Live Long and Prosper

Raise you hand if you have ever secretly, or not so secretly, longed to do this:

Oh come now...don't be shy...Sarah? Taylor? Todd? Get those hands up. Well, do I have an adventure for you.

Right here, in our itty, bitty part of the state, we have a space camp mission to rival The Enterprise. JC was invited to a friend's birthday party last winter at this space center and he is HOOKED! OBSESSED! DRIVING ME CRAZY WITH NON STOP TALK ABOUT SPACE MISSIONS! And I let him go...if for no other reason than to buy myself a few hours of peace and quiet from the constant space chatter. But I digress.

Welcome to the Christa McAuliffe Space Center. It is a place of true adventure and wonder. While I am not anywhere near a "trekkie", I have to admit that I am saving my money for a mission of my own. It is a child's dream!

JC attended an overnight space camp with 3 of his best friends this week. Here is how it went down...they all packed themselves a sleeping bag, pillow, toothbrush and some clean underwear and showed up at the space center where they were ushered into a large gym and given their instructions and assignments for the night. There are several ships they can be assigned to and then each person chooses which job they want to do aboard the ship. JC was assigned to the Voyager and received the assignment as Right Wing Officer. They board their ships using a real transporter and find their stations. The ships are AMAZING!

HB entering the transporter to the Voyager.

The boys coming OUT of the transporter aboard the ship.

JC and his friend's stations aboard the Voyager. Each person has a laptop where they perform their "duties" and respond to the situations they are given...that affect the entire crew and ship.

Another look at one of the consoles on the ship.

Looking forward at the big screen in front that shows the overall picture and what is happening where.

The boys chilling in the captain's chair in the middle of the ship.

My darling friend up in the captain's lounge.

MC making the climb up into the captain's lounge.

HB and MC chilling on the captain's couch. This is the job I would want...not because I want to be responsible for an entire crew's lives and livelihood but because I want the lounge, couch, and comfy bed.

Live long and prosper my little trekkies.

This is a look into another ship at the space center called the Magellan.

Each ship is assigned a space mission. Outside each ship is a "control" room where every job is being monitored and "responded" to. So the whole thing is happening in live time and every decision the kids make on board is immediately played out. It is an incredible learning experience. Not only are they being asked to apply what they know about science, astronomy, and space, but more importantly, they are learning how to work as a team, how their actions can affect those around them, how the decisions they make can have positive or negative consequences, problem solving, learning how to make and implement decisions, learning how to trust their instincts and each other, leadership skill...I could go on and on (maybe I already have). Not only is the space center a technological marvel, but the experience is truly life changing.

So,  next time you're in town, come on over. We'll take a little trip to the moon.

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.