Just Right

This weekend we finally found a bike for Daisy.  It was purple, it was dirty, it was cheap.  For five dollars I got her a bike and a helmet.  Then I spent this week cleaning it up (magic eraser on the tires, removing the faded hand brake wires that you don't need for a 3 year old anyway, and scrubbing off rust).  Then I headed to goodwill and found the perfect sized basket to go in front of her bike.  I spray painted it white and added a few daisies (of course) and it was all ready for Frenchy to take a ride.  However I had envisioned that this basket would be easy to get on and off so Daisy could pack up whatever she wanted, ride to her location, and then take the basket with her into her world we call "La-la Land"  How could I accomplish that and still kee the basket cute?  Hooks!!

I screwed some hooks into the back of the basket and they fit perfectly on the handle bars!  I was so excited!  It turned out so well!  I love it!  I love it even more than Daisy does.  I love that it isn't plastic.  It isn't Velcroed on.  It is easy to put on and take off.  And the basket cost me a whole $6 combined.  More than the bike, I know, but so cute.  I also spent a bit more money to get her a bell and streamers because what little girl doesn't love streamers?  Turns out her 'upgrades' will have to be considered her birthday present which is the ONLY thing that stopped Kaylee from pointing out the unfairness of the whole situation.  Good thing my little girl is turning four soon. 

I told Ben all I wanted this summer was that the girls had bikes and Kaylee learned to ride a two-wheeler.  We have successfully accomplished that goal before they are even out of school!  How fun!  It's a good thing we got a head start on summer fun since we will be spending most of our summer in California and Utah due to missionary returns, weddings, receptions and a home makeover.  I can't wait!  On a side note my girls got to pick out a new outfit from Grandma.  They all look so cute and they love feeling pretty in their new dresses.

I love having these girls.  They really make our family just right.

Never say never

My Mom works at a school and I always hear her stories of a rotten kid who did a rotten thing but then denies it and the rotten parents insist that their child would NEVER do a thing like that.  I've always thought, "what idiot parents!  All kids lie!  Of course their kid is lying to them and they are so stupidly blinded that they can't see how rotten their kids are!"  Harsh.  I know.  But still you always wonder how can parents be so dumb?  I, of course, in my height of judgmental censure, decided I would not fall into the trap.  I will know that all kids lie including my own.  I wouldn't be one of those ignorant parents who love their kids to the point of creating monsters and hellions who pretty much control their parents.  But, like always, I've been put into the exact situation I determined not to be in and find myself doing exactly what I said I would NEVER do.

My kids have been accused-rather rudely I might add-of inappropriate behavior by the apartment managers here and when I listen to it all I keep saying, "I don't believe my kids did that."  And I DON'T!!  I'm still sitting here thinking the apartment managers are making stuff up!  They must just have it out for my kids because there is no other explanation!  I've asked Heidi what happened.  I've asked Kaylee what happened.  I've asked the other girls involved.  All their stories collaborate together but the managers insist that my kids were bad and I just can't believe it.

But then I wonder...Am I just another parent who can't see that their kids would do something wrong?  Am I blinded by seeing all the good in my girls that I won't accept the possible bad?  Now I know my kids are not perfect.  I can point out each of their flaws-and have done so repeatedly on this blog in fact-but the accusations against them seem way beyond their realm of 'bad'.  Plus they are acting like my kids are just bad and malicious which I can't believe that either.  So it has been a long two days of wondering what is the real story?  Who really did the damage?  Who do I believe?  Am I not being realistic about their behavior or are the apartment managers really just mean spirited people who are trying to cause trouble?  I don't know.  When Heidi says she didn't do it I believe her.  I can usually tell when they are lying and in this case I just believe them.

Parenting is hard and humbling.  The moral of this story is that whatever you say, 'I (or my kids) will never do that' you have just set in stone that at some point you or your kids will do that.  Beware of judging...it gets you in the end.

The Sun is Shining

So yesterday wasn't a good day.  I was sad all day as I considered our life prospects.  It looked bleak.  And unfortunately that was the day everyone called to see how things were going and I sounded quite depressed.  But then last night I did a Jillian Michaels workout, got up this morning to run 6 miles, actually did my hair today (which I was ready to chop off yesterday because it's in that awkward stage of growing out) and the clouds are gone making it a beautiful day!  I already feel better about life.  

This is the view from our balcony.  I really love living here in Medford.  We are working on a job opportunity that will allow us to remain here.  It's going to be a lot of work which is why yesterday I felt as if it may have been too daunting of a task but today I'm just hopeful it will all work out.  I'm just going to have faith it will. 

So I have a friend I'm trying to convince to move here (which is another reason why I really want to stay in Medford).  My friend wanted to see how Medford looks.  While my sister was here we went on a drive through Medford taking pictures of the area.  There will be a few posts to follow about that.  The above pictures are from a park here.  Beautiful!  I love how green Medford is.  It's also pretty clean.  We love going to this park.  There is a little creek that runs by and it is along the Beer Creek Greenway that runs from Ashland to Central Point.  A lot of bikers use it for getting too and from work.   

And this picture is a view from the back deck of the house I want to buy.  You can see the mountains in the distance, the pretty trees, and this is also the school the kids go to, which is also right next to the...

Church!!  It's a great location to buy a house and, once again, I'm just relying on faith to buy us that house.  Hopefully it will still be sitting there waiting for us when we get all the contracts worked out and can buy the house. More to come on tour of Medford!

Oak Harbor/Coupeville

Arriving at the Lovejoy Inn

Heading down to the little shops along the waterfront.

Penn Cove

On the dock in Coupeville.

Our cute little room.

View from the balcony.

The sunrise while running along the coastline.

The beautiful sunset and ten wonderful years of marriage.

Stopping by to visit my roommate on the way home.

It was a great weekend.  The interview went well and the scenery was amazing.  Seriously beautiful.  I think I could do island living.  However I loved coming back down through the green and lush mountains of Oregon.  I wonder what life changes this next month will bring.

May the 4th

Today is my ten year anniversary of being a temple attender!  Ten years ago today I went to the temple for the first time.  It was a completely new experience.  Not at all what I had pictured it to be.  Tonight it was a wonderful experience that I've experience for so long now that it felt comfortable, comforting and uplifting.  I love my life and tonight-all day even-has been a conformation that this is what I was meant to be.  Still have a long way to go, a long way to improve.  But for being me, age thirty, ten years endowed and ten years married, doing my best, I think Heavenly Father is happy with it.  And I'm happy.

Lessons I've learned in the past 3 days

1. Quit expecting a picture perfect day.  They don't happen.  

2. Any outing you plan because it will be 'fun' and 'quality family time' will also include crying, whining, frustration and gritting my teeth to keep my cool.  I just need to accept that it is going to happen and learn to handle it better.

3. When I do something I know is wrong I should be prepared for God to put me in my place.  He always does.

4. No matter how well you try to raise your kids there will always be someone else ready to pinpoint how you suck at parenting.

5. When you are frustrated and mad everyone else gets that way too. 

6. When everyone is frustrated and mad they say stupid things they don't mean so don't take it to heart.

7. My kids are going to cry and fight over something, big or little, every single day so just expect it.  That doesn't make them bad kids it just makes them kids.

8. Our parents must have also been so exhausted after raising all of us.

9. Watch what I say around the kids because they pick it up and repeat it.

10. Each kid will be smart in their own way.  I have to try and figure that way out.

11. I have really good friends.

12. Heavenly Father always takes care of me.

13. When I have a totally cool idea don't expect that anyone else is going to think it is totally cool.  The kids might but that's because they are kids.

14. Even if no one else likes my cool I idea I'm not going to give it up because I like it.

15. I'd rather be strong than skinny.

This week has been an eye-opening week. I feel like I'm finally trying to listen and learn instead of thinking I already know.  But that's what happens when you've been humbled-you are finally ready to learn.  I am finally ready to give up the things I've been clinging to and ready to accept whatever else lies ahead.

Heidi has a dwarf peach tree that we got for a super good deal for her friend's birthday party.  We carved her initials in it.  Cool gift, right?  Doesn't clutter your house, will last forever (hopefully) and it is one of a kind!  It's a cool idea but I'm sure there are many who wouldn't like it.  Luckily the family who received the tree is the type of family who thinks like me :)