Brooke's Black Eye

What a nice shiner, eh?

Before you get ready to call CPS, let me explain! 

Emma wanted a toy Brooke had. Apparently Emma had it first but she went potty and Brooke took it while she was on the porcelain throne. Emma started chasing Brooke, trying to get the toy back. She grabbed Brooke's shirt and then let go and Brooke, who was in mid- sprint, went flying forward and landed on her face, right on the toy she was holding (which was a little plastic car I think.) Emma gave her push after she was down, too.

I was FURIOUS! I grabbed the toys and threw them. Then I gave Emma a nice swat on the tush. Then I picked her up and took her to my bed and said, "YOU STAY HERE AND COOL OFF!!!!" (I have a no spanking policy, but sometimes the gloves gotta come off. Do you feel me on this?)

Anyway, eventually we sat down and discussed it rationally and I said Brooke should have given the toy back if Emma had it first,

 but Emma shouldn't have chased/ pulled/ pushed Brooke,

 and I shouldn't have spanked or yelled. We all said we were sorry.

Brooke got this shiner just in time for the primary program at church. She was front and center the whole time, too. 

Here they are right before church:

Cougar Chase

 At Emma's school they have something called the Cougar Chase fundraiser every year. The kids have friends and family pledge a certain amount for each lap they run. Emma took it SOO seriously. I was so proud of her! I got a little emotional seeing how everyone was cheering each other on-- just like in life. We're all running a race and we need to be encouraged, and encourage others. And it's ok if we fall or if we need to walk sometimes. The important thing is that we just keep going and don't quit. Go Emma!

My Dumpster Diving

Believe it or not, I got this table from our dumpster. Yes, I personally pulled this table OUT of the dumpster. It had nasty old burritos with peppers smeared on it. There were flies. There were Mc Donald's wrappers. And who knows what else. Sure, I probably looked like a crazy lady, but there was a table with potential on the line. I could see it. Someone just needed to give it some TLC! 

It was light wood to begin with and it was pretty dirty and had some stains from water or other liquids on it. So the girls helped me clean it up and I sanded it and stained it a nice dark cherry. Sooo fun! Being starving students has taught us to be creative!

* * * * * *

I also found this cute little table next to the dumpster. I just couldn't let this be thrown out! 

High School Reunion Thoughts. . .

So my 10 year high school reunion is coming up next month. Part of me is really excited and part of me is really nervous. Why? This may sound silly, but I ticked quite a few people off 2 years ago when I was vocal about my views on Prop 8 and the traditional family on facebook. I did this in response to M. Russell Ballard's (apostle of the LDS church) asking us to use the internet, blogs, social networking sites, etc. to spread the word about our views on marriage and how we believe it is in God's plan to be between a man and a woman (nothing hateful or bigoted). I think I was honestly naive enough to think people would just say, "Oh, that's just how Mormons roll. They have their beliefs and I don't agree but whatever." But I guess when you stand for traditional marriage in front of your friends when you're from the San Francisco Bay area and one of the most liberal counties in the nation (Sonoma County), you're bound to make a few waves and a few enemies. I've always worried about whether or not people like me, but I guess it's time for me to grow up and realize there's more important things in life than being well liked at your high school reunion, eh? Such as following the guidance of Church leaders and the guidance of the Lord. I may not be highly thought of by many I went to high school with now, but hopefully I proved to the Lord and to myself that He is more important to me than keeping up my image (if I even have one). ;)

Sort of on this topic, I'm also REALLY inspired by this blogger who calls himself "gay mormon guy":
 http://gaymormonguy.blogspot.com/

Since Alan Quit Law School. . .

*We've taken 2 day trips, 2 ice cream outings, and 2 dinners out.


*I've joined the Ward Choir again!


*We've had dinner TOGETHER consecutively for I think 9 days in a row (which has been quite the adjustment since I'm used to making dino-bites and vegetables with ranch every night for the girls. Note to self: Alan does NOT do meatless lasagna, at least not with a smile on his face.)


*Alan has been playing the piano again *happy sigh* while the girls dance around the room and he and I sing (which is something I need).


*The girls have been enjoying the stories Alan makes up at bed time on Tuesday nights called "The Adventures of Princess Saphire." They giggle the whole way through and Brooke is constantly saying, "What's going to happen?! Tell us!" She can hardly stand the suspense. The characters are Prince Henry and of course Princess Saphire. And there's Dr. Pickle, Baby Princess Hailey, and the Evil Wizard Rufus. There's the Duke of Smacky Smacky who smacks too much when he eats. The girls' favorite character is Prince Waa Waa who has a giant portable crib that he lives in. And he whines when he speaks. I smile a big smile inside when I listen to them all laughing together. . . And when I realize I haven't put them to bed by myself in a month! *jumps for joy!*


*We also watched General Conference this weekend. :) President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk "Of Things That Matter Most" was a confirmation to us that we made the right choice in quitting law school. Here are my favorite parts of it. I bawled the whole way through, by the way. 


If life and it's rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, the perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most. 
One of the characteristics of modern life seems to be that we are moving at an ever-increasing rate, regardless of the turbulence or obstacles. . . Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives. It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice.


There comes a point where milestones can become millstones and ambitions, albatrosses around our necks. 


Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in a recent general conference, taught, "We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen families."
There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions. 
Yet amidst the multitude of voices and choices, the humble Man of Galilee stand with hands outstretched, waiting. His is a simple message: "Come, follow me." 
My dear brothers and sisters, we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most. . . They will teach us to do "all these things. . . in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that [we] should run faster than [we have] strength. [But] it is expedient that [we] should be diligent, [and] thereby. . . win the prize. 
Our key relationship is with our families. Since "no other success can compensate for failure" here, we must place high priority on our families. We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. 


In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home.  


Let us simplify our lives a little. Let us make the changes necessary to refocus our lives on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship- the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace. 

South Lake Tahoe Day Trip

A couple Saturdays ago, we took off to South Lake Tahoe, just because we can. The girls were chanting in the car, "Three cheers to dad for quitting law school! Hip Hip Hooray!!!"

That night Emma had me write out her testimony that she wanted to read in Sacrament meeting. 

"My name is Emma Lindsay. I'd like to bare my testimony that I know this church is true. And yesterday I went golfing in Tahoe with my family. Spending time with family is a great way to prepare for testimonies." 

She went up all by herself but got a little shy and walked away from the pulpit, starting to cry. Then daddy carried her back up and read it for her. It was really sweet. And it makes us feel really good to see that the girls are noticing how much more time we have together now.