Brigs: Hey mom I figured out something.
Daria: What’s that Brigs?
Brigs: I figured out that I am the middle child.
Daria: Wow you’re so smart! How do you feel about being the middle child?
Brigs: It’s awesome!
Category Archives: General
Middle Child
Lola at Beaver Lake
Today after church we made Kraft Dinner with hot dog slices, and chocolate milk (not your healthiest meal but still an occasional favorite). Then the children and I left for the great outdoors. Lola was all dressed up in a cute fall outfit including a pink hat, dress tights and adorable coat and shoes. We went to Beaver Lake for the first time, and boy was it gorgeous with the fall colors, ivy and huge yellow and orange maple leafs scattered eveywhere. Some remote controlled sailboat hobbyists were racing their boats on the lake. I found this fascinating to watch, as I always wanted a remote controlled boat as a kid, but it was always an impractical thing to give a boy in December. Lola really wanted to just run to the beach and get dirty. I held her off and we set off for a walk around the lake, where she proceeded to trip and really get dirty. I found this to be completely adorable.
I’m trying to start some weekly Sabbath routines like a little outdoor walk, scripture time and a family games night or family movie. Also eliminating some of the video games from the kids on this day. Can I also just say how much I love 10 a.m. church? Today was a great sacrament meeting focusing on the young women and I was so impressed by the young 15-17 year old speakers who were just so valiant and wonderful. One of them mentioned Daria as an answer to her prayers about self-worth—a lesson Daria taught on this subject spoke to her heart and answered her prayers. Awesome.
A nice Saturday
I feel like I’m expending a fair amount of mental energy these days, and really just loving a day to decompress with my wife and children without interruption or concern. Today was one of those days. I woke up and read some of Steve Jobs biography and then did some pumpkin carving research. I read up on techniques and downloaded some templates I knew the kids would love—Angry Birds, Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario, Yugi Oh. Daria bought pumpkins and carving instruments earlier in the week so we set up and carved away. Dylan carved a Legend of Zelda Triforce pumpkin design and Daria and I helped Brigs and Noah. It was funny coaxing them into pulling the seeds and goo out as they really don’t get their hands dirty all too often. But they dug right in and did a great job. The designs the kids wanted were fairly demanding so we did most of the carving. I’ve decided that pumpkin carving is a total blast and I’m going to do this every year now. Later on I played some basketball and raked some leaves and just enjoyed the sunny day looking out at all the sailboats. Daria and I went into the office to cement an onlay, and then she came home and cooked a fabulous meal of wings, scalloped potatoes and garden salad. It was delicious. We read from Moroni 7:43-49 and had a good family discussion about charity, what it really is, characteristics of a charitable person and applied it. It’s really the ultimate goal, requirement, happiness and meaning. I love those last few verses. I’m excited that we have almost read the entire Book of Mormon as a family and now trying to think of a way to mark the occasion. It was a good day.
Our Teleporting Baby
This morning I was the first to wake along with Lola. As we made our way through the quiet house a mischievous idea came to me. We crept down to Joshua and Brigs room and then I placed Lola up on the top bunk beside Joshua (there’s a significant railing). Lola was in on the gig too, not making a single sound. Pretty soon Joshua became aware of Lola, “What the?” I heard as a grin crossed my face atop the stairs. “How did Lola get here? Brigs how did she get here? Maybe she did climb up here, or maybe I was sleep walking and brought her down here.”
That’s when I came down and told them I thought Lola was a teleporting baby. Classic.
UPDATE: Joshua just asked if we could rig up a camera over his bed so we could capture how Lola is ending up in his bed.
My little girl
I haven’t posted anything about our sweet daughter, Lola, since her birthday. Lola is a joy, and a remarkable addition to our family. I love her completely. Her personality already seems uniquely her, and feminine. Even when she has been well fed and attended to she seems to be vying for my attention. She does not like to be left out, preferring to be in the middle of things—which reminds me of Daria.
I love to hold her and make her giggle and smile. She was so little just a few months ago but now has some chunk when you carry her.
Lola has a sweet smirk that melts me, and reminds me of Joshua’s smirk, whom she very much resembles right now. I love that my kids all seem to have a shared appearance reminding us all that we are a family. I’m so very blessed to have each of my five children and all of them make me want to have more. Then the memory and worsening extremes of Daria’s pregnancies quench those desires.
I think of Lola as a little miracle and she provided a very significant spiritual experience while still in her first trimester that I hold dear and thank our God for.
Truly she is a blessing of the highest type.
