And then this happened.

Mabel turned eleven while we were in San Diego. On her birthday, she and Mike disappeared for an hour or so. When they returned, she had pierced ears and a big smile. He said she was a little nervous while they were waiting.

Your average mall accessories shop doesn't cut it for Mike. This guy was the real deal. (He has a 5 star rating on Yelp, even!) She said it only pinched a little bit. I can't even really look at these pictures.

Officially a tween!

I left my heart in California, part 4.

Aside from relaxing on the beach, we didn't really do much while we were in San Diego, and it was glorious. However, we did visit the Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center (and sat in their pretty rocking chairs) which was lots of fun.

One afternoon, we met my old roommate, Amber, and her four boys at Balboa Park. We rode the old carousel, visited the pretty botanical gardens, and enjoyed the company and ambiance. I'd love to go back there some day to spend more time at the museums. It was such a beautiful place.

See you next summer, California, or else!

I left my heart in California, part 3.

And then there were the late afternoons. This one was particularly fantastic. Just me and my boys on the sand. I can still hear those waves pounding the shore.

Every night at sunset, we would put on our sweaters (!), cuddle up, stand at the wall on the edge of the beach, and watch the sun make it's way past the horizon.

We have so much fun with Mike's family (pictured here: brother Danny, his wife Lindsi, and father Steve).

Who wants to go in on a beach house with me next summer?

I left my heart in California, part 2.

Because I grew up in Orange County, we hardly ever had a reason to visit San Diego, so this was my first real trip there. Mike's mom had a major birthday this year, so she decided to take us all on vacation to celebrate. We even had matching t-shirts. Isn't she the best?

We stayed in Mission Beach, and we had the most wonderful time. It was gloomy in the mornings (which felt wonderful to my desert-parched soul), and sunny in the afternoons - perfect for sitting under an umbrella in a sweater with a good book. Oh, it was heaven!

Stella is my bathing beauty. And do your husbands bury your children in sand, too? Why is that such a dad thing to do?

The cold didn't seem to bother Oliver one bit. He was almost always wet, especially once we put him on a boogie board.

What's more fun than being at the beach? Being at the beach with cousins, of course! I love Ellie's face in this one (she's in the pink suit).

I seriously never wanted to leave.

I left my heart in California, part 1.

I was born and raised in Southern California, just about 3 minutes from my grandparents, who live in Orange. I don't get to see them nearly often enough, so they were our first stop. My grammy is a very special lady. She can do just about anything, and whether she's baking a cake, or sewing doll clothes for her great grandchildren, or decorating her gorgeous home, it turns out top notch. Plus, she has a knack for making everyone feel extra special (see here). I had such a nice time visiting with her. Summer evenings on her back porch, with my grampy's favorite jazz music playing in the background are my favorite.

I love that my kids pull the same toys from her closet to play with that I did as a child. That train must be at least 35 years old. 

Elliot is going through a super hero phase.

Our next stop was my brother, Matt's, house where we stayed for a couple of days and got to meet this sweet guy. Dane is the newest cousin and he did not disappoint. He is only slightly adored. :)

I think Matthew and Katie's house is Mabel and Oliver's version of heaven. I hardly see them when we are there. There is always a fresh breeze blowing through the yard, and there are bikes to ride and hills to explore and some of their very favorite cousins.

Elliot got his fill of baseball with Max, and Stella and Sadie are two peas in a pod, what can I say.

Thank you for having us, Parkers!

home

Usually, by the end of a vacation, I am ready to be home. Not this time. I think I could have stayed in that beach house in San Diego for the rest of my life and not looked back. Alas, we took our last breaths of glorious wet, salty sea air Saturday morning and loaded up the car for the long ride into the desert.

The beach was so good to us last week. Pictures to come.

Happy birthday, Mabel!

Because she was breech for the entire nine months she spent growing inside of me, Mabel was born with the most delightfully perfect head and beautiful rosy cheeks. Once she started sleeping through the night (many, many, many months later), she never gave us a moment's trouble, and she hasn't to this day. She is dependable and honest, sympathetic and kind. She is generous and caring, and is a true blue friend. If you need her, you will most likely find her in the midst of a stack of books (she is an avid reader), or working on a story (I'm sure she'll be a published author someday), or playing with Oliver and Stella (all of their games seem to hinge on her involvement). As scared as I am to one day be the mother of teenagers, I know that she will go easy on us. I feel so lucky to be her mom, and I can't wait to see the woman she is becoming.

Happy 11th birthday, Mabel! We love you!

on Father's Day

"It is useless to debate which parent is most important. No one would doubt that a mother's influence is paramount with newborns and in the first years of a child's life. The father's influence increases as the child grows older. However, each parent is necessary at various times in a child's development. Both fathers and mothers do many intrinsically different things for their children. Both are equipped to nurture children, but their approaches are different. Mothers seem to take a dominant role in preparing children to live within their families, present and future. Fathers seem best equipped to prepare children to function in the environment outside the family." James E. Faust

Oh, this is true! Mike teaches our children things I don't even realize they need to know. He takes his role as father seriously, but still manages to be the fun parent. I'm not sure how he does it, but I am ever so glad to be by his side while he does.

Happy Father's Day, especially to my dear old dad!

away

We are away. And just in the knick of time, too. I was experiencing major wanderlust. We are visiting family and breathing in glorious salty sea air and having a wonderful time. 

Have a good weekend!

photo from last summer's visit

a party for Mabel

I'm not quite sure how this is possible, but Mabel is turning 11 soon. We had a little party to celebrate. She invited some of her favorite friends (and Stella) over for build-your-own pizzas and brownie sundaes.

They painted their nails. And watched a movie. And played a few games. And even though she specified "no gifts" on her hand made invitations, her sweet friends brought her presents anyway. She was sort of overcome by their generosity.

Happy almost birthday, Mabel!

summer mornings

The sun rises so early these days that if I forget to close our bedroom shutters tight, the morning light will pour into our room and my eyes will be open by six. Not long after that, Elliot makes his way to our room for his morning hugs, anyway. Down in the basement, Stella sleeps the longest, long after eight. I'm already worried about getting her out the door in time for kindergarten in the fall.

These are bright, quiet, raw oatmeal eating mornings and they are my favorite.

on learning how to mother

Do you ever hear something and it makes such an impact on you that you immediately write it down so you'll never forget it? It doesn't happen often to me, but yesterday, in Relief Society, an older sister in our ward made a comment. I'm not even sure if it answered the question the teacher had asked, but it made me reach for my pen and whatever scrap of paper I could find in my purse and jot it down as quickly as I could.

She was describing her experience as a temple worker (learn more about our temples here or here), but oh! Isn't that so applicable to life at home, too?

Just the day before, I had handled an opportunity to correct one of my children poorly, and I was still feeling awful about it. As soon as I heard this sister's comment, I realized what I should have done differently. I am grateful that I was in a position to learn from her experiences in the temple, and I hope hope hope I will handle the next situation like this instead.

we went swimming + it's the weekend

We went swimming today, and this girl did not want to get out of the pool. She'd stay in til the lifeguards kicked her out, even if she was shivering. While we were there, I forgot I was a mom for a few minutes and went off the diving board. Why am I always so reluctant to get my hair wet? It's silly, and going off the diving board is the most fun.

Things I am looking forward to this weekend:

Saturday morning pain au chocolate fresh from the ovens at Proof Bread. If you are local, check them out. Chef Jared makes the most beautiful bread. My mouth is already watering for tomorrow's treat.

Having Mike around. Now that it's summer, every day sort of feels like the weekend, except that Mike is away at work. We miss him when he's gone, and Saturdays are our favorite just because we get to spend them with him. Maybe we'll build our chickens a new nesting box? Or put down some backer board so we can start tiling our guest bathroom? Or maybe we'll just lay around and be lazy? Who knows.

What are you looking forward to?

our summer motto

Tuesday morning didn't look that much different than Tuesday afternoon.

I was sort of joking with a friend the other day that our motto this summer was "Do Less". But then I realized that it was actually pretty accurate. I feel strongly that summers are meant to produce boredom, and that boredom is good for children. Summers are meant for staying in pajamas and bathing suits all day, for covering the family room floor in legos, and for not making beds. 

We've fallen into a pretty great routine. We spend our days reading, playing, playing the piano for fun (we take a break from lessons during the summer), napping, and watching tv (my kids are super into Studio C right now). And then once Elliot is awake from his nap, we head to the pool til dinner. 

I realize I am lucky that my kids get along well. They can spend hours together in the basement coming up with some sort of elaborate scheme. These are days when the less parental involvement, the better, I think. Which means that I get to dive into the stack of books I picked up from the library. The Light Between Oceans was fantastic - painful, but so beautiful. Now I'm making my way through In Sunlight and in Shadow.

What do summers look like at your house?

on being bold and fearless

Our Relief Society has been studying Daughters in My Kingdom this year. Have you read it? I came across this quote from Eliza R. Snow at the end of the fourth chapter and it stopped me in my tracks. I was so impressed with her boldness and bravery. Would I be able to smile at the "rage of the tempest" or "ride fearlessly and triumphantly across the boisterous ocean of circumstance"?! I'm not sure, but, guy, I hope so!

Like Sister Snow, I believe that this is possible only if we are built upon the rock of Jesus Christ. And the way we do that is by being obedient to Him. Isn't learning obedience what this life is all about, anyway? It's mostly being obedient to the little things - reading my scriptures, saying my prayers, keeping the commandments, and being grateful for the things He has given me. These little decisions that I make every day add up to a lifetime of obedience. And so when those tempests rage, and that boisterous ocean heaves, I don't have to be afraid. I can be ready.



I found the free chalkboard background and fonts here. And then I spent way too much time making that little image.

Stella reads.

Stella and I are getting serious about reading this summer. We've worked on it off and on all year, but our goal is to have her proficient by the time she starts kindergarten in August. When I taught Mabel and Oliver to read, they picked it up right away. Stella is taking her time, and that is just fine. I have to remind myself not to compare my children to each other. They learn things at their own pace. That moment where it all clicks, though, is magical. I love seeing their eyes suddenly light up with recognition! It almost makes me want to homeschool. Just kidding. I could never homeschool*.

*We are really fortunate to live around the corner from a public school filled with top notch teachers, but I really admire you home-schooling moms!

p.s. Stella wins the prize for best hair in our family. Hands down. Even post-swimming lessons.

oh, teenagers!

Mike and I left our four children with his family this weekend and took charge of 11 teenagers at Youth Conference instead. It sounds crazy, right? It totally was. Can you see the fear in my eye on the bus ride up?

We stayed at the NAU campus (where we enjoyed beautiful weather) and had lots of fantastic speakers and classes to attend (including the fabulous Brooke White and our friends, Christian and Stephanie Nielson).

Our main task was to know where the kids in our tribe were at all times. It doesn't sound like it would be that difficult, but oh man, it was exhausting! I'm so glad that Mike and I were able to do it together. He is a good partner.

It turns out that teenagers aren't that scary. By the end of the weekend, our little tribe was like a real family, and each of these kids had made their way into our hearts. I hope they heard things that will give them strength as they face their difficulties and trials. I know I did. The theme of the conference was "Doubt Not, Fear Not" and in this world, teens (and stay at home moms) need all the courage they can get.