football tradition

It's that time of year....football season! In our house this means that Tim has a football game every friday night August through October. This is Tim's sixth year doing football stats for Cottonwood High School's football team. He loves going to the games. He does the stats with my brother Clint, which is an added bonus for Tim. They always have too much fun together. Being the supportive wife that I am, we (the boys & I) always try to go to a couple of the games with my family. My Mom loves going to the games since she teaches at the school and knows most of the players. Cottonwood football has become a tradition in our family. Luckily, they have been really good the past six years so it's actually enjoyable to go to the games (unlike when I went to Cottonwood.) Since Tim has been doing stats we haven't missed a CHS football homecoming game...it's tradition!





Can you find Clint & Tim? Bright Yellow Shirt (Clint) Black Shirt (Tim)

walk-a-thon

Payton's school did a walk-a-thon for the PTA fundraiser this year. I was able to help out.  I love helping out at Payton's school. It is so fun to see him interact with his friends and classmates.  Also, Payton loves it when I'm at his school.  It's also fun to be treated like a celebrity..."Hey look, it's Payton's Mom."  Okay, maybe I don't have celebrity status, but I definitely feel pretty cool when I can be at school with Payton!

real salt lake

We went to the Real Salt Lake soccer game tonight with all of Tim's family and Clint & Becca. Ann graciously stayed home (we didn't have to twist her arm) and watched Cooper. The game was pretty lame, we lost, but we had a great time enjoying everyone's company!

bangs

I wanted my hair to look like this (who doesn't?!)...



Instead I ended up looking more like this...



See for yourself, introducing the new Mrs. Garth Algar...

lunch with parker

This guy melts my heart.  Truly, he can do ANYTHING and I think it is so cute.  I can't help but smile no matter how naughty Parker is being (which is often).  He has a very special charm about him that, I predict, will have the ladies swooning over him when he gets older (much, much older).

Lately, we have had a wonderful daily ritual...lunch.  Since Payton started first grade it has just been Parker & I having lunch together each day.  Cooper is usually sleeping.  

I love talking to Parker about school, weather, food, friends, or anything that distracts him from eating his food (again, I can't get mad that he's not eating his food, because he is so dang cute.)

I have enjoyed the many lunches that Parker and I have shared lately.  I look forward to lunchtime everyday.  Not just for the food, but for the company!  

change

Lately, I've felt like I need a change. A change of pace, a change of scenery, a change of my blog background for sure.  (Sorry about my previous background. It was so distracting I couldn't even look at my own blog. I hope you feel more peace now when you visit my blog!)  I have been somewhat anxious lately feeling like a change is coming.  However, as I reflect on my life I realize that it is constantly changing.  Right now I am experiencing new routines, a new season, new challenges, new possibilities, new obligations, and a new perspective.  (Not to mention that dang Home Renewal Challenge to try and change my home, which is feeling like a really bad idea...more on that later!)

For me, the biggest change in my life lately has been perspective. I am trying to change my perspective. The way I view life. The way I view myself. The way I view others and the way I view change.  

Recently, I have been so inspired by blogging.  No, not my blogging (as you can tell from my lack of posts), but others.  Thank you to everyone who posted comments on my "Why Is It" post. I was so happy for all of the advice and feedback. It makes me want to put my thoughts and questions out there more often. In fact, I was enjoying them so much that I intentionally neglected to publish a new post for fear that you would move on with me.

I have also been inspired by others blogs.  ALL of my friends blogs are an inspiration to me.  I am so impressed with ideas, thoughts, pictures and comments from all of my friends and family members who blog.  If I need some motivation, I turn to my computer and blog list for inspiration.  I have been horrible about leaving comments lately (I always have a baby in my arms), but I am reading your blogs and being inspired by them.

Lastly, I am so impressed by the blogs of complete strangers.  This blogging community is incredible. I am able to be inspired through the lives of others.  Recently, I have been inspired by the following blogs (to name a couple):

http://www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/
http://adailyscoop.blogspot.com/

Both of these blogs are especially inspiring based on their circumstances.  If you're not already familiar with these blogs you'll have to read them when you have some time and some kleenex's.  One thing that really stood out to me from NieNie's blog was the following quote:

"Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments. She 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).

This quote, these blogs, your blogs and your lives have all changed my perspective.  

In honor of my new perspective, here are a few of the changes that I will be making in my life:

I will enjoy the "doing" more than the "completing."

I will do things that make me and others happy.

I will not worry about what other people expect out of me.

I will think less and enjoy more.

I will truly, honestly and consciously embrace life.

home renewal challenge update

I've been a little burned out by my Home Renewal Challenge. It was a great idea in theory, but much harder than I thought it would be. It looked so easy on paper. However, life must go on and there are a million other things that take my priority every week. Therefore, my challenge has still been going, but not as I thought it would. Not to mention, the lack of support that I've received from you. Seriously, you were all on board for about 1 week with me and then everyone jumped ship. Thanks!


Despite my bad attitude, I am determined to complete this #%@! challenge that I started. If you would like an update on my progress you can click here.

My Baby is Five...

MONTHS OLD! 

In honor of this milestone, the following are five reasons I love my five month old:

1. His smile...


2. His brothers adore him (and vice versa)...


3. He is such a sweet, happy and content baby...


4. His reaction to new things...



5. His baby phat...



(BTW, my scale says that MY baby "phat" is all gone (I'm at least down to my pre-pregnancy weight). However, my body is just not quite the same. I'm worried my legs might look like Cooper's FOREVER! Don't worry...I will definitely not be posting a picture of that!)

Why is it...

that I'm always so close to feeling like life is going to slow down, get easier or be less chaotic? Why is it that it always feels so close I can almost touch it, taste it, feel it, but I'm never quite there.

Is it because I'm striving for impossible perfection?
Is it because I'm never satisfied?
Is it because I'm always wanting more out of myself and my life?
Is it because I'm always trying to push myself harder than before?
Is it because I don't settle for mediocrity?
OR
Is it because I am just stupid and I haven't figured out how to do "it" yet?

I'd love to know the answer! Some days I think that I just expect too much out of myself. Other times I feel like there is so much more I could be doing with my time; my life. I feel like I have a healthy sense of controlled chaos in my life. However, some days (like today) when it all catches up to me and I am behind on ten million tasks that I have committed to...I just think that I am crazy!

I know that I'm not the only one asking myself these questions everyday so please, share some insight with me, why is it?!?