Chloe has met some neat milestones as of late, so don't mind me while I brag for a few minutes.
First, she is swimming entirely on her own! She was right on the verge when she finished swim lessons last month (which I still need to blog about), but she got it for good on July 1st when some friends came over for a little swimming/lunch date. I think her desire to show off for them is what ultimately pushed her to that final step of trusting the same skills she'd been practicing in the shallow end, now in the deep end. I remember watching her jump off the diving board with no floating device and then successfully swimming to the edge, then getting out of the pool and doing it again like it was nothing. Initially I wasn't so sure, but I quickly realized that she really did have it down.
{It was quite a group - no wonder she felt the need to impress! From left to right: Brooklyn, Dylen, Chloe, Nikell, Max, Taylor, & Ryan}
Chloe is passionate about swimming. To say she loves it would be an understatement. She must get it from her daddy, who swam in high school, loved it, and still loves it to this day. Since the first day of summer, Chloe has only missed a few days out of the pool. Even this week, while it's cooled down, she's still jumped in the water with no hesitation. The high 70s pool temp hasn't even phased her. Brr!!
{June 2011 - Swim lessons at Ripon High School}
Chloe also ditched her training wheels this week! This has been quite the battle, and I think it goes without saying that Neil and I are relieved it is over. Back in May Neil raised her training wheels, which did not go over well with Chloe. She was comfortable with where they were and didn't see the purpose in learning to ride without them. We had to practice some serious tough love to get her where she is now, but it paid off. She resisted big time, and actually didn't even touch her bike for three solid weeks. But last week she showed renewed interest and determination. Neil took her training wheels off all together last weekend, and held onto her bike while she practiced riding it. Then they went back outside Wednesday afternoon and within a matter of minutes she was riding entirely on her own. At one point I heard her say, "I can't believe I'm really doing it! I feel so good!" We were proud watching her, and I'm happy, for every one's sake, that this is behind us. Since Wednesday, we've taken two bike rides as a family, and this morning I pushed Ryan in the jogging stroller during my run while Chloe rode beside me. Since then she's probably asked me sixteen times when we can go on another bike ride. She's hooked! It's pretty neat watching her expression as she rides. She's still genuinely astonished by her new skill, and proud, too, which she ought to be! It's a huge accomplishment! I think it will also provide great teaching opportunities in the future when Neil and I talk with her about overcoming fears and accomplishing goals, even when they seem near impossible as riding her bike with no training wheels did for so long.
{Taken on the 13th. Neil followed closely behind until Chloe politely requested that he back away. He happily obliged.}
So between all the swimming and bike riding Chloe has filled her time with this summer, she's also been counting down the days until kindergarten begins. Today's count: 25. Twenty five days!! That's all I have left with my little girl until she's gone all day long, five days a week! We received a welcome letter last month from the school she'll be attending. And I'll openly admit that I got choked up opening the envelope.
It's incredible to me that we're entering this new stage of life. I've been preparing myself for a good year, but now that's it's only a short three and a half weeks away, I'm beginning to feel that mother's apprehension people speak of. Chloe is ready for kindergarten, there's no doubt about it. She thrives on structure, learning opportunities and socialization. She also needs it, I'm afraid. Not just the predictable schedule, but learning to take orders graciously from other adults, shrug things off and not get so upset, practice patience, and see the consequences of her actions and attitude in a setting outside of home. Chloe can be overly sensitive and dramatic about insignificant things, and can still throw a pretty impressive tantrum. In fact, I wrote about two (fairly) recent instances, which I'll share in another post soon. Chloe is also a negotiator, but she can be reasoned with, and is more than willing to cooperate when a favorable proposition is placed before her. She practices good behavior beautifully when she knows there's a reward to be earned. But while it's important to be recognized and rewarded, Neil and I are also trying to teach her that there isn't always going to be a pat on the back for every good choice she makes. Of course it's crucial, especially at this age, for us to boost her confidence, build her self esteem, and help her see her worth, but she also needs to learn satisfaction from simply knowing in her heart that she's done a good thing, and not having to depend every single time on the recognition of others. Also, sometimes we just do the right thing because it's the right thing to do, whether someone else sees it or not.
It's Friday night. I'm drinking hot apple cider. Yes, in the middle of July. It's cooled down this last week and we have thoroughly enjoyed turning off the a/c and opening up the windows. I think Wednesday's high was 80. Perfect. I'm sure this weather's short-lived, but I'll enjoy it while I can. Anyway, this apple cider is tasting pretty good, and after a long day of playing catch up from yet another busy week, I'd say it's well deserved. I made some headway on wedding photos today, and while I really ought to be back at it, I think I'm going to indulge just a bit and write. I'm in the mood to write, don't get to do it very often, and happen to have something to share, so here goes...
This evening as I was rinsing dishes, I had the following thought:
"It would be so nice if for one day, there were no dishes to rinse."
Well, then I started thinking about all the other things that I'd love to NOT have to deal with for one day. Laundry. Sticky floors. Toilets (specifically after Ryan has done his business). Toys cluttering my floors. Whining. Before I got too carried away with my thoughts, my initial thought about the dishes came fluttering back to my mind, which was then replaced by this thought:
"But isn't it nice that I have dishes to rinse? Chances are, if there were no dishes to rinse, there would be no family to dirty them. And if there were no family to dirty them, well, that would probably make for a pretty lonely me."
Then I smiled. Really, I did. Because right then and there it hit me just how lucky I am.
I'm sure this thought stemmed from a recent conversation I had with my mom about housework. In empathizing with my struggle to maintain a consistently clean home, she expressed her gratitude for a husband who wants to spend time with her. She said that sometimes, as a result of the time she and my dad spend together reading, watching old movies, taking walks, or enjoying a long, meaningful discussion, the dishes sit on the counter, waiting to be rinsed. She concluded, however, that she'd rather have a dusty, disorganized home and a devoted husband who absolutely adores her (which he does!), than a spotless, organized home and no husband (or one who would rather golf with his buddies than spend time with her). {Might I add, these parents, of whom I speak, will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary this September?} While it's a simple concept, it's had a lasting impact on me, and tonight I thought up my own version of it.
By the time I put my kids to bed every night I feel spent. My back is achy, my patience is low, and I'm generally overwhelmed by the tasks that still lie ahead, both that night (since that's commonly the only time I can depend on getting anything done) and the following day. And while the last thing I feel like doing, after stumbling down the stairs, is tackling any dish, laundry pile, sticky spot on the floor, or stubborn child who refuses to go to sleep, I wouldn't have it any other way.
"Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." - Gordon B. Hinckley
Here, finally, is Saturday's recap of Time Out For Women! I mean, it was only 3 months ago! No biggie, right? Be warned that this is probably the longest post I've ever written. It is also filled with spiritual goodies, so read it if you will, or just take a quick gander. Friday's recap can be found here.
{left to right: Brittney, me, Kendra, Tina and Jenna}
Saturday's speakers included Mariama Kallon, DeAnne Flynn, Laurel Christensen, Wendy Ulrich and Mary Ellen Edmunds. And Hilary Weeks provided the music. I fell in love with Hilary instantly. Not only is she pretty to look at with a voice that will blow your socks off, but she is also eloquent, thoughtful, down to earth and very funny! In between the speakers she would get up and share a thought, then conclude it with a song or two. It became more and more evident to me as I listened to her that behind each song she has written, there is a story, a purpose and plenty of inspiration to be found. Hilary has four daughters and talked a lot about her adventures in motherhood. She definitely spoke to my heart and I look at her in a whole new light now.
For Mother's Day, my mom got me Hilary's recent book, Bedtime and Naptime... and Naptime and Bedtime, which I read in its entirety the very day I received it. It contains words of wisdom, inspiring scriptures and quotes, a few of Hilary's favorite recipes, and countless pick me ups that will lift any mom's spirits. There's also a bonus CD containing a handful of famous songs to which she's changed the lyrics to reflect some of her own thoughts on motherhood. She's hilarious. Here's a preview:
Chloe just watched this video and said, "Mommy, she sounds like Maria! Is it her with long hair?"
Hilary touched on a few topics, but two in particular stood out to me, and that's what I'd like to share with you. She started off with this:
"Extraordinary moments can happen in the middle of ordinary days."
I love this! But wait until you hear this sweet story, which she shared with us, and which can also be found on page 69 of her book:
"I was on a mother-daughter dinner date with Calli, who was nine at the time. Through a mouthful of macaroni and cheese, Calli giggled as she recounted a game of freeze tag she played during recess that day.
Then it hit me...
I will spend eternity knowing Calli as an adult. But tonight, right here, right now, and for the next few precious years, I have the rare privilege of knowing her as a child.
What a gift to experience the children in our lives as children!
For a brief moment during the journey of mortality, we get to watch them laugh, learn, experience and grow.
Yes, in the middle of an ordinary day it was an extraordinary moment."
I Loooo-ooooo-ooooove this concept! And isn't it true that the moments we tend to remember and cherish most are the simple, ordinary ones?
Hilary also talked about the power of thoughts. She had heard at a recent Relief Society dinner that the average person has 300 negative thoughts each day, and she wanted to put it to the test. So she purchased a clicker to record the number of negative thoughts she had over the course of several days. She shares the story on her blog, and you can read Part I of III here. Her number of negative thoughts varied a bit day by day, but mostly remained consistent until day six, when they shot way up. In Hilary's own words:
"After almost a week of clicking, I woke up one morning and felt really, really down. I was outright depressed. I felt sad and discouraged – and I had absolutely no reason to feel that way. Then it dawned on me… It was the experiment. By simply “clicking” the negative thoughts I was giving them enough attention and consequently enough power to effect my mood. John Kehoe, author of Mind Power said, “Although a single unaided thought hasn’t much power, through repetition the thought can become concentrated and directed, and its force can be magnified many times. The more the thought is repeated the more energy and power it generates, and the more readily it is able to manifest itself.”
Unexpected. Truly. I had no idea that paying even the slightest bit of attention to those negative thoughts could have that kind of effect on me. It wasn’t as if I dwelled on them once they came into my mind – NO, not at all. I actually tried to chase them away. But the click. The click acknowledged them enough to give the negative thoughts the ability to change my mood and outlook. So…I decided to go a new direction with my experiment."
"I was really surprised by the effect that simple, tiny act of “clicking” each negative thought had on my mood. I guess that is why King Benjamin told us in the Book of Mormon to “watch ourselves and our thoughts.” And maybe that is why we are told in the Doctrine and Covenants to “let virtue (or power) garnish our thoughts unceasingly.”
President Spencer W. Kimball said, “How could a person possibly become what he is not thinking? Nor is any thought, when persistently entertained, too small to have its effect. The divinity that shapes our ends is indeed in ourselves.”
The first day, I counted 321 clicks! By Day four…(I was totally shocked when I saw this) One thousand, two hundred and sixty two!! That’s…1,262! My spirit seemed to soar – I felt so happy. My circumstances hadn’t changed one bit, only the focus of my thoughts had. I loved creating positive thoughts. That is much more fun than trying to block or chase away the negative ones."
Sorry I'm not paraphrasing very well. Hilary made it too easy to just quote her since she documented the whole story in her blog. And between her eloquent writing skills and the scriptures and quotes she shares along the way, there really is no alternative. :)
Part III, which can be found here, goes a little something like this:
"Ironically, last week, I was eating chips, salsa and a smothered burrito at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants while simultaneously thinking about running six miles. I like to run. But only two or three miles. Not six. But I did it recently – I RAN SIX MILES. As I took a sip from my strawberry colada, I tried to figure out how on Earth I did that? And then it hit me. I ran six miles during the height of “clicking” my positive thoughts. I’m telling the truth.
That is exactly when it happened. I was seriously able to run six miles on my treadmill and I am pretty dang sure it was a side-effect of my positive thinking. The last time I ran that far was…um…let me think…oh ya, High School. I don’t run six miles. I’m not a six-miler. I’m not. But during that week, during the flow of positive thoughts, my body, lungs, heart and muscles were strengthened and empowered just as much as my mind was. It was quite a realization."
In her closing remarks, Hilary shared these two quotes:
"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day." - Elder Richard G. Scott (from The Transforming Power of Faith and Character, Ensign, Nov. 2010)
"Our mind wants to do everything we tell it to do.” - Jana Call
...as well as this scripture: Philippians 4:8, concluding that when we think about those things (ie, things that are true, honest, just, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy), we become those things.
Okay, okay. Enough about Hilary. Sheesh, I've probably already exhausted you, and I'm only getting started!
MARIAMA KALLON
Saturday's first speaker was Mariama Kallon, a women from Africa, and a survivor of an atrocious war in Sierra Leon who endured a terrifying childhood. She shared the story of witnessing the violent murders of her parents and siblings, and talked about her journey to overcoming the heartaches and finding joy. To say both her presence and messages were powerful would be a huge understatement. She was endearing on all levels, and by the end of her talk I wanted to hug her! And, I did, in fact, during the next break! I couldn't help myself!
Look at her! She's radiant! Don't mind my swollen, puffy eyes. Lots of tears were shed this day.
Mariama, who was first introduced to the church when she received a hygiene kit - something she'd forever hold onto as a symbol of hope, soon thereafter was baptized and called to serve in the Salt Lake City Temple Square mission. She shared a few tender stories about her experiences as a missionary. In one she recounts how it made her sad when the other sister missionaries received letters and packages from their families. Mariama, after all, had no family, and no one to receive a letter or package from! The other sister missionaries felt terrible for Mariama and wrote home to their own mothers requesting that they send something to her. It wasn't long before Mariama was receiving more packages than anyone else! Rightfully so. I loved that.
She shared a second story about her mission, where she, one morning, snuck into a closet at the Visitor's center on Temple Square. She had been yearning to teach someone from Africa the gospel, and that morning in particular she was praying extra hard. A video was then played where in her Mission President shares the rest of the story. He explained that he was on Temple Square that same day, and suddenly saw Mariama running towards the South Gate. Confused, he asked what she was doing, to which she explained she was going to meet someone. It turns out, during her prayer, she felt strongly compelled to stand up right then and run to the South gate. She knew in her heart someone would be there, and within five minutes, a black man, who turned out to be from Ghana, a West African village not far from where she grew up, walked by. Right there her prayer was answered. She was able to share the gospel with him, and gosh, if I remember right, he later joined the church.
In conclusion to this story, Mariama said, "Sometimes you have to get up and run. You can't just wait for the blessings to come." As this was true in her situation with meeting the Ghana man at the South Gate, so it is true in our own lives. I loved this message, and her. I actually ran into her in the bathroom at the Salt Lake Temple (of all places) when I was there last month for Jared and Lori's sealing. I hugged her again, and told her how much she inspired me at TOFW. She's a sweet, sweet lady.
DEANNE FLYNN
DeAnne Flynn was the next speaker. The theme of her talk was the "Mother's Mite", also the title of her recent book. She likened a mother's mite to the widow's mite, found in Mark 12:42-44, explaining that just as this widow cast 2 mites (which is all that she had) into the treasury, we as mothers selflessly contribute whatever it is that we have. And while our humble, little offerings may not seem significant at the time, they undeniably make a difference in the lives of those we love.
Some other thoughts she shared are as follows:
"Choose to become more aware of the small things that make a large difference. Paying attention costs nothing but it pays off."
"When we hurry less, we notice more. When we talk less, we hear more. When we expect less, we learn more."
"Choose to become less complicated."
"Home is just a place where you an practice for Heaven."
"Overlook greater proficiency for even greater potential."
And finally, she concluded with a story from her childhood involving her mother and a vacuum cleaner. DeAnne's mother was vacuuming the floor one day when DeAnne decided to climb on and enjoy a little ride. Now where many mothers (including myself), would normally discourage this (hey, when I'm in the middle of an unpleasant task such as vacuuming, I want to get it over with as quickly as possible), DeAnne's mother welcomed her and continued pushing the vacuum carrying little DeAnne along with her right to the end. What a sweet image. While DeAnne described her mother as being "efficient and ambitious", she further stated that "Her top priority wasn't speed and efficiency, it was me!" I love the gentle message this story conveys of taking the time for the more important things.
LAUREL CHRISTENSEN
Probably my favorite speaker of the day was Laurel Christensen, who spoke about faith, and living with faith. She started off be sharing a story about Florence Chadwick, who was the first women to swim the English Channel. A couple years later she attempted to swim from the Southern California coast to Catalina Island, which was a 21 mile stretch. The water was 48 degrees and the fog was thick. She eventually gave up out of exhaustion and frustration, only to learn, as she was pulled into the support boat, that she was at mile 20.5 - a HALF MILE from the finish line! She swam 20.5 miles of her 21 mile journey, and then quit, because she couldn't see the shoreline.
A similar thing had almost happened on her earlier attempt to swim the English Channel. The fog was too much and Florence became discouraged. But this time, when she wanted to be pulled into the boat, it was her father who pointed out how close she was to shore. Florence lifted her head, saw land, and finished what she started.
Laurel likened Florence Chadwick's father, who coached Florence along, especially near the end when she wanted to give up, to our Father in Heaven, who coaches us through life. He knows how close to shore we are, even if we can't see it ourselves. And even though we can't see it ourselves, we know it's there because we trust Him, and we trust that He will help get us there. So often in life we want to just give up. But who's to say, at that very moment, we're not at mile 20.5?
I loved Laurel's message of relying on the Lord and never giving up. She shared a handful of other thoughts that I'd like to share:
"Pray with faith. Think with faith. Live with faith."
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt
...but not without faith or the reliance of the Lord!
"Rely on what the Lord knows you can do, not what you don't think you can do." (Ephesians 3:20)
"Hope is about wanting what I want. Faith is about wanting what God wants."
"Instead of continually praying for something, ask the Lord if that's what you should be praying for."
I love these concepts she shared, and how true it is that we need to accept God's will, even when it's sometimes inconvenient for us. After all, He knows much better than we do how close we are to the shoreline. He will guide us there if we let Him.
In closing, Laurel shared a story about Joseph and Emma Smith. Emma wanted a blessing, but Joseph was headed to Carthage jail and couldn't be there to give her one. So he told her to write out the blessing she'd hoped to receive and send it to him. He said he would then sign it, and it would be so. You can read what she wrote here. Pretty incredible story of faith on both ends - Joseph, for trusting that the desires of his wife's heart would be consistent with that of the Lord's; and Emma, for trusting her husband's Priesthood power and closeness to the Spirit.
Laurel then challenged us to write the blessing we would each hope to receive and then take it to the Lord and ask him if it be right, and if it be okay to ask for it. Love it.
Are you asleep yet? I'm almost finished, I promise!
MARY ELLEN EDMUNDS
Mary Ellen was a hoot! I adored this woman right from the start, and think she was definitely right up there with Laurel among my faves of the day. She spoke on identify theft, in a spiritual sense, and not forgetting who we are. Her ideas were cleverly executed, and she captivated me with her quirkiness and wit.
Here are some of things she shared:
In talking about Satan, she referred to him as, "stupid-what's-his-face", and then said, "I like to call him that. I think it annoys him." (tee heeee)
"You really are a child a God!"
"One of the greatest ways to guard against identity theft is to talk to your Father. Ask Him if He knows you and tell Him what's in your heart."
Mary Ellen also touched on the comfort and guidance a Patriarchal blessing can provide, concluding, "It's amazing to see how relevant things remain even as time passes by."
"Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." - Doctrine and Covenants 6:36
Here's a video that I found on YouTube of Mary Ellen reciting my absolute favorite quote of the day.
"God has infinite attention to spare for each one of us. He does not have to deal with us in the mass. You are as much alone with him as if you were the only being he had ever created. When Christ died, he died for you individually, just as much as if you had been the only person in the world." - C.S. Lewis
Wow! Just, wow! What an incomprehensibly beautiful way to describe our worth. And I love Mary Ellen's remarks after sharing this quote: "Don't try to figure out how He does that, just know that He does." What a comfort to know we are not responsible for understanding, only accepting and enjoying.
"Today you are you. That is true-er than true. There is no one alive that is you-er than you!" - Dr. Seuss
In closing, Mary shared the story of the Velveteen Rabbit, explaining that we are like that rabbit. And no matter what imperfections we may possess, we are still unique, special and real. We are children of God, and He loves us.
WENDY ULRICH
Wendy Ulrich was the final speaker. Her talk was different from everyone else's in that it was very structured, more like a lecture. In it she touched on seven different ideas that should give us hope in our lives. They are as follows:
1 -Stop worrying about your weaknesses. Build on your strengths. Wendy served a mission at age twenty one, and said it was one of the worst eighteen months of her life. During that time she realized many of her weaknesses, and felt they held her back from fulfilling many of her missionary responsibilites. Years later, her husband was called as a Mission President for the Canada Montreal mission. Wendy initially thought this was her opportunity to redeem herself, until she realized she still carried with her many of those same weaknesses from several years prior. Then, in a "moment of absolute clarity", she felt a voice say, "I did not call you on a mission for your weaknesses. I called you on a mission for your strengths. Serve with your strengths."
2 -Don't try to get motivated to exercise. Wendy talked about how motivation follows action. She'd recently read an article in Runner's magazine about how one runner generally tricked himself into running each day. He would start by putting on his running clothes, not because he was going running, but because they were comfortable. Then, he would go to the door, not because he was going running, but because he wanted to see what it was like outside. Then, he would start walking down the street, not because he was going running, but because he wanted to see if his neighbor was outside. Before he knew it, he was running. And such is life. Sometimes we need to trick ourselves into doing the things that are good for us. In the end, we'll be glad we did.
3 -Stop trying to find friends. Instead develop the skills of friendship. Try to have at least one meaningful conversation each day. The friendships will come.
4 -Don't try to feel happy. Try to feel grateful. Does wonders on our mood. Wendy challenged us to write down 3 good things that happened each day, then write down why those things happened. Wendy explained that by reflecting not only on the good things but why those good things happened, we are reminded of reasons to be grateful, which, in turn, should make us feel happy.
5 -Celebrate failure. "If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly." It is, after all, through our mistakes that we often learn the greatest lessons.
6 - Don't get help with your problems. Instead, help someone else. After all, Science has found it to be the single most reliable way to better our mood! And in the words of Gordon B. Hinckley's father, "Forget yourself and go to work." It is often in our deepest, darkest hours, that we must give our problems to the Lord, and turn to others and serve.
7 - Don't endure to the end. She shared President Gordon B Hinckley's famous quote, "Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." Savour everyday delights. Brainstorm five different tiny pleasures you can do that can bring you more joy.
All in all, Wendy had an unlifting message of hope and how we can achieve hope and happiness in our lives.
I left Fresno Saturday afternoon feeling rekindled, reassured, renewed, and ready to face the inevitable real life that was awaiting me at home. It was an awesome experience, and I hope to go to TOFW again someday.
"Oh, they say when you marry in June, you're a bride, all your life."
The first person who can tell me which movie I just quoted will receive $5 from yours truly.
Speaking of June brides, I shot three weddings this month!! Umm, yeah. Not a common thing for me. Before this month, I'd probably shot a total of three weddings - EVER! Yep. Three. I just counted. Strange coincidence, but how wonderful to get to double my experience and capture these special days! I have so much more to say, particularly about event #2, but that'll have to wait until I have a few more pictures edited to accompany all my words. :) For now, here's a shot of each of my June brides (with their grooms).
Last night as I was tucking Chloe into bed we had the following conversation:
Chloe: "Mommy, do you wish you had a third child?"
Me: "Well, sure! I'd love to have another baby someday. But it's not entirely up to me."
Chloe: "It's up to Daddy?"
Me: "Well, he has some say, sure! But it's ultimately up to Heavenly Father and whether or not he feels like we need another baby in our family."
Chloe (after some contemplation): "What if Heavenly Father thought you should have eight kids?"
Me: "Well, that would be news to me!"
Chloe (now giggling): "What if Heavenly Father thought you should have a hundred kids?"
{slight pause}
Chloe: "Then we'd have to buy a lot of cereal, wouldn't we?"
As if cereal would be at the top of our list of concerns with one hundred children!
While this post is neither an announcement or a foreshadow of upcoming events, I will have to say that Chloe would make a wonderful big sister. Within recent weeks she's started to show an increased level of maturity and understanding that I've never seen before. Now combine that with her already nurturing instincts, and I'm convinced she'd be of great help to me with a new baby in the house. Guess for the time being she'll just have to continue practicing on her dolls and brother when he'll let her.
Last night we took the kiddies to Baskin Robbins for their $1 scoop Tuesday special. We had planned to ride our bikes since it's only a mile from our house, until we discovered that it was still 100 degrees out at 7:00pm. That's when we opted for an air conditioned car ride instead. It was a cool, refreshing treat for all, and a perfect way to kick off the new season!
Today is the first day of summer and I believe it! Unlike Colorado where you rarely know which season you're in because snow falls in June and 75 degrees in February isn't so uncommon, California weather is a bit more predictable. Summer has been upon us for a few weeks now, between swim lessons, watermelon, evening bike rides, bare feet, wandering the local Farmer's Market, getting acquainted with our swimming pool, grilling burgers, sun screen, rosy cheeks, popsicles, buying cutesy water bottles to keep us hydrated through the scorching next few months, building a tan, more swimming, and finally, though we resisted as long as we could, turning on the air conditioning.
Today's high? 102! And according to weather.com, it's exactly that right now. This is the first day that 2011 has seen triple digits, and only the first of many, I'm afraid. Appropriate though, I suppose, since today is the first day of summer. I say bring it! If I endured Vacaville's summer heat waves for twenty years, I can certainly get used to Ripon's now!
Yesterday my little "sister" celebrated her 29th birthday. I love Lori for so many reasons, and the more I spend time with and get to know her, the more I respect and adore her. I have many memories of Lori, now going back nearly a decade (crazy!!), which I'll forever hold dear to my heart. I am grateful to have her in my life. Happy Birthday, Lori Jean!
{This was taken last weekend in Salt Lake right after Jared, Lori and their sweet little Katie-Bug were sealed for time and eternity. }
Another thing that makes Lori special is that she shares a birthday with my Grandma Ruth Butterfield, who would have turned ninety-two yesterday. I wish I'd had more time in this life with my Grandma Ruth, and the time I did have with her I wish I'd cherished more, but I am so grateful for the memories I have and for my mom's, aunts', uncle and cousins' memories, many of which they've shared with me. My mom told me that whenever there was contention in their home growing up, whether it be a sibling squabble or someone simply having a bad day, my grandma would often sit at the piano and play "Love at Home." To this day I can hardly get through the hymn without crying. Yesterday, in fact, we sang it in Sacrament Meeting and I was holding back the tears. What a strong message that quiet and simple act conveyed. And what a gift one has when she can make a point without saying a word. My mom says she never heard her mother raise her voice. And she never spoke an unkind word about anyone. It's no wonder my mom is the kind woman she is, not to mention her brother, Vee, and sisters, Pat, Carolyn and Valeri. I am grateful for the legacy my grandma left behind and I can't wait to see her again someday. Happy Birthday, Grandma Ruth!
{From left to right: my mom, age six, Grandma Ruth, Uncle Vee, Grandpa VeLoy and Aunt Pat}
Yesterday was also Father's Day!
When I think about the men who have touched my life, my dad instantly comes to mind. He was, after all, the first man in my life! I love him so much. As far back as I can remember we've been close, and I think it's safe to say we always will be. Some of my favorite things about my dad include his warm, loving nature, his love for his family, and how giving he is of his time. He's never in a hurry and makes you feel as though he has all the time in the world. To me that is invaluable. I hope my dad knows how much I admire and love him.
{1981 & 2002: two of my favorite pictures ever taken of us. They go together so perfectly.}
{This was taken at Hogle Zoo last summer. I think if Chloe had to choose her favorite person it would be Grandpa Roy. She loves him more than I ever thought a five-year-old was capable of loving another human being. There's no denying that these two have a lasting bond.}
My dad-in-law, David, has also touched my life. He has one of the kindest hearts of any man I've ever met, and values his family greatly. While we don't get to see much of each other, I think of him often and am grateful for his love and support. I especially love his occasional phone calls and emails where he simply tells me that he loves and appreciates me. Those small acts of kindness mean more to me than he knows. I really hope to get to see him within the next few months. It's been too long!
{This was taken during our Christmas trip to Atlanta in 2005. Chloe was just five weeks old. My, how time flies...}
Even having never met Neil's dad, Grant, who passed away when Neil was six, I still love this man like a father. Neil remembers him well, and has shared with me facts about him and memories he has. Neil's mom and his aunt and uncle have also shared with me bits and pieces of his life, and I am convinced he was an incredible man. I can't wait to meet Grant one day, and in the meantime I will continue to cherish the pictures I can hold in my hand and the fond memories others have shared of their time with him on this earth.
Yesterday I was glancing through pictures of the kids I took last week during their swim lessons and happened upon this one of Neil and Ryan, which reminded me of a picture that was taken roughly 30 years ago.
{It looks like Ryan and Neil are about the same age in these pictures. Can you believe the similarities? And what a perfect discover to make on Father's Day!}
And finally, I must honor my husband, who is amazing in so many ways. It's pretty much impossible for me to express in words my love and appreciation for Neil, so I'm not going to try. He knows how I feel. :) He is the fun and silly father I always hoped my children would have, as well as the supportive and playful husband I always hoped I would have! Chloe and Ryan love their dad so much and watching them giggle and wrestle together on the floor brings joy to my soul.
{The kids were so excited to present their Father's Day gift to Neil. And as you can see, he shared their enthusiasm.}
I hope everyone else out there had a very Happy Father's Day!
I stumbled upon this "letter" on parenting.com's blog this morning and had to share. Perhaps it's because I appreciate this mom's raw honesty and can relate to her dilemma. Or maybe it's because I think anyone who reads my blog deserves a good laugh to start off their week! Either way, enjoy. (See direct link HERE.)
Dearest Children,
Some questions have arisen recently with regards to chores and I thought I’d address your concerns in writing.
Regarding your question – Why do we have to do chores EVERY DAY? We do chores every day because you trash the house every day. If you stop eating, wearing clothes, playing with toys, using the bathroom and throwing your personal effects on the floor, the chores will cease.
For now, I caution you to carefully choose the time and place to begin a discussion about chores and their fairness. For example, when I am currently scrubbing puddles of dried urine from the floor around your toilet, it’s probably not the best time to yell about how unfair it is that you have to pick up the books you were reading. P.S. My aim is better than yours and that’s probably not fair either.
When I was young, I remember me or one of my siblings tearfully telling my mom, “But Mom, I’m not like you, I don’t LIKE doing chores.” She laughed at that comment. To this day I’m not sure why but I’d like to tell you something similar. I’m not like my mom. I don’t LIKE doing chores. That’s why I had kids, so I’d have someone to do all the work for me. If you’re sick of doing chores, grow up and have your own kids.
Sometimes you ask me to have mercy and let you watch a movie or play outside before you get your chores done. I rarely give in and I’ll tell you why. Every time I give in and let you do something fun before work, you have a total meltdown when the fun is over and it’s time for chores to start. If you could find it in your mental and emotional reserves to not go nuclear when it was chore time, I’d find it in my mental and emotional reserves to be more flexible with the scheduling.
Speaking of scheduling, I will now clue you in to one of the great mysteries of successful time management – If you don’t take forever to do something, it won’t take forever to get it done. It’s a simple principle, really. If you move slower than a dead person, your chores will never be finished. If, by contrast, you move your body, you may find that you have a couple of minutes left at the end of a grueling day of making your own bed to enjoy some leisure time.
I hope this has been helpful and enlightening. Have a marvelous day in the trenches!
Tonight's dinner conversation was a little more entertaining than usual. It went a little somethin' like this:
ME, trying to convince Ryan to eat his dinner (as if that's anything new): "Ryan, do you remember the cookies I made last night? You got to eat one on the way to church for getting dressed?" (Yes, I bribed my son with a cookie for putting his clothes on this morning.) RYAN: "Yeah?" ME: "So what do you need to do in order to get another cookie?" RYAN: "Be nice."
{CORRECT ANSWER: "Eat your dinner."}
Just then a third party chimes into the conversation. CHLOE: "You made ALL those cookies by yourself?" ME:"Yes!" CHLOE: "After we went to bed last night?" ME:"Yes!"
CHLOE: "Really?"
ME: "Yes!" CHLOE: "Holy cow, girl!"
I should have said this earlier but Ryan's response to virtually every question beginning with, "What do you have to do in order to______?" is, "Be nice.""...get a treat?" "...go to JD's house?" "...ride your bike?" "...talk to Grandma" "...not go back to timeout?" Relevant or not, "Be nice" is his answer.
And Chloe calling me, "girl"? I don't know where she comes up with this stuff! Sometimes she acts more like a teenager than a five year old.
Ryan is growing into quite the little stink. Believe it or not, he has started taking punches at his sister, hitting the nearest thing in sight, and even yelling or throwing objects when he doesn't get his way. I am learning a pattern, or should I say becoming reacquainted with one which another child, who will remain unnamed, followed when she was Ryan's same age.
One night about a month ago, after teeth had been brushed, bladders had been emptied, arguments had been resolved, songs had been sung, and prayers had been said, it was time for bed. Just as we were ready to tuck kiddos in so that Neil and I could enjoy a few moments of sanity before collapsing ourselves, Chloe realized she'd left her blanket downstairs. It was at this same moment that I realized Ryan's blanket had also been left downstairs. My initial thought was to have Chloe grab it since she was heading down there anyway, however I knew that this could potentially result in disaster. So instead I gave Ryan the option of getting it himself or letting Chloe. Sometimes he's perfectly willing to let her do things for him. Sometimes he's not. The key is convincing him that he's in control and that the decision is his to make, not someone else's. Well, as I suspected, "I do it!" was Ryan's response. That, along with "I don't like that" are two of his favorites these days. Now top that with it already being past his bedtime, when he tends to be a little more unreasonable, irrational, possessive, demanding, and whiny than usual, and the prediction is simple. He was going to go get his blanket, NOT Chloe!
Well, poor Chloe, in an attempt to be helpful, and obviously not having heard my conversation with Ryan, had already raced down the stairs before I even had a chance to tell her to leave Ryan's blanket behind. In fact, she was three quarters of the way back up just as Ryan was approaching the stairs to go down. You can imagine the sheer terror in his eyes when he spotted his blanket in Chloe's arms. She quickly handed it off to him, but the damage had already been done. With tears in his eyes, he threw himself onto the floor and started screaming like an honest, healthy, and very tired two-year-old would! About ninety seconds in, he slammed the blanket onto the floor and proceeded to kick it down the stairs, screaming the entire way, until he and the blanket had reached the bottom. After all, the only way to gain complete control back was to undo Chloe's good deed.
About twenty minutes later when Ryan had finally settled down, we were trying to determine where he was going to sleep. Ever since we transformed his crib into a toddler bed, Ryan has preferred sleeping on his floor. On occasion he'll choose to sleep in his bed, but because I never know, I've just added the question, "bed or floor?" to our nightly routine. Well earlier this week, Ryan had become more particular than usual about where on the floor his head would lie. He has this soft monkey mat (from Aunt Sue) that he sleeps on, and always wants his pillow in a specific place on this mat. For some reason though, I just couldn't get it right. It didn't matter where I put the silly mat or where I placed the pillow on the mat. His reaction was inevitably the same: throwing head back, more crying, followed by a, "Nooooooo! Ight dier!" ("right there"), while pointing two inches from the current location of his mat and pillow. I'm sure this partially stemmed from the episode that took place twenty minutes prior, but either way, it was absurd and a little over the top. He did eventually give in and sleep but not without a good fight.
While these stories illustrate the events of a single night, they also represent a lot of habits and tendencies Ryan has started to exhibit. Some more examples? Let's see. He can't manage in the bathroom when I've got my hands full in the kitchen, yet the minute I'm free to help him pull up his pants or wipe his bum he discourages any contact with me whatsoever. He demands the pink cup until Chloe expresses interest in the yellow cup. Then suddenly he has to have the yellow cup. If I place his green blanket on him before placing his blue blanket on him (both of which he sleeps with every night), he wants the blue blanket on him before the green blanket. Yet had I done it this way to begin with, he will have demanded it be done the other way. So in essence, whatever I do, or how I do it, dictates what he wants and how he wants it. And that is more often than not the complete opposite of what I just did. As I am slowly catching onto Ryan's patterns, I am becoming better equipped at handling him. Sometimes giving him options is the trick to maintaining a happy boy, and sometimes it doesn't matter what I do because he's already decided that he's going to be miserable regardless.
I know Ryan is learning, and sometimes I think I'm doing a good job at handling him. He sure does exhaust me though. Motherhood in general exhausts me. In fact, I've never found it more exhausting than right now. I don't know if it's the current stages of both of my children, but those two literally suck the life right out of me. I recently stumbled upon this quote and found within it great comfort (and hope). In sharing his thoughts on mothering, M. Russell Ballard said this:
"First, recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction. . . .
Second, don't overschedule yourselves or your children. . . . Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together.
Third, even as you try to cut out the extra commitments, sisters, find some time for yourself to cultivate your gifts and interests. Pick one or two things that you would like to learn or do that will enrich your life, and make time for them. Water cannot be drawn from an empty well, and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less and less to give to others, even to your children." -M. Russell Ballard (from Hilary Weeks' Bedtime and Naptime..., p.49)
Ballard's thoughts really hit home for two reasons. First, the concept of joy in motherhood coming in moments is so very true, at least for me at this point in my life. What I've realized though is that it's okay that it only comes in moments - even normal, in fact! And that it's not all supposed to be joyful and perfect. After all, it's the challenges, disappointments and heartaches we face day in and day out that help us cherish and hold tight to those "moments" of joy that come unexpectedly. And really, if life were perfect and our children were perfect, and our houses were perfect, and everything were perfect, what would be our purpose on this earth? And would all the many joyful moments really feel joyful after a while, or would they start to feel boring and less exciting? We certainly wouldn't have many opportunities to grow if there weren't some unpleasant moments to mix things up.
Second, Elder Ballard's encouragement about finding time for ourselves was a good reminder for me, and something I especially needed to hear from an Apostle. I think in the monotony of motherhood, it's easy to lose ourselves. After all, if my kids, who since I can remember, I dreamed of carrying, birthing and raising, can drive me crazy and wear me out and often make me feel everything BUT joy, then I must be failing! It's usually when I'm not making time for myself and not cultivating my gifts and talents that I start falling into this trap.
So Ryan is a little stink. We've established that. He has his sweet moments, but most of the time, at least right now, he's a stink. I get it. I am accepting it. And I will continue to work with him over and over again for as long as it takes him to understand how he should be. I will do that because I am his mother and I love him. Despite the challenges, I am grateful for him and for the lessons I am learning. I am also grateful that I am not naive to the realities of motherhood. It really isn't always fluffy, flowery and beautiful. But somehow enduring life's challenges helps me to recognize and appreciate even more those occasional moments of joy. And when they come, I cherish and remember them. And I really truly believe that that's how God intended it to be.
I have started about twelve blog posts in the last month and a half. Does that count for something even though I've only managed to publish a few? I have been out of town since the 1st and am supposed to be heading home next Tuesday. Hopefully once I'm settled back into my routine I can devote a little time to this poor blog. I did so well the first couple months of the year. Here's something to tide you over until I get my act together.
These were taken one lazy March afternoon. The sun was shining beautifully through the window and, well, you know me. Had to grab the camera. I love how devoted he has remained to his love of trains. I love how he smiles with his bottom teeth. I love how half the time he runs around in nothing but a t-shirt and underwear. I love how he pronounces chocolate "chwauck-a-wit". I love how he turned two and a half on the 9th but still insists he's two. Love him.
When Neil and I got married almost nine years ago, my sweet Grandma Martha, who celebrated her 94th birthday last December, gave me a beautiful cedar chest. I'm not sure how far back it goes or even where she got it, but she had had it for a long time and was now adamant that I have it. I was honored. Not only would it make a charming addition to our home, but I would always have something to remember her by.
Well it made its way around over those almost nine years, and even spent a couple years in my parents' basement because we didn't have room for it in our first Colorado home. Last May, after Brad and Courtney's BYU graduation and on their way to Georgia, they drove through Colorado and brought the chest to us (thank you again, guys). In September, it made its way with us to California, and last month Neil refinished it. So even though it's been ours for nearly a decade, it has just now found a place in our home.
I love this chest. It fills some space and looks great below our front room windows. I'm even thinking it could make a great newborn prop. But while it holds many uses, it represents something so much deeper than just a pretty piece of furniture. I will forever treasure it, and am so grateful for my grandma and for Neil.
Speaking of newborn props and Neil, here's something else which is a direct result of his handy work.
I spotted a doll bed just like this on a photography website back in January and showed it to Neil. "I could build that!", he said. And so he did! When it's not being sat upon by a cute little baby, it resides in Chloe's bedroom. The kids love playing "house" with it, and it will no doubt be passed down many generations.
I love seeing things in my home that hold meaning and sentimentality. This chest and doll bed are just two of the many pieces I expect to admire in the coming years as Neil continues to put his handy work to use.
I am offering one free photography session in Utah during the month of May! Session will take place between May 9th and 28th. If you like my work, are a Utah resident and/or will be in the Salt Lake area during that time, feel free to enter my drawing! This is all you need to do:
17 years ago today I was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was a tender day, and one I will remember for the rest of my life. I am still touched, all these years later, by the magnitude of friends and family who offered me support, service and love during my journey to becoming a Mormon. They have no idea the impact they continue to have on my life today.
I'm not sure where I'd be without the gospel. There is nothing in this world which could possibly replace the peace, happiness or hope it provides. The greatest blessings I enjoy today stem from the decision I made 17 years ago, and I am eternally grateful.
Wow, what an incredible weekend - last weekend, that is! I knew Time Out For Women was going to be good, but I didn't have a clue what treasures truly awaited me. It was, in a word, perfect. All of it. Perfect. The program is without question an inspired one. Just when I felt as though one presenter was my favorite, the next would get up and blow me away. I kept thinking, "How did s/he know I needed to hear that?" It was as if God was speaking directly to me.
This year's TOFW theme is "Choose to Become", and while each presentation possessed its own individual topic and charm, they all came back to the same idea of choosing to become what our Heavenly Father would have us be. Beautiful messages were shared, and I only wish my mom and mom-in-law (and all of the other amazing women in my life) could have been there with me to partake. In the midst of a healthy combination of laughter and tears (trust me, there was plenty of both), I took about 7 pages worth of notes. There was so much more I wanted to document and remember, but I'm not a very fast scribe. :) I wish I had a recording of the entire program so I could listen to it again and again. And I wish I could somehow capture that spiritual energy I felt and keep it in a bottle to open up and inhale on the days ahead when I might need a boost.
Friday evening's speakers included John Bytheway and Kris Belcher, and music was provided by Michael McLean. Here are some thoughts and quotes that stuck with me from Friday's portion of the program.
"Nothing is particularly difficult if you divide it into small jobs." -Henry Ford
Being the somewhat uptight-with-perfectionist-tendencies kinda gal that I am, I get overwhelmed pretty easily. Most of the time the problem stems from the fact that I view my tasks as a whole and not in portions. I'm impatient, wanting results NOW. And because I'm so focused on crossing the finish line, I fail to endure the journey reasonably - one step at a time. This quote by Henry Ford is so basic yet so dead on. It gave me comfort to realize that even some of the big tasks with which I am faced really aren't impossible if I just have the right perspective and game plan.
Bytheway also referenced the common saying, "An apple a day keeps the the doctor away", and in speaking of the power of a simple apple, he likened the concept to our spiritual health, presenting this question, which he challenged us to ask ourselves: "What is the one thing that if I could stop doing today would make the biggest difference?" He then asked the same question but this time replacing "stop doing" with "start doing." And finally, in keeping with the TOFW's theme, presented this question, "What could I become if I did this each day?" What a hopeful message this conveys, and what countless possibilities await us all if we ask ourselves these questions and then act on them.
John Bytheway has been around for a long time. I've heard a talk or two of his in the past and read bits and pieces of his various books. One of them, which I have, is entitled, 'How to Be Totally Miserable'. The guy is just plain funny, and while I've always known this, I didn't really appreciate his humor, knowledge or spirit until I sat in the same auditorium as he. He is truly inspiring.
Kris Belcher was pretty dang awesome too. She was also hilarious, and I think I laughed during more of her talk than anyone else's. She is legally blind as a result of a recent battle with cancer, and has experienced much in her life. Yet she herself said, "It's okay to laugh, even when it's serious, heartbreaking and horrible." The topic of Kris' talk was 'Living Vertically'. She said, "The winds that are blowing, if we allow them to, will blow us to the Savior." In other words, our trials and tribulations, though excruciating at times, will take us to our sanctuary if we allow them. The title of one of her books, 'Hard Times and Holy Places' really sums up the theme of her message. And while I'm sure I experienced this long before last summer, it was during Neil's time away that I for the first time recognized this happening in my life. It was awful having him gone, and while thousands of women do it every day and I know my situation didn't even hold a candle to theirs, I still struggled. I also found, however, that it was in those moments of loneliness, uneasiness and confusion that I fell to my knees - mostly because I didn't know what else to do. And it was through falling to my knees that I found my "holy places", with God. It really is a beautiful concept.
Here are a few other thoughts Kris shared:
"Turn your frustrations heavenward, into prayers. Focus your feelings upward." She spoke of Nephi, who encouraged us, before doing anything, to pray and promised that God would consecrate our efforts for our benefit.
And finally, she said this:
"Try living vertically. See if your rough edges are not smoothed out." I especially loved this because I, as most women probably do, feel I have many rough edges. Too many to name, in fact. But to know He has the power to smooth those rough edges, to make our weaknesses our strengths, is a very encouraging and real truth.
Micheal McLean provided music between Bytheway's and Belcher's messages, and while it took some time, by the end of the evening he had grown on me. It wasn't so much his music, style or personality, but the spirit he carried that really got me. I wish I'd jotted down more of what he said, but his overall message was that of encouragement and hope, reminding us how truly exquisite we are in the sight of God. He reminded us that God knows us each so well, and takes more interest in our day to day things, thoughts, feelings, challenges, experiences, etc. than we can even imagine. He played a song about adoption entitled, 'From God's Arms, To My Arms, To Yours'. Even though I have not had a personal experience with adoption I have been touched by others' stories, including a good friend of mine who has adopted two boys. And, well, I think as a mother it's impossible to not be moved by the lyrics of this inspired piece. I'm sure it's more fitting for a woman to sing, but I found this on YouTube, and since this is how the song was first presented to me, I'd like to share it with you.
I left Friday's program already feeling edified and renewed. And I could hardly wait to see what Saturday had in store for me. More on that soon...
Each day I am reminded of how quickly time passes. Today I was reminded, not once, but twice.
This evening I attended Kindergarten Orientation. Enough said, right? As I sat in the very classroom where Chloe may spend her first year as an elementary school student, it hit me the many changes that were coming, and that I'm about to see a lot less of Chloe. This naturally presented the question, "Have I made the best of my time with her?" Well, only I know the answer to that, and while I've had plenty of shortcomings, I'd like to think the good has outweighed the bad.
A little later this evening, just after we got Ryan down for the night, we remaining three plopped on the couch together for our nightly reading. Now before I go on, let me rewind back about three weeks when I was in the kitchen one afternoon and Chloe quietly approached me. Upon doing so, she held up a book which she'd grabbed from the bookshelf in the play area upstairs and simply asked, "Mom, can we read this?"
As random as it was that my five-year-old was requesting a book with no pictures which was broken down into chapters and well exceeded 150 pages, I wasn't too surprised, nor was I about to say no. And so, that very night, Neil, Chloe and I sat together on the couch and read chapter 1 aloud. The next night, chapter 2. And over the next two and a half weeks, well, life happened and we missed some nights, but the important thing is that we kept at it. Some nights we'd even whiz through a chapter without a single pause, almost forgetting that we were reading to a small child who probably didn't understand everything, only to hear, in her own words a recap of that chapter. It was pretty amazing, the whole thing.
Tonight we finished our book.
How quickly time passes. One minute I'm holding my precious, tiny newborn baby, and the next I'm enrolling her in kindergarten and reading with her one of C.S. Lewis' greatest classics.
In exactly 2 hours I will be headed to Fresno for 24 hours of spiritual bliss. My sweet friends, Tina and Brittany invited me to go with them to Time Out For Women, a program our church offers across the country as well as New Zealand and Australia throughout each year. Click on the link above to read all about it.
I am grateful Neil is supportive of me leaving him and the kids for a day and a half to go enjoy some "me" time. And at this very moment I am especially grateful to my friend Shelly, who is taking my kids for the afternoon on very little notice thanks to Neil getting called to a case in Roseville last minute. Don't these things always happen? I am really looking forward to this chance to be spiritually fed, recharge my batteries and be reminded of my divinity, worth and purpose.
Wow, crazy last couple of weeks! My computer was having issues week before last and ended up in the shop up until last Wednesday. While I missed the convenience of having photoshop and blogger at my finger tips, I'll have to say the break was nice, and somewhat needed. And really, what a great week to be without a computer with sunny, upper 70 degree temps! Last Thursday and Friday even crept into the 80s and was actually hot! We ate dinner on our front porch and opened windows that night when the cool breeze kicked in. It is so bizarre to me that it's already beginning to feel like summer and yet we're barely into April. I love it though.
Neil and I spent quite a bit of last week working in the yard. We moved a few bushes around, replaced some dead plants with new ones, planted 2 trees, installed countless drip lines and potted some flowers for the front porch. Neil did most of the work while I kept the kids out of his way, but I would like to think I was fairly helpful too. I took a lot of pictures, mostly for my family - Neil's mom in particular, who is the greenest of all green thumbs out there and will appreciate the assortment of pictures below probably more than anyone else who bothers to read this post!
So let's rewind back to March 19th when we had a massive rain storm, complete with I don't even know how many mile an hour winds but definitely not an appealing number! Earlier that day I participated in a photo shoot that my friend Tami had arranged for some photographers in the area. It was cold, wet and windy then, and unfortunately only got worse as the evening progressed. I ended up having to run out at 10pm to get some things for a church program the following evening. As I was exiting the freeway to come home a huge branch fell from a tree just ten or so feet ahead of me, which was pretty scary. Luckily I dodged it. Then all night we heard the wind and the tree branches in our front yard hitting the windows. Needless to say by morning when the winds had calmed, we were relieved. I glanced out the window at some point that morning and discovered a couple things that were out of place.
Notice anything odd? Like, oh, I don't know. A trampoline sitting on its side and crunching into the fence?
What about here? Yep, you got it. A basketball hoop that once stood.
And as if that wasn't crazy enough, here's what we discovered backing out of our driveway to head to church!
Our poor tree on the side of our house got knocked down. When we got home from church and gave the tree a closer look, Neil quickly discovered that the largest roots had snapped in half, and that the tree had no chance of survival. We were both really sad because it was a beautiful tree and a decent size! How ironic, too, that of the 2 trees in our yard (not counting the ugly palm tree in our backyard which we are considering replacing down the road), one of them would get destroyed during a storm! Neil said the roots were very shallow in the ground to begin with, which could have contributed to the fall.
So there's that story! What's also ironic is that less than a week prior, we planted an orange tree just 20 feet from where this tree stood. Right now it's 21 inches tall, and luckily the storm didn't have any effect on it. It's just ironic that the very week we planted a new tree, we lost an old tree. I'll post pictures of the orange tree planting extravaganza soon. It was a lot of fun. Okay, now onto the fun part of the post!
So the front walk way had quite a few weeds and dead plants which we ripped out, and then Neil and I headed to Lowe's to find some new stuff to fill in the gaps. It was so fun picking out flowers and plants. I don't know what it is about Spring but it just makes me feel so happy! The process of filling my cart with greenery and other vibrant colors, all the while inhaling the various fragrances; then coming home and planting the goods in the warm sunshine, followed by watering, and finally, admiring! Ahh! The whole process from start to finish just makes me happy!
Thursday was the hottest day of the week, and at one point we turned on the sprinklers so the kids could cool off. They only lasted 15 minutes before they were finished, but it was 15 minutes of giggles and squeals. It was great watching them. And as I sat there on the sidewalk doing just that, I realized I was living a moment which years before I envisioned in my head and hoped to someday live. Who wouldn't love watching their children have the time of their lives running through sprinklers on a warm Spring day?
I probably ought to start thinking about buying Ryan a swimsuit.
Friday and Saturday I potted some plants. I think our porch still needs some touches, but it's off to a great start. Neil is planning to build a wooden bench and possibly a matching planter box. I also want to get a large shrub (one of those twirly looking tree shrubs - you follow me?) to sit in a large pot directly left of the front door. In time. In time. Anyway, here are pictures.
You really can't even see the walkway very well. All the plants are still so tiny, but give them a year or two and they'll fill up the space and look gorgeous!
Here's the side of our house. That door on the far left leads into the kitchen. That alone is probably my favorite feature of the house. The sun light that creeps in through that big window around dinner time is just amazing, and the convenience of unloading groceries, checking on the kids while they play on the driveway and I cook dinner, etc. is just more than I could have asked for. I love my kitchen door, and I hope those hydrangeas Chloe and I planted next to the door grow and flourish so I have just one more thing to admire!
Another view from the side. Just to give you an idea of how large Chloe's bedroom is, the 2 top windows on the side of the house are hers, as are the 3 around the corner from it AND the 2 next to it. 7 windows!! The other 2 windows on the far right (covered by the trees) look into the play room.
We aren't crazy about the shrubs lining the side of the house, and would rather have something that has a little more character and that flowers. We had to rip out a plant that was overtaking some of these shrubs and are now waiting to see how it all fills in. They certainly don't look bad. Just not our first choice.
Neil's Grandma Jean painted the pots below (chili peppers and strawberries). Love them.
The left center picture is of a magnolia tree we planted on the far right side of our yard. I fell in love with it at a Nursery by our house. It's beginning to bud now and produces the most beautiful pink flowers! The right center picture is of the tree we planted in place of the one we lost during the storm. Right now it's about 2 feet high, but it supposedly grows 4 inches a month, so in no time it'll be a decent size. I can't remember what it's called. Bottom right picture is the view from our front door.
Bench will go to the far left of the porch (not seen in the picture below), and the potted shrub will go right smack against the blank wall to the left of the door.
I am so grateful for an established front yard that we can simply add to here and there, for a good sized tree that I can admire out my windows, for a huge porch where I can sit and watch the kids play, and for the overall warm and cozy feel that exists here. There are still things we aren't crazy about like the placement of some of the bushes and the lack of variety, however we made great progress last week and will continue to as time passes. Eventually it will feel like it's ours. I am really growing to love this house, and I think the more we can do to improve it, the more it will feel like "home."
