The next best thing

Meet our newest addition:

PEETA

It's not Thanksgiving yet

Church is great.  

I'm not sure exactly what was said, but the message I got was:

"In order to be happy we need to be grateful."

I came home and taught a lesson to my kids about gratitude.  

I asked each person to think of a time in their life when they were grateful.

Then I asked them to think of something that had happened that day that they were grateful for.

We then started a gratitude journal.

Then we took a spontaneous trip to the beach to watch the sunset.

I think our Bishop was on to something.

Gratitude = Happiness.  

Try it.

I am grateful for this girl (who was willing to pose for a picture)...and the temple in the background!

Couldn't resist

What do you do when your kitty cat's birthday lands on the same weekend you are getting rid of baby clothes....

Man's Bread

Every boy needs a male role model in their life.  Tyson is lucky enough to have an awesome dad to look up to...BUT, when we are in Canada there is no daddy.  So who takes his place?  GRANDPA!!  Spoken from a daughter/wife perspective, Tyson's Dad and Grandpa are quite different. 

Some things Tyson and Daddy like to do together:

Play video games

Buy/Sell things on Ebay

Play Monopoly

Play soccer

Playing Monopoly with Daddy

Some things Tyson and Grandpa like to do together:

Philosophy about God

Shoot stuff

Play Chess

Throw darts, arrows & spears

And most importantly (for this blog post)...eat "man's bread"

  Grandpa decorating cookies

Those of you who know my dad, know that he has some weird ideas about food.  He has been known to eat chunky green smoothies (made with rotten fruit and flax seeds), chew chunks of fresh garlic, snack on a can of sardines, and even eat a piece of pizza in between two slices of banana bread.  Yeah, he once made me down a spoonful of molasses because I wasn't feeling well--go figure.  Well, Grandpa finally found someone who was willing to eat the interesting food he makes...Tyson.

 

When we were staying with my parents, Tyson would come out of the kitchen with some weird concoction that my dad had put together for him.  Whether it was a "boat" (stale, toasted ciabatta bread) or a smashed banana sandwich on "man's bread" (hearty bread filled with 12 chunky grains), Tyson LOVED it.

Tyson eating...something other than man's bread:)

Grandpa called the other day and asked if Tyson missed his "man's bread" and I heard my little 6-year-old boy say "YES."  So, I headed to the store and picked up the closest thing I could find to Grandpa's bread.  I put on the peanut butter, and the honey, but I couldn't quite bring myself to add smashed banana:)  Even with that banana, somehow it still wouldn't be the same.

Vons version of man's bread that we bought

Does this look right Dad?!

On with the new

I am starting to think my calendar year should begin with September instead of January.  With school age children, September is a time of new beginning (actually now it's August).  Our flip flops are traded in for socks and running shoes, our alarm clocks are set for 6:45am, and our afternoons are full of extra curricular activities.

This school year for Tyson hasn't changed much.  He is in the same split class as last year (although, now he is the older grade) and he is signed up for soccer.  He is even using the same back pack as last year!!

 The First Day of School

 

Picture Day...let's hope his school pictures are a little nicer:)

Kya has decided to make some changes this year.  Although she too is in the same class as last year, she has added a few different activities to the table.  She now is in 1) Choir (at school), 2) Piano 3) Soccer and of course still 4) Gymnastics...although she did get a new leotard since she somehow grew out of her old one over the summer.  We are excited to see her try new things and develop her talents.

First day of school...with her BFF

 

In her soccer uniform, playing piano:)

 

Jordan may have the biggest change this school year...although it is only one change.  She started MIDDLE SCHOOL!!  It's hard to believe my baby is old enough to go to middles school, but she loves it and seems to fit right in.  Did you know that along with middle school comes a new obsession with fashion and a desire to actually brush your hair?  That's new for Jordan too (especially the brushing her hair thing):)

 First Day of School

 Driving to middle school--ahh!!

Mid-Life What?!

If you would have asked me a few years ago "At what age does one have a mid-life crisis?," I would have said around 50.  Well, I'm not 50, but I'm pretty sure I'm muddling through what seems to be a mid-life crisis.  Now, I haven't traded in my family car for a sporty convertable or anything like that, but I am definitely having those feelings of transition. 

When I was a child, I had a vision of what my life would be like.  I imagined myself living in a big house out in the country with lots of kids.  I imagined being super involved with school and activities and church.  I imagined hanging out with great friends and family.  I imagined feeling peace and joy and completeness.

So here I am.  I live in one of the biggest cities in the US.  I have 3 kids partly because I couldn't handle more, but partly because living in LA, I couldn't afford more.  My family is a plane ride away, as well as some of my greatest friends.  I am definitely busy with school and activities, yet they are a lot more stressful than I envisioned.  Serving in the church is something that has brought me a lot of joy, but I am constantly feeling inadequate. 

Life is just harder and more confusing than I ever thought it would be.  I find myself searching for more.  I have never really felt like this in my life before.  I just feel like there is something more I need to do, but I'm not quite sure what it is.  It has been weighing me down.  

So now I am trying to trudge through this "rough patch" without going too far off the deep end (don't worry, I am not going to high tail it to the nearest body piercing parlor...and believe me, I wouldn't have to go far).  I think it will involve a little letting go (especially of some of the unrealistic expectations I may have), and a lot of soul searching...

(Me, back in the day...after marriage, but before babies)

   

Tyson {HEARTS} Money

Tyson is obsessed with money.

 

I don't know when it started.

I don't know when it will end.

 

And I'm not quite sure how to deal with it.

Here's a little about how Tyson's money obsession has payed off...with more money:

Tyson will want something from the store.  He'll want it for a LONG time.  Somehow he'll manage to either get enough money to buy it or get it given to him as a gift.  Shortly after he gets whatever it is that he wants so badly, he decides he doesn't like it anymore and wants to SELL it.  Usually, I just make him keep it since he wanted it so badly, but this time he asked Dad.  

Last year Tyson was in love with anything Pokemon.  Over the course of the year he accumulated A LOT (385 to be exact) of Pokemon.  When he decided he wanted to sell them, I thought "NO!!  You loved them so much, you should keep them."  Well, Dad had a different plan.  Before I knew it, those two boys were on eBay creating an account and over-pricing their (I mean Tyson's) Pokemon collection.

One week later, they were walking to the post office and filling Tyson's piggy bank.  

 

(All he has left of Pokemon is this shirt...well, and $52!!)

 

 So now what new thing with he want to buy with his money??

My Manly Man

I didn't realize until recently that one of the best things about being married, is to have a MAN around...to do stuff...man stuff.

One day after getting home from Canada, my hubby checked into the hospital to have shoulder surgery.  That means that for the past two weeks, he hasn't been able to do anything with his right arm--nothing, not anything!!  He hasn't been able to take out the garbage, replace our car battery, carry the laundry downstairs, drive to work, tie his shoes, or even open his pain meds.

I honestly didn't realize how much I need a MAN around to help out...at least he still brings home a paycheck:)

(I think Mike misses doing his MAN duties too)