Some observations

It is easier to have a house full of boys over than just a couple of extra girls.  This mystifies me but it is true.  Girls are really loud and really, really silly.  Boys just eat a lot.
 
When I talk to Janet on the phone, it fills my soul and it feels like no time has passed since we've seen each other and it's slightly jarring when we hang up because I remember, "Oh, this is my life now."

If Braeden goes to D.I. (a thrift store) with his friends he a) won't remember the bags of stuff I asked him to take to donate and b) will come home in a Hawaiian shirt and teal pants.  (What did I think would happen?)

We are ridiculous people.  We live a half mile from our church and on Sunday, we took all three cars because we had to be there at different times.  Don't tell my pioneer ancestors.

One of my favorite things in the world is when one or more of my siblings come to town and one or more of us get together.  Saturday we had an impromptu lunch:  Tabor and Katie, Ammon and Melanee, Adam and me, and all our kids (except Braeden who was earning his keep at KFC).

Springing forward is the worst.  Except for in the evenings...when it's still light. 

Before I had to harangue/bribe/cajole Emma to take a walk with me but when she has a Fitbit strapped to her and wants to get more steps than me, she beats me out the door.  And up the hill.

And finally, this:

I like being home.  And not just for the Wi-Fi.

Sunday drive

Sunday after church we went on An Explore.  We retraced some steps from a little trip to Sanpete County Adam and I took the summer I was pregnant with Braeden.

It's a lovely spot.

It was settled in the mid 1800s by various groups from Scandinavia.  Their stone masonry is beautiful.

I was absolutely convinced this church was in Fountain Green, but Adam disagreed.  Of course, Adam was right.  He's always right.  (But I am better at finding things.  Not things like churches in Sanpete County, things like the secret stash of chocolate in the pantry, or Mark's scout neckerchief that he'd been unable to locate since we moved.)

Anyway.

This is in Spring City:

It's an LDS church but hardly resembles most modern day LDS churches.  I wonder if the primary kids behave better in such a pretty building?

The day was perfect.  Sunshine forever with bright patches of snow here and there for sparkle.  We drove through the little towns and saw the picturesque little homes the pioneers built of stone.  We also stopped in Manti, at the temple.  (I thought of Tabor and Katie while we were there.  They were married in the Manti temple.)

It must be one of the loveliest places in the world.  A grand structure, hewn from local rock, high on a hill.

do you see Adam?

It was an extremely photogenic building.

It was a nice day with these guys, my people.

Our squinty eyes even match--mine are squinty underneath the glasses.  Probably the Scandinavians settlers with their light coloring squinted here too.

On the way home we ate a picnic Adam and I (mostly Adam) had assembled the night before.  None of the kids were smart enough to get the donut box open.  Seriously.

Braeden said it was a Chinese puzzle box.  No, it was from the Macey's bakery.  Cardboard boxes elude them.

I still love them.  It's nice of them to make me feel needed sometimes.

The moment I felt it

A few nights ago, for our Miamaid (church youth group) activity, we were dancing.  Rose, a sparkly girl with enormous dimples and a ready smile had masterminded the event.  She asked her dance instructor to come and teach us.

I, of course, was planning to watch from the side.  Dancing doesn't even come close to approaching the list of Things I Can Do.

Rose had other ideas.  She informed me I had to.

(Since when do I take orders from teenage girls?  Since now I guess.)

I slipped off my shoes and walked sock footed onto the gym floor.  Some of the girls (like Rose) were dancers.  Some of them (like me) weren't.  We all tried.

The instructor, after leading us through some stretches that proved to the world how inflexible I am, had us line up in two lines.  Then we had to do leaps (!) and other dance moves I don't remember the name of across the gym floor while everyone else watched.

It was the best.

We watched each other and cheered each other on and laughed with each other.  (One pretty girl, a cheerleader who can do back flips and crazy jumps couldn't figure out the order of the steps.  She resorted to just running across the gym and fluttering her arms behind her.) The instructor was fabulous.  She was beautiful and graceful and kind.  She kept encouraging and complimenting us.  Her only flaw was that several times she told another leader and me that she was "just impressed you are out here."  Like we were a few steps from the rest home, but look at us try.

She's young; I'll forgive her.

At one point, two older boys came into the gym.  One of them started dancing too.  He was sort of mocking and sort of playing along and the girls were sort of OK with it.  Then the other boy whipped out his phone and started recording because that's what kids do.

Sammie, a lovely, athletic, champion swimmer, non dancer standing next to me, looked at me with wide eyes.  "I don't want him to take a video of this!" she said, panic rising.

She had already insisted on going last across the gym so none of us would watch her (we could all watch her from the other side but that didn't seem to matter as much).

Without thinking about it, I marched over to the boy with the phone out.  "You have to leave," I said, looking up into his laughing face.

He ignored me and kept taking video like it was his birthright.  He's a big football player type kid and as far as he was concerned, he wasn't doing anything wrong and who was I anyway?

I was looking at him (with the look I reserve for such occasions) so he said, "I'm just recording Jordan, not the girls."

I took a step toward the towering boy.

"Seriously," I said, still friendly, but Mama Bear was in the building.

"Fine," he said and he left.  The other boy did too.

I returned to my girls and for the first time, they felt like my girls.

Having this job with these young women scares the life out of me.  They are intimidating and unforgiving and formidable just like teenage girls everywhere.  I am the very furthest away from a cool and fun leader.  I am awkward and insecure, but increasingly, I love them.  They are brave and strong and pretty incredible.

I don't want to mess this up. 

A book report

When I think about what I miss most from Washington, it's hands down the people.  Second on the list is the library.

(Endless rain is so far down on the list I can't see it.)

But the library; I didn't know how good I had it.

I think I am reading less as a result of the inferior library here which is a sad truth.

Here are a few books I've read lately:

The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Anne Noble ***

I got a Kindle version of this book from Amazon and I don't know if you can get a book version.  I liked this book.  It's about a girl whose sister turns into a mermaid.  Sounds weird but it wasn't.  I am not usually a huge fan of fantasy but this one I liked.

Paper Towns by John Green ***


I was lamenting to Emma about the dearth of good reads in my life and she asked her friend Vanessa if she could hang onto the book she had borrowed a little longer so I could read it.

A few pages in, I saw this:

I thought it was the most adorable thing in the entire world.  Throughout the book, words were whited out or replaced and she also penned in a few comments of her own and starred things she liked.

The character Lacey in the book didn't think what was said was appropriate and neither did Vanessa.

So I didn't even have to see it. (I love Vanessa!) 

I am hoping to have Vanessa read everything in advance for me in the future.  Is there anything better than your kids' good friends?

Paper Towns was pretty good.  I would have liked it less if Vanessa hadn't classed it up for me.  I appreciated the crudeness she deleted for me.  It's about a teenage boy who is graduating from high school and his entanglements with his friends.  It was compelling enough that it held my interest even though my son is the one graduating from high school and I am well past that age.

The end wasn't satisfying.  I read this in a book I read to Mark (Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle) and I wish John Green had read it too:

But perhaps you may like to know what happened afterward, for no one cares to leave the thread of a story without tying a knot in it.

I couldn't agree more.  (And Mark and I enjoyed Otto.) 

Topsy turvy

Yesterday was a sort of unconventional day around here.  We still had school, it wasn't that crazy, but it was different.

For one thing, Braeden didn't have to go to school.  Every junior in the state was taking the ACT and every sophomore was taking the practice ACT.  Seniors were "strongly encouraged" to visit college campuses.

I think seniors shouldn't apply to colleges until after they graduate.  They are completely checked out, because they can be.  I doubt one senior visited a college campus.  Mine slept in (a little bit...Braeden is not very good at sleeping in).

At ten, Braeden and several of his friends (who were also not visiting college campuses) were going to meet at Kneader's for breakfast.  All morning we had watched a storm move toward us across the valley.  About the time Braeden was supposed to leave, it arrived.  With enthusiasm.

Braeden came up to the school room where we were having school and looked out the window.  "Maybe you shouldn't go," I said.

"Yeah," he said, "I don't think I should either."

He went to text his friends and I told him he could blame me (which I often say but my kids rarely seem to take me up on it).  "No," he said, "I don't need to blame you."

I told Braeden that it showed maturity and responsibility on his part to miss out on breakfast with his friends because of the weather.  Times like that make me trust him more.

Hours later, Braeden said, "Remember how you said I showed maturity and responsibility?  Will you tell Dad?"  Ever since the playground at our apartment complex in New Haven, CT, Braeden has been wanting to show Adam what he's made of.

He just tries to make me laugh, which is why it's a good thing you have two parents.

Around 11:00, I decided I had to take a nap.  For the previous several nights, I had had hours of insomnia and it was definitely catching up with me.  I handed my cell phone to Mark and told him to wake me up if Emma texted that she was ready to be picked up.  We reviewed all the reasons why he shouldn't wake me up.  1) If anyone in the world besides Emma calls or texts...don't wake me, I'll get back to them. 2) If you are bleeding to death...get Braeden, he knows first aid. 3) If the house is on fire...let me sleep.  That would be a nice warm way to go.

Stuff like that.

A few minutes after I lay down, Mark came in with the news that Emma was done.  I dragged my cranky self to the school and got her.  (It occurs to me that I should have had Braeden go get her.  It was not snowing much anymore.  That shows how tired I was.  I wasn't thinking...)

Anyway, I did get a fifteen minute nap after we returned and that set me up.  Usually that's all I need to recharge for a few more hours.

Then I made everyone pancakes and rejoiced that my big kids were here for lunch.  I love that.

In the afternoon, we dropped Mark off at Adam's office (which is pretty much Mark's happy place), Braeden had his first day at KFC, and Emma and I headed to Southtowne Mall to meet up with Olivia and Liliana.

It was Lili's birthday and she got her ears pierced.  She was very stoic about it and didn't even flinch.  That impressed Emma.  Emma is a world class flincher.

See the earrings?  Me either, but they are there.

 
We did a little shopping.  I am the only one of the four of us that likes to shop so I felt like I had a big responsibility.  Emma is usually a happier and more successful shopper when we are with other people and true to form, she found a few pretty dresses at Down East. (we love that store!)

After the Cobians left (Edgar was there with the boys too--they spent time at a little playground while we shopped), Emma and I walked around the mall a little waiting for Adam to be done with work.  The shopping mojo was gone and she wasn't interested in one thing.  I found a BYU shirt for Braeden, because BYU! and I found a jacket for myself.  I have a problem and it's called I have way too many jackets.

But it was really cute.

Adam told me about Mark at his office after we met up with them for dinner.  First, Mark walked in (I'm sure like he owned the place) and said to the receptionist, "Is Adam Davis in a meeting?"  She said she thought he was available so Mark went back to Adam's office.  Adam put him to work cleaning whiteboards to earn his soda from the cornucopia that is the break room.  Then Mark sat in on a meeting, climbed on top of the bus (there is a bus indoors right outside Adam's office) to read, played darts and played on a drum kit.  At one point, he found Adam and said, "There's some fried rice in the fridge in the break room, can I have that?"

No.

When I compare either of my sons at twelve to the way I was at twelve, I wonder if they were adopted.  I was as shy as they are not shy.

We ended the day at Smashburger which is always a good thing and I went to bed early which is also a good thing.

Your day doesn't have to be conventional to be a good one.

Spring-ish

unrelated to the post, but what a pretty world...

I am praying for rain and snow, which is familiar.  I grew up in the desert and I grew up with prayers for rain and snow being part of my life.  It's not anything against the mild sunshine-y days we've been gifted with, it's wanting water this summer. (Happily, we have been getting a little snow lately.)

Anyway, I'm praying for snow but ushered spring into my house all the same.

There ended up being a lot of birds around here, which wasn't intentional.  I just gathered up things I like.

See the little pink bird nestled in the rocks of the fireplace?  She has a little blue friend and used to have a little green friend.  I climbed up on the hearth (multiple times) to arrange things and accidentally knocked down the little green bird.  Turns out he couldn't fly.  It was a sad time.

I guess I like birds.

And glass bottles and pretty pillows:

And elephants.

Maybe elephants aren't immediately associated with spring, but I like elephants.

A banner day

I have been telling Braeden to get a job.  I cajoled and hassled and reminded him.  I made loose threats that were effective enough that he picked up a few applications and dropped them back off, but that was it.

The boy loves to be social and that usually includes lunch out with a selection of friends.  (Open campus!  What were they thinking!?!)  Also, he never has homework.

He needed a job.

So then Adam talked to him.  And Adam can be so...convincing.  He didn't even need to raise his voice (and he has a very encouraging Dad Voice).  The next day, Friday, Braeden told me he was going to go look for a job after school.

He was finally motivated.  When Braeden is motivated, things happen.  I told Marianne on the phone he'd probably have a job in two days.

It was more like two hours.  He is a proud KFC employee.  One of his friends works there also.  Adam and I both think he's crazy not to try to get a job teaching swim lessons.  It's more of a process to get a job because of certifications and the like and there are very few indoor pools around anyway.  Braeden wants to try this and I was all for letting him.  There's nothing like working in fast food to make you realize that isn't your life's work.  Sometimes on the job training is the best kind.

(Braeden went to an orientation on Saturday morning.  Among other things, he was instructed on what to do in case of a robbery.  Basically, don't be a hero.  Braeden said that he would tackle someone if they tried to rob him.  He wouldn't let them get away.  I said it wasn't worth it, he could be hurt or worse.  Braeden said it was worth it, then he could have KFC on his headstone.  Killed For Chicken.)

Back to Friday though.

That evening, we went to the school and watched Emma perform on the stage.  She and Braeden both were involved in performing scenes that the students in Drama 4 were directing.  (Braeden's had been Thursday night and he died on stage, which I am kind of opposed to.)  It was thrilling to watch Emma perform on stage.  It's something she's wanted to do for a long time. 

Afterward all the drama kids headed to JCW's for oversized milkshakes as is their custom and Adam and Mark and I headed home which is ours.  Adam and Mark were watching cricket, which Adam likes and somehow knows all about and I was on my computer doing something.  I happened to notice a new email had come in.

It was THE email.  The one from BYU we had been waiting for.  Braeden's admission decision.  In the email there's a link to the website where you can read your letter.  I immediately texted Braeden and told him to come home.  I told him The Email was here and I hadn't read it yet.

He didn't answer.

Because that's the thing.  You buy the cell phone, you pay for the data plan and then they ignore your texts.

So I called Emma.  No response.  (See above.)

So I called Braeden.  He finally answered.  By that time Adam and Mark were there with me and we were buzzing with excitement.  Braeden said, "Just open it and read it to me."

We went back and forth several times, "Are you sure?"  "Yes, just read it to me."

For one thing, this was Braeden's deal.  He should be the one to read it.  For another thing, what if it was bad news?  There he was surrounded by a crowd of people.  For another thing, I wanted to know what the letter said and he kept telling me to read it so I did.

And he was accepted.

I started crying, because I am emotionally unstable and Adam had to finish the conversation with Braeden.

He got in!

It's what I've always wanted for him.  I loved BYU.  I want my children to have everything good in the world.  I knew, especially with Braeden's learning disabilities, that it wasn't a foregone conclusion that he would get in.  The competition is stiff.  I was trying to be OK with his second or third choices.
But I guess my heart was sort of set on BYU.

I think his was too.  When he got home, I was walking down the stairs and he was bounding up to see me.  He hugged me long and hard.

It was a pretty great day.