Slow Me Down

Most days I feel like this and it's a good reminder for me to just slow down. Life flies by too quickly. What a beautiful song too! Okay, I totally couldn't figure out how to post the video, so just clicky on the title below:

Slow Me Down

Orem Summerfest

Last weekend we went to the Orem Summerfest. After Mother Nature dumped what must have been two inches of rain, we sloshed through mud to appease the squeals and expectations of our children. Why oh why did I wear my white flip-flops? After about 5 minutes in lines for outrageously overpriced rides, I decided I'm not a huge carnival kind of person, yet somehow we keep going year after year.
As I watched the many carnival workers, which my sis said were ex-cons (really?!), it made me wonder why people would choose to travel through city after city the majority of the year to do the same monotonous task of pushing a button to start and stop a ride. In fact, my mind goes so many bizarre places sometimes it's scary and unfortunately I allowed it wander. I watched one raspy-man-voiced, leather-skinned ride worker down her greasy burger and fries and I got to wondering just how the average carnival worker dies. Skin cancer from all those hot days? Lung cancer from all those cigarette breaks? Heart disease from all the greasy foods? Then I caught myself. Who am I to judge how this woman lives her life? Most likely she is a loving, hard-working, dedicated-to-her-job woman--maybe even a mother to someone and maybe I'd find myself in her same shoes if I had lived her life. Not likely, but still, as you know I haven't always had the most glorious jobs in my life, but that's for another post.
So I put all the negativity out of my mind and decided to focus on the smiles of my kids, because they were abundant. We ended up having a great time together and even went to the parade afterward. The sugar-high from all the candy thrown made for a long night but it was worth it. (I'd also like to note the highlight of the Oremfest for me was the Kelly Clarkson concert. Poo to all the critics who enjoy bashing on her weight--this ex-waitress knows how to rock!)

Am I a bad mom?

Although someone out there may challenge me on this, I believe I have THE MOST head-strong, stubborn, strong-willed child that ever walked the face of this earth. We are talking about my second--of course I'm talking about a girl! Don't get me wrong, I love her heaps and I'm hoping this rock-iron will sticks around clear through any amount of peer pressure, school bullies and teenage boys, BUT can't it just give a little when we are trying to lose teeth?

Alli loves getting loose teeth but loathes losing them. In fact, this is the same girl who, being the dear sweet child that she is, decided to pull her very first tooth by herself--did NOT want help from Mom or Dad. Well, I think it was the spot of blood that oozed from that one tooth that freaked her out.

Earlier this year, her other bottom tooth clung to nothing but a trace of a strand of a tiny piece of gum. Would she pull it out? Would she let us near it? She would rather be flung into a burning building than to let us even so much as an arm-length away.

Months ago she was pleased to report that her two front teeth were officially loose. We congratulated her and encouraged her to keep wiggling them, knowing full-well what lay ahead for all of us. The teeth became loose-enough to pull, and several times we asked her to pull them or if she wanted help pulling them. Once again she invited the lion within her to take over her dominantly sweet demeanor. We are talking neighbors-call-the-cops-on-us-type screams, clenched-jaw, both hands tightly over her mouth and wiggling away from anyone who so much as glanced at her mouth any time throughout the day. She knew what we were up to.

Pretty soon I noticed the top teeth coming down over the bottom teeth. Okay, now I had a shark for a daughter. Still, it didn't bother her. They started to push the smaller teeth out of the way. She wouldn't budge. Even when the baby teeth started to gray and die, she refused to wiggle or even attempt to pull them. In came the threats. I know, every parenting book I've ever read says never to threaten. So I don't deserve the Mother of the Year award. Though I hate to admit it, threats are sometimes the only things that work on my kids. I told her if she didn't pull them or let us pull them, we'd have to take her to the dentist and have him do it.

Sure enough, our 6-month checkup came due and we went into it with the same threat. After her checkup and her free-of-cavities report, the dentist came out to tell me that "those front teeth are way overdue" and they need to come out. I let her hear his words and told her I'd give her the 2 weeks until brother and sister had to come in for fillings to pull her teeth out. I don't think she thought I was serious.

Back to the parenting books. They also say to follow through on what you say.

Two weeks flew by and the drive to the dentist office was an ominous, tear-filled one. Guilt started in when she complained of tummy aches. She was that affected by what was about to happen. Brother and sister were done in a flash and after talking to the dentist and deciding that it really did need to happen, I pulled her toward the chair of doom, through pleading, crying and every amount of deal-making you could imagine. No amount of laughing gas seemed to calm her. The dentist was a genius--she cooperated much better for him than me! All it took was some numbing gel and two small pops and they were out. No shots! This was the result:


So, back to my question--am I a bad mom for making her go through this? Should I feel guilty that throughout her life and into eternity she will have to tell people that she lost her two front teeth by a dentist? Funny thing is, she was elated afterward-she loves having them out! The best part for me is the lithpt that was created in the process. I'm just wondering if we are making it worse for the NEXT go-around. I am sure about one thing. I don't want to wrestle our lion on the next loose tooth. Any takers?

St. George

We just got back from a fun, definitely-not-long-enough 4-day trip to St. George with our dear friends, the Harveys. We also took a little friend, Aubrey, for Kendra to chum with. I thought I'd put up a few pictures of our adventures there together.

Thursday we got to our condo (btw, if anyone needs a place to stay there, I highly recommend this place--it is new, large-enough for 2 families and my favorite, very clean! And fyi, the price is negotiable as I was able to get a much better deal than is posted here.) Then we let the kids swim in the pool they had there. June must be a good time to go because we saw very few people around our condo. Is that a good sign or a bad sign?

Friday we played in the sand dunes in Snow Canyon, though it may not have been the best day for it as it was extremely windy! We had sand in our ears, nose, mouth and many other unmentionables. The kids didn't seem to mind.


Jay got all the kids involved in trying to find a sand monster. I think they all really believed they were going to catch one. Way to go Jay!


Afterward, we headed over to the Washington community pool, because of the graces of Dawn's grandpa. The sweet man insisted on paying for our entire crew! Thanks again Grandpa Cowser--you are truly giving. It was nice because it was covered and with the wind and temperature being a bit cooler, it was appreciated this day.


The off-times were spent doing this. I think I like Rock Band--it was a riot!


This is Tristen jammin' to Bon Jovi or something.


Saturday was spent at Zions and I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. What a beautiful world our Master has created for all of us to enjoy. Enjoy we did. . .








The kids capped off the day with yet another dip in the pool, whilst Dawn and myself ran through the outlet stores.



Sunday we packed up, went to church and walked around the temple awhile. After a brief lunch at the park we were headed home. Like I said, the trip was too brief, but a perfect way to start the summer months! Thanks Harveys! We had a ball!

Why I'm happy this week. . . .

Because not once have I had to wake up at 3 a.m. to deliver papers. That's right folks, we quit the darn paper route and sleeping in has never felt so sweet, even when sleeping in is 6 a.m. Another nuisance of having the route? Doc said yesterday he thinks I "burned my lungs" with the cold air over the winter, with all those early, freezing deliveries with the window down. Yeah, this week, and every other coming week, life is good.

What we've been up to

Wow, May has sure been a busy month for us! Here are a few things we've been up to:

We celebrated my mother-in-law's 60th birthday. There are always lots of helpers to blow out candles at any given birthday celebration! Happy Birthday Mom! Thanks for always being such an amazing example of Christ-like service to everyone.


Kendra and Alli had their semi-annual dance performance for The Dance Conservatory, this time performing in "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters", an African story. I loved it! The music, the dancing, the drum beats--the girls did just beautifully.




And, once again, I wrapped and sold flowers at all four performances. Todd insisted on documenting it.


Memorial Day traditionally brings visits to the many Grandparents' graves.
On Sunday we headed out. First stop was to Grandma and Grandpa Hillam (Todd's Dad's parents) in Salt Lake:


Grandmother and Granddad Affeltranger (my Mom's parents) in south Salt Lake:


We picked up Grandma Moody and visited my Grandpa's (my Dad's Dad) grave at Camp Williams in Lehi. Though she wasn't able to walk down the hill and watched us from the car, it was nice to have her there. We got poured on just as we arrived, so only me and Todd braved the weather!


Then it was on to Provo where Grandpa Startup (Todd's Mom's father) was laid to rest last year. Though there is still no headstone, it was nice to be there as a family and remember this great man.


And at the end of the day, and the end of this busy month, I think this is how we all felt.

Sunday Rewind

I marvel at this picture because it could very well be my family on a 2009 Spring afternoon (in more updated clothing of course). My parents must have been about the age that Todd and I are now and we kids look to be about my kids' age. Full of awe and retrospect, I wonder on this cycle that laws of time insist on pushing ever-faster, as if there were some race to be won. As I watch my children grow, I wish I could slow the train; not brake completely, but apply enough to bask in the temporary moments a bit longer. Full of trials, triumphs and yes tranquility, this life is truly extraordinary, isn't it?