SHH!

Calli just loves this "dat-tize" picture. She proudly answers, "Who's in it?", correctly by firing back, "Jesus. John." So when we were invited to attend a family friend's baptism a few Saturdays ago, we jumped at the chance to take her along.

When wrestling to put on her pink Salt-Waters, I told Calli, "We are getting ready to go to the baptism." "Oh, okay.", she replied with a grin. Then we loaded up the car and made a quick stop at the public library before heading to the church for the event.

Inside the library, it became apparent that we hadn’t explained enough to her as she followed us around yelling, “I WANT TO SEE JESUS. I WANT TO SEE JESUS AND JOHN!” Now in the library, you want your kid to be quiet. And also not to come off as a weirdo. My fingers are crossed that she looked more "Isn't that cute?" rather than "I see dead people".

We did make it to the baptism and I think she is all straightened out now. Or is she? Maybe she knows something I don't.

THE KETCHUP CAPER

Recently, at our house around 1:00 pm...

Whew. One down and I have exactly two minutes before the other one gets up. What can I eat for lunch?

I open the refrigerator, find two hot dogs and throw them in the microwave. While they are cooking, I pull out the buns and grab the...

Ketchup? Huh. The spot where it normally is is open... Where is the ketchup? I know we had it out on the counter last night.

I look on the counter and it's not there.

Maybe I threw it away by accident, since it was on the counter.

I proceed to look in the garbage. The microwave dings. I keep looking.

This is disgusting. I know I have some ketchup in food storage. I'll grab a new bottle.

I pull up a chair and step up to the high cabinet and start digging. Luke wakes up. I can't find it.

I'm sure I stocked up on this before I had the baby, maybe the extra ketchup bottles are in my hallway storage.

I go down the hallway and look to no avail. Luke starts crying. I walk back to the kitchen.

I've got to hurry. This lunch already stinks. All I want is a little ketchup on my hot dogs!

I check again in the high cabinet and then go back down low in the garbage. Look once more in the fridge...all over. The usual spot is still open. Luke is screaming.

This is nuts.

I pick up Luke and the phone.

"This is Dan."

"Um... did you take the ketchup to work with you?"

"Oh yeah. I needed a quick lunch this morning, so I grabbed a couple of hot dogs and threw the ketchup bottle in my bag. Sorry, I forgot to tell you."

"I just wanted to make sure I wasn't losing my mind."

"No you aren't, we'll over that anyway."

Right. That's funny.

So I wrote under my To Buy list, Ketchup--two bottles, and ate my lukewarm, plain hotdogs while I fed the baby and read something online. Doing lunch the stay-at-home mom way is just so terribly exciting. The sacrifices we make.

I think we could really use a noontime meal makeover over here.

A COMPLETE FAMILY?

A Sunday afternoon at the Sacramento Temple grounds.

How peaceful and lovely.

What a beautiful place for family snapshots.

Except, Calli is too busy...


saying "cheese" on her own terms

and pondering

playing in the flora

and discovering the fauna.


She's peering through doors

and trying to get in!

Enter--the nephew. He's taken a liking to Dan and though he likes to explore as much as his female counterpart, he has no problem pausing for a moment to fill in the negative space.

Clearly this is an opportunity he won't miss.

He's going to do the toddler inevitable...

actually cooperate and MORE.

ALL ON HIS OWN.

When he snuggles up to Dan, I start to lose it.

Yep, I'm gone. I can take no more.

He's putting his arm around the baby for crying out loud!

Why do family photo shoots always cause drama?

At least Little Man made this one a comedy too.

DADDY DAYCARE

What happens when Daddy is in charge? Yelling. Lots of yelling.

One Sunday morning, we were ALL ALMOST ready for church. Dan was going to help by giving Luke a quick bath and get him dressed. I was in the back finishing my hair and then I heard it. The yelling. Not screaming or loud yelling, but definitely yelling.

What warranted the response?

Well Luke did what little boys do and was spraying everywhere after his bath before getting dressed. And Dan? He was in a panic trying to decide what to protect first... his suit, the couch, the ottoman... While in reaction mode, Dan put Luke in his bouncy seat to start with the puddle. However, Luke was still naked while in the bouncy seat, so, of course he proceeded to do the other thing babies do. That's when I heard it... more yelling.

This time, I could make out a few of the words being yelled. Something like, "Oh. No. Mess. Everywhere. Big. Mess. Now. You've. Done. It." came out in between his groaning and over my (I admit) laughter. I came out console my mate and help with the clean up. But I also had to ask, "What are you thinking leaving a newborn naked !?!" So much for being on time for church.

What happens when Grandpa is in charge? Diapering. Lots of diapering.

When my family was out for Luke's blessing, the gals wanted an afternoon out for a little shopping spree. Dan was at work and I took the babe along with me, which left my Dad home with the two napping toddlers. We left specific instructions about keeping the kids away from doors, eating popsicles outside ONLY and we even had a movie ready to roll if necessary.

When we returned, the kids were awake, happy and all seemed well. Until we saw my nephew. He was in a diaper. (Good) A clean diaper. (Great) Only a diaper. (Okay) The problem? He was in LUKE'S DIAPER. Poor little twenty-something pound Benson was squished into a Size 1 diaper. A speedo if you will. I guess we shouldn't have left diaper sizes out of our specific instructions.

This made me wonder... what is Calli wearing? I asked my dad and he replied while pointing to her, "That." Comforting. "What do you mean THAT?", I said. "When I got her out of bed, she was wearing that." Great.

Turns out during her nap, Calli had taken off her wet diaper and put on her pajama bottoms (shorts) to replace them. I guess my dad assumed they were oversize training pants or something and called it good. They were under her dress after all. Thing is, those "training pants" would not have held in ANYTHING, so he should count his blessings nothing more happened or he would have been in Dan's club.

I should state for the record that these two very important guys in my life are excellent fathers. And I can pick on them for a moment because heaven knows how terrible I am with a golf club, power drill, basketball, guitar...you name it. Much thanks to you both for all your help as always.

LUKE'S BLESSING DAY

" 'The proper training of childhood is man’s most sacred obligation,” for a child comes from the Father pure and sweet, “ ‘a creature undefiled by the taint of the world, unvexed by its injustice, unwearied by its hollow pleasures, a being fresh from the source of light, with something of its universal luster in it. If childhood be this, how holy the duty to see that in its onward growth it shall be no other.' "

President Thomas S. Monson, quoting President David O. McKay

THE LUCKIEST

When our old pal, Lucas, approached the craps table and was wished luck, I think he was a little wiser than he knew as he responded, "I am guided by a force much greater than luck."

I admit that I am not much of a believer in luck. I guess the bigger picture makes me steer away from such ideas. I believe in a less glamorous version as stated by Seneca, a Roman philosopher. “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” How we act and react determines quite a bit of what happens to us and why.

With that said though, right now I feel like I've won the lottery.

Consider the following from Jenkins Lloyd Jones :

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.The fact is, most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old-time rail journey–delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts,interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

Honestly, I hated that quote before. It was overwhelming to me. Too much work. Too much of learning how to just be happy with what you have. A little too negative. I thought its point was that life was mostly bad, sprinkled with a little good. It was only recently that I figured out on my own doing, that life is good and bad, sprinkled with a little bliss. And when I went back to read Jones' words, that is exactly what I found.

Blissful moments have been had recently.

When we are all four snuggled on the couch, our home seems more full and complete. Before it was us and Calli. Don't get me wrong--she was our world. But now it really feels like there's a family. Us. All of us.

Or on a road trip. I've checked my troubles at the car door. The work to get out is done and there's nothing to do but sit. I look back and there are my beautiful babes sleeping. Both of them. At the same time. Being trapped in the car, I have no temptation to go and do, instead to soak it up--to enjoy their peace.

Time is passing all too quickly. I can hardly stand it. This week Luke giggled when I tickled him and Calli said "either" in a sentence. I wish I could bottle these moments up, save them for the reservoir in my soul.

I feel, as Ben Folds would say, "that I am the luckiest".

I am the luckiest because I married my best friend. People say that all the time, but for me it's true. There was no one else I had more fun doing things with and no one else I had more fun doing nothing with. I always felt better when I was around him. And the best part is-- I can still say that. Dan, you are my perfect fit. I am the luckiest because I have a wonderful family. Extended family of people who care for each other and listen. A family of people who play, laugh, share, forgive, work, sing and enjoy. I am the luckiest because both of my children have cousins born within a week of their birthdays. (And I still don't believe in fate?) How fun for them to grow and share together. Dear family, you are my safety net.

Ava and Luke

Calli and Benson

Welcoming home Elder Ryan

At Glacier Point

I am the luckiest because I have a beautiful daughter who is at an age where I can teach her. Her days of exploring the world are busy-- noticing the sound of a plane, an ant on the sidewalk, the tunnel on the freeway. We learn together. Darling Calli, you are my love of life.

I am the luckiest because I have a little boy who is an angel. He does all the things a baby should and does so with ease. He sleeps and snuggles. And on days that he doesn't, I try to take it in anyway. He's such a peaceable little guy. Sweet Luke, you are my sigh of relief.

What does it mean to be the luckiest? To me, it is to be incredibly blessed and realize that where much is given, much is required.

*Didn't my friend Nicolette do an excellent job on that last photo? She's amazing.

MY AMERICAN DREAM

Hope your 4th was fabulous!