City Kids

I knew I was in trouble the day Abbey saw a man trimming grass with a weed eater and asked me "Mom, why is that man playing golf on the side of the road?".   My poor, poor city kids have no concept of yard work.  Just last week Abbey asked me if all bushes grew round or rectangular. *sigh*

I do what I can.  Really I do.  We have some community gardens nearby that we ride our bikes too a couple of times a week.  The girls have made friends with a gardner there and tromp through the mud to plant onions and cabbage with him occasionally.  Please don't pity them.  Someday... someday they'll know the joy of pulling weeds on a hot Saturday morning... 

School at the beach

It's stinkin hot today.  So we had school at the beach.  Here's what Abbey wrote about it.

The Dolphins

By Abbey

I saw a pod of dolphins at the beach.  At first we thought they were sharks.  My mom told me that those creatures were really not sharks.  They were dolphins.  They have two fins on their back.  They were playing.  Dolphins make me feel happy.  I really like going to the beach.  Have you ever gone to the beach?

The End

Full Sun

Lest you think I'm complaining, let me explain.  I love the sun.  I thrive in the beautiful, sunny, lovely weather of California.  It is glorious and beautiful.  And I'm not bragging.  It just is what it is.  But it makes photos challenging sometimes.  Full sun makes for hard, severe shadows. Hollow, dark holes where sparkly eyes should be.  Hmm...I could get up earlier. Drag my kids and myself out of bed to catch that ethereal morning light.   And then run ten miles, clean my house from top to bottom, do twenty science experiments with the kids, and cook a gourmet dinner.  Point?  It's probably not going to happen.  So... I've found using a flash, even in full sun, helps minimize shadow.  Course, that only works when you're close.  And you can also look for shady spots.  That sometimes helps.  Other than that, we just enjoy the drama hard shadows create (seriously...I have three daughters.  We can be very dramatic).  And try to take advantage of the occasional cloud.

I'll call this one "Blue Skies"
How's that for product placement?  I'm in no way affiliated with the Pepsi Corporation.  But would greatly appreciate a check for my efforts.  By the way, that's my awesome sister and her husband.
She's wearing pants.  I promise!  It's a "skort" kind of thing that just caught on the swing.  We're all about modesty here.  Just apparently not in this picture.

Eight is Great

The house is quiet.  The last of our company just left.  It's been an awesome week.  My sister and her family came and Brent's parents came.  And even though right now Sarah only remembers that the water was freezing, I know that over time she'll realize the significance of her baptism.  The power and direction that comes with the gift of the Holy Ghost is so life changing.  And the gift of repentance is key to joy.  And I'm not just talking happiness.. but true, deep joy.  The kind you feel to your very center.  She'll get it.  I don't think I really "got it" until I was in my twenties.   Actually, who am I kidding?  I probably still don't fully get it.  But I am happy.. and I have moments of that deep kind of joy.  Sarah is a part of that.  And I'm so proud of the woman she is growing up to be.  

Company

My awesome sister and her awesome family are spending their spring break crashing our little apartment.  And I love it!!  Of course the first order of business was a trip to the beach.  It's the perfect place to take the kids.  No tv. No phone.  No merchandise they are begging me to buy.  Just waves, sun, sand, and good company.  Not to mention a great place to take pictures.  Is it normal to think your children are the most beautiful, creative, awesome people in the universe?  And their cousins, I have to say, are a close second.

Smooth 9.35HR Treadmill

We're getting one of these.  See that picture?  That girl jogging?  Well that's me.  Don't my buns look great?  Did I mention I'm on medication?  I'm kidding.  Although there are days....  

In my desperate and slightly chubby state, my husband purchased one of these to keep me from losing my mind completely.  I know exercise is good for me.  I believe in it, I just can't seem to take it to the next level and actually do it regularly.  And so, please wish me luck.  Pray that I develop a severe allergy to sugar, cheese, and all things good.  And maybe, just maybe, in a year my buns really will look like her's.