Living Full on Life

These Kids Have Done Hard Things

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With two weeks to practice (about 2 hours each day) Sam prepared a song two levels more difficult than where he is in his Suzuki curriculum and auditioned for a young artists group concerto. This is the website for the Utah Valley Symphony with whom he will be playing.

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Then, a week later both Sam and Lizzie auditioned for the next level up in their Orchestra. Lizzie also had to prepare and perform a piece more difficult than she is used to. After much practicing they both made it!

William is now practicing his piano and violin because he loves it. I think this is a great accomplishment as well. He has discovered that he is very good at playing songs by ear and has worked out Micheal Jackson’s “Will You Be There” and “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” on both instruments.

I love seeing these children succeed when they work hard!

Future Runaway Bride?

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Bethany sent me a letter this week with a picture inside from her wedding. After the first few stressful, exhausting days of school I really needed a good laugh. The included picture gave me exactly what I needed. Anna also had a hearty laugh about herself!
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Couples Rule!

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On Saturday Grant and I did a triathlon together with Rebecca. Despite being stronger, faster and in better shape, Grant stuck with me the whole time. Including swimming in an all women heat when he could have been in the first heat of the race. We were one of only a few (maybe three) couples who raced together the whole time. In every part of the race we heard shouts of encouragement and cheers for our husband and wife team. At one point during the running portion we passed another couple racing together who cheered us saying, “COUPLES RULE!!!”

I could say a lot about the state of our society and the scarcity of traditional happy couples who stick together through thick and thin. Instead I will cheer my husband who sticks by my side in every leg of the race of life even if I am figuratively and literally weaker, slower and in worse shape. Together we can truly do anything!

Taking Care of the Little Mother

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Our children know their parents love each other. We have a tradition that when we are watching a movie together as a family and there is a kissing scene, Grant and I get to give each other a kiss. The children react with varying degrees of delight and disgust.

Today I was snuggling on the couch with Grant and William came in, observed us snuggling and said with a happy smile, “It is so fun seeing the dad take care of the little mother.”

Also today I subbed in Sam’s primary class.  I had forgotten that I was to teach his class and so was in somewhat of a panic. Sam was so kind and good to me. He took it upon himself to reassure me and help in anyway possible. The lesson was on the story of Samuel and on listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I barely knew the story of Samuel, just a few basic details so while I was hurriedly perusing the chapters in the Bible I asked, “Does anyone want to tell the story of Samuel?” Sam volunteered and proceeded to tell the WHOLE story! He had learned it in school! In fact, he had done a two page biblical biography on Samuel. He was able to share so many details as well as the spirit of the story. I felt overcome with gratitude for  a son who is so spiritually sensitive.  Thanks for bailing me out Sam!

One-Piece Swimsuits and Other Stuff

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Today we went to a water park with the Saxeys. We had a wonderful time. Mostly it was fun to feel the children’s energy and excitement. William has learned to swim in the past month and is trying out his new powers by spending an incredible amount of time under the water. Sam and Lizzie enjoyed a new freedom of being able to go off with their friends, only checking in every so often, and Anna is perfectly satisfied to be my little barnacle, always attached (and held) if possible.
At the water park I also saw something that fit right in with some ideas that have been forming within me. There was a young girl, about 14, who was with a group of friends who were wearing two-piece swimsuits. This girl seemed fresh faced and wholesome and I could easily imagine that she came from a home where modesty is taught. She was wearing a one-piece swimsuit with a pair of shorts.  However, this girl was caught in the crossfire of immodesty. She had somehow rigged her swimsuit in a way that the bottom half of the swimsuit was pushed up to reveal her bare midriff! It was so obviously and awkwardly done. I couldn’t help seeing the image of some young woman trying to shimmy through a too-small leg opening just to try to fit in.
I have been thinking a lot lately about our children’s impending adolescence. I see changes — mostly emotional — happening and I am trying to reconcile myself to the realization that I cannot control what they see, who they like, what they do, how they think about the world or our family’s beliefs. (Or how they wear their clothes once they leave the house!) I cannot keep up with Satan’s subtle tools and traps through technology outlined in the following article that I recently read:
In this article the mother’s vigilance sounds exhausting. Isn’t there a better way? Of course it is every parent’s responsibility to stay connected and informed. Our responsibility is to never stop trying to communicate although I am sure there will come a time, or many times when our children will not be as communicative as they are right now. But I have to believe that some balance is better. I have to give up some of the control and believe what the prophet Joseph Smith advised, “I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves,” is a better way than constantly searching out every possible pitfall. Though what mother wouldn’t want to protect their child from harm? Is it because of the guilt and sorrow I will feel when they make poor decisions? (“What could I have done more for my vineyard?” Jacob 5:49)

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“ME!”

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This experience is probably not funny to anyone who wasn’t there but I just need to record it as it was one of the funniest things that has happened to me in a long time…
A little background: For as long as I can remember when I am putting Sam and William to bed (they share a room) I will say, “Who wants to say the prayer?” and the first person who volunteers gets to say it. They both shout “ME!” but William is ALWAYS first. This is the boy who practices during the day and who also will come up to me and “call” saying the nighttime prayer hours in advance (which we disallow for the sake of fairness). I am thrilled with both boys’ willingness to pray, and both say such beautiful heartfelt prayers. Frequently, even though William is always faster than Sam at volunteering, I have to let Sam say it since he needs to have a turn too. Also sometimes I say, “Who wants to… (William says ‘ME’)…clean the toilets?” (insert, sweep the floors, do the dishes…)
Now tonight: We are on vacation at my dad’s house and last night we got home from Charleston very late. (11:30). Tonight I put William and Anna to bed at 7:30 as they were both exhausted, yet still in pretty good moods. They fell asleep almost instantly. Then the rest of us played games until around 10. Just now I put Sam to bed and said, “Please say your prayer.” To which he responded, “Oh please just ask, “Who wants to say the prayer?” (William was deeply asleep and no longer competition.  A contest Sam would surely win!) So I said, “Who wants to say the prayer?” Silence. “Anyone?” then William rolls over and sleepily exclaims “ME!” (I’m not kidding) and then slips back into dream land. Sam was awestruck, nearly speechless. And then we both laughed so hard we cried.

Should I Be Worried?

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A few days ago we were at Home Depot getting a few things for the garden. William said, “I just need a couple sticks of dynamite and a little string.” We were passing a man examining sprinkler parts who burst out laughing. I said to him, “That might be easier to find than the enriched uranium my other son wants!”

This week being the last week of school the children have been bringing home the work they did all year. Among Sam’s half-hearted attempts at fine art I found this little gem:

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As much as I enjoy the boys, thank goodness for Lizzie’s perspective! The art she brought home brings me hope in a world in which both explosives and lovely sunsets exist!

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Mothers and Other Stuff

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The best part of this video is when it says, “Life doesn’t come with a manual, it comes with a mother.” Thanks to my mother who has shown me how to do life. Thanks to my children who are so patient with me while I figure out how to be a good mother and who forgive so readily when I mess up. What a joy and blessing it is to be a mother!
Now for some notable quotes from this week:
This morning my family let me sleep in while they made me a delicious breakfast. When we all sat down to eat Grant called on Anna to say the prayer. He reminded her to thank Heavenly Father for Mommy. Well, Anna said her prayer and spent the majority of the time thanking Heavenly Father for her Daddy. After a couple of minutes we were all having a hard time controlling our laughter, especially when she said she was thankful that her Daddy isn’t afraid of ants and ladybugs. Then at the very end she said, “We thank thee for Mommy” and then ended her prayer.
Also today Lizzie, thinking about how many books Grant has about Abraham Lincoln said, “Someday there are going to be just as many books about Daddy as there are about Lincoln!” Wouldn’t every father love to be their daughter’s hero?
On Monday during our morning scripture time we were talking about Sam getting the priesthood (In just four short months! Yikes!) Sam realized that by the time Anna was eight he would be old enough to baptize her so he asked, “Hey Anna! Can I baptize you when you turn eight?” Anna enthusiastically replied, “Sure!” Then Lizzie, wondering if Anna knew what Sam was talking about said, “Hey Anna! Can I baptize you when you are eight?” To which Anna replied just as enthusiastically, “Sure!” Are we raising a little feminist?
This week we were driving to school and Anna, seeing a police car on the side of the road with it’s light flashing, squealed, “Christmas Car!” I felt like sardonically mentioning how nice and expensive the “presents” are that the policeman in that Christmas Car gives. Ah for the blessed, innocent perspective of a child.
A few weeks ago on the way home from basketball Sam was complaining about grammar. I asked him what they were learning in school right now about grammar. He replied with a sigh of long suffering, “Stuff too horrible to speak of.” I had to laugh.
Awhile back I was driving William and two of his kindergarten buddies and heard the following conversation:
Tyler was complaining about his health lately and dramatically said, “I just keep throwing up EVERY NIGHT!!”  To which William practically replied, “Well you should just slap yourself!” (We all know that just slapping ourselves always helps right?) William calls Anna “Sister Love Muffin Snuggle-buns”William said to me, “I like to believe that the planet earth moves slowly.” (Don’t think deeply about this one. Think slowly.)Anna calls Lizzie her “Stister” and refuses to say “sister” correctly. She also says “mayme” for “maybe”.