Community feeling

Every day, all day long, all year long, I see a community outside my kitchen window. The road that is somewhat busy with car traffic is also constantly busy with foot and pedal traffic. A popular trail starts nearby: a trail that beckons morning walkers, avid joggers, and dedicated stroller-pushing moms. Bikers cycle past frequently: some are trained, focused groups; some are families calling out to each other; often it is a lone rider daydreaming or maybe counting miles. Even the high school cross-country teams regularly pass by as I wash dishes.

The other day, I happened to glance up as an older--I might even say elderly--man rode his bike in figure-eights next to his walking wife. All over the street he meandered like a ten-year old boy, watching for traffic, but not watching for what anyone might think of his carefree manner. I smiled at the sweet picture that the couple didn't even know they had made.

For the most part, I don't know the people I see; yet, as I observe their recreation, their exercise, their schedules, I feel they are a small part of my daily life. They are the background of my own activities.

Fall Break

Having our schoolchildren home for a couple days last weekend motivated us to plan mini-field trips. On Thursday, we just stayed home to do chores and play and rest. Friday was spent with cousins and friends at our local Scarecrow Festival, where we enjoyed old-fashioned games like hit-the-milk-bottles, new-fashioned blow-up slides, and a picnic on the grass.

Then Saturday we went to Tracy Aviary (think bird zoo). I took the kids up there in July and they loved it so much that they were excited to take Matt. They eagerly led their dad through the little park and showed him their favorite birds. Matthew liked the "chubby quail", Jamie Beth played with the tinamou, Dallin stayed quite a while with the flamingos, and we suppose Nate liked the cuckoos, because he kept putting his fingers in their habitat, even as they pecked him and his shirt. We also shared a bit of our lunch with one of the roaming peacocks. (The pictures below are actually from our July outing, but last weekend's trip looked precisely the same.)

note the sign

Later that night, Matt and I went on a date while the kids stayed at Nana and Papa's house. I think this activity was their favorite of the entire weekend. Pizza, movie, popcorn, and Nana's favorite: Nate carefully spooning strawberry Qwik powder onto her carpet.

Sunday was, of course, Sunday, with church and our usual dinner with grandparents and cousins.

Monday we ventured out again...this time to Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point, where an event called Barnyard Boo provided very basic activities that appealed to the little crowd: frosting cookies, digging for "bones" in a sandbox (I thought that was disgusting), beanbag toss, pumpkin bowling, wagon ride. The kids also fed bits of dried corn to the many ducks, horses, goats, sheep, and alpacas; but, of course, the main attraction here was the pony ride, which elicited broad smiles from Nate until he decided midway that he was done, so he hopped off. Luckily, I caught him. As had become tradition, we enjoyed another picnic before heading home.



At the end of the weekend, I think we almost felt we had been on a vacation. Aside from being able to re-live a little of the summer freedom with the kids, my favorite part was being finished each day just in time for naptime.

Ideas, ideas, ideas

Matthew and Jamie Beth are out of school for fall break until Tuesday, and I'm so glad. The fact of the matter is that I love having my kids at home with me. We have a couple outings planned, but plenty of home-time too. Since I have many good intentions, but few fun ideas, I am using RedRoko as a resource for things-to-do. If I can manage to get pumpkins tomorrow, we'll do an activity like Pumpkin Seed Hide 'n Seek.

Just a Thought

Some of my favorite words come from a woman whose views, for the most part, were not shared with the world until she was in her eighties. I find great wisdom from such experienced, genuinely happy women.

"We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove anything, to be what we are."
*Marjorie Pay Hinckley*

Comfort Foods

When I am stressed out or overwhelmed I drink hot chocolate. Even in the summer. There's something calming about the steamy heat, the warmth of the mug in my hands, and of course, the chocolate. Stephen's Hot Cocoa is my favorite, but I'll take whatever I have available.

Does that count as an addiction?

I want to know if anyone else turns to a specific food item for peace and tranquility.

Stranger Danger

Oh dear, Dallin. Oh, dear Dallin.

As if the child hasn't provided enough material for our family journal/blog, here is his latest story, as related to me by my father-in-law.

A neighbor walking past our house one morning last week noticed all the children gathered at the bus-stop, which is on our property. The neighbor was suddenly attacked by one small boy who loves waiting for the bus with the big kids. Dallin. "He just started hitting me," said Brother Aland, "and when I asked him why he was doing that, he replied--My mom told me not to be nice to strangers."

And now, this is why Dallin thinks he should treat innocent walkers in such a way: Also last week, while at a playground, Dallin told me he needed to go to the bathroom and took off in that direction. By the time I got to him, possibly one minute later, he had already struck up a conversation with another bathroom-goer, a large construction worker type of guy. Though I consider our area to be very safe, populated with mostly friendly, kind people, still...talking to strangers in the bathroom doesn't seem like the greatest habit for a four-year-old to pick up. I reminded Dallin that we should never talk to people we don't know unless a mom or a dad is with us. "But I do know that man...his name is Eric!" In response to this logic, all I could do was (shake my head and hold in the laugh; oh, and...)reiterate the rule about strangers, adding the information that we had discussed before as a family: never go with someone you don't know; if a stranger asks for help, get your mom first; and if someone tries to grab you and steal you away, hit, kick, and scream as loud as you can.

Obviously--and painfully for Brother Aland--Dallin did pay attention to some of my instructions.

So, now I want to know...how do you teach your kids
1. to be friendly and polite to others,
2. to not interact with strangers,
3. to protect themselves from harm-doers,
4. to not beat on innocent people, even if they are technically strangers.

I simply didn't realize that not only do all these rules seem to conflict with one another, but they also confuse little minds who sincerely try to obey their moms.

Just a Thought

I enjoyed the general Relief Society conference last week, and President Dieter Uchtdorf's talk was my favorite. His words about creating spoke especially to my heart, but I also liked this thought:

"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers."
*Dieter F. Uchtdorf*