Rubik's Cube

I've always wanted to be able to do the rubik's cube.  My mind can't understand it.  Even the instructions were too confusing for me to understand 3 years ago when I tried to do it.  My brother recently mastered it and gave me his rubik's cube.  He showed me the first steps to making the white cross.  That gave me a starting point and then I was able to look up these instructions which have helped me move to the final yellow corners.  But the steps get confusing and suddenly the whole cube is a mess again.  It's very discouraging.

I feel like the rubik's cube is a nice analogy for life.  There are instructions that if you repeat them, things will come into order.  The commandments can be confusing, maybe. 

Sam's Club

We bought tires at Sam's last year for the van and planned they would last many years.  1 tire kept loosing pressure and has been a constant headache.  We had to pump it up weekly and even broke the valve stem from the constant on and off.  I've taken it back twice but the Sam's club always said it was something not covered by their warranty.  I took it back yesterday and they "tore it down" and cleaned off the rim and re-sealed the tire.  I hope it stays good now, but I know if it doesn't that the next step is to return the tire and get a pro-rated exchange.  Good thing we got the 90000 tire.

Knowing we would be there at least an hour we went over and ordered a pizza from the concessions.  The concessions told us it would be a 40 minute wait.  I said that was fine as we were waiting on a tire.  We wandered around the store buying snacks, a dress for M, diapers, at a leisurely pace.  As I checked out, G waited in line and claimed the pizza.  We ate a late lunch as it was about 2 by then.  

We returned to the tire center and waited some more.  I had to tell B not to pull on the stack of tires repeatedly.  Eventually we opened some of the snacks to pacify L.  The computer area was next to the tire area so the kids strolled out and played on tablets and phones.  L lay down in the seat of the cart.  It was pretty good compared to previous experiences in the tire center.  I just hope the tire is fixed.

As we left the store I looked at the dashboard and saw the tire pressures reading normal 37-40.  2 miles down the road I looked down and saw that the shop had inflated the tire to 49psi.  I quickly pulled over and checked it with a hand held meter.  Yep.  49psi!  I deflated it to 40 then continued home.

the importance of playdates

I've been participating in playdates for many years.  Mom's groups and playdates are great for moms and kids to have friend time.  Something I realized today is the value of playdates in socializing a child to the manners of guest and host.  Things like "don't jump on the couch, and don't run in the house" don't carry the same weight if it's not your parent saying it.  If a child is in other people's homes on a regular basis without their parent there, they aren't given the guidance consistently.  The care giver just survives, after telling the child a few times to stop.  When the child is picked up the parent may ask "How were they?" and who gives a full account of every infraction.  No, that would be rude, but it is good for children to be consistently guided, or nagged. 

lP had a habbit of whining and scolding me for the chatting that usually goes on in the driveway at the end of a playdate.  I told her on Monday that she may not talk to me that way, sternly.  Ironically, today she and M were running in someone's house and I said it was time to go, and they sweetly encouraged me to keep talking.  "No, you need to go." I told them.

I'm so grateful for the freedom to be with my children so much.  If they are not behaving, "Is it time to leave?" is always an effective threat because they know we will walk out the door.  I really want them to be able to have confidence that they know how to behave.  I think knowing what is appropriate behavior and dress is a real asset.  I'm not concerned with fashion, just modesty and not destroying people's homes.

then there were 3

G and M are off to camp this week and it's like a preview of 7 years down the road.  Having kids is crazy and beautiful.  It's so hard then they grow up in a flash.

BTW, love thy neighbor as thyself.  Who is your neighbor? The people who are different from you.  That's what Jesus was telling us.

Lucky kids

P took these girls on a kayak trip Friday.  It was a 2 hour trip up and down the creek led by the county naturalists.  I'm so glad they worked hard and that P could take them.  He got the worst sunburn he's had in years.  But they had a lot of fun.

On Saturday we went to Otown and I was able to go to the temple and pick up a tent for a family that needed to borrow one.  P took the kids to a lake with a park around it.  There were swans and ducks in the lake that let the kids get really close. 

P is so good at being present and involved with the kids.  I've never known such a good dad.  I'm grateful our kids get to have such a good dad.

fun with grandma

 We used a tarp with some soap and water to make a fun water play for the kids.  They had a lot of fun and mostly played nicely.

impossibly beautiful

The natural beauty I encounter on a daily basis is astounding.  My backyard is lush and green, densely forested and full with wildlife.  I drive across bodies of water routinely and see the seasons change in the grasses, oysterbeds, and beached vessels.   The water in our backyard flows to the Matanzas river.  We've gone kayaking there and enjoyed the mazelike path through the grasses and surreal passage through the bridge I usually drive across. 

I take the children to the beach after dinner.  The sun is heading down and there is always parking.  The children run ahead as I get the youngest out and dressed.  As I head across the boardwalk I see below and before me, them careen across the sand to the water.  There is a tidal pool and tiny waves don't tempt the big kids, so we stay together splashing, wondering how we have such beauty.