Work & Play

The kids have really liked the library lately. Lily took them yesterday, so they were reading books after breakfast. 

Then I got my act together and we did some Saturday chores out in the yard, yay, raking pine needles 

Cleaning off the benches, chairs, table, and patio. 

After getting them to work, I was ok for them to do whatever Corey had planned. Kids chilling watching stuff on Wesley's phone.

Corey was there in the front room, and the conversation switched to talk about aliens, which somehow came up last night during scriptures. Peter asked how we know if things are or are not real. Then Corey taught the kids about AI and how you cannot trust everything your eyes see. First example - he told Edmund and Daniel to strike a fighting pose. Good...

And watch this! "I can turn it into a different picture..."

Then everyone wanted a turn. Katharine stood in front of Corey, and imagined being a princess in front of a castle. And then it came to be!

Yes, this is exactly how she imagines herself! "Now do a mermaid!" Done.

Owen's turn to be Darth Maul - 

Or driving and AT AT -

Peter wanted to be Yoda -

Daniel and Edmund in another battle. 

The kids were loving this!

After dinking around online doing fun stuff, they headed out for a fun day with Corey, and I got the break I was wishing for yesterday. Corey's been meaning to take them to Five Guys for a week, so today was the day. But first, a bike ride. Peter remembered my personal MOA advice from last time, and he went and changed into a long sleeve shirt and long pants before the ride (he changed sometime in between watching stuff on Wesley's phone and the kids in flight photo). Peter had a small tumble but only got a scratch on his knee cause his skin was protected! I hadn't noticed he had changed clothes, but after they got back he told me the reason why was that he remembered how I said I ALWAYS wear long sleeves and long pants when I ride cause it's just not worth the risk of road rash. 

Now he has his own witness that my counsel was good advice. A trip to Five Guys for burgers and fries brightened him up. 

Wes was slightly horrified/cringed out over how all these little kids were behaving. 

He mentioned to Corey that he is glad that our life is not his life. It might be someday, but yeah, you're probably not ready for a daily level of this much "kid". 

Just give yourself little doses and brief exposure now and then, Wes, and it will continue to help you be prepared to be a great father someday. After Five Guys, they went by Scheels to get someone's bike fixed. While they were there, they had ice cream - 

And rode the ferris wheel. 

It's always a good time when Dad takes the kids out!

(He's the fun one.)

Peter and Wes on the escalator.

So while they were gone all day, I got a few things done around here, enjoyed my quiet house, then I went to Costco. I should have gone to the gym though. I stayed until I could go pick up the girls at 7:45, which was their estimated ETA from Lake Powell - they all arrived safe and sound. A little sun kissed, but everyone was good. 

They stayed to help clean up the boats, so I took the van home with their sleeping bags and stuff and then I went to the rec center hoping to get in a very quick workout, as I only had 45 minutes until they closed at 9. That was when I learned that they close at 8 on Saturdays! Boo. So then I went up the canyon for a quick walk to the ruins from Lisa Falls. 

I love the creek and the canyon. I had to make sure I did "the thing". This is a poem that Lily shared with me a few weeks ago that I read to Corey today. We like it. 

Preparing to do the thing isn't doing the thing. 

Scheduling time to do the thing isn't doing the thing.

Making a to-do list for the thing isn't doing the thing.

Telling people you're going to do the thing isn't doing the thing.

Messaging friends who may or may not be doing the thing isn't doing the thing.

Writing a banger tweet about how you're going to do the thing isn't doing the thing.

Hating on yourself for not doing the thing isn't doing the thing. Hating on other people who have done the thing isn't doing the thing. Hating on the obstacles in the way of doing the thing isn't doing the thing.

Fantasizing about all of the adoration you'll receive once you do the thing isn't doing the thing.

Reading about how to do the thing isn't doing the thing. Reading about how other people did the thing isn't doing the thing. Reading this essay isn't doing the thing.

The only thing that is doing the thing is doing the thing.

Oh, and Mel and Christian are in Brazil visiting her mission before baby comes. They are having a great time! How fun to watch the world cup in Brazil!