Nighttime Song

I remember when Calvin was around 5 years old and Ryan and I were putting him to bed.  We said prayers with him, tucked him in, and then started to sing a well known children's hymn, I Am A Child of God.  Our kids all know this song by heart, and they generally love it.  On this particular night, however, Calvin wanted to hear a "real song." "What do you want us to sing?" we asked. Eye of the Tiger. So... Ryan and I launched into "Risin up, back on the street, did my time took my chances..." We sounded ridiculous, Calvin loved it, and he went straight to sleep.

I still sing my kids a song almost every time I put them to bed.  It's usually a children's hymn like "Teach me to Walk in the Light," "As I Have Loved You" or the ever popular "I Am A Child of God"... but sometimes, like tonight, the words get stuck in my throat. My voice starts to crack, and I am met with irony.  As I sing a lullaby about God's love for this little person, I know that I failed several times today to show that love.  I lacked patience, humor, tenderness, and charity.  I could have been a worse Mom today, but I also could have been so much better. It's nights like these when I listen to Andy Grammer's "Keep Your Head Up"...  only rainbows after rain, the sun will always come again...

Owen played his first game of the season.  Attendance for his team was low so the boys ended up playing the entire hour.  To say they lost would be an understatement, but they are all too young to really care about the score, and they got an after after game treat, so what evs.

Annie Joy had a game today as well.  She did great, and even got a stab at being goalie.  No goals scored under her watch!

Dear Ikea

Dear Ikea,

I thought you should know that yesterday I bought a 6 drawer dresser from your store.  When I got home, I realized that I accidentally purchased the wrong color and that it didn't match the Ikea bed that we purchased a few years ago.  I drove back to your store again this morning (which is an hour round trip) to exchange the dresser for the right color.  Incidentally, why don't you open until 10:00am? You're a kid friendly store.  Who has kids and gets to sleep in? Anywho,  The return was quick and easy, and I opted for the gift card as it was the fastest and easiest way to get the right dresser and get out.  Imagine my disappointment, however, when I discovered that you simply no longer make the finish I am looking for.  I hate to do this to you, but I need to let you know that I am very disappointed in you tonight.  And I doubt that even a Swedish meatball platter with lingonberry sauce, gravy and mash will make me feel better. Ikea, if I could put you in timeout, I would. But don't worry, now I have a stinkin gift card, so I will return.  Well played, you.

Sincerely,
Lindsey Joy Smith

Look at that yellow and blue, just luring us in.

Social Geography

Preston has spent the last three nights working on an information packet for his geography class.  I have actually never seen him study this hard or long for anything, ever.  The plus side is that he is learning many new things.  The downside is that every once in awhile, my sweet kids will ask me a question about the world in which we dwell.  I always answer their questions; sometimes with hard facts and at other times I offer my official opinion.  I make no distinction about the source of my answers... Over the last three days my oldest child has begun the disillusionment process of discovering that I really don't know everything about the world around me, and that some of my theories are warped, misinformed and sometimes even illogical (albeit entertaining.) Oh, to return to the good old days where the questions were easy, and I really did have all the answers!

Late night cram session. What a good guy!

Lunch at Ikea with a pal.  I'm like "15 meatballs?!? How the heck am I going to eat all of that?"... and then I did.

Fly

Shew fly, don't bother me. Every once in a while, when I'm ready to go to bed, and I'm in my covers, all snuggly and warm, a fly starts buzzing around the room.  As if I'm just going to be able to fall asleep with a stinkin fly pestering me. Unacceptable.  This has happened more than once.

I helped out in Owen's CHinese kinder class. He's a champion.

Simon had some homework but Annie had a soccer practice.  Homework at the park!

Annie getting some instruction from her coach, Jill.

The following is just a progression of Owen on a slide.  I just thought it looked cool.

1 Full Week

My husband has been in Scotland now for one full week.  A few things I have learned:  The kids like having both a mom and a dad.  When one parent goes a little nutsy, the other parent is supposed to step in.  I have decided to replace Ryan with Nutella.  I feel less nutsy with a spoonful of choc hazelnut in my mouth... Also, I enjoy driving, but miss having shotgun as an option.  If I gave Preston a crack at our new minivan, I am sure he would leap at it, but I'm not quite ready for driving related arrests just yet...  Night time is boring. BORING.  Our home is slowly coming together after our international move, but with my man gone, I want to fill up the time that would normally be "us" time. I feel loads of pressure to be all productive and sort things and arrange items, etc.  If my husband were home, I am confidant I could persuade him to watch some chic flick as an alternative to a more fruitful house project.  So basically, I have one week down, and 4 - 6 weeks left. Wowsers, that womps.

Owen got his stitches removed today.  Lets just say he had trouble accessing his inner brave, and this is clearly a "before" shot... as in before he saw the scissors that are used to cut out stitches. Sometimes, even the promise of a lollipop won't cut it.

I decided that my boys need a bookshelf.  So I put one together.

Owen and Calvin got in on the shelf action.  Good boys.

Jordanelle Reservoir

Today we celebrated my mother's 63rd birthday by boating at Jordanelle Reservoir. 20 Points to the Englands for a great day of water recreation!  Less than half of my kids shed tears, and all of them will sleep well tonight! What a wonderful, fun filled, Labor Day weekend.

Preston with Rhett and Cody. Good times were had.

Connor, Annie and Simon enjoying the view.

Simon insisted on giving this a shot.  He actually did pretty well, and I appreciate his optimism and bravery.  What a wonderful day.

The Dutch Oven

Dessert tonight was Dutch oven peach cobbler and dutch oven cherry cobbler.  I just love me a good dutch oven dish.  There is something delightful about tucking into a sweet treat that has been cooked over hot coals.  It makes me feel so very pioneer-ish, and at one with nature.  Some people feel at one with Mother Earth when they wander through the woods, plant a garden, or get caught in a sudden rain storm.  That stuff is fun, but I usually feel closest to the divine when I am eating something amazing.  Cobbler qualifies.

Certainly not low fat or low calorie, but worth every delicious bite.  I love Labor Day weekend!