hmm

So I got this email from one of my friends this morning:
(Dylan is one of Emma's friends and Katie is one of his friends)

I just got off the phone with my cool neighbor (Katie's mom). Anyway, she had the funniest thing to tell me. Katie was with Dylan and Emma at the pool when you first got there. Dylan asked Emma if she could get in the water and she said that you told her to wait a couple minutes because she had just gotten sunblock put on. Dylan asked why (which is silly because I make him wait too! So he knew the reason) and Emma said, "Our family doesn't do 'why' questions!" She said it so matter-of-fact. So my neighbor wants to meet you and get to know the coolest mom she's ever heard about.

Perhaps I should be concerned about possibly suppressing my children and their oh-so-thoughtful questions, but really, I'm a little busy being the "coolest mom she's ever heard about."

I've had a smile on my face all day. Love that girl of mine.

in such total detestation...

I may not have the cleanest house in the world, but I don't have the dirtiest either. I like my counters clean and free of clutter, the dishes get done a few times a day, I like beds to be made and toys to be put away. I really don't like dirty bathrooms, and don't mind cleaning them myself in order for them to stay presentable.

But I really struggle with one area of chores. LAUNDRY!! There is nothing I despise more than that. Let me clarify; I don't despise it in its entirety. I have two laundry days, and I stick to them pretty darn faithfully: Monday and Thursday. I don't mind putting the laundry in and changing it out. My problem is getting it sorted and back where it belongs. Sometimes I have a giant pile on my laundry room floor (perhaps the one downside of having a nice, big, indoor laundry room).
Other times, I get really motivated and it makes it down the hall and onto my bed. Then it all gets pushed onto the floor that night, or, again, if I'm really motivated, it actually makes it into the laundry basket (still unsorted). Sometimes I'll put it back up on the bed, determined to fold it that day. But it's just never my priority. In fact, I'd rather go scrub down the toilets and sinks before I finish my laundry. Shoot, I'd rather sit in the dentist chair for an hour or two before doing the laundry. It sounds perfect to, in theory, do it all right as it comes out of the dryer. Doesn't happen.

It's becoming quite a joke between Spencer and me. We'll sometimes have a marathon laundry folding night where we catch up on two weeks of clothes. I even agree that it's slightly ridiculous that Emma sometimes goes right to the laundry room floor to find underwear or anything else to wear, rather than to her dresser.

How do I get over this problem? Should I go for broke and hire a laundry lady (yes, please)? Perhaps I should just buck up and give myself a good kick in the rear. Is it normal to totally slack off with one chore, and detest it above all else?

(surely you understand why there is no picture)

a visit

Sometimes I become a zombie mom. This happens a lot in the summer. Sometimes I just want to sit on my bed and do nothing. But...that doesn't fly for very long. Sometimes I am lame and boring and run out of fun things for us to do.

Thankfully, some great people came and rescued my kids from boredom for a couple days.

Tyler had someone else to sword-fight with (ok, so I've never actually played swords with him), and I heard "on guard" and "I killed you dead" at least 85 times.


Emma had someone to read a new Fancy Nancy book (among tons of other books) to her. Her nose in a book...that's Emma's happy place.

They left this morning.

Today the kids and I went to the park and to Target. They ran in the sprinklers and helped me do some stuff outside. We went to a friends' house and did their pool and slip 'n slide. And the stinkers still complained they were bored.

I can't compete with Papa and Grandma. Mom and Dad...when can you come back?!


(Can you believe they're grandparents??!)

memory lane

Aside from the boring drive, we sure love visiting Salt Lake. I felt nostalgic as I drove by our old house so near the college where we met, and got to show Emma where her first house was. Tyler had to remind me that I was pregnant with him there, too. In fact, he says, "Mom, when I was pregnant with you..."

We also got to go here (temple) and check out the inside while it's open to the public. Very cool, and very beautiful. I was moved to tears a few times as I realized the significance of what my kids were getting to join in on for the first time in their lives. They were so good and I knew they were getting a little taste of what Spencer and I get all the time. And getting cookies afterward always adds a little something special.


We don't know when we'll see Nana and Grandpa again as they're moving away, so we had to get one more boating trip in. I just associate Utah with boating at Jordanelle. Last year Emma was the tubing queen - we could not get her off that thing. This year she bawled the entire time she was on the boat - she was so concerned about the tubers and that they would get hurt. I love love love this picture because you can see her grandpa's reaction in the mirror. It might be my favorite picture of the trip.


This year, Tyler was tube king. I have about 15 great pictures of him.


And of course, Spencer on the knee-board. (Notice the tongue. Tyler does that too. ALL the time.)


My wonderful sister agreed to join us. The kids adore her, so we were all glad she came along. (Shameless plug: She's beautiful and available.)


And since I am hardly ever in pictures...


It sure is fun to be with cousins and run like crazy. I love the blur in this one - it so illustrates what it was like for them to be running around and playing so intensely.


I also got a hair cut (there's a great place at Riverwoods where it's only $15 your first time!). I guess I've started a tradition of getting a hair cut on almost every trip, but I never get one at home. Then again, we all know the best hair stylists are here.

Favorite comments of the trip:

*While driving in the mountains we rolled down the windows. I inhaled deeply and said, "I love the smell of the forest!" Emma inhaled deeply and said, "Ew...it smells like...clean dirt!"

*Emma knows I don't like the "Why" question unless she's asking respectfully and for a good reason. Today when she asked me something silly, I said, "Why?" She took the chance and retorted with, "Mom, we don't ask why? in our family!!"

*Tyler was not just the tube king, but he was also the Wii king. I don't do video games, but think it's great that other people have them. Tyler outscored everyone in the house after only a few games. After each game, he would say "Mom, how much money did I win?" If only.

We were only gone 5 busy days, but we packed in a lot. And as always, it's so great to be home.
P.S. I do believe we'll go with painting the door black. Thanks for all the input!

Door

Something as minor as a new front door sure makes a world of difference, at least in my opinion.

Out with the old (can you believe how ugly? Check out that 60s glass).

And in with the new.

Except...we don't know what to do with it. It's wood-grain fiberglass, so we can paint OR stain it. I did some photoshopping because my top colors, if we paint, are black and red. Or, we can stain it and it will look like a real wood door. We can also scrap all those ideas and do something wild and crazy.

My creativity has been used up and I don't know which way to go. Thoughts?

P.S. The trim will be painted white. Sorry for my shoddy photoshopping. You get the idea though.

yosemite

One of my favorite memories from my childhood was going to Yosemite in the summers. I don't know how many consecutive years we went, but I have great memories of that place. There were several families in our ward that would go up together; those were some fun times.

One year my older brother grabbed someone's open pocketknife and passed out after seeing the blood. I think he and my dad were in the ER (or whatever they used as an ER) for the better part of the day. Another year, that same brother threw my shoes into a mountain lake so I got to walk in wet shoes the whole day (don't worry Michael, you're forgiven). Another time, my dad "rented" a horse for the day - Johnny. Curry Village ice cream was a highlight every year.

Well, a few days ago we made the trip so I could take my own little family there. It has been about 14 years so there were a lot of things I didn't remember, or maybe things changed, but I still knew my way around pretty well. I remembered some of the hikes, and we even saw the horse stables; I wondered if Johnny was still there. I have to say that Yosemite is probably one of my favorite national parks; Half Dome is mind-boggling (from the bottom - I have yet to climb it), El Capitan is amazing, and all the waterfalls are breathtaking. And, we had to buy ice cream there, for old times' sake (for me anyway). The kids didn't complain.

In case you haven't heard, most National Parks are having 3 "no-entrance fee" weekends this summer. You missed the first (June 20-21) but there is one in July and one in August. Go here for more information, and get outdoors and enjoy! (However, be prepared to fight the crowds...)


Emma swimming in Mirror Lake (base of Half Dome) (Um...is it me, or does she look twice her age??)


We all know how impossible it is to stay clean while eating chocolate ice cream.


The stunning Yosemite Falls.


Looking down on Yosemite Valley (Half Dome in the distance)

Can't wait to go again!