Seattle Part 1

Last weekend I got to visit Seattle for the first time. Stephen took an Invisalign course for a day and Jacob and I just got to play. The weather was perfect. Not a cloud in the sky. The city was amazingly beautiful and of course I took a load of pictures. So, to help me not take up too much space with individual pics, I've taken it upon myself to learn how to do storyboards in photoshop. It's just too hard for me to narrow down pictures when a toddler has too many "moments" that I just love.

Here is one of my first creations...

I'm excited to learn more.

And that means you might have to see a lot more pictures coming pretty soon.

In the Backyard

We are sooo grateful to have a backyard. And even though today my child filled a bucket with sand, brought it into the dining room, and dumped it out all over the carpet, I am still very very grateful.

We want to send a very special thank you to Grandma Karrie and Grandpa Jim Wood for the fabulous sandbox and slide. It has made for a great summer!

(And can you read Jacob's special message for you?)

We surely miss you- especially on Sundays right around 4:30pm.... or in Davis time, 5:15?

Tub Time

Ah, the nightly rituals. Love them.

I may be crazy, but sometimes I think these are the "photo shoots" that are going to matter the most when we grow old.

I need to remember all the joy in the daily grind.

And as crazy as toddlerhood is getting, this kid sure cracks me up.

Photo Stuff

Still working on getting my computer back together after our hard drive crashed with all my photos.  Lost a lot of stuff, but hoping someone can perform a miracle for us!  Didn't back it up since the big move.  

Laptops and toddlers just don't mix I think.  We need to be more careful.  

Anyway, I have lots of things I want to post and will eventually..... but in the meantime, feel free to check out our photoblog with a few more photos of people I love.  

P.S.  I have a few family and friend sessions lined up for my visits to So Cal and Utah in the next couple months, let me know if you are interested in a great offer! :)

Big Bully!

I don't get it. Why are some kids just so mean?

***

Yesterday I took Jacob on our usual walk to the park down the street. He brought along his 4 favorite cars, proudly wore his Tigger hat, and was happy as a clam.

We were busy just playing when a lady came up to us and asked us if we were mormon. (It's so funny how people just know. Hm.) Anyway, She and her four kids just moved here and I was so happy to meet another mom who would be going to our same ward.

While we were chatting it up, her bigger boys jumped onto the tot playground almost overrunning my little guy. But he was happy to have some playmates.... at first.

"Hey Dummy!" I heard the 7 year old boy say. What? You calling my kid a dummy??

He gets "scolded" by the mom.

A few minutes later. Jacob comes and tugs on my arm- still unable to express in words what the trouble is. I see the same kid has taken one of Jacob's cars and thrown it to the other side of the playground.

The kid gets "scolded" again. And I, trying to be polite, say it's ok and go get the car myself with Jacob on my hip.

I didn't want to just ditch the conversation, so I figure I'd let Jacob play a few more minutes while getting to know our new neighbor.

Then...cries. Cries of sadness and some of physical pain.

I was only a few feet away but had been turned a different direction. I see Jacob holding the side of his head with eyes staring at me- as if trying to say, "Ok. I'm done, Mom. I tried hard to play nice. But this big kid hurt me again."

When asked what happened, the 7 yr old says, "Well..... I accidentally hit him."

My blood really began to boil. I'm sure my face turned red as I tried to restrain myself.

Those motherly instincts of protection wanted to burst.

Again, trying to be polite as I knew I'd see this family again on Sunday, I hugged and kissed my boy, tried to help the other kid say he was "sorry" and packed him up in the stroller to head for home.

All I could do was say "Jacob, I'm so sorry. Some kids are just not nice! I am so sorry you got hurt."

I kinda wanted to cry myself.

A seven year old picking on my 21 month old? Come on.

I probably won't be calling this new neighbor to babysit anytime soon...

I know I have so many years ahead of me raising a boy. I'll want to protect him from any danger or hurt feelings. But also, I want to protect him from becoming a bully. I don't know how kids get to that point where they think any of that behavior is ok. I never understood it any of my teaching years and I know it won't change.

All I know is it breaks my heart.

***

Fortunately, MOST park trips have very happy endings...

We'll just take it a day at a time.