Corona del Mar - the slideshow

I finally took a few minutes to figure out the iphoto slideshow, so now you can steal a peak of our beach pics accompanied by music. Yeah!!!

Just Another Day in Paradise

We Got Soaked!!!

We enjoyed a lovely holiday at Knott's Soak City. Jayson could have played all day in the entrance plaza. He loved the rooster and chickens running around. The weather was just right for it. The boys were a little shy about going on the waterslides. When they finally braved up, they had to wait in line for one hour to get a three person tube. The lazy river was nice - too bad I was sharing my tube with a squirmy little girl. Her bum kept falling through the hole and then she'd get stuck.

Jayson is NOT water shy. He headed right up the yellow octopus slide. He didn't care that the slide was steep and quick. He even thought he was funny when he'd get to the top and then double back to go down a different arm of the octopus. I was totally stressed out when he'd do this because I was at the bottom of the slides catching him before he plunged into the water.

The kids liked the wave pool - simulated ocean without the salt. The shorter ones were required to wear life jackets. This didn't seem to bother Jayson. He actually liked floating on his back or leaning forward to blow bubbles.

Jacob let us borrow his camera - too bad his batteries were dead. Then we decided to buy a water cam, so Jon ran back to the car to stow the camera. The gift shop was sold out of water cameras, so later Jon went back to the car to retrieve the camera and to purchase batteries. So you better enjoy these low quality snaps of our family memories :)

P.S. We also walked through Independence Hall.

In the Photos

I've often sung my lament that I'm never in the photos with my kids. I would like more of those so I can see us together. But what I hope my children see when they look at my mounds of pictures, are the way I see them. I was present. Each capture was me taking notice. I saw them. I was there to treasure the moment.

Perhaps this particular photo holds no interest to the blog lurkers passing by, but I can't take my eyes off of it. My prized sons working together with sand, water, shovel, and bucket. My heart just skipped a beat.

P.S. Aren't you glad you didn't have to see another image of me in my swim suit - maybe next swim season - ha ha.

One or the Other

When I'm good about exercising, I'm not good at getting my house work done.

When I'm good at taking pictures, I never get the editing done.

When I'm good about cooking, I'm terrible at getting outside.

When I'm good at blogging, I'm a preoccupied mother.

When I'm good at mothering, we have a pretty messy house.

When I'm good at calling friends or family, I'm not a good listener to those around me.

When I'm good at saving money, I spend too much time thinking about things.

When I'm good at listening, the clutter piles up.

When I'm good at having playdates for the kids, I don't get the errands run.

When I'm good at having all the errands done, I long to have down time at home.

When I'm good at getting ready to be somewhere on time, somebody poops, spills, falls, or looses something so we can be late anyway :)

I haven't figured it out. Making a priority list means that one of you is in and the other is out.

Jacob's scan went well this morning. No hot spots or areas of concerns. I hope to sleep much more soundly tonight.

And since I haven't been good about posting pictures, I have to let you see my jayson at the beach on Saturday.

Touched by Cancer

I'm especially thinking about cancer today because Jacob is at the hospital right now getting a bone scan. This particular scan wasn't ordered with his other 6 month scans earlier this month. It makes me anxious to find out what they are able to see and what they might be worried about.

*****

I review all my kids' homework in the their Friday Folders. Jacob got 100% on his worksheet on periods, question marks, and exclamation points. At the bottom of the page he had to write his own sentences.

9. A sentence that tells something: I went on an airplane.

10. A sentence that asks a question: What is cancer?

11. A sentence that shows strong feeling: I like playing with LEGOS!

12. A sentence using an abbreviation or initial: I go to the Dr.

Best Hand Wash Car Wash

The kids always look forward to the night when Daddy will wash the cars. I do to!!!!

About James

Last year I shared Jacob's ME POSTER. James did one this year.

I have a great name. It is James Jonathan Stock. Today I feel awesome. Something special about me is I'm nice. What bugs me most about school is I get bored easily. I'd rather play video games than school. I like teachers that are nice and fun. My favorite place to be is home or Utah. Something that bothers me is when by brother bothers me. At our house we have free time between 7-8 p.m. When I'm alone I like to think about stuff. The most important person in the world is my family. I wish I could be cooler. Sometimes I like to make food. I think school should be a place were we have fun and a little learning. I feel nervous when I have to give a presentation. Better than anything, I like my parents. I really get angry when my brother startles me. I feel proud when I get awards. I wish people wouldn't bother me. This year I hope I can be more nice. One thing I'd like to know about the teacher is how he gets his work done. One think I'd like the teacher to know about me is that I'm a bit shy.

What's Really Important

I'm overwhelmed with my to-do list right now. There are a billion little things that are nagging at me. Are each of them life changing? no. Is it the end of the world if it takes me a few more days to get to them? probably not. Will I lose sleep over it? a high-strung girl like me will definitely lose sleep.

I think I'm also sad because my grandma is ill. She's always been well, vibrant, endearing, and witty. Each of you who know her have been her favorite. She has always been an example to me of helping people feel included and important. I don't think anyone is ever ready to let someone go. I know she has a whole fan club waiting for her on the other side. I've just been feeling sad about the day she's not with us anymore. I don't know when that day is, but I dread it already. She has lived a full and remarkable life. Grandma was always so invincible and I'm finally admitting that after 85+ years, though a superhero in spirit, the body is quite fragile.

**************

Have you heard the music of Paul Cardall? Did you know that I went to grade school with him? Did you know that he's waiting for a heart transplant so he can live long enough to watch his little girl grow up? I was so happy to find his blog because he doesn't have time for stuff that doesn't matter much. He & his family have really been forced to focus on what matters most. I've had such wake up calls in my life. Why is it so easy to forget?

Check out his blog HERE.

Don't forget to pray

My kids have a natural gift for pointing out the things I do wrong - thanks guys, I'll work on that :) Today my Baby Jay showed me that I've taught him something right.

We sat at the table for delightful cuisine of nectarine slices, saltine cracker and cheese, with turkey non-rolled roll-ups. Jayson kept holding his hands together and said, "de de" (which apparently is a universal toddler word that means whatever he is trying to say but can't remember the grown-up version of the word). He was so excited when we understood and offered a blessing on the food.

Thank you Jayson. Don't forget to pray.