4 and 4 & three-quarters

Remember how important it was when you were a kid, to make sure you know not only how old you were, but you had to know it down to the fraction of a year? My kids are really into this now. Frankly, I'm surprised that Jackson doesn't go around proclaiming himself to be 8 and seven-twelfths. In any case, Delaney is thrilled to be 4 and three-quarters. She feels far superior to those who are just plain four. In fact, we met a little girl at the playground today, and when Delaney asked how old she was, the little girl said, "Four." "Oh, well I'm four and three-quarters" was Delaney's response - thinking she had something on this other little one. "Oh (clearly confused), well, I'll be five tomorrow." says the little girl, as Delaney's ego visibly deflates.

When we were in Utah last month, we got to spend a day with one of our favorite 4 year olds. Cousin Lezlee was in town with her mom and brothers, so we kidnapped her for a day. We went to the Children's Museum, Build - A - Bear, and Rumbi's for lunch (that was more for me than them). All day people asked if they were twins, sisters, etc. Delaney (who is the MUCH bossier of the two) would always say, "No, we're cousins. She's four and I'm four and three-quarters." The good news is, Lez is a laid back kind of gal (must get it from her dad) and so that just seemed to roll right off her back.

Lezlee has a major thing for horses. MAJOR. So, of course, the true-scale model horse they could sit on was a big hit at the museum.



They played at the construction site for the longest of any exhibit. Must be hereditary!



Here are the girls at Build - A - Bear. Lez made a unicorn and aptly named it, "Unicorn, Unicorn" and Delaney made a rainbow bear named "Madelyn", but has since been renamed 27 more times. (They both wore Hello Kitty shirts that day. Isn't that a funny coincidence?)



The girls with sunglasses I bought them because it was super sunny and they kept tripping because they were walking with their eyes so squinted. They wanted ones that looked like mine, so we had to get them in the boys department.



Though we wish we lived down the street from our Crittenden cousins, we love seeing them any chance we get. These two are such opposites, but get along so great. Here's to hoping they'll be roommates at BYU one day!

No Particular Reason

Wow, it's been a month since I blogged last. For no particular reason, really. Just took some time off. But, I feel renewed in my original goal that this becomes a journal for our family, and who cares if anyone else thinks it's interesting. My kiddos sure do though.

A few highlights from the past month:

The Move That Wasn't

Right after Jeff's birthday in April, Delaney and I left to go to Utah to help my parents move in to their new condo in Salt Lake. To answer the question I seem to be getting a lot, yes, they still have their cabin in the mountains, but they now also have a condo in Salt Lake. I think my dad would love to (and plans to) bury his bones on that mountain, but my mom has come to find she's somewhat of a city girl...so this is a "best of both worlds" situation for them. City life with the mountains just an hour away.

I was really looking forward to helping with the move. See, Addie, my high-maintenance friend, makes it hard to get through a to-do list. I have grand plans every Monday morning, to embark on a week of high productivity, only to fail miserably by the time Friday rolls around. She makes it awfully hard for me to get anything done. So, I was leaving her behind with a sitter, and I planned on a very fulfilling week full of accomplishing something! A week of finishing something I'd started!

Well, after waiting at the airport for 14(!) hours to fly in for the big move, Delaney and I were finally in line to get on the plane when my phone rings. I can see it's Dad. He was calling with bad news (which, given how badly the day had already gone, it was getting hard to top it). The condo was in NO condition to move in the next morning. No carpeting, no lighting, no counter tops, no appliances, no electricity, nada. So, I panicked, stepped Delaney and I out of line, and called Jeff. Jeff thought we should just come home. It didn't make any sense to go now. Knowing he was right, I called Dad to tell him the bad news. Since he's retired, he has a lot more time for fun, so he strongly suggested that Delaney and I step back onto that plane and come out for a week of fun. Sure, it would be a lot less productive than originally planned, but it would still be a lot of fun. So, Delaney and I boarded, I called my very surprised husband to tell him the news, and we left for a week in Utah.

Sure enough, Delaney and I had a blast and got to do a lot of girly things with some great women we have the privilege of calling our family. We shopped a lot of fabric stores, got our toes painted, went out to eat way too often, went to a museum, crafted in our favorite craft room, celebrated a few birthdays, stayed at a beautiful hotel for a night and found our way to Build A Bear. It was a delightful week and I am so grateful Dad suggested we make the trip anyways. Who knows when we'll do something like that again.

12 Years

On May 9th, Jeff and I celebrated our 12 year wedding anniversary. As with everything in life, in some ways it feels like it's gone by in the blink of an eye, while I feel at the same time like I've known him forever. I was young when I got married, but I've never regretted it. Not once. Not one single day of the past 12 years. 12 years ago I married my best friend and somehow he has become even more than that to me. Somehow he has become an extension of myself. In the best way possible. He is the finest man I know and count my lucky stars every day that he feels the same way about me.

9 Years

On May 10th, I celebrated my 9th Mother's Day. What a ride these past 9 years have been. I so often tell my kids I wish I could freeze time and keep them little. I'm so afraid for them to become teenagers. I've heard so many horror stories. And then, the other day, I was talking to my aunt who has teenagers. And she was saying how glad she is that her kids are older, because the loves her kids as teenagers. She's so grateful that the young years are past and that she is where she is now. And for the first time, I felt a little bit of the fear slip. I've always had this tendency to think of my future, teenage children as out-of-control monsters, influenced by the ways and whims of the world. But then I realized, I won't feel that way once I get there. I will love them and like them for the individuals that they are. Because they are mine. And I will always try my hardest to do right by them. To help them steer through this crazy, awful, wonderful world until they find their way to adulthood, and I can finally call them my best friends. Because I do believe that for now, I am their mother first and their friend second. And until then, I need to remember to enjoy the ride because those three gorgeous faces are my life.

30 Years

Just this past weekend, Jeff and I traveled down to Austin, TX to spend the weekend with the adults in my family. The occasion was Stephanie's 30th Birthday. It has been 3 years since Jeff and I were away, together, from our kiddos for more than one night. And, I cannot remember the last time we were together, just as adults, with my siblings, their spouses, and our parents. We had a wonderful weekend at a beautiful resort and just relaxed and relaxed as we all relished the peace that comes with no little ones around. We sat outside one night, talking, the 8 of us, until almost midnight. And I realize that there is no better way to spend a night. Than with those 7 people who I am lucky enough to be related to.

And now as I think about my month in review, I realize that life has come full circle. My parents don't have to worry so much about raising us anymore. They don't soak in the peace that the rest of us feel, having a break from the constant needs of our babies and little friends. In fact, Jeff and I left a day earlier than everyone else, because of a scheduling mix-up when we made the flight arrangements. So before we left yesterday, my dad was once again asking us to stay for the fun (remember, he's retired now). He even offered to pay the change fee on our airline tickets if we could stay just a little longer. See, my parents got us all through it. Through the crazy teenage years, where they loved us and liked us and helped us navigate life until we emerged out the other side as bona fide adults.

And now, we get to enjoy being best friends.