The Miracle of Nature

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.  ~Kahlil Gibran

  Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.  ~John Mui

 

I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.  ~Walt Whitman

To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug.  ~Helen Keller

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.  ~John Muir

I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.  

~Henry David Thoreau

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.  ~e.e. cummings

Swimming Lessons

For the past 2 weeks the boys have been enjoying swimming lessons while Caleb and I enjoy watching in the shade! They've done a great job even on the days when they've been a little bit nervous.

Splash Park

One roasty toasty evening, we decided to play at the splash park! It was the perfect way to end a hot summer day!

Scientists

I love having boys.  So far this summer Matthew has been studying the solar system and has painted models of all of the planets. Josh has hatched triops and has enjoyed watching them shed their skin as they grow. They've all enjoyed taking apart Caleb's equipment to figure out how it works.  And lucky for us, I found a brand new chemistry set at a garage sale last weekend, so we'll see what experiments they come up with this week!

Father's Day

Over the past several months we have been carefully tending to the grass we seeded last fall. It finally started filling in and a few weeks ago it was time to put a good amount of fertilizer on it. That day Dallan taught the boys how to run the lawn mower and fertilizer spreader. Matthew was beaming as he mowed the entire lawn, and Josh was so proud that Dallan let him push the fertilizer spreader. He was so patient with them, and the boys were so proud of his confidence in them. Over the past several days, we've seen several dead spots appear on the lawn where it looked like the fertilizer was dumped. I expressed to Dallan that maybe he shouldn't let the boys fertilize any more. His response to me was,  

"We aren't raising grass, we're raising boys."

My boys are so lucky to have such a special man as their father, and me... I'm the luckiest wife in the world.

For part of Dallan's Father's day surprises, each of the boys made him some "Dad tickets." My favorite one was from Mitchell: "This ticket is good for: a trip to ancient Egypt with you..."

Mitchell was also very proud of the tie he made. Dallan wore it for the morning, but Mitchell was worried about him wearing it to church because it was raining outside.

Knight in pj's and shining armor

It will be a sad day when Mitchell realizes he can't really marry me when he grows up. So I'm going to relish every minute he wants to be my knight in pj's and shining armor.

Words that touched my heart

While I was in the hospital with Caleb some friends brought a delightful package filled with treats and sweet things.  The package was covered in quotes that really touched my heart...

"My dear sisters, do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but pray for abilities equal to your tasks.  Then the performance of your tasks will be no miracle, but you will be the miracle."

Thomas S Monson

"There is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hours of adversity."

Washington Irving

"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can.  He can deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, and pour out peace."

Ezra Taft Benson

 

"Let us, then, labor for an inward stillness--
an inward stillness and an upward healing;
that perfect silence where the lips and heart are still,
and we no longer entertain
our own imperfect thoughts and vain options,
but God alone speaks to us,
and we wait in singleness of heart,
that we may know His will,
and in the silence of our spirits,

that we may do His will and do that only."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Beauty Tips

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness, for lovely eyes, seek out  the  good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with  the hungry.  For  beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through  it once a  day.  For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk  alone.  People,  more than things, have to be restored, renewed,  revived,  reclaimed, and  redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping  hand you  will find one at  the end of each of your arms. As you grow older you  will discover that  you have two hands, one for helping  yourself and the other for helping  others."

Audrey Hepburn

A Salt Lake Adventure

This past week Caleb had some follow up appointments in Salt Lake, so we decided to make it an adventure day!  While I was at Primary Children's hospital with Caleb, Dallan took the other children to hike Ensign Peak.  Then while I was at the Endocrinologist he and the kids visited the Hogle Zoo!  Caleb was a great sport and didn't complain once that our adventures were in the doctor's office.

 Ensign Peak is a prominent hill on the northern edge of the Salt Lake Valley. On July 26, 1847, two days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young and seven other pioneer leaders climbed the hill to survey the valley. From its summit they laid out in their minds the city they intended to build.

 The men fastened a yellow bandanna to a cane and waved it from the mountain peak. Brigham Young named the spot Ensign Peak. The pioneers had carried two American flags with them across the plains. Within a short time a flagpole was erected and one of those flags was flown from the peak.

My Little Cougar

Mitchell is a die hard BYU cougar, and he was thrilled to find a "baby Cosmo" in his Easter basket this year.  He thinks everyone is as devoted as he is.

The first thing he asks people is, "So... are you a cougar fan?"

When Caleb's Respiratory therapist admitted to being a Ute, Mitchell was so disappointed, but since the therapist likes super heroes, Mitchell's finally agreed that Utes can be nice guys too!

Cabin Capers

Before Caleb spent a week in the Pediatric ICU, we spent some happy time together at the cabin!

Matthew loves to explore

My Dad always keeps the refrigerator full of pop and the grill full of hot dogs!

Ashley and Hyrum make us laugh

and Josh surprises me with his antics on the swing!

For the record, I won the award for the highest swing and tangle in the top of the tree.   
Thanks for the push Jake...

My Favorite Weekend Moments

*  Matthew and Josh mowed and fertilized our entire lawn (and it's a doozy!)
*  Watching Matthew sing the birthday song in primary while strumming an imaginary electric guitar
*  Mitchell sitting on the potty singing "I need a wipe" to the Harry Potter theme song
* Going on a walk all together to the "grass pit" and watching the boys roll down the hill
* Gigantic warm chocolate chip cookies at grandma and grandpas house
* The boys returning from the Father and Sons outing with dirty faces and great BIG smiles
* Mitchell being taught by Matthew that at Father and Sons Dad lets you eat as many treats as you want and he doesn't make you brush your teeth!
* Cafe Rio with my neighbors

Life is good.

Matthew in his Father and Sons gear.

Eye Spy

Eye Spy a goof ball playing with my camera...