Welcome Shorty!

“Shorty”-(short for Short-Stack’s Last Chance, her registered name) joined our family on Saturday.  Claire could hardly sleep the night before, exclaiming, “tomorrow is the day I’ve been waiting for my entire life!”  And, we know, that is a true statement.  We got Shorty through Lab Rescue, an organization dedicated to help find new homes for labs throughout the Bay Area. 

She is the sweetest dog ever!  My friend asked me if I had any regrets and I could truthfully answer, “no.”  At least not yet!  Although she needs some training, she is very well behaved in the house.  She stays out of the kitchen, doesn’t beg, doesn’t bark, is completely housebroken and sleeps all night in her kennel.  She loves to cuddle.

And, turns out, we have plenty of available “cuddlers.”   Today was the first day for Shorty to stay home with me.  She was anxious as each of the kids left for school.  And then, just to be sure, she stayed by my side throughout the whole day.  She likes us…

She loves to fetch and play, play, play.  She needs to lose a little weight so we are walking.  She was completely wiped out after our morning walk today.

Welcome to the family, Shorty.  We look forward to many happy years together!!!

Fall Break 2009 – Cayucos Beach, CA

A last minute decision to head for the beach turned into a wonderfully relaxing time for all. We loved the house we rented, the weather was gorgeous, we spent a day with our friends, the Forkus family, and everyone was happy! Some highlights…

The blue house

Lauren did some of this…

Kirk did a little too much of this…Do you see the wires? He’s on a conference call…NAUGHTY!

S’mores and roasted Starbursts with the Forkus’. Evan and Alex were completely strung out on sugar…

Claire and Cole enjoying the boogie boards.

The rock just in front of the house provided endless hours of enjoyment, from air-soft gun wars to a home for Claire and Evan’s stuffed animals.

Morro Bay with the kids.

Ah, young love…

After dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Shooner’s Wharf at Cayucos.

As for me, I read 2 books during the week and felt the warm sand between my toes, HEAVENLY…

Good-bye Cayucos, see you next year!

Random Thoughts for Tuesday

Thought #1: 

Yesterday, while driving Cole to baseball practice, I endeavored to ask him about his first day back to school after break.  I say “endeavor” because getting information out of my 13-year old son lately is, shall we say, challenging.  There must be a book about how to ask questions the right way, and I need to find it, because I’m obviously doing something wrong.  To get anything out of him, other than the word, “good,” is impossible.  So, like any good mother, I went down the list of his classes, asking about each individually.  I got my information, but it was still a stripped down, basic version. 

My problem, of course, is that Cole has an older sister, my first child.  It all became clear to me after I dropped Cole off at practice and then returned to pick up Lauren from her Track practice.   I asked Lauren the same question about school and, in turn, received a 10-minute answer, which included, not only how she felt about each teacher and subject matter, but also her goals for the semester, which include getting a 4.0 grade point average. 

I had to laugh at the stark difference in the experience with each child.  I’m sure this is a typical difference between girls and boys.  It is such a challenge to try to connect with each child and make sure, as a parent, you are building them up and not comparing them to each other.  I have a ways to go with Cole.  Will I ever get another answer besides, “good?” 

Thought #2:

The week before break, I drove my children 32 times during a one-week period to various places, for various things.  I am now facing this schedule again.  I don’t like it and it makes me grumpy.  Something needs to change and I don’t think the answer is to hire another driver!

Thought #3:

Lauren doesn’t like piano or her teacher.  She literally doesn’t have time to practice or enjoy it one bit.  I always said I would force my children to do music.  It was Satan’s plan when it came to that.  I want them to be able to have those skills (I never had the opportunity).  But now I am reconsidering.  Maybe I could let her stop (quit)?  But, the problem is that Cole would want to quit also.  Cole needs music.  He has the time and he has more of a natural ability.

Thought #4:

That’s enough thoughts!  I’m tired of thinking!  My head already hurts enough from all these darned allergies!  Kirk was laughing at my allergy “cocktail” I have conjured up.  I have skillfully combined the best pharmaceuticals available to ensure I am sufficiently in a permanent state of fogginess until around June!  Happy pollination!

Our Beloved Petunia

 Petunia’s miniature cheese birthday cake

No, she didn’t die…she had a BIRTHDAY!  She’s lived two whole years…and that’s a LONG time for a hamster.  Their life expectancy is only 3 years.  We’re living on borrowed time.  So—we thought, it’s spring break, let’s have a party….

   Here’s our hamster bread dip and vegetable platter.

 

And, some of Petunia’s favorite fruits on our own version of an “Edible Arrangement.”

No party is complete without some great guests.   They couldn’t wait to come and see what a hamster party would be like.  Claire came up with some great games like bobbing for apples…Petunia LOVES apples!

This game involved finding marshmellow “treasures” in Petunia’s bedding, while trying to avoid pretzel “Petunia Poops” while blindfolded.  They had 1 minute to find as many as they could.

My good-natured friends (minus the picture-taker) ready to support Claire in her pet-loving efforts!

 

Thanks for a fun time!  We’ll see you next year (maybe)! 

Straight A’s for Claire!

 

Congratulations Claire!  You worked very hard this trimester and received all A’s.  We are so proud of you for setting this goal and achieving it.  Even more important than the grade received, you gained confidence in your abilities and you learned that hard work and persistence pay off!

Way to go!!!

I Love to Run!

 "Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"

My ideal morning is when I get the kids out the door to school,  put on my running clothes, and go out into a beautiful sunny day for a run.  It is a luxury I enjoy as a stay-at-home mom.  It is my prozac.  It keeps me in balance, reminds me of the beauty of my surroundings, and makes me feel strong, like the quote above. 

However, my mood starts out, it is always improved with the run.  I guess it is a gift your body gives you for putting in the effort.  It is a euphoric feeling once you hit your stride.  Combine that with some good music and it’s a great way to start out the day.  Lately my favorite songs to run to are ABBA’s “Momma Mia,” and “Human” by the Killers.

I’m not a professional and can’t boast any marathon finishes (yet-?).  I have run a few races and hope to do more.  I am slow.  I don’t care who beats me.  I am my own competition.  Here is my favorite trail.  It runs just behind my house! 

There is a retirement community nearby and in the morning the trail is full of older people walking their dogs.  There is one old man who walks his dog who gives me a high five in the morning and says, “hello trail buddy.”

My dad got me running.  We would walk over to my high school track and run around the track.  He was slow and steady.  I ran in college.  Provo was my health club.  In the snow, I could be found at the Smith Fieldhouse.  Kirk and I’s first “dates” were there, running together.  Kirk first told me I was beautiful on a run through the streets of Provo.  We enjoy running together.  Maybe someday we will run a race together? 

Here is another run I like to go on.  It has a couple of big hills.  I try to run these hills at least once a week.  When I complete the run, I feel strong and ready to take on any challenge.  While I am running up the steepest of the hills, I say to myself, “I am 41, I can do this!”  When I get to the top, I celebrate by raising up my arms and cheering to myself (I check to make sure there are no cars close by).

It doesn’t look too steep, but for a 41-year old—it is!  Once I get to the top, I am rewarded with a beautiful view of my city with a nice, flat span and then a gentle, downward slope around a golf course.

 

 

 

 

 

 "There are clubs you can't belong to, neighborhoods you can't live in, schools you can't get into, but the roads are always open." – Nike

And, she's down!

Congratulations to Claire for getting down in her splits!

One leg down, one to go!



Ouch!

The Education of the Year 2008

Kirk asked me this question a couple of days ago. "What has this year taught you?" I couldn't really give him an answer right then so I've been thinking ever since. Then yesterday, I had a morning news program on where they were interviewing a psychologist about New Year Resolutions. She caught my attention when she said that you need to review what you learned this year before you make new goals for 2009. Kirk is so smart!!!



Here's some things that I've learned in the year 2008:

• We have a responsibility to the people who surround us, whether they be neighbors, friends, church members, or those we involve ourselves with in the community. Not only to be a good example to them, as we always think, but also, to learn from them. This year has taught me that when we are judgemental and critical of those around us, we limit ourselves from learning FROM THEM what WE need to learn. When we only notice negativity in others, we will not see the positive things about them. We all have different strengths. As we notice and "emulate" the strengths we see in those around us, we become more than what we could have become otherwise.


• Taking time to recharge my batteries is vital for me and my family. Sometimes this year I would not be ready to walk out my door until 11:00 a.m. By the time I worked out, tidied up the house, did some personal scripture study and reading, it was almost lunchtime. At first, I felt very guilty and "lazy." Then I realized with the hectic afternoon and evening schedules that currently occupy our family life, it was my only time to "fill up my reservoir." This year has taught me that investing some time in myself and my needs allows me to be a better mother and wife for the rest of the day (and night).


• Teenagers still need a lot of structure. Now that Cole has also embarked into the teenage years, we feel like our family life has morphed into another dimension. What "dimension" that is, I cannot say. I only know that we are only at the beginning and it will probably, at times, be a rough ride (for us and them). This year has taught me that if parenting weren't a full-time job before, it definitely will be now. As parents, we need to be diligent in "filling up our children's spiritual reservoirs" everyday as well as helping them to see through the many worldly deceptions around them. The tricky part is slowly letting them do this themselves more and more as they get older. It is not easy and I may need medication as to avoid them having memories of a crazy mother!




• This probably goes along with the above point, but this year, especially, has taught me how quickly my children are growing and how little time I have left to raise them. I guess we never really know how much time we will have here on earth, but most of us will have approximately 18 years of "exclusivity" with our children, to teach them how to have successful lives. This year I have realized that one of the main things to try and teach my family is how to incorporate spiritual habits and truths into their everyday, very busy lives. As I have learned, perhaps the hard way, the sooner these things become habits, the more a natural part of your life it becomes.
  
• And, finally, this year has taught me AGAIN, that the more I give my will over to my Savior, and do what HE wants me to do, the happier I am. I find I am more in tune with spiritual needs of myself and those around me. I hope that this last year I have gotten better at this. It is hard to gauge because I know I had some highs, but also some lows.

I guess if I look at this past year in terms of what I was taught, it was a successful year. I hope I learned all that was meant for me to learn. Good thing there's another year just ahead. I need the time to have another go at it. One other thing that morning show psychologist said about New Year Resolutions: She said to call them "intentions," instead of "goals." She said to ask yourself, "what do I INTEND to accomplish this next year?" I like that approach and plan to follow-through with that line of thinking.

Stay tuned for my "2009 INTENTIONS"...