Isaac is 9!

Happy Birthday Isaac! We love you!



Sarah....laughing.



(Unfortunately the ISO was very high (on Sarah's pics) since I was taking evening pictures last. They're grainy, but still so cute.)

P.S. You may notice that I am not wearing makeup in many of my pictures. The little profile picture on the right? - That's me when I get ready. All the others? - REAL LIFE.

One of the Best Talks I've Heard

Tonight Leslie and I went to the General Relief Societ Meeting Broadcast at my Stake Center. There was a nice dinner before, but the meeting was the best part! While all of the talks were good, President Uchtdorf gave a talk that really spoke to me. I tried to find a link to it, but it isn't up yet. He spoke about our creativity and compassion. There are some quotes I'll have to wait to get. It was a nice spiritual boost at the right time.

Isaac's First Ride

Isaac went on his first mountain bike ride with his Dad today. He had a great time and told me it wasn't even hard at all. I think we've got a mountain biker in the making.

Volleyball Anyone?

I got really worked up over church sports tonight.

Hind sight is helpful.

Our stake is very particular about following the rules. VERY PARTICULAR. Having said that, it is understandable that the rules come from higher up and that those in charge (that totally volunteer their time) are simply trying to follow them. However, I do believe there is a point when it may be better to err on the side of enjoyment and fun, than technicalities.

But here's where I have realized the larger problem lies. It's some our very own team's negativity. (This usually happens in basketball more, because it's a contact sport.) If we had just let things lie it would have all been okay. I sat out an entire game to make sure I didn't get any more frustrated than I already was. I am saddened that I had any part in the complaining. It is all enough to make me want to throw in the towel for good.

I mostly love playing church sports. These women are good women. It's sad to see us lose perspective.

"Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference."

-- Saint Francis of Assis

This Virtual World

It makes me wonder what the future will hold.

Blogging gives me the strange sense that we all might know more about each other than we really should, or maybe even deserve too. Building friendships takes years - or at least it did. Learning about people used to take being with them, being considerate enough to ask interested questions, and showing care and compassion. But that's been changing.

Communicating electronically is often simply reading what someone else has written without any dialog or discussion. Without even meeting someone, we can develop a distinct opinion of their value and worth and character.

I had a dear friend tell me today how brave she thought I was to have this blog. I guess I have been in the blogging virtual world long enough to become desensitized to people's candidness. I think that the trend is that many people have a much lower sense of privacy. I write mostly like I speak and aside from some not-to-glamourous observations of myself, I could talk about what I've said with just about anyone.

My mother sent me a lovely email. It helped me make a connection I hadn't thought about before. She has always enjoyed writing. I have never written much (other than my personal journal). This blog gives her a way to see me through my writing. It is easier in some ways to articulate a point in writing than in casual conversations. The problem lies in being careful what to say, because on a public blog, it is open to ALL.

A Day of Firsts

Sarah and I had the opportunity to see the Elephant Parade today. (The Circus is in town.) It was very spontaneous and very fun. It really only lasts for 3 minutes or so, but it's something you don't get to see everyday. It was my first time at the parade and Sarah's first time seeing an elephant. (We really haven't taken the girl who loves animals to the zoo yet.) Thanks to the kindness of friends with memberships, we also go to go the the Children's Museum for free! It was hard to get Sarah to go home. She really does smile too, even though she isn't in any of the pictures.

Isaac also had his first piano recital. He was nervous, but did really well. I had told him that people tend to play faster when they're nervous. I guess he took me at my word and played it slow and even. It was great to see all of his practice pay off and him feel good about it. This is him and his teacher Sandy.

Um, Yeah

So last night at, let's say, 11:30pm or so I was puttering about looking at what I needed to do the next day when I came across a letter telling me that Isaac was the Star Student this next week. I was supposed to have a poster with pictures ready in the morning. Ha ha. Gag.

But not to worry, all of my practice at last minute preparations makes me great at things like this. By midnight I had found 7 pictures, penciled a title for Isaac to color in the morning, dug up one of his more recent mazes, and even decided to tape LEGOS to the poster. I finished it up this morning and took it in. Oh, I also made the invites (much simpler than originally planned because I didn't have the paper I needed) for his party, but the color printer wasn't working and Daniel had fallen asleep (which is rare at this time of night). So Daniel had to fix the print server problem and change some ink cartridges before work this morning so the invites could go out today. At school I had to pull Isaac out of class for a minute to refresh me on who was getting invites (we're cutting back - 18 is JUST TO MANY). Maybe I could have remembered to discuss this with him earlier. AND I had to teach an art lesson in Adam's class at the school that I forgot to review before I got there. The teacher asked me about how long I thought it would take - "Um, I don't know yet. Let me look at the lesson a little more. Cough, cough." (I had gone to a training on it last week, but Sarah was NOT VERY GOOD and I left early.)

It did all turn out great. Maybe no one needs to know.

I've been waiting...

Half the reason I wanted a girl is so that I could do her hair - hair that has taken A LONG TIME to grow.

Unfortunately, the piggies didn't stay in for very long.

Why did I want a blog?

Last night as I was laying in bed, I couldn't stop thinking about how many people can access a blog. Even though I haven't given out my address to many, I know that later anyone can go back and read all my previous posts: my friends, my parents, my inlaws, people in my ward, high school people, acquaintances, old boyfriends, and of course, people I DON'T EVEN KNOW! It's not that I think all of these people would even care to read, but it is a POSSIBILITY. Yikes!

In light of this I have to defend myself. I may even edit the Procrastination Post. I wrote it on a day I was feeling particularly off. I really am not that bad. I consider myself a reliable person and come through with flying colors 95% of the time. It's the other 5% that makes me feel like I could do better. And just to clarify, I did really well in school, even if I didn't always manage my time well.

(Update: I didn't even think about my NIECES reading this. Holy cow.)

(Update Update: Oh, and my KIDS too. Isaac wants to read!!?!)

Just because I have to put a picture of my kids up

Sarah - I can't look at her without thinking that something is special about this child.

My boys - all ready for Pajama Day at school. Childhood is sweet.

Is this so cool?

These are Wordles. I'm not sure how to make them show up bigger on this page - but of course you can just click on them.

Panic Attack and Procrastination

This happens to me once in a while. Today was one of them. I had just gotten home much later than I had planned from a church activity to find that my not-to-well-thought-out plans for the day weren't going to work. The boys were on the front porch with Legos all over and Sarah was still awake at nearly 3:00pm. (This was not Daniel's fault; It was my lack of communication and forgetting to take my cell phone with me.) I felt like I had messed everything up by not having a better plan.

I have lots of dreams about not being ready for things. I often dream it's opening night of a play and I don't have my lines memorized or something is due and I don't have it quite together. I KNOW why I have these dreams. I AM A PROCRASTINATOR. I remember being particularily bad in high school with my homework. I'd often do homework due that day in the class before the one I had to turn it in to.

Truthfully, I have gotten much better the past few years, but it is still an issue. Even if I have time and I know it would be easier to do something early, I don't do it. Why not wait until the event is closer? Then I can see the benefits of my hard work sooner. Take Isaac's upcoming birthday party for example. It's planned for this next Friday. Invitations - nope, Treat bags - nope, Plan - nope. I just have a few ideas jotted down and a general idea of what I'm doing. I'm sure I will be up late making the invites and then I'll whip out a party on the fly. It's just how I work.

I secretly think I kind of like the adrenaline of having to do something quick and efficiently. It's kind of a "look at me, I just whipped this together - no big deal" type of feeling. It might not be the best way to go about it, but it does have some excitement in it, right? I think the main reason I've been better at all is because of the good examples of organized women around me and that I really, really, really don't want to let my kids down by more poor planning. That's why today was so sad. I was planning a surprise visit to my parents in Brigham City and I knew the kids would be excited and my parents would be happy, but could I pull it off? No - I just didn't have my ducks in a row.

So instead of going on a fun visit? I panicked and cried and cried. That's what you get when you just don't spend enough time in the planning. Sigh.

P.S. The church activity - it was good. Look at what I made! (A regular bag and a soon to be "I Spy" or Seek and Find bag.)

(P.P.S. I'm having a hard time with picture placement.)

Jack of All Trades, Master of None

I enjoy doing a lot of different things. However, I seem to have a passion for most of them on a limited time basis. I still enjoy them after a while, I just don't pursue them.

Example:

• Oil painting. Did it. Liked it. Done for now.
• Drawing and other Art. Ditto.
• Sewing. Once in a while.
• Singing. Much more in the past.
• Excersing. Did it for three years, then stopped cold turkey.
• Piano. Mostly when I was younger.
• Crafts. I'm very selective now.
• Cooking. Not so much.

The problem is that I don't develop most of my talents or interests for long enough to be really good at them. To someone who hasn't dabbled in it I may seem accomplished, but there are very few things I master. Some times I feel much like a Jack-of-All-Trades, Master-of-None.

Some of my friends are masters. One for example is an exceptional piano player. And she knows she is good. Not in a "wow-look-at-what-I-can-do" sort of way, but in a "I worked really hard for a long time and am still working hard to have this talent" way. It is admirable.

I want my children to have something they have worked hard at and can identify with - something they know they are a master at. I don't think many other things can supply the self confidence and satifaction of a talent well earned.

I do have some things that I love more than others. Moulding (or molding based on what book you look at). I can dream about moulding. I love woodworking, but I'm no Norm Abram. I have been reminded of this every time I've taken a woodworking class. I don't have the patience or time to create some of the amazing pieces I've seen others do. It is an art. What I do I'm good at, but I really only scratch the surface.

I guess I should be grateful that I have interests and that I keep wanting to learn. I still have so many things on my list in my head to do.

Time to Join the Conversation

You can only lurk in the blogging world for so long before you realize you're having a one-sided conversation. This epiphany came in a rush and suddenly it was time for my blog. The purpose of it? Good question. This is just one more layer in my life.