Knott's Magic

This has been a magic year for Knott's Berry Farm.

And it's only April.

Belle wishes she could go on each and every ride.  The ones she can go on she typically white-knuckles it the whole way through, shaking like a leaf, and then breaks down in tears when it's time to get off.

Mac runs from ride to ride like he owns the place, holds his hands high in the air, and laughs.

Mark and I keep discovering more and more friends have Knott's passes ... which makes date nights easy and single-parent trips possible.

Oh, the benefits of living in Southern California.

St. Patrick's Day Mishchief

The leprechaun's came to our house this year.

And they caused some serious mischief.

Upside down chairs, crooked pictures, spilled cereal, green milk, footprints everywhere, and he even forgot to flush.

Luckily, his pockets being over-stuffed with gold, he dropped plenty along his pillage through our house.  We even discovered a pot.

Maybe next year we'll set traps.

Love In the Air

I received information recently that prompted an emergency Utah trip.

My sister told me she believed she would marry a boy.

GASP.  My first thought was: "Nearly six years of being the only married one in my family!  FINALLY!" Which was quickly followed by a, "Wait ... who IS this guy?"

So naturally, I needed to make the trek the see for myself if this boy would be worthy of my sister.  I am, after all, the firstborn and therefore my blessing is absolutely key.  (Ha.)

We made multiple stops along the way.  Had to snatch up the opportunity to play with cousins and catch up with my sisters-in-law.

At Heidi's we ran through her freshly poured cement, learned about Chinese-language immersion programs popping up in St. George, and attempted to match socks.  With Chris, she whisked my children away to watch construction being done on her road while I took a shower ... and unfortunately I could never find them to snap a picture.  Sigh.  Mac couldn't stop talking about all the front-end loaders and scrapers and excavators and whatnot.  At Danika's we met Nacho the chihuahua, ate the best roast chicken and brussel sprouts in the world, and discussed feminism.

And then with a set of new tires to brave the frozen north, we moved on.

We met up with Katie and her ready-to-come-into-the-world son, and Mac thoroughly enjoyed his girl cousins.  (While asking when Katie's boy would get here.  She wanted to know the same thing.) We hustled off to watch Adam play -- in forty degree weather GASP -- where we met up with more Rachelle and her gaggle of awesome cousins, Zack and Ashlee, and Sam ... Adam's sweetheart.  She is a gem, I'm getting all antsy waiting for Adam to make some kind of move.

As the game ended, I saw several calls from my family waiting up for our arrival, and decided it was time to continue on.

Low and behold, there was this boy:

Who my sister could not stop staring at, smiling at, and touching.

I couldn't stop staring.  I had to soak in the whole this-is-the-man-who-will-be-smoochin'-your-sister-for-the-rest-of-forever thing.  And for a slight moment, I understood why Jamie cried when I told her I was going to marry Mark.  Is anyone good enough for her?  Is anyone worth evolving our little Thomas family for?

But that feeling only lasted a moment, because Michael proved again and again that he was up to the task.  He is kind, hard-working, incredibly intelligent, driven, aware of those around him, present, and verbal.  He is blunt in his kindness; he compliments frequently and in such a way that it feels like he's just saying whatever pops into his head ... and he happens to have a very positive head indeed.

He's a good man.

I guess I'll let him marry my sister.

He proposed the day I left. (My blessing received, obviously the only thing he was waiting for.)  July 20th, people.  Put it in your calendars!

The rest of my time spent in Utah was largely with this fine fellow, one of my top 5 favorites in the universe:

It was his spring break; and so he was at our disposal ... while everyone else smothered us as they could between their busy schedules.

We spent lots of time doing homework.  Mac ended up claiming a "homework" notebook and scribbled in it nightly.  He took it home with us and still scribbles in it from time to time.

It was a good little trip.

And it cemented the fact that I can indeed be a supermom and go wherever I need to go.

Which is to be with family.  And approve of all their life-changing events.

For My Babies

My friend posted this poem on her blog ... and I had to steal it.  It is beautiful and something I want my children to read and know.

 "You are the trips I cannot take;

You are the pearls I cannot buy;

You are my blue Italian lake;

You are my piece of foreign sky.

You are my Honolulu moon;

You are the book I did not write;

You are my heart's unuttered tune;

You are a candle in my night."

-Anne Campbell 

Chores

Is 3 too young to start chores?

Well he wanted something.  I told him I didn't have enough money for it.  So, he simply said he would go working and bring the money to the store.

So why not?

4 days, 6 chores a day.

As we walked into the store with his little jar of money, he said, "Mom, maybe I just want the store lady to give me the Brave bow and my moneys too."
"Mac, the lady can't give you the bow unless she gets to keep your money."
"Oh.  Well how about we get my Brave bow, then come do some more chores and get more moneys."

Sounds good to me.

He wanted the very specific bow and arrow from the movie "Brave"

And I have a Wee Dingwall.

Scottish blood runs thick in his veins, my MacAlister Raymond Gunn.  Next he'll start asking to paint his face blue and run around in plaid skirts ....

As long as he does chores, I'll probably let him.

My Shadow

Oh to be loved.

And she hums, too.

Time Well Spent

While in Utah for Christmas, we visited a woman my sister had befriended.  She is a former professor.  She is brilliant.  And she has suffered a brain injury.

Speaking can be difficult, and controlling her body can be even more so.  She has had to move to a nursing home to help with all of that.

We walked in to her room, and every inch of every wall was covered in paintings.  Thought provoking, interesting paintings.  I had stepped into a world of bright color, and almost instantly felt envious of the time she had to do them.  Painting has been on the back burner of my mind for quite some time now.  As we spoke with her, she gave us a church lesson she had been working on.  It was incredible ... the detail, the thought, the cross-referencing and studying ... I was humbled by the depth of her knowledge and again envious of the time that she had to gain it.

However, it was difficult for her to put everything across to us.  I wondered what it would be like to be in a community home, with people to care for every physical need.  Her body is damaged, but her brain is alive and teeming with wisdom.  She has all the time in the world for her studies and paintings, but lacks the ability to share it.

I felt honored to hear it, what little I could.

She sent us home with paintings, and when I look at them, I think about the value of time well spent.  This woman has plenty of reason to sit in a corner and despair.  But she doesn't.  She takes all this time that is now laid at her feet, and uses it.

How can I despair at the lack of time I now have for personal growth?  My time is not my own any more.  But that does not mean that it is being wasted.  I know that my time, though spent differently, is being spent well.  And that, in turn, provides me with just the kind of personal growth that I need.

Someday I will paint.
Someday I will prepare marvelous, detailed, thought-provoking lessons.

But right now, I will play catch.  I will comb hair and give hugs.  I will tell Jesus stories and whisper prayers.  I will step on spilled grapes and find rotten milk spills. I will have interrupted kisses and short date nights.

And I will love each and every experience of this crazy little life of mine.

Baseball Family

I think it's time for me to own up to the label.

We are a baseball family.

I know that sports aren't the world's most important thing.  I mean, I never watch ESPN or could tell you worthwhile about the world's top athletes.  I don't do fantasy leagues, I don't even really care who wins.  Of course ... that's all me, not speaking for my husband here.

But I love athletics.
Sports can teach people hard work.  Goal setting.  Confidence.  Dedication.  They teach you how to use your body and appreciate it.  They teach you teamwork.  Dealing with people.  Frustration.  Perseverance.  They can show you what it's like to really enjoy something you've had to work for.

Plus, when done right, athletics can bring families together.

Like when Adam plays in California, and family comes to watch.

I kinda felt cool being surround by gobs of scouts.

It made my son's day.

We watched two games.  Played at a park in between.  Caught plenty of sunshine.  Mac tracked down two foul balls, was given a third by a worker, and a fourth from the coach of Uncle Adam's team.  Once he discovered where the dugout was, I could not keep him away.  He kept running down to tell Adam, "Hurry and rest your arm, so you can be ready to go throw it so super fast!"

And Belle had a blast.  Outside, stairs, puppies, and balls.  I typically try to keep her off of the stairs, as she has fallen down them so many times.  But in this sparsely-populated stadium, there was just no way to do that.  She was in heaven.  And surprisingly .... didn't even stumble.

I loved being able to talk to these two .... my soon to be neighbors. I cannot wait to finally have familial claim on somebody down here. 

And hello to Susana and Ramon in the back!

Chris was in heaven with her friends, her family, and the last of the Gunn boys to throw a ball around.  We talked about Mark's dad and really felt his love.

They may not have won, Adam may have been a little frustrated ...

But he's gracious about it.  Mac seemed giddy around him, a little nervous almost.  Like he was in the presence of a star.  It is fun to have such a good person and athlete (yes, unfortunately that combo can be a bit difficult to find) for my son to look up to.

We all came home sunburnt and happy.  Mark soaked up every detail, poor working thing.  Ashlee and I talked up some much-needed girl time.  The rest of the weekend was spent hunting down houses for that lovely couple, enjoying a night out child-free -- thank you Chris! -- and coming home to clean houses, happy kids, broth on the stove, and a full freezer.

I love this family.