/removed and I can't figure out what to do about it. Any advice?

Des started posing in this very interesting, statue-esque way. Curious kid.

Then there was the emergence of the awful-freaky-scary-face. Argh!

Where did he come from mom?

PICNICS & FOOD

Lower Manhattan is a fabulous community with lotsa $$$ to sponsor some reallyreallyreally great events. The Fugals used to be Lower Manhattanites so we joined them and the Briens one gorgeous evening, on the waterfront, with some Lombardi’s pizza for a picnic, and drum circle with the locals! What fun! Some silly footage to come postpost.

Cute pic of Nate, Zoe and Emilia.

Drummer Dudes

Lotsa spontaneous family picnics in Isham Park -- so spontaneous I frequently forgot the picnic blanket (curses!) Nevertheless, I got to lounge while Nate did all the rough stuff. Zoe's crazy about the Greek yogurt too.

Zoe's quite the expert now at putting on her own shoes -- yeah for velcro!

This summer’s vegetable was Broccoli Rabe and I declared Saturdays to be

“Broccoli Rabe Saturday Night”

We’ve had BR nearly every Saturday night. SO YUMMY! Email me if you want some recipes. Mmmmm. . . [Kendra C. I credit you with the BR re-introduction. Remember?]

Des also went camping for the first time with Nate at the Father & Son Campout. He was pretty excited about the hotdogs, tent, and rocks.

Le babes took a twirl on Le Carrousel in Bryant Park -- cute french childrens music plays as you spin! Off to the side was a little spot with tables and chairs and a rolling BOOK rack -- with childrens BOOKS! HOW AWESOME IS THAT IN A PARK!?! I loved it.

FRIENDS

Girls Night Out with May -- she builds tofu structures for fun. She's really good at it. But nothing beats her flair for writing -- this girls can weild a pen, er, keyboard!

Ahhh. . . this is funny -- Zoe has on maybe 6 seperate occasions caught the eye of some random young boy at the neighborhood playgrounds. Ages averaging between 8 to 11 or so. Each of these little guys approached me saying something like, “You have a cute baby”. Then most of them would take it upon themselves to be her little helper in climbing the ladders, going down the slides, pushing her in the swings (she’s quite a good climber/slider on her own), etc. Some of these boys she didn’t put up with and expertly dismissed in her little 18-month old way. But there were a couple whom she liked and had a really great time playing with.

This little boy was my favorite, we met him at the Indian Road playground, I think his name is Joelle, a reallyreallyreally nice kid! Hope we run into him again.

And this was Michael we met him at Payson Playground during LunchBunch.

We love Loretta!! She puts up with a lot from DPJ. This is a good example of her sweet coping mechanism -- plug it up and tune him out!

And, of course, there was sadness at the beginning of this summer (well Spring actually) when Thomas Poulsen left NYC&DPJ for NJ. This picture was taken a coupla days after they left as we found ourselves walking by his apartment.

In Remembrance

James E. Faust

1920 - 2007

Apostle of God

A couple of my favorite Faustian ideas:

"Doing things sequentially—filling roles one at a time at different times—is not always possible, as we know, but it gives a woman the opportunity to do each thing well in its time and to fill a variety of roles in her life. A woman does not necessarily have to track a career like a man does. She may fit more than one career into the various seasons of life. She need not try to sing all of the verses of her song at the same time. " - A Message to My Granddaughters: Becoming “Great Women”, Ensign, Sep 1986, 16

"Our love of God must be pure, withour selfist intent. The pure love of Christ must be the motive in our devotion" "Where Do I Make My Stand?" Ensign, Nov. 2004, 18 (S.W.K quote above this one in the text is also profound!)

LDS Newsroom - President James E. Faust Remembered

LDS Newsroom - President James E. Faust Remembered

Grandma and Grandpa Jones

Thank you

Happy Grandma

for all your generous trips to the TOY STORE!

Thank you
Helpful Grandpa
for all your watchful care!

THANK YOU

For helping us

slow down

for two weeks and

e-n-j-o-y

each other.

THANK YOU
For spending a G R U E L I N G summer vacation with us

Tagged

This was quite a self-indulgent exercise but that’s what blogs are all about, eh?! Well, my family will probably think, "hooohhhuuummm where are the babe details?" Sorry. But I’d like to thank Jess for tagging me (a long time ago) for all these wee bitty me details.

(I know you did too Mara, I'll get to it, yours are harder!)


Jobs I have had:
1. Admin. Asst/Event Planner for the Hospitality Committee for United Nations Delegations, Inc. (current)
2. Commerce Marketing Coordinator for the Government of Dubai , UAE
3. Receptionist for Middlekauf Lincoln Mercury
4. Sales Representative for Nordstrom
5. Waitress for Golden Corral (that's where i first saw npj!)


Movies I can watch over and over:
1. Pretty in Pink
2. Children of Heaven
3. A Christmas Story
4. Star Wars Trilogy
5. Hannah and her Sisters
6. The Daytrippers
7. Long, rambling, gorgeous British-esque sagas


Books I can read over and over:
1. The Rainbow - D.H. Lawrence
2. Meatless Days - Sara Suleri
3. Gilead - Marilynne Robinson
4. A Rebels Silhouette - Faiz Ahmed Faiz
5. Book of Mormon


Places I have lived:
1. Cedar City, Ogden, No. Salt Lake, UT
2. Rostock, Germany
3. Philadelphia, PA
4. New York, NY
5. Siberia (impending!)
6. Kazakhstan (impending!)


Places I want to visit:
1. New England, US
2. Quebec City, QC
3. Istanbul, Turkey
4. Prague, CR
5. Budapest, Hungary
6. Samarkand, UZ
7. Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Iran!


Places I have visited:
1. Hawaii
2. Lotsa US
3. Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Canada
4. Wales
5. Germany
6. Italy
7. Austria
8. Slovenia
9. Denmark
10. Finland
11. Lithuania
12. Latvia
13. Estonia
14. Russia
15. Dubai, UAE


TV shows I watch:
1. PBS everything (love Tues nights: Charlie Rose, Frontline, Wide Angle, P.O.V!)
2. Masterpiece Theatre
3. America's Next Top Model (!)
4. American Idol (!)
5. Slings and Arrows (via Blockbuster.com)
6. Star Trek Deep Space Nine (blockbuster again)


Foods I like:
1. Funky Cheese
2. Yummy Bread
3. Grapes
4. Broccoli Rabe (broccoli rabe Saturday nights!)
5. Greek Yogurt with Honey
6. Dark Chocolate
7. Korean BBQ (wrapped in lettuce!)
8. Beans
9. Salmon with a side of jasmine rice, fresh sliced kiwi, and mesclin salad w/oil&vinegar. YUM!
10. Sweet Plantains
11. Rice Pudding with Pistachios


I'd rather be:
1. Sitting in a hard old chair in the reading room of the Humanities and Social Sciences Library surrounded by big beautiful books
2. Browsing through Dean & DeLuca or the Gourmet Garage
3. Lounging in my mother's garden
4. Hanging out in an old book store
5. Walking in the park with Desmond&Zoe
6. Eating at Prune
7. Watching a little film or play in some obscure theatre in NYC
8. Riding a horse
9. Playing tackle on my bed with Desmond&Zoe
10. Cuddling on the couch with Nathan while listening to Gershwin or my fav Verdi opera
11. Enjoying the Manhattan skyline from my dreamy 3-bedroom apartment (as if!)
12. Learning Arabic


Websites I visit daily:
1. my email
2. UN email and news
3. friends blogs
4. nytimes.com
5. craigslist.com
6. newyorker.com
7. amazon.com
8. nypl.org
9. imdb.com
10. youtube.com
11. wikipedia.com

Desi Candor

I was saying a prayer because Grandma and Grandpa left and I’m so sad about Grandma and Grandpa leaving.

After a big bear hug Des says breathlessly, “Mom, I almost got hug-sick.” I asked him what that was. “It’s when someone hugs you too tight and you throw up in their arms.”

Its ok, it’s ok. Big brother is here. Its ok, it’s ok.

Dad lets go shave.

My ninja guy doesn’t like our apartment very much – he likes Heidi’s best. I should have left him at Heidi’s.

You look like hot sauce.

"Mommy? What temple will I marry Lexi in?" Playing along I mentioned a few on the east and a few on the west coasts. He was thoughtful and said, “Maybe I can marry Lexi in the North Pole Temple”.

Do you love me Zo?

When I go to Jesus’ place I think he’s gonna show me off!

Zoe you’re naughty.

I was dreaming about something unusual happening.

Me: ahhhhoooohhh… Zoe! You need to pick these things up!
Des: What does Zoe need to pick up?
Me: These things on the floor
Des: Don’t worry, I can pick them up!

Mommy my spoon broke. Spoon overboard!

A girl with ponytails in her hair is poking me! (Zoe)

When I go marry Lexi in the temple, I’ll bring my beverage just in case.

Me: What did you have for lunch today?
Des: Nothing
Me: Dad didn’t fix you anything?
Des: No
Me: I want to know so I don’t make the same thing again tonight because I’m thinking about Mac-n-… (then I fell silent thinking I’d revealed too much)
Des: (Catching on) We had . . . peanut butter sandwiches
Me: Are you sure? (Feeling dubious)
Des: Yeah
Me: I’m going to ask Dad. What do you think he’ll say?
Des: Ummmmm… Mac-n-Chz!

Wouldn’t it be funny if we lived in a shoe?

I’m pretending to be a naked bad guy – the Hulk!

Zoe? Are you leading the way?

Des sometimes likes to pretend he’s a baby. One afternoon after repeated ear-razing “waaaaa waaaaa waaaaa” phony baby cries, I was really getting annoyed. But before I could act, he came into my line of vision with the loveliest smile and said, “Baby want mommy” and threw his arms open. Ahhhhh… heart melting.

Des: Mommy, can I go potty for just a sec?
Me: Mmmmhmmm.
Des: Thank you, mommy!

We’d been reading a story about a family going grocery shopping and one of the children after repeated antics was warned about getting a spanking if she didn’t stop misbehaving. Des finally asked, “Is spanking hot sauce?” I chuckled and replied that it wasn't. He continued, “Is it spicy? What is spanking?” Lest he try it on Zoe, I explained it was a punishment and left it at that.

"That’s a good one Charlie!" After our friend Charlie just climbed the walls.

Zoe you’re a sweetheart

The Many Faces of DesmondPJones

Quick Snap

Ayden and Desmond taking their sisters for a swing.

A Memory

Ingmar Bergman died this week. One of the first films I saw of his was "The Virgin Spring". It was on late night cable television and I happened to be visiting my Grandpa Riggs in Las Vegas. I was laying beside him on his firm, king sized bed. I didn't know anything about the film or Bergman but as we were clicking around there was something about it that made me ask Gpa to stop.

Before we got half way through the film I was writhing on the bed completely worked up and taken over -- it was such a heartbreaking film! I can't remember ever being so emotionally rattled and my Grandpa lay there peacefully, contentedly -- totally unaffected!

I finally cried out, "Grandpa! This is so sad, so horrible!! These poor people!!" I think I was probably crying.

Grandpa looked over at me, eyebrow cocked, and in his deep voice said, "It's just a movie dear."

My Sister Hailey

Just received a rare email from my sister Hailey with pictures. This one pricked my heart and I had to post it cause I miss her so much and she's so far away in Washington State and she wasn't able to come for our little sister thing last month! Her man Randy is sosososo awesome. Miss you guys! I hope to see you in November!!

Book Obsessed

It's a magical thing -- reading. I have always been passionate about it.

My friend Laurie, who's casual about reading, made a frenzied call about this book she'd just finished begging, pleading with me to read it. I'm not one to demur a good read, so I got online and had _Twilight_ sent to my local NYPL branch.

I am undermined. I am lost. I AM LOVIN' IT. So, if you haven't read this completely engrossing, drop your life and come aboard series of young adult fiction :::gulp::: queue up. I know it's mania already what with Harry Potter and his final blip in our literary horizons. But file this away, once you can breathe again, and are ready for more obsessive coupling with a good book.

Now I have to promise myself to write sometime about a totally different book that had a totally different affect on me. . . glorious, fresh, and fine literature, Marilynne Robinson's, _Gilead_. Another time. Meanwhile, the giddy, free-spirited girl in me is off to devour the second in the series _New Moon_. Bravo Stephenie Meyers!

So, this has all greatly cut into my blogging time. . . among other things.

Zoe en Voice

Zoe turned 18months yesterday and so mybaby is not quite so much a baby. . . she'll be starting nursery school on Sunday and I just might be the one crying.

She's becoming quite verbal so I've decided it's time to create another segment of Jones babes quips. Nate and I had some debate about the catchy title. The one I've chosen Nate didn't think was cutsie enough, "It's cute but it should be cutsie." Alright, so his suggestion? Zoe Baloney.

Juice
Baby
Ears
Eyes
Nose
Byebye
Hi!
No!
Down
Up
Bowl
Spoon
More
Comfy
Kiss
Nurse this (and points!!)
No more . . . (then some gibberish which she means . . . Monkeys jumping on the bed!)
Hot
Cold
Owie!
Shhhhhh.... (with finger in place!)
Stuck
Cookie
Happy
Toast
Hat
Guy (for Desi's action figure toys, statues, pictures, folks on the train -- it's cute)
Shoe
Elmo
Desi
Dadda/Daddy

She still prefers to call me "Dadda". On my birthday however, in a museum, it was the first time she called out to me, after she saw me afar off in a gallery, “MOMMA MOMMA MOMMA!!” It was touching. Since then, though, she’s gone back to her parental coverall term, "Dadda". I wait, and hope.