take 2

Same, but different

Last Friday, Jake fell off a rope swing and broke his LEFT wrist.  It has been almost 9 months since he broke his RIGHT pinky after a Scout activity.

Unfortunately, he is out for the rest of BASEBALL.  9 months ago, he could still play SOCCER with a cast (and some serious bubble wrap).

Last time, UNCLE DAN told us who to go to.  This time, UNCLE DAN casted Jake's wrist himself.  At our house!!

Our perspective has changed, too.  Yes, it's a bummer he has another cast, but Jake is happy it's his left hand this time so he can still write.  He has more use of his fingers with this cast, so it's still easy to play outside with all of his friends.  And like before, this cast gets him out of playing the piano.

 It's not all bad! 

top 5

Since Steve has completed his first week as the Bishop, here are a list of the top 5 things we've been told or asked.  I wanted to keep a list because, well, some are pretty classic.

"Congratulations."

You always hear this when someone becomes the Bishop.  I've never been sure why.  I know it's a nice gesture, but it always kinda makes me laugh.  "Congratulations for what?!" is what I want to say, because we didn't do anything!

"Whoa--better you guys than us;" or "The Bishop is just so busy!" or 

"Bishops make so many sacrifices."  

It is said different ways, but the main idea here being "You guys are really in for it."

"I was so surprised!"

We figured a lot of people would be surprised it was Steve.  We heard so many "top 3" lists of who was going to be the next Bishop during the week--with very few "Steve Hoopes" on there!!  That includes one "top 3" list texted to me about a half hour before church started from a family who moved away!

"I think they got the callings confused!!" 

This response refers to our good friends, the Christensens, who were called to serve in the Spanish branch the same day Steve was made Bishop.  He speaks Spanish, she does not.  It is understandable as Steve and I both speak Spanish, and our friend was on many "top 3" lists for the new Bishop!  I guess we will just have to trust the Stake President on this one and assume they knew what they were doing!

"How old are you?"

Steve has been asked this several times.  Not exactly sure how to take this one.  He is 39, by the way, until December. :)

We have also received hugs and kind words, encouraging texts and emails, and even some treats over the past week.  We have really appreciated all of it.  From the words of Elder Neil A. Andersen:

"I have heard President Monson say, 'Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.'  I know this is true, and it gives me hope looking beyond my own inadequacies.  I know that when we are on the Lord's errand, he will be with us, he will strengthen us, he will build our capacities." 

So here we go!

goings on

What have we been up to?   

Well...

end of soccer x2

baseball

3rd grade Pioneer concert

hanging out with grandparents

more baseball games

some painting

street soccer with the neighbors

campouts

and some diggin' in pink shoes.

Life is good!

sharing

Drew and I have to share time on the treadmill.  

He patiently waits until I'm done.

And then it's his turn.

Drew's jambas

Drew loves jambas.   When we drive into the Fred Meyer parking lot, he starts saying, "Jamba."  He knows the route well.  However, we actually make most of our jambas at home.  Drew loves to help and I'm not really sure which he likes more--drinking the jambas or just making them.

This is how Drew makes a jamba.  First, he helps get the ice.

Then I peel the bananas and he puts them in, but first he takes a bit out of each end.

Then I wash the strawberries, cut off the stems, and hand them to Drew.  After taking a bite of each one, he puts them in the blender, too.

When it's time for the frozen yogurt, he reaches up for a bowl and opens the drawer for a spoon.  This is his way of saying he wants his own fro-yo in a bowl.

Before I turn on the blender, he covers his ears because it's going to be loud.  I always ask him if he wants to press the button.  His answer is always, "No.  Mama."  We blend, we drink, and we enjoy!

Thanks, Drew, for reminding us to not only love the end product, but to enjoy the process!  

#lifelessonslearnedfromatwoyearold

the problems with a new car

 Now I know why, in our almost 17 years of marriage, we've never driven a brand new car off the lot.  It causes way too many problems.  Here are just a few we've experienced since bringing home our new van (swagger wagon) less than 24 hours ago.

#1.  Too much attention.
Everyone knows it's a new car because there's no real license plates on it yet.  How embarrassing.  Then people make comments like, "Wow!  You got a new car!"  I don't like it.

#2.  Everyone wants to be in there all the time.
The kids are just making up places to go so they can ride in the new car.  Because of this, their jobs at home are not getting done.  It's becoming a real problem.  And they're saying they want to go to Costco with me--on a Saturday--just so they can spend more time in the van.  They've never said that before.  Like ever.

#3.  I hate reading instruction manuals.
With so many features and buttons in this new van, I am at a loss.  I don't know how to control any of it (you don't even need a key to start the car).  I am forced to read the instruction manual which I generally try to avoid at all costs.  They have done a LOT of things to cars in the last 8 years.  I didn't even have an iphone 8 years ago when we bought our other minivan, and now I have bluetooth hook-up, a GPS, blind spot indicators, and I can play music from my phone in the car.  And that's just scratching the surface on this car's capabilities.  What will the next 8 years bring?  Wings??

#4.  The back windows roll down on both sides.
This may sound like a positive thing, but honestly, it's a problem.  All that fresh air blowing through the car does bad things to our hair.  And this family can't handle more frizz.

#5.  My blood pressure has been skyrocketing.
With a pristine, shiny new car, I am feeling the pressure!!    I have never gotten in an accident, but now I'm freaking out about getting hit, scratched, scraped, or bumping into someone or something else!!  So much tension!!

#6.  We are probably going to starve.
Any crumb-provoking, wrapper-dropping items are now strictly prohibited.   Since 1/3 of our meals and pretty much all of our snacks were previously consumed in the car, we will probably starve.  (I would like to prohibit shoes in the van as well).

#7.  This car doesn't know me and I don't know it.
It takes time to build a relationship with a car.  I mean, it hasn't taken us very many places yet.  How do I know it will handle all of the drives to see Grandma and Grandpa, or make it to California and back?  This car won't be bringing home any brand new babies from the hospital like our other van did.  This van might be surprised when I start yelling at other drivers or red lights.  I don't have a spot yet for my gum, chapstick, sunglasses, pens, etc.  We have none of our favorite music in there.  Or our favorite movies.   The list goes on...

One positive thing is that we got a great trade-in amount for our old, dependable, loyal blue van--even with the BYU and Mitt Romney stickers on the back!  We thought for sure that would bring the value down around here!  Steve said we should take the money and run before they changed their minds.

So I guess even though the negatives massively outweigh the one positive about getting a new car, what can I do about it now?

Oh well.  Happy Mother's Day to me.

cinco de mayo

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo! 

This year might be the first year (since teaching Spanish) that I did something to commemorate cinco de mayo:  I joined a big group of girls and ran an 8k (4.97097 miles) race!  Not sure that it had anything to do with remembering Mexico's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla, but it was a lot of fun!

The night before the race, we met at Pasta Pallino and filled up with carbs.

Race day, we drove in various carpools and met up at Mt. Si High School in Snoqualmie, where the race started and ended.

before the race

and after!

Steve and the kids surprised me and met me at the finish line.  I was so happy!  It was the last push I needed, as I thought once I made it back to the high school, the race would be over.  Nope.  Once I made it back to the high school and THEN ran once around the track, the race would be over.  I wanted to finish strong so I had kicked it up a gear, without anticipating the track's last quarter mile.  When I heard cheers and saw my family--it was all I needed.

Overall, the course was beautiful and most importantly, FLAT, which is probably why I came in 3rd in my age group (barely squeaking in to the 35-39 group).  Two young whipper snappers at the age of 35 took the top 2 spots.   Below is my own race record--it isn't official with a few extra steps before and after the race, but it's proof of our cinco de mayo celebration!