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Caleb went to golf camp this summer!!!

I don't have a single picture to prove it!!

But he had such a good time, and I think was pleased to have something that was all his own.  His buddies, Matthew and Andrew Dalebout, were there too which he loved.

Everyday when I came to pick him up he would say things like, "Mom, thanks for letting me come to this camp!" and "Mom, I don't know how much this cost, but it was worth it!".  

The one day that I brought my camera to snap some shots was the awards day.  I got there late and missed the award distribution.  I offered to take his picture at the driving range, but he refused.  He was a little disappointed to not have won anything, so I picked the wrong day to bring the camera.  But overall it was a great experience for him.

We have an interesting phenomenon going on at our house (and apparently we're not alone in this country). The dog does everything the alpha male (Derek) says and nothing that the beta female (me, and I'm making that beta stuff up) says.  Case in point:

When I say "Maggie, go to bed" (while pointing earnestly at the crate) she stands there and looks at me.

When Derek says "Maggie, go to bed" (and he's not even in the same room) she runs in dutifully.

So…I, being the smart cookie that I am, now call for Derek and say "Honey!  Tell her to go to bed" and he then yells "Maggie, go to bed".  And she goes. It's sad, but true.  

Recently, all I have to do is yell "Honey – tell her!" and she runs right into the crate before Derek can even say "Maggie,…".

So this morning I tried a little experiment.  Derek is out of town.  But I needed Maggie to go to her crate. So instead of saying "Maggie, go to your crate" (for which I would have gotten zero response), I said "Derek, tell her to go to bed!" and she ran right in.  

Works every time.

Like a charm.

Except now my 3-year old is confused and says to me, "Derek is not here!?!".

"That's right, dear, but she doesn't know that."

Just one of the hundred Maggie pics taken by Caleb with my Iphone 

Thanks for the wishes-of-wellness.  I am doing better today.  My headache got so bad that I was desperate for relief – so I headed to a doc-in-the-box at 9 pm last night after curriculum night.  I was in tears it hurt so bad. Thankfully the dr. could see my misery and suggested a steroid shot for immediate relief + strong antibiotics. I'm feeling better today (although still gunky) and was able to babysit+presidencymeeting+pickupfruitorderfromOregonfarmtruck+visitthetaxoffice.

I should have napped…

Now I'm blogging while watching the boys swim in the hot tub.  It's a gorgeous 86 degrees here today and they're complaining that the pool is "freezing" (wimps!).  So I warmed up the hot tub for them and they're astonished at the jets.  Great entertainment this pool.

Derek is hoping to install the putting green this weekend.  He has worked hard getting everything prepped for it. That man has more energy than that pink-battery-bunny.  He's amazing.  The people at the store laughed at him because people who want to install it themselves are a rarity – it's quite a process.  And the roll of "green" had to be fork-lifted into the Suburban – it's that heavy.  But we're getting it for a 1/4 of the cost, so I'm thrilled.  Such a handy man, that husband of mine.

School is going well for the boys.  Relief Society work is inspiring me.  I feel such a love for these ladies that I serve.  Some of them are going through hard things and I'm grateful for their examples of endurance and strength.  I can feel the weather changing and fall is knocking at the door – I can't wait.  Enjoyed lunch with D & S this week.  Had lovely phone talks with family members (have I mentioned that I have a baby nephew or niece on the way and am going to be an "aunt Mer"?!?)  In greeting both of the boys teachers last night both of my boys were complimented for being compassionate friends to the Autistic children in the classroom.  In fact, Caleb is the assigned "helper" of one little boy and Jacob has been teaching his friend how to "fist bump" and in a spotlight the boy said he could be found "hanging out with his friend Jacob".  I felt so grateful for their Christ-like ways.  We are doing a series in our "Family Home Evening" time each week called "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus".  We're focusing on scriptural accounts of the way Christ interacted with and treated other people – his followers, his family, disbelievers, etc.  Two weeks ago we read different accounts of when He asked "what would ye have me to do for thee?", and we practiced saying "What can I do for you?" as often as possible.  Last week we looked at how He treated little children and decided to work harder on accepting and being patient with the little child (sam.i.am) in our own home. Next week we're looking at how he treated the outcasts and socially unaccepted.  I'm glad to see my boys "getting it" – at least some of the time.  A good week, despite the fact that I almost died of sinus explosion.  :)

Headed to football practice.

More summer updates (and back-to-school pictures) soon.

And it's not fun.  Not fun at all.  I even canceled a playgroup that was scheduled to meet here tomorrow.  I try to not cancel things – EVER.  And I haven't been to the gym since Monday, which is not good.  I'm thinking healthy thoughts.  Because a healthy Mer = a happy Mer.

Somebody stop me!

Caleb's Birthday

6 Boys + 6 Hours

Circus Fun

The piece of wood

Caleb's Pictures

Caleb's Baptism

(Those last two are don't miss kind of posts!  Trust me… 🙂

Here are a few more postdated updates.  This time I'll share the links for convenience.  Slow and steady…I'm getting there!  

Father's Day 2010

Webelos Twilight Camp

Fourth of July Weekend

Lake Day #2

12 Years

p.s.  I've added links for the blog posts mentioned in the post before this one too.

I am trying very hard to get caught up so that I can get back to blogging.  I've never been so behind before! My first priority is to record the little (and big!) events of the summer so that I can record them for my blog book and posterity.  I hope to be caught up by the end of the week and back to regular (on-schedule) blogging.  If you are a die hard (I will really question anyone who actually goes to read these…which will probably only be my mother, and that's even questionable with her schedule)…but if you're interested, you can find new blog posts POSTdated on 6/25, 7/2, 7/3, 7/4, 7/14, and 7/16.  More to come…stay tuned.

Bridal Shower – Erin

Lake Day – #1

Football Camp – Jacob

Nana's Boys

Our Skate Park Attempt

Dallas Museum of Nature and Science

Hello.

My name is Meredith.

And this is my blog.

Just in case you forgot who it belonged to.

It's been so long that typepad made me type in my password.  Yikes!

I have SO much to blog about it.  A whole summer in fact.  I have updates all the way back to JUNE.  I've never been this behind.  3 boys + 3 different ages = a very busy summer with no down time during the day.  I have LOVED it – it's gone by way too fast.

Jacob just left for his first football practice – heaven help him.  We're worried.  But excited for him.  This begins 4x a week practices.  Our life will be football for a while.  

After practice Derek is heading to the Robinson Farm with the boys for some R&R – fishing, shooting, relaxing.  

And tomorrow I'm leaving on a jet plane for a lower-temped climate in the mountains (thank you!) – a week of religious/parenting/continuing ed-type classes at BYU in Provo, UT.  I'll be staying in dorms (with a roommate that I have yet to meet) and I hope to do some hiking and exploring while I'm there.  Looking forward to a week of growth!  But I'm already missing my guys.  They're having "boys camp" with Derek while I'm gone.  Derek is the most capable dad on the planet, and hardly misses a beat when I'm gone (other than me having to show him how to work our new washer and dryer!).

When I get back it will be time to start school (boo!) and I'll have blog posts coming out my ears the likes of which will have you begging me to stop!  Things like:

sports camps

Father's Day

fun outings

Caleb's b'day

Caleb's baptism

the circus, the museum, the library (are those three allowed in the same sentence?)

our anniversary

Rangers and Cowboys (the sports teams, not the heroes of the wild west)

and much, much more…

Stay tuned.

Completely unrelated picture of cute Samuel holding his favorite blankie ("take a picture of my blankie, Mom!") 

 

Baptism Day, August 7th 2010

What a sweet and memorable day it was for Caleb's baptism.  He was so honored to have so many family members and close friends with us.  He was so excited and touched by the whole thing.  Here are some memories that I would like to remember:

Nana playing the piano so beautifully (especially the arrangement of "Count Your Blessings" – thanks Mom for participating).

Shelley's talk about baptism – and her analogy of the road, the gate, and the key

Dana's talk on the Holy Ghost – and her analogy of the sword 

Me and Caleb singing together – he has said since he was very little that he wanted to sing "I like to look for rainbows…" at his baptism.  But when it came close he got a little too nervous so I said I would sing with him because I really wanted him to fulfill that "dream" of his.  And Jacob agreed to play the piano for it. I am not a great singer, and he forgot his words on the second verse.  But it is a sweet, sweet memory for me to be able to participate in that way with my boys.

Caleb had to be baptized 3 times!  But most people only saw the first.  Lucky for me, I got to see all three. The ordinance is supposed to be performed an exact way.  The first time Derek held up the wrong hand, the second time Caleb's jumpsuit flew up out of the water (he has to be completely immersed), but the 3rd time was the charm and was perfect.  He felt pretty special that he got to be "dunked" 3 times!

I talked Jacob in to conducting the music for the hymns we would sing.  He and I practiced the night before.  I was pretty proud of how well he did.

Caleb told me that when he was encircled by the priesthood holders and given the gift of the Holy Ghost he wanted to cry because he was so happy.  I'm pleased that he felt that good feeling of the Spirit.

I feel so grateful to our families who came.  Despite all of our differences in religion and faith, I am grateful for the support that they give us and our children.  Uncle Mark and Aunt Anne, Uncle Mike and Aunt Olivia, Nana and Pops and Grandma Kake all attended.  Grandma Sherry came all the way from Utah to be there and Aunt Audra came as well.  Other attendees:  The Hicken's, The Dalebout's, Amy Price and Amy Lebaron (both from the Primary Presidency), Bro/Sis Robb and Bro Parsons (our Home Teachers), Jeff Johnson (Bishopric)

 Afterwards our extended family went to Macaroni Grill to celebrate a very special experience.

When Jacob was going to get baptized I wanted to do something special with him to commemorate that special occasion in his life.  We believe that baptism is an outward ordinance that symbolizes a covenant with God.  It begins one on a path that leads to eternal life.  And along that path there are opportunities for growth and service, and opportunities to make additional covenants. Those other covenants are made in the temple.  The Dallas Temple is a special place for me – a place of peace and rest and revelation…and covenants.  And so I decided to take Jacob there, when he was going to be baptized, to take his picture and to talk with him about the opportunity he would have to look forward to coming the house of the Lord to worship and make additional covenants someday.  Afterwards we went to dinner together and made it a very special "mother/son" date (you can go HERE for a look at Jacob's pictures).  I wanted to do the same thing for Caleb…and we looked forward to our date for many weeks (months even).  And we had a lovely time together – enjoying each other, enjoying the grounds of the temple and enjoying our dinner together at Pappadeaux.  We had sweet quiet moments together.  We had funny, giggling moments together.  And it will always be a special memory for me.

I sure know how to tire a guy out…