Birthday

I had my birthday this last week. It is always just as nice for me to see how many people go out of their way to call or send a card on a day that really is just like any other. It makes you feel loved. Bridger wrapped up my kids (excluding Daven-he's not into dark, confined spaces) in a huge giant present and had me open it. I knew they were inside but they were just so tickled to jump out and say "Happy Birthday!" They really are a pretty good present most days. It reminds me of the childrens book called "The Precious Present" about a person who is always looking for this valuable gift but doesn't realize that it is the present that is all about us--kind of a play on words, "Giving Tree" type book. I guess that is all the wisdom I have accrued in my 34 years thus far on Earth.

We Don't Know it All

I didn't get a post up last week. It had been a very busy day on Saturday and I was too tired to do more than I had to Sunday, which isn't saying a lot since my mother in-law cooked dinner and I just had to show up. I don't know what I will have to do when we live somewhere not close to family and I have to cook once again for these occasions! I have been spoiled. Saturday we had a visiting teaching appreciation breakfast that I had had to cook for, and also I had to help bake brownies for all the dads in the ward. I don't think I have had to do that much cooking in a day for a long time. I was also in a skit for the breakfast. It was called Snow White and the Seven Doors. Snow White visit teaches Sis. Doc, Sis. Sleepy with the new-baby, Sis. Grouchy, etc. I was the wives of the dwarves. I had several people tell me that they had no idea I had any acting in me! I must had hid my talent well because we did skits 2 times a year at family reunions growing up and I took drama in junior high. It made me realize we really know very little about the people we interact with daily. Hopefully we know more about our spouse. I just think it gives us better reason to reserve judgment on the basis that we don't know it all.

Have you ever taken a bath?

My kids came home and were asking us to hold our palms together, fingers outstretched and were asking us questions like "Have you ever robbed a bank?" When the answer was no, the pinkies would be placed down around your hand. This would happen until it came to the pointer finger and they would say "Have you ever killed someone?" You would answer no and then they would say, "Then why are you holding a gun?" because you hand is like a gun. Brynna was trying to copy her brother and sister and she was asking Bridger the questions. She asked him, "Have you ever taken a bath?" The answer was supposed to be no. He said, "Yes." She said, "No, the kind where you fill the tub with water and sit in it." He said, "Yes." She said, "No, like kids do." He said, "Am I supposed to say no?" She said, "Yes." I just think it is funny that she thinks her Dad has never taken a bath because she hasn't seen him do so. Maybe none of you have taken a bath either!

Exercise Charity

I had to teach Relief Society last week. Here are a couple of quotes from my lesson that I really enjoyed!
'"Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God's gift of Himself," I once heard Mother Teresa say. I'm learning that "God's gift of Himself" squeezes most of the contempt and criticism out of my heart.' Chieko Okazaki

"Love everyone. And if you love someone who doesn't deserve it, God will certainly not be mad at you." Mary Ellen Edmunds

" (God) works through human channels for much the same reason that we water our lawn with a sprinkler instead of a fire hose. His love is a secret tht we each have to learn for ourselves. Just opening the fire hydrant on humanity would wash away quite a few. So Jesus asks us to transmit that love in quiet, gentle ways that will nurture without damaging others but which will let people feel curious about the source of that love until they seek it themselves." Chieko Okasaki

Who said traveling was fun?

Bridger was gone for this week. While he had some really good career and people experiences, his traveling was not so easy. Who said traveling was fun? When he got to the IF airport there was a guy who said he just got home after leaving his car for 2 weeks and he needed a jump. Bridger was just emptying out his pockets getting ready to go inside the airport and go through security. He told the guy yes and shut his car leaving his keys locked inside the car. He called a locksmith and the guy was late showing up so Bridger almost missed his flight. On the way home he got in a traffic jam and missed his flight, was told he would have to pay an extra $250 to fly to SLC and an extra $450 to fly to IF. We were scrambling trying to figure out what to do and if I could rearrange my plans to go get him in SLC. When he went back to book his ticket he got another worker who said she was the supervisor and would just waive the fee as a curtosy. I think it was major blessings. My sister Janna picked him up in SLC and he slept in SLC overnight then she returned him to the airport this morning. He got home in time to watch Daven so I could conduct Relief Society. It is nice to have him home. The kids can’t leave him alone. I will have to wait for my turn to talk to him later.

The fun has begun!

It was a busy week. So much for having a little more time. We had more time just to do more things! Brynna had her last week of gymnastics and her recital this week for it. It was busy. We had practices/recital for her Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. We left her practice Monday to go to her first T-ball game. I need to practice with her a little bit but she did it. I was worried she wouldn’t even do it. Then we had Corban’s speech therapy right afterwards. We went straight from there to Costco to get milk and to a present for a birthday party Brynna was supposed to go to. I think everyday has been pretty much like that where we go from one thing to the next. I talked to another Mom on Brynna’ softball team about 4-H and she called me Tueday about dates they were doing it this week. I had to go sign up on Wednesday and go to a meeting about it. I wasn’t even sure we were doing it. I thought Kjerstin would enjoy it but I couldn’t convince her of that. I think we were joined by proxy. It just happened. She seems to like it and she is the only one not doing something else besides swimming this summer. I am not complaining. I love having my kids around. Corban is up at 6am and "asking" to do his chores so he can have time to play with his friends. The fun has begun!

End of an Era

Kjerstin's 7th birthday is this week. She had clothes and more clothes on her list and specifics of what she wanted the clothes to look like. So, I took her shopping instead of buying gifts for her. We went to Idaho Falls (to make it more of an experience) and went out to lunch, and went shopping. She is a shopper to be sure. I told her she could have 1 toy from Toys R Us. Well, the toy she picked out was lip gloss. I fear I am at the end of the toy era with her. I am not sure how I feel about that. Can my little girl be growing up so fast? I am not sure I am ready for the teenage years or the tween years yet either. I don't think anyone asked if I was ready so ready or not here we come!