A few weeks ago we visited my sister and her kids, one a newborn little sweetie. I just thought I’d share the happy faces today. That is all. Hopefully these faces bring a smile to your face.
Happy Monday!
Category: Family Time
Summer Reading
The kids and I are working hard to limit our screen time each day. This is why I haven’t been blogging much. We have been cleaning out flower beds and planting flowers. The big boys mow lawns for our house and a neighbor. We painted the basement. Wow, that was a big job. And then there is summer reading. We love to read!
The little boys spend the day reading old National Geographic Kids magazines. We have probably 12 years worth of those dog-eared fact menageries. Mark is loving The Series of Unfortunate Events books and Calvin and Hobbes. We purchased our first water damaged library book this week: a Calvin and Hobbes book that was left in the hammock and doused by the neighbors’ sprinklers. The librarian said that the positive part about having to buy a library book is that you get to keep it. That’s true, and Mark is happy to have it.
Timothy is reading The Edge Chronicles. Daniel is reading Ranger’s Apprentice books again. And Shakespeare. And anything he can get his hands on. Paige loved The Book Thief and has a tall stack of library books in her room.
Summer reading is one of my best childhood memories. I hope it will be the same for our kids.
Summer Rules
Today I feel better because my kids are back in the house. I held a morning meeting to outline expectations for this awesome gift we have called summer. I told them that summer is a time that is easily wasted if we’re not careful. We have some rules:
1. Media time (anything with a screen) is restricted to one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening. The kids will determine when these hours will take place each morning, adapting for the needs of the day.
2. Before media can be used (regardless of the time), the following jobs must be completed: read scriptures, make bed, read, play piano, do one job around the house.
3. We have specific projects to work on: next week we finish painting the basement, help with the sprinkler system, and repair a scooter with our time. The week after, we paint all baseboards upstairs… etc.
I am following the rules, too. This means that I am breaking the media rule right now to write this post, so I will end.
I want this summer to be fun. I want the kids to make real progress in their music, reading, and work skills. I want to spend time with them, focused on their faces, not trying to interact by sharing the conversation with screens. I have found that the kids set higher goals for themselves than I do. Summer is a great time to capture their zeal and help them make specific plans for their goals to be completed.
It’s also a great time to spend the afternoon reading, which is what most of us did today. Hooray!
Mark’s Baptism Day
This weekend Mark was baptized. It was a nice day with beautiful weather, lots of family and friends, talks by Daniel and Timothy, music by Paige and me, and cooking. Baptism days are always busy, but I tried really hard this last time to relax, even if it meant that the tent with bunting never got set up, my hair was not curled, and we didn’t get a proper family picture with all of the cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents who gathered. I think I got everyone photographed at dinner but three.
My sweetest memory of the day was when Richard had Mark in the font, ready for the ordinance, and Richard looked up at me. That exchange was simple, but sealed the moment. The work and joys of parenting, gospel preparation, and the new phase we are entering came into focus in a look, but none of those details of parenting were there; it mostly felt like love and joy.
Weekend Recap
We went out for breakfast one morning and discovered that we were wearing rainbow colors. Wow, that photo looks awkward. We really were enjoying being together.
Here are a few things we did together this weekend:
We planted our garden.
We delivered 200 fliers for a neighborhood social activity.
We placed flags in our neighborhood for Memorial Day.
We enjoyed homemade cookies one night when Daniel had his friends over for a movie.
I threw a birthday party for Mark but sadly only one boy that we invited was able to attend. Timothy joined the party to make things less lonely for Mark. It turned out to be a good time. I think it’s another reminder to me that I am not good at “friend” birthday parties. I will be keeping only family parties from now on. Let’s see if I can keep that resolution…
We enjoyed a neighborhood social activity where we walked among three homes where the families hosted refreshments. We met several new people and visited with many friends. The boys rode scooters and bikes.
We had a scooter repair shop on Saturday in the garage.
We attended church, 3 of us sang in the choir, and Richard was a substitute teacher in Timothy’s class.
We had fun meals, including a very colorful salad bar one night and fajitas from the grill the next night.
Mark and I made pretzels for family night. Speaking of family night, we decided to gather out beneath the trees. Things were going fine, but then Sparky lost a fight with a cat that wandered into our yard. He limped, bleeding back to the house and cowered in corners the rest of the evening. We gathered again under the trees and the neighbors’ sprinkler system came on, soaking those who were relaxing in the hammocks. Ha! That was the end of family night.
Hammocks
Time to play
Mark asked to stay after school on the playground and explore the areas that are off-limits to second graders. The day was sunny and the playground was empty. I watched the boys swing and climb and then take off running up the grassy hill. I watched them play on the verdant hill on our lovely mountain frosted with snow, and it looked like we could be in Austria. Mountain air is a blessing. The green of the hills and the intensity of the blue sky make me think that the Creator must love the colors green and blue. We live in a beautiful place.
Flight
Being a parent means that your hopes and thoughts fly along beside your children wherever they go.
Daily departure time wishes, hugs, and prayers are important because they give the kids a glimpse into our hearts. My Evangelical Christian friends use the phrase “covered in prayer” which I think is beautiful, and describes my belief that prayer is a gift from God to bring protection, comfort, and power to His children. So, we send them off each day with our best wishes, covered in prayer.
Today
I brought these bouquets from the garden into the house today. They are so fragrant that I don’t know if they can stay.
Here are some things I am thankful for today:
- Flowers in our yard
- Quiet corners in the house
- The piano
- Testimony meeting at church
- A prom dress ready two weeks in advance
- Friends
- Mark’s giggles at store mannequins
- Timothy’s bursting social calendar
- A golf cart full of Daniel’s friends
- An opportunity for Paige to shine as an artist
- RICHARD
- Safe arrivals
- A soft lawn
- A day of rededication and worship
Whirlwind
There is no writing going on in a whirlwind. But here are a couple of pictures of things we have been up to. Richard’s mom celebrated a birthday with us and we welcomed Sara home from her mission over the weekend.
We checked on Spring Lake and admired the foundation.
Richard’s parents stayed for a few days and then Russ’s family stayed. There was Indian food, the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, a piano recital, a district math test, baseball games, an overnight retreat in Midway, and a violin-piano duet in a church in Spanish Fork.
We put together an answer to an art-themed prom invitation.
Daniel’s friends spent several days in the basement constructing a physics project… with lots of Lego man spectators.
I’m glad the pace isn’t always this busy, but it was good to see Richard’s family and to be among so many good friends.