Cutting a Deal

There it was. Shiny, green, new. Just poised there, calling him, beckoning him.

That darn WalMart. For months Max has been dreaming of the day his parents would actually let him take home the 12 Volt motorized John Deere Tractor Mower from the store, rather than just taking him gawk at it (usually as reward for good behavior while grocery shopping). It is the dream of every 3 year old wannabe lawn boy. Never mind the two seater Escalade, the Power Quad 4 wheeler, even the motocross bike. Nothing would do but the tractor mow. And it's all we've heard about for months.

The Scooby Doo 2 Week Sleeping Chart

The value of money is not an easy thing for a 3 year old to conceptualize. I mean the literal value of money. There was no good reason his jar full of copper shouldn't be enough to bring home his dream mower. "Max that costs a lot of money" was sure to be followed by "Mom, I got monies."

So parent #1 decides that perhaps throughout the summer, a lemonade stand, selling frozen treats at parades, earning money for "extra" chores, would help him learn the literal value of money, along with other beneficial lessons like saving, work, etc. Parent #2 gives me a half mocking look and I can read his thoughts instantly: "Like selling lemonade and otter pops is going to make any sort of a dent in the price tag of this mini John Deere." (Not the point parent #1 reminds him).

Putting the final sticker on the 14th Scooby

So without any consultation with the parent trying to teach our child the value of a dollar, Parent #2 cuts a hasty, off the top of his head, deal with the child. Child can earn the "Tractor Mow" by going to bed without any help, going to sleep without any help, and by sleeping in his own bed throughout the night for 2 weeks. (Granted Parent #2 is the one who usually has to get the child to sleep.) Child happily accepts the deal and Parent #1 is off to make a Scooby Doo Sleeping Chart, complete with a visual clip art of the expectation (sleeping alone in his own bed) as well as a picture of the prize--SHAGGY driving his new Tractor Mow. I also remind Parent #2 throughout the next 2 weeks in small moments of regret that there are no take backs. He must make good on his promise.

I DID IT! Now I can go to sleep all by myself and I just earned myself a TRACTOR MOW!

REWARD

Max and Dad were up 'til 11:00 pm putting the reward together. Can you put a price on that smile? Or on the fact that we've shaved about an hour off of our bedtime routine?Luke wants to know, "What's in this for me? No Fair!" Max was really good to share his new love with all his friends right away.

Gone Fishin'

The kids had a blast fishing at Payson Lakes! Sarah was the big FISH that day as she caught about 12 fish! I love those lakes that are stocked daily! Jolea and I spent most of our time wranglin' Cole and Luke. Thank goodness for the trail around the lake.

Max's First Catch

First catch: June 26, 2010

Location: Payson Lakes

Age: 3.5 years

Notes: Did not want to touch the fish, had no problem touching the worms

Assistance by: Dad

Camping Trip 2010

Camping Trip 2010: Payson Lakes

company: Loveless', Beatty's & Kelsey
first CAMPING trip with the BOYS*how's that possible*loved every DIRTY minute of it*gathering STICKS*sleeping (kind of) in the TENT*roasting HOT DOGS & MARSHMALLOWS*making a CAMP FIRE with Dad*

My lil' Buckaroo

Horse Parade

I can't believe that it has already been a year since our last horse parade! Every June as part of Lehi Round-Up, the city puts on 3 parades, one of which is a horse Parade. It happens to be my boys favorite one (not to mention the shortest one!!) Luke's obsession with the horse started probably around the time he was a year old. Of course he calls almost every animal a "whorse", but none the less, he loves horses and thourougly enjoyed the parade. Likewise Max still has an infatuation with horses, especially since he's been on numerous pony rides and got to ride Uncle Jim's big horse, Jane, on his 3rd birthday (and he is still talking about it). This year, Max was not going to be found at the horse parade without his boots, holster, and gun! It was our first parade of the summer, and despite the heat, it was a lot of fun for the boys!

Super Powers

Let's see... if the boys could each pick a Super Power, I believe...Max would definitely want power over the elements. That way he could control when it rained and snowed, and when the sun came up and went down. This would ensure him the maximum amount of time he could spend outside mowing everyone's lawn, watering the flowers, riding bikes with his friends, and playing in the water.
...And for Luke...I would have to say he would want power to fly or to beam. That way he could get where ever he wanted, as fast as he wanted, and no one could catch him. If he could double that with beaming powers, he could also get whatever toy he wanted from whomever had it and they couldn't get it back.

Here is Batman teaching Robin how to fly. Max goes in and out of Superhero mode (mostly just Batman and Superhero Squad.) He makes Luke play along sometimes and Luke loves to obliged him.
Now when Luke sees any superhero figure anywhere he says in his deepest Lukie voice,.. "Man, Man."

We actually had to go to Ryan's work on this day and I hadn't planned on going in, but we did. His co-workers got quite a kick out of their dress-ups.

Birthday Boy

We celebrated Mark's birthday a few weeks ago and I just have to embarrass him for a moment, because, well, this is my blog and I can. I can honestly say that we are truly blessed to have Uncle Mark live right down the street. Often people will ask me if it's bothersome living so close to family or awkward in any way. I smile and tell them we wouldn't want it any other way. Mark is such a great help to me and my family. He is always there when we need help with anything at all. He has jumped in as babysitter, chauffeur to the hospital, doctor, lawn boy, gardener, cook, you name it.
But above all, he is so great with my kids. Each week, sometimes twice a week, he makes sure he calls Max when he is going to mow his lawn. He knows that Max loves to mow and he works it around Max's nap time so that he can come and get him. He brings his truck down, loads Max's little mower and weed eater in the back, plops Max on his lap and lets him drive the five houses down the street to go mow. It is a highlight of Max's week. We love you Mark and wish you all the best this year!

Just like Dad...

I was reminded by the father in the house that a Father's Day post was absent from the blog. This picture collage sums up perfectly just what kind of father my children have. They have a person whom they want to emulate in every way. Take a look. The hat is on backwards, just like Dad. He's carrying his weed eater, just like Dad. He's tilting the blade to the edge, just like Dad. He's careful that sets it up for gassing, just like Dad. Currently he now owns and wears his new sunglasses and has specific mowing shoes, just like Dad.
There was a quote given in our last general conference that speaks volumes to me. "What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say." I am grateful that the man I chose to be the father of my children is an example in word and deed. They watch him and impersonate. They listen and they mimic. Right now, Dad is their SuperMan. He can tackle any bad guy, break down any barrier, and right every wrong. Our neighborhood is astounded by my childrens' obsession with yard work. We're not. Dad loves to work in the yard, and so the boys love it too. Max ran a mile when he was 2 1/2 years old without stopping. His Dad doesn't like to go a day without getting in a run. Max already has a love of reading in his picture "scrip-purs". His spot is right next to Dad, as Dad is reading his scriptures.
Each night the familiar bed time routine ensues and I hear my 3 year old tell his Daddy "Dad, I hold your neck!" Translation: Dad I want you to give me a piggyback ride to bed. And, "Dad, you check on me?" Translation: Daddy, I'm going to go to sleep by myself but I need to know that you will be making sure no monsters are in my room during the night. It's his Daddy that he wants to put him to bed. He knows he can count on Dad. Dad will make sure all is right.
My favorite sound of every single day occurs at just before 6 p.m. It's the exuberant screams of two little boys when they hear the alarm beeps and the garage door as it rises. Their favorite playmate, their Daddy, is finally home. They run up the stairs and wait like faithful puppies for their Dad to enter. Then they pounce him with hugs and kisses and "Daddy, you're home!" Their Dad is kind. Their Dad works hard. Their Dad values family and is a loyal friend. Their Dad is gentle yet rowdy. Their Dad is solid, his faith unshakable. Their Dad is patient and loving and a little obnoxious, just as boys should be.

And I married that guy. The guy who you hope and pray your children will grow up to be.

Nestle 5K

On June 5th I hit my second race of the year, the Nestle 5K in Springville. This time I had some fellow family runners. Jolea brought her whole family out this year and it was so much fun. Easton was the only one to win a prize in the drawing. Ironically, he won a cooler that his dad already has! (oh, the luck) This was Ryan's first race post surgery and he did quite well considering. I have the best in-laws; Grandma and Grandpa came down to help push the kids so that Ryan and I could actually really run it.I was hoping to get my best 5K time for this course this year and I did! 23:06, placing 5th in my age group. Kinda proud of that one, especially since they put a killer hill in at about mile 1.5. We had so much fun and can't wait until next year!

Eli Graduates!

8 kids in my family. The youngest just graduated high school. I am the middle child. Oh my...I'm getting old.

We went to Idaho in May for Eli's high school graduation. It was so much fun and I can't put into words how I felt watching him walk across that stage (especially since my kids were actually behaving and I was able to take it all in). Eli is such a special kid. All of his nieces and nephews were so excited to pick him out of the crowd of kids and see him walk up and get his diploma. I don't know if there is a more loved and adored Uncle on this planet. I am just so very proud of him and I know that Eli is going to to great things in his life. He has already touched so many people and I know he will have opportunities to touch so many more. I am grateful for everyone who has loved him and helped him along his way. He certainly hasn't forgotten any of those special people in his life. He is such a special part of our family and we are truely blessed by all those outside our family who have helped to mold and shape his life.

Such posers
Ryan couldn't join us until the weekend, but my boys had such a blast at Nana's.They got to run and play in the wide open spaces, throw rocks into the pond, visit the little farm down her road and see all the animals, and play, play, play with cousins.

Ryan puts on Scooby Doo for the little ones

Okay there was also some fighting, biting, hitting, with cousins involved as well. I don't know when the day will come where there isn't, but everyone made it home in one piece and they all still love eachother. Cole in pretty ponytails (did his Dad see this?)

Max survived having to share Nana's place with Sunny (Carrie's dog and his biggest fear) and even seemed to make some small progress with her. He liked it when Sunny would come up to the glass door and stick her nose to it. We'll take it. Baby steps. It is always a treat when we get to go to Nana's!Jolea and Ry do some patch work
Sarah participates as the one armed Zombie in the Spooky Forest re-inactment

How to Plant an 18 ft tree

Almost a Believer

This almost makes me want to buy a minivan. Thanks Kellie for rollin' this way. You've almost made a believer out of this SUV Momma.

Pretty Days Aren't the Payoff

Sundays are 'pretty days'. It's the only day of the week that guarantees that I will have hair and make-up done and real clothes on...all before noon. Sundays themselves are usually validation enough that I still have it, well, some of it at least. Last Sunday my 3 year old noticed. "Mom, you're beautiful!" he said slowly, almost mesmerized, as I made my descent down the staircase, oddly reminiscent of one's pre-prom promenade. "Flattery is wasted on the young", I noted. To 'Mother of 2', the compliment meant so much more than when what's-his-name muttered something to that effect a decade and some ago on our way to Jr. Prom. 'Husband of 5 years' noted the sentiment, concurred, then responded with a rhetorical "She is beautiful, isn't she?", wisely taking credit for our son's thoughtful observation and narrowly escaping one of those looks from me. I smile and am momentarily grateful that 3 year olds don't have filters.

It's a strange thing, Motherhood. It's a time when you feel like you are totally losing yourself and then you begin to see that you're just finding it. I remember before I became a mother, I would go to work and on any given day I'd be there as a birth mother handed her baby to an adoptive couple to have and raise and love. She would likely only know her own flesh through a series of pictures and letters and if she was one of the lucky ones, a few phone calls on birthdays or the occasional visit. And I would leave those placements seeing the hero in those birth moms, always wondering how they were able to do it but grateful that they were. It wasn't until I had my Max that I realized that those birth moms weren't trying to be heroes. They were just being mothers. Motherhood is love. Heroism is merely a byproduct of such selfless love. Mother love is a verb, something that must be experienced wholly and completely. As a runner, I have observed the phenomena called a marathon, yet I do not know the euphoria of racing it. Only one who is a mother knows what Mother love does to you.
I was told to sleep when they slept. I was told that crying wouldn't kill them. I was told to use time outs. I was told he would do it when he was ready. But no one told me that I would lay awake, watching him sleep, wondering why having clean floors was so much more important than reading that book to him today. No one told me that seeing him hurt and sad would kill me. No one told me that when he no longer needed me there, I would need him there. The first time I held them in my arms I told each of them, "I am your Mommy." I often wonder now, who am I to be their Mommy?
I am standing in my closet upstairs, starring at what must be someone else's wardrobe, wondering who replaced my every fashion sense with this stuff. A plethora of track jackets, hoodies and yoga pants suffocate what now has become 'special occasion' (meaning anywhere I go without the kids) wear. I hear the laughter of two little boys waft through the floor vents and an almost audible thought pierces my mind and heart. "They are given to you to make you better." If we do it right, every generation will perpetuate something better than the one before. My mother says that her greatest joy is seeing her children become better individuals than she was. I hope my sons will be so much more I am. I'll let the floors go next time.
Last Sunday was just one of dozens of times he has noticed something every mother, wife, and woman secretly wishes someone will notice, even though we know that more often than not, it won't be. And that is okay, because what we all know is that they, themselves, are validation enough that what we are doing every single day, over and over again, matters and is a beauty most will never see. Mothering takes place behind walls that never boast. When his first pick is the kid who never gets chosen to be on his team, when he donates his lawn money to help pay for his brother's medical bills, when he opts out of the Friday night party for family Monopoly because he knows that is where he is safest... I will again feel validated because he is my son and I am his Mother and I will know once again that having him has changed me forever.
Because of my boys I can be a patient, self-less, loving, kind, nurturing, strong, healthy, motivated, wise, and knowledgeable woman. What a gift they are. What an opportunity I have.