Blowed

We weren't planning on going anywhere for the holiday weekend, but decided to go up North for Macy's baby blessing. Jason's whole family was up there for the weekend so there was lots going on. Clara had quite the fun weekend and loved that all her uncles seemed to love playing with her. She got her first 4-wheeler ride not long after we got there. She thought it was the best thing ever and screamed when her ride was over. Since Kevin and Chrystie were staying at Jason's parent's, so was Harley, their dog. Clara loved it and conveniently learned how to say puppy on Thursday. So she would follow the dog everywhere saying "puppy".
Like I said, she got a lot of attention from her uncles...
Saturday night most everyone went to the rodeo. I kind of like rodeos, but we didn't have the clothes for it (we all had shorts and flip flops on and nothing to change in to), I didn't want to pay for it and I didn't think Clara would enjoy it more than five minutes. Instead, Len and Maricel came with us to DQ and to watch the fireworks on the backside of the temple.

Clara was too busy eating ice cream to smile for the camera.
Don't ask me why the fireworks are on Saturday, I guess it's just after the rodeo instead of on the 4th. Back at Jason's parent's we were up until 1am watching the boys play this golf ball game. It's actually pretty cool. I never played it, but I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities at the reunion.

Sunday we got up and went to Springerville for the baby blessing. That morning, as Clara was destroying the lincoln log house, Jason said, "I think Godzilla was a kid". Good point.
Of course Clara has to be sitting by and petting Harley.
Great-grandma Penrod with Macy
After the blessing we had lunch at Lacy and Terell's. They have a huge front yard with a fence around it so we just sat outside and visited while the kids played all afternoon. Actually, I did more picture taking than visiting and annoyed everyone. The weather was beautiful and there was hardly any wind. I told Jason if the weather was always like that, I'd consider getting a cabin up there.

Fry bread factory

For some reason, I always look so white when I take pictures with Maricel. :) Cutest little cowboy.
Clara loved seeing the horses.
She also loved going down the slide all by herself, it was just her size.

We left around 4pm knowing we might have a little traffic. Well, about 8 miles outside of Star Valley, we came to a stop and thought there was an accident. Nope, just a bottle neck; traffic flowed pretty freely the moment the road opened back to two lanes in Star Valley until we got home. It took us 50 minutes to drive those 8 miles. But don't worry, we had LOTS of fun. To pass the time, Clara talked on the phone.Jason talked on the phone. And I took pictures of myself. I even took pictures of myself taking pictures.Jason told me if I took a picture of a car they were going to think I was crazy. I replied, "Um, I'm pretty sure every person that has driven past and seen me holding my camera out the window already thinks I'm crazy." I discovered some randomly short hairs on the left side of my face. I think my happy hairs/horns have finally decided to grow.
I always wonder what I look like from other perspectives. I see myself at the same angle, the same way every time I look at myself. Which is why I took pictures of myself from below, above and straight on. If you are a lot shorter than me or a lot taller than me, I'm a little uglier from those angles. Next time you look at me, try looking straight on. That's my best angle. Come on, we sat in traffic for way too long, what did you expect?

Jason couldn't figure out why we were behind all these cars. After all, look at those open lanes to the left, why weren't we on those?
Possibly the most laughter during our traffic stop and during our entire trip home revolved around a new word we learned this weekend: blowed. That's right. Blowed. As in, "That car almost hit us. We could have blowed up." Or, "Look, a big storm just blowed in" and "Sitting in traffic blowed." It really simplifies conversations. Instead of having to use the proper tense of blow, just replace with blowed.

I had no intentions of posting this picture. Sometimes, I try to pretend to be cool like Angela. And by cool I mean graphic designer cool, not accountant cool. We all know I don't have to try to be accountant cool. So anyway, back to the picture. Today Angela posted a picture of herself almost just like mine (minus the seat belt and background). I sure hope this makes me cool.

Stevie P

Before heading out of town on Saturday, we stopped by my mom's so I could say hi to Steven. He came to Arizona for a quick visit. We caught up, took some pictures, then had to leave. But hey, when you hardly ever see a sibling, every little second counts. I love my little brothers and it's fun having them bigger than me now. Little punk... He only got to hold Clara for a little bit. Since she was tired and isn't used to him, she wanted to throw a fit instead. Although, before we went to my mom's, she was eating and I told her we were going to visit Uncle Steven and she turned and pointed to his picture on my bulletin board.
I got lots of good pictures during our visit. But this one, is by far my very very favorite for so many reasons that you'll never know. My thoughts on this particular photo are some of the few that I am not willing to share with the world. Just know I love this picture, as I love the two people in it.

After my mom's, we headed out of town. Don't worry, between Saturday and Sunday, I took nearly 500 pictures, so much more to come. But for now, I must go to bed. I've decided to try again to get on a better sleep schedule. This has become a new week's resolution which I recommit to far too often. So it begins, my battle with the temptation to stay up half the night and sleep until Clara does...

Celebrating

Last year we were in Silverton, CO for the 4th (oh, I mean Independence Day) and it was AWESOME. So, I didn't really have high expectations for this year. To my pleasant surprise, I had a good day and a wonderful time celebrating with my family.

When I realized Jason would have the 4th off, I talked him into spending the day cleaning with me. My house is a disaster (mostly because we have too much stuff and not enough space) and although I doubt my house could ever be clean enough, I still wanted to attempt it. We got a late start because Jason went riding, but we made quite a bit of progress. The biggest problem area, our bedroom, barely got touched before we had to leave, but hey, progress is progress. I was standing on this chair to wipe the top of the fridge off and afterwards Clara climbed on to it and was being awfully cute as she ate her graham cracker.
For the evening, we went to Ryan and Kathryn's to eat, swim and watch the fireworks. The celebration continued into the wee hours of the night as we watched a movie and laughed at Clint and Ryan's random comments. Here are some of the things I enjoyed during this time...

The mysterious and fascinating object on a raspberry. Mold or eggs? Mold is usually fury and although eggs is absolutely disgusting, it looked seriously cool.

Taking pictures under water (Pictures are being held hostage by Kathryn, and rightfully so, until I fork over pictures I have for her. Some are nearly five years old. I'm just OCD and I don't want to give them to her until I'm absolutely sure every single picture that she would want is on the CD. By the time that happens, there are more pictures to add.)

Family time (and patriotic too)

Toe shoes for "Just in case only your big toe gets cold" --Clint

Glow sticks, which are highly fascinating to me.

Blue snow cones

Beautiful people

Errors (Look beyond Clint's expression showing his determination to figure out the captivating factor in that toy and Ryan and Jason's serious faces to see what I'm referring to here).

Stories of the little fire elves that don't like you knocking on the fireplace screen. Check out Clara's reaction.

Watching an amazing firework show while comfortable and staying cool (Weird, somehow the NBC logo appeared in my picture :)).

FOF

Happy Independence Day! I actually like to call today that (even though I never do) instead of the 4th of July because when I hear "the 4th" I never think about exactly that means. However, with Independence Day, I wonder, independence from what? And so I begin a thought process of what significance this day really has. Being in other countries (okay, so I've only been in one, but still) and seeing the poverty they live in, reading books about the oppression of women and restrictions on religious practices and seeing the illnesses other countries are plagued with make me so grateful to live in this great Country. I get chills every time I listen to the words of our National Anthem and think about the setting during which the transcription of the song took place. And that was only the beginning of the sacrifices made for our freedom. I am very grateful for all those that have sacrificed for this Country and I'm grateful for the opportunity to live here and raise my family here. It's not a perfect Country, but I am definitely proud to be an American.

My top 5 reasons I'm proud to be an American (in addition to FREEDOM in general):

1. Freedom of religion
2. Equality
3. Right to bear arms (just kidding)... the right bear as many children as I choose and know that whether I have girls or boys, they will grow up with endless opportunities
4. Live with relatively little fear of being attacked or oppressed
5. Enjoy life in modern civilization

Jason's top 5 reasons he's proud to be an American

1. For what this Country stands for
2. Freedom to the little man (until after this next election)
3. That we have more bombs than the rest of the world
4. Americans like taking showers (most of them) & the women shave their pits (most of them)
5. Where at least I know I'm free (unless I'm an illegal, then everything is free, even health care)

Another One!

Argh, I tried really hard not to post today (since it was pointed out that yes, I do post almost every day). But, because I'm an opinionated, emotional, loud-mouth mom, I couldn't read this article today and keep my mouth shut. Especially since it is quite contradictory to this article that I love so dearly. The first article made a few good points. Who are they kidding? Most normal humans aren't going to be happier shopping with a tantrum-throwing kid than they would in peace and quiet. And the fact that they pointed out waiting longer to get married and have kids has allowed other life successes to drown out family success. You are obviously more likely to see kids as a burden than a joy. But over all, it makes me want to shout, then cry, to think that this will only become more common.

Rachel, my wise older sister, told me (before I had kids, ha ha) that the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth is much like that of tithing. You don't realize the blessings you are missing out on until you obey the commandment. How easily we forget about opposition and that event so long ago in the Garden of Eden. If it weren't for sorrow, we wouldn't know joy. So it is with children. Somebody that has never had children (by this I mean those choosing not to have children) does not know the joy children bring. And for those with children, the stress, the hard work and the sorrow only make the joy more full.

I have proclaimed before how much I enjoyed going to school and having a career. I still enjoy learning and working; both are very important to me. But nothing, absolutely nothing, brings more joy into our house than my little goose. There are days I have no patience with her (or myself) and I wish I could pay someone to watch her all day. There are days I feel like the frumpiest housewife on the block (new reality show, anyone?). And there are days I wonder what I would've accomplished if I didn't have Clara. But I wouldn't trade having such a special little spirit in our home for the most glamorous career imaginable or a prestigious graduate degree.

The article argues that marital satisfaction is lower after having children. True, Jason and I don't spend as much time together. But most of the time, spending time as a little family of three is more fun than when it was just the two of us. Plus, there are still dates (well, sometimes) and after Clara goes to bed. It might take a little more work, but that extra effort is well worth the joy. Over all, life is more fun and rewarding with our little 30" pea.

But my favorite line of the article is in the concluding paragraph. "Parents still report feeling a greater sense of purpose and meaning in their lives than those who've never had kids." This is after the whole article attempts to convince the reader based on study findings that couples with kids aren't as happy as those without. Can someone tell me what brings more happiness than purpose and meaning?? I can't imagine two feelings that would get me closer to feeling happy. I think I should write the author (who, by the way, is a parent) and remind him wickedness never was happiness. And meanwhile, I will find joy in my posterity. :)

Faux-toes

Last month I got a new camera. After much research, Jason decided the Cannon G9 was the best option since I couldn't have the 40D due to the slight price difference. :) The G9 is like a mix between a point-and-shoot and an SLR. I haven't gotten to know it as much as I would like since I was just excited to have a camera that took a picture less than 10 seconds after the button was pressed! I love taking pictures (shocking, I know) and looking at them and can't wait to relearn everything I learned in my High School photography class so I can utilize all of the nifty features this camera offers and use the manual mode. (I love run on sentences too).

Meanwhile, there are several preset modes and simple settings that I have had fun with so far.

Picture color quality is great.

Zoom

I was on my far couch when I took this.

Macro

The Macro function is awesome. If only I could get Clara to smile and hold still while it was focusing...

FoliageOkay, so my long shadow isn't part of the foliage. But it's cool. I've always wanted to be super tall.

Color accent: Yes, you can do this with Photo Shop, but it's fun to be able to take the picture that way.Jason's dad looks crazy here, but I love the blue label that matches his huge eyes. And this one is just cool.Somehow we got a picture with two colors and Jason's friends did as well, but neither of us can do it again. I think if you change the settings it will pick up anything with that color in it (pink and purple here) because the other one I saw was green and yellow.

Fireworks