Don't go chasing waterfalls

If I'm blogging this much, I must either be bored or have a lot to blog about. Maybe both.

Today we went to a park with our playgroup. What I wish I could post is the smell of the park. It smelt like pine trees and not in a green car air freshener way. The trees here were intoxicating.

(He didn't follow through with this thankfully)


After playgroup was over, we went on a little hike on the trails around the park and were pleasantly surprised with a bunch of little waterfalls.




The last mini waterfall we came across was kind of accessible if you went down a small ravine. So being the adventurous (stupid) mommy that I am, I carried Nadia down and Rowan made his way himself.


It was great fun until we headed back up and my shoes that were now wet from playing in the water slipped on the rock coming up. Trying my best not to drop Nadia, my shoe broke and I threw out my neck for the third time this month (initial problem came from moving boxes). It just seems like I can't get my neck to heal without throwing it out again to the point that I can't do much beyond lie around and wait to feel better. So I went out and after visiting multiple pharmacies got this...


I have to say, people were a lot more courteous in opening doors, although I got some wary looks while driving. Can't say I blame them- my shoulder checks are not what they used to be.

Edventure

When I went to go register Rowan for kindergarten, the school secretary went above and beyond to help me in any way she could. She gave me some names of moms in my subdivision who had kids my age (too chicken to cold call them though), and was very willing to answer any questions I had. A few weeks later, I got a call from her saying she had 3 guest passes to the children's museum downtown (Edventure) that needed to be used by the end of the month if I wanted them. We repaid her in cookies and she said I had her heart. Not only did she give me the tickets when I went to go pick them up, but also a map of the area. Needless to say, I really like her.

I was excited to go to this place as the prices to get in are a little more than I'd want to spend. We went from 10am to 4:30pm. Everyone was pretty exhausted by that point, but it was a great way to spend the day.

Entering in from outside, they had a large water section to play with, as well as some kind of slide tower.




Inside, they had a real fire engine you could explore. There were dress up clothes and a fireman pole as well.


Nadia's favorite part of the museum- the farm.







Nadia's least favorite part of the museum. Ed. Essentially think a enormous boy who's insides have been turned into some kind of sick McDonald's playplace.


Apparently Ed doesn't chew. Or eat healthy.



In Columbia they like to teach you from a young age to be prepared for your first joyride.



I was pretty impressed with Rowan's rock climbing.





I had to tear Nadia away from this art room. She loved painting! Rowan loved all the bins they had full of materials like ribbon, cardboard, recyclables that you could use to create stuff.




They were in heaven in the mini Piggly Wiggly. What a horrible name for a grocery store.







Making parachutes with grocery bags and a fan. Brillant.


What you don't see in all these lovely pictures and videos is the moment when Rowan got lost for 10 minutes and we both had complete panic attacks. That's not a moment I care to remember.

If it wasn't apparent otherwise, we had a good time.

I love to see the temple

For family home evening yesterday, we packed a picnic dinner and went to see the temple. Steve and I have yet to attend a session here, but we were happy to first lay eyes on it as a family. It's a smaller structure, but still beautiful and we are so grateful to live nearby it.




Steve and I have been trying to make more progress on some long-standing spiritual goals. Recently, I've noticed a few of my friends fall away from the church and it's really gotten to me. It didn't help when my mom also told me that at their latest ward conference they reported that 1 in 4 LDS youth remains active and goes on to serve a mission, go to the temple etc. When I look at Rowan's Primary class I just pray that he is going to be the one who makes it. The world keeps getting worse and I find myself more concerned with protecting myself and my family by actively pursuing those things I know we should be doing. For me, I know I need to improve with daily personal scripture study. I've started using the student manual from a religion class at BYU as a companion book for the Book of Mormon and one of the first quotes I read was this: "...No member of this Church can stand approved in the presence of God who has not seriously and carefully read the Book of Mormon" -Joseph Fielding Smith

Perhaps fear shouldn't be the motivating factor in my efforts to improve, but I find the more I do what I know is right, the less I fear.

Olympic Readers

I've mentioned the library here before, but I don't think I adequately described how wonderful it is. The first time we went there, we happened upon a theater production of the children's story "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie..." The playgroup we now attend goes to tons of these kinds of productions at the library. Just this week there was a puppet show done by a professional traveling group on Aesop's Fables. The best part of it all is it's free!

On our first excursion here, Rowan and Nadia signed up for their summer reading challenge and we already finished it. Rowan could not wait to get his reading medal. Nadia likes to chew hers. Yes, those are real trees in the background. The whole bottom floor is in a "Where the Wild Things Are" theme and has openings/massive skylights that span the entire height of the library. It's really quite stunning.




The storytime we've started to go to also has puppets along with stories and singing and the librarian who runs it does a FANTASTIC job. Rowan is still running around singing the silly songs she made up for the group.


And swinging on the architectural beams ain't so bad either.

Being Proactive

Taking matters into my own hands last week, I did a little Internet friend shopping. It's a lot like Internet dating only with the eventual get together you don't have to deal with the awkwardness at the end of the date. What am I talking about? I joined meetup.com and got in touch with some mommy playgroups in the area. There are several reasons why this turned out to be a good idea. One, I am now directed to activities at kid-friendly locations where I don't feel at risk of being towed. Two, it gets the kids and me out of the house so we don't become social misfits that watch a perfectly good summer go to waste. And three, we have fun. I have to say that this playgroup is exactly what I needed. The group I joined consists of about 54 ladies who all live in the same area as me and are really friendly and welcoming. I also have access to amazing activities every day that are planned and organized by someone else and I choose the ones I want to go to with no obligation on my part. I'm meeting lots of new people and it's kind of nice to reach beyond my normal boundaries of church and neighbors.

Last week we went with our new playgroup to a different beach that was more decidedly public, but I felt well assured that my car would be there when I came back for it. I missed the private location of the other place, but it was still very nice and entertaining for the kids. What is it about water and sand that can keep children occupied for HOURS? It's really incredible.

A few days later, we met up with the group again and went blueberry picking at Southern Blues Berry Farm. It was a perfect day for it and the location could not have been more quaint and sweet.

It was the first day the place opened for picking and the bushes were FULL of beautiful berries. Rowan keeps asking to go back again and I have to agree with him. They were delicious!


Either Nadia is trying to tell me she is hot in this picture or that she doesn't appreciate being forced into child labor.




This is about 1/3 of our group.

After we were done, we enjoyed some delicious shaved ice. They also had homemade blueberry popsicles there, but I was warned that those stains would never come out.


Today we went with the group to a dollar movie showing of Kung Fu Panda. Nadia was even free so we got in a nice air conditioned theater for only $2 and enjoyed some ninja action. I'd actually never seen it, but Rowan had at a friend's house. He apparently liked enough to remember all the funny parts and give me a heads up when they were coming.

I never did Internet dating (although I know of quite a few success stories), but I have to say I'm kind of a fan of Internet playgroups.

Who needs a thermometer...

when you can just look at your butter dish to find out how hot it is.



Yes, our air conditioner is still on the fritz.

All is Well

Some tidbits of what we have been up to when we aren't getting towed or dropping giant cans of pineapple on our toes:

I have been taking full advantage of the garage to tackle some long overdue projects, namely refinishing furniture. The bookcase I painted a while back was in dire need of an overhaul. I did not prep the surfaces as well as I should have the first time and the paint scratched very easily as a result. So I've been sanding like crazy to get the old paint off and the wood sufficiently prepped for the new coat. After this I have a lot of other pieces that will need similar attention, so hopefully by the end I'll be a seasoned pro. I can't wait to finally have my book boxes unpacked and living room together!



Rowan has started swim lessons at USC's recreation center. Nadia takes advantage of the sand from the beach volleyball court next to the pool while Rowan is swimming.







My kids have become constant playmates in absence of any other options right now. I am so grateful that they have each other and it's been heartwarming to see their relationship grow even stronger.



If you look closely, you'll notice Nadia is rocking a Batman anchor with her ensemble. I don't regularly let her wander around shirtless, but we are still working on fixing a skin rash on her back and neck that needs to be treated consistently throughout the day.


Somewhere in the deep recesses of our digital photo storage, I have a picture of Rowan as a toddler with two binkies in his mouth at the same time. Nadia has picked up a new variation on that tactic.

Who needs a barrel of monkeys when you have a barrel of binkies!

Side note: I'll pay anyone $100 to convince her to give up the binky. It's not going to be pretty.

Rowan lost his second tooth! The first came out a few months ago while he was jumping on the bed. When this second one started to get really wiggly, he tried to replicate the same circumstances that led to the first one coming out. I got tired getting my bed messed up and yanked it out when he wasn't expecting it. Not my finest parental moment, but he got over it pretty quickly.


Rowan and Nadia playing "scientist" on our porch with food coloring, vinegar, and baking soda.


Just enjoying the beauty of a hot day, a backyard, and a sprinkler.




As I'm looking through all these pictures, I'm reminded of how blessed we are to be here. We've discovered a fantastic library, enjoyed a small portion of what the area has to offer, and have so much ahead of us. Steven reminded me yesterday in the midst of our ordeal with the tow truck that our first experiences in Illinois were much worse than what we are dealing with now. I need to change my perspective and see the good and the blessings that truly do surround us. Steve loves his work, the kids love each other, and it is a blessing to be in a house with a backyard. Friends will come in time and I just need to be patient for those relationships to evolve. I am grateful that I was able to move with my best friend who encourages me to look for the good in my life. Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful men I know who help, inspire, and uplift me and my family.