Parenting Ruminations

Today I was running errands with Ruby, just trying to kill time until Henry's preschool let out.

At 10:55 a.m., I felt the need for some nourishment and coincidentally happened to be passing McDonald's. I'm usually not a big fan of Micky Dees but I needed SOMETHING. So Ruby and I made a quick stop through the drive-thru, ordered a medium Diet Coke (it's slowly sounding more appealing to me -- I'm comin' back to my old self!) and cinnamon roll (mmmm) and as we're pulling out, I heard it ... a little voice from the back seat saying,

"I wanna fench fie!"

How is it that my not even two year-old daughter has gotten so accustomed to drive-thrus and their evil purpose? How is it that there are some people in this world who only feed their children organic foods and then there are others, who shall remain nameless, whose 22 month old kids recognize drive thrus and beg for french fries?

Look at them! They're darling!


I seriously started wondering today, am I failing them? I don't mean to be all dramatic. I'm not going to draw a juxtaposition between feeding my kids fast food and giving them cigarettes but stilll ... I can't help but wonder ....

Slightly Belated

Yesterday was Henry's 4th birthday.

I could easily write a very long list of why I love him so much but I have one main reason,

God chose him to make me a mother and for that I will be eternally grateful.

Here are a few highlights of the day.

Making his birthday cupcakes
Finally getting the fire truck he's been asking for for months

Learning to ride his new bike


Enjoying one of the last warm days of summer

Pure joy over one lonely cupcake (Reason #233 that I love easy-to-please little kids!)

We love you Henry!

Into the Great Wide Open

Anyone who knows my husband well knows that the boy can NOT sit still. I, on the other hand, feel perfectly fine sitting (or lying) still for hours at a time.

So these days, what with my "delicate"condition and all, Scott has taken to getting both kids (and dog) out of the house and into the great outdoors.

Of course one of the main activities is fishing.

Henry, reeling in a big one in Yellowstone Park.
Fishing and wading on another outing.
Even when I try and put the kibosh on his plans, Scott adapts. When I said they couldn't go camping a couple of weeks ago because it was too late and I didn't want them to go far away, he was not to be deterred. Here they are camping in our backyard:


(No, Ruby was not invited for the actual sleeping part of this camp out. Lucky her, she was completely unaware upstairs in her comfy crib of the 5 a.m. crawl into the house when Henry peed his pants and had to come in for dry clothes and a warm bed. Also, please note the mountain man beard Scott grew for Alaska, which has since been remedied. )

Hanging out at Ruby Reservoir.
Throwing rocks (who knew Hen had such a mean arm?).

We've Only Just Begun

Henry started preschool last week. I realized that morning as I ate breakfast that it was only the beginning of a very long chapter in my life. He's just the first of my children to embark on the journey of education and everything that entails. Exciting, but makes me a little sad at the thought of my babies growing up.

Here he is just rearing to get out that door (notice the awesome two week old tattoo that my sis-in-law put on him in Utah. That stupid thing still won't come off! Thanks Kate!).

Here he is again with the first day of preschool prerequisites: a backpack that is bigger than he is and a baby sister who has to show off all of her cool stuff too.

A Message of Hope

I really haven't been on my computer much lately (obviously), but when I do I almost always check out a blog called C jane enjoy it.

Do you guys read her? I'm sure a lot of you do because she's hilarious. And if you're one of her readers, chances are, you read her sister's blog as well, nieniedialogues.com. If so, then you already know that Stephanie and her husband were in a plane crash two weeks ago and were badly burned and still remain in critical condition. Her sister (C jane) is keeping everybody updated on her progress. Over the past weeks, C jane and many other friends have said incredibly inspirational things about tragedy, God's love, and hope. They seem incredible.

The Nielsen Family

Anyway, they have declared today Nie Nie Day and TONS of people are auctioning cool stuff off with all proceeds going to their recovery fund (they estimate their medical bills will be astronomical as both of them will be in the hospital for MONTHS).

So check out C jane's blog. She has a link to other blogs that are hosting auctions (DesignMom has TONS of stuff being auctioned on her blog). I've checked some of them out and I just may have to get into the bidding ... if people don't get all crazy, which I'm sure they will as it's only 11 a.m. and a signed BYU football helmet is already going for $500. Yikes. If, in the end, we all decide we can't afford a $100 hair bow for our daughters, there's a button on C jane's site that is set up to accept donations in Stephanie's behalf.

Happy auction bidding and good deed-doing!