The Break-Up

I was at the park the other day pushing the girls on the swings. School is out, so there are now older kids hanging out there. I got to witness an official pre-teen breakup. Allow me to share it with you.

There were three boys messing around on the swings next to me, and two girls 15 or so feet away. They looked about 12 years old, maybe 13. From the pieces of conversation I couldn't help overhearing, it seemed that one of the girls was breaking up with one of the guys, although neither the guy nor the girl ever spoke to each other. All of the communication was done through the friends. "So it's over?" the girl's friend asked. "I guess so," a boy replied. "Well, she's gonna go find another guy." And the two girls walked away, as the girlfriend flipped them off. Then I listened to the boys discuss their options. "You should get back together with her," one said. "Why?" said the ex-boyfriend. "Because she's rich, and I'm sick of buying your sodas." Wow. Let's hope this young man isn't an accurate sample of the male population at large. "Hey! He wants to get back together!" the tightwad friend shouted. The girls turned around and came back to negotiate, but the ex-girlfriend's spokeswoman declined the offer.

Later, as I walked downtown I spotted the girls outside the Jamba Juice, apparently drowning her sorrows in some sweet calories as women tend to do. As I passed, I told her, "You're too good for him." I felt it was my duty, as a fellow woman, to tell her how it is. "Thanks," she said. I only hope she remembers that when the dude and his posse come crawling--I mean biking--back.

Back from CT

Last week we returned from an awesome trip visiting my sister in Connecticut. It was great to spend some family time just chillin.

London got to play with her cousins...


Eden got to show off her chunky legs...

We got to see some cool animals at the zoo...

The Dads got a yummy candy poster for Father's Day and

an even more yummy breakfast!

Eden turned 6 months old and we celebrated with her first taste of rice cereal.

And I took her for a dip in the kiddie pool.

I realize this picture is in here twice but I couldn't figure out how to delete it! Oh well. Thanks for hosting us, Kier!

Just a couple of reasons why I love Tim

For the past 3 years, Tim has taken a week of vacation time to study for the CFA exam. The time has come again. The test is this Saturday, and while his study schedule is almost as rigorous as his banking schedule, I have had the pleasure of his company a little more this week and wanted to share some of the finer moments with you all:

1. It's after midnight the other night, and while we're reading scriptures Tim suddenly starts laughing. Why? Because, 7 years too late, he just thought of a great comeback to say when he was at BYU and unfortunately hit on a married chick in line at Food 4 Less. I'll let him tell you what it is.

2. It's after midnight the next night, and I'm asleep, and he comes in and asks if I want to watch TV with him. This morning I learn he stayed up to watch "Rudy" by himself. "Did you cry?" I ask. "What man doesn't cry when he watches that movie?"

3. Later this morning, while considering a quote from the movie that included the phrase "BS"--you know what I mean--he commented: "Why don't they over consider the equestrian variety? Why is it always the bovine variety?"

4. He appreciates the cutesy signs I make him and lets me take pictures of him holding them. (See figure 1).

Tim, you're such an entertaining person to live with, and Saturday can't come soon enough when I can see more of you!

Recent Photos

Eden's favorite expression these days:
London's last day at her preschool co-op. Isn't she a dainty eater?London and her teacher:
Jen & Eden
Making an easy shot:

When she started school 8 months ago, London's feet didn't even touch the ground. Now look at her go:

Good thing this dress comes with bloomers:
London loves getting chased by boys:
And getting caught:
Eden practicing sitting up:
Giving a kiss, or sharing a secret?
Giving a hug:

How Hot am I?

Let me tell you. Some moms let themselves go. Not this PYT, dear readers. Today I was walking my kids home from the park, and a couple of dudes in an SUV hit on me. The dude in the passenger seat asked if I was single. "Me?" I asked, shocked. "Yeah!" he replied. "No!" I said and kept walking. I did forget to wear my wedding ring today. But for goodness sake, I've got two kids! Did he think I was a nanny? Here's the funny thing--he was probably a decade younger than me, and as I gloated to myself on my way home, I began to wonder, did his buddy just dare him to do that?

Mother's Day

It was a great day today. My sweetie made me breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and was basically Martha all day so that I had the luxury of being Mary. I took some time to myself to reflect on this job/duty/calling/blessing I have of being a mom. While motherhood is challenging and every single day I have moments I wish I could escape it, there are also moments I can't help but smile and laugh. Thankfully the latter moments are generally more numerous. I can't think of another job out there this demanding (yes, Tim, even more than banking)! It is unglamorous, mundane, and downright dirty. Your bosses can be quite rude and snotty. You don't get sick days and there is no workman's comp. And yet, it is noble, heavenly, and incredibly fulfilling. No other job on Earth offers eternal benefits.

Fairly recently somebody told me I looked happy. I didn't realize at the time just what a compliment that is. How many people can say that they are truly happy? The kind of happiness that lasts, the kind that is earned through hard work--blood, sweat, and tears? Blood shed in childbirth, in nursing your newborn until your nipples bleed, in smashing your finger while folding a stroller, in burning your arm baking your husband's birthday cake. Sweat shed in childbirth, in cooking dinner in your non-air-conditioned apartment, in carrying a toddler on your hip and an infant in the other hand up the stairs only to take 3 more trips up the stairs with the groceries, in trying to burn off the baby weight and toddler frustration while you exercise, and in sleeping snuggled up to your sweetie. Tears shed in--again--childbirth, in seeing your baby's face for the first time, in latching her on again and again onto the aforementioned bleeding nipples, in feeling guilty for just wanting to sleep instead of deal with those kids, in sorrow when your husband doesn't get the score he needs on that test, in loneliness on a Friday night when he's still at work and all you want is to be able to cry in his arms instead of crying to him on the phone. It's only because of the blood, sweat and tears you've shed for the ones you love that you can experience the kind of perfect, enduring, incandescent happiness that illuminates your life day in and day out.

What a grand design by our Father in Heaven. He knew, as only a parent could, that it's only through the blackest of sorrows that you have enough contrast to appreciate the brightest of joys! Here are my joys:

London wanted to make sure Eden had a toy to keep her company for the ride. What a sweetie :)
Here is the lovely dinner Tim made:

Strollerobics!

Many of you have heard me talk about my strollerobics class...well we made the small time with a spot on ABC's "A View from the Bay"! Click on "Related Article" and watch for the clips with me, London and Eden.