Four

Emerson’s birthday not only marks the fourth year of his life, but the number of years that I have been a mother. Amazing. I can’t believe I’ve been at this for four years already, and yet, I can’t remember what life was like before I lived everyday for a child or children as Charlie made two. I don’t know if it is normal, but every one of the kids’ birthdays makes for a nostalgic, overly emotional, and sentimental day for me. I begin birthday eve by looking at pictures such as this:

and these:

and then try to recollect every detail of their births. The poor children will now have to listen to me recount the entire labor and delivery event every birthday from now on. I’m sure they will grow weary of hearing the story, but I appreciated Emerson’s captivated ears this year. 

Will I grow out of this? Will I try to hang on to every piece of their childhood like they are going to transform into stinky, whiny, self-absorbed teenagers overnight? What will happen when it’s time for them to go to college? Will I have the same attachment that will give me the desire to sneak into their dorm rooms for one last kiss before I retire for the night or want to hug them tightly with my face pressed against theirs? What happens when I can’t kiss them whenever I want, tickle their arms, or pick them up for a squeeze? 

Do older mothers remember the physical closeness they had with their young children and do they miss it? When I became a mother the biggest surprise to me was the complete craving I aquired for my little one affecting all senses. Does the craving for their touch, their kiss, their little voice, and even their smell go away? 

You see? Overly emotional and sentimental. My poor children.
Happy fourth birthday, Emerson.

Outdoor Bedtime Stories Brought to You by Stove In A Can

Sometimes I want to be the fun mom who lets her hair down, uses silly voices, and gives the kids dad-type fun. You know, dad-fun: break the rules, don't worry about a mess or let furniture get in the way, and leave blankets and crumbs all over fun. I have to compete with a dad who regularly overflows the jetted tub with bubbles for the kids and gives evening go-kart rides. 

 

Tonight the kids and I decided to prep for bedtime outside where we could play "knights camping in the woods" per Emerson's request. I'm not the fire expert in the family, nor do I ever cook in the outdoors, so when the kids and I are on our own in the evening and want to do something crazy like cook and eat dessert outside I have to thank this little Stove In A Can.  The knight, the princess, and the king all enjoyed a warm and tasty apple berry cobbler while reading bedtime stories. 

I have to say I'm very glad I was given this little can to bulk up my pathetic little supply of emergency preparedness. The few cans, wheat, and dehydrated soups I have will not cook themselves. The idea is simple yet brilliant, compacting fuel cells, waterproof matches, and a heat coil all in a lightweight little can that can fit in the car, on a shelf, or even in a backpack. The can cooked our dutch oven cobbler in less than an hour and burned on for at least another hour or two. 



The can was as simple to cook on as the stove but has the added benefit of providing the user with such confidence-building qualities as adventurous, courageous, and in the case of our game tonight, chivalrous.

Pictures of Spring

 

Charlie did a great job of fitting in at the ski resort.  

 Taking Charlie up the lift. . . just to make my mother nervous. 

The snow isn't as great, but you have to love spring skiing when you feel comfortable enough without gloves or even a coat. 

 

These two shots illustrate their relationship perfectly: at each other's throats one minute, and loving each other the next. Brothers are cute. 

I had to throw in cute Emers at a Lego event at the library. He was so confident racing his creations against the other kids down the track. 


Now onto the 372 house and yard projects I need to accomplish. 

Thank You Church

Maybe it's because it's Easter or because everyone is napping and the sun is shining bright, but I am feeling so positive about my family's experience at church this Easter Sunday. Yes, it was my toddler up front during the Sacrament meeting standing under the speaker with his shirt halfway off trying to fit his entire fist in his mouth, but not even his attention-deficiency during the service frustrated me today. I regret not making the time or effort to prepare anything worth-while for our family Easter celebrations this year, from either the spiritual or secular realm. As we all walked home from church talking about our individual classes we attended the third hour I realized we had all been as spiritually well fed as if we had attended Easter Sunday brunch at the Grand America. We all went home to physically feast on whatever leftover offerings the fridge held for us for lunch, but our spiritual needs have been met today.

I doubt I would find another organization in the world that would offer my entire family a place every week with such spiritual training and inspiration catered to our individual roles, ages, and needs. My children sing, create artwork, socialize, and get to know loving teachers who sincerely care for them. My husband gathers with other men for lessons and gospel discussions. I get to know women and teenage girls I normally wouldn't run into through life's average routine, and get uplifted by the lessons and teachings of others who do it all in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. My Easter means more to me today after a couple shared their knowledge and insight on Jewish tradition and their experience in the Holy Land. I realized that while it is difficult to balance every aspect in a family including educating, feeding, housekeeping, sporting, and every other ing, I have the serving and spiritual teaching made easy for me with a house of the Lord right in my neighborhood. We are all given the opportunity to serve others in one capacity or another. Living the gospel we are challenged, strengthened, stretched, and edified, and all it took today was showing up.

Happy Easter. He is Risen!

Exploring the Streets of New York City

Is there a way I can live half of my life in the country and the other half in the city? I love so many aspects of both lifestyles and crave experiences from both. I recently visited one of my best friends living in Manhattan. If it weren't for the great distance and this whole mothering-wifey gig I got going right now I would be in New York City every weekend. What a great week it was with a visit to the The Antiques Garage, the historic library, mouth-watering bakeries, mastering stroller transport through the subway, Central Park, The Martha Stewart Show, a night out with the girls, and plenty of great conversation and laughter. 

Balto in Central Park

A very chilly day, but it didn't stop us.

Ten years ago I hopped across three continents, navigated through five airports, traveled over 24 hours of flight, and took a terrifying yet fascinating drive over several miles of red clay to my new summer home in a little room with thin foam mattresses and mosquito nets, and these two as my roomies:

We also shared the room with a rat, several lizards, and spiders. Naming them helped us cope with the fact that they were there.

Here we are ten years ago. I just had to. Far left: London (couldn't be more obvious) Kristi at the top with Rachel and Hailey far right below me. Top right: One of our field trips in Uganda. Bottom right: In front of our church building in Mukono, Uganda with our host sister Nicole. 

You girls are alright. 

I was interviewed for the show, The Chew. I never saw my clip or any other clips of people talking about pie, so I think they either cut the entire segment or I watched the wrong day. If you ever see me on that show let me know! 

This was the one day I said, "Eh, I don't need to do my hair."

Sam and Charlie. I hope they work together in New York some day so I can show this picture.

Gracie, Sam, Charlie, and Lucy braving the chilly wind for a picture in Riverside Park.

Visiting our friend Stacy 

Charlie hadn't heard of Seinfeld so he didn't get any of my references.  

It's never too early to start college tours with your children. Columbia University has a beautiful campus. 

My original life's plan included living as newlyweds in a studio apartment in the middle of Manhattan. How long can we be considered newlyweds? 

A Contradicting Rambling About My Life on the Internet Incongruously Written on My Blog

I was lucky enough to have two crochet lessons this week from JR's maternal grandmother, Eileen. It has been a long time since I learned something or obtained information from a live source and not in front of my computer screen via Pinterest or a faceless blogger's tutorial. It was great to have a one-on-one, interactive lesson from seasoned, experienced hands. It felt like the "old way" of life before my brain was dependent on Google, Wikipedia, and the depths of internet search engines to think. . . before we stopped talking to each other to exchange information and educate the following generation. . . before you would have to learn about me through a blog, and yet on the positive side before such capabilities existed of getting to know each other despite great distance. . . before I began living half of my life in the virtual online world where young adult women compete and follow each other in crafting, fashion, organization, and decorating. . . before we all wanted the same dang wreath hanging on our door and the same dang bedspread in our bedroom. . . before I kept up with a large portion of individuals from my past through Facebook, and before I realized how many of them I can't stand because of their idiotic Facebook posts (not yours, of course).  

Sometimes I feel like I can't keep up with the fast pace of communication, information, and pressure of having so many resources at my fingertips. I feel like we are so desensitized and difficult to impress now that everyone is expected to produce and perform at a particular standard with everyone potentially having the same breadth of information. I should know the latest songs and music groups with the ability to listen to any of them immediately on my computer, I should know the latest news and gossip of the day, I should practice my culinary skills more frequently with so many recipes and cooking tutorials at hand, I should know what to wear, I should know what nursery rhymes and songs to teach my children, I should know how to organize my office, but I just don't. If it's possible, I feel like I'm actually moving in slow-motion while the world carries on ahead of me.

Learning to crochet felt like holding my hands up to gesture a time-out in the game to regroup and compose. I didn't mind slowing down to learn a timeless skill that has been passed down for generations and should continue to do so. I realized that I don't care if I don't keep up and maybe will come out ahead after-all if my priorities are always focused on my family. I value the DIYs and information from my virtual life, but I need to remember to make time to learn and create from experienced hands. I need to follow my Aunt Kathy and neighbor Stuart in their gardens, sit next to Grandma Eileen more, feed off of the wisdom from good Sunday School teachers, and seek out those willing to share their talents.

I have aspirations of one day far in the future being followed around my own mature garden while wearing a large brim hat, sharing old and new ideas with my faithful future university students, and entertaining friends in my messy and eclectic painting studio. I have a lot to learn.

Visiting the Sun

 I need to start off by admitting that most of  this post is complete plagiarism of photos. Can you believe that we went to Southern California over New Year's and used our camera one day? I managed to pull my phone out of my pocket a couple of times at Disneyland to snap a few memories. Luckily I found some pictures to steal off of my sister-in-law's blog (thank you Jennine, sorry I didn't ask). How hard can life be living in Southern California, seriously? With perfect weather all year long and plenty of outdoor activities to keep your kids busy with in the winter, do they really understand how good they have it? 


We visited Disneyland (more on that below), visited the beach a few times, went to Costco (of course), shopped the garment district in LA, and enjoyed plenty of quality cousin time. I can't tell you how much Emerson loved being around his cousins every day. 

The Royce family with 10 adults and 10 grandkids (JR and Rory not pictured)

 

Gifts from the swap meet we visited.

See? Proof we did go to Disneyland despite not having a folder on my computer full of pictures from the event. Disneyland over New Years: Don't do it. The first day I had such stroller pushing rage maneuvering the thing amidst the multitudes. I don't think I've ever moved with that many people together so inefficiently. 

We had three-day passes and fortunately found smaller crowds the second and third days. We had fun and the kids enjoyed every ride they experienced, but I don't think I will ever bring a toddler to that park again. Charlie didn't get why were wasting time standing in lines that he kept running out of and I'm sure he won't have a memory of our visits to the "happiest place on earth." We mastered the Fast-Passes and Stroller-Swap passes with our group. It eased some of the pain caused by the swarms of people causing two-hour-long lines. 

My take on Disneyland: overall our experience in the Magic Kingdom was enjoyable and fun; however, three days was plenty, maybe even a little too much. For me, the magic starts to fade and the surrounding cardboard becomes more apparent after hearing the same songs, same parade, and same shows over and over. We will definitely visit again, but I will wait until my kids are a little older and I will research the least busy time of the year. I'll be honest, the Christmas decorations would be great in December, but seeing them up the first week in January while walking around in t-shirt weather kind of made me feel like I was in a lazy neighborhood that still had the decor up in June. 

See what I mean? 

Enjoying my ride of choice with my co-riders of choice: Bekah, Rod, and Giovanni


Our one day with the camera at Balboa Park:

I wish we had a garment district. I would trade all the nasty Joann's in the world to be closer to one. I kept Charlie busy in a pile of fabric while I swam through bolts of jersey knit for $1.50/yard. 

Story #1: After getting home from the garment district JR realized his wallet was missing. He unpacked the car, searched our bags, retraced his steps, and couldn't find it anywhere. The last time we saw it was when he pulled out some cash to pay the guy for my garbage sack full of fabric and thread right as the sun went down and the stores were pulling their garage doors or metal gates down for the night. If you've ever visited this area, you know it's not exactly on the luxurious side of town. We figured his wallet with our money, cards, and Disney passes was either stolen or lost.


Early the next morning we got a call from the manager of one of the stores where one of the employees found and turned in the wallet with everything intact! I felt guilty over the lack of faith I have in humanity. Also, make sure to carry a personal business card in your wallet so they know who to call. 

Story #2: Our seven-passenger circus carpool carrying two families ran out of gas about 20 miles from anything. I take that back. We were only about a mile from this lady burning her weeds with the assistance of a baby stroller:

 To save JR from looking like too much of a fool for running out of gas, I should add that we were driving a rented vehicle that told him he had about 30 miles worth of gas left in the tank. Thanks, car. He thought he could push it into the next city, but barely had enough time to pull off on an exit. JR started jogging until he found the lady above who didn't have any gas for us to buy, but she did have an empty gas can. Giovanni inquired with a nearby truck, who didn't have any gas to spare, but was kind enough to make him this custom, bold, double-sided, manual-turn sign to help with our dilemma. 
In the end, the sign caught the attention of a guy who had his girlfriend follow him with the boys and the borrowed gas can from the weed-burning lady to the nearest gas station and we were saved. People can be really nice.