Central Park

This was after our long day....Grins was very tired and wanted to be carried, the poor dear!

During our time in Manhattan, we spent several hours at Central Park!  It was beautiful, and SO much fun!  And I don't think you can fully appreciate the enormity of the park until you experience it in person - In all our  hours there, we only saw a fraction of the park!  But the parts we did see were incredible, and we truly enjoyed it!

Adorable Angel posed herself and then said "Mommy! Take a picture of me!"

I loved the beautiful root system on this tree - doesn't it look artistic?!

On the Bridge

 At one of the playgrounds, a young woman and the girl she nannies were playing with bubbles....and my children couldn't get enough!  I told the young nanny she was like the pied piper with all the children she attracted, and she joked, "I think I've found my calling in life!"  I took far too many pictures of them playing with bubbles, but the delight in their faces was so apparent I couldn't help myself.  I'm thinking we need to blow bubbles more often - we did it more when they were toddlers, but clearly, they haven't outgrown the joy of it!

Angel caught several bubbles!

Check out Grins in action!

Grins slides through the sand to catch a bubble!

I love Angel and Grins' faces here!

Check out this action shot of Grins! I love it!

Wiggles couldn't be happier!

 There was a fantastic, curved slide down a hill that the children could have enjoyed for hours!  As it was, we played there for nearly 2 hours and they weren't even close to ready to leave!

Angel and Wiggles kept coming up with new ways to go down!

All 3!

Wiggles didn't dare try it on her own until she'd gone down a time or two with her older siblings....but once she did, there was no stopping her!

We found a lovely little gazebo at the top of a rock hill where we decided to stop for lunch.  That is, I decided to stop for lunch....the children didn't want to stop for anything!  They climbed up the rocks and continued climbing around while I fixed a picnic lunch...then shoveled in their sandwiches and resumed climbing as quickly as they could!  I'm not sure whether I should be discouraged that I ran out of energy before them, or just pleased at what proficient rock climbers they are! :)

Wiggles is a more brazen rock climber than I, apparently....she wouldn't stop, despite me expressing concern that it might be out of her league.  I was terrified but she made it up the climb beautifully, without any missteps whatever. 

I love that 'sun in my eyes' wink of Grins!

Notice Angel waving in the background...

I love this girl!  She packed her own bag and even picked out all of her own outfits for the trip ! :)

We enjoyed the sand at one more playground before heading to our next adventure....

Road Trip!!!

Somehow, the Mr. managed to take a few days off during the kids' February break from school!  One of the wonderful things about New England is that you you can drive to any number of state and/or big cities in a number of hours, so, at the last minute, we decided to take a little road trip!  New York City is just about 5 hours from our house, so we though we would check it out.

Early Monday morning, we loaded into the car.  We drove through 6 states in about 5 hours!   

Not pictured: Maine (can you believe we don't have a picture of us by the Maine state sign?  I think each time we go by it, we assume we've already taken one - but I don't think we ever have!  Guess we'll have to nab one on our next road trip!)

New Hampshire:

(This one is actually taken from our December road trip - we don't stop for signs we've already captured!)

Massachusetts:

Still in pjs - and check out Wiggle's cheeto face!!

Connecticut:

Still in pjs and Wiggles still has a dirty face!  Why are we so grungy on road trips? :)

 New York:

The Mr. wanted to cross the onramp to get closer to the sign - but I insisted it wasn't worth endangering our childrens' lives for a larger sign!  As soon as he saw this picture, he said "See!  We should have crossed the street!  That sign is barely readable!" 

New Jersey:

Yes, we were headed to NYC, but decided to stay in New Jersey and just take the PATH train into NYC (for a much more economical trip; hotels are 1/3 the price and include free parking!)

Of course, the New Jersey sign is smack dab in the middle of the very busy freeway  and I didn't have enough notice to get the camera - this was the best shot I could get through the car window.  Plus, after 5 1/2 hours of driving, you don't want to see our faces anyway! :)

And just because I can't get enough of that messy cheetos face: (btw, for the record, we never eat cheetos - a friend gave a small bag to Wiggles and I made her save it for a 'special occasion' - so I let her have it on the road trip to keep her occupied for awhile....and boy, did she enjoy it - as you can see by her face!) :)

I didn't take a picture of our hotel since it was nothing special....but we did take a walk that evening around Jersey City and the children had so much fun exploring this tractor, and they insisted I snap a couple of shots:

Wiggles was SO nervous around the tractor she wouldn't take her eyes off of it...

...and she refused to get too close to the scoop - she was worried it would really scoop her up!

Lately...

Just a quick update on a few of the things we've been up to lately:

SNOW!

Though we have had several feet of snow so far this winter, (and have enjoyed lots of skating and sledding!) none of it has been wet enough to build snowmen!  Our children received a snowman kit from out neighbor for Christmas this year and have been jumping at the chance to use it - so finally, after the third 'dry' snow in a row, we decided to just give it our best shot.  

After trying for quite awhile to get a normal sized (and then small, and then miniature...) snowman, we finally just came to terms with the fact that the snow was not snowman snow, and did the best we could - which was a little blog (about 4 inches high - even shorter than he looks in the pictures!).  We dressed him up and named him Shorty.  Quite the adventure - but at least we finally got to put that kit to use!

Note how dark it is - because we spent SO long trying to build a snowman!!

My birthday was wonderful!  The children surprised me with breakfast in bed! (Not sure why Angel looks so sad...)  Then later, the Mr. surprised me by having our wonderful neighbor come tend the children while he took me to dinner - a VERY rare treat indeed!  Our sweet neighbor Nancy helped the children make some cards for me, and helped them make me an ice cream cake which we all enjoyed together!  The children had a wonderful time with her - and the Mr. and I enjoyed ourselves too! :)

I'm only posting this horrible picture of me for the memory - it's  the only picture I have of our wonderful neighbor Nancy!

Angel the Artist:  Angel LOVES beautifying everything she can.  When she sets the table, she sets full place settings, folds the napkins in a fancy manner, and most often makes name place cards (decorated and written in cursive, of course!)  When putting her toys away, she must place them just so.  And, when making a meal, proper food presentation is a must!  We got this idea from pinterest and she did a marvelous job!

Grins loves his sword.  It is often in it's 'time out' place on top of the fridge, since it regularly gets confiscated for misuse (sword fighting with his sisters, chopping 'dragons' which results in knocking things over, etc.).  But when he earns his sword back, it is his constant companion!  He has now taken to 'wearing' it by sticking it (pointy end down) down the neck of the back side of his shirt (I guess I don't have a picture of this).  One night when I went to check on him in bed, I found it in the back neck of his pjs, with him sleeping on it!  Naturally, I removed it, because it looked so uncomfortable!  The next morning, as soon as he awoke, he reached back and, feeling it was gone, asked me, "Where's my sword?!"  I explained that I'd removed it so he could sleep comfortably, and he insisted that it wasn't bothering him, and that he had needed it last night!  That night, when I went to check on him, this is what I saw:

Hugging his sword....but look at his wrist

He had attached the sword to his wrist with a silly band!

I decided I had to leave it, since he had obviously taken precautions to keep his sword all night!  When I questioned his motive the next morning, he explained that he feels MUCH safer at night when his sword is nearby.  I tried not to laugh, but then remembered doing similar things as a child - I actually remember holding my 'walkman' (yes - I'm that old!) over my chest at night to 'protect my heart' - and even my bike helmet once or twice to 'protect my brain'!  I'm not sure what invoked such fear in my mind at the time - but I do remember feeling safe with the perceived protection.  I suppose such antics are the "security blankets" of older children.


This weekend the Mr. was actually home on a Saturday!!!  For the first time since I can remember.  So, we made crepes AND waffles for breakfast, just to celebrate.  I love these four:

Sick in bed:  A NASTY stomach bug landed these three and I in bed for several days.  We had a joyous time reading LOTS of books and magazines, playing games, doing puzzles, making cards, writing letters, writing in our journals, and creating pages for our church quiet book.  Oh, and of course, snuggling, tickling, and giggling.  I love these precious moments with my children!  Life is good!

Pinterest and Priorities

(Warning: this post is just me rambling...more of a journal entry than a blog post...and is certainly not intended to demean anyone else in any way.  Just a collection of my random thoughts looking inward at myself, not out...)

Lately....OK, maybe not lately, maybe, since I can remember, I've been feeling stretched to the limit.  I'm a 'list' type of a girl, and my To-Do list is never even CLOSE to done - in fact, I add things much faster than I'm able to check them off.  Not because I waste time - just because life is very busy.  Serving in the community, in the church (as YW President and a visiting teacher), on the PTO and trying to keep politically active, in addition to exercise, personal meditation and scripture study, a part-time job, medical education and simply keeping the children clean, clothed, fed, read to, homework done, piano lessons and practice and the house in order (loosely speaking), leaves very little time for anything else.  I can't remember the last time I read a book for leisure (aside from with the children, of course), watched television or a movie, or did anything else 'unneccessary' (unless you count pinterest or blogging.  oops).  I can't go to bed later or get up earlier without paying for it throughout the day (if I don't get at least 6 hours of sleep a night, no one's happy!)

I grew up in a very busy home, and vowed I would raise a 'simpler' family.  So, with my children still young and things already feeling out of control, I know I need to scale back.  But I'm having a hard time knowing what to cut out.  I certainly can't cut out church.  I should probably continue feeding the children.  And I have already kept the children out of extracurricular activities such as dance/sports/etc.  So it's been a very difficult decision.  But, after a lot of thought and careful consideration, I have decided/discovered one - no, TWO things I can - and will - let go.  Namely, 1) a perfect and beautiful house and 2) my concern with how others (outside my family) view/perceive/think of me.

I don't think I'm overly concerned or preoccupied with number 2.  I don't obsess about what people think of me at all.  But I started realizing that many of the things that take SO much of my time do boil down to 'keeping up appearances'.  I spend a LOT of time trying to keep my house spotless. (I'm not saying it IS spotless - ever!  But that is my constant goal and I spend a LOT of time each day cleaning!  And a lot more of my energy worrying about the parts that aren't spotless.)

I truly believe that an orderly home is important in maintaining the Spirit, keeping the peace, etc.  But my children certainly don't care whether or not the windows are smudge-free or the walls and baseboards are freshly wiped down.  Actually - they DISlike it, because it means I'm more likely to nag them to keep their fingers off.  They don't care that I have the latest cute, homemade Valentine wreath on my door or a picture-perfect collage of photos on the wall or display on my bookshelf.  Again - they don't like it when I've recently arranged the bookshelf, because it's often less functional/harder for them to put away.  What they need and want from me far more than cute home decor or cleanliness is time.  Time SITTING with them reading, playing, talking, and listening.  Looking into their eyes while they speak, rather than nodding and saying "uh-huh" as I'm focused on scrubbing or cooking.

Lately, I've found myself discovering all sorts of incredible/clever/thrifty/neat ideas on pinterest and other blogs, and have seen pictures of so many immaculate and beautifully decorated homes, and I've been constantly adding things to my never-ending 'to-do' list, spending lots of time and energy thinking of ideas, and  even sacrificing precious time with my children to do so.  (for the few minutes that they'll allow me to sit at the computer uninterrupted...so, not too much time.)

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE a clean house, and I ADORE beautifully decorated homes!  And I want one.  Badly.  But this is where I realize that I'm starting to sacrifice what I want MOST for what I want now.  "Most" being a happy family, time with my precious children while they are young, strong relationships with them that will carry through the teenage years....etc. "Now" being a beautiful, perfect home.  And other people thinking my home is beautiful and perfect.

Soooooo, I guess what I am saying is this: If you happen to come over and see fingerprints on my windows / no pictures hung on my wall (even though I've lived in this house nearly 2 years) / spots in my microwave / toys on the floor / pictures on my refrigerator / etc.  it's because I'm too busy loving on my children to notice or care.  If it bothers you, feel free to pick up a sponge - or look the other way.  Because I know that in a few short years, my 'nest will be empty' and I'll be hanging pictures, making Valentine's wreaths and cleaning/decorating to my little heart's content.  But right now, I've got more important things to do.

Sunday

On our way out the door to church I snapped a couple of quick shots...

Westward Ho - Salt Lake City Children's Museum

The day we left Utah, I knew we would be sitting in airports and airplanes for most of the day, so I decided to take the kids to the Children's Museum in the morning, to get all their energy out!  We really miss the SLC Children's Museum!  We have some great memories of it, from our many years in Utah!  I remember taking Angel there as a young toddler, with Grins in the sling.  Then more memories of feeding Wiggles in the toddler area while the older 2 played.  So the nostalgia really set in as we returned now, after more than a year; this time with 2 school-aged children and a toddler.  It made me long to return to those days when my 3 precious little children were all home with me all day, every day.  Those days were tiring, yes.  But oh so much fun.  And oh, how I miss them.  Please, please, please let time slow down.  My children are growing up too fast!!

This time around we spent most of our time in the travelling exhibit, PLAY:

The oldest 2 (especially Grins) really enjoyed the GIANT dominoes!  Grins tried to race them as they toppled over one by one....

As always, the parachute was a big hit!

My 4 year old.  Look at those dimples.

I was surprised at how much Wiggles enjoyed the helicopter, given her aversion to loud noise!

And the trip wouldn't be complete without a little construction time.