Jumping the Gun

As anyone that ever looks at this blog knows, I hardly ever update my blog. That's probably because I write a weekly e-mail to my family giving them more information about what is going on in our lives than they could ever care to know about. Today I got halfway through it when I had to go do things related to my church calling. I told my wife to write her part of the e-mail and I would finish it when I got home. However, when I got home, she had jumped the gun and already sent the message. That should save our families from having to read everything, but I figured they would at least want to see some of the pictures we took at the Pima County Fair this last Monday. Both Gabs and Bells got to go on two rides. They both rode the carousel to start...and loved it!

Gabs then rode in the tea cups...and loved it.

Bells still had one ride left, which didn't go over too well with Gabs, who had used up her quota of two rides already. Here's a look at her from the carousel.

The good thing about kids is that while they have amazing memories, they get over things quickly. Once the carousel started going and Bells started waving enthusiastically every time it went around, Gabs started to get over her tantrum. We then went to see the animals and they had about as much fun with that as they did with the rides themselves.

As you can see, I love to share pictures of my wife and kids, but aside from sharing a few pictures and stating the simple fact that we went to the county fair, I thought I'd share some of the things I observed and learned from the evening. My wife and I rode the carousel, but not on the horses, etc. Instead, we stood alongside the mounts our children rode (for free) to make sure they didn't fall off. As a kid, I don't think I could have ever understood being able to go to the fair and being able to enjoy watching other people enjoy their rides. On a student budget, our kids only got to go on a few rides themselves, and if we had gone on any rides ourselves, we would have been taking rides away from them. We didn't buy any hot dogs, cotton candy, or ice cream. We didn't buy any trinkets or toys or visit the booth asking whether or not we would be "saved". Instead, we just watched our kids enjoy their rides. Having said that, I think we enjoyed the fair just about as much as they did. In fact, if we had turned the camera on ourselves, maybe you would have seen the same expression on our face as our kids had--sorry the pictures of them don't do it justice. I am still trying to figure out my wife's camera (I'll have to start carrying mine around a little more).

After the rides and after our budget for the fair was spent, we went to the animal barns to see the llamas, goats, sheep, chickens, cows, etc. Our daughters were chattering non-stop about each of the animals we passed. Gabs quickly forgot that her sister had the last ride. Looking at them, you'd think they were on another ride. As a parent, it's tough to top moments like that. So why as adults and as a society do we forget to enjoy the simple things? Why are we getting so caught up in ourselves and our professions that we forget our families? Why are kids seen as a burden? Why do some people think young couples who have several children could have enjoyed their lives more if they would have put off having children for several years? My theory: we as a society are too selfish and self-centered to look outward. Instead, we opt to ask how such and such can benefit me rather than how it can benefit others. I have my wife to thank for getting me away from my work for a few hours for a Monday night with the family to remind me about the things that are truly important in my life.

Sleeping Quarters

During the last few months of 2007, my wife kept prodding me to make the girls a bunk bed. Finally, in mid-December I started on it and continued to work on it with my father-in-law when he and his wife came to visit over the Christmas break. We wanted to have it done before our little boy was born in early March, but it was not to be. During the month of February, Bells, our youngest child--(at the time as my sister so aptly notes in a comment for this post), refused to sleep in her bed anymore, so we let her sleep with Gabs in her toddler bed. That didn't work very long since they started to constantly blame each other for keeping them awake.

One of our final solutions in the days leading up to our putting the bunk bed together was to lay their two mattresses close together on the floor. As you can see; and with due cause, we had doubts that they would be able to stay on their new bed without bars or a side rail to keep them in. This picture was taken about a week after their brother was born. A few days after this picture was taken, we got the bunk bed set up and ready for the two to sleep in. Fortunately, Gabs' top bunk has a side rail and she hasn't fallen off yet! The same can't be said for Bells on her bottom bunk.

ELK

After two days I finally have a few minutes to sit down at a computer. At 11:10.35 a.m. on March 6, 2008, our first son was born. He tipped the scale at a hefty 8 lbs. 15 ozs. and measured 20 inches. I understand that's the information I have to give out first, so people can just skip to the pictures after getting the measurements.

On the morning of the sixth, we got to the hospital at 6:30 a.m. so Debra could be induced before the baby got any bigger. We had a talkative, but great nurse and everything went smoothly--perhaps even more so than with our two daughters. My mother-in-law was in town and has been a great help--allowing me to spend most the day at the hospital with my wife and newborn. In the evening I came home to sleep before heading back to the hospital in the early hours of Friday. With the exception of a couple hours I spent biking to the university and going to a meeting for my teaching position, I was at the hospital for the entire day again. However, this time I stayed the night to allow my wife to get a little rest. Apparently she didn't get any sleep the night before because of our hungry, vociferous boy. Over the previous two days I hadn't got a lot of sleep, so by 3:00 a.m. this morning I was beginning to understand my wife's exhaustion. Fortunately, our son slept for a little bit after that and the nurses took him for a few quick tests, which allowed me to immediately fall asleep on the hard reclining chair by my wife's bed. Despite the accommodations, I haven't slept so soundly in a long time. It ended up being a short night, but at least we all got a little sleep.

As far as positioning the images is concerned, I'm still learning, so bear with me!

Our son doesn't seem to have any problem
with his vocal cords.

Remembering a Prophet

Yesterday I sat in our office at home with my wife and daughters to watch the funeral of our beloved prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley. For thirteen years he has inspired us to "stand a little taller" and be a little better. I watched with a little bit of envy the thousands in attendance--thousands united to honor the passing of a prophet of God. But the minor pang of sadness at not being present in person to wave farewell with a white handkerchief was replaced with the knowledge that he is with his wife again. What a blessing it has been to have a prophet to guide us in these troubling times. What a blessing it is to know that God has not forgotten his children, that he has restored his gospel in its fullness in these latter days. As in days of old, his church is led by a prophet, and as in days of old, he leads us through the wilderness, he stands on the watchtower to warn of impending spiritual dangers that seek to destroy the very fabric of our society--the family. This said, Proclamation to the World on the Family couldn't have been revealed at a more appropriate time. While we have lost the company of a dear friend and prophet for a season, the Lord will continue to lead his church through a prophet. Our prayers should be full of thanks for the prophetic guidance that our Heavenly Father proffers us.