Heat Wave

*Note* I have a cool camera, that is left home far too often.  Unfortunately that leaves me taking pictures after the fact instead of "in the moment" sort of shots. 

This weekend, Ryan, Sydney and I traveled to Hayden ( home of....well...not much) for a softball tournament.  Sydney's pitching coach had hooked her up with a club softball team, the Arizona Heatwave, for the summer.  I know I was a little nervous meeting a bunch of new people, but Syd did just fine.  They immediately put her to work warming up for the game.  She started out in left field, and then finished pitching the game.  She then pitched the following game, which they won eleven to two.  She did a great job at the plate as well, hitting numerous doubles, and bring in quite a few runs.  Besides the miserably hot weather, it was a fun day.  We were proud of Sydney, for her softball playing skills, but also for her willingness to try new things.

When the day was done, her team had won the championship and Syd was named to the all-tournament team.  This coming Friday we will pack up and do it all over again-but this time in Prescott.  Home to a mall and Panda Express.  After that, Syd will be trading in her glove and bat for her soccer ball.  And the fun rolls on...

A Little of this and a Little of That

After days of seeing the same thing on my blog, Sydney finally broke down and scolded me.  "Mom, you aren't writing on your blog anymore!"

"I know," I sighed, "I just don't really have anything I want to write about."  Unfortunately it is true.  I am wallowing in a pool of self pity lately.  And self pity really isn't worth writing about.  I'm trying to get over it.  I'm getting close to being over it.  But it is just sapping the "wit" out of my normally "witty" self.  So I just can't muster the energy for a whole post on a certain topic.  However, in order to give Sydney something to read, I will now perform
"My Thoughts--A List"

1.  Just got back from our annual Primary Pool Party.  Seriously, if you are ever in the Primary Presidency, you need to get a pool.  OK, you at least need to rent one.  It's the easiest activity ever.  They swim, I hand out a Popsicle and BAM-quarterly activity day done!

2.  Speaking of church.  I offered to do a Primary float for the 24th of July parade.  Sometimes my mouth just opens up and stupid stuff comes out of it.  I swear it happens far too often.  I hear someone has a need and out spews, "Oh, I can do that!".  At work, I bite my tongue and chant, "don't do it, don't do it, don't do it."  Sometimes that helps.

3.  It finally rained yesterday.  Ryan and I took a little drive on the four-wheeler in the evening.  I could have stayed outside forever.  I love this time of year.

4.  Sydney is playing in a softball tournament in Hayden next Saturday.  The following weekend she will be playing in Prescott.  I'm not quite sure how I will pull off the fact that the tournament and the parade are at the same time...

5.  I've been reading some kids' book series this summer.  The first was the Fablehaven series and now I'm reading the Magyk series.  I like to claim that it is professional development, but actually, I just kind of like kid books.  I'm really excited about the last book of the Hunger Games series. 

6.  I've been typing up all of my recipes.  About ten years ago I gathered all of my mom's recipes and typed them up to have in one place.  I've decided it is time to create my own personal 2nd edition with the recipes that I now currently use. 

7.  On Friday, Ryan drove to the Valley and back to drop off a transmission.  On the way home, he stopped and bought me a ton of Panda Express.  Once again proving why I love the man.

8.  Speaking of Chinese food, when Ryan and I were dating he took me to eat Chinese food in Show Low a lot.  I would probably be exaggerating if I said once a week, but it could have been close.  I just knew it was true love.  (Me and Ryan) (but me and the sweet and sour pork were running a close second).  As soon as we got married Ryan announced that in fact, he really didn't like Chinese food.  He just liked dating me.  I'm still not sure if I was flattered or just suckered.

9.  I've taken up listening to Church books on tape.  Strangely, my kitchen gets more clean with the books than the radio.  I've got to try out my experiment on the bedroom.  Who knows maybe me and Deseret Books can change the world!

10.  Finally, (and this is really stretching it to get a #10 on my list) Lance Armstrong and the Tour de France.  Bless Lance's heart.  I have loved watching him race for years.  But I can't stand to watch him lose.  Ryan disagrees with me because  a) for a 38 year old man he is doing great and b) for heaven's sake Marc, he took 3rd place last year.  But I'm more of a "go out while you're at the top of your game" sort of girl.  Let it go Lance.  And while we're talking about that, let it go Brett Favre. 

I'm not sure what that says about me.    Maybe I just came up with something to blog about....

Keepers

These two girls of mine are definite keepers.  I've struggled this summer to find any sort of desire or drive.  I start each day with a vague sort of plan, but when the sun goes down I'm a little embarrassed by my lack of accomplishment.  Unless you can count reading books on the couch as an accomplishment. 

I'm afraid it doesn't count in this work oriented family.
I blame their dad.

Thank goodness for Syd and Lauren.  Sydney can clean a kitchen faster than I can even consider filling the sink with dish soap.  Today she cleaned and organized my pantry.  She's excited to really learn how to do her own laundry this summer.

Lauren has been enrolled as Sydney's apprentice.  She stood patiently by while Syd explained to her the organizational techniques needed to decide  why the pie cherries could sit by the pineapple slices in the pantry.  Lauren's been working on her massaging techniques.  (No, I did not put her up to this).  During church, she will massage my hands finger by finger.  Today she had me lie down on the couch while she worked my back over with her personally developed techniques.  And she does it for fun!

Keepers I tell you.  Keepers.

Girl Power

For Cade and Jorden's wedding, we moved the piano outside for use during the ceremony.  I had the perfect crew for the job.  Give these nuts a challenge and they will fall all over themselves trying to prove their "manliness". 

It kind of went like this:  "Step aside little lady.  We don't want to see anyone hurt now."  I love them.  I love boys that offer to take out garbage and bring in the groceries.

Unfortunately, when it came time move the piano back into the house, they were all back to their normal lives.  I'm afraid that moving pianos may test the limits of friendship.  Especially when I'm not the "friend" just the "mom of the friend".  

So, the piano sat outside for two weeks.  I told Ryan, "Hey when Cade comes over, let's get him to help you move the piano back in."  "Whoa" was the answer, "It will take more than just the two of us." 

My next efforts were wasted on Cade.  "Hey Cade, do you think we could get the piano back in the house?"  "Ha", he laughed, "You saw what it took to get it outside in the first place!"

Well, yesterday I knew it was time to take matters into my own hands.  I went outside and took a few practice lifts.  Yes, if I bent my knees, I could hoist it up a bit.  So I went inside.  "Hey Syd", I yelled upstairs, "get your tennis shoes on, we are going to move the piano."

It took a strained back, a twisted knee and bruises on my forearm but by darn, that piano is now back in the house.  When Ryan came home he took one look at it, shook his head and affectionately called me a dumb-ass.  Cade still refuses to believe that two girls were able to the job of four big boys.  Me, I'm kind of taking it easy today... it seems that moving a piano has a tendency to make your back a bit sore...

Leaving the Light On

Cade has now been gone for over a week.

People tried to warn me that whether it was getting married or simply heading off to college, that it was going to bring me to my knees. Not me.  Nope.  I enjoy every stage of my kids growth.  No looking back for me. Onward, forward, upward and all that jazz.

Here I am on my knees.

In the light of the day, I'm OK.  There are books to be read, weeds to be pulled, errands to run and kitchens to clean.  But as night rolls in and the house slowly falls asleep, I'm left waiting for that last one to get home.

Except he is home.  It's just not here.

I'm good with that.  Really, I am.  I want Cade to be at his house, learning and growing and developing the independence necessary to truly "cleave unto each other".

But still, I struggled to turn off the front porch light and lock the door.  To me, that act symbolizes that everyone has been safely gathered in for the night.  That I may have to send you all out into the world during the day, but at night you are mine and I am yours. 

So, truth be told, for a week I couldn't bring myself to turn out the light or lock the door.  Wouldn't that be like shutting him out?  Is that what a good mom does?  I don't know.  I haven't been in this position before. 

Monday I climbed into bed, knowing that I'd left the light on and the door unlocked.  But this time, when Syd headed to bed, I asked her to go lock up for me.  The next night, I took a deep breath and did it myself. 

Tonight,  Ryan and I helped Cade and Jorden move a few remaining things into their home.  They enjoyed showing us the way that they have decorated, chatting happily about their plans and their future.  And you know what?  It was good.  It was right.

As our house slowly settled in for the night, I looked out into the dark knowing that Cade wasn't going to be walking in that door. But this time, my heart was at peace.  Ryan grabbed my hand so that we could finish our conversation upstairs.  Without even thinking, I flipped off the light and locked the door. 

You know:  onward, forward, upward and all that jazz.

A Riddle

With a nine-year old in our house, riddles are pretty popular.  Usually they are of the variety like, "What has a mouth but cannot eat?" (a river).  Or the more sophisticated, "If a rooster laid an egg on the peak of a house, on which side would it roll off?" (Neither, roosters don't lay eggs).

But my all time favorite riddle was shown to me by a fellow teacher quite a few years ago.  It took most of the day, but I finally figured it out.  Maybe I am slow, but I think it is pretty clever.

"Poor people have it.  Rich people need it.  It is Greater than God and more evil than the devil.  If you eat it, you will die."

What is it?

(Michelle figured it out in probably 30 seconds...NOTHING)

Mr. and Mrs. Cade Ashton

On June 5th, Cade and Jorden were married in a beautiful ceremony in our backyard.  Jorden's grandpa (and Cade's bishop) performed the ceremony.  Afterwords, we held a reception with lots of good food, good family and good friends.  What an amazing community we enjoy!  People really came together to give these two a great start in their new life. 

We are excited for both of them.  They are great kids with a great future ahead of them.  Right now, they are living here in St. Johns.  In the fall, they will head to the Valley where Cade will attend MCC and Jorden will continue her studies at ASU.  Congratulations!

PS.  You can see more pictures at my sister-in-law's photography blog.  She is absolutely amazing!
http://loriashtonphotography.blogspot.com/