"I know what to do with a cell phone"

Luau

Alisa had a luau for her 5th birthday party. Here is a smattering of the pictures. By the way, I did not take these pictures; my friend did and she is a much better photographer than I.

Seriously, have you ever seen such a cool candle blowing picture?

Briggs fixing a zhu zhu pet house he made for Alisa. Seriously adorable.

Southern California Vacay

A few weeks ago we took a trip with the Rufs to Southern California. I know you must all be bored stiff with pictures of Disneyland but I couldn't resist this one . . . . .



or this one . . . . .


or this one . . . . .


or basically any of these other ones either.

House Guests

Last week, we went on vacation and when we returned, someone had moved in.

Can you see it? Sticking out the sides?


Wow, that must be a whole week's worth of work.


Sorry Mr. Bird. but we have to evict you.

The Path of Least Resistance

The other day my brother mentioned something to me about "since you stopped blogging." Wait a minute . . . did I stop blogging? Like so much in my life, sometimes decisions are made in a passive manner--where I let things take their course without my direction . . . where I keep running along on the path of least resistance. I hate that about myself. I would prefer to have these grand ideas and make a plan and carry them out.

Today I was thinking about how in adolescence I told everyone that I wanted to be a marine biologist. And, at the time, I thought my biggest problem was that I lived so far from the ocean. Now I am wise enough to know that I suck at math and that I am terrified of being more than three feet under the water. And that I have a short attention span. All these are much bigger problems than not living on the coast. But at that time I wouldn't let myself see "meaningless" obstacles because I was a dreamer and capable of anything.

Currently, my personal aspirations (if they are still in there) are buried beneath a barrage of day to day child-rearing, house keeping, and food making. I have been so caught up in trying to keep up with life that I have forgotten than maybe I could do even more.

And yet, I have to admit, I am happy. I have achieved many of my dreams. I don't regret anything I have done.

So what I am wondering is this; is it ok to just be who I am without being something spectacular? Without ever being noteworthy? Without being someone who utilizes her time on earth to really make a difference to people? To go on doing what I've always done?

For now, I choose to just keep on living and I hope that's ok.

PS I haven't stopped blogging.

At our house . . . .

. . . . you have to bring your sunglasses to breakfast.


"Mom, stop messing around with the camera and give me my pancakes."

Jackson Turns 2