Girls Trip '09

WARNING: This is a whiny post! I have never wanted my blog to be a place to whine or vent. Self-reflection is okay, but whiny is not. However, I think this post just might border on whiny.

We are leaving tomorrow for our annual girls' trip. Everyone is excited, but me. I just can't bring myself to be excited this year. I thought about backing out of the trip. I couldn't do it - I knew that I would be angry with myself. So, I told my boss that I would stay, if she needed me. Of course, she wouldn't take my vacation away from me. I wanted her to, but she wouldn't do it. That is what I get for having such a nice boss.

I know that I will feel better once we get on the road. However, right now I'm looking for a paper bag to blow into. I think I might be hyperventilating or having a panic attack.

This will be a great trip. Everyone will survive without me... they always do. We will all benefit from me returning from the trip relaxed and stress free.

I'm off to finish all those things that have to get finished before you leave town.

Eureka Springs here I Come!

My Boy

This is my boy. He makes me laugh every day.

Fred took a long weekend and went fishing. He left Thursday evening and came home this afternoon. As a result, Jonathan and I spent a lot of time together this weekend. Through it all - martial arts, errands, a birthday party and a bike ride - he kept me entertained.

Our little friend, Madison, celebrated her 6th birthday at the Natatorium in Allen. Jonathan went down the slide once and hit the lazy river only a couple of times. Instead, he spent his time standing under this spout letting water fill up his swim trunks. He laughed and laughed at his swim trunks.

When he wasn't filling up his swim trunks with water, he was letting the water blast his head. He had red marks all over his back from standing under the water for so long.

Jonathan and I try to take a bike ride every weekend. This weekend was no different. This time, we stopped and spent a few minutes at the park. Those sunglasses crack me up. They look like they are about three sizes too big for his little face.

Jonathan and I riding the purple dinosaur at the park. Since we are both so mature, he thought it would be funny if we played on the purple dinosaur. I wonder what the weight capacity is on the purple dinosaur?

Isn't this a nice shot of my arms? I guess I should be careful when taking self-portraits.

By the way, don't you think everyone needs a boy like this?

Sea World - Day 1

We spent Labor Day weekend at Sea World. We had not visited Sea World in many years, so we were all excited. We enjoyed the shows, feeding the dolphins and the exhibits. The boys had fun hitting some of the rides. Jonathan was a big brave man and rode both roller coasters. Fred said that he held on with white knuckles and closed his eyes tight each time. After the ride was over, he would look at Fred and squeal, "Let's do it again!"

Fred and Jonathan at Viva (dolphin and beluga show)

Beluga Whale

Pacific White-Sided Dolphin

Jessie watching Viva

Jessie and the penguins

Jonathan hanging with the penguins

Lunch was crazy. Fred had to stand in the longest lunch line that I've ever seen. While he stood in line, the kids and I had to score four seats together at cafeteria style tables. During the long wait for lunch, Jess pulled out a book and started reading. I guess it pays to be prepared.

While Jonathan was waiting on lunch, he chose to study the park map.

Fred and Jonathan at the dolphin tank

Bottlenose Dolphin

Sea World - Day 2

Here are the highlights of our second day at Sea World:

Fred and Jonathan waiting for the sea lion show to start.

Donna and Jonathan before the sea lion show.

You guessed it... Jessie is waiting for the sea lion show.

Sea Lion show

Jonathan, Fred and Jessie feeding the sea lions.

Jonathan getting ready to see the killer whales.

Jessie decided that we needed to sit on the FOURTH row at Shamu Stadium. We were drenched!

Jessie soaked by Shamu!

Shamu

We had a wonderful time and can't wait to visit Sea World again!

Walking on Sunshine

We were so happy to finally see the sun today! Jonathan and I took the dogs for a walk to our neighborhood duck pond. The girls were so happy to get out of the house. The ducks were very happy to see us. I guess they haven't been fed much in the last two weeks.

Jonathan feeding the ducks.

Happy Ducks!

The geese saw us from across the pond and started heading our way! I cannot stand these crazy geese.

We fed practically every duck in the pond. As we finished up our walk, we noticed that they were following us. They finally gave up and left us alone.

Dog Walker Extraordinaire. For a fee, I will hire him out for dog walking services. I'm just kidding. He has a hard time taking command. Mollie (who usually has very good leash manners) drug him all over the place.

All it takes is a little bit of sunshine to make us happy!

Confessions of a Weightlifting Mama

It has been a rough week. I'm not sure why it has been rougher than other weeks, but it has. I was reflecting on my state of mind yesterday. Crazy I know, but I thought about my camera. When the batteries are low, the red light flashes until eventually my camera just dies. That is exactly how I was feeling.

I decided that it was no problem. I have the tools that I need to recharge my batteries. They are all common sense type things. Prayer, scripture reading, attending church meetings and temple attendance (well, that is another post, because I am lacking there). Then there are all the fun things that I can do like soak in a hot bathtub, blogging and my annual girls' trip that is coming up. After identifying all the ways that I can recharge my batteries, I still wasn't feeling hopeful.

Early this morning, I was doing the dishes and I had an epiphany. My best thoughts come while doing dishes. I guess it is the mindlessness of it. Anyway, I thought back to something that my chiropractor had said. I went to see her earlier in the week and she couldn't adjust me at all. The muscles in my back were very tight - actually, she referred to my muscles as rocks. She said that my back felt like I had been lifting 300 pound weights.

As I thought back to that conversation, I had that moment where everything became clear. I am strapping the weight of the world (really, it is just the weight of my family, but it feels like the world) on my back and carrying it around. How sad Heavenly Father must be that I haven't dropped that weight at His feet and asked for help carrying it.

After I had this life changing thought, I walked into my bedroom. And, shining through my window was the glorious sun that we haven't seen in ages. I grabbed my boy and we jumped on our bikes and took a nice long bike ride. Ahhh! Life is good!

K - T - M!

Shortly before we left for Sea World, we attended Jonathan’s pack meeting. Jonathan earned his Bear Badge. When a Cub Scout earns a major badge/award, the entire pack chants K-T-M over and over. KTM stands for Kiss the Mom! They do a great job of reminding the boys how much their moms help them to earn their badges. So, Jonathan kissed me on the cheek and presented me with a Bear pin. Afterwards, he was so embarrassed that he went fleeing back to his seat. I have never seen him move so fast!

Thanks, Amy, for taking these pictures. I can’t believe that I forgot my camera!