May 29, 2012

I title this photo Ode to Oregon.

We had REAL blackberries off the vine this week. In Oregon blackberries are weeds. We picked them by the bucketful and made blackberry cobbler weekly all season long. I didn’t know any berry could survive the piercing sun in Texas. We had to pay $3/lb, but we found them, and they tasted even better than they look. Nature’s treats really are so much better than a twinkie.

Cousins at the berry patch.

Mmmmm, those berries are good!!

Freeman is coaching Tyler’s basketball team every Friday night (that’s a story in and of itself that will make you cry laughing. Not the Freeman coaching part, but 4-6 year olds trying to dribble and miss their feet, and launch a ball 8 feet in the air to a basket. Nothing close to basketball.) This leaves Anslie and I home alone for some girl fun! Last week she was cracking me up. I told her I was going to pamper her and paint her nails. Please note that she is only four. I got her some ice water. “Mom, did you know water is the ice’s blood?” Duly noted. I told her that I was going to give her a foot rub. She smiled. “Ok, Mom. But I’m a girl, so I need chocolate.” Where does she get this? Later, I’m complimenting her. “Anslie, you are a smart girl.” “Yah. That’s because I have really great hair.” Also duly noted, a discussion on the difference between good hair and intelligence is in order. Then as we pick a color for her toes, “Mom, while you paint my nails, can we just chat?” This one is all girl!!!

We enjoyed having the Wilstermans and the Gibbons family for dinner on Sunday. I love the sound of a full house on Sunday afternoon.

It is May, but it is summer in Texas. That means people are looking for homes to buy. We had 7 showings in 2 days last weekend. That also means lots and lots of swimming. Tucker was reintroduced to the pool this week. He toddled around the beach entry pool while I sat and talked with friends. “Laler! Laler. Laler.” He kept repeating, for water. Tyler and Anslie can’t swim, but truly think they can. This was a bad enough combination to induce me to sign up for swim lessons in June. Yo.

Memorial Day was nice. Freeman took the helm at breakfast, and made the best French toast I’ve ever had. With cinnamon and a hint of almond. And real maple syrup. Maybe they were the best I’ve ever had because I didn’t have to make them? No, they were really that good. We spent the day at the pool. Freeman’s cousin Corwin and wife Katie met us at the pool with their 4 kids. Our kids play great together and had so much fun. And we just love Corwin and Katie. They are such awesome parents, so down to earth, and just comfortable to be with. Tanner, Alana, Kenzie, Tyler, Anslie and Tucker.

Tonight was preschool graduation. They walked to music. They were presented a certificate and a hand shake. We watched a memory slide show of the year. I couldn’t help but think how fast its all going to go and then, one day it’ll be the real thing!

Mothers Day 2012

In honor of Mother’s Day, click here for my favorite thought on motherhood as of late.

I was tremendously spoiled. Saturday night the family picked up the house while I sat in bed and read for an hour. I slept in on Sunday until 7! And was greeted upon waking with a bagel breakfast and these full flowers. Freeman made strawberry crepes with hot filling and cold topping, and whipped cream piled high. Later, he and his brothers made a fajita dinner for the moms, and we once again all basked in the oasis of Mom and Dad’s back yard.Anslie parading as a princess in the back yard.Beautiful cousin Ashley.

Early May

May 12, 2012

I have so enjoyed teaching preschool this year. This week Tuesday’s theme was piggies. We made pigs in a blanket, watched the three little pigs in a “mudhole,” (brown blanket on floor surrounded by fake plants), and splattered our paper craft piggies with brown mud paint. They most enjoyed pretending to be piglets, with the volunteer runt crawling to me and instructing me to feed it with a bottle. Smile. Thursday we talked about mothers and made a little gift for them to bring to Mom on upcoming Mother’s Day. I interviewed them about their mothers and we pasted their answers to the gift. Some of my favorite answers:

When is your mother most beautiful?
When she smiles and is kind (Anslie’s answer, I repeat that this is real beauty everyday to her while I do her hair. Parenting victory moment.)

When is your mother funny?
My mother is never funny.

What does your Mommy do really well?
My mom is so good at doing dishes.

We held learning circle at my home on Wednesday. The ladies had some wonderful insights and inspired me to pull out an old parenting book that I’ve had forever but never really delved into. I think all mothers need to hear from, bounce ideas off of, and enjoy the company of other mothers who are in the same pursuits!

On Friday I did a session at the temple. It felt wonderful to be there. This was the spectacular sunset on Friday night, shot from my backyard.



Saturday we spent most of the day at our friends home. They were gracious hosts and fed us until we hurt (they are both professional chefs). That night Freeman and I stayed up late talking about connection and authenticity.

Tucker:

- Is walking!!! He has that wide, flatfooted gait that topples him every few steps.
- Surprised me by nodded his head in the affirmative, very dramatically, and saying emphatically, “UH HUH!!! UH HUH!!!” Has no idea what it means, what a little parrot! Watch what you say and do, Mama!
- Loves me more than anything in the world. When he sees me after nap or after walking out of any room lights up like a Christmas Tree and runs to bury his little blonde head in my knees.
- Also is in a delightful phase where he screeches a high pitched, piercing squak when he sees something he wants. It stops the show, where ever he is at the moment ;).

Anslie:
- Is a head taller than anyone in her primary class. Loves playing with friends. - Is very un-territorial, often sharing with others without being asked to do so. When cousin Ava came over yesterday and wanted to learn to ride a bike, Anslie willingly and quickly offered to let Ava use her bigger bike and Anslie take the cramped, smaller bike so Ava could enjoy riding.
- She’s had several moments lately when I ask her to do something that I know she doesn’t want to do, and she looks at me with this faith and says, “Ok Mommy, I will obey you.” Melt. Now I know how much Heavenly Father must love that.

Tyler:
- Is suddenly HUGE. Everyone comments about how big he’s become.
- This last week we read scriptures one morning and decided that we wanted to try to be kinder to each other. With laser focus, Tyler flipped out of the somewhat grumpy and argumentative mood he’d been in for days and answered with love and patience for the ENTIRE day. This went on, without one exception, for three days. At the end of the third day, he said to me, “Mom, I have been kind for three whole days.” I pointed out to him how happy our home felt and asked if he could feel it. He said he could. I told him I was amazed the difference one person with a good attitude could make.

- Freeman put the kids to bed and while they were doing the routine, Tyler hit Anslie. Freeman rebuked him and they had a talk. Freeman walked in the room a few minutes later and found Tyler hitting Anslie again. He went to time out while we said family prayer. When Freeman retrieved him, he was apologetic, asked Anslie’s forgiveness. Freeman tucked them into bed and came downstairs. He went back up to check something and found Tyler standing in his doorway with a serious look on his face.

He said, “Dad, as I was praying I had a sad feeling. Because I didn’t only hit Anslie, I also told her that I am better than her and that she’s not special. I shouldn’t have said that.” He and Freeman talked about it for a few minutes and Tyler promised to apologize to her for this as well. Freeman waited outside the mostly closed door. Tyler was quiet for a bit and then said in a quiet voice to his sister through the darkness, “Anslie, I’m sorry I said I was better than you. I’m not better than you. We’re good in different ways.” He stopped. “Its Ok Tyler, I forgive you.” It was quiet for a minute or two. Then Tyler said, “Anslie, You’re my best friend, I never want to be without you.”

Oh, the humility of a child. And oh, that they may always be so good to each other. Is there anything that brings more joy to a mother heart?

May 15, 2013

Gentle reader (all three of you), I have a declaration to make about this blog. For some time I have been in a quandry as to how to narrate this blog and family journal. Do I pour out my dark days, celebrate the good ones, do both? Who am I speaking to? (Again, all three of you, but someday this will be my life's record. Kinda important.) So I have come to the conclusion that I am writing to celebrate life. I'll include the dark days if I want to. I won't if I don't. If this blog is too sunshiny for you, that's fine. Don't read it. There is so much to celebrate. I am going to celebrate it, FREELY, here.