Skirt #2

Another twirly skirt. I am going to try and make a reversible bag with the remnants. Let's not waste anything.

Blog Worthy and Potty Training Update

I got tired of not being able to find modest skirts for Lauren so I made one. I was a bit worried because I wasn't using a pattern, but the skirt has been deemed blog worthy so here it is.

We have another one in the works. It is a blue fabric with hydrangeas. I'm making them really long with extra elastic so they can be worn for awhile. I hope she still likes the fabrics in a few years.

Spencer is finally potty trained. It took almost a year, but we finally found a reward that got him to consistently go to the bathroom on the toilet, playing LEGO Batman. To celebrate his success I made some new dolls for him and added a cape to previous doll. Now he has a batman and two Robins to play with.

Brenna Smiles

And babbles a bit. Here are some videos I made of Brenna smiling. She smiles all the time now and she has begun talking. Of course she was much more talkative before and after I made the videos, but they are still cute.

Funny story about Brenna. She really likes to suck on her fist even when she is not hungry. Today I was sewing and Brenna was in her carseat next to me. I could hear her sucking away on her fist and suddenly she began to cry. I turn to look and she has her fist in her mouth trying to suck on it but somehow her pointer finger had broken free of the fist hold and is sticking in her nose. Each time she tries to suck harder on her fist her finger is forced further into her nose. I laughed and thought for a moment I should take a picture because it looked so funny. Instead I saved my poor baby from picking her own nose.

Great Book

I have decided that I really love reading history, at least when it is well written. It is amazing to read about what people are able to accomplish with so little, the intense devotion to a cause, the inhumane cruelty, and the indomitable human spirit. History is just amazing and we have so much to learn from it.

I just finished reading the book Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick. It is an excellent account of the Pilgrims, the beginnings of settlement in New England, and the events leading up to and including King Philip's War. Much of the details and history I was unfamiliar with. When you learn about history in school you only have time to skim the surface because there is just so much there. Plus, history texts are sometimes not very interesting or well written. This book is fascinating and very well written.

One of the most interesting things I took from the book was a lesson on establishing Zion. When the Pilgrims landed in 1620 they were a mixed group of religious separatists and Strangers, as the Pilgrims called them. They did not share religious beliefs, nor even the same purpose in coming to America, yet they required each others cooperation to survive. The first two winters in America they lived on the verge of starvation, but not the third winter.

"The fall of 1623 marked the end of Plymouth's debilitating food shortages. For the last two planting seasons, the Pilgrims had grown crops communally. . .In April, Bradford had decided that each household should be assigned its own plot to cultivate, with the understanding that each family kept whatever it grew. The change in attitude was stunning. Families were now willing to work much harder than they had ever worked before. . .The Pilgrims had stumbled on the power of capitalism. Although the fortunes of the colony still teetered precariously in the years ahead, the inhabitants never again starved."

It's interesting that even though their very lives depended on working together to provide food, it wasn't until they could keep all the fruits of their labors for themselves that they ceased to starve. The natural man is definitely a selfish creature. It made me think of Elder Christofferson's talk last October entitled "Come to Zion" in which he says,

"Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes, and faithfulness of her citizens. . .If we would establish Zion. . .It will be necessary to become unified in one heart and mind; to become, individually and collectively, a holy people; and to care for the poor and needy with such effectiveness that we eliminate poverty among us. We cannot wait until Zion comes for these things to happen-Zion will come only as they happen."

The Pilgrims demonstrate that you simply can't desire to survive. You must desire for the survival of your fellow citizens as well. If you are not a Zion people in heart you will not desire to work towards Zion. You will work towards your own ends even if it hurts your very survival. Much like what has happened to our economy. Capitalism plays on our inherently selfish natures.

I've noticed this to a certain extent in my own life. Living in an apartment I find myself much less inclined to do a great job cleaning and keeping things looking nice because it doesn't belong to me. I would find cleaning chores much more satisfying if it were my own house that belonged to me. People value what belongs to them individually more than what belongs to everyone as a whole. I guess I'm not quite ready for Zion either.

29 Today 30 Next Year

So today is my birthday. I'm glad I'm not yet 30. Something about being 30 makes me think I should be a grown up and a lot more will be expected of me, I can't just be goofy any more or something.

I used to think growing up that when I became an adult my attitudes and maturity would completely change and the change would take place all of a sudden. Now that I have three children and am definitely considered an adult I have to say there was no bolt of lightening change. I grew up gradually. I know I'm different than I was in high school and college, but I still don't really feel I am qualified to be an adult. I don't think anyone will take away my membership card, but it's kind of like on my wedding day where I really did fear the temple President would come into my wedding and escort me out of the temple saying I wasn't ready to get married. I just don't feel ready to be an adult sometimes.

Don't get me wrong. I love being an adult. I love the independence and being able to make my own decisions and set my own course. I think things would be a lot harder if I weren't married. I'm not scared to face the world as an adult because I know I have a companion with me who loves me and will stand by me no matter what happens. That takes a lot of stress and fear off my shoulders. I am happy today to be older, but I think it would not be so happy for me if I didn't have such a wonderful family, extended family, husband, and close friends. Thanks for making my life so wonderful to live.

Me in the hospital 29 years ago

At 3 months

In Kindergarten

Thanksgiving with friends just before Brenna was born

And here is a cute video of Brenna trying to smile. Enjoy.