Family Home Evening

Monday nights, we have a ritual.

We sing hymns.

We discuss the schedule for the week.

We study the scriptures.

Last night, before we finished with our family prayer and bedtime, the boys challenged dad to a "wrastle".

Each person had their turn.

This does look promising for L, but...

Dad is still king.

Then, the boys challenged each other and then me.

It was a fun time.

I did learn that I should have specifically mentioned to J the "no choke holds" rule.
Silly me, I thought it was understood :)

Be There

Last night, K had her first big deal, real concert at BYU as a Singer. She has another performance tonight. I wish I was there. Listening. Watching. Supporting. Enjoying.

When K was choosing where to go to school, I remember telling her that if she was at NAU I would be able to come to more of her performances. No such luck.

We are so happy with her choice, but still wish we could be there.

With 6, R and I are usually spread thin. Too many nights are double, triple and even more over-booked. Usually, we divide and conquer... or hope to conquer. He goes one way, I go another, we meet up, swap babies, cab duties, etc., just so that we can be there.

Friday, though, was a real treat. 2 boys, 1 activity. Jackpot.



The weather was perfect and we had popcorn and licorice. We were ready!



L is on the drum line at Mt. V. for his second year. J plays in an advanced band in his first year at P Jr. High. J switches between trumpet, baritone, and tuba/sousaphone.
Each year, the high school marching band invites all of the jr. high bands that feed into it to come for jr. high night. The bands rehearse, eat pizza, play stand tunes, and perform at half time. It really gets the jr. high kids excited about adventures to come. Except J. He performed that night with the sousaphone and decided he will never march with one again. Who can blame him?

Yes, she fell asleep for an hour, right in the middle of all the fun!



It was so nice to be there.

A Lesson

Sometimes, the boys are ornery.

They trudge upstairs and then stomp around. They have claws drawn and teeth bared and through scowled brows, challenge each other to just dare to get in their way.

They yell, they be-little, they growl, they offend.

They tolerate nothing.

EVERYTHING and EVERYTHING offends them.

I have learned that if I react to their behavior, it feeds the ugliness.

If I can corner them, away for their peers, for just a moment, I can whisper sweet nothings and calm their spirits.

I can remind them that if everything is bothering them, the problem isn't everything, it is them.

Sometimes, that is hard to swallow, but I excuse them to their room to breathe and relax and pray and transform back into the loving man-child they are.

If the offense is rooted deeply, I follow them into their room, invite them to kneel, and I pray.

I thank Heavenly Father for them. I list their talents and virtues individually and tell Heavenly Father the important part they play in our home. Then, I implore Him to help my son overcome his frustrations and feel love and peace and joy.


Sunday was one of those days. The offense came from small, unkind quips and inconsiderate behaviors and not having help when help was needed.

By the time we were on our way to church, tensions were running high. A gentle reminder to not yell requests from one room to the other, but deliver the requests face-to-face was the last straw.

I LOST IT!

I yelled inappropriate AND unkind accusations at my tall son.

I slammed the doors to the van.

In the parking lot.

At church.

I was in no condition to walk in, so I stomped... quietly.

R was already there, on our side pew. I pushed past, ignoring his greeting smile and then puzzled look. With R as a barrier between the children and myself, I pressed my shoulder to the wall, willing it to give way and swallow me up.

Instead, I was pulled away by a firm pulsing grip on my hand. The tears started to fall, but were quickly caught by the tissue that had been pressed into my palm... just like when we saw Stella together on our first outing (not a date because it was the first day we met and were with a big group of friends).

He was in my corner. He was telling me he had my back.


As I sat, I realized that my tall son had remained calm. He never did react to my tantrum.

I was offended because some of his words stung. They were true and it hurt.

I nursed my wounded pride and half listened to the speakers and the lessons.


Later that day, I told R of all my ugliness. He loved my anyway.

I apologized, and so did L.


It is a hard lesson for me to learn that my kids see me as I really am. It is hard to realize that I really do have to step up and do what I teach. All of it. I have to be better than I want them to be.

I have to listen to what the Spirit tells me to tell them:

If everything is bothering me, the problem is not everything, it is me...

And then take a time out...

...Before it gets ugly.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Sacrifice

I have always know that being a parent comes with inherent sacrifices.

I didn't know this was one of them.



Since K left for school with our 1 good flat iron, my hair has looked like this.
I feel like my un-done tresses could be used by Larainy Days if she did a "Help This Hair!" post.

I love how my hair looks after a great cut and blow dry
so

I tried this...


Apparently, I have NO SKILLS.
I won't even post the picture.

I was ecstatic when I saw this beauty on sale at Marshalls.
And it's pink, bonus!

I washed and dried and creamy-conditioned.
I even flat-iron-heat-protection treated.

Ta-da!!!



Um, yeah...

That baby is going straight back to Marshalls.
Dang!

And I am going to have to splurge for an actual usable of a flat-iron.

Reading

The Stars Have Aligned.

Could that be the only possible explanation for the fact that I am reading a book?

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to read.
At this point in my life, however, pleasure reading takes a back seat to, well, EVERYTHING!
Or, almost everything :)

I am reading

Mockingjay
by
Suzanne Collins.

I am nearly finished and I am really enjoying it.
Fortunate, since it's one I feel I have to read.

Let me explain:
Kids have a mind of their own. I know you know that. Most at our house are avid readers. They bring books home from where ever and when ever they can. Most of the time that is ok. As a matter of fact, I have not had to ban any that they have brought home.
But how would I happen to know that?
I either read to them, with them, or before them.
I have checked book reviews online and sought out the opinions of friends.
But, most often, if I have never heard of it, I read it myself at the same time they are.


They know I know what they know, sort of. :)
We discuss characters and plots and what-ifs.
It gives us more in common.

And, most of the time, it's fun.

The Natural Bridge

Labor Day 2010 gave us the chance to visit the Tonto Natural Bridge. It is one of our favorite places EVER! It is the perfect day trip from the valley and the cooler weather was wonderful.

Enjoy!
(Continued on the next post)

Natural Bridge Part 2

The big brother carried his little sister the entire way, over the treacherous terrain and was vigilant even when they rested.
This is my favorite picture from the trip.

A Peck of Peppers

Does anyone have any suggestion as to what I should do with these?

They are late bloomers from our garden. L asked on Saturday if I wanted him to pick the bell peppers and bring them in. This is what I got.

Hmmm... We will make fajitas, but that surely won't use them all!
If they were the spicy kind, I could make buckets of salsa, but no such luck.

Really, who even needs spice when I have these peppers flavoring my life?
They are so great! They even practice their instruments without me having to ask!

More from Provo

We had a wonderful time back on the BYU campus last week. R and I attended parent orientation classes and K bounced back and forth between work, freshmen orientation fun and errands with us.

R and I met at BYU, although we grew up just a few miles away from each other and attended the same high-school. We had K in Provo and it was funny pushing T in the stroller on campus like I had done with big sister.

Besides the Creamery and the Candy Counter, these are a couple of my favorite places on campus:
Did I mention that K has the sweetest roommate EVER? She has been in the US for 4 years, is native of Korea and her family has just gone back there.

I am not sure how K survived the 2 1/2 weeks she was there without her piano and guitar, but you can see the smile, and she has them close, now!


Have fun, ladies!

Amazing!

Today, I am bragging about...


Karli


She found out this morning that she made it into BYU SINGERS!

BYU Singers

Brigham Young University Singers is a small, select choir of flexible singer-musicians. As one of the major touring ensembles of the university, the Singers have traveled throughout the United States, including Hawaii; twice to Russia; three times to Israel; to Australia and New Zealand; to the countries of Western and Eastern Europe, including the Baltic States; to West Africa; and to South Africa. The choir traveled through the British Isles in May 2009, placing second in the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition at the Cork International Choral Festival. The choir has attained the reputation of a captivating, versatile choir with an impressive range of repertoire and style.

This choir RARELY auditions freshmen, but she had a great recommendation that helped her get in the door and then she took it from there. The audition process had 3 parts and then soprano call backs were last night. While posting the results, the director paid her some very nice compliments.

We are SO HAPPY for Karli.

She has always been determined and hard working and we look forward to the great concerts and the adventures she will have.

I guess we will be making a few more trips to Provo!