Learning to Dance in the Rain

Last weekend we had the privilege of having a family photo shoot courtesy of a wonderful new friend, Brittany, who also happens to be a very talented photographer.  The weather was gorgeous and might I add so were the subjects.  Good hair day all around – YEAH!  I just love the pictures of my sweet son giving me flowers, because that is one thing he does that I just cherish – and they always come with a kiss.  Little Emily had an attitude as big as her blue eyes but did comply for a few shots especially when lollipops were suggested. 

Full resolution photos (print quality) (if you don’t have access, email me)

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This year’s Fourth we journeyed down to Portland to spend it with the Webbs as has been the tradition.  As the cousins are growing up, they are learning to play together.  They spent many hours riding around on bikes in the culdesac, and wrestling with sweet Uncle Andrew.  The weather obliged quite nicely, allowing us a trip to Lake Oswego, the farmer’s market, a trip to the firestation, and of course a Fourth of July celebration at the Church.  We decorated bikes, played old carnival games (Luke was really into the ring toss) and had the most amazing breakfast.  I just love watching those young boy Scouts saluting the flag as it rises to the top of the pole, and singing America the Beautiful.  Despite the politicians fighting and the movie stars breaking up, at the end of the day when hard working Americans get together, the heart of this country is still the same, and I love it.  God Bless America!

I taught my class of teen girls today at Church on the power of Hope.  It was based on a talk given by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf who is a leader of the Church.  We talked about the danger in having hope or trusting in the things of this world and in what the world thinks of us.  “You’re not smart or pretty enough to do this or that”  “your lousy upbringing, or whatever circumstance are why you’ll never amount to much.”  It can be down right tough to go through the challenges of life without hope in something greater than ourselves.  Hope in the principles of the Gospel, and hope that our trials are for our good and can make us stronger rather than bitter, will get us through, and give us the strength to lift others.

This Youtube video sums it up as only he can in his wonderful German accent

To read the full text of his talk, go here – it has a tear jerker story right at the beginning about his sweet mother during World War II.

Got Hope?  You’re gonna need it!

We adventured down to Portland last weekend to spend the holiday with our Webb cousins (Andrew’s sister).  It was Saturday afternoon and we’d already been out in the crowds, with kids falling asleep in the car, soaking up the Summer sun that had finally graced us.  “Do you think we could get a tour at the fire station?” I asked.  I had been wanting to take Luke to the Fire Station for a tour but didn’t want to take him alone because I didn’t know if he would like it or be scared.  Well, with two other cousins around his age, I though this would be perfect.  Well, Rebecca made some calls and in 20 minutes we were off, walking about 2 blocks to get our personal tour.

It was so fun, and Luke just ate it up.  He probably talked more than the Fireman, telling him all about the trucks (this kid has studied).  He felt very comfortable hopping into the chief’s truck and announcing he was “going to the airport.”  Adorned with a badge and fire hat we left the station with one very happy little boy who announced more than once that he was going to be a Fireman when he grew up.  My mother heart was happy – mission accomplished.  The mission?  I don’t care if he’s a firefighter, but I do want him to dream, and believe he can live it.

Some of you may have noticed that the music that once played on my blog suddenly disappeared, replaced perhaps by the dull hum of your computer, the irritating noises from your cubicle mate, or just the tapping of you chatting online while pretending to visit my blog .  Well, I’ve decided to bring it back, only this time, each post will have a song link activated by simply clicking on the first few words of the post.  And some of the time, the song will go with the post.  How nice.  AND although I do not endorse any of the comments that may be associated with such music, at least we can enjoy some pleasant music to dance/read/type to, without the random beer commercials that began appearing with the last player.  So, enjoy.  The first one is actually on a updated post about Whidbey Island.  It’s a song I loved as a kid, and still do.  It’s definitely easier to dance when the music’s playing. 

As we got ready for the day on Saturday, we decided we needed more of an adventure than just staying home getting “stuff done” to which there seems to be an endless list.  So we packed up the snacks and the kids and headed for the ferry terminal north of us in Everett.  A ferry was just leaving, so while we waiting for the next one, we hopped out the car and went exploring.  We saw a train going by, said hi to a policeman and his bomb sniffer doggie (very cool) and even got to the pier just in time to see a man reel in a fish (woah, why are we going on the ferry – I’ve had about enough excitement for one day!).  Then it was time to drive onto the ferry, at which point we could get out and walk about.  It was so relaxing, and the only sad part was that I wondered why I had lived in Puget Sound for 5 years, and only now was taking a ferry!

We really had no idea what to do on Whidbey Island so we found a park which had an enormous playset and some slugs about twice the size of an adult thumb.  Eeeeewww.  There were lots of doggies, and slugs, and sweet children holding hands in the forest, and slugs.  And hey, it was a fun day.

When we got back to Mukilteo on the mainland we stopped for fish and chips by the lighthouse, and headed back home.  I think we should be spontaneous more often. 

Since I can’t get my other camera’s memory card to fit into my computer’s little slot, which contain pictures for more exciting posts, I shall bore you with our little trip to the zoo.  Luke’s preschool class has an annual day at the zoo, the whole family can come and the kids can even take the school bus all the way there and back – Luke declined when he knew I would be driving too…Well, there must have been about 10 buses at least, and I was dreading it almost more so than if it had been raining since I do not like crowds, but, when we got in there it was really not bad at all.  I LOVE Woodland Park Zoo because even though it’s in the middle of Seattle, the animals have such nice enclosures, and more room that I’ve ever seen in a zoo – except for the meerkats who have an oversized fish tank…  Well, when the school buses finally left and we were left to explore the zoo at our own stroller’s pace, it was a good day.  It’s always cute to see how happy the kids get when they see the giraffe and the penguins.  As for the other animals, well, let’s just say the fake meerkat mound and the plastic cow were way more engaging.  I saw more kids lining up to see the tractor, the concrete dinosaur head, and other inanimate objects than any of the animals we actually PAID to see (well, the school district paid, so no matter).  We were so glad it didn’t rain.

My favorite pictures are of the kids milking the cow and Luke informing those older boys that this dinosaur is in fact “not real because dinosaurs are all dead.”  Poor preschool teacher had prepped the kids that they were not going to see dinosaurs because as we all know, zoos are for real animals – thanks a lot!

Here are some pictures of the bowties and skirts that I made for the wedding.  Originally I was thinking I would make Emily a skirt, then it  became a skirt for her and her cousin, then it was a skirt for me, oh and seven bowties for all the little boy cousins too…one of who objected to wearing green so it became eight (thankfully in the end he decided it was a good idea to match everyone else for the big day – and without any bribery – which is more than I can say for my own son!!)  Suddenly I was doing that and the table décor for the luncheon and it made me wonder what I would ever do with my time after the wedding – I’m so funny when I think like that!!

I found the tutorial for the little girl’s skirts here.  And the bowties, well, I called mother and we worked that out over the phone.  You can’t tell in this picture but the top of Emily’s skirt matches my own – gotta do matching outfits while she still doesn’t mind.  Thanks to a gorgeous green tie from the groom, our family looks quite nice, all matchy, matchy.  Emily looks a little concerned because she shares her name with the bride and was worried she was the one getting married.  Poor kid!

Our family recently went to Idaho to attend Andrew’s brother’s wedding.  It was so fun to be there with his family, I am truly blessed with the kind of in-laws I have – which I know is rare.  I had spent the last several weeks sewing bowties for the little boys, and skirts for Emily and her cousin, and for me.  That and the other projects I had taken up had made life quite busy.  As we sat there in the sealing room in the temple, listening to the inspired words from their Sealer (the man who performed the marriage) it was the peace my heart needed and a gentle but strong reminder that this is what it’s all about.  As the sun came streaming through the stained glass window and glistened off the crystal chandelier, it was an honor to be there in God’s presence, surrounded by family to witness the joining of two people for eternity.  I am thankful for the glimpse of heaven being in temple gives us and the peace it gives my sometimes troubled soul… 

When we first moved in I remember looking at this bush outside the front door.  It looked out of place, it was nothing special – just a average bush and honestly I thought it was kind of an eyesore.  My mother visited in February and I expressed my desire to rip it out and replace it with a bird bath surrounded by some rocks as a real focal point.  Well, my mother weeded around this odd looking bush and created more of a flower bed, which I reluctantly decided to fill in with some daylilies and some other little flowers.  Over the last few weeks, some usual clumps of flowers have appeared, light mauve, and so pretty and delicate.  Well, come to find out, that I have a lilac bush, a beautiful lilac bush, with sweet blossoms that smell like french perfume.  And to think I almost dumped Round Up on it and ripped it out…  And instead of a top heavy, man made, potentially hazardous bird bath…I have a living example of how if you’re not sure if something or someone is going to work, or turn out right, sometimes you just have to give it a little time.  

To top it off, when I’m too busy to play with my son, that odd looking bush “catches” my son’s soccer ball with it’s wide berth of branches as he giggles in delight.  So, I must say, I’ve grown very found of my bush.  I hope the one out the back that I did dump Round Up on comes back, and forgives this amateur gardener.  I just Spring, and this year, I especially like the Lilacs.  They remind me of a song that I love to sing to my kids.

Whenever I hear the song of a bird, or look at the blue, blue sky

Whenever I feel the rain on my face or the wind as it rushes by

Whenever I touch a velvet rose or walk by a lilac tree

I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world,

Heavenly Father created for me.