Falling into school...

So James has been in school for a while now and is beginning to sound out words to read.  Everywhere we go he reads and sounds things out on signs, in stores, or on toys.  He is much better at math than I had realized, something I am fairly sure he gets from his mom.  It amazes me how much he is being taught in kindergarten right now.  In some ways I'm a little sad because I think he is missing a bit of his childhood by learning so much and having homework every night, though it could just be me thinking that.

With the weather turning cooler the kids are spending more time in doors.  They have some very creative ways of spending time and some of them are louder than others...

Playing dress-up at grandma's house!

Combing her hair out after bath.

Not sure what this game is but they were occupied for a long time!

Everybody takes a turn!

All he needs is a box sometimes.

 

A shovel and tow basketballs. Anything can be turned into a game with these two!

One of those times when it was very quiet.  I was told he needed help.  His sister helped him into it and was kind enough to get help when she couldn't get him out!

Some father and son time!

 

Another quite game of hand the laundry basket from the door.

Believe it or not they were both laughing here.

Look dad, no hands.  He left a few dirty marks on the wall.

In my last post I talked a bit about endings and beginnings and how in life there don't seem to be clearly defined endings or beginnings to many things.  So much of this life is a process of growing into the choices we make or rather the results of the choices we make.  It's those small daily choices we make that determine where we end up.  The small choices shape us for the big choices we make.  Much like a hinge only moving a few inches can be magnified into many feet of movement over the distance of a large gate the seemingly small choice to be happy by seeing the good can move our lives much more than we realize.  If you're struggling with something right now just keep on making the small choices that you know are right or good and be patient. In the end it will all work out!

Braden

Endings and Beginnings

Yet again it has been a while since I last posted here and once again a lot has happened.  The kids have had their first teeth cleanings at the dentist.  While it was Becca's second visit to the dentist it was a first for James.  The highlight of his appointment was when he told the dentist the polish tasted horrible.  Is it polite to laugh at the dentist?  They both did well though James really enjoyed watching cartoons.  When he was done James even asked to stay in the chair with the headphones on to keep watching TV.

They both love the smile for the camera.

Let James watch TV and he doesn't care about much else.

Becca was a little more attentive and listened to the dentist.

James started school and is doing very well.  I found out his teacher knew both Karen and I.  It was one of those little things that confirms to me that someone up there is keeping an eye on us all and helping things along.

James' first day of school.  It took a bit for him to stop making faces.

The kids love going to the park even though we have a swing set in the back yard.  They have started being more adventurous when playing on it though.  James has hit his head on the poles a few times and even fallen a time or two.  I sometimes think childhood is measured by bumps, bruises, cuts, and other injuries more than by days, months, and years.

The little daredevils on the swing set.

The annual fathers and sons camp out was fairly recent.  This year I only took James instead of both James and Becca.  James had a ton of fun trying to be a little pyro.  For the sake of safety I told him if part of a stick went in the fire then all of it had to go in.  He even started telling the other boys the same thing but not many 7-10 year old boys will listen to a 5 year old, especially if it means less fun!

The fathers and sons camp out.

Now that summer is over and fall is about to start I have been thinking about endings and beginnings.  It seems as though whenever there is an ending there is also a beginning.  Life is like that in a lot of ways.  Usually there is a transition and not a clear defined ending.  In my life I want the clear cut ending and the defined beginning but really life is about gradual change.  The end of bottle feeding and the start of real food is done in increments and overlaps for a long time.  The end of childhood and the start of adulthood can't come soon enough for a teenager but what teenager really wants, or is ready for, all of the responsibilities of life; rent, job, bills, choosing between food and bills, insurance, a spouse, and a family of their own.

We grow into life gradually filling the space around us much like a plant.  In much the same way I am growing into the role and life of a single parent struggling to make sure everything gets done and that my kids have the best opportunity for long term happiness and fulfillment.  Some things, the worthwhile things, take a long time to work out so I am learning to accept my own shortcomings while continuing to work towards my long term goals, one of which is finding a wife and companion to share the rest of my life with.

Braden

Summer continued...

It has been a busy summer so far.  Several small trips and family gatherings with the kids.  July 4th with food, fireworks, family, and friends was fun.  The night before we watched the fireworks and then went to a pancake breakfast the next morning.  The night of the 4th we were with some extended family setting off fireworks.

Watching fireworks together and making faces for the camera.

Not sure how he expects to ride a bike like this!

We did our first trip to Hogle Zoo as a family.  It was a long day and the kids had a blast with cousins and one set of grandparents.  To make that day even busier we went to dinner and then to the pool in the evening.  It was a very long but fun day!

Off to the zoo!

What are you looking at dad?

I said what are you looking at?

Lots of cousins!

Hi dad!

What do I do?

The bird show was great!

They all have personality!

My parents had a reunion and as usual we spend a day at the lake and then did our giant slip-n-slide.  It was a very long week but good to relax a bit and be around family.
 

Fun on the water slide!

More fun... 

Even more fun... 

Make my day!

Becca is the life of the party!

James hanging out with his best bud.

Girls cousins are nice too!

 

James really likes to climb now.

The next week life got interesting when Becca ran into the back of James on her bike.  This was a couple of days after James wrecked on his bike and tried to take a chunk out of his chin.  Becca did a face plant in the road and knocked out two teeth.  I had thought it was just one tooth but a few days later after the swelling had gone down I realized there were actually two teeth missing.  Fortunately kids heal quickly and she is doing great now.  For about a day and a half she didn't talk or eat much.  I had to give her water with a syringe, the same way I would give her ibuprofen.

The walking wounded.

The 24th of July (Pioneer Day) was spent at the local parade, then a lunch with some other single parent friends.  In the evening we went to the park for a fun and games, a movie, and fireworks.  The kids got to shoot at cones with a fire-hose and play some other games.  We didn't get to bed until 11:00 PM but it was worth it, we all had a lot of fun.

Where's the candy guys?

Popcorn, cotton candy, movie, and fireworks!

Jame flew over this but Becca was a little more cautious after her recent bike wreck.

More recently was the family reunion on Karen's side.  We drove down and spent time catching up with them.  Again the kids stayed up very late (midnight) but luckily we were driving a bit the next day in the afternoon so they got naps!

They slept for about an hour on the way to the family reunion.

Traveling home, we made a three hour drive without needing to stop once!

James is definitely a boy!

I am still working on new traditions and continuing old traditions with my kids.  There are times when I feel like it's everything I can do to get through the day in front of me.  Maybe that's a good thing since when I think about the future too much, or the past, I get a little overwhelmed.  Living life in the moment is a good thing right now.


Braden

Summer!!

Well once again it has been a while since I posted anything.  Life is busy but seems to be better when I have a little spare time to relax.  Mothers Day came and went and we had some fun creating picture books of the kids with Karen.  A friend of mine came up with the idea and helped us put them together.  It was a lot of work to go through so many pictures and narrow it down to just a few that James and Becca could choose for each of their books.

Is this how this works?

Anything can be a toy!

Memorial Day came and went and so did Fathers Day, Karen's birthday, my birthday, and a weekend trip with the kids to the Manti Pageant.  Still to come are the 4th of July, family reunions, and some more day and weekend trips!  Planning the day and weekend trips isn't so hard, it's adjusting the plans on the fly where things go awry.  Like being stuck in traffic on the freeway only to have your son say he really has to go to the bathroom and can't hold it.  Fun times!

Finished picture books that we put together on Mothers Day.

I think her face says it all!  Thanks for the help with the hair grandma.

A long day of playing is hard work.

Becca is ready for our hike!

A quick break on our short (2 mile) nature hike.

A funny thing happened at the Manti Pageant, which is almost 200 miles from home.  I was walking back from the restrooms and ran into an old childhood friend.  We were able to catch up for a bit but he was surprised that I recognized him.  In truth I was surprised as well.  When I first saw him I knew exactly who it was but as his head turned while I walked closer I became less sure of he was who I thought but decided to say hi anyway.  Taking chances or being bold is rewarding.

At the Manti Pageant having some fun.

Manti Pageant

I have been thinking about traditions or routines and what ones to keep that have already been created, which ones to change or modify, which ones to scrap, and new ones to create.  We have our nightly routine with stories, scriptures, and prayers that is always changing.  There are a few things I have changed up around holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries but in thinking about what to keep, change, or do away with I want the kids to remember their mom yet not get stuck in the past.  I want to encourage them to look forward with optimism probably because that is what I want to do.

All of that being said I have been a little sad and frustrated at my own inability to remember some things about Karen.  I still remember her laugh, her smile, her focused nature, her kindness, and vitality.  But try as I might I can't remember what it was like to give her a hug or a kiss.  In a way it's heartbreaking but in another way it's a gift to not have some of those memories rooting me in the past.  So on that note I will say goodbye for a while and wish everyone the best of luck with their own summer plans.  If you see me out and about feel free to say hi.

Braden