A-maze-ing

After so many years it seems like we've just about done it all at the Beach. Actually, we are totally happy doing the same old things: wave jumping, skimboarding, shell hunting, reading, etc. We never get bored with our comfortable routine, but don't really expect anything different. And that is fine. Everything's fine when you're at the beach!

But lo and behold, this year a little something out of the ordinary popped up.

We had been working on burying Halibut in the sand:



When we noticed that someone had drawn an immense sand maze! The kids had fun trying to work their way through it without crossing any solid lines. FUN!

I was so impressed that the person who created it with painstaking detail had spent so much time doing it, and then left it to entertain strangers...knowing that the waves would eventually come and wash it away.....

It made me think about how we often spend so much time doing (or working to pay for) things that are temporary: decorating a house, gardening, etc. Do they really matter in the long run?

Mothers know that a lot of what we create is temporary: meals, Halloween costumes, science projects, clean laundry, cupcakes for the class, family vacations.....


We do it anyway. Each day mothers create seemingly fleeting moments of comfort or joy, but the memories won't be so easily washed away. When we do the same old things every day, we are investing our time and talents building families, strengthening relationships... those things last forever.

I like looking at it from that perspective!

Oh Say, Can You See?

This year we had a pretty low-key Fourth of July. No parades or anything. Since we'd just returned from the beach trip, there was a lot to do around the house with unpacking and what-not, but mostly we were somehow exhausted from the driving and unpacking the day before. Plus, it was Fast-Sunday so we basically did the usual Sunday-ish things.

The first special experience of the day came during Sacrament meeting. Brother Beacham shared his testimony, and talked about his father who had fought in WWII and in Korea. After his heartfelt words, Bro. Beacham wanted to end with a tribute by singing The Star Spangled Banner. He began singing without music, and pretty soon everyone was on their feet singing along. It was a really great experience, the Spirit spoke to my heart of His love for this country.

Later that night, after we had rested, we got to break out the Fireworks that we had picked up in South Carolina during the beach trip. We went down to the cul-de-sac at the end of Bennington and were joined by just abut every boy in the neighborhood, I think, plus a few of the girls friends, Lulu and Eliza, plus a lot of men shooting off some BIG fireworks. Some may say that the highlight was when the neighbor's yard caught on fire (!)....we pounded it out with our shoes and dumped water on it.



It wasn't a professional show, but being close to home and with friends make it even better.

At the end of the evening, we came home and read the Declaration of Independence.

What better way to celebrate than with God, Music, Family, Friends, and Fireworks!

Don't Cry About it

Dad seems to be having a great time at the beach - he's even a bit cooler since carrying on his beach-tradition of shaving his head!

...at some point during the trip, along comes a precocious 7 year old and lays this comment on him:











"Dad, there are some spots where your hair won't grow back, ....but don't cry about it."

....Poor Dad...

Going Backwards

So, I've taken a sabbatical of sorts from my blog. Not sure how it happened, too much life coming at me at one time, I guess. But I hate to miss out on recording all my memories before they fade away. I treasure these times, watching my kids grow up! But I'm finding it harder and harder to remember things these days. getting old I guess!

This blog platform doesn't let me rearrange my posts in chronological order, so several of my next posts will be out of order. I'll just write posts as quickly as I can remember them - probably going from the present (July 2010) backwards - but I'll try to include an idea of the date of the actual event.

Portrait Practice

A few of my favorite faces...

Boys will be....Art Critics!

I am still laughing about a comment Halibut made the other day. He was looking at his sister's drawing of a house, trees, and flowers. I was across the room concentrating on something else. It got quiet, then I hear this, very serious comment from my son:

"Well, if I made that picture, I would put a bat right there, and a vampire over there, and a spider somewhere."

I just laughed and laughed thinking about how differently little boys and girls see the world and express themselves.

Thirteen

Wow! We have a teenager in the house! It's hard to believe that our Starfish is turning thirteen already. Where did all the time go? It feels like she has always here, and that we haven't had her very long--all at the same time!

We have so many wonderful memories and so many plans for more!

Ahh, to be thirteen! New experiences (babysitting, your first PG-13 movie - yikes!), new opportunities and responsibilities, making your own choices, thinking about what you'd like to be when you grow up. So many exciting possibilities !

You are so fun, so smart, so great!
We love you!