JUST BE

I have a great friend who I attended school with whom I look up to as a wonderful inspiring woman and mother. She has made me do a little soul searching with some of my day to day activities and obligations. I have used a few words from her great post and hope she doesn’t mind. Thank you for the little reminder of living each day to JUST BE!

One of the things that I have always been sure of is that I don’t want an overscheduled family. In April’s General Conference, Elder Ballard gave a poignant talk that empathized with young mothers. In it, he quoted the author Anna Quindlen, who said, “The biggest mistake I made as a parent is the 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) (M. Russell Ballard, The Ensign, 2008 General Conference address, 108 – 110)

This makes me cry. With a new one week old baby (Molly) and a 2 year old (Ella), I am aware that each day their babyhood, their childhood, is fleeting, I also know that life as a young mom will never be enough to chase away the yearning I will have when I am much older to see my babies as babies again. I have learned you will constantly be battling between maintaining and enjoying. I remember this as I am outside swinging at the park with Ella Jane and telling her it’s time to go home to take a nap or make dinner, or have a bath.

I need to SIMPLIFY! What does it mean to simplify my day-to-day life? I think it means, planning ahead household cleaning and other responsibilities, compounding all errands into one afternoon and forgiving and forgetting the things that don’t go as I had planned. I can’t change the fact that my husband, Spencer will spend a good portion of time at school or work; what I can affect is the carefree, childhood days my children have.
“I know that there can be joy in the doing and maintaining, but I want to create for my kids the opportunity to just be.” To take a walk to the park or blow bubbles in the backyard with no plans to go inside. To read stories and play pony’s and barbies without letting my mind wander to the heaping pile of dirty laundry that needs washed and folded or the bathroom that needs to be cleaned. To pull a stool up to the counter while making chocolate chip cookies (Ella’s favorite!) to teach them that responsibility is more fun when we do it together. To go to the park and wrestle and play when dad gets home, rather than run errands or participate in too many organized activities. This is what I want to do. I feel very satisfied with my life. I know it’s only going to get busier and more complicated so for today, I’ll make the decision to “just be.”

Molly Ruth Clark

Here she is....Molly Ruth Clark....Born August 23, 2008
Weight 7 lbs 14 oz Height 20 Inches

She is such a bundle of Joy. We really have been impressed with what a great baby she is. Ella Jane has also been a really good girl. She is very attentive to Molly's needs. When Molly cries, Ella says...quote " Molly sad again, get her"

Ella is a wonderful helper and likes to hold Molly. I was having a little anxiety with how things would play out having 2 little girls to care for. So far...so Good! Spencer has been home for a week from work and has been such a great help. I don't know what I will do when he goes back next week. We are sure enjoying our little girls!!

"Giddy Up Horse"

I never did get to blogging this cute photo. In July, Bountiful City did a fun carnival at the City Park 2 blocks from our house. We went over to get a snow cone and Ella saw the Pony's. She decided she would like to ride one so we bought a ticket and Ella had a great time. She said... Quote "mommy, ride pony....Eat Grass...Ella want to..."

Bath Time Fun

BATH time is Ella's favorite time of the day!
She washes her toes and tummy all by herself now.
She likes to put LOTS of soap in her hair....
this picture captures it all!

Fat Cat's Bowling and Pizza!

Wow...so here I am....still no baby! Julie and Clint came down from Idaho so all my sisters and mom and dad went to Fat Cats to do some bowling on Tuesday August 19th. We had a great time.
Ella Jane...she had a great time and even got a few strikes...Clint brought his own Black and Orange bowling ball and that was Ella's favorite ball to bowl with.

Mommy and Ella

Books around our house are never left on the shelf. Ella Jane really enjoys reading. Daddy got a snap shot of Ella and I reading one of her favorite Dr. Seuss Books from Grandma and Grandpa Dame.

Cousin Travis

Ella was so excited this weekend to see her cousin Travis.
Travis is 1 yr and likes to walk and climb now. He was climbing into the laundry basket at Grandma and Grandpa Clark's house and Ella decided to help him by pushing him in and then pushing the basket around the house. Travis didn't seem to mind a bit...he actually liked it and so did Ella.

July 4th 2008

The 4th of July was fun this year. We went to Eaglewood Golf Course with our friends and watched the spectacular FiReWoRk show on the 3rd which Ella really liked. We have done that for the past few years and we really seem to enjoy it. On the 4th we went to the Clark's house for a BBQ, swimming and some fun fireworks. Ella enjoyed the SpArKlerS!

Father's Day

For Father's Day We made the rounds to Grandparents and Great-Grandparents homes. Ella decided she wanted to ride on the glider at Great-Grandpa and Grandma Clarks house with her "dada". This girl loves to be outside doing anything she can climb on--especially if it includes her Dad.

HOGLE Zoo

The Zoo! What a fun time we had. We took Ella to the Zoo with my family. We were just missing Julie and Clint and Corey. We had a great time. Ella loves the animals and really enjoyed being with other people besides just Mama and Dada.










Grandpa Dame, Grandma Dame, Amie, Allison, Ella, Spencer and Kim