Wow! Where Did the Summer Go?

It has been a while since we have posted to our blog. It seemed like just yesterday that school ended and summer was in full swing. Sadly, summer has ended, and I am now back at work. I cannot complain too much because I have my own classroom (even on my prep period), a great schedule, and good students (so far). This school year has started really well!

When I last wrote, our family was embarking on a family vacation. We left our house at 9:30 a.m. We arrived at our destination (Idaho Falls, Idaho) at 2:00 a.m. Our children did great! We stopped in Reno, NV; Winnemuca, NV; and Wells, NV. When we arrived at our hotel, they had given away our room and did not have an vacancies. They had to find and pay for our accommodations. We stayed at a better hotel with a view of the Idaho Falls Temple. I mostly sat in the back with the boys. This way I could breast pump and bottle feed Noah. I did drive the last leg of the way. Thank goodness for audio book tapes. To the left is a picture of Garrett and Noah in our hotel room. Jordan had an early meeting, but the boys and I slept in, had breakfast, swam, and packed our things. When Jordan returned from his meeting, we went to visit his sister, Shawna. Shawna and her family live in a small town located near Rexburg. We spent the afternoon checking on our campus apartments and walking around BYU. After our lunch at Hogy Yogi, we headed off to Shawna's house.

The following day, we spent time talking with Shawna's family and Jordan's father, Maurice, who lives with Shawna's family. We also went to a session at the Rexburg Temple. In the late afternoon, we traveled to Bear Lake to spend time with Jonda and Candy (Jordan's sisters) and Denver and Lafe (Jordan's brothers). Bear Lake is really beautiful. It is as blue green as the ocean. However, it is windy most days so Bear Lake is not good for water skiing. However, it is great for jet skiing, inter-tubing, and fishing. Farmers near Bear Lake grow very yummy raspberries. I was a little sad that we were not able to try the famous raspberry milkshakes. Maybe next year.

We spent Saturday on Lafe's boat. Garrett and Zane, his cousin, were afraid to try out the inter-tube. Jordan and Lafe made the boys take a turn. We told them everything would be okay and how much fun they would have. However, we did not go fast enough and the tube flipped. No one was injured, but it might be awhile for Garrett tries the inter-tube again.

The next morning we drove to Boise to visit my grandparents, my aunt and uncle, and Jordan's brother. We made good time and were able to eat dinner with my grandparents. My grandmother is 96 and in pretty good shape (considering her age). I wanted her to see her great-grandson, Noah. I am just sad my children will not know their great-grandparents as well as I do. It is up to me to make sure they know about the great qualities each one of them has. I am lucky that I know my grandparents as well as I do.

I will have to post our activities for the rest of the summer at a later date. It is late, and I must finish chores before going to bed. Next week will be the first full school week!

Legacies

We are still working on a location for our Mr. Zippy's water vending machine business. We think we are going to place the machine near a bike shop and an Italian restaurant. OSH is located across the street. This location is one of the busiest areas in our town. Jordan is so very excited. We are hoping that the lease goes through and is signed, sealed, and delivered.

This week we had many activities planned for the boys. We were going to the free movies (at a local movie theater), swimming at the local high school pool, and playing at the local aquatic center. Unfortunately, Garrett came down ill. He is still recovering. Hopefully, he will be well for Daddy's company party is Tuesday. Jordan's work puts on quite a party with plenty of free food, drinks, and carnival rides.

Even though Garrett came down ill, we did visit a friend from church. Laura has a pool and a son, Grayson, who always wished he could be an older brother. Grayson loves to play with Garrett because it makes him feel like "the older brother." Garrett had a great time swimming and playing all afternoon. Tara, Laura's daughter, was successful in teaching Garrett to swim around the pool in his life jacket. But, no one could talk Garrett into jumping from the diving board. We even dangled candy as an enticement. I was really surprised Garrett would not jump because Tara offered him a lot of candy. He jumped from the diving board at swimming lessons for a mere sucker. Maybe next time.

We are also leaving for vacation next week. We will be going to Rexburg, Idaho; Bear Lake, Utah; and Boise, Idaho. I know I must be crazy to make such a trip with a 4 year-old and a 5 month-old. I am sure this trip will be an adventure we can laugh at in years to come. We do have a portable DVD player (with plenty of movies), books, coloring books, and a portable V Smile game system (with plenty of games). As long as I have some audio book tapes, we will be there in no time. Stay tuned for next week's posting to see if I am still sane. Speaking of sane, how did our parents take us anywhere on vacation without all of the great electronic gadgets we have today?

Noah really loves baby food. He likes apple sauce best, but he also like sweet potatoes mixed with rice cereal. Our neighbor, Dan, brought us peaches. Noah did not really like them too well. They were either too sweet, or he did not like the consistency.

Noah now has a favorite toy. It is a little red apple with a worm inside. You can see in the picture to the right. Noah has not really shown any particular favoritism to any one item until this week. Garrett had his blankie already picked out within a month of life. Noah doesn't like pacifiers, doesn't have a favorite blanket, and until this week didn't have a favorite toy.

Noah is really an easy going baby. He is also cutting teeth so he is a little cranky, however, he loves to laugh and be a part

of the family. He is a welcome addition, and Garrett cannot wait until Noah is old enough to play with him!

I have been thinking a lot about family this week since we are leaving on a family vacation to visit Jordan's family. I feel very lucky to have known my grandparents as an adult. I know very few people my age that still have all of their grandparents still alive. I had mine around until is was 36 years-old. Many of students do not even have one grandparent still alive.

My grandparents have taught me many great lessons. I remember my Grandmother Gretta taught me my letters by drawing them on my back while we were taking a bus ride to visit my Aunt Carolyn. My Grandmother Virginia has taught me how to be a good cook. My Grandfather Glenn (who is no longer with us), taught me how to work hard and to appreciate your family. My Grandfather George taught me the value of education and lof ove (he cares for my Grandmother Gretta). Above is a picture of Grandmother Virginia with Noah. She was able to visit us in April for my brother's (Jimmy) wedding. I appreciate the sacrifice she made to visit with my family.

So long for now. Keep us in your prayers (for a safe vacation) and wish me luck!

And So Our Days of Our Lives

Although I have been more flexible regarding my list, I still have deadlines nipping at my heals. We are furiously working on loan applications, plot maps, and permits. Our new water vending machine will be here next month. To the left, is a picture of our new machine. Our goal is to pay this one off as soon as possible and buy as many as we can. I can see the top of the mountain leading to the valley of "out of the rat race." If I make it, I will be free at last!


Garrett finished his swimming lessons this week. The motto of this session has been bravery. My son has learned that bravery means doing something even if it is "scary." Many of the skills Garrett has learned this session has been scary to him. To his credit, he learned to do them anyway. He blew bubbles, put his entire head underwater, floated on his back, jumped into the deep end of the "kiddie pool," kicked his feet, and floated on his back and kicked his feet when rolled onto to his stomach. At the end of the week, he even jumped off of the diving board into the really deep water (his teacher caught him). To the right is evidence of his brave accomplishment.



Noah has learned to do many things this week including eating baby food. He really likes fruit especially apples. Our neighbor, Dan, brought over some apricots. Noah liked them as well. We have quite a garden. Even though many of our trees are newly planted, our peach and nectarine trees are burdened with fruit. Hopefully, Noah will like peaches and nectarines as well. Since I have been home this summer, he is really become a "momma's boy." He loves to be held, sung to, and rocked. But sometimes he cannot make up his mind if he wants to nurse or drink a bottle.

I must go as it is late, and I still need to finish dishes. I really like creating blogs. However, I wish I could put everything into a table format. It would make inserting pictures so much easier. If anyone has any suggestions, please leave a comment. Even if you just read our blog, please leave a comment. It is nice to know that someone else reads my blog besides me!

In the Beginning

The Lee Family is very busy. However, different friends and relatives have blogs. I thought, why not the Lee Family. This would be a good opportunity to journal our family's comings and goings. Those family and friends with inter net connections could very easily find and read our blogs.

The other day my older son, Garrett, said, "Mommy, I had a good day!" I responded, "Why?" Without hesitation, he replied, "Because I made a swamp (mud pies)!"

It seems that in life, there are endless tasks to be done. Some are important and some are not. No matter how hard we try, our tasks are never done. The list keeps going like laundry. Today in Relief Society we discussed Elder M. Russell Ballard's last Conference Address entitled "Daughters of God." He explained that life comes in moments. To illustrate his point, Elder Ballard quoted author, Anna Quindlen. She once wrote "The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is one that most of us make . . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less" (Loud and Clear [2004], 10-11).

This summer, I am going to try harder to live in the moment and not let my list of duties overwhelm my time. I have two young children to enjoy. I work full time as a teacher so during the school year my time is limited. It seems that I get up, go to work, work, come home, cook dinner, get ready for the next day, and put the children to bed. There is little time for much else. Even on the weekends my time is monopolized with balancing the check book, grocery shopping, and laundry. We are going to play more, swim more, and be silly more in this family.

Last week, Garrett started swimming lessons. This is the second year that he has taken lessons. He still hates "going under water" unless he has on his goggles. His swimming skills are improving this year, and Garrett may actually be promoted to the next class at the end of the session. He loves swimming at the Wackford Aquatic Complex in Elk Grove and at Linden High School.

Noah is learning about his body. He loves to roll over but does not always like being on his tummy. Today, he interacted with Garrett really for the first time. He wanted Garrett's attention. He laughed and talked with his brother, and Garrett interacted with Noah in return. Garrett is still adjusting to have a little brother. He says that he doesn't like babies because all they do is cry. I told him sometimes you cry, too. Irony is lost on 4-year-olds.



Last week, Garrett was chosen to do something special. We have season tickets to the Thunder (hockey) and Lightning (arena football). Garrett is a member of the kids' club for the Lightning. He was asked to say, "Are you ready for some football?' in front of everyone before the game. We invited Grandma and Papa to come to dinner and the game. Garrett did a great job! To the left is a picture of Jordan, Garrett, and D.J. Walker. In this picture, Garrett is performing his lines.

Although I would like to ignore my "list," it is calling, and I must live in another moment. Goodbye for now!