arches

Our computer has been broken. We have Dave's laptop, but I don't really love using it, so I only go on it when absolutely necessary. But Dave fixed the Mac for only 20 bucks and a couple hours of time so hooray for not having to get a new one! And it means I can get back to writing.

It has been a long few months. Dave had an easy rotation in July, which allowed us to be in Idaho for almost 4 whole weeks. But since we got back it has been one long week after another. 70-80 hour work weeks really wear on you. And the wife at home for that matter.

But last week was his vacation week and it happened to coincide with the kids having a 5 day weekend from school. So we took a trip down to Arches National Park. We have been wanting to go since we moved to Utah and it did not disappoint.

This picture was actually taken on our way out of the park. But its one of the few that has us all in it.

We camped in the park, but we got their after dark, so we had no idea what was surrounding us. We were not disappointed.

Our campsite at sunrise

We started off up at Devil's garden, where we hike for about 3 hours and saw and played around several arches. Ana was our photographer for our big camera.

Landscape arch

On the trail

The trail got a little steep but our kids rocked it and I was only terrified a couple of times.

Our kids' favorite part of the entire park was the sand. Oh the sand. It was awesome and annoying at the same time.

After Devil's garden we went back to our camp and ate lunch. Then we headed up to the Delicate Arch. The kids (Jack especially) couldn't wait to see "the" Arch. It's a 3-mile (round trip) hike up the side of a mountain. A lot of open slick rock. I was a little unsure of how the hike would go. There are viewpoints where you can see it, but we decided to try the hike.  I wouldn't exactly call it a kid-friendly hike. There were other kids, but not as young as Katie. There are steep drop-offs along the trail, particularly at the end. The arch itself is on the rim of a steep bowl. I was shaking I was so nervous. Not for myself, but for the kids. I was sure Jack would just start playing around and slide right down the mountain.

But man, was the arch stunning. I have seen hundreds of pictures of it, but I didn't realize how big and majestic it is.  It was amazing. It was definitely worth the terror.

See how tiny Dave and the kids are?

Are we taking a selfie under the arch, Dad?

I think of all the beautiful vistas and magnificent things we saw, my favorite thing about this day was watching the kids. They didn't complain. They didn't stop. They just kept going. We hiked a total of 6 miles that day and they walked it all. Katie, too. She didn't get carried for a minute (she did ask a few times near the end.) They played "freeze-unfreeze" down the mountain. Katie sang "the farmer in the dell" for a while.  Ana did about 89,784 handstands (give or take). Jack laid in the sand every opportunity he could. They all took turns carrying the water. We ate a ridiculous amount of dum-dums (which is how we get our kids to hike). And they did it! It was awesome to watch. Katie kept right up with the big kids the whole time. I was so proud of them. And they all slept soundly that night. Dave and I got to sit up by the campfire and look at the amazing stars.

Katie was the "freeze" captain. She always tried to freeze while Ana was in the air.

The next day we left the park, but not before exploring some more arches with much shorter and easier walks to them.

Sand Dune arch was one of our favorites. Tucked away between high vertical walls, and tons and tons of sand.

 

We went into Moab for lunch, and then went to Canyonlands National Park for the afternoon. (By the way, did you know 4th graders get into National Parks for free? Thanks, Ana!)

By this point, Charlie was kind of done. He was done not being able to get down and crawl around. He was done having irregular naps and meals. Canyonlands was amazing, though. it was perfect to go for just a couple hours.

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands

So. many. handstands.

 

And I think to myself: What a wonderful world.

ordinary day

Summer to me is childhood. Endless popsicles, playing outside, running through the sprinklers. Our summer felt fragmented. We had the before Idaho part, the Idaho part and the after Idaho part. And it didn't last long enough. We didn't eat nearly enough otter pops and didn't run through the sprinkler enough. Time marches on without asking me.

Yesterday was labor day. The kids were home from school and the weather was a bit cooler. Dave had to work so it was just me and the kids. This was my plan for the day: Go to Costco and Whole Foods (for apple cider) and then come home and make apple cider donuts.

This is how the day actually went: Went to Costco, but they were closed. Went to Whole Foods and the only cider they had was a half gallon of (really yummy) spiced cider that was 8 bucks. I bought it anyway.
I then put some cider on to boil (because the recipe called for boiled cider) and it made my kitchen smell heavenly. That is, until I left the kitchen to attend to a fussy baby and the cider burned black as black and started smoking and set off my smoke alarm. After getting that taken care of and putting more cider on to boil (and watching it closely) I finally got around to making the donuts. The dough was delicious, but having never made donuts before and not having a donut cutter or an oil thermometer, they ended up tasting more like fried dough from the fair than real donuts. Still good, but not quite right.

Meanwhile, the kids, who I told couldn't watch any TV because I would not let them squander their last day of summer, found some wood outside and tried to make a football field goal post.

By 5:00 my house looked like this:

(And believe me, it was clean when the day started. Dave's parents were here Saturday and Sunday so they can testify. I had actually spent most of last week cleaning house.)

But, despite the setbacks in the day, I was okay with it. Ordinary days are still happy days. The kids were creative and cooperative, which is really quite extraordinary. I think that is why I like summer so much. The kids are just free to explore and play. I wish I could just step on brakes and make time slow down.

katie at four

It's been four years since this little girl came into our life.  As I have thought about this birthday, I tried to remember what Ana and Jack were like at 4 and it was hard to remember. I am so glad that I was writing so diligently so that I could look back and read about it. I read that Ana at age 4 asked a million questions a day. I forgot about that. I have found a new resolve to write more things down and take more videos of my kids.

She has been loved and adored from day one. These preschool years are the best years ever. They are so full of life and confidence and energy and excitement. Katie is no exception. She feels everything and loves to be silly and play. She is very social - she won't do anything alone and she loves to hug and kiss and squish and climb on people's heads, and be carried everywhere. She gives me a run for my money sometimes and isn't a great sleeper.

This is her being mad because her crown had a bend in it.

 Man, she is fun though. She says hilarious things in hilarious ways. She is thoughtful and generous and loves to play. She is good at making friends and is starting to read and loves Wild Kratts and Daniel Tiger. She loves pink and dressing up and playing with Jack.

This is her asking if she looks like a lobster. Because, you know, the books are her claws. And one is bigger than the other. "This one is my pincher and this one is my grabber."

She lives for snuggles:

And is frequently seen in dress ups:

This was the birthday outfit Granny picked out because she wanted a purple sparkly dress.

But there is so much more to her than a list of things facts about her. I wish I could capture it. On her birthday, I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up and she said "I want to help people who can't walk get on and off escalators so they don't fall." (This was in reference to an incident when Dave helped a woman on an escalator.)  She often has a serious/concerned look on her face but it can turn to smiles in a minute. When she's upset she slumps her shoulders and cries and walks off, but she never stays mad for long. She gets nervous about some things like if she feels unstable or like she is going to be left alone, but if she feels comfortable then the sky is the limit. She is quick to apologize and give hugs when she does something wrong.  I want to remember the way she says "yes!"  with a fist when something goes her way and how she will say "you are the best mommy in the whole world" and how she asks me to sing "the bird song" at bedtime and when we get to the part that says "I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world" she opens her arms and looks up at the heavens.  I also want to remember how she says "Oh, yeah!" when she is excited about things and "woohoo!" as she flies high on a swing or goes fast on her bike. 

Mini-Golf

Dave's sister was over this morning and Katie was dressed up (as usual) in her leotard.  Amy asked her what she could do in her leotard and so Katie cleared a nice big space off the floor. Then she stood in the corner and started to run, but stopped and said, "Wait, I need to go talk to myself." Then she went to a corner and I could see that she was giving herself a little pep talk. ("Okay, you can do this!") A look of determination crossed her face. Then she stood back up in the same spot and started her trick again by running then doing a little half cartwheel. We have always called her our little cheerleader and I am so happy to see her cheering herself on as well. I hope she never, ever loses that confidence and determination. 

I also want to remember her sweet little spiritual side. She often talks about trying to listen to the Holy Ghost and remembers to say her prayers. She loves primary and singing primary songs and tries to be a peacemaker in our home. (Lest you think she is a total angel, she can be quite a pill during Sacrament Meeting and also family scripture study, so, there is a balance there.)

Katie truly is a light to everyone who sees her.

black watch

I love summer.

Our has been wonderfully low-key thus far. Jack turned 7 and finished up baseball. Ana did tennis lessons. The kids have eaten loads of otter pops, set up huge box forts in the backyard, played with neighbor friends. We visited my sister in Boise, too, and that was fun.

I have also tried to encourage a little bit more cooperation and help in the housework, so it hasn't been all fun and games. But mostly fun and games.

For the next few weeks, we will be spending time with my parents before they head to Arizona on their mission.  I love their stories.  Being young in my family and having a horrible memory, I don't remember much until my parents were well into their 40's, so it is a treasure to glimpse them when they were my age. They share little snippets at random times. Nothing formal, but still beautiful.

One story came as we were sorting through bins of fabric. Dresses with patterns pinned on, maybe even cut out. We came across a small piece of plaid fabric and my mom said, "Oh, I am not giving this away" and she handed it to my dad. To me it was just a scrap, so I asked them to tell me the story.

It was about 1975. That year Dad was away from home more than he was in it. He had a quick stop in Scotland, and wondered what he could bring home to Mom as a gift.  A friend suggested he bring her home something that she can sew. He picked out some real Scottish Black Watch Wool. He brought it home and she made a suit out of it. Though she hasn't worn it in years, it still hangs in her closet, and even the scraps still brings a smile on her face.

Just a small thread in a beautiful tapestry. 

an interview with Mom

 If ever you want to know how you are doing as a parent, just ask your kids! I asked my 3 big kids these questions and the answers were a little funny and a little insightful and all around good fun.

Trip to San Diego 2015

Katie - age 3 (and a half as she always says)

1. What is something mom always says to you? Go get your jammies on
2. What makes mom happy? giving her a hug
3. What makes mom sad? not giving her a hug
4. How does your mom make you laugh? doing silly things like dancing silly
5. What was your mom like as a child? drawing  (I don't think she quite understood this question.)
6. How old is your mom? 13
7. How tall is your mom? bigger than the measuring stick
8. What is her favorite thing to do? sort the laundry
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?  .....
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?  I don't know
11. What is your mom really good at? stretching
12. What is your mom not very good at? doing the splits
13. What does your mom do for a job? sort the laundry
14.What is your mom's favorite food? salad
15.What makes you proud of your mom? being excited (again, I don't think she quite understood this one.)
16. If your mom were a character, who would she be? Peach
17. What do you and your mom do together? sort the laundry
18. How are you and your mom the same? we are both girls
19. How are you and your mom different? you're a grown up and I'm a kid
20. How do you know your mom loves you? because you give me hugs
21. What does your mom like most about your dad? kissing
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? wal-mart
23. How old was your Mom when you were born? uh, zero?

Jack - age 7 (as of tomorrow)

1. What is something mom always says to you? Please
2. What makes mom happy? playing with kids
3. What makes mom sad? I don't know
4. How does your mom make you laugh? by tickling me
5. What was your mom like as a child? playful
6. How old is your mom? 31
7. How tall is your mom? I have no idea
8. What is her favorite thing to do? play with kids
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? talk to Dad
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? singing
11. What is your mom really good at? singing
12. What is your mom not very good at? Uh, You're practically good at everything
13. What does your mom do for a job? helping kids grow
14.What is your mom's favorite food? pizza
15.What makes you proud of your mom? helping Charlie roll over
16. If your mom were a character, who would she be? a person on TV
17. What do you and your mom do together? play games
18. How are you and your mom the same? we're both nice
19. How are you and your mom different? you're a grown up and I'm a kid
20. How do you know your mom loves you? she gives me hugs and kisses
21. What does your mom like most about your dad? that he's a doctor
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Out to dinner with Dad
23. How old was your Mom when you were born? I have no idea.... (after thinking for a minute) 26?

Ana - almost 9


1. What is something mom always says to you? Ana, Don't!
2. What makes mom happy? When I clean my room (which I never do)
3. What makes mom sad? When I don't clean my room
4. How does your mom make you laugh? When she makes Charlie laugh
5. What was your mom like as a child? obedient
6. How old is your mom? 31
7. How tall is your mom? I have no idea ... 4 foot 9 or 5 foot 9 (I am 5'3")
8. What is her favorite thing to do? I have no idea ... cook
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? watch TV with Daddy
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? singing or cooking
11. What is your mom really good at? cooking and singing
12. What is your mom not very good at? yelling quietly
13. What does your mom do for a job? babysit
14.What is your mom's favorite food? Pizza
15.What makes you proud of your mom? That she's good at singing and that she's good at cooking
16. If your mom were a character, who would she be? Jessie  (from that Disney show Jessie, because I was a nanny once. Hopefully that's the only reason.)
17. What do you and your mom do together? get Pedicures
18. How are you and your mom the same? That we look alike. But put in parentheses that I don't see it.
19. How are you and your mom different? She likes doing chores and I don't.
20. How do you know your mom loves you? She gives me hugs and kisses
21. What does your mom like most about your dad? That's he's cute and nice
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Home
23. How old was your Mom when you were born? 22

Trip to NYC 2012

Easter 2013

Fall drive 2011

I love my kids. They are the best.

keepin' it real

Coming home from work. photo credit: Katie

How Dave spends his days off.

veggin'

I am not generally one to complain about my lot in life. A lot of people warned me about how hard residency is on family life and for the most part we've been okay. Dave's kidney stone was a rough spot, but generally speaking, I feel like I have been coping just fine. In fact, I feel like it has been much better than I anticipated. (I won't speak for Dave, though.) I get into my groove and make plans and deal with things as they come.

But sometimes it just sucks.

Because for every long day he has, I have a long day too. I can't complain to him about it, because, let's face it, he will clock 80 hours this week.

Tonight was just hard. Jack had a baseball game for about 30 minutes until they decided it was raining too hard to keep playing. I came home and made a quick dinner but all anyone ate was tortilla chips. I then spent the next 30 minutes trying to get kids to help out a bit and then got Katie ready and tucked into bed and then waited and waited for Dave to get home so I could go to a meeting that started at 7, but I thought it started at 7:30 and then he finally walked in at 8 and I probably should have just stayed home but I didn't want to so I left and caught the tail end of it. I am glad I went but then when I got home the big kids still weren't in bed and dinner was still on the table and Katie was still awake because she is the worst go-to-bed-er in the world and I was super annoyed. But then I felt guilty for being annoyed because Dave worked freakin' 14 hours in one day and I read a book and took Katie to the zoo and ignored the mounds of clean clothes that need put away so who am I to complain? Katie finally settled down and I got the kids in bed and asleep just in time for Dave to fall asleep because he has to wake up at 5:30 to start all over again.
 
Sigh...

I don't want to be a Debby Downer. Life is good. It is so good. I am so glad Dave has a good job and is getting such excellent training. He is a fabulous dad and he is humble and intuitive and I could not have asked for a better spouse.

I just wanted to keep it real for a minute. 

The end. 

Close up picture of Charlie so we feel happy again. :)

7 things I hope my kid learns playing baseball

Baseball season is upon us. This is our first year and I was nervous when I realized what a commitment it was- 2 games a week and a practice. But I must say that I absolutely love it! I actually enjoy watching the games and cheering Jack on. I am a little surprised at how much. Jack loves it too. He was nervous at first and there was one game he refused to play. But his coaches are great and now he really enjoys it. He is pretty consistent at hitting the ball and pretty fast of a runner.

But even though I really like the game and hopes he is successful, kid sports are about so much more than the hopes of playing pro. I have not preconceived notions of Jack being a superstar. But I do hope he learns a few things.

7 things I hope my kid learns playing sports


1 - Do your best.

No matter what anyone else does or how they perform, you can always strive to do your very best. It may look different than someone else's best, but the harder you work, the better you will get. You can always feel happy when you know you did your very best.

2 - You are a part of a team.

There is something wonderful about being part of something bigger than yourself. As a team, you cheer each other on. You form friendships. You set an example for each other. You share in each others' joys and sorrows. You encourage and lift up one another.  When you learn to function in a team, you learn that other people depend on us, just as we depend on them.  You learn to look for ways you can help and lift others, because when you help others do their best, it helps you too. When one member of a family or a group succeeds, it is a success for everyone.

3 - Be a good sport.

I was so impressed by Jack's teammate the other day. He was playing first base and when an opponent made it safe to his plate, he turned to him and said, "Nice hit." That is what it means to be a good sport.  One person's talent does not diminish our ability to work hard and do our best. We can always be happy for another person when they do a good job or when something exciting happens to them.

4 - Prepare

At any given moment, you need to be ready. Warm-up. Practice, practice, practice. Be ready to catch and throw. To know where you will throw the ball if it comes your way. Life requires that same preparation. Read and study. Make a plan of action and work towards it.

5 - Be flexible.

There are always unexpected things that happen. Sometimes the ball will come your way and sometimes it won't. Sometimes you will need to throw it to first base and sometimes to home. Be willing to adapt. You won't succeed if you can't adapt to the changing circumstances.

6 - Listen to your coach

He knows what he is talking about.

7 - You can do hard things

Getting better at something is hard. Trying something new can be uncomfortable. But being nervous or unsure can't stop us from trying. Dig in. Work hard. The reward at the end is so great when you try something hard and do it!


If you happen to learn how to play baseball in the process, that's great too.

mother, tell me a story

I love stories. I read and I write because I think stories are important. We all know that what makes a good book is the way the characters develop over time as they interact with conflict and hardship.  We all have our own stories, too. We have experiences that shape us and mold us. I am drawn to these stories. When we discover, uncover, and hear others' stories, we can't help but love them. We see their heart. This week as I had a chance to gather with women and they shared their stories. There were stories of heartache and stories of grace. It was beautiful. Everybody's stories are beautiful.

As I have thought about mothers this week, I have been particularly drawn to the women in my family (because my family has a lot of women) and their stories. My mother and my sisters are amazing women and though we seem similar on the surface, we all have our own stories and they are all beautiful.

My wedding 2005

My oldest sister Kelli is one of the smartest women I know. And she is also incredibly gracious, patient, and most of all, selfless. She has given up so much to give her 6 girls every opportunity in the world.

Teri's story is one of love and support to her husband as he battled cancer and then to support him some more while he served in 3 bishoprics, a high council and now again as Bishop of his ward. She also has 6 young kids.

Karianne amazes me with her ability to teach her kids to work.  And now she is a working mother herself and I know it is hard. Her family knows how to dig in, to take risks and to do hard things.

Wendy's story includes moving every few years and sending her husband off to 3 military tours in the middle east. She does it without complaining because she knew what she was getting herself into. She digs in and deals with it.

My sister-in-law Lori definitely is the cool, fun mom. She looks for any reason do special things with her kids and to celebrate them. Her story is also one of heartache when her own mother passed away from cancer. My brother definitely married up.

And then my 3 other sisters, Shari, Heather and Cindy, who aren't mothers yet but who love all their nieces and nephews (all 28 of them!). They are also women of faith and fortitude. Shari has stories of heartache and yet presses on with a smile on her face. Heather is a loyal friend to those around her and has a great sense of humor. Cindy's story is one of perseverance, particularly over the last few years as she has worked on getting her Master's degree.

I am so blessed to have such remarkable women for my sisters. I could go on and talk about Dave's sisters, who are equally amazing and of course my amazing mother-in-law, who is the best one on the planet. I am sure of it.

And of course, my own Mother. I don't know all her stories. I hope to know more of them.  I know a little of the heartaches she has experienced.  Becoming a mother myself has helped me see a glimpse of her incredible mother heart. It is full of love and worry for her children. And it is full of faith.  I think her story is one of faith. I am so grateful for the way she taught us to believe in God. I can say, like the Army of Helaman, "I do not doubt my mother knew it." (Alma 56:48)

I am so incredibly grateful and humbled to be a tiny part in the stories of these fantastic women in my life.

my family is a decade old

10 years of marriage
4 kids
7 years of school ( 3 diplomas)
4 major moves (8 different houses and thousands of miles)
3 surgeries (4 if you count Ana's teeth)

May 2005

When I met Dave I had no idea where it was going to lead. In fact, up until just before we started dating I had decided I wanted to serve a mission. I was ready to get my papers started so I could go as soon as I turned 21. After we started dating I still really wanted to go, but it just felt right and good and happy when we were together. We got married 4 weeks before my 21st birthday.

It has been a happy 10 years. Of course, there have been hard times. Times when money has been really tight and things have been stressful. Times when we drove each other crazy.  But overall, and perhaps because of those things, we have been happy. We haven't had many grand adventures. No excursions to other countries or anything like that. Our traveling has consisted of mini trips to places not far from home and a big move across the country for a few years.  Our adventures have been in studying science textbooks and chasing little feet. The last 10 years have been quite ordinary.

I am okay with ordinary. It is a wonderful, happy place to be. And I am so very, very grateful that we have had each other the last 10 years. I can't imagine anyone else putting up with me like he does. And I know he feels the same. We suit each other quite well. That doesn't mean we always agree. We have different ways of doing things. But we accept each other. He has never asked "what have you done all day?" when he comes home to a messy house. He doesn't think twice of holding down the fort for things like sister's weekends or even just a night out with girlfriends. He supports me in whatever endeavor I attempt and always tells me how smart and capable he thinks I am. He helps me to see when I am raising my voice because a lot of times I don't even realize I am doing it, I just get worked up or excited and it just happens. I don't always appreciate it in the moment, but I think I am getting better and a lot of that is because of him. And he is such a good, humble, faithful man. There have been so many times when people have told me how much it has meant to them when he has taken time to stop and visit with people or check in on them.  I am so very grateful for that quality.

2004

Engagement Photo: 2005

"studying" 2005

Wedding day 2005

Family Reunion 2005

Having kids definitely changed our relationship, but it has made it better. One of the things I love about him so much is how he is as a father. 

+ Ana 2006

+ Jack 2008

Dave is very good at making sure we take time just for us.  Almost every night seems like a mini "date." We talk about the day, watch TV or a movie, eat snacks and just be close and together. 

A little getaway to northern Idaho - summer 2009

+ Katie 2011

2011

+Charlie 2015

On Coronado, Spring Break 2015

We didn't have much of a celebration. Most years we go out to eat someplace nice but with Dave's schedule it hasn't happened yet. Dave worked today and I took the kids to church. I did make some yummy cake and then we sang happy birthday to our family. I like this idea because it helps the kids to see why this day is important.

 

10th anniversary selfie!

Here's to the next 10 years. I wonder what it will have in store.