Always a party!

Once upon a time, there was this little thing called Easter. Just one Sunday, once a year, and we have like 5 parties. And whole bunch of candy and junk food. I really don't see anything wrong with this, I was just observing.

Over the past few years, I've grown to learn what Easter is really about and it has become my favorite holiday. A couple years ago, I had the opportunity to sing in Lex de Azevedo's choir as they sang Hosanna, an opera about the final days of Christ's life. Nothing strengthens my testimony quite like music does, and each time we sang I was just overwhelmed by the spirit. I had the opportunity of watching it again on Sunday, and again, I was amazed by the power of not only the spirit, but of the Atonement and the resurrection and everything Christ did for us. I think this video sums it all up quite nicely: http://lds.org/pages/his-sacred-name-an-easter-declaration?lang=eng

Anyway, I'd just like to take a second to make a shout out to my SCBFFFEWC, aka my best friend...hey there pretty! It's good to know we take the time to blog-stalk one another occasionally...

Tonight, as our FHE activity, I forced my family to learn the cup game. Well, I'm pretty sure I'm still the only one that knows it, they just figured out how to move their cups to the rhythm. I'm pretty sure that was the greatest family activity we've had in quite some time. Nothing like throwing plastic cups and laughing together.

So, for the past couple weeks, I've forced myself to get up much too early and get over to the Sportsplex. And I absolutely hate to admit this, but I actually kind of enjoy running. I'm not sure what's wrong with me, I think it just came with the Richardson genes. You better believe I hate that I love it. Okay, love is the wrong word, since I generally curse the entire universe whilst on my treadmill, but still. I love the way I feel when I'm done. Now that I'm not sore all the time, I just feel happier, and I love the fact that I've accomplished something by 6 o'clock every morning.

Today, I broke a personal record. Last Thursday, I ran for 15 minutes straight, which I had never done before. Today, I ran for 20. Was I out of breath? Absolutely. Did I want to fall over? Most certainly. But mostly, I was just proud of myself. If you had asked me to do that 6 months ago, I think I might've died. Now it's totally normal. So, I'm setting a goal, or maybe adding an item to the bucket list, just something along those lines. I would like to run something more than a 5K. Like a 10K or something. Maybe someday I'll hit a half-marathon, but that seems much too lofty at this point. So we're starting small. I believe that's called the foot-in-the-door effect, which leads me to another issue. AP tests are next week, and I've been applying calculus and psychology to everything possible. It drives me CRAZY!!! 8 more days and I'll be done. Oh, and then I have to go to college. Psh, whatever. 39 days until graduation. Life is good.

Hilary Duff and my sunroof

When feeling nostalgic, which happens quite often, I go back to my H-Duff days. When I would clean my room on Saturdays, I would pull out my boom box and put in my CDs. I thought I was so cool, being 11 and listening to teenager music. I remember listening to it and envisioning myself driving around, singing along in my car. Well, years later, here I am. One of my favorite things to do is drive with the windows down, it just makes me feel cool. However, this became difficult when Rhonda's windows stopped working. And the singing along became difficult when the speakers starting going in and out. Needless to say, the fender-bender that sent Rhonda to her grave really was a blessing, for several other reasons than having working windows and speakers. Now, on a warm afternoon, I can open up my sunroof and reminisce as I drive "up-town," as some might say :) There's something about driving and singing at the top of your lungs that can be very cathartic. And tinted windows so no one can see you? Even better!

Does any of this make any sense? Of course not, I don't get enough sleep for that. I'm pretty sure that the point I'm trying to make is that I love being able to just take a minute to relax and remember the times when life was simple, when cleaning my room was probably the worst part of my week. Oh, and the second point: sunroofs make my life.

Creating Our Legacy

Rodgers Memorial Theatre is a building that will always have a special place in my heart, right next to Grandma Susan and PJ, my theatre-going buddies. It was in this building that I discovered the love I have for the theatre. It was our six years of season tickets that brought the three of us together as best friends. It was our laughing until we cried and Wizard-of-Oz skipping through the parking lot that made Grandma wish she hadn't ever started this tradition. It was the Twizzler Nibs and M&Ms that got us through a particularly long show. It was the amazing talent and passion of those on stage that made us fall in love with the art that is theatre.

2011 brought many new things, including the closing of Rodgers and the opening of the new CenterPoint Legacy Theatre. Of course it's amazing and gorgeous, but it's hard not to feel that things have changed. Rodgers is now nothing but a memory as we move to the other side of town.

How happy I am that nothing else about our tradition has changed. We still go out to dinner and drive around the temple before the show, we still sing all our favorite show tunes and joke about being late. And, of course, we still embarrass Grandma by skipping through the parking lot.

All of our traditions have turned into a legacy, and we even have a brick on the steps of the theatre to prove it! As much as I hate to say it, our traditions will someday end, but our legacy never will. The memories and the passion that have been created will carry on forever. I can't wait for the day that I sit with my children and grandchildren in a theatre, watching their passion grow as mine has. I'm so excited to watch our legacy grow into something so much greater. It has truly changed my life.

Winnie the Pooh

Upon recommendation, I picked up Winnie the Pooh from the library. After a long day, in search of something mindless, I sat down with it and began to read. All night, I wondered why I hadn't ever read it before. I absolutely loved it! I watched a little Winnie the Pooh as a child, and I felt just like a kid again as I read the entire hundred and sixty pages.

I loved the simplicity of the stories. I do realize they're all stuffed animals, but I really do envy them. I would love to play with my friends all day. I wish that my biggest problem was running out of honey or trying to find Eeyore's tail. The word "careless" was used at least ten times; I wish I could use it to describe my life.

I loved how easy it was to identify with the characters. There are so many days that I want to go on an adventure or catch a Heffalump. There are also days when I'm Eeyore and everything is absolutely dismal. My favorite days are Tigger days, when I all I do is play and just keep going and going and going.

How great is it that this is all captured in one children's book? As I'm approaching this crucial part of my life and I'm having to start growing up, all I want to do is hold on to my childhood. As I read all last night, it was just good to know that a little part of me will always love Winnie the Pooh.

New York Part 2

Oh, that was the greatest trip I've ever been on! I wish it hadn't been so short, but we were able to get a lot done.

We started Monday morning by walking through Central Park, stopping at Le Pain Quotidien for some pain au chocolat, then headed to the Met. I loved it there!! I've never been to an art museum like that, and I was absolutely in heaven. We then went to Serendipity for lunch. Hint: the peanut butter frozen hot chocolate is way better than the regular kind! Just sayin. We kinda walked around and went in a few stores after that. On our way back to our hotel, we were passing the place where the film the late show and there were a bunch of people outside. Right as we got there, said people began taking pictures and yelling "Steven, we love you!" After a couple seconds, we figured out that Steven Tyler was coming out to get in his car. Oh my how cool is that? So maybe he creeps me out and maybe he's going to ruin American Idol, but still, I saw a famous person!!! My dad still can't believe that he's been there 15 times and hasn't seen a famous person until I show up, saying that I'll find one. Another expectation fulfilled, I was pleased. We spent that night in our hotel room, eating pizza (another expectation checked off!) and watching movies. I liked Monday.

We started Tuesday off by going to Harlem. Not on purpose. We were down on the Subway and didn't realize we were on an Express train. So that was a fun little adventure. After backtracking a little, we went to the Natural History Museum. I hate to say it, but Night at the Museum kinda ruined that one for me, I was bored the whole time. The giant whale was kinda cool, and it was fun to watch one or two adults try to handle large groups of first graders. Okay, it was hilarious. Anyways...we found a cafe, Europan, just a couple streets away and had lunch there. It was just average, but I did have a napoleon, and napoleons are my favorite. Just throwin it out there. Next was shopping! We went through Macy's kind of fast, just to say we'd been on all 7 or 8 or however many floors there are, and then we crossed the street to H&M and spent some time there. Awesome shopping checked off my list!

Next was...Wicked. Of course that was my favorite part of the trip--one more expectation fulfilled! As I've told friends about it, I've struggled to find any words to tell them about how great it was. The music is amazing, the acting and singing were fabulous, it was thrilling. Galinda was hilarious! I loved seeing the huge contrast between her and Elphaba. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I just loved it and can't wait to go back for another show.

Today we took it a little easier. We went to the Museum of Modern Art, which I also loved, then went to Ray's Pizza for lunch (expectation fulfilled twice!) I loved the museum, and I've decided that when I live there (not if, but when), I'll get passes to those two art museums and just go hang out there every day. I found them both fascinating and I can't wait to go back!

I just loved New York. Maybe it was a little dirty and maybe some of the people were...interesting, but it was fabulous. It fulfilled all of my expectations (except for the part about being discovered at the Gershwin theatre, but I think I can live without that one), it was everything I thought it would be. I think I'm movin, who's going with me? :)

Live From New York!!

Yep, I'm finally here!! I never thought this weekend would come, but I'm so glad it has! Although we spent the greater part of our day on a plane, it has already been fun. After our taxi ride to the hotel (that was...fun?), we went to dinner at Johnny Utah's...not my favorite restaurant, but whatever. We then walked around Rockefeller Plaza and Times Square. Yes, it was freezing but still so cool to see everything! My goal this trip is not let being cold keep me from doing anything, because it's such a short trip and I want to make the most of it. We also stopped at Magnolia Bakery, which has some pretty tasty treats! I think we might be stopping by there a couple more times. We saw St. Patrick's Cathedral, which is so pretty! I can't wait to see more stuff like that. I love seeing all the lights because that's when this finally feels real to me. I still can't quite get over the fact that I'm in New York. Basically it's something I've waited all my life for and I'm finally here! Yay! We walked past the Gershwin Theatre, where we'll be seeing Wicked on Tuesday and I just can't wait! If I were here by myself, I would be seeing shows every night. However, I think these other people would like to do some stuff as well. I'm just excited. It's good to be here.
My expectations for this trip?
--I must not die in the taxi from the airport to our hotel. (check!)
--We must eat pizza. A real New York slice or whatever they call it. Why else would we go?
--I better do some pretty sweet shoppin. (sorta check? Hopefully there's much more to come!)
--I need to see a famous person.
--Wicked must be amazing.
--While at the Gershwin Theatre, I need to be discovered and offered a job on Broadway.
--I must not freeze to death. (I'm doing the best I can!)
Should my expectations not be fulfilled, I'm not coming back for...a month. After that, I'll reconsider.
Hopefully there will time each night to update and maybe get some pictures up!...Actually, I forgot my camera cord. So those will come later.
Yay for Yew Nork!! :D

Ma famille