It ain't easy. . .

Being a parent.

To give birth, make a child, relatively simple(for most). It's what comes next that's HARD.

It's hard to say NO, over and over and over again.
It's hard to discipline.
It's hard to teach and be patient.
It's hard to stand your ground and be mean.

Life's lessons start at home, with us, parents. If we give in, or give up, what are we teaching then?




This is not a job for pushovers or the lazy. It ain't easy being a parent.

Words

While watching a movie the other night I noticed a 1 minute snippet of something that got me thinking. (Oh yeah, this post may be a wee bit deeper than usual)

I like literature. To say that I LOVE to read would be the ultimate understatement, it's more of an obsession really. And what is reading, but learning new concepts, and ideas through words, in my case lots and lots of words. I also like to talk, on the phone, in person, wherever.

Someone in the movie was talking about how our vocabulary is 1/3 of what the average persons was 100 years age. Now, this movie came out a few years ago and was set in the early '90s so it's safe to say that this comment was intended to be made before the loathsome arts of IMing, Texting and Tweeting took over the conversation. I say loathsome mainly because it is practically impossible to get a meaningful point across while _____ing. I can understand a few quick notes: Sorry I'm late, Where are you? Pick me up. That sort of quick info that doesn't require a phone call, but entire conversations of back and forth, braking up, and making dates is just plain lazy!

So many things can go wrong, especially if the texter is someone like me and does not fully understand the art of shorthand. Se wht i man, jst ty 2 deper tis 1! R U oly sppsd 2 shrtn th lng wrds or tke t ll th vwls? I have no idea. And why do I have to? Can't I just call you to set up a good time to come over, plan the baby shower, or get that recipe? Are you too busy for all of those words to answer the phone, write a letter, or even respond to an email? (I don't consider email the same thing as the other forms of electronic correspondence that are stupid, because I like it and I don't have to shorten any words)

So if our vocabulary really is shrinking does that mean we're becoming dumber because of it? It certainly doesn't take a lot of thought to send a text. Are we leaving out so many words that were necessary? Shakespeare has Romeo use about 10 lines to say basically, "Juliet is HOT and I really want to meet her!" If you cut out all the other words you get right to the point sure, but you don't get a feeling for the passion and the desire that he holds for her. AND you don't have to think about what's happening. That's what I think is missing, the thinking, pondering, about what's being said/written.

Maybe it is just lazy, or thrilling to have instant gratification with a few words, or maybe it's literary ignorance. Whatever the case may be, I miss all the words! I like the conversations. And lets be honest folks, laughter is much better heard than spelled.
LOL.

Scripture Power?

Damen likes to "read" to us his own scriptures after Dustin and I read to him. He opens up his scriptures and usually says stuff like "And it came to pass, and behold." Until tonight. This is what he "read":

"And the witch came to the Nephi and turned him into a frog. Then the good Knight came. He turned the witch into a Nephi."

Dustin and I were snickering up a storm!

Play group!

Last Wednesday our playgroup headed up to the mountains for some hiking, picnicking, and relief from the heat! Two out of three's not bad, it was still pretty warm. The kids had a good time and enjoyed the nature hike we went on. I can't remember the name of the place, there was a lot to see (bears, snakes, lizards, etc.) and do, we'll be back for sure!



Photo opp on top of a 100 year old stump!




Climbing the boulders.



Sniffing the trees.
Yes, really! They smelled like vanilla, delicious and strange. The kids couldn't stop, they sniffed every other tree we came to!



You get in the hole, no you, no you. . . Ok, Jamie will do it!



Ribbon tree, the bark speaks for itself.


Ooooooo, sticks! Lots and lots of sticks, nope they can't come home with us, sorry boys:)

A little Before and After

Here's the bench in all it's before glory! Wow, our garage is busy(messy) looking. So, it was plain white, filthy and had this mural painted on the back. I got it from Craigslist for $20! It's super heavy and I took one with Damen sitting on it so you could get a sense of how big it is.



So, basically I sanded it a bit, and painted it light blue. Then I got some clear gloss lacquer stuff and sprayed in on to protect it from the elements.




There you have it, Before and After:)

The View

Last night this was my view:







From here, sitting on the bench I refinished, on the bricks I laid.



Ahhh, accomplishment!

OH Pioneers!

On Pioneer day (July 24th) we celebrate the Mormon saints entering the Salt Lake valley for the first time. They struggled, they walked, they sacrificed. Our Stake had a big picnic with fried chicken, watermelon, water balloons, cotton candy, snowcones and this zip line.


When he got to the top of that ladder, my heart started to skip I was SO nervous! Who lets their baby do this??

Well, now that he's four I guess it's ok. He wasn't scared or nervous and did great. And he was older than a lot of kids in line!



The 24th of July always reminds me of the Pioneers in my own family. It's the day that seven years ago my Grandma died. She didn't cross any plains, but she was one of the first. My Grandpa joined the church first, then my parents, then my Grandma. They led our family to the gospel in a different way. My grandma was so much fun, so loving and giving. She spoiled us. We miss her, but because of her faith 40 years ago we can see her again, I know it.