Adventure in our own backyard

Quick update as to what we are up to this week-
A MESS!! And we LOVE IT! We are having our backyard redone and it is so fun to watch the process. Can you imagine anything better than being a kid and having THIS in your own backyard. Not only is it full of huge machines and tools, but it's been raining so it's pure mud!

Pavers will provide lots of space for BBQs and warm weather fun. So if you're in the neighborhood, stop by!

Spring Break Staycation

Due to the fantastic blessing that Aaron has work to tend to this week, we decided to stay in Boise for Spring Break. We explained to the kids that we are going on a "staycation". (Going no where, but having fun anyway.) So Friday night we officially started with a campfire in the back yard, roasting weenies and marshmallows.

Brooklyn wasn't feeling well, and tried as best she could to enjoy the staycation festivities. However, this photo shows her enthusiasm. By 3:00 am she had a fever of 102.7! We spent Saturday at the clinic to make sure it wasn't strep throat again. We got a clear test and were told it is a virus and should be gone within 5-7 days. Just in time to go back to school.

But the fun couldn't be squelched. Aaron pitched a tent in the basement family room and the boys have been sleeping in it every night. I am considering removing their beds from their room and using the tent as a permanent sleeping arrangement. They love getting in their tent beds and have been falling asleep better than ever! And their are no beds to make in the morning!

Unfortunately, it hasn't been all fun and games. We are now watching the "sick bugs" cycle through the house. So far, everyone has felt illness to some degree. Aaron seems to be the next one to get hit. Not exactly what we planned.

Ian woke up Wednesday morning with a fever. Maybe we should just look at this staycation as one involving tropical temperatures. So far our average temperature over the weekend has ranged from 101.2-102.8! 

It is hotter here than we had anticipated.

But we are determined, we will have fun this week! Can't you tell by the look on Ian's face?

My Mom : by Brooklyn, Ian and Lucas

I took a moment this week to interview each of my kids, asking questions about “their mom”. The following are their answers.

1. What is something mom always says to you? Brooklyn- Time for school. Ian- Stop playing video games. Lucas- Don't play wii when I tell you to.

2. What makes mom happy? Brooklyn- Her kids giggling. Ian- Chocolate. Lucas- Doing jobs for her.

3. What makes mom sad? Brooklyn- Whining. Ian- When I don’t listen to her. Lucas- Not doing jobs for Mommy.

4. How does your mom make you laugh? Brooklyn- She tickles me. Ian- By saying funny things. Lucas- When you push me way high.

5. What was your mom like as a child? Brooklyn- I don’t know that answer. Ian- I don’t know, I wasn’t there. Why should I know. Lucas- I don't know. I never saw you being a kid. That's not my message.

6. How old is your mom? Brooklyn- 34. Ian- Isn’t it 24, isn’t it? No, I meant to say 34, isn’t it. Yeah, it’s 34. Lucas- 6.

7. How tall is your mom? Brooklyn- 5 ummmm, five would be like 5 feet right. Ian- 23 feet. Lucas- Let me see. (Stretches his arms) Quite a bit.

8. What is your mom's favorite thing to do? Brooklyn- When she’s healthy, right? Have plenty of space. Ian- Eat chocolate and make her kids happy, I believe. Lucas- Do laundry.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Brooklyn- Work and watch Heroes. Ian- Do work. Lucas- Work.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Brooklyn- Being nice to kids. Ian- Probably singing. Lucas- Being nice.

11. What is your mom really good at? Brooklyn- Making me happy. Ian- Singing. Lucas- Laundry!

12. What is your mom not very good at? Brooklyn- No offense, but Chess. Ian-Video games. Lucas- No carrying heavy backpacks. Then you would fall down and break your head apart.

13. What does your mom do for a job? Brooklyn- She is a Spanish teacher at Foothills. Ian- Spanish teacher. Lucas- Work on the computer.

14.What is your mom's favorite food? Brooklyn- Chocolate. Ian- Chocolate. Lucas- Chicken.

15.What makes you proud of your mom? Brooklyn- She’s funny and nice. Ian- She’s very very very nice. Lucas- Helping us.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Brooklyn- I don’t know. I have no idea. Ian- Ronald McDonald because you’re funny and very nice and Ronald McDonald is very nice. Lucas- Wonder Red (from Super Why).

17. What do you and your mom do together? Brooklyn- Have fun spending time together. Ian- Play and hike. Lucas- Fold laundry.

18. How are you and your mom the same? Brooklyn- We both have brown hair. Ian- We used to have the same color of hair. Lucas- Let me see your hands…Hands and heads.

19. How are you and your mom different? Brooklyn- She has green eyes, I have brown. Ian- She’s much much much much much taller. That’s 5 muches. Can you do 5 muches? Lucas- We have different clothing.

20. How do you know your mom loves you? Brooklyn- ‘Cuz she does. Ian- Because she’s nice to me. Lucas- Because you help me by playing wii Indiana Jones if we are on a hard game.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad? Brooklyn- He’s cool. Ian- That daddy sometimes gives her chocolate, maybe. Lucas- Kissing him.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Brooklyn- A lot of places. Ian- Fanci Freeze. Lucas- California. (I haven't been to CA since 1994. But we have plans to go in August.)

It's Lent

 Wikipedia says: Lent, in Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. Conventionally it is described as being forty days long, though different denominations calculate the forty days differently. In many denominations it is observed as a period of fasting and prayer, and this practice was virtually universal in Christendom until the Reformation^[1]. The forty days represent the time that, according to theBible, Jesus spent in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation bySatan.^[2].

The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgivingand self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of theResurrection of Jesus Christ.

Lent in 2009 started on Wednesday, the 25th of February and will continue for 46 days until Saturday, the 11th of April.

As I'm sure many of you know, I am a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The LDS church doesn't observe the tradition of Lent. However, I was raised Catholic and went to the Church with my mom and brother almost every week for the 1st 14 years of my life. At the ripe old age of 14 I decided that I would like to begin to learn about other churches and I began attending the Methodist church (because they invited me to sing in their touring choir). I sang at their Sunday services for the following 4 years.

My intention here, isn't to write my conversion story. That was just a little background information. 

Growing up, I loved the season of Lent. Christmas and Easter were on an even playing field in my opinion. I loved the build up Lent provided to Easter Sunday. Each week, adding another candle. My favorite was Palm Sunday, when we each would receive a reed upon entering the Cathedral. I would spend the hour of mass imagining myself in Jerusalem when Jesus rode through on his donkey.

I remember my mom's teachings about the Easter Story. I remember the excitement of Easter morning. I still feel it.

This year I have decided to observe Lent again. Not because my church tells me to; on the contrary. I am recommitting myself to something that brought self-awareness throughout my childhood. In retrospect, I see the lessons learned, and character developed through this tradition. I learned that I believe in God and can feel connection in prayer.  I have will power. I can sacrifice. I can commit. I can improve.

Regardless of denomination, the truths I learned growing up built my foundation in Christianity and there I have always stood firm. Thanks Mom.  

blog vs. journal

When I was a kid I always kept a diary. It was full of drama- kissing stories and which of my friends were fighting with each other. One time my mom even snuck a peek in 8th grade and I had to have a serious "talk" (of which I won't give any details).

When I was about 17 I decided to learn about the LDS church. One of the first things I was encouraged to do was "keep a journal" and I thought, that will be easy. I already do. But then it was revealed to me that in the LDS culture one keeps a journal so that "future generations" can read it.

I remember in about 1994, standing in my back yard on Union Street with my journals in hand thinking, "I'm pretty sure that I don't EVER want ANYONE reading these." With some hesitation, I threw them away in the alley trash.

I've tried to keep a journal since then, but it's never been the same. I've always felt guarded when writing. "Will my grand kids see this? Or worse, my kids?" So I mostly just write the facts and some cute antics the kids say. Or more recently, I don't write at all.

Then came blogging. It's different to write knowing that ANYONE will read it. So now I have the perfect solution. I will only write about the grand and glorious parts of my life and if my grand kids read it they will think I was awesome.

But sometimes I might slip. You may have to tolerate a boring post now and then. It might just be something that only I care about. But since this has become my method of documenting my mortal existence you'll just have to put up with it. And if I ever have anything REALLY BAD to say, I'll write it in my journal. (And then I'll probably throw it away.)

Happy Anniversary Aaron...and Happy Valentine's Day too.

Us on top of Camel's Back hill, a block from our house. Photo taken by Ian.

Eleven years ago Aaron and I got married in the Boise LDS Temple. We chose February 14, not because it was Valentine's Day, but because it was the Saturday of Presidents Day weekend and I had an extra day off school. I was in my last semester at BYU and when we got engaged on November 1 the idea of waiting through a whole semester for me to graduate seemed WAY TOO LONG. So we pulled out the calendar and discovered there was a little window in February when I could squeek out one more day out of classes without homework piling up for a honeymoon.

I tried to scan in a picture of our wedding (since all our pictures are pre-digital era), but the scanner says there is no usb attached, even though it is and I have checked at least 10 times. But my technological difficulties are not what this blog is about. But this is a perfect example of why Aaron is so important to me.

I need Aaron. He is my best friend. He teaches me and I teach him. We love each other because we depend on each other. He fixes all things that have wires and cords. He randomly spoils me. For example, he bought me a new snowboarding jacket, new boots, and new sunglasses last week for no reason other than I wanted those things. He put Chistmas lights up around the house the way I wanted them, even though he would have been happy without the peaks of the house lit. He goes on a date with me every week. He packed my lunch for me two times last week. He turns the other cheek. He strives to improve himself and I see results. He can get the kids to do things that I can't. I suppose I could go on and on.

An example of Aaron getting the kids to do something I can't

I've heard a lot of complaining lately about how pointless Valentine's Day is. I think a day dedicated to the person you consider most important is a good idea. I know that we should show our love everyday, and we do. I mentioned to a friend though that I think everyday is like practice and Valentine's Day is the game. It's an opportunity to showcase our affection that we feel year round.

So get out there and SCORE!

Me Scoring!

4 Years of Lucas

Lucas Aaron Williams * February 9, 2005 * 8 lbs. 4 oz

Instantly adored by all.

Handsome Physique 
Charming Smile.

Happy. 
Fun to be around.
Tough. 
Helper.
Clean. 
Imaginative.
Random napper. 
Adventurous.
Still tired.
Technological.
Another impromptu nap. 
A good partner.
Cool! 
 Responsible.
Encouraging. 
are we seeing a pattern?
yes, I think it's undeniable.
Sweet.
Curious.
 Adorable!
Growing bigger! 
 still my helper.

Lucas turned 4 on Monday. His birthday requests included a guest list of "the Farnsworth's" (our old next door neighbors) and "Ewan's whole family"(aka Jared & Caitlin's family). After some consideration he invited me and the rest of the family to his party. He wanted cupcakes, and a yard cake. What's a yard cake you ask? That's what I wondered. So I gave it my best shot and made a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (dirt) and covered it with green sprinkles and green frosting around the edges (grass) topped with a few of Brooklyn's tiny toy dogs and some gummy worms. He liked it so I guess that is what a yard cake looks like. 

I love that boy. Happy Birthday baby!