It doesn't have to be perfect to be good

The title of this post is something that is sometimes hard for me to accept, especially since having kids.  But I think it's true.

This is a group of random pictures.  The first is a picture from the California Academy of Sciences.  Thomas wasn't too fond of the aquarium tunnel.  He started out covering both eyes but moved his hand a little bit to uncover one eye after a while.

These are some baby emus at the CAS.  I usually don't take pictures of animals, because what's the point, but they were just so cute.

We were guests of Sariah at the CAS.  Thank you Sariah!

Riding the tortoise statue.

Little chemists.

 And the famous Lucy.  What cuties.

the 4th, and thoughts

 Thomas trying to take his bib off.  I love how his left eye is squished.

For the 4th of July there was a little BBQ outside our house with some friends.  We didn't plan this one, but we happen to have a grill by our house so the party came to us.  It wasn't very warm, but the kids had fun with the pool, slip'n slide, and water balloons.  We don't have a hose, but someone had the idea to just put some buckets of water and some soap on the slip'n slide and it worked pretty well.  

Dictated by Sam:  This is a picture of the pool.  

This is Alexis, she kept going back to the pool long after the other kids were done.  She loved that water!  Here she is with Sam's helmet and scooter.

Dictated by Sam:  Here's Alexis.  With Sam's helmet.  That's all.

Little fire cracker things.

Dictated by Sam:  There is some toys.  And there's a picture of Thomas.  Thomas is doing fireworks.

 
Sam says:  Here's Thomas, Trey, Joshua and Sam.

Thomas is just cleaning up after the bbq.

Sam had kindergarten shots on Friday, even though he doesn't start kindergarten for another year.  As a reward for being brave he and Thomas got some icecream.

 Thomas didn't get any shots, but he was there for moral support.
                                     

This is a picture Sam drew of our family.

 Sam helped make brownies for the men's shelter.  Can you tell?

Last week we called Eliza and Stephen to see if they wanted to play/if their mom could watch Sam and Thomas.  They were working on their garden so the kids got to go help.

Well this is out of order but also on the 4th we went to the Exploratorium since it was a free day.  It was kind of crowded, but we still had fun.  Here is Sam in a cloud tunnel.

 Dictated by Sam:  There's the exploratorium and here's a picture of Sam.

 Dictated by Sam:  Me and Thomas were taking a hair cut.

I had a couple of thoughts I wanted to record.  The first is a scripture that summarizes what I've been feeling lately.  It's doctrine and covenants 27:17.  The previous verse talks about putting the armor of God and lists some things, but verse 17 is what I was struck by.  It says, "Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;"  I've just been thinking about how sometimes faith comes easily to us and sometimes it doesn't, but in those difficult times we can choose to believe based on our past experience.  And when we put our faith and trust in God then we are able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked, whether those darts the burden of a "cross" we "take up", the burden of doubts, misunderstanding, or whatever it may be.  The answer is faith, and sometimes that takes real effort, but in my experience when I choose faith, peace that passes understanding follows.

Another thing I've thought about lately is that my patriarchal blessing talks repeatedly about joy and happiness that the gospel brings.  And that has been my experience in trying to live the gospel; it has brought me increasing peace and joy.  When I haven't lived it as diligently I have experienced more confusion.

It seemed like there was something else I was thinking of, but that's all I can think of right now.

Statue love

The first picture is from a trip to a lake nearby with some friends.  We unknowingly arrived an hour before the beach opened up for public use so we got to walk around with another mom and little boy who made the same mistake.  I'm glad she was there because I'm not sure I wouldn't have turned around and gone home on my own.  Anyway, this is Leah, Thomas and Sam.

Yesterday we went to the temple.  I've never noticed it before but there are these statues at the bottom of the stairs outside the temple.  Sam and Thomas had quite a bit of fun with them.  I'm not sure if I should have stopped them from playing on them, but I figured they weren't damaging anything and it was keeping them happily entertained for quite some time.  So I let them.

Thomas just walked right up and gave the dog a kiss.  I'm not sure what Sam is doing with that boy in the first one, but in the second he is hugging him.

More hugs.

More kisses.

What else have we done?  Last week Dave taught Sunday school.  Today and next week he is teaching Sunbeams.

Last week the boys and I went to visit a pre-school to see how much it cost to go 2 days/week.  It was the only preschool I could find that allowed as few as 2 days a week.  It seemed like a nice place, but it costs about $700 a month for 2 mornings a week.  But don't worry, that includes breakfast and lunch so it's totally worth it.  J/K.  Sam loved it, but that's not surprising because it has plenty of new toys.  Anyway, it looks like Sam will be staying home and maybe do some unofficial pre-school.

This is changing the subject, but I've listened a couple of times to a cd my mom gave us before they left.  It's a talk by Michael Wilcox called Walking on Water.  In it he says that in this life we can't find complete fulfillment-we can find lots of fulfillment and lots of joy, but not complete fulfillment in this life.  I'm not sure where he got it from, but it is consistent with something else that occurred to me in the last day or two.  I was praying that our children would turn out ok despite my/our failings and then it occurred to me that even if we were perfect parents, their lives will not be perfect because life isn't perfect.  It's somehow easier for me to accept life as a whole as imperfect, of which I am an imperfect part.

Other things we've done are just the usual I think.  Went to Target, Costco.  Oh we did host a bbq in our "backyard" with some village mormons.  It was fun.  Maybe we should have waited till the 4th, but if we put it off then we probably wouldn't have done it.

Thomas is doing a little better with going to bed/naps.  About a month ago he started crying every time we put him to down for naps/bed.  Man he's good at sounding pitiful and desperate!  But I've tried to put him down a little sooner and I think that has helped.  And we let him take crayons and paper to bed.

Three fun things happened last Friday.  First, we got a used basketball hoop for the kids.  Second we got a mini foosball table.  And third we got to use a gift card my parents gave us to Applebees.  And we actually saved room for dessert, my favorite.  Yum.

Last Monday we used a coupon for a candy store for FHE.  We talked about agency and that we all get to make our own choices in life.  Then we went to the candy store and we all got to choose some candy.  It was a fun little store, but pretty expensive if you don't have a coupon.

Today I talked to my parents briefly on the phone.  Then we skyped with Dave's parents.  The kids always kind of go crazy for some reason, but oh well.

Also I should note that this week Sam has woken up before Dave and I and put away the dishes so that we don't have to do it.  What a gem!