Fall Color Blast

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Living in the Moment

I used to be organized. I used to be impeccably on time. I used to consider myself a peaceful and quiet person. I used to make lists with times assigned to each thing needing to be accomplished, and actually accomplish them. I used to have endless time devoted to planning my future goals. I used to always be on top of every detail of my life: my laundry, my studies, cleaning, time for friends and family, etc. AND THEN:

I had kids. My house is almost never clean, my laundry is in neverending heaps, almost every drawer in the house is a "junk drawer", I have become a sort of movie celebrity always wearing my sunglasses in public to mask the fact that I never got ready that day, I am constantly frazzled, and I am required to no longer be peaceful and quiet, since if I am, no one will listen. BUT:

I have learned, like an alcoholic, to live one day at a time. Sometimes, it's one minute at a time. And for a reformed perfectionist like myself, it has been a long road. I guess at some point you surrender and realize you can't do it all, and is it really that important anyway? The other day, my 2 youngest wanted to wait outside for Christian to get home from school. As always, there were dishes that still weren't done, and messes to be cleaned up, but I went outside with them and watched them chase each other, laugh, and indulge in the pure joy of LIFE. It touched me, and it was beautiful. How I love that I have learned to live in the moment.

Elisabeth Rose "Tiger Dog" Turns 5 AND The Shooting Range

Yesterday, my beautiful little Tiger Dog turned 5. I really can't believe it, and it makes me feel old! We only do friend parties every other year, so this year we had a family party. She decided she wanted to go on a date with me and Robert to Build-A-Bear Workshop and out to lunch. Afterwards, we opened presents and ate cake and ice cream.

These are some things I love about Elisabeth:

*Her iron will.

*When she hugs me, she wraps her whole body around me and I can hear her grinding her teeth. Now that's a hug!

*She is an animal lover. She has a special love for tigers, dogs, and kittens.

*I love her huge blue eyes with curled eyelashes.

*When she is mean (which can be often) she is quick to apologize.

*I am her very favorite person in the whole world and all day long she tells me I'm her favorite Mom, or I'm the best Mom, or I'm cuter than a heart.

*No one, I mean no one, can take advantage of her.

*She is highly intelligent and has a very quick mind.

The Shooting Range---------

Most of my life, I have wanted to learn how to shoot a gun. I have fantasies about being a sharp shooter or secret agent like Jack Bauer and killing all the bad guys. My brother Stephen, who is an expert at all things cool, took me out to the shooting range on Saturday. He loaded up his rhino and we headed to the top of Bountiful. He endured my shrill screams as we climbed to the top and was a perfect gentleman trying to take the easier ways so that I didn't think I was going to die. We shot at cans and paper targets hung on trees. It was an absolute THRILL and I wasn't too bad! Stephen is the coolest, nicest, funnest brother anyone could have, and I love him. Thanks Stephen!

Tuesday Morning

I got up this morning and there were two things I wanted to do: take pictures at Farmington Pond and exercise, so I decided to combine them. Forget the fact that the laundry room smelled like rotten towels, my feet were sticking to the floor with every step, and the dishes were overflowing; I had complete faith that all my chores would patiently wait for me to get back. After dropping Elisabeth off at preschool, I put Ashton in the stroller and started out. What a spectacular day! I love living in Farmington--historic homes, hiking and biking trails, Farmington Bay and Farmington Pond, the beautiful and quaint downtown area and lots of overgrown trees. I'm so glad I decided against doing housework! Here are some photos from our Tuesday morning adventure: