PICTURES THAT I LOVE

SUMMER FUN AT THE PARK

Today was a fun day at the park.  We went to Skinner's Butte park  in Eugene with some friends of ours and the kids had a blast.  I do have to admit it was a little hot, but no complaints here.  My kids had a fun time on the play structures and getting wet in the water structures to  keep cool while me, Carrie, Shelby her mom got some time to chat.  Great times to remember. 

p.s. pics taken with point and shoot until I figure out how to deal with my new fancy-shmancy Nikon.

STOICISM

This is a must for me!  I love philosophy and have always wanted to grasp the concept of being a true 'stoic'.  Like the stoics believed, I too agree that our lives are not entirely our own. Rather than sit and complain about what I cannot control (weight, eye color, freckles, depression, weather, politics, gas prices, speed limit etc.) I will try to master my own actions and more importantly, my feelings. This is a goal that seems far beyond reach, but is closer than I realize.

The stoics believed that serenity comes to those individuals whose will is in accord with the 'Logos'....for right thinking will lead to a reduction of frustration and ANXIETY (is that word meant for me?) In other words, nothing can make me happy, or unhappy without my consent.  Supposedly, all unhappiness is the result of poor thinking, poor character and being confused about what I can control and what I cannot. I love the thought of this, but is it attainable?  I believe it is.

In the words of Epictetus (a wise and humble sage),

"Remember that thou art an actor in a play, of such a kind as the author may choose: if short, a short one; if long, a long one: if he wishes you to act the part of a poor man, see that thou act the part naturally: if the part of a lame man, of a magistrate, of a private person (do the same).  For this is your duty, to act well the part that was given to you; but to not select the part that belongs to another".

I think what he is getting at is that we all have been dealt a different card than someone else.  Why sit and wish away our part in this life?  Live it and live it well.

He then goes on to say, "We do not need to lift our hands to heaven....God is near you, with you, inside you.  Yes....there is a holy spirit abiding within us....No man is good without God".

From many philosophers I have gathered and collected bunches of information that they have tried to find the good in all.  They have looked for the truth.  They have seen the excellence of God in many things, only lacking the whole of it.  They have strategically found bits and pieces of their life's happy journey and have glued them together like a puzzle, sharing with others the happiness that was found, with ONE missing piece.  That piece was not yet known of, yet today we all have the last and most important piece of that wonderful puzzle.  Perhaps timing was off then, perhaps it wasn't yet meant to be, maybe it was a work in the making, for us in the future of these wise sages. Nonetheless, it is what they have found and lived all their life with honor and dignity.  Good on them, for searching for what is good and true.  Sometimes led off track by strange ideas, but mostly hanging on the gut feeling, that started the search in the first place.

My goal is to be a stoic and to be a great one! I want to be that stoic who doesn't get mad at the car cutting me off, in rush hour traffic.  I long to be the stoic who just smiles at the slow lady in the grocery line, who has nothing better to do than chat with the clerk, while I simply just want to purchase my Mountain Dew and leave!  I want to be the stoic who isn't affected when I hear that I've been the topic of ill conversation amongst friends.  I just want to be in complete control of my feelings and not dare let another someone (especially someone I don't know) get the best of me. WOW! I've set a high goal, but I believe that keeping my mouth shut will eliminate a lot of let-downs.  I want to be just what I am...not a bit less and to do it with all I've got.  Quite the goal I will agree, but a work in progress, but  I do know that I and only I, am in charge of my feelings.  Nobody else can force me to feel good or bad, angry or sad, mad or irritated....those are all mine to claim.  My job is to put aside the bad and bring out the good and let Logos do what it will to help me attain my goal.  Wish me luck.....I'll need it.

DID SHE THINK IT WAS LOTION?

As I lay in bed mostly asleep, but a tad bit awake, silently praying that the silence I am relishing will go on for a few more minutes. All of the sudden I am startled by the precious, but whining voice of  Amber repeating her daily wake up call for those still trying to get that last minute of shut eye, "Mom, where are you?"

Here is what I found Amber doing this morning! Yes, it's toothpaste, Colgate tartar control to be exact. The brown doll found her way to the garbage bin, Amber's clothes thrown in the wash, Amber went straight in the tub, and as for the toothpaste on the carpet,  thank goodness my Daisy dog likes mint because she did a darn good job cleaning it up!

Isn't there a rule that states that older siblings are to babysit younger siblings when mom needs more sleep?  If not, I just made it.

NOW WE'RE TALKING WEATHER!

Did you hear the thunder last night?  Did you notice the strong winds?  Did you spot the beautiful lightning?

I did! And for one small moment I felt as though I was in Utah enjoying it's weekly summer thunderstorm.

  

The warm wind that rustles through the trees, the ominous clouds hanging overhead, the rumbling sound of the thunder and the lightning striking across the night sky. This is the one thing that I miss about Utah...the summer thunderstorms.

I heard the wind blowing outside and asked Bill to come

and sit with me on the bench swing and enjoy the breeze.  I was hoping that the kids maybe wouldn't notice us sneak outside and we could enjoy the storm alone and quietly.  NOT!!! Within minutes Jake had his pillow and blanket out there, Ashley too, Amber was in bed, but Maddy came to join us as she was scared to be inside by herself.  My "romantic" idea wasn't so romantic, but fun nonetheless.

I was happy to have captured the pics that I did as the lightning was very fast.  This is my favorite weather for sure and was spent watching it with my favorite family. 

GLORIOUS DAY AT THE COAST

    Wednesday, June 25, 2008, we decided to take a day trip to the Pacific Ocean. It was a magnificent day...not too hot, nor too cold. We like to take these short "day" outings to the coast and be able to come back to our home and the comfort of our own bed.

    We took the two Yamaha Rhinos, so that we could  cruise along the beach a bit faster than walking. When we arrived at our destination and realized that we were the only people there, it was heaven for Bill and I. Neither of us like crowded areas, so this was delightful. We threw all of our stuff in the back of the Rhino's and off we went. Driving along the mile-long trail to get to the ocean, was
lovely!

    After being awe-struck for a moment at the beauty of it all, I realized that my children couldn't wait to dig their feet into the sand. Their first instinct was to find the biggest, unharmed shell, or the perfect sand dollar, or something rare that hasn't been discovered by them at the ocean. We usually don't find the greatest of things here, it's just the company and the atmosphere that makes this little favorite spot of beach seem like our own.

We begin our searches, bags in hand, eyes focused on all the washed up shells. As we are walking along, and just shortly after each of my kids has already found their perfect sand dollar, Maddy spots "Patrick" stranded on the shore. I have never before seen a real star fish just lying around. I was a bit freaked out at the feel of it and at the way he just clung to the rocks on his underside. He was even holding a perfect, exceptionally small sand dollar. Maddy carried poor Patrick around with her for a while trying to decide if she should throw him back or just keep him, because deep down she knew this probably wouldn't happen again. She did the right thing and had dad throw it back out into the ocean.

We had a great day. We all got a bit sunburned, but who cares? It was great!

LOTION

    Little miss Amber just LOVES lotion and I have periodically found her in situations just like this! I love it!
    

    In the whole of all this, I am a proud mama to know that my 2 yr. old can help herself get comfortable, OR in trouble ...whichever she is really trying to accomplish.

  There is NO WAY I can get mad at this...I find it to be COMPLETELY ADORABLE!  After all,  it's only lotion, greasy hair, a slippery kitchen table and a beautiful Amber, with globs on her face.  Look at how proud she is though! 

    The other day, I found a similar incident in my room, where she had lathered up our TV remote, with lavender lotion and I still giggle when I use it to turn the TV on at night.  Such good times shouldn't be forgotten, or condemned, but rather wrapped carefully with love and placed in our memory chamber.  I love her and wouldn't trade her for anything. 

WHO CRIES OVER ONIONS?

    On Tuesday night, we decided to make tin foil dinners and cook them out back, in the fire.  Maddy was in the kitchen helping me, when she informed me that she wanted to cut the onions.  "Ok, your eyes will water and they will sting, but you can do it,"  I warned her.  She left the room and told me to leave the onions alone and that she will be back.  This is what she came back with!  This is SOOOOO MADDY!!!!  I love her to death. By the way, it works according to her. 

KISSES BEFORE CHURCH

    Jake and Amber were all dressed and ready for church on Sunday afternoon, when I spotted them  just talking.  They were being so nice to one another and there wasn't any screaming, or yelling from either one of them(which, as of lately seems like a rarity). I had Maddy snap a shot of tender kisses they exchanged. This is the moment right after. 

FBOBBING FOR APPLES

SPRINKLERS

    Two of my girls, playing in the sprinklers.

FINGERPAINTING

    When I normally do Amber's hair, I set her up on the counter in my bathroom, for better access.  I need to rethink my bad idea.  Most times, she is busy playing with my makeup and such (which I don't mind cuz she holds still). Well, today I didn't see the bottle of lotion and away she went.  After the first smudge on the mirror I thought, "What the heck, you go girl!  Just sit still until I am done."  She ardently painted while I finished her hair. What a lovely-lotion-layout.  I love it!

PICNIC

    This morning Maddy and I got up early and started weeding our gigantic garden.  Shortly after, we had the whole clan out working to get those weeds under control.  It went a lot faster with many hands.  Time flew by and before we knew it, lunchtime was here.  The kids wanted to go to their school for a little picnic.  As tired as we all were that actually sounded refreshing and calm.  It was the perfect day...not too hot, not too cold.  Her are some cute pics of my kids.  Just having some fun.

VERDICT....GUILTY!

Amber did what every mother dreads...she took the scissors to her hair this morning.  I was finishing up some cleaning in the kitchen, when she proudly came running in and shouted, "Mom, Amber cut hair in Ashey's room!"  I was caught off guard as Amber is quite the mindful child and doesn't do things like this (or so I thought). It wasn't completely obvious and I'm thankful she didn't cut it the way that some kids cut their hair... to the scalp! However, she did give herself some short, uneven bangs on one side of her forehead.  She was proud, so I refrained from yelling and found the best way to handle the situation, by reassuring her that only mom cuts hair!  She WILLINGLY and PROUDLY took me to the crime scene and sure enough, there were her precious little hair strands, on the floor in Ashley's room.

I gathered them up and took this picture for evidence.  Jury needed no deliberation time. Verdict... guilty of hair altering, in the first degree!  Sentence: 2 years of no scissor use, unless accompanied by an adult.  Fair sentence I think.  I hope that this is the last time she pulls this, "two year old hair stylist stunt." I can handle most things.....just not hair cutting! 

MUD BATHS

    We were granted a day of warmth in this sun-deprived month of June and all of the sudden, my kiddos think they need to swim....in their homemade mud baths out back?!? THE CUTEST THING EVER! 

    They LOVED it and what it DID do, was make for lots of laundry, stained clothing tossed into the garbage, lil' mud footsies all over the cement and dirty tubs for me to clean. But what it also did, was make for cute pictures, great memories and smiling kids!  

    It's our way of swimming out here in the country, I suppose and it's our way of taking advantage of great weather, when we can.

    Notice the goggles on Jacob!  I don't know what he thought he was going to see in that muck!? Oh how I LOVE MY KIDDOS!