keeping a list of anecdotes (5/2018)

While Dad remains the undisputed photog of the family, Mom tries diligently to remember the anecdotes. Here is a few from her list - in random order:

Kindin's school conferences are always a joy (particularly after the emotionally draining year she had last year): "a 7th grade high schooler", "I'd want my 7th gear to hang out with her", "I sit the new girl next to her", "never catty, socially mature", "I don't know what you did with her","Smart", "Self starter", "Reliable"

Jack's initiation and efficiency shines in the morning. He gets ready with so much time to spare - and finds creative outlets while he waits for everyone else to be ready. For a while, he went on a steady streak of sending us morning messages via the computer:

Dalia continues to thrive in the spotlight. She performed a tap solo and has plans to sing a solo in sacrament meeting. She has very little nerves and says that she 'enjoys making people smile'.

Kindin has begun adopting occasional use of 'Kay' as her first name to avoid confusion.  Tired of restating her name for dressing room attendants or fast food cashiers, she reports her name as Kay.

Jack burns through the most books in the house - reading a Harry Potter book in just a day and a half.  And comprehension and recall is kept fully intact! In fact, when reading scriptures, Jack shines as the one to reiterate the applicable message.

Mom loves shopping for Dalia as she's comfortable wearing almost anything. I often wonder how much my (and her sister's) conservatism holds her back.

Jack dislikes being alone and often waits on a willing sister participant. Outside of the house, he is an inclusive friend to all neighbor kids and rarely argues about the activity of choice. Needless to say, he often hears the phrase "find something to do on your own".

Kindin's attention to detail has earned her occasional compensation for grocery shopping. Mom takes her along when in a time crunch to get the shopping done quickly. (Mom prefers her abilities to Dad's.)

Hawaii reconsidered (12/2018)

The Hawaiian honeymoon we wanted but didn't dare afford (on a grad school budget) was delayed until our 10th anniversary. However, when that milestone came, pragmatics got the best of us again and we opted instead to land on Stover Street. As our 15th anniversary approached, we expected to afford Hawaii; but, ironically, now lacked the time for planning. Hawaii was reconsidered yet again ...and we opted for a cruise instead. And, heck, why not let the kids come along too? We also had last minute, surprise stow-aways (Grandpa, Omi, and Jordyn) join us.

We left from New Orleans and were able to see a city that I don't think, as non-imbibing church goers, would have had any business visiting otherwise. We stayed on Bourbon street, devoured beignets for breakfast, nodded at St Franklin church where Louisiana was purchased, and toured the above ground St Louis cemetary for a taste of voodoo burial.

Cruising over Christmas was a fun adventure:

the kids sailed with veracious appetites for swimming and soft serve ice cream cones (as well as pizza indulgences, plates for miles, and Dalia's wacky delight in mussels) and we trialed all sorts of family- friendly activities (including a thriller dance victory, Kindin and Dave as gameshow contestants, and Jack sinking the hole in one tourney).

All 3 excursions were fabulous. We landed first in Jamaica and met 'Bryan' (a native who'd never left the country). He served as our private tour guide to the rainforests of Montego Bay where we set foot in an old slave hospital (transformed into a church after slaves revolted and burned down the sugar cane plantation). We played in a waterfall and received countless tips on Jamaican agriculture along the way. We tasted local agriculture among the endless varieties of fruits (avocados, bananas, oranges, guavas, coconuts, papayas) and chewed on sugar cane. We also snagged jerk chicken and Bryan pointed out the record- winning amount of churches in this tiny 50 mile by 50 mile spot of land.

Next, we played for the day on white sands and in clear water in Grand Cayman. New, full face snorkel masks were a hit and and half of us even saw a stingray!

Our last stop in Cozumel was a bucket list stop. Swimming with the dolphin, Latika, was a surreal experience that was a kids favorite for sure. Mom also loved it - despite a bit of an initial startle. There, we also introduced the kids to virgin pina coladas and shopped for cheap.

On our final day of the cruise, we were entertained with what shall be famously referred to as the 'situation' in which we lost and abandoned one of our lifeboats.

All things (re) considered, we loved our carribean getaway!

her heart grew 3 sizes this summer (8/2018)

We've salivated over the boats of others for years - meanwhile, grimacing at the available options for boating in Omaha. Waiting and wishing for the abundance of mountain lakes that Dave and I are more accustomed to has felt farther and farther away as we've become more and more rooted in the Midwest. Inevitably, we finally came to this question: How much can we enjoy boating in the small, muddy, public lakes of Omaha? i.e. How much of a boat is a worthwhile investment considering the circumstances? Dave's parents graciously understand our struggle and accommodated our dilemma by letting us tow their boat home from Bear Lake in order to trial the substandard waters of the Midwest. We jumped at the experiment! (After, of course, a very speedy trade-in of David's dream car in order to get a hauling truck.) We had a glorious summer in our borrowed boat! We didn't invite friends but instead basked in the opportunity to be together as a family. We played all day with nothing on our minds except for lake time- even giving ourselves permission to be absent from some Saturday obligations. (After all, we can be missing for 12 Saturdays of the year, right?) It was so fun to teach our kids to wakeboard, to scout out local lakes, forage for boat snacks, drop in for random swims, cheer each other on, and even take boat naps.

We ALL loved it but it was mom's heart that grew 3 sizes this summer. David and I fell in love on the lake and behind the wheel of the boat, he wears an angel's halo.

(But, I've been dreaming about this since before there ever was a David... see this sketch from therapy training sessions in college.)    

mom takes on Madonna (10/2018)

I've had 10 months to reflect on the changes that have come to my life and to our family as a result of my return to the workforce in December 2017. While it only recently feels like I'm able to keep my head above water and there are still adjustments needed, I'm beginning to see indicators that we WILL make it through to the other side.

• growing comfort with social invites rather than overwhelming dread
• I found time to host a Halloween gathering
• now averaging 3-4 home cooked meals/ week 
• a string of a few successful dieting days in a row
• signing up for PTO duty recently
• I'm not bringing work home in order to catch up  

The last 10 months have turned everything upside down but my days are rich, meaningful, and satisfying. I have always felt that social work is a big part of my life's purpose and I know that the work I do makes a big difference. There are times where doubt still creeps in but I wake up every day wanting to go to work, blessed by a husband's flexible job that miraculously covers all the major crossings, and have witnessed my children accepting and appreciating responsibility in a brand new way.

a case of the camp crazies (6/2018)

This past year has been one of my hardest yet... comparable in difficulty with my expedited graduate program while on Accutane or the identity crisis of first time motherhood with an underweight baby... my calling to be a first time stake camp director in the midst of a career restart was sheer chaos! 6 fun-filled days for 125 girls came together in what essentially amounted to three shifts: a first work shift at Madonna (8:30 -3), a second shift of mothering (3 - 9), and camp became a drowsy, difficult third shift (9 - 1 am). Some highlights: 

campfire sing-a-long

first years - hers and mine!

ropes course

community service project

devos

morning study

skit night

hiking

taking shelter from night one's tornado

ycl planned dance party

serving along some of the best women I know

that's a wrap for this presidency (adorned in daily matching tees)

Powell turned Texas (5/2018)

With wounds still fresh from 2017's Lake Powell disappointment, we uncharacteristically leaped at the chance to visit Lake Powell in May. We didn't care that it was off-season or that it fell during the school year or that we'd be navigating less enticing water temps - we simply had to get there! As the date approached, we were devastated to learn that the boat had yet again been slapped with a non-seaworthy sticker and we wouldn't be able to go. With one week's notice, we frantically searched for a getaway using randomized fingerpointing to decipher our destination. Texas was where our finger landed on the map and we took off (with Aunt Jordy as our trusty sidekick). We had a blast exploring new places: the Houston Space center where we met an astronaut, the Bureau of Engraving and Stockyards in Fort Worth, a tour of the Dallas Cowboys stadium, an over-hyped visit to Magnolia, touring an oil rig, and our favorite- an uncharacteristically clear gulf view for days. But, the real joy of the trip was the opportunity to see my children in a very different light. Apart from the cares of the world, we spent large amounts of time laughing and joking together. I found myself reveling in each child's unique sense of humor - as opposed to staccatoed glimpses during the daily grind. It seemed so easy to see and enjoy their budding personalities - absent of the inevitable flaws/ faults I allow myself to stress about in our regular environment. I am so grateful for the detour; however, with superstitious fingers crossed, I long for Lake Powell.