Sew Fun

Although my to-do list hasn't shortened since last week's discouraged vent, a sure way to distract me from my own tally of tasks is to get me to do someone else's!

Last week a cute girl in our neighborhood called in a panic. She needed a costume skirt sewn for a play performance that evening. I happily welcomed the opportunity to share my sewing skill since I had so many other non-preferred things I should have been doing! We sewed up a darling black skirt and she and her mom went home relieved. I really do love saving the day for someone :) (A related rant for another time will be my self-deprecating exposition on talent shows...I stink at anything that could be showcased on a stage! Okay, okay, another day.)

It's a mess and a hassle to get out all of my sewing stuff so since my table was newly cluttered, I plowed through some other projects that have been waiting for my attention. The pictures are lousy quality but here's the evidence of a productive couple of days. (Although, the bathrooms still need to be cleaned.)

Black and white flower skirt of cute stretch fabric I found for a steal at $2/yard.
Reversible hobo style bag.
Ugly pants turned less ugly bermuda shorts.
Not cute sundress turned great kick-around skirt.

Aprons, aprons, and more aprons. I can't stop making them. They are darling and are the great gifts for lovers of all things culinary. They might even spur a hater into doing something in the kitchen!

3rd Grade Field Trip

I'm not a fan of the kids' year 'round school schedule but one positive thing is that since I'm off for the summer, I am able to participate in more of their school activities.

Tuesday it was the 3rd grade's turn to celebrate a year of hard work by going on a fun field trip. Kenna and classmates saw two shows at the Clark Planetarium and enjoyed the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum. It was lots of fun. When Brent asked Kenna what her favorite part of the day was, she thought for a second and then answered, "That Mom came with us." Awwww. Love that!

Best Dad Ever

Happy Father's Day, Brenty-Boo!

Brent's unusual stance in this photo is in response to several previous midsection shots taken after Alec asked to snap a picture of Brent. This image says a lot about Brent as a dad...

• Brent gladly gave our 3-year-old a short "push here" tutorial before allowing him to manhandle our pricey camera. Brent is a patient teacher and always puts his kids above possessions.

• Brent adjusts to accomodate the needs, wants, and skills of our children without complaint or concern for his own convenience.

• Brent encourages our kids in whatever they want to try. Can't you see the, "Yeah. Like that!" in his eyes?

• Brent's expression also depicts his best personal quality. He is the most accepting father and person one could ever know. The kids and I will never doubt his complete love for any of us.

I love you, Brent. Thank you for being a wonderful dad to our wonderful children.

TRI this!

Brent participated in the Provo Triathlon today. He slept overnight at his brother's house in Orem and I woke up early this morning and drove down to be his cheerleader (an old, fat, unpopular version) and photographer.
SWIM-1500 meters 47:57
InUtah Lake Brent made sure not to open his mouth too wide to avoid getting a carp stuck in his lungs and swam strong. He's been training in a pool and said that the lake was a killer. Not the least of the ardor was cold water (about 65 degrees) and trying to stay straight on the open course. He was a little dizzy when he came out of the water but got his footing and moved to the transition area just fine.
BIKE-40 km 1:19:19
Brent looooooved racing his new bike. The course had a few issues but was great for spectators because it was a lapped route. The Olympic length riders had to make 4 loops and Brent looked strong on every pass. It was a little embarrassing when he shed a tear and kissed his bike goodbye before transitioning to the run.
RUN-10 km 56:42
At his point I left to get a drink--yeah, I'm back ON Diet Dr. Pepper, dangit. The run was also a looped course and I made it back with my 44oz pal in time to see Brent several times. His run time would have been a stretch for me to achieve without swimming and biking beforehand. He's great.

Yay, Brent!! His final time was 3:10:40 and a PR by 8 minutes! His next triatholon is the SPUDMAN in Burley, Idaho on July 25th.

Field Trip Time

I was honored that Todd allowed me to volunteer as a parent chaperon for his class field trip last week. It was a disjointed whirlwind but lots of fun for the kids. We visited Krispie Kreme Doughnuts (and yes, we got a free, HOT one!), went bowling at Fat Cats and ate Pizza-Pasta Factory food, and attended a show at the Ott Planetarium at Weber State University. Todd is a great son, student, friend, and kid. I was semi-surprised that he was as well behaved as he was as he tends to like being the center of LOUD anything. He was great and it was fun to meet a few of the girls he constantly talks about and see how he interacts with his equally nerdy friends. He even gave me a couple of side squishes during the day AND thanked me for coming several times after we were home. I love him.

Holy Crepe!

We indulged in crepes for Sunday lunch a couple of weeks ago. Mmmmm. The sweet memory lingers. Don't you love Kenna's French finger mustache?

Holy crepe! These are good!
1 c flour
2 eggs
1/2 c milk
1/2 c water
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp melted butter

Whisk together flour & eggs. Stir in milk & water. Add salt & butter. Beat until smooth.
Cook 1/4 c batter at a time on a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat.
Tilt the pan in a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.
Cook for about 2 minutes until the bottom is light brown.
Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side.
Serve them warm and load them up with delicious fillings...
strawberries, whipped cream, caramel, nuts, bananas, nutella, butter and sugar, etc.

Let it Rain

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass.
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

(Another lesson I need to learn from my kids! Aren't they fun?!)

Lists

The lists in my life are always to-do...never to think, to feel, to be. Get started, keep moving, go faster, don't stop. It sounds like a race but this one has no finish line. In fact, 'write a semi-clever blog entry about how overwhelmed I am by the smallest, simplest, STUPIDEST things in a cathartic effort to get over it' topped today's planned tasks--hence, the penned pity party. 'Get all weepy while you do it' was not written next to any check box so I'm not sure what that's about.

My list has grown to such proportion that my regular tricks for work completion are not working...Get started, right??? Just make a list and get started. Begin with something small and go with the momentum. If you have to, add things you've already done to a list and check them off! Start with something big and relish the satisfaction of accomplishment. Do something for yourself so that you are 'full' enough to give your energy to other things. Start with a promise of self-reward for finishing something. N-O-N-E of it is sparking my ignition today or for the last week, in fact.

I've been looking for a quote in vinyl lettering for a spot in my house. "Live the life you IMAGINE" was in the running until I contemplated it more carefully. Wouldn't you imagine that a scoured house could stay clean for 10 minutes, that a small, medium, or large male could hit a 20" oval with his biological sprinkling system, that with 1.5 months notice, a 6th grader could write a simple paper sans parental assistance and/or threats, that a public school employee could leave for the summer without things still lurking on her work to-do list?? The life I imagine is so far from reality right now that my imagining just makes me feel worse, not inspired in the least. I guess I'll have to order a more applicable, individualized quote along the lines of 'Give up all attempts for improvement and aim only to refrain from behavior that might land you on the 10 0'clock news tonight'.

SORRY for the wa wa wa. Aren't you glad you're not married to or parented by me today? Imagine that!!!

Swimmin' Alec

Alec started swimming lessons last week. He is in the same class with his cousin and best friend, Skylar who keeps him focused and obedient. His teacher is a cute, young girl with more patience than I have! It's a great activity to start our summer especially since Todd and Kenna are still in school for 3 more weeks.

Goodbye, Grandpa Keith.

Last week we had the opportunity to attend the funeral of Brent's grandma's husband, Keith Adamson. Keith and Ardell were married for 18 years after both lost their first spouses. They enjoyed many happy years together and were serving a mission in England when Brent and I got married. I was excited to meet them when they returned but we could hardly find them home and even more rarely, visit with them alone. They were a social hub and fun-loving couple. They kept a beautiful home and maintained an incredible garden that we have several plants from. Keith's health failed a few years ago and we hadn't seen him much. He was 90 years old and it was a blessing to attend his funeral and hear stories of his younger years and the tributes from children and grandchildren. The loveliest part of the day was being able to spend a little time with sweet Grandma Zimmerman. We love her so much and she will miss Keith.

FOUR and FABULOUS!

Today is Alec's 4th birthday. It is hard to believe that our littlest guy is so old. No longer a baby or even a toddler, he's a (rather big) little boy. Looking through his pictures was tear-jerking. I've never been one for wishing my kids would stay young but he has been such a pleasure at every stage (so far) that it is especially emotional to see him growing up so quickly.

I wasn't the high school girl that had a plan for number of kids and all their names picked out. Even after I got married, I took things a step at a time...the double-mormon-standard-child-spacing of 3.5 years between Todd and Kenna shows that. We thought about having more than two kids but when Kenna turned 4, I had a settled feeling that maybe that was it for us. Brent had a different idea and at his suggestion, pleading, guilting (is that a verb?), we went for #3 and Alec is the best idea Brent ever had. He has been another ray of sunshine in our already blessed life. I love him so much and can't imagine life without his antics and giggle.

A-Active all sport. Alec loves running, shooting baskets, throwing, batting, and catching baseballs. It's fun to watch him and his natural coordination...good genes from Brent!

L-Loving. The snuggle sessions are getting a little shorter but Alec is very affectionate with his actions and with his words. He will randomly tell each of us that he loves us and kisses or hugs on demand. What a honey.

E-Easy going. He doesn't like to be interrupted during a computer game but other than that, Alec is up for anything. He doesn't mind being bossed around, I mean, GUIDED by the older kids. He helps clean up (as long as you turn it into a robot game) and will often get his PJs without too much fuss about not wanting to go to bed.

C-Cuuuurazy. Alec says some pretty crazy stuff...the 'clock' in his tummy says when he's full, Jesus tells him to do a LOT of stuff, he learned 'it' in his dream, etc. He also has some awesome dance moves, faces, phrases (What the???), and made up games. He is exuberance defined.

We love you, Mr. Alec. Happy birthday, little buddy.

Today in the car, I was playing an alphabet "game" with Alec. I said a letter and he would tell me a word that started with that letter.
ME: A. a-a-a
ALEC: Apple!
ME: Good one. B. b-b-b
ALEC: Book!
ME: Right! Okay. C. c-c-c
ALEC: Cook!
ME: Wow, good. D. d-d-d
ALEC: Dook! giggling
ME: Right but that's not a real word. Think of a word. d-d-daa...
d-d-de...d-d-di...d-d-do...
ALEC: DORK! belly laughing for 3 minutes straight followed by hiccups and an inability to resume the game without more giggles and hiccups for the next 20 minutes.
What a nut! I love that kid.

Todd's Baseball

Todd's current hobby is baseball. He plays on the local little league team and has two games a week, plus practices. I (Brent) have been very involved with his basketball and chess, and like to think that I have been a good coach. But when it comes to baseball, I have pretty much just provided transportation and moral support. I never played little league and don't know the game of baseball much. The one time I tried to give him some hitting tips at practice, the coach corrected me and said he was doing it right.

But despite my lack of help, Todd has developed into one of the best players on the team (in my biased opinion). In each of the last two games Todd has hit a triple and then stolen home. He only got three at-bats in the two games combined, so that is a pretty good slugging percentage. Last night he got an RBI and a run, accounting for two of the team's three runs.

Todd hits an RBI single in his first at-bat of the season.

After a few games in the outfield at the beginning of the season, the coach moved him to first base, where he has been a great fit. An opposing coach commented to me that Todd played first base as well as anyone in the league. He mentioned specifically how well he knows which position to be in (e.g. when to cover the base, when to be the cut-off and when to back up the pitcher).

We're very proud of you, Todd!