L'Heure Bleue

Damian and I went to Portland on a romantic get away a few months ago and we ate at a FABULOUS restaurant called BLUEHOUR. I'm salivating right now, thinking of that divine food. Apparently, French literature describes "The blue hour" as "any time of day of heightened emotion." I'll tell you what, eating food at that place definitely was an emotional experience. I wanted to drown myself in the cream sauce and run away with my dessert.


Another source describes "The blue hour" coming from a French expression which refers to the hour experienced between the hours of daylight and darkness. The time is considered special because of the quality of the light at this time of day. I think this picture describes it all, for those of you that can't get away to Portland.




This is the view from my back porch, during the blue hour. It only snowed a few days this winter and I captured this glorious moment. The air really was that color and I was glad Damian had us all up to read scriptures at 6:30am, so I didn't miss it! As I walked from my back to front yard, the light changed, enough sun had risen and the magical effect wasn't the same. I'll probably never be friendly with the blue hour, since I've vowed to never rise before 7am (now that we read at night, again!)


So here's the view from my front yard, about 5 minutes later:

"Daddy Sunday"

I think most of my devoted readership (ha, ha) probably knows about my cute husband's article in our church magazine . . .but if not, here is the LONG link to take you there. If you aren't Mormon, some of the lingo, like "Fast Sunday & Stake President" won't make sense, but I can hook you up with some nice missionaries who can explain all that to you!

Anyway, with a church membership of 13, 200, 000, I think the Idiart name might not be so obscure anymore. OK, that probably isn't going to change. Our name is still weird, and most people don't notice the author of a very small article, but I am proud, non the less.

I just read this post out loud to Damian. He is embarrassed. He refuses to read my blog, I think he doesn't really want to come to terms with how crazy I am, or details I may disclose about his personal life. Poor, Poor Man.
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=12b77e6832ce8110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

Benjamin turned FOUR on April 6th!!

My kids are WEBKINZ crazed, and brought all their "Pets" to help Ben open his gifts. It's funny, but Ben doesn't even have one . . . (More on my interesting parenting style/level of neglet later.)

I really can't believe I haven't been pregnant for four years. I thank the Lord for this every night in my prayers. I haven't nursed a baby for 3 years . . . and I haven't had to change a diaper for almost a year . . . oh, wonderful bliss! When my non-potty trained nieces and nephews come to play . . . I pretend I don't know that they need changing and pass them off to their mothers, upon pick-up.

As much as I thank the Lord for a new phase in my life, I also thank Him for my sweet baby (he hates it when I call him that!) He is so fun, cute, and ALL BOY (very refreshing in a house full of girls.) He and Josh are such blessings in my life. Please excuse Josh, he had a momentary lapse of psychotic-ness, during this photo. This is Ben's favorite present, BY FAR. For once, I'm thrilled with my bowling alley dining room, he has a complete race track for his scooter.

We had a special breakfast for Benny on Sunday, but I never did get around to organizing a birthday party for the kid. I bought him a pinata a few months ago, with the intention of throwing him his first FRIENDS party. I remembered to buy him presents, and I hurried and wrapped them while Damian cooked the special breakfast . . . so I missed that (and dang it, all the sausaged were gone, by the time I got there!) I didn't even have a family party with all the Idiarts that live within a mile of our house. I don't consider myself a bad mom, though. I don't have time to even entertain those thoughts.

I did entertain myself with thoughts of the GREAT parties my oldest had, at that age. She had the "Birthday Fairy" come every year and decorate the whole house with streamers, balloons, signs . . . and leave her little miniature notes. She had elaborate theme birthday parties with scores of friends, creative cakes and games, etc. etc. etc. Poor Ben didn't even get a birthday cake, yesterday. But tonight, Damian baked a pan of brownies and I grabbed 4 candles and stuck them in, and Ben blew them out.

Hey!! That's better than last year, when we went to dinner at Damian's brother's, three day's AFTER Ben's birthday, and I remembered that Ben hadn't had a cake yet. We stuck candles in a half eaten cake and tried to turn it, so you couldn't notice that the back half was already gone.

No, I won't entertain thoughts of what a poor excuse I am for a mother . . . and don't you do it either!

Art Gallery, Katrina Style

I posted about our Family Talent Show. My 5 year old, Katrina, didn't want to participate. She does have mutiple talents that I thought I'd blog about . . .

1. Katrina can grow the longest, most luxurious light brown hair! She has beautiful skin, hazel eyes and the cutest smile to go with it! She is talented in the looks department, if you know what I mean.

2. If you know her, you know she ALWAYS wears a jacket/sweater. She has quite an assortment, her favorite is pictured above. She wears them anytime she leaves the house, around the house, and to bed. She also wears socks, EVERYWHERE!! She rarely has a cold and I've never seen her with a runny nose. That is a wonderful talent!

3. Katrina has a totally sweet personality. Those who know her will be surprised at this photo. That's why I blew it up and put it in this Art Gallery, to shock the world. She is the kindest, gentlest little mother in her group of cousins. She looks after and plays with all the "littles" and they adore her. She loves her baby dolls and playing house. She is a tender-hearted darling!

Family Talent Show

NOTE: You'll have to turn off my new music feature to enjoy the videos . . . or they will overlap and drive you mad!! Scroll down and push "Pause"

These two cuties have the most adorable laughs. What a great talent! Damian's sister, Allison and our little Katrina, can be heard in the background of the video clips, with the most angelic giggles, this side of Heaven. Love those gals!

Grandma Suzanne enjoyed watching her posterity display their talents. . .while balancing one or more grandkids on her lap! One of her talents is her ability to love and snuggle everyone, making them all feel like they're her favorite! She is holding her newest grandboy, Noah Nadauld.

The long awaited video clips are here, and there are A LOT! We had so much fun playing and laughing together, at our First Annual Family Talent Show. First, I'll show you the funniest, most-talented comedian, I'm related to. . . Jared Arnaud Idiart (middle name pronounced "Ar-NO," although he tells everyone it's Arnold. What a goofball!) Please notice his appropriate costume and stretching exercises!

His wife, Christine and I did a violin/piano duet, but I didn't record that (on purpose!). She arranging the recital and had it at her home. She is our niece Bosom BFF's, violin teacher. She also did a piano solo, and it's great. . .watch for Damian, Rachel & Bosom BFF at 2:10, and watch for :30 seconds after that, to see Jared at the end! Damian's really "INTO" the music, and the girls both have their fingers in their ears, VERY FUNNY!!

Now, for my own talented kids! Miss Emma, newly eleven, playing "A Song for John"

Josh, our 9-year-old protege, playing, "Guitars of Seville"

A little duet, "Trumpet Song," performed by myself and Rachel (seven years of cute) and yes, that is my big butt, in the corner of the screen, please ignore me completely, in this clip. I look like an idiot.

Katrina, our kindergartener, was too shy to perform, but Benjamin, our 3 1/2 year old, wasn't!

My Nephew, SpideyHulkMr.Incredible, did some very cute magic tricks, with quarters. . .

I wanted to post the last video of all the cousins dancing but it is too big and won't upload properly. I can burn you a CD of all these clips, Idiart family, and Christie D, my biggest fan, you'll just have to come over to check out the fun!