Mash-up

I stole my title from Glee. Well that's the first time I heard it used. Basically this blog entry is a hodge-podge (I love that term) of random thoughts and happenings from the past few days.

Ryan obliged me by taking a picture of this beautiful pink sunset outside our house. Love it.


We got out for a fun date night with some friends to see this play. Guys and Dolls - one of my favourite. You could tell that the kids must have watched the Marlon Brando version because the boy who played Skye talked just like he did in the movie. The kids were talented!

On the few hot days we had, we spent more time in our cool basement. One of the favourite attractions down there is the "ball pit." Claire actually sits up for quite a long time by herself in there. Sometimes she's joined by her enthusiastic sister.


Here's a yummy meal I tried out from my favourite recipe magazine, What's Cooking from Kraft Canada. Here's the link to the recipe. I know, how housewifey of me. I seriously love when this magazine comes in the mail. But for all of you who do not get it, here's a link to the magazine archives. I would highly recommend trying some of these out. They're usually quick and tasty.


Our garage is now stuffed full of furniture. My Dad brought up a bunch of items from my grandparents home in American Fork. After much deliberation and sorting and hard work, most of their earthly belongings have been redistributed throughout the family. It's really sunk in again that they are gone. It's getting easier to think about it as time passes although it's difficult to have those fond memories mixed up with feelings of loss.

This is a rare sight so I had to take a picture. Madeline was so tired after a day of being outside that she conked right out on the floor. I really do believe that children survive their younger years because they look so sweet whilst sleeping.


As rare as Madeline falling asleep by herself and not in her room is, tandem spontaneous napping is even more rare. I think the heat really took it out of them. Also, this is how our living room looks most days, all day.


Auntie Mel ran over to our house (yes - almost 9km) on the hottest day of the year so far. Luckily we had the pool out and both she and Maddie braved the cold water and had some fun.

Mel's training for the half-marathon inspired me to go running for the very first time and I actually enjoyed it. I just might convert.



Claire had a lovely ride on Babe and they had some fun group and individual pictures taken. I can't wait to see how they turn out.


Here's Maddie, Claire and Hannah as the girls wait for their horses to be ready at Little Bits.


Our Victoria Day weekend was lots of fun. We spent some rainy days inside, but got out for a fun birthday BBQ at Kathy and Peters, Maddie and Ryan saw How to Train Your Dragon with some friends from church, and we had Em and Trevor over for a spontaneous BBQ and ate outside to celebrate the sun finally coming out on Monday.

That's the haps from the Laytons

Things that are awesome

I recently bought a book because the title caught my eye (as well as the 20% off sticker since I am apparently cheap). The Book of Awesome. I haven't finished it yet, but so far, each thing he mentions I have been in agreement with. I'd be interested to see what percentage of people agree. Perhaps we're all not so different after all.

I decided to do my own list of simple but brilliant things I have noticed lately.


1. The smell of clean, hot laundry straight from the dryer.

2. Striking a pose.


3. Mint chocolate.

4. The soothing transition to cooler air as you walk down the stairs to the basement on a hot day.

5. Hanging onto something apparently useless, only for it to actually come in handy! (Story: When we bought our house, the previous owner left this pool skimmer in the garage and we thought, "Why would we ever need one of those?" But we kept it.)


6. Opening up to someone you love and feeling an increased connection with them.

7. An unexpected and lovely phone conversation with someone you don't know very well.

8. Laughing so hard that you cry. This picture was taken after seeing her aunties in their musical revue. Madeline was totally in diva mode. She posed like this for every picture.


9. A fridge full of art.

10. Spontaneous date nights made possible by willing babysitters.

11. A moment of stillness.


12. Racking up Airmiles. Boo yah.

13. Eating on the patio of a restaurant and sitting in just the right spot to catch the sunset.

14. Trying something scary, hard and new. Acro-yoga.

15. Staying until the end of the movie credits and seeing something cool!

16. Summer. Period.


17. Totally rocking a complicated step combo.

18. Hooded towels - why don't they make those for adults? I ask you!


19. Fitting into old clothes from the back of your closet.

20. Contagious smiles.


21. Staying until the coffee shop closes because you lost track of time with a good friend.

22. The unfeigned excitement of a child. (Maddie at the musical)


23. Being COMPLETELY caught up on laundry. All of it washed and dried and put away. No piles anywhere to be seen.

24. A poignant memory of a loved one. In 2 days it will be one year since my grandma died. The last time I saw her, she and I folded fitted sheets together. We didn't talk much because she couldn't speak very well at that point, and today while I was on my way to completing my laundry, and was folding fitted sheets, I had an intense remembrance of that moment and it made me sad and happy all at once.

25. Forgetting you had zoomed in for the last picture you took, and discovering that it was way TOO close for the next one.


Rob and I (zoomed out).


26. Having a window in your shower.

27. Fixing things with zip ties.

28. Spontaneous napping.

29. Coconut lime lotion.

30. Sitting tall. Claire riding excellently on Babe last week!


31. Flowers that last a long time.

32. Motorcycle dates.

33. Friends you haven't met.

34. Talented siblings. These are just two of them, Mel and Nat, after their musical production.


35. Remembering random phone numbers.

36. This picture.

37. Glee versions of songs.

38. The first taste of the hot chocolate as it bursts through the layer of whipped cream topping.


Ryan's contributions:
1. Speeding up until you've reached a previously discovered photo radar trap, suddenly applying the brakes and waving as you pass by at the speed limit.
2. Old school rap, Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff style.
3. Ducati Monsters
4. Knowing all the words to a song on the radio and successfully singing along. (Ex. It's The End of the World as We Know It - REM)
5. 200km/h (bike or car)
6. Being asked to turn to a specific page in a book and opening to the exact page on the first try.


As a side note, if you think my list is long, check THIS out.

This was a fun exercise and obviously not a comprehensive list of simply awesome things in my life. The more I wrote, the more things came to mind. I would encourage you to make your own list. It's very fun. Make sure you leave lots of extra room at the bottom because I guarantee you will find more things to add.

If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? ~ Milton Berle

The start of my Mother's Day extravaganza celebration began with Claire inviting me to come to school with her on Friday. The kids had made muffins and juice to share with and it was very exciting.

Claire's special Mother's Day gift. So cute!


Claire and I enjoying our "Muffins with Mom" day.


Madeline's gifts were a little more "creative." She cut her own hair for the first time and pulled out Claire's g-tube all on the same day. We had a lot of learning moments and tears that day. However, she did also make me a lovely card so that makes up for it all. :)

We've had fun with Jeff coming over the past two weekends since he is away from his family. He's been good company and the boys have had fun together. This evening Madeline even said, "I miss Jeff so much." I will have to take a picture the next time he and Ryan are playing the same game on their respective laptops at the kitchen table, sitting a foot away from each other, talking on Skype. Okay, they're not talking on Skype, but it's pretty funny anyway.

I attended an inspirational and informative night at GRIT learning about successful school transitions. There are so many things you don't know you need to know until someone else who's gone through it illuminates you. I'm finding out more and more how important networking with other parents can be when you have a child with disabilities. I'm also gearing up for all the potential logistical and emotional issues of sending her off to kindergarten in the fall. Hopefully all these transitions will go smoothly facilitated by the information I gain from workshops like this one.

I've been cramming transcriptions lately since the deadline was moved up. I will be glad when that part of this project is done this week.

My sisters and I had fun at Jessica's wedding on Saturday. It's been awhile since we've had a picture together so we took the opportunity.

So here we are. Mel's only taller because of her footwear. I have to say it.


Unfortunately this is what we normally look like.


I had a lovely Mother's Day. Claire sang with the other children at church and you could definitely hear her above everyone. It made me smile. :)

Here is a somewhat subdued picture of me and the girls.


This is more typical. I was crying from laughing so hard. We took so many pictures and they would NOT sit still. It was like wrastlin' crocs. Because I know exactly what that's like.


The best part of Mother's Day is the hugs.


Maddie likes to keep Uncle Rob on his toes by attacking him randomly.


Ryan and I. You know, the guy that made me a mother? It's all his fault.


Nattie Jacky Clairey enjoying our delicious food goodness


My mom is great. We were so lucky to have her at home when we were growing up. She was there when we left, there when we came home, drove us everywhere, encouraged us, taught us, reprimanded us (justifiably), cried with us, chased us around the house when we told her that we didn't think she could run as fast as us, had crazy dance parties in the living room with us, planted gardens with us, laughed with us and loved us unconditionally. And guess what? She still does all of that although we're mostly all grown and living on our own. Each year I gain a greater appreciation for the sacrifices she made for us and love her more for it.

Mom and her crazy kids.


The whole fam damily, together at last.


On top of Mother's Day we got to celebrate Steph's birthday. Madeline is always willing to help blow out candles. Happy Birthday! We also discovered how unevenly the little cheesecake bits can be distributed in a Blizzard Cake. Greg and I both had ZERO and Melanie had approximately a million.


Oh, and Ryan and the girls got me some beautiful flowers. I know they only last a short time, they cost too much and they are impractical, but I LOVE getting flowers and he knows it. Good man.