The Best Day of My Life

The other night I was snuggling with Alex in his bed and saying goodnight.  He looked at me and said, "Mom, today was the best day of my life." I thought over what we had done: planted some flower seeds in the backyard, played a game of war, made a big fruit salad, watched High School Musical together.  We had some tickle wrestling, did some math homework, played on the swings in our backyard, did some chores, ate meals together, read some books, took baths, had family prayer.  I sang each of my kids the 3 bedtime songs they choose each night. We didn't really do anything to brag about over the watercooler.  But Alex was right; it was a great day.

I was reminded of an article I read in a past issue of the Ensign.  BYU professor Shirley Klein wrote: "Everyday events in our home can seem so simple that we overlook their importance - like the children of Israel who were smitten by a plague of snakes.  To be healed they had to just look at the brass serpent on a pole, but because it was so simple, many did not do it."

Here's to the simple life!  

London 2010

Some photos from our winter break trip to London.

A highlander in Trafalgar Square

This hardy Scot was piping in Trafalgar Square just outside the National Gallery. The temperature was mid-30s with an icy breeze blowing up his kilt.

Alex and Grayson are in the foreground. Check out their spontaneous jig...

Two little monkeys swinging from the trees...

All of our windows have these crazy bars perfect for climbing. If death is in mind.

Yes. I let my daughter play outside in her unders. Nac is never very far from my heart.

The original

Doing my bit to keep the environment clean...

This is what remained in our washing machine after I had removed all the clothes. Maybe I should start checking the jeans pockets of a certain treasure collecting boy before doing the wash.

1st Day of School

Several months ago we were at an ice cream shop with friends in McLean that has a big tree out front. Alex loves to climb and this tree was perfect for a boy to get up high. And he did. About 6 feet off the ground and then he fell. Out. To the ground. I wanted to run to him and take him home and tell him to never climb trees again. Against my every instinct I walked calmly instead, I made sure he wasn't really hurt, I held him, and then forced words out of my mouth that I didn't want to say: Hey buddy! Why don't you try again to climb up high in that tree.
Because I know that over protection is not really love. It's selfish and fear-driven. It says, "You can't do it. You can't handle this. You aren't strong enough to deal with this." It stunts growth and confidence. I know this. And yet, as I watched my son climb onto the bus that would drive him away from me and to an unknown world, I wanted to shout: Home school is still an option! You don't have to go!
But I didn't. Instead I smiled (it was sincere) and laughed as he skipped onto the bus and bounced in his seat, all youthful eagerness and fearlessness. I felt proud for raising a boy who holds his face to the sun, ready to leave my nest for a bright horizon. I felt grateful, so humbly grateful, for my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the purpose of this life, giving me the strength to give wings where my heart, selfish thing, only wants roots.
And then I ruined all that by promptly going up to my room, closing the door, and sobbing into my pillow for a brief bout of self-indulgence well earned. I really missed you today, kid.

night before the big day...

We held a "lighting ceremony" for Alex Sunday night. We had 8 candles representing major steps in his life (school, baptism, etc to a mission) and let him light the first one. We talked about what he would learn and what we expect from him and how we love him. We talked about the path he would choose as he grew to be a man and that the Gospel and his family light the right way. Then Jeff gave him a father's blessing.
It was a great start to a new family tradition.

Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake with Stirred Ganache Frosting on my Grandma Boots' china
(Alex chose these dishes because of the "gold" that all pirates covet)
this was soooo good. email me if you want the recipe!

Waiting for the bus

Loves his new backpack

Hey. Hey. Check my ride.

Mom snaps pictures until the bus carrying her heart is gone...

3 Generations - 5 Kinds of Fish

Alex and I have been really happy to have uncle Steve and Grandpa Gaskill here with us. We've gone on two fishing trips so far and you can see the results! We've caught a large-mouth bass, a yellow perch, a black crappie, a bluegill, and a channel catfish!

I'm personally so grateful and feel so blessed that Carli has motivated and encouraged me to take Alex fishing. He loves it and it's so much fun for me to see him have fun. I'm the luckiest husband and dad in the world!

Last Day of Preschool Party

Celebrating an end to the "school" year, right to left: Lincoln, Ethan, Ellie, Alex, Isaac, Sarah, Isabella, and Jasper. It was way to cold for them to be in the water, but they couldn't resist the small pool or slip and slide! Thanks, Kara, for an awesome party :)

Futbol

Highlights of this season, featuring MVP's Alex and Cole...

Cole's mom, my amazing friend Shanna, planned a little after-party for the kids in her yard on the last day of practice. They got wet, ate ice cream, and just had a blast...

Sadie and Ellie were not at all interested in the sprinkler. They filled buckets and dumped water on their toes and the driveway all afternoon...

Big 5

A five year old?! This birthday is a big one for me because it marks both an ending and a beginning; an end to babyhood and the beginning of manhood. I know it's a long journey to manhood, but he takes a first big step as he moves out of mom's nest and into the big world of kindergarten this year. My life is about to change, my days spent without his constant companionship, and I can't help but be so grateful for this time I have had to be an at home Mom to my wonderful boy. He is an example to me. On a recent Sunday morning, he asked, "Is it Sunday?" Jeff answered that it was and he said, "Well, on Sunday I am going to make lots of good choices. " And then he lived his word and tried hard all day to be so gentle and patient with his sister. He is love undiluted. He says, "Mom, you're my best cutest Mom." And he hugs us and helps us and tells us jokes. My life is richer and fuller because of him.

We went to tons of Alex's friends' birthday parties in Mexico and he asked for one each birthday there. We said no. Mostly because birthday parties there are HUGE events: rented halls, a professional show, guest lists in the 50ies and 60ies, gift bags worth more that the gifts we usually bought, pinatas, dinner for the whole family... No way was I going to shell out $2,000 for a 3 or 4 year old's party. So I told him he'd have on in DC. We were going to play T-ball at the park, but we got rained out and ended up using the conference room in our apartment complex. The kids still had a blast and Alex was in heaven. Of course, I FORGOT THE CAMERA!! The kids especially had fun knocking down the pinata! The last picture is of Ellie using Alex's bug vacuum (gift from grammie) as a blow dryer. Too cute!

A lot can change in 5 years...

A California Adventure

Alex spent a good hour by himself building this "spiderweb" in the garage. He requests big spools of string for his upcoming birthday.
Who's gonna clean this up?


Mini train in Griffiths Park. After the trains, we headed up to the Observatory for a great (albeit smoggy) view of LA, Beverly Hills, and the Hollywood sign


Cameron can hardly contain his excitement


The LA Zoo is fabulous and the weather was perfect. These giraffes were even closer than they look in this picture.


Ellie sweet talked Grandpa K in to carrying her through the zoo

Lemonade 5¢

As we passed the lemons in the grocery store Wednesday, Alex asked if we could make lemonade. It seemed a great way to celebrate the warmer weather and Spring blossoms popping out all over our Nation's Capital. We finally found the time to make it this morning before church and anticipated its tart sweetness all through meetings.
We weren't disappointed!

Alex's First Homemade Lemonade
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 to 1 & 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 more cups cold water or to taste

• Combine the sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat.
• Combine the remaining ingredients and chill for at least 1 hour. Yum!

Some of lesser tastes in this house will disagree with me, but I say lemonade is always better with pulp. I found a really interesting recipe online for whole lemon lemonade. Anyone ever tried this? It sounds great.

Declarations of Independence

Alex and Ellie really are independent-minded children. I'm so happy that they are and that their personalities are strong and that they have the courage of their convictions. Of course, sometimes that leads to interesting parenting experiences as regular readers of this blog will know. I just wanted to share a couple of experiences tonight while they are still fresh on my mind.

Ellie - Tonight while we were getting the kids ready for bed Ellie decided that she did not want her diaper changed, even though she really needed it done. Maybe I could have tried more reason and persuasion, but time was short and I ended up just holding her down while I changed her diaper. Carli was standing nearby hanging up the kids clothes and Ellie - furious that I was changing her diaper and looking for an ally - screamed at her, "Mommy, get angry at Jeff!"

Alex - We have discovered the Magic Treehouse series of books. We finished our first one yesterday and went to the bookstore tonight to buy a new one. We had a limited budget, enough to buy a paperback for Alex, and a picture book for Ellie. Alex and I were at the bookstore without Ellie, but he was excited to take a book home to her. As we got ready to leave the store however, we walked past a big display of hardcover copies of the newest Magic Treehouse book. The cover showed the two kid heroes of the books being dragged under the sea by the tentacles of an enormous octopus - just the kind of image Alex loves. As soon as he saw the book he literally dropped the two paperbacks he was carrying and snatched up the hardcover. "Dad! We have to get this!" Now it was decision time. I told Alex we could get the new book, but that would mean we wouldn't be able to get a book for Ellie - since the new book was a little bit more expensive - or we could buy the paperback book, get a book for Ellie and come back on Friday to buy the new book. Alex didn't hesitate in making his choice, but there was a very Alex-ian twist to it. He immediately decided to get the paperbacks so he could take a book to his sister, but told me, "Dad, we need to hide one of these new books so they don't sell them all." And then he squirreled away a copy in a location I have pledged not to disclose.

Apparently, Alex has discovered the principle of scarcity and has decided that anything he likes must be universally in great demand and therefore likely to sell out quickly. We have also hidden, at various other times and in other un-disclose-able locations, squishy rubber frogs at Target, a soccer ball, gum, and double chocolate Milano cookies. So, think of Alex the next time you go to a store and find some completely random item hidden askew behind a row of other, non-related items. Think of him, but don't your dare buy that hidden item!

Tuna and Candy Corn

What? Last summer, as we drove from northern Oregon to Washington to Utah, Alex spent a good amount of time in the truck with his Uncle Steve. I don't know how the subject arose, but Alex insisted that one of his favorite food combinations is tuna with candy corn. In an Easter package from the Grandparents G, Steve included a special surprise for Alex: tuna and candy corn. Alex thought this was very cool. Did he eat it? Did I make it? Let's see how well you know us!

Speed Readers We Are Not

Alex and I have been reading chapter books at bed-time for the past six months. So far we've read The Swiss Family Robinson, The Wind in the Willows, The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet, and The Dragons of Blueland. Alex feels pretty grown-up reading bedtime stories that last several nights, but I discovered that one of the books has gone on too long when he confronted me after his and Carli's most recent visit to the library. A couple of weeks ago they had checked out Mr. Popper's Penguins. We've been working on it since then, but didn't manage to finish it before the due date. Carli thought it would be fun for Alex to renew the book himself at the library so she had him take it up to the librarian and tell her, “I haven't finished this book yet.”

All seemed to go well. The librarian renewed the book and Alex brought it home and put it in his nightstand ready for bedtime. But, when he and I climbed into bed to read, he shot me an accusative look and said, “Dad, you are taking too long with this book! I had to go to the library and tell them I'm not finished yet and it's because you are making me go to bed too early and you are not reading fast enough!” Very chastened, I read an extra chapter and started a third one, during which Alex feel fast asleep.

Kid Fishing Day!!!

Today was kid fishing day, the first day of trout fishing in Four Mile Run Creek and a day set aside for the under-15 crowd to fish without competition from more aggressive, if not more competent adults. Alex and I have been excited about this for a couple of weeks now. We got up this morning and while we were getting ready, Alex threw a HUGE bird's nest in his line and somehow managed to unspring the release on his reel. After a few tense minutes I got the reel fixed and cut the Gordian knot in Alex's line (Grandpa Gaskill would surely have managed to untangle it, but I am still a bit of a rookie untangler), and we were off.

The Parks Department planted the fish late last night in a couple of spots along the creek. We got to Four Mile Run Creek a bit late and the mob had already formed in all the planted spots. The ratio of people to visible fish was about 4:1. The fish were good sized rainbows, but appeared to have been well-fed before they were planted and they weren't biting on anything. We did see one fish caught with a net (Alex thought this was a fabulous idea and insists that we bring a net next time - we'll be reading the Virginia State fishing regs. at bed-time to help clarify why this is a no-go).

Ultimately, we were skunked, but we had a great time. Alex did a good job of rigging up on his own and got a feel for how to spot good holes. We are planning to go out early in the morning before work this week to see if we can catch a few.