the best way to spend a summer evening

We rode our bikes to the school a half mile from our house after dinner tonight.  Steve and I flew kites while the kids climbed around on the playground toys. The wind was just strong enough to let the kids practice flying without the fear of them being drug across the grass.  (Carter went through two juice boxes and was still low when we got home.  Ghee whiz.)

I'm thinking most of our summer is going to be spent just like tonight.

 Next time I'm tossing my real camera in the bike trailer...but I'm still pretty impressed with my I-phone.

Catch Up With Picture

I'm very behind with everything, and this is mostly due to the fact that school is out.  Hurry!

Summer vacation has officially begun and were hoping it will be warmer than our spring has been.  We had highs in the 50's last week.  Yuck.

Today hit close to 80.  

Things are looking up.

Because I am so behind, I'm just posting a bunch of pictures and not taking the time to put them in the correct order- they are actually backwards chronologically.  

It's summer now and I don't care.

But the last few days have been eventful.

Saylor is learning the art of RC cars.  We start 'em young around here.

She has already perfected the art of loving her dad.

I'm not sure what this pose is...but I like it anyway.

Please ignore the muddy puddle of who knows what behind Colby.  We have some drainage problems  and as we actually sprung and had our lawn sprayed (hallelujah), we had to water it a ton yesterday.  Hence the cesspool.  Whether or not my boys or my nephews actually relieved themselves in it will remain a secret.  But the rumor has flown.

While Steve and I were in Idaho Falls last weekend, we stopped by Toys R Us to look for Saylor an outside toy.  I wanted it mostly to keep her contained while I work in the yard.  Would Steve let me buy a cute pink car?  NOPE!  He bought her her own bumpy truck.  

She loves it just as Steve knew she would.

It is still in the house because once it gets dirty, it can't come back inside.

I'll be moving it out this week when I need to weed my garden!

Yes...the boys danced.  

If you can call what Carter is doing dancing.

We've also been flying Steve's power foil kites.  This picture was taken right before Steve called it an afternoon last Monday.  The kids were whiny and Steve was annoyed.  Just thought I would document Steve not being happy.  Its rare...really rare and deserves documenting to make me look better.  :)

Carter had a darling first grade play last week.  He was a messenger in the Princess and the Pea production and he did a wonderful job.  His lines were memorized and delivered with ease and flare.

He's adorable.

I was a crappy mom and forgot my video camera and good camera.  This happens when a mom has to drag two other children with her to events in the afternoon when one of the children in tow should be taking a nap.  Phone cameras are a poor substitute, but better than nothing.

Carter and Mrs. Black.  

This teacher is gold.  GOLD I tell you.  She learned the ins and outs of diabetes and even mastered Carter's pump.  I will miss this woman next year.  Both Carter and I wish she could move up to second grade.  But that wouldn't be fair for the kids going into first grade.  They deserve a teacher like this!

Andrew did not get a picture taken with his teacher this year.  Fifth graders are too cool for that sort of thing.  However, Mr. Cieslick was the perfect teacher for Andrew this year.  Andrew excelled in all subjects and learned to work extremely hard.  We couldn't be happier with Andrew's last year in elementary school.  

Carter's end of year celebration was held at Harry Barry Park just a few blocks from the school.

One game station the kids participated in was the parachute.  Kill me this looks so fun!  

Mrs. Black even let Colby join in.  Bless that woman!

 Juice boxes are not just for diabetics.

Colby and his make out buddy. 

-just hugging this time though thank goodness.

...note to self.  

Take more pictures of Andrew.

Memorial Day

To celebrate Memorial Day today, we visited the grave of Steve's grandfather and great grandparents.

I love going to the Twin Falls cemetery on Memorial Day.  It's beautiful with all the flowers and is such a peaceful place.  Too bad my children need to be taught a little respect and proper cemetery decorum.

They did not "show well" this afternoon.

For example...

Carter exclaiming in the loud voice only Carter has, "Are there really dead people under all these stones?"

or....

Colby yelling, "There sure are a lot of dead people around here."

and lastly...

After Andrew exclaimed that he "found it"- it being the buried vase next to the headstone which had been overgrown with grass, Carter yelled out, "WHAT- A HAND?"  

My kids have watched too many scary movies.

Really.

I can't tell you how many times I had to tell them to say cemetery...not graveyard.

But even with my childrens' uncouth behavior, it was still a beautiful afternoon.

The crew.

Beautiful Saylor with beautiful flowers.

Colby with dangerous tools...what else is new.

Carter..well you know...but again, what else is new.

(I know it was wrong to take this picture.  I also know it was even more wrong to post it, but I couldn't help myself!  He was oblivious even though I was shouting his name.)

Handsome Grandpa Dixon

Darling Grandma Dixon

(she'll be mad when she realizes I posted this)

The kiddos.

Could they look less enthused?

Say in the wind.

Carter replacing the flowers so I could get a picture.

Saylor destroying flowers placed on a strangers grave.  Sorry.

But I let her because she was crossing her feet like she always does when she is content and comfy and I wanted a picture.

Same old stuff but with a little gratitude

I've noticed lately that my posts consist of random thoughts and activities that happened in the last two or so days.  This will be no different.  A rut is a rut is a rut.

...but I'll try to take pictures tomorrow.  Then when I post on Thursday or so, there will be something to look at.  (Doesn't this just make you want to read on?)

But really, lately I've been thinking about happiness and what makes me truly happy.   I feel that happiness is a state of mind that comes from being satisfied with what you have at any given moment.  It's contentment with your circumstances- not wanting more, but feeling complete with what you already have.  Now, if this is true, anyone can achieve happiness no matter their circumstances...rich, poor, old, young, fat thin, beautiful, or maybe a little unfortunate (my father describes it as having a "marketing problem"). This goes hand in hand with gratitude.  If you are truly grateful for everything you have, how could you not be happy?

Now as I write this at 10:30 pm on a Sunday night, I fully realize that I am tired beyond all reason and am probably making no sense whatsoever.  I also fully realize that I'm writing this in my warm safe home, I have nice warm clothing on, I ate a delicious dinner tonight, all my children are safe in bed, I am relatively healthy as are my children, my husband has a good stead job, and I am loved by my husband, my children and my family.  I have it pretty good. Really good.  And I am grateful for it.  What in the world do I have to be unhappy about?

But sometimes, like everyone, I have those little thoughts of...well...call it covetousness, envy, grumpiness, ungratefulness...whatever it is, it has the same result.  "If only I had a nicer home.  If only I looked like her.  If only I could do that better.  If only I had more more more!" -and the list goes on.  I become a Debby Downer for the day and wallow in my own self pity.   I have every one of my needs met and still I find something to whine about?   Pathetic I know.

Thank goodness I have the ultimate Lemonade Maker in my house (Steve...obviously) to show me the way.  He is SO good for me.  I cherish his example of being satisfied and grateful for even the little things in life.  Lets face it, the guy gets a happy high from seeing an old ugly car driving around town.  He is good at finding joy.   He let me know the other day when I was fretting about something that could happen but obviously has not happened nor do I have control over it happening, that I was waisting my time and energy.  It wasn't worth my worrying effort.  ...but I really think he was just trying to get out of listening to me whine.

So on that note of choosing to be happy, here are some things that have given me joy in the last two or so days. (told you I was in a rut)  Some serious and some not so serious. Call it a light hearted grateful to be me list if you will.

- Steve and I went away overnight to Idaho Falls without children Friday and Saturday.  It has been two years since we spent a night away from our kids.  We had a fabulous time and I relished spending time with just Steve.  But, when I got home Saturday night and tucked my kids into their own beds for the evening, I felt an overwhelming feeling of peace and happiness.  I truly find joy being home with my children.  (And even more joy when they are asleep)

- I like to look at homes for sale.   It became a habit when I began looking for homes in Twin when we stilled lived in Virginia.   The market in Twin is different then when we bought this house and prices have dropped quite a bit.  There are many homes out there that are bigger, nicer and cheaper than the one I am living in.  However, as I tell Steve all the time, I am happy with my house.  Would a bigger kitchen be nicer- absolutely.  Do I wish my grass didn't look diseased- you betcha.  But every once in a while, when I'm picking up after my kids, or completing a random task, I feel a complete gratitude for the home I have been blessed with.  All my children fit in it, we live in a great neighborhood with wonderful friends and neighbors, we love our children's school, we love and enjoy our ward family, my kids have adventure space in the back field, I have room for a garden,  I have two...count them...two storage rooms, and three full baths.  Is my house fancy?  Nope.  Do I have granite counter tops?  Nope.  Do I have vinyl flooring and cheap kitchen cabinets?  Yep- but they are my vinyl flooring and cheap cabinets.  Life is pretty grand.  Steve and I both feel blessed to be have been led into purchasing this home.  And by saying being led...I'm not referring to our realtor if you get my drift.

- I have gained weight since I stopped nursing Saylor.  I knew it would happen, but was still grumpy when it did.  But this weekend with Steve, I found the ultimate way to feel ten pounds lighter.  It has done wonders for my moral and self image.  I bought bigger pants.  Why beat myself up over a pair of pants that fit four months ago?  Why try and squeeze my non-nursing self into a skin tight prison?  Why why why?  As I sit here typing and can actually breathe and not have denim cutting into my newly expanded muffin-top, I feel gratitude for the Buckle store in Idaho Falls and for the "not so little" fact that they carried a size larger in my favorite jeans.  Really and truly, happiness is just a bigger pant size away.  (I think I will make that into a bumper sticker...and use the $$$ to put in granite counter tops and hard wood floors.)

bumpy truck tantrums

She isn't old enough to fully understand that tantrums are not attractive.

But really...is that an excuse?

This doosy of a fit was thrown last night when Steve took her out of the Land Cruiser after her nightly ride.  He came inside and told me that Saylor was banned from bumpy truck rides due to her 18 month old bad ungrateful attitude.  She crossed her arms and hollered like a wounded bear when Steve went to take her out of the truck.  Little ungrateful snip.

Unfortunately, her fits are not confined to daddy daughter truck rides and her bad attitude is growing like an indigenous weed.  ITS DRIVING ME CRAZY!

She wakes up howling, howls during breakfast, howls in the car, howls at lunch time...nap time...dinner time and all the times in between.  I'm embarrassed to say that most mornings I would love to put her back in bed after being with her for ten minutes.  

She has just popped two molars and her gums top and bottom are swollen.   She has also developed a bad case of eczema on her legs and back.  I really can't blame her. If I was her I would be howling too.  

The Tylenol has and will be brought out regularly and because of a lovely sister in law, I'm learning how to treat her skin.  

I'm praying for a little reprieve for and from my grouchy-pants daughter.

This child however, is not grouchy...just full of imagination.

The Tron Lego creations go on and on around here.  After I took these pictures Andrew asked pleadingly if they were going to end up on the blog.  Who am I to disappoint a handsome ten year old?

For those who couldn't tell, this is a paper and Lego recreation of the grid- complete with multi levels.

Once again, I was impressed with his sweet skills.

 Please don't miss the tiny light bike replicas.

And this?  I'm not sure what it is, but it is Tron like and made of Legos.

And Andrew was proud of it.  Enough said.

What am I proud of?  My finished bathroom. 

 It has been done for a while now, but I never posted pictures of the finished product.  Here it is. It's fabulous and both my sisters tell me they have bathroom envy.  I do too actually.  If only I had storage space like this in my bathroom.

tents, lows, kites, princesses and inapropriate public displays of affection

It was fathers and sons this weekend and Steve took the boys.  They actually tent camped this year instead of living in the lap of luxury with the Dixon's airstream.  Andrew can now pass off one more requirement on his way to his arrow of light award for scouts.   If...you can count borrowing the fancy Costco tent from Steve's parents that sets up with one hand "camping."

Carter had a bad low last night starting around 9 pm.  After 20 carbs of juice, he only came up to 65 after 15 minutes.  When I woke him for the second time and told him he needed to drink more for me, he sat up, opened his eyes and brought his hand up to his mouth as if he was holding a can of juice and acted out drinking...more than once.  This all happened without him actually holding the can of juice.  I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Steve has bought yet another set of toys for him and his kids.  We are now the proud owners of power foil kites that require steering to fly.  They are amazing kites and the kids (Steve) love them.  We have the perfect open field behind our house and the almost constant Twin Falls wind providing all the power.  Power enough to drag Steve across the field tonight- he ended up on his back to keep from being drug any further.  And here I thought my kids were the only ones to produce bad grass stains.  I guess this is why I have laundry detergent.

My daughter has taken the title Princess to a new level.  I think Steve and I are going to have to "check" her before it gets any worse.  (Can it get worse?)  I knew I had reached my "princess" tolerance level when Steve had her in the bike trailer tonight driving her around like she was in a horse drawn carriage.  She was sitting all proper like as she pointed and whined which way she wanted Steve to take her.   This is getting ridiculous, but very adorable.  But to not encourage her behavior any further, I think all Cinderella type movies are going to be out out out.

I was shocked to hear that my five year old made a spectacle of himself in primary today.   Not that spectacles for Colby are a new thing.  The-under the playground leave a part of himself- spectacle from last summer is still fresh in my mind.  However, I think multiple primary teachers were shocked and horrified this morning as Colby "made-out" with his girlfriend Sydney on the front row in sharing time.  We're talking full mouth kissing here.  However innocent five and four year old kissing sessions are,  they are still inappropriate-especially in church.  (Heaven help me!)  I sat Colby on the couch after church today and explained to him how kissing Sydney on the mouth is not something he should do.  It's kind of like wearing your swim suit to church- not acceptable.  To my surprise, Colby burst into tears- rolling down his face and soaking his tie kind of tears.  "But it's not fair Mom!  I love Sydney and I want to kiss her!"   I'm having chest pains thinking about what the future is going to bring with my "I'm a lover not a fighter" little Colby.   In the mean time, the line in the movie Dan in Real Life is describing how I am feeling tonight.  "I am a murderer of love."

Daddy Spa

Steve and Say share a special bond. 

It's the father daughter bond.

And it's endearing to watch.

I will never have this kind of bond with Saylor because, well, I'm her mother and I am chopped liver.

Daddy rules around here.

Whenever Saylor hears the garage open or the sound of the Land Cruiser, she drops everything, runs (waddles) to the garage door and yells excitedly "Da Da Da!!"

She has a way of getting whatever she wants out of Steve, all by looking him in the eyes and whining..."ehh ehh ehh."

He's in so much trouble.

Yesterday night after her tub, Saylor was pretty upset and I could hear serious complaining coming from the bathroom.  A few minutes after her mini-tantrum, Steve came out holding her dressed like this.

Her robe and a towel on her head is what she wanted.  

How he figured this out is only known in that secret world of fathers and the little girls that have them wrapped around their fingers.

She is hilarious.

A genuine "I am pampered and I know it" smile.

Steve is in love with this little girl.

Yep...pampered.

 (And when was the last time I had my hair brushed?????)

And here she is pouring out her heart and soul to her father who is actually listening to her.

(every woman's dream by the way)

I'm guessing she is complaining about the green hand-me-down pajamas she is being forced to wear by her evil chopped liver of a mother.

"Seriously Dad!  I am a princess and princesses don't wear green pj's with puppies on them!"

And for the record, Saylor is getting WAY more dates with this man than I am.

She insists (and is indulged) on Land Cruiser rides with Daddy daily.

I don't know whether to be jealous or just happy he is getting the princess out of my hair for a few minutes.

Steve you are a wonderful father to this little girl.
 I am so grateful to have both of you!