Yeah, yeah. I have been away on holiday - in my mind, at least. I was in a warm, happy place. Especially since the weather is cooling down significantly.

We are all back in school. Things are good. We are all busy.

Last weekend I was in Park City for an Arbonne retreat. It was awesome! Elaine helped with the watching of the kids, so I could attend (thanks again, Elaine!).

The kids are really enjoying school. This year is about 400 times better than last - already! Their teachers are great and they are actually learning something. Yay!

Last night we went out to Bombay House (our favorite restaurant and type of food - Indian). Rob and Noah were talking about Rob's design class. He talked about how yes, his teacher knows everything, be he drones on and on and on... He feels like he is not learning anything new.

Noah said, "Welcome to my world - my school is boring." I thought that it was really funny. We then had a conversation about how we need to make our own magic.

A few weeks ago, I noticed an itty bitty hair right at my hairline at the center of my forehead (you know, where the hair kind of forms a point??). It was noticeably lighter than any other hairs on my head. I thought, "Hmm. Maybe as I get older my hair is lightening." Riiight.

As the week wore on, it got longer (growth, nothing funky). I had an appointment with my friend/hairdresser so I decided to ask her about it.

"Kristen, I am asking you first as a friend, but secondly as a hairdresser: is this ONE strand of hair blond or grey."

Pause.

After careful scrutinizing of said hair, she slowly responded. "I hate to tell you this, but you have a grey hair. I can tell because it is shorter which means new growth and it is coarser than your other hairs."

I started laughing. Funny, really, when you think about it. I have always wanted thicker hair. Now when someone asks what my hair texture is I can say, without hesitation: 'It is fine, BUT, I have one nice strand of thick hair!'

I just think that it is funny that it decided to grow right smack dab in the middle of my forehead! Maybe I could use a sharpie? Yeah, that might look weird - my hair isn't jet black (always wanted it that way, though). I have a girlfriend who told me to just pluck it out. Um, I don't think so. (Good idea, though, if I had super beautiful thick hair.)

My hair is already fine (read: I look half bald because of my lack of thick tresses) - do you really think that I am going to pull my one BEAUTIFUL, THICK, LUSCIOUS strand out? I would say....no. I am going to embrace me getting older and perhaps I will have the thick hair I always wanted. No need to wait until I am resurrected.

I am lucky (or unlucky), because I have many friends and relatives who have had the blessing of grey hair for years now - I am almost thirty-six. So, I guess I have a lot of catching up to do.

Next time you see me, look for my thick lock of 'blond' hair.



later, gater

For the last two years, my kids have asked me to take them to the animal shelter to look at dogs. There is always something to do, not enough time, or I just forget. Two Thursdays ago we were out running errands and I spotted the animal shelter; however, I was in the wrong lane to get there. I flipped a 'U-ie' and the kids were a little annoyed that I wasn't headed home anymore. I told them that they would be pleased with our destination.

They got out of the car and read the sign on the door and squealed with delight. We then proceeded to look at the dogs and ended up visiting with one. It was an eight week old Chihuahua. Noah named him S'more (dark fur on the top, light brown on his legs, and white paws) and Jacob named him Mojo. He was a cute little thing; however, he was not meant to be with us. His owner came and retrieved him.

I think that I gave the kids a bug and they asked to see more. I scoured KSL classifieds and we went to 'meet' two other Chihuahuas (one was a Dachshund/Chihuahua mix). We just didn't feel good about them as we did with S'more (AKA Mojo).

One week ago today (July 14) we met a couple in the IKEA parking lot (they were from Spanish Fork) and we met a cute little three month old girl. To Rob's utter dismay, we brought her home. The kids named her Demitra - she is called Demi (that means little) and Chi-ua (by Rob).

We go to puppy school today. We don't want her to be barky, bite-y, or annoying. I am sure that she will be an excellent student.

This is when we first adopted her.





She is itty-bitty. Just to show you in relation to Noah's head.


That is a little sippy cup that she is trying to get in to.

A few years ago, the Elder's Quorum President decided that it wasn't fair to have only a Father & Son outing (he has four girls and one boy) so he renamed it to Father's & Kid's Outing.

Well, needless to say, Jacob wasn't pleased about it initially. He really has wanted time alone with Rob (well, alone with Noah, too). But slowly has warmed up to the reality that girls ARE going to be at the camp out.

This year, in addition to Rob taking Jacob, Gabrielle, & Noah; Steven took Indigo & Kiara. It really was a Father's and Son's (and kid's) camp out.

From what I can gather it was a lot of fun. (You know, since I wasn't there, ahhh so nice to be alone - hee hee hee.) It was really cold (Gabs left her jacket at home so she wore Rob's and both of them stood by the fire). There was crawling on the dirt in an effort to hide from the Flag Capturing fiend, s'more eating, Stinging Nettle rashes, and hot dog roasting to name a few things.

I went out to dinner with a bunch of women folk from the ward and had scintillating conversations about numerous topics, one of which me telling the bishop's wife and one of the counselor's wives the detriments of staying at church longer than three hours. (Seriously? Our church is supposed to let out at noon, and on average by the time the closing song and prayer are said, it is 12:15 [really, not kidding]).

I told Christy (the B's wife) to ask her husband to give me a calling to hold up a sign to tell people that their time is up - hey! we do that at work to the professionals that speak for us. That would be soooo cool. We wouldn't have to sit in the hallway anymore to leave church on time. (Before you think that I am going to hell for saying such a thing, try sitting in church for longer than three hours 98% of the time; especially on fast Sunday. I know that several of the people in my ward feel the same way, I am just the one to actually state it OUT LOUD.)

Yours in a very warm place,

Jessica

P.S. Well, at least I won't be cold all of the time, right?

Noah was washing his hands with warm (well, hot) water tonight. He doesn't like washing his hands with hot water - he says that it is too hot. He then proceeded to turn the hot faucet off.

I told him that it doesn't do any good to wash your hands with cold water. Hot water kills bacteria.

"No, Mom. It doesn't. Cold water kills it. What happens is the cold water freezes the bacteria and traps it in ice cubes and they fall off of your hands."

Quite frankly, I think that he is on to something. Hmmmm.

Tonight, while a commercial came on for the news, it showed a newborn baby that was born under two pounds. The lead in was how it is a miracle that he (the baby) is alive and [meet] the doctor that has given them hope.

I nonchalantly stated, "That is how big Kayli was. That is what she looked like." I really didn't think much of it (my mourning period tends to be in January nowadays) - it was just matter-of-fact.

Jacob stopped what he was doing and looked at me and said, "Are you OK, Mom?"

What a kind and considerate son I have been blessed with.

I think that my sweet babies are growing up! Honestly, I think that it was a thoughtful thing to say. It tells me that he cared more about my feelings than whatever else was going on.

Gabrielle came over and gave me a hug and said, "I am sorry, Mom. You can have me for a daughter." (Jacob then chuckled and said, "She already has you for a daughter!") Gabs is glad that she is able to fill that role of daughter (but she has told me on more than one occassion that she wishes she had a sister). I am glad that she is my daughter and I can 'have' her as such.

If there is only one thing that I hope for, for my children in this life, it is that they grow up to be empathatic adults. To know that I have taught my children to show love, kindness, sympathy, and empathy for another human being really is the greatest gift I could give them.

It doesn't matter what kind of "job" they end up with, but it is the way they treat others. Emotional intelligence really far outweighs just plain old intelligence. It is not what you know, but how you treat people.

There is a huge gravel pit (more like a mountain) on Wasatch Blvd by Dan's. It is very unsightly. I assume that they are "making" the gravel for all of the bridges UDOT is building.

Noah wanted to know what gravel was. He asked if it was what kept us from floating into outer space. I told him that gravel was little rocks; gravity is what keeps us tethered to Earth.

That explanation was not sufficient for him. He started getting frustrated. Jacob, Gabrielle, and I - were trying to give him the definition of gravity. Physics and other explanations did not work.

Finally, he groans and says, "You are not understanding me! I want to know what gravity is. Is it a flower? A tree? A rock? What is it????"

We decided that we needed to get home and look up gravity in the encyclopedia. Clearly, it would be much easier to explain it if it were a flower. A very beautiful flower with an incredible scent. Yes. That is what gravity is. It think that it is orange with a blue center.