Fun? in Carp

Well, we went to visit my folks up north for the weekend. It was a fun trip, other than the fact that the children refuse to sleep, play too many video games with Uncle Chad, and always seem to be finding something sugary to eat. The big excitement, however, was church on Sunday. Apparently, there were four police cars parked at the church at the beginning of the service. We were a few minutes late, and there was only one when we got there. In addition, there was a group of young looking people--looked like college students--in front of our family's pew taking notes throughout the Sacrament meeting. Everyone was really nice to them, although a few looked like they had swallowed something sour. There was one girl who was nice and laughed at all of Bro. Gonzalez' jokes, which were pretty funny, and she picked up a toy for Justin who probably threw it at her a little too hard. Anyhow, I just think that it is a sad commentary on what is going on today that families have to walk past police vehicles to just worship God. I mean, this is America, right? But, if it brings people who would never enter our churches into them, even if they are hostile, it can't be all that bad, right? My ward was apparently business as usual, but we live in a very religiously conservative area--for all I may say bad about Fo-town, the people are overall some of the best I have ever met. I am grateful to live in a town where so many of my neighbors, diverse though we may be, supported the view of our family on Prop 8. We never had to worry about our sign being ripped down or our house being vandalized (at least for that reason;).

Halloween in Hobbsland

We had a very nice Halloween even though it was very hot out. We started out by going to preschool and trick-or-treating through the classrooms. It was very hot, and Justin was dressed up as a fuzzy Panda. When I took the costume off, he was bathed in sweat. Believe me, I felt guilty.

That night we went to the Trunk-or-Treat at the church. It was a lot of fun, but still very hot, so we dressed Justin up as Hercules. Ian was very excited to be a Power Ranger. The best part of all, was that all the costumes were hand-me-downs, so it didn't cost a penny. (Thanks, Gen and boys).

Bedrest and Boys

Well, after enduring a few weeks of bedrest (thanks Mom and Dad, Julie, Brenda, and especially Grandma Arlena for all the help) we seem to have things back on track.

My kids have been suffering a little--I mean, it is hard to have an immobile mom--but now we seem to be getting back into the swing of things.

A little setback

I have been on bedrest for about five days. It has been the most boring time of my life, especially without my kids. My parents were kind enough to take them so that I could get some real rest. Well, you look ahead so much for time away, but when you have it, you realize that your children are what make life so much fun. Still, we had a good heartbeat and ultrasound, and I am confident that this pregnancy will progress. Say a prayer for us.

Cute and Disgusting Boys

Well, today the boys had something interesting for breakfast--Cheerios cereal and milk with Parmesan cheese on it. I know, I know. Believe me, with all my pregnancy nausea just the though makes me want to puke, but they seemed to like it. They just kept pouring more milk and more Cheerios and more Parmesan.

Also, I. has become very amazed by the small things in life, saying things like, "In my whole big big life my never did see that!" or "In the whole wide world my never did see that thing." He utters these exclamations for exciting things like superhero popsicles, Spiderman macaroni and cheese, and other amazing wonders.

I. also likes to teach J. The other day he told him, "Now, Justy, when my was a little little baby my couldn't walk. My walk really really slow. Now my run really really fast." He then proceeds to inform J. that one day he too with shake off the coils of babyhood and enter into being a big boy, with all of its delights. He lectures him in this way about pooping on the toilet, eating, playing with big boy toys, etc. J. listens, but does he care?

J. is becoming a little firecracker. He light-saber fights with reckless abandon. Today he hit I. about five times before I convinced I. that no matter how fun it was to fight, it wasn't worth the injuries a crazy 18-month old can inflict. He also pinches, tackles, and jumps off the couch head first, and still hasn't killed himself. Remember, he was such a mellow baby . . .

Numero Tres

Well, with a good ultrasound yesterday, and a due date, Ry and I and I. and J. are pleased to announce that a bun is in the oven. We are really happy and have gratitude or our little blessing.

September 11 Memories

On September 11, 2001, I was in my second year of teaching high school English and a new bride of not yet two months. I turned on my radio to hear scattered news reports five minutes before I pulled into the school parking lot. There were so many rumors swirling; I knew something terrible had happened, but of what I was not yet sure. The bell rang, the students came in with wide frightened eyes, and the rumors began. The Capitol had been attacked, the White House, the Pentagon, Chicago, the planes were flying westward, they were coming to us, we were next. I had no way of finding out about what truly was happeneing, and tried to keep some semblance of reason and order amid the fear and chaos, continually telling the students that "school is the safest place for them to be" which is true generally, but a school also seemed like a wonderful terrorist target, and planes from the Ontario Airport often flew over our heads. By third period, the administration finally got their wits together to give us a little more information in the form of a handout. At lunch, I went by the career center, where I saw a grainy TV set with images of a burning building for about two minutes. At last I went home. Ryan was there. I sat and watched the planes hit the buildings. All those hours of telling my students they shouldn't worry, it couldn't be that bad, concentrate on what you're doing, were over. We should worry. It was bad. Had I known more I would not have been able to concentrate. My husband and I held hands and cried together out of horror, loss, fear, and the infinite sadness that comes when innocence is harmed. Our new marriage had been born into a new world of uncertainty, yet we had the gospel, and we had each other. I think we will probably tell our children about that day, much like I remember my mother telling me about the death of President Kennedy, and my grandfather B. talking about Pearl Harbor. In my life it has been a defining moment that has put into perspective so many things: my family, my faith, my love of this great country, my debt to those who put their lives in peril so that I might live in peace. As a wife, as a mother, as a retired educator, as a lover of America, it is a day that I hope lives in our hearts and minds and is never forgotten.

Summer Bliss

We had a great summer. The kids were able to go on a trip with all grandparents and one with mom and dad. When I. got home, Grandma Arlena asked him what the best part was. He said, "not finding a bear." Camping was definately the highlight of the trip. It was wonderful to spend a whole week together as a family. J. was a real trooper on the trip, despite the fact that he was recovering from two ear infections. The kids did better camping than they did in the hotel in Monterey. They spent most of the vacation barefoot, dirty, and extremely happy.