A moment from my day....

... which illustrates yet again that my kids are wonderful!

As I was painting in the front room I gleefully listened to the pretend game that was happening in the other room.  Faith and Danny had gotten out the chess game from the game cupboard and since I have not yet taught them how to (kinda kid like) play chess, they made up their own game with the pieces which sounded something like this:

"Ah!  Now we are together in a choir and we shall sing.
'Praise to the Lord!!'
That was all splendid."
"Now you can bring yours choir over to my tower and my brave knight will defend you from the bad guys --schwing, schwing!"


"Praise to the Lord!!"


"Oh yes! I saved you.  And your singing is lovely."


Viv eventually joined in the game and it got more animated.  I loved how happily they were imagining a wonderful world of music and chivalry.  All without complaining that I was, yet again, painting rather than playing with them.  Only a bit more trim in the main rooms and I have done with painting for a couple more days.

And as another remembrance of today that was wonderful - we had a FHE and the kids were happy.  The lesson was on Jesus' teaching in stories - precisly the "Wise man and Foolish Man" from Matthew 7; better known as a favorite song with actions from the children's hymn book.  My favorite part of the lesson were the responses from Viv and Danny.

Viv's response was always cheerfully and much like a lightbulb "The Holy Ghost!"   Doesn't matte what the question was.  Boy has she got the Sunday School answers down.

Danny's response were always positive "I'm wise."  "I'm a good man."  "I am a prophet, you know."  (When corrected that he was named after a prophet, he responds without a blink) "Yep.  I am named after TWO prophets actually cuz I am like them."  It is certainly relatable to call him my little Peter Pan - I don't ever want him to grow up and he has that cockiness that drove Hook insane!

Lest we think Faith was not participitory, she was there, just cuddled in a blanket waiting for the other two more animated ones to settle down and then she would give me the correct response to the question.  I fear that she is growing up now and starting to move past the childish happiness of family night together.  She was very enthusiastic about playing "Mr Fox, what time is it?"  which is the new age version of 'Mother, May I?"  And they got a great kick out of my making up backwards steps and sideways steps and twirling steps so they could never get to me until Faith finally bargained (after I had told them it was time go to back to the starting point, and they went back obediently) "Momma, how about you just let us get to you and then I will say that you can be Mr. Fox again."

Oh I love them, and it is great to spend the time loving them now while they still very much love me back.  While making dinner Danny kept reaching up to me.  I told him I would no longer pick him up like a little baby and he looked up at me and said "Then come down here and give me hugs!"  I love them all.

On the road.....driving away

That was the last look at cactus and any 'sign' of Phoenix. No, I was not too sad. Although, I admit that as we drove North toward Payson and passed a river bed and such I thought, 'Nancy, you are a dunce, there was a whole lot more you could have explored that you didn't. I will do better this time around ;)

Traveling with the kids was a blast! Most people don't believe me when I say that traveling with a 5,4,and 3 year old is really a great time. Faith, Viv, and Danny are the coolest travel buddies. We color and sing and make up stories. And we have the fun time of stopping frequently, at our own whim to explore neat places. Our first afternoon of travel we went on a mountain walk in Payson and then slept in New Mexico. The next day we stopped a one of the best dinosaur museums I have been too in New Mexico. I have always wondered about the utility of NM as a state. Come to find out that some of the greatest geological finds related to dinosaurs are in New Mexico. AND, this tiny little town houses a community college that is one of the only places in the world that bronze casts dino bones!




Since the bones are bronze cast you can touch them and get a good idea of scale. They also had a dig pit for the kids and a mini- dino for a ride. The layout was just so simple and informative I felt like I learned more about actual pre-historic history than ever before! Never under-estimate the power of po-dunk towns.



And then we were in Texas and found this gem off the side of the road. Cadillac Ranch. Danny is still asking why that crazy rich guy planted the cars in the field.



It is a joy having boys - the girls were interested in the cars while we were there but the image is seared into Danny's little head. So we tried on a bit of "Texas" to see if it fit him right....

more from the road trip to come.

Farewell Fun

As the last week slowly drug on in Arizona we had plenty of time to play at parks, ride bikes, and paly with best friend Dusti. It was a blissful end for a mini-life in Arizona.

Signed Off

This morning we put our fine 'John Hancock's on some significant documents which in essence said - GOODBYE HOUSE.

So lovely to have lived here. So blessed to have sold it too.

If all goes well, the kids and I drive away in a few hours and Josh loads the truck tomorrow to follow.

HP: Parenting REVEIW

I really should have taken the FULL month of March to focus on Parenting rather than just the last half for all the amazing that I learned in those two weeks! Of course I will continue, but I thought I would share some of the lovely insights I learned from others.

As I reached out to others for their advice on parenting- I felt as though the major benefit was not only their wisdom, but feeling connected to a whole network of wonderful people. Half the battle of being a parent is just plain feeling hopeless and helpless as though there is no way personally you can be that parent that your kids need. Remembering, and connecting with, all the others that are in similar situations feels like getting a bungee support system that can help you bounce back more readily.

Here's the fantastic advice I received from others:

-Thoughtful observations from others may reveal what you think as justifiable parenting is still being rather unfair to your kiddos. It is worth having a second pair of eyes on the situation.

-involve your kiddos in everything and don't treat them as after-thoughts in your pursuits

-offer correction privately, quietly, and lovingly

- to effectively persuade: use your voice kindly, smile and explain truths, values, and laws that we all need to honor

- we cannot use our influence in a forceful way - even after we have done all to explain, coerce and demand things from our children they still have the choice and those choices can and may hurt my heart as a parent, but exersicing an overbearing arm will not be to any better effect

-Recommended biblio from my former nannying family more in the teenage years (I will certainly hold on to these for the upcoming drama with my girls!

1)The Wonder of Girls, Understanding the Hidden Nature of our Daughter - Micheal Gurian

2) Hold On to Your Kids, Why Parents Need to Matter More than Peers - Gordon Neufeld, Ph.d and Gabor Mate, M.D.

3) Queen Bees adn Wannabes, Helping your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and the New Realities of Girl World - Rosalind Wiseman

4) My Teenage Were-Wolf, A Mother, A Daughter, A Journey Through the Thicket of Adolescence - Lauren Kessler

- Listen better, to the effect of hearing all they may not be saying and understanding what really is important to them.

-Pray an awful lot

And from my own study in "5 Spiritual Solutions for Everyday Parenting Challenges" by Richard and Linda Eyre -- Remember that these kids are God's children and that He is the perfect parent. Follow His parenting examples and rely on His advice. The book really is a must read.

Others on my favorite parenting books list:

All you need for fun

While I have been bored to tears wandering around our shell of a home after having packed up everything in boxes and suitcases, still waiting on cars and papers, the kids have the proof that it doesn't take much to have fun. With some remnants of dress-ups left out (to be thrown away once we drive away), a bunch of hair bows, and some siblings, they were having a ball, literally, this morning. I love that Danny even donned a sash, subtle yet so handsome, for the event. Which reminds me, at breakfast this morning Viv told Danny that he looked cute to which his response was "I don't want to be cute, I am handsome." Yes, my boy, you are a handsome accompaniment for your sisters' soiree of the early day!

Wishful Thinking and Pretty Hands

Saturday night Josh and I slipped a date in. It was a leisurely evening of just enjoying time together and getting a few errands done. While walking around we slipped into a jewelry shop. I had been wanting a slim little band to wear on my ring finger while running. Spoiled little me has a gigantic beautiful blue ring that Josh picked for me 7 years ago that slips and turns when my hands get sweaty from funning and chaffs a bit. I have been a bit irritated recently when running without my slipping ring that guys I pass seem to check the ring finger and check me out. Perhaps it is my ego, but I do not like the fact that they think I am available. So I figured a sweet little reminder of my already tied intentions would be fitting for running.

The jewelers were super helpful, of course and found me some beautiful ideas for just that cause. Having a slim band reminded me how Josh had actually bought an accompanying wedding band for my engagement ring that we ended up returning because the diamonds kept falling out or getting loose. I have worn my ring solo all these years (admittedly with a slight hope that Josh would get me an anniversary band....never wish with a man, show him or tell him very clearly). Josh is a very sensible shopper and I should have know I wouldn't walk out of the jewelers with an extra ring on my finger. Savy husband took pictures of what I liked and is no doubt shopping around for the best prices. I suppose I love that even more about him. He doesn't immediately gratify my material wants but builds the suspense while getting a much better price.

I couldn't help but share these photos, mostly because I wanted to remember for myself that I really like my hands. Surely, it is rare for a woman to compliment herself. Well, I really really like my hands. They have always pleased me and Josh has done a good job of dressing them up in the past (and hopefully the future too!).