fall break little things

What I love about a long fall break is that we have time to go on vacations and trips, but we also have plenty of time to hang out at home with each other, friends, and cousins. The little adventures are just as grand sometimes.

We met up at the splash pad one morning.

Brinny discovered daddy's ties.



And spent lots of time with her baby dolls.



We had a nice visit to the zoo.







Layla took lots of pictures on my phone while driving around town.





We went to a missionary call opening for our dear Aizlynn. So excited for her to go to New Zealand!





We met up with a favorite friend at Uptown Jungle for some fun.



Eric surprised us all and shaved his beard.
And there was lots of fun about putting on the armor of God during our family night lesson.

proud to be an american

A friend of ours just became an official U.S. citizen. How cool is that?! We got to be there at a surprise party for him. He walked through the door in his US Flag shorts suit and that just set the tone for a pretty sweet night. 

Celebrating his citizenship was a good reminder to stop and appreciate something that I take for granted so often--what a privilege and beautiful responsibility to be a citizen of the united states of america and to enjoy so many great freedoms and opportunities here. 

God bless america.

jumpoline

Brinna’s most requested activity is jumping on the trampoline. 

Except when she says it she asks to go on the “jumpoline.”

I like her word for it the best. Let’s get jumpoline in the dictionary.

Oh, and when she’s not asking for the jumpoline she is requesting her swimsuit. Or just putting it on herself.

life resumes after fall break and the start of some psychology and early childhood discussions

The kids went back to school today after over two weeks off for fall break. I love this modified year round schedule. I love having my kids around and all of the adventures we have during these breaks. But I, also, love when school starts up again and we can resume a daily routine and I can catch up on things that get pushed to the side.

We are still surrounded by camping gear and laundry from the last few days of break. Vacations are a lot of work. Yet totally worth it.

Tonight at the dinner table I held part two of a series of human and early childhood development and psychology that I am teaching my kids. When I was getting my degree in early childhood education my favorite classes were childhood development and educational psychology. I had a thought last week that it would be fun to teach my children about something that I love and I find fascinating. What an advantage to them to learn some of these things early on in life. So I taught my family home evening lesson last night about Maslow and his theory about the Heirarchy of Needs. 

Then tonight we started our discussion of Eric Erikson’s stages of social/emotional development.

We talked about these theories and how we see them in ourselves and others, especially noting where our little Brinna is in her development. I am so excited to continue our discussions and introduce them to Vygotsky and Piaget and other aspects of childhood development!

arizona science center

we had one more week with our science center membership so we visited twice. Once with some of Brinna’s friends and moms and then again with Layla’s class on a friend trip.

“Children think not of what is past, nor what is to come, but enjoy the present time, which fee of us do.”

-Jean de La Bruyere

some work and service

Usually when Perry hears the words "work" or "chores" it sends him into a tizzy. Yes, like many people, work is something he likes to avoid.  However, we recently found a job that he loves to do. He gets so excited when it is time to clean the pool. He loves to scoop out the leaves and scrub the sides (as best as he can). E was out of town last week and he was so proud of himself for doing this job for dad. Our evenings are actually cooling off so it was a pretty pleasant time for both of us to be outside working in the backyard.



Perry also made cookies to give away. I can not even say how much I love seeing him working on a project like this, especially of his own accord with a happy attitude. Layla helped him make cards then they delivered them to some of our neighbors.

Perry also received an award at his school’s kindness assembly. He was chosen to receive the award for the quarter by his teacher. We are all so proud of his thoughtfulness and kindness to his peers and teachers.

being there for someone and a boob voyage

I met Danielle from a friend who I was introduced to by another friend. She needed someone to go to chemo with her. But you know when you are asked to help someone and they end up helping you more than you help them? That was this.

It's healing to turn around and be able to be there for someone in ways that other people were there for you or that you wish had been there for you. Because you get it now. And it is so nice to be with someone who gets it. Some people have to experience it to get it while some people just have that ability to relate and care (I had to learn compassion through experience).

Danielle is also an amazingly sweet and kind person. You feel her strength and goodness just by being in her presence.

E and I got to attend her "Boob Voyage" party a few days before her surgery. We ate and talked and showered her with gifts to help make surgery just a little bit easier.





I really haven't done a whole lot for Danielle. So don't think that. But my thoughts have been drawn lately to how to help people. Because life is rough sometimes and we all need each other. But sometimes we don't know know exactly what we can do. But I know that every small kindness offered to me meant the world. Really I think people going through cancer, or anything hard, just need people to be there and check in on them. But here are some concrete ideas in no particular order:

1. Texting is great. But also don't be offended if the person takes a long time (or doesn't ever) reply.
2. Cards in the mail.
3. Organize meals, bring meals, and gift cards
4. Small treats or gifts (window rainbow maker, water bottle, healthy or yummy snack, journal, pens, flowers, a drink, nailpolish, etc....)
5. visits (it can feel so lonely and isolating when you are recovering, what I wanted most was people to just hang out)
6. showing up to help clean
7. calling on the way to the store asking if you can pick something up for them or run an errand
8. celebrate with them, throw a party
9. go with them to appointments
10. check in on their spouse
11. send funny messages/jokes/videos--laughter is the best
12. don't ignore the situation, tell them how strong they are, tell them about a product that will heal them, or about your great aunt so and so who died

I saw this on someone's instagram and I thought "Yes!"



Just someone to say "yes this sucks and I'll be here with you. for as long as you need." And it might take awhile. That's the best.

This was also posted on instagram and I totally agree.



We all go through times of suffering and pain. Sometimes really, really intense pain or suffering. We lift each other by being there through the thick and thin of it. That mostly means patience with each other.