Family Photo Shoot

My wonderful daddy took some family pictures for me a few weeks ago.  Unfortunately, we did not get a decent shot of everyone all together, but we wound up with some pretty fun ones otherwise.  Perhaps we shall try again.

This is a pretty decent reality shot – Anna’s fake smile, me trying to tell my dad what I want, and Lu . . . exploring.

This is honestly my very best all-boys shot.  The boys and their smiles were less than cooperative.  While it is not “picture perfect”, it certainly tells a story about that shoot.

Now to pick the ones I like best for hanging on some walls around here.  I want to put some of these on canvas, but I’m not sure which ones or where to hang them.  These are fun decisions to make, though.  I can’t help but smile at these beautiful people I love so much.

One of My Nicer Moments

In something of relation to my messy projects post from the other day, I present something I have only done maybe five times in the past fifteen years: let my kids build a fort and then sleep in it.  I think five is an exaggerated number.  I think the actual number is probably closer to two.  I have a whole list of reasons why I don’t like forts and sleeping on the floor, but last month I was in a sweet, peaceful mommy mood and set all of that aside in the name of creating happy memories.

The crazy thing about it all was that it wasn’t a big deal.  At all.  The kids were great.  Everyone was happy and got along.  We got the mess all cleaned up in the morning without any complaints.  And best of all, I really enjoyed my evening that night.  Sean and Djeryd were at a campout, so once the kids went down I was all alone.  Normally I put the kids to bed upstairs, then wander downstairs and stay up way too late watching Netflix so I don’t miss Sean too much.  But on this night, I tucked the kids under the table, curled up on the couch so I could keep an eye on the wiggles and giggles, and took care of a bunch of stuff for my Primary calling at church.  I went to bed early and happy and content.  So did my sweet children.

I almost can’t wait for the next campout. 

A Lu Post

I know I should write down all the wacky things she says . . .

and does . . .

She’s at that delightful stage where virtually everything makes me laugh . . .

and it’s so hard to discipline all that cuteness . . .

So I just try to soak up every little bit of my wonderful little Lu.

Crafting with Kidlets

I was recently asked about my favorite thing to do.  Do you know what I wrote? Crafting with my kids.

I wish I was more artistic and more of a free spirit and, well, a lot of other things.  But I think because of that I try to make sure my kids have artistic experiences and opportunities.

I find creating relaxing and invigorating at the same time.  It is fulfilling and makes me happy.  I love playing with color and different mediums.  I want my kids to be able to experience the same happy calm that comes through the creative process.

Small disclaimer: Just because these are the things I want for my children, and you look at these pictures and think we craft everyday – we don’t.  Sometimes I hate pulling out the paint or the play-doh or the glue and paper and scissors and markers because I know it will make a mess.  Usually a big one.  And usually one I have to clean up mostly by myself.  I have to make a conscious decision to choose creativity over convenience.  And oftentimes I don’t make that decision.  I find it easier to invite creation when the dried on paint from the last venture is completely scraped off the dining room table and I can’t remember that it took me three weeks to clean it.  (I’m thinking a ratty old table cloth would make clean-up a lot easier.  I will have to try that.)

But the rewarding part to me is oh, so rewarding.  For instance, with Erik’s note project, he decided he wanted to create a stamp and stamp it all over for a background on his poster.  So we found a sponge to cut, he asked his brother to cut a block of wood for him on the saw in the garage, we heated up the glue gun, and – viola`- a self-made stamp is born.

Djeryd is working on a poster about Edgar Allan Poe at the moment for English.  My creative boy, because of past experience, came up with the idea to make a fluffy had for a skeleton so it looks like The Mask of the Red Death.  Out comes tissue paper, glue and a pencil.  And he is going to have a terrific poster when he’s done.

If I can try to remember my ultimate goal in all of this, it makes saying “yes” to the mess a whole lot easier.  My parents bought me a plaque I keep in my messy living space.  It says, “Please excuse the mess, the children are making memories.”  Djeryd is fond of reminding me of its wisdom when my internal mess-o-meter is going ballistic.  I remind myself the pathway to almost any worthy goal is slow going – so be patient and keep making creative messes.

Water and Sun and Heat

September had some really nice days in it this year.  For one of them Alyx and I trotted over to a nearby water park to play with some friends.

It was a nice way to squeeze in a little more summer.  Don’t you think water and sunshine are therapeutic?  We’ve miraculously had lots of sunshine lately, but the temperatures have dropped and won’t be back for several months.  I think I need to move to California.  There is just something about the bright sunshine sparkling up the water and the weather being warm enough to splash and play that makes me infinitely happy.

I’m glad Lu got in some extra splashing and playing before the season was completely over.  Until next year, water and sun and heat.  We will miss you.

The Last Ride of Summer

This post should probably be titled “The Only Ride of Summer”.  Sean was good about taking the kids out for rides, but not me.

We did manage to sneak out during our last week of summer vacation for a nice little ride, though.  I walked, they rode.  And we all had a great time.

I tried so hard to soak up my children in the sun and the smiles and the summer breeze. (I told them to show me their grumpy faces in that picture.  Lu looks hilarious, Erik looks the most realistic, and Djeryd and Anna obviously were not following instructions.)

There is something about the end of summer vacation that marks the passing of time much more poignantly than the last day of school.  Everything has to change in September – grades, schedules, expectations. 

Djeryd will only be with us five more summers, maybe four.  And there’s only one or two left that will be foot-loose and fancy-free for him, before summer jobs become an expectation and a necessity. Then everything really changes.

I think the reason why childhood feels so fleeting with our children is because we remember our own childhood and, try as we may, we can never have it back.  Now I am perfectly happy being an adult, but I think that realization makes  us see that we will never have these moments back with our children.

I know it is silly to think about this kind of thing too much.  But I think the occasional reflection helps me to cherish my time as a mother with children at home.  I remind myself I love it.  I remind myself this is the life I chose and that I should really try to enjoy every minute – even the frustrating ones.  I just don’t want to get to the end of this road and be filled with regrets for missing the real “stuff” of my life because I was distracted or angry or just plain tired from staying up too late, too often, for no good reason.

Because time marches on.  It waits for no one – not even moms.

Happy Birthday, Erik!

August is a busy month for us.  In the midst of all the back-to-school preparations, we celebrate Erik’s birthday and our anniversary within days of each other.  Plus, Sean and Djeryd are usually gone for an entire week in August at Scout Camp.  It always feels rushed and chaotic, and it’s hard for me to carve out meaningful time for the important celebrations of our family.

Because of Seminary, no one got a birthday party this past year, so Erik was just fine to have a family dinner and family presents.  He picked Red Robin for dinner (Yum! - I cannot get enough fries at the moment), and we enjoyed perfect weather dining al fresco.  The thing I liked best about eating outside was that it was no big deal for the kids to get up and walk around so they could be with each other or share treats.  I sat at one end of the table and just watched.  They laughed and talked and had so much fun together.  And considering we have spent the last two days in a constant state of contention, these pictures are helping me remember my kids do actually like each other.  Erik also wanted to go to the library and the park before the night was over.  We happily obliged.

The next morning was Erik’s actual birthday, so that is when he opened presents.  Memorable moments include Daddy making the cake (an old family recipe featuring tomato soup and peanut butter frosting – seriously yummy!), and Djeryd’s insane wrapping job.  Pretty much the only times we employ wrapping paper are Christmas and when a gift is leaving the house.  Otherwise, we wrap presents in blankets and towels.  It just kind of happened one year out of necessity and we like it so much we’ve never gone back.  So Djeryd wrapped Erik’s present in about eight different layers of blankets and towels and then stuffed the entire thing into the bottom of a mummy bag.  Erik just giggled and giggled and giggled as each layer was revealed.

We all love so many things about him.  He is a bright, wonderful star in our family.  I love his beautiful smile that he is happy to shine at a moment’s notice.  He always knows when I need a love.  He is very forgiving and kind and helpful.  He has enough energy to power a small city and a ready laugh.  He tries very hard to be a peacemaker, even when it’s difficult. He can play anything with anybody.  He is a great lover of games, thus encouraging a lot of family time as we join in with him.  His loving, welcoming heart is an example to all of us.

Happy 10th birthday, my sweet boy!  I love you!

Fifteen in Florence

Sean and I were fortunate enough to be able to celebrate our fifteenth wedding anniversary in Florence this year (Oregon, not Italy, people).  We’ve always wanted to hit that little coastal town and we managed to squeeze in a weekend despite Sean’s busy summer schedule.

We stayed in a darling little house not too far from the beach, but it was in a densely forested area, so although we could hear the beach, we could not see it.  In fact we could not see much of anything except the lush wild plants that grew all around our little bungalow.  We loved it.

Saturday is really the only day we got out, besides church on Sunday (because I was icky-sick on Sunday and came home icky-sick on Monday).  But we both felt fantastic on Saturday so we made the most of it.  Sean took me to this very cool restaurant for lunch.  I can’t believe I didn’t take a picture of the inside – it was so cool!  The structure was essentially untouched since it was built around the turn of last century,so it had all these weird little half walls and cool doors.  The walls were khaki and red, the furniture was covered is animal prints, and the yummy green plants made me feel like I was in a jungle.  It was like something out of Disneyland.  The food was pretty darn good, too.

I could not resist a picture of the groovy Zoltar machine outside the ice cream shop downtown.  Who can look at one of these and not think of Tom Hanks in Big?

Despite the ickies it was a really nice 15th anniversary.  I’m very grateful that pretty much every day of the year I feel like jumping up and down for joy that I married the wonderful man I am blessed to call mine. 

We were all home on the actual day of our anniversary and kneeling for family prayer.  Sean looked around at everyone and said, “Just think, you guys, all of this started 15 years ago today.”  I felt so, so blessed in that moment.  I am such a lucky girl.

Lu’s Quiet Book

About a year-and-a-half ago, I happened upon this beautiful quiet book over at girl. Inspired.   It is one of my favorite blogs for fabulous girly-girl inspiration.  My book does not look as lovely as Stef’s, but I’m just ecstatic it’s done, perfect or not.

Anyway, I saw this amazing book and decided to make it for Alyx for Christmas.  Then, because this is a much more involved project than it first appears, I only had the fabrics picked out in time for Christmas 2011.

So I decided to make it for her March birthday in 2012.  My sister helped me sketch out all the little patterns (which took forever!), and I started making some actual progress.

But not enough.  Lu’s birthday passed and the new goal became Christmas 2012.

I made some of these darling little fabric paper dolls for the girls to play with in the meantime. Complete with tons of little fabric clothes.

Then Seminary came along in October 2012 and the quiet book sat on a shelf, untouched, for six solid months.  I knew there was no way I would have the time to finish it all, so I chose not to even think about it.

Two Christmases, two birthdays, and one year of Seminary later, I pulled my box stuffed with quiet book supplies down off the shelf and dug in – determined to finish, no matter what.  It only took me a few days of leisure time once I started focusing on it.  I thought about wrapping up the finished product and waiting until Christmas to give it to Alyx, but I’m honestly worried she’s going to outgrow it in the next year, and six whole months seemed like awfully precious time that I was not willing to waste in wrapping paper.

So there it is.  All done.  I hated it many times along the way, but in the end I am so glad I made it.  And so relieved to have it finally checked off the to-do list.

I think Lu’s pretty happy about it, too.  ;>