swiftly flow the days

sunrise, sunset

swiftly flow the days

but not THAT swift. this summer was fun but LONG. towards the end i was trying to decide whether to give up sleep or grossly lower my expectations of what i can accomplish in a day. 

school started much to my chagrin and delight. i was excited for the big kids but at the same time i know that no one will love them like i do. i don't want rotten kids influencing them. on sunday night thomas gave them both priesthood blessings and i was so anxious that i got one of my own too. this school year is as much mine as it is theirs. each time i receive a comfort and inspiration in the form of blessing from my dear husband i realize a little bit more how lucky i am. sweet is the peace the gospel brings. 

lunch by request:

1. water bottles. my kids do not like juice boxes

2. bagels with cream cheese. sammiches are passe.

3. grapes. everyone's fave fruit and choking hazard.

4. brownie cupcakes. the easiest way to transport brownies. and the top is like one big corner piece. and i love me a corner piece. 

is this the little girl i carried?

is this the little boy at play?

i don't remember growing older,

when did they?

reagan didn't seem that keen on his dorky, embarrassing parents walking him to his classroom. such is the life of a 2nd grader.

what's so dorky and embarrassing about a flying baby with her sleeper unsnapped and flapping in the breeze?

scarlett walked into her kindergarten classroom like a champ and didn't look back. i stood there for a while and stared at her until it seemed bit awkward for the rest of the class. 

they don't even need me anymore.

confession: i miss them

we'll be out here as long as it takes

growing up, family yard projects were a pretty big deal in the beck household. whilst the neighbor kids were having fun, all 5 beck kids were being tortured in the yard with weeding, tree removal, shrubbery trimming and one very special summer, sprinkler system installation. because thomas and i were both so blessed, thomas and i wanted to continue the tradition with our lucky, lucky children. we kicked the summer off with a special "weed's day" (reagan's term) on memorial day and we've been able to re-celebrate weed's day on multiple saturdays since. 

the tradition continues:

i actually feel a little bad for the kids. mostly because i agree with them; it isn't fun, it was hot and there were bugs aplenty(to scarlett's delight). but kids who don't know how to work are rather annoying and i don't want to contribute to that epidemic(how old am i?). the worst part though is when all the neighbors loaded up their kids and all their pool toys and headed up to the pool, while we were sweating it out in the yard. that's a hard one to explain. at least the kid's penchant for wearing their grubbiest clothes finally paid off. 

as i was coercing the kids to more fully participate in the yard work process, i had several flashbacks of some doug beckisms i experienced in the yard. i was repeating almost verbatim some choice phrases.

doug beck- "if we all pitch in, this will only take about 30 minutes." i think i heard my dad say that more than any other phrase in my entire life. 

kids-"i don't want to do this!"

doug beck- "surprise! i don't either!" 

kids- "how much longer?"

doug beck- "as long as it takes!"

kids- "none of the neighbor kids have to do this!"

doug beck- "none of the other kid's parent's love them as much as i love you!"

kids- "what if it starts to rain?"

doug beck- "then we have to finish in the rain."

(which is one of my favorite memories from growing up. all 7 becks in the yard during a thunderstorm pulling weeds. everything we were wearing was ruined, we were up to our knees in mud and the neighbors thought we were nuts.)

before:

after:

if doug beck taught me anything, he taught me how to remove a shrubbery without the aid of power tools. perhaps to know a bit what life was like for my pioneer ancestors?

i broke off most of the branches by hand, used a hack saw to sever all the roots and pulled the base out with my own two hands. all while engaging my core for a more dynamic workout. 

this removed shrub is for you dad!

head above water

you're wondering how my summer is going? well, thank you for asking. i'll tell you. 

it's been fun. and by fun i mean exhausting. i'm dying. this has been the busiest summer and i kind of can't wait to not be so fun anymore. everything housework-wise has hopelessly spiraled out of control and is only getting more and more ridiculous. i'm really looking forward to getting back to mopping and vacuuming on a semi-regular basis. 

i'm trying really hard to be a fun mom and a spiritual mom and a homework mom. add all those elements and you get schizophrenic mom. 

i think the kids wish i would simply concentrate on being fun mom. they don't even care if i'm laundry mom since the big kids both really only want to wear old, gross clothes or dress up costumes. and babycakes is happy with a clean diaper. 

i took a few shots of our most recent family home evening lesson. i think the big kids were really wishing for fun mom at this point. 

the AGONY of a lesson about prayer. 

 reagan looks like he could be praying, but in actuality he was pouting about being asked to contribute to the lesson by answering questions. 

feeling the love:

 and these were their outfits for the library this afternoon.

on reagan: the grossest, rattiest shirt he owns

ripped up jeans in 100 weather

the stinkiest shoes ever to be forged out of plastic

on scarlett: size 3T snow white costume

pink floral sneakers

hair that may or may not have been brushed since we went swimming earlier today

i guess i am encouraging them to make their own sartorial decisions? or these creative experiences will allow them to base their self-worth on their inner beauty rather than their outer beauty? or they are demonstrating the 2nd law of thermodynamics or law of increasing disorder(i am homework mom after all)? frankly, i've no room to talk. i was happy that i moisturized after my 230pm shower after hitting the gym and swimming and lunching with friends. but no one forced me to put on the same yoga pants and t-shirt that i wore yesterday afternoon. that was my own disgusting choice.

and babycakes in her diaper. she still loves me. and she rolled over today. 4 times! olympic fever! plus, she's sleeping from 8pm to 8am. i'm glad i'm doing something right.