Nothing Lasts Forever...Dang It

I remember when my oldest was a newborn. In a blink, everything had changed. I was no longer teaching or working for the district. I was exhausted and emotional and trying desperately to adjust to how different my life had suddenly become. JC wasn't eating well and I didn't know how to help him. I was a little bit of a mess...OK, I was a BIG mess.

One day a friend came over to see my new baby. She held him and looked at him and said, "Oh, enjoy every moment. It goes by in the blink of an eye." I sat there...I'm sure in a pair of something made out of fleece...and thought she was insane. Truly insane. Or I was insane. This was not going fast. This was the house where time stood still and it was never time to sleep. If this was fast, shoot me now.

And then I blinked.

Suddenly I had 3 children finishing another year of elementary school. Today JC finished 4th grade, MC finished 2nd grade, and HB is done with kindergarten. Since HB was already done with school, she and I went and spent the day at the children's museum yesterday. We rode the train and held hands walking down the street and played all day long. And somewhere in the middle of the day I looked over at my daughter and realized this would be the last "day" I would have HB all to myself. Next year she would be in 1st grade and attending school all day. It really did go by in the blink of an eye. And there is a big sadness egg sitting on my heart tonight.

Watching my sweet children grow up is such a joy. But I will be honest...we always hoped and believed there would be more children after HB. Chris and I weren't ready to be done and it has been a year of transition and change as I try to understand and accept what it is that the Lord needs and wants for me. But I won't lie...it has been hard. I didn't think we would be at this place in our life so soon. Suddenly I'm asking myself what I want to do when I grow up. And it is exciting. And scary.

Being a mother of young children is absolutely exhausting...physically, emotionally, spiritually. It demands everything you have. There are so many hard moments and so many exhilirating wonderful moments. There are diapers and bottles and long nights and tiny fingers and sweet smiles and lots of giggles. There are days that go on for an ETERNITY and weeks that disappear. It is such a strange, amazing time of life! Whole months have just vanished this year...and there are so many incredible memories.

And so in the great circle of life...I've become that friend. I will come and snuggle your newborn baby and with genuine tears in my eyes, I'll beg you to enjoy every single moment because it will go by in the blink of an eye.

Life is so amazing.

Part 3 of The Vacation...And It's a Wrap!

A wrap...as in, "this is it". Not a wrap that you eat. Or wear. Who knew the word "wrap" had so much potential?

Let's see...where were we...3 very hot days at Disneyland, not throwing up on the teacups, Space Mountain a dozen times, $5.00 cups of frozen yogurt...ah, yes. Thursday night we said farewell to the happiest place on earth and headed for MY happiest place on earth. San Diego.

Oh how I love San Diego. And oh how I love the people that live in San Diego. We spent 2 glorious days hanging out with our family, sitting by the beautiful pool, eating chips and amazing salsa, shopping for bridesmaid dresses online, watching Angeline Jolie keep some serious heiny (movie night), and just loved being with the people we love and adore. The boys and girl were in serious cousin heaven. HB and her darling cousin were attached at the hip...they moved from the pool to the huge jetted tub in the master bathroom, back to the pool, bubbles in the master bath, pool, etc. And at night, all the cousins would fall into an exhausted heap, sleep a few hours, and be up bright and early to start it all over again. MC had a miserable time coming home after our vacation. He was very quiet in the car the whole way home and after arriving home late Sunday night, I walked into his room and found him sitting on his bed. I sat down next to him, put my arm around him, and asked if he was alright. He buried his face on my shoulder and started sobbing. "I miss my cousins. I want to go back to California!" It was so sweet and utterly heartbreaking. I feel so blessed that my children are growing up with aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents that they yearn to spend time with. Those relationships are SO priceless to me...and I know how much those relationships bless their lives now and how enriched their lives will continue to be in the future!

Because I was so relaxed and utterly enjoying paradise, I really didn't pull out my camera. I'm ashamed and embarassed that I don't have ANY pictures of our amazing San Diego family...except the youngest one. I couldn't stop taking pictures of her. We spent an afternoon on the beach...most of the pictures taken in San Diego were taken that day. The only CA natives that would join us were Chris' fabulous brother and picture perfect niece. The others all opted out! And so I present...a slideshow. Enjoy.

This free slideshow design made with Smilebox

Things That Make Me Happy

HB takes a a dance class. And it is everything a dance class for a little girl should be. Miss Mindee is a dance teacher who believes in the beauty of each of her dancers. She understands that beauty starts inside and radiates on the outside. Every little girl is a princess in this class. They wear poofy pink skirts and tiaras and pink slippers on their feet. They dance with bubbles and wands and you can always hear giggles and laughing. I want my daughter to feel beautiful and have confidence in herself and the amazing things her body can do. I want her to feel the pure joy of doing something she loves. I love that she is learning amazing technique and skills in a format that is pure fun and happy. I love that she will never wear an inappropriate costume, learn adult dance moves, or dance to music that is crude and degrading. I have seen so many dance "recitals" at different studios here in Utah, especially in Utah County, that turn the innocence of childhood and feminity into something base and distasteful. And I don't understand why parents would allow their daughters to participate in something that flaunts all the wrong things about dancing and being beautiful. I am so grateful to Miss Mindee and her dance room that feels like pure magic. I am grateful that every class celebrates these amazing little girls and the power of their physical and emotional abilities. I love watching HB dance. I love dancing in Miss Mindee's dance room (yes, occasionally I can't resist and come join in the Strawberry Shortcake festivities!)

I have a dancer's heart...

P.S. All of the above photographs were taken by Heather Adams. She can be reached at  heathernadams@gmail.com or check out more of her beautiful work at heatheradamsink.blogspot.com

My Montage 5/16/11 at OneTrueMedia.com

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

It's Still a Small World After All...Part 2

The crash in the kitchen was a combination of chair & plastic cups. No children or dishware were injured although there was a tiny bit of scolding...and maybe a little timeout. But why dwell...

PART 2 of the Vacation of Wild Abandon

We went to Disneyland. (Cue music...) We spent 3 days in the "happiest place on earth...if you are younger than 12 years old and don't mind the heat and crowds and price gouging". Don't get me wrong...I totally get why people love Disneyland...but I also realized that in my more "mature" years, it is not my ideal vacation. Give me a beach, some chips & salsa, and a comfy chair and I'm  happy. But I'm getting ahead of myself...Disneyland.

Finding Nemo submarines...pretty cool. And the kids kept talking about cool Uncle Clark and how he got to ride submarines just like they were...I'm sure they are exactly alike!!!

To infinity...and beyond!

"Off With Your Head"...ah, the good ole' days!

Looking at the fast rides...

One of my favorite shows...Bug's Life complete with 3D glasses, a bee sting in the middle of the show, and slimy things.

Cute kids hanging out in New Orleans square.

When you wish upon a star...

Tinkerbell and another fairy...I can't remember her name. I feel so ashamed.

California Adventure...I love this park...my children just wanted to hang out with Pirates and  Indiana Jones in Disneyland.

Waiting for the bumper cars...my kids are maniac drivers. We may make them wait until they are 25 years old to operate any machinery.

Zip lines...at California Adventure. There is no end  to the kind of fun you can find!

It was in the 90's the 3 days we were there! So hot for Anaheim...we took advantage of every splash pad and mist sprayer we could find.

I love Disneyland at night when it is twilight and all the lights come on.

It really does look magical.

Manuvering the crowds...

Trying so hard not to throw up on the teacups...although I'm sure I wouldn't have been the first.

Meeting the mouse!

And his charming girlfriends...I tried to ask her how things were going with her and Mickey and what was his deal with getting married and commitment...but she was mum on the subject. Matter of fact, I don't think she said anything. Poor mute.

I don't care how long I live or how old I get...this will always be the most frightening bad man in the whole world. I love the Jedi Academy show...but it still scares the bee-jeebies out of me with Darth Vader shows up in person.

This is my second favorite bad man. And children FIGHT these 2 with plastic light sabers.

When the music starts pumping, my children start dancing...no matter where  we are...or who is watching...or what outdoor restaurant you are sitting at.

Autotopia...more scary driving.

I love going anywhere with my family. I don't like $5.00 corn dogs or $5.00 tiny bowls of frozen yogurt but I'm learning to deal with it. It was a jam packed, action filled 3 days and we played hard. The boys LOVED Space Mountain...I think they rode it at least half a dozen times. HB and I hung out in Fantasyland alot...we loved the princesses and more "gentle" rides.

And so ends "Part 2" of the adventures...we have one more part to go. Stay tuned.

P.S. The video right after this post was shot at Disneyland where my children broke into spontaneous, unrehearsed dance routines in the middle of dinner one night.

My Montage 5/16/11 at OneTrueMedia.com

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

It's a Small World After All...Part 1

*(I'm not sure there is a more irritating song...especially if it has been running through your head for a solid week! The kids begged us not to make them ride that nightmare...and we should've listened. My bad.)

Click this link at your own peril. And just in case you wondered when I learned Japanese, I did not personally take this video. A stranger did...with an interesting sense of what memories from Disneyland to preserve.

WE HAD AN ADVENTURE!!!! And my husband and I were SO sneaky about it. We decided to whisk our offspring away from school, the constant monotony of the rain, and the cold weather and play hard in California for a week. And what a week it was!

It all started on a Saturday morning as the kids were waking up and asking what we were going to do that day. Chris and I had them come into the kitchen and gave them a jigsaw puzzle to put together. They worked together very quickly but with slightly puzzled expressions on their faces. (I think it is a strange statement on our parenting techniques that they didn't question why their parents were asking them to put together a random puzzle when they should have been eating breakfast. They have learned to just go limp and go with the flow. Smart little cookies!)

The happy dance followed by a big group hug!

Now because Chris and I had been so sneaky, we literally were all packed and ready to go. I asked the kids if they had wondered what all the suitcases and packing were about and they just shrugged their shoulders...should I be worried?

Well, we literally jumped in the car and started Part One of our...

SUPER SPECTACULAR ABANDON ALL RESPONSIBILITY VACATION (SSAARC).

First stop...Cove Fort.

Now, have you ever driven a road a million times and passed signs advertising places that you have always wondered about but never bothered to stop and check out? This was our experience driving south on I-15 and always wondering out loud what Cove Fort was and whether it would be worth stopping and seeing. And so we made it a point to stop and explore. It was truly fascinating...well worth your time if you are headed that direction. We had a great time!

We had a wonderful tour by one of the full time missionaries serving at the fort complete with a free toy at the end! It was FREEZING (snowing to be exact) but we learned so much and truly felt uplifted once again by the sacrifice and faithfulness of the early Saints in this area. Their stories are amazing!

Next stop...St. George, Utah.

We stopped to try and find a letterbox that was hidden in a really beautiful park...we tromped all over that park and never found it. But it had an amazing rock climbing wall and some great cactus. I'm still trying not to feel outdone by that letterbox. Grrr...

On we went...next stop...one of my FAVORITE places in the whole world...the McCoy's home! Love the people, love the decor, love the food, and love how happy I feel when I am there! It was wonderful!!! We were able to celebrate Abby's birthday with her...we had a panini party with yummy food and fantastic company. And of course Chris made her a cake. A birthday is just not a birthday without a "Chris" cake! May I also pause for a moment here to tell you a little something about my sister Abby?! She is a remarkable woman. Strong character, determined spirit, patient, faithful, devoted to home and family, dedicated in all things to the Lord and His gospel...she amazes me...over and over and over again. I admire the work she is doing and the persistence and determination with which she does it. Abby has experienced the refiners fire and it shows in who she is and what she is becoming. Watch out world...this woman is changing things one prayer and faith filled day at a time. I hope she can appreciate what a remarkable person she is! A life truly worth celebrating!
(I am appalled that I don't have any more pictures than this...but please pop over to Abby's website for photo documentation...and please ignore the whole "blah, blah" about a dirty house. It wasn't dirty and we felt very loved...she just has expectations that are hovering in outer space somewhere. It was perfect!)



Poor Boo wasn't feeling very well and did lots of this..."leper, leper!"

 On Monday afternoon, we hugged and kissed our McCoys and hit the road again. Can you guess where we stopped next???

It involved standing on a very high bridge very high above the ground. My kids kept saying, "Mo would hate this." Can you guess where we are?

After our detour, it was on to sunny, beautiful California. We stopped at Carin and Bill's home where we had a delicious dinner and watched rabbits eat an entire field of grass at the elementary school located behind their home. I have never felt frightened of a rabbit until that night...there is something about seeing that many of them in one place that puts the fear of "bunny" in your soul. It was amazing...and very Hitchhockesque. Then on to our hotel where nobody but the very tired parents slept.

TUESDAY:

The wee ones were up at the crack of dawn ready for the next adventure. And what an adventure it was...

3 days at the happiest place on earth! (And we will pause here for a moment to allow you a potty break and time to digest all this fascinating, spell binding, minute by minute play of our vacation...plus something just crashed in the kitchen.) Stay tuned...