Family Week

I just LOVE being married to a school teacher, and there is nothing better then having a week off from the normal school routine.   Have I mentioned that before?   Ok, technically we didn't have a week off as John had day long meetings on Thursday and Friday, and our weekend was actually pretty busy.    The first half of the week though?   

Beautiful! 

Here are a few fun things from the perspective of my camera.   

1.   It was a week of board games around here.    Clue was a favorite of all of ours, especially Abby.   She's not the most graceful winner-but she is a darn good cheater! ;)
2.   To Abby's credit- she has worked so hard all year long to memorize all 13 articles of faith.   As an incentive I told Abby that her and I could have a race to see who could memorize them the best.   Winner would win a date with Dad.  (of course!)   Well, Monday night was our big face off, and Abby and I both presented all 13 verses to our trusty panel of judges.    In the end Abby won, and I am out a date with Dad.   Drat!
3.   Abby is now sporting a lovely pair of "aquamarine" studs in her newly pierced ears!  (Is Abby sounding a little bit spoiled here?)    Years ago I told Abby that she could pierce her ears when she is eight.    At the time I was just trying to stall and delay something that I didn't want to do.   It never actually occurred to me that she would one day reach that age and actually hold me to it!
4.   On Family day (Monday) we took the kids down to the high school for a couple of hours.  One of the teachers there is farming trout and the kids went to watch the thousands of little babies swim around. Really though- John just wanted to fly his remote planes with Sam on a real Big Screen.  
5.   Nate has been so communicative lately.   It's cute to watch him try to tell us what he's thinking.   With one demanding point he can pretty much get us to hand over anything he wants.   He loves to play with cameras, and I have a couple cheap broken ones that we often let him play with.   Apparently he got a hold of the real thing this week though and I found dozens of odd photos of him at very close range.    This one is actually my favorite.   Those eyelashes!!!!

That's it from our next of the woods.  

Happy Sunday!!!

Birthdays, Babies and River Otters

It's been a fun week, full of many different reasons to celebrate.

Sam came up to me earlier this week with the most serious, and confused look on his face.   Now let me just say that when Sam approaches with any type "serious thoughtful look" you can safely assume that whatever he's about to say - is gonna be good.    So,  I was really bracing myself, when he looked up at me and said:
            "Mom?  This is so weird-but I'm kinda sorta starting to like Church.   (long thougthful pause)   ........That's weird huh?"
I quickly recovered from the state of shock I was in to reward him with a kiss and a hug.   Then I assured him that I planned on holding him to that - and I expected zero complaining come Sunday.    Sure enough- not a single complaint from him today.   AND he only left Sacrament meeting 2 times instead of the usual 8 so he did pretty good all around.   I don't know- there might be hope for this boy!  

 Sam wasn't the only one impressing us this week.   My niece Ava won 1st (for her grade) at this years School Science Fair!   Her project was all about Rockets-which of course had Uncle John beaming with pride.   It was clear that she worked hard on it, and I personally find it  hugely reassuring to know that there are some smart genes running through this family.    It gives me hope for my own kids and I found myself looking forward to their future science projects.  Though- you can rest assurred I don't plan on letting Sam go anywhere near Rockets. ...Or ...any thing that launches projectiles of any sort.  

     Congratulations Ava!!!!!

We had a fun little visit from my Sister Crystal (it was fun right Crys?) and she brought her 3 cute little boys with her!    This little guy is just weeks old and I was thrilled to finally get to meet him.    She named him WALDEN and I love it.   Have you ever read "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau?    It's a beautiful book and I think the name fits this little guy perfectly! 

  Every time I looked at this little cutie I wanted to whisper in his ear all of my favorite Thoreau quotes.  But I'll wait until he's older.  

We were EXTRA lucky this week when Rachel and Brent showed up with their little guy MadDOX.  (sorry Brent I had to;)    

I use the term  "little guy" very loosely because for a 3 month old...he's doing pretty darn good if you know what I mean.    Gosh he is CUTE and soo SMILEY!   My kids pulled out every trick in the book trying to get a giggle out of him.   I think Maddax had more fun watching them try so hard then they realize.    He was laughing at them not with them!      Things were going well until Nate tried to get into the car seat right along with Maddax.  Sure, it's all fun and games until someone sits on the baby!




When Rach and Brent left for the temple (and while Nate napped) Jessica set right to work creating a little play place of sorts for her new friend.    She started by barricading him with pillows and blankets and then basically pulled every loose and random object she could find and placed it very strategically around him.    I like her style.   Very ...eclectic.  (Though personally, I think Maddax remained slightly underwhelmed by it all.)

Speaking of Jessica- she is officially 4!    We had a party for her last night, and it was nice to celebrate her.   She soaked that up!    I laughed as she sang Happy Birthday to herself right along with everybody while scanning the crowd to make sure that everyone was singing.    AND her enthusiasm while opening her presents was truly priceless.   I think Grandpa may have gotten a headache from all of the high pitched screaming that night, but that's what he gets for being the Grandpa.   Consider it an occupational hazard.

Jess really is a special little girl.   When I think about her dramatic entrance into the world four years ago, I am sometimes overcome with gratitude for the chance we have to enjoy her today.    She is sweet with a capital S and she is one bright little light!   

A few things about Jessica that we absolutely love:

*She walks around the house all day singing primary songs.   The same songs over.and over again.    I secretly get a kick out of how much this gets on Sam's nerves, but she still just keeps singing!

* She is our nature girl.  She's the only one who will happily get in the van with me and go for a drive.  Last year when all of the Eagles were migrating she was my number 1 buddy and bird watcher. 

*This year all that she wanted for her birthday were some art supplies and a RIVER OTTER.   

Seriously?  A River Otter?   

*She is our peacemaker.  Every family has one right?    She seems to thrive on making mom and dad happy, and she is the first one to back down from a fight with her siblings.     Thank goodness for peacemakers.   I like to think it's because she's the third child.   The third child always has to endure so much.    (I should know;)

  

Anyways, Happy Birthday to our dear sweet Jessica.   I'm sorry we couldn't get you that RIVER OTTER, but I have a pretty good feeling that you'll be our happy little girl - just the same!

Giveaway Winner...

Due to our very scientific methods, my cute soon to be 4 year old has just finished selecting the Winner of the Valentines Day Giveaway.    

And the winner is.....

JOANNA!   

Just leave a comment with your email address and let me know which picture you would like and I'll have it sent your way!

Thanks to all who shared what you love about Valentine's Day.

(PS:   You all made me feel so good about those photos.  If you really do want one still then just leave a comment with your contact info and I can still get one to you -you'll just have to pay for it to be shipped.)   

A Valentines Giveaway

 I LOVE Valentines day.    Sure, it isn't my favorite holiday of the year, but amidst all of the claims that it is nothing more then a Hallmark created tradition, I feel an increasing need to defend this poor little day.

To the best of my knowledge (and let's face it that might not be saying a lot)  Valentines day first begin way back in 496 AD when a priest by the name of Valentine, a romantic at heart, disobeyed Emperor Claudius II's decree that soldiers remain bachelors. Claudius handed down this decree believing that soldiers would be distracted and unable to concentrate on fighting if they were married or engaged. Valentine defied the emperor and secretly performed marriage ceremonies. As a result of his defiance, Valentine was put to death on February 14.     After his death he became a Saint and the people used this day to celebrate and honor those in love. 


Isn't that the sweetest story ever?    Well, in a sad tragic sort of way.    (I think it would be a great plot for a movie)     Even good ol' Wikepedia states that Valentines Day is an "annual commemoration celebrating love and affection," and I think we could all use a little more of that.       And really,  is there anything better then a bouquet of flowers in the middle of winter?    


No, I say there is not!


So I plan to embrace this day with all of my cheesy lovin heart!  First- I'm going to decorate our kitchen with pink streamers and balloons.   The kids will FLIP when they see it.    Then we'll have my father in law over for dinner, at which point I will serve ... breakfast:  heart shaped pancakes and all the fixins, with these cute chocolate cups full of pudding for dessert.    Then later on, I'll give John his gift-which he's totally not expecting.    He'd better flip when he gets it.   Basically,  I'm going to spend most of the day thinking of all those in my life that I LOVE and trying my best to spoil a few of them.   


Plus- in celebration of the true essense of Valentines day I am doing a little Giveaway for YOU!   Who I also LOVE!  (Well-if I know you I love you.   If I don't know you- feel free to enter still;) 


Today, I am giving away a canvas print of this:    

or- if you don't like the deer in it....

THIS:

This picture is very special to me.   The temple is an important part of what I believe and it is what ties me to my family and loved ones.      When I think about those that I  love  (my siblings, my kids, JOHN)  there is nothing better then knowing that I can live with them FOREVER!    
So if you love this temple too, and want a canvas print of it- then just leave a comment explaining why YOU love Valentines day and you'll be entered to win!     Draw will be later this week.   

Disclaimer: The print will come in an 8x10 size and I'll ship it anywhere within Canada or the US.   

HAPPY VALNTINES DAY!!!

When the kids are happy....

Apparantly our kitchen has become the cool place to be.    Of course, I've known that all along, but the kids have caught on to that this week and completely took over the area.   And though I am a little bit puzzled as to why, I like to think they just wanted to be closer to me! ;)                                            
For a couple of evenings in a row the kids set up their own little houses that sat right next to our kitchen table.    Practically ALL of our extra kitchen space was filled by these little makeshift shelters where the kids actually ate out of for a few of our evening meals.
John and I  actually put up with the whole thing, because as much as we'd like to say we were encouraging their desire to play - we were really just happy to enjoy visiting with Grandpa while we ate.

It's pretty safe to say that John's and my motto as parents this week has pretty much been:

   "When the kids are happy- we are happy!"

After the kids got tired of using the kitchen as their campsite (around day two),  they turned it into a train station - lining up all the chairs in a row, and filling them with stuffed animal passengers.      And then...when they grew tired of that, the kitchen was quickly turned into a Library!

Abby and her cousin Mya were the perfect librarians!    I wish I could say that this place was as QUIET as a library should technically be, and I would have liked to have been able to used this area to actually you know...prepare dinner, but it's all good.    Dinner can always wait right?  

Besides, if there is one thing that John and I have learned, it is that - 

"when the kids are happy - we are happy!"

Abby was super thrilled to get to have Mya over on Friday after school (hence the library in my kitchen;)   I had told Abby that Mya could stay for a late over but not a SLEEP OVER.    (It was my attempt at punishing Abby for pretending to practice her piano songs this week when she really hadn't practiced them at all)    Abby seemed to understand the plan perfectly well, and when I left that evening for a baby shower I was expecting to come home around 9:00 and take Mya home then.     Well when I got home after the baby shower, my sister Jewel had already come to pick up Mya, which was definitely not ok with Abby.    As a result I was greeted by a teary and dare I say dramatic little girl standing outside my bedroom door.    As I approached she extended her arm enough to hand me this note and then without saying a word, she walked back to her room.  

I wish I could say that this letter affected me in the way Abby had wanted it to.    Perhaps this was supposed to make me feel a bit guilty.   But it didn't.    I know it sounds mean-but honestly, it is notes like this that bring a smile to this cold mother's heart!    Can't you just feel her pain!  (hee hee)  I personally love how she signed it- "from your best sad dother,  Abby"    It was just sooo cute!  AND I learned a very important lesson:

Even when my kids are Mad - they still make me so happy!

Go Figure.

**************

PS:   On a completely different note:   Isn't it incredible what is happening over in Egypt?   John says this past week has been historic.  Like, right up there with the fall of the Berlin Wall kind of historic.    It definitely is inspiring to think that those people have brought themselves so much closer to freedom!

We sure are lucky to live where we do, that's for sure.

PSS:   HAPPY VALENTINES DAY tomorrow!

In & Out of EVERYTHING

Have I mentioned lately how mobile our little Nate has gotten?    He's reached that stage where the rest of us must adapt to make everything more childproof for the little guy.     It's once again time to turn over ALL the kitchen chairs and stools to prevent him from climbing up onto counters.    It's time to make sure ALL electrical outlets are covered with those annoying little protector things.    Time to decrease the water temperature on the water heater.  (Better yet- it might be safer to just keep him out of the Bathrooms entirely!!)

Today I went to pick up Sam from Kindergarten and left Jess and Nate in the van.    Don't panic,  I just have to go up to the entrance of the school and he's usually right there. (It's not like I'm a bad mom or anything)   Anyways- this is when Jess usually undoes her seat belt and moves up front to sit in the driver seat pretending to be a mom.    By the time I get back and start the van it is always a fun surprise to find she'd turn on the windshield wipers.    And turned up the radio full blast.   She loves doing that!   Anyways, today I grabbed Sam as usual and as I looked towards the van I was surprised and a bit confused to see NATE standing in the drivers seat happily steering the wheel.    

For the life of me I don't know if I completely forgot to secure his straps OR has he figured out how to maneuver past the whole buckle thing on his own.  (There-now you can think I'm a bad mom)  Actually-I think because his straps are set to accommodate a big winter snowsuit, he was able to wiggle through thanks to the much smaller coat he had on today.   Time to take the car seat out and tighten those straps again eh!

Now I not only have to worry about what Nate is getting INto- but I also have to worry about what he is getting OUT of as well.

I really think raising boys is an entirely different experience then raising girls.   I had hoped that Nate would be a little easier on me-but it appears that he's shaping out to be the same kind of handful that my Sam was.  ...ur...still IS! 

See my girls would NEVER think of dancing through all of the clean laundry.   They just wouldn't do it!

And Yes- that is clean laundry on the floor.   (Dirty laundry is in the basket naturally)  I'd happily tackle that rapidly growing pile of clothes but I figure that Nate will just mess up my piles of folded laundry faster then I can put them away, so why bother.   

 Or perhaps I'm really just procrastinating this job because I know that I'll get everything folded only to find that 4 more socks are missing their match!    I seriously don't know how it happens.  

All of the socks go INto the laundry but only half of our socks ever seem to make it OUT. 

  

Where are all of our missing socks?   I mean really, just where exactly do they disappear to?

What's Wonderful Wednesday!

What an afternoon!    My sister Jewel is way WAY too good to us, which probably explains why she is really the Mother my kids wish they had.   At least that's what they tell me every day.    "I wish I lived at Auntie Jewel's house."   It's ok-I can take it.   In fact I really have to agree with them that their is nobody more awesome to them then their Auntie Jewel.   Take this afternoon for example.  For no real reason, she stopped by, swooped Sam and Jessica up and carried them off to her house for an afternoon of fun.   I had no plans.   She wasn't babysitting for me, or anything.   With Abby at school, and Nate napping, do you know what that meant?  

Peace.

And quiet.

Beautiful.

My good afternoon didn't end there.  Shortly after the kids all returned home from Jewel's house, and school, our cute little neighbor a couple of doors down stopped by to invite the kids to watch the Junior High Basketball game with her family.     I tell ya - it takes a brave person to invite my little brood somewhere.    I'm really excited to hear how it all went.   And when I say excited, I mean ...afraid, worried, and anxious to hear how it all went.    I'm used to letting my kids go anywhere and everywhere with Jewel, and I usually don't worry about what Jewel will have to face.   I'm a tad more nervous about exposing the neighbors to all of that though.    For example:  how many pieces of public property were damaged in some way by Sam.   Or heaven forbid-what if Jessica has an "accident" in her pants.   Again.

 Despite the horrible and embarrassing stories I'm half expecting to hear when they come barrelling through the door- I am trying to make the best of it, by milking the most out of the past couple of hours without our three loudest and most energetic.

Perhaps John and I will eat our Steak Sandwiches and homemade fries by Candlelight?

Sounds dreamy eh.

Ooooh, and for dessert, we'll eat the rest of these delicious donuts that I got down town at our ...get this- brand new BAKERY!!!  

Yeah-that's right.  We have a BAKERY!     For as long as I've lived here I have lamented to John that this town would be perfect if only it had a Bakery.  (Well technically I think this town would be perfect if it had a Bakery and a good Mexican restaurant-but I realize that's asking a lot.)    Apparently the universe is on my side right now-because as I was driving down main street I saw that glorious delightful sign advertising donuts, whole wheat breads, sugar free jams and jellies and so, SO much more.    When did that happen?   It's like-one day something was missing in my life and then suddenly...POOF!

All is right with the world!

Which brings me to this week's installment of What's Wonderful Wednesday.

 In honor of my Sister (the one my kids wish they could live forever with), my Good (albeit unsuspecting) Neighbors, and the half dozen donuts that I polished off before even getting home -
 the most wonderful things about today are:

#4: "Lots of Quiet time, and Bakeries that appear out of nowhere"

Born to run and not be weary?

John here:  Recently I've been studying the phenomenon of barefoot running as well as the use of what are called "minimalist" running shoes ("minimalist" refers to a shoe that has a minimal, or "zero drop," difference between the thickness of the shoe at the toes and the thickness at the heel).  In a roundabout way, I was introduced to this idea by Nathan Smith, who operates a website called www.inbetweenmytoes.com .  As part of the physics 30 course I am teaching this semester, I invited Nathan to come speak to my students about his experience and research associated with barefoot running.  To illustrate the differences, he videoed me running on a treadmill with typical running shoes and then again in barefeet.  Aside from my ramblings about physics terminology, the video is excellent in showing the distinct differences between how the foot strikes the ground, and most interestingly,  how different my posture is while running barefoot.  See the video below.

The very same day that Nathan presented this to my class, I found a TED talk by Christopher McDougall, who has written a book called Born to Run ( http://borntorun.org/ ).  

The link to the TED talk is here:

 http://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_mcdougall_are_we_born_to_run.html

A brief interview by a New York Times reporter and Christopher McDougall:

In case you're still not convinced, try this clip by Harvard professor Daniel Lieberman:

In short, I am overly convinced that running barefoot, or at least running with shoes that have thin soles and wide toe boxes, is the best way to ensure good posture and strong joints.  I've already encountered numerous stories of runners whose chronic running injuries went away when they stopped using conventional running shoes and either ran barefoot or with minimalist shoes like the ones posted below.  This year, Merrell is making a shoe in a trail and casual version called the "Trail Glove" (below in blue/grey)  and the "Tough Glove" (brown leather).  Vibram has their five-finger line which arguably began the revolution of minimalist shoes.  Check out their websites if you are at all interested.

Let me just say to all the RAGNAR folks out there, as well as any other avid runners, that if you've been suffering from chronic injuries due to running, you really need to take what I've mentioned here seriously.  Believe me that I will not be buying a pair of typical running shoes again.  Happy trails!

What has made me smile this week

I wish that I had taken a couple more pictures this past week, especially yesterday.   We were so glad to get to join my brother and his family as our nephew Mason was baptized.  As always, it was fun to watch the little cousins play with each other, (aka run around the church as if they'd never been in one before) but even more then that it was great to celebrate Mason.    We couldn't help but notice what an impressive boy he is.  Always smiley and happy, and he never really requires any specific attention.  He is just sort of always happily there.   He looked so cute standing next to his proud Dad, and I wish I'd thought to take a picture of that.

One thing I did get a picture of this week is this thing! 

Imagine my surprise one morning when the kids came barrelling up the stairs with this baby in tow.   Somehow-when I wasn't looking (which lets face it, is often) they had devised a plan to freeze some of their toys in a ziploc bag full of water.    I watched as the kids excitedly ripped away the ziploc and began searching for various little treasures.   In my mind I had to keep reminding myself to just "stay quiet and embrace their creativity."    That's what a good mom is supposed to do right?   

Needless to say- I put an end to this little activity when I went to the deep freeze later that day and found FOUR MORE giant blocks of ...um...creativeness.     Can somebody please explain to me why we should even bother buying toys?

This picture makes me smile every time I see it.    It reminds me of the hectic morning this week when, during the before school rush, John volunteered to dress Nate.     I couldn't help but giggle later that day as I realized that Nate was wearing Sam's shirt.    The little squirt was practically swimming in it, it was so cute!    I love that John would be so helpful in the mornings even as he is trying to leave for work himself, and it all just seemed so very "Mr.Mom" of him.    I seriously wanted to hug the guy and thank him for trying.       

Perhaps it was the shirt that was four sizes too big, I don't know, but this boy seems to be growing up much faster then I'd like.  

Luckily, he has been a bit sick this week.  (tonsillitis, ear infection, cold, teething...you name it-he's got it)     I realize that might not seem to be a very lucky thing, but it is for me.    It is only when Nate is sick that he slows down and will actually pause long enough to offer me a rare and precious little cuddle.     

And a cuddle from this Big Boy - ALWAYS makes me smile!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!