Happiness is Swinging Forever

A friend from my ward called me this afternoon and asked if I'd like to meet her at the park.  She has a son Michael's age that was wanting to play, but her son is in morning kindergarten, Michael is in the afternoon.  I told her I'd love to, but that it was just Sadie and I, Michael was at school.   She cheerfully replied that that was just fine.  She then gave me directions to the park. I wrote them all down on a little white board on my fridge and took a picture so that I'd have them on my phone.

Directions...and a partial shopping list

I then tried to find the place.  Now, if I just followed my instincts and the directions instead of second guessing myself, I would have found the place in no time.  As it turned out, I drove around for a half an hour with Sadie in the back asking "Where are we going, Mama?  Are we going to the park?"  I eventually found the place; I had to give in and ask Siri for guidance.  Someday I'll be able to confidently get around without her assistance.  By the time I got to the park, poor Sadie was asleep, but woke right up when she realized where we were.

Oh my, what a park!  There were so many things there. . . a fort/treehouse looking thing, swings, play-sets, big hands holding a rock you could climb, a slide that went down a little hill...fun, fun, fun.  Sadie, my sweet girl, just wanted to swing.  She'd squeal and laugh like it was the best thing she'd ever done.  She told me she just wanted to swing forever.

This is her relaxed face, I love it. 

Totally excited to be swinging again

Happiness is Swinging Forever!

This is her attempt at trying to get away from me when I needed her to get ready to go.  

I can't wait to take the other littles to that park, they'll love it!  There is actually room for them to run and play, unlike our apartment complex.  How fun it was to get out and talk with some friends while our children could play.  The weather was about 62 degrees.  It's supposed to snow 4-10 inches this weekend, but be back in the sixties by Tuesday.  I'm not looking forward to more snow, but I'll take it if it comes with beautiful days like today on it's wings.  Today, I love Colorado.

We'll Raise our Colors High in the Blue, and Cheer the Cougars of BYU

As I was walking out of WalMart the other day, (don't judge me, I still detest the place, but with it being the nearest grocery store to us, sometimes I just can't justify a trip to another store when I need to get something quickly) I saw a young father with two cute little girls walking toward me.  I didn't really think anything of it until I noticed that he had on a BYU hat.  Feeling a bit lonesome for my familiar Utah Valley, I couldn't let him pass without acknowledging that I knew what that Y stood for.  So, I bravely said "I love your hat!" How silly it sounds now, but it was a comfort to see something so familiar in a place still somewhat foreign to me.

A couple days after that, I was wandering around Costco.  A new friend had invited all four of my children over to her house to play.  I had two glorious hours of  child-free  errands, so, I chose Costco as my children hate it there.  As I was meandering through the aisles trying to locate something that I never could find, I passed a young mother with a toddler playing happily in the cart.  The lady had on a BYU hoodie, and on this particular day, so did I.  We both smiled and pointed at eachother's sweaters.  "Nice hoodie" she said as she passed me. It was an exchange that again I was grateful for. It was as if I was being shown that I wasn't alone.  

I've  only ever taken one psychology class at the Y, and that was as a visiting summer student.  I was afraid that I did so poorly, I never even found out my final grade for the class.  My loyalty for BYU has nothing to do with being a student there, but my dear dad began working there  when I was 5 after his own graduation, and he works there still.  When my brother, sisters and I were little, sometimes my dad would bring home tickets for a football game.  It was always very excting to get to go.  We'd pack a cooler full of treats and drinks and bring it into the stands with us.  I loved doing the wave with the crowds, stopping my feet and joining in singing the fight song.  Good memories, lots of good memories are associated with BYU, and I was happy to be reminded that I'm really not that far away.

We're in Denver!

We're in Denver (as if this is a surprise to anyone)! A month and a half ago we moved here, and I've gone over this blog post over and over in my mind trying to make it funny, yet real.  Our move here has been one of the most difficult things I've ever done in my life, and yet I see so much good in it.

Our LDS ward here is wonderful, there are so many good and friendly people that have welcomed us with open arms.  We are renting out a town home, and that in and of itself has been interesting as we haven't rented since my nine year old was a two year old; seven years! Matt is really busy with work, and that has been wonderful because again, there is hope for something better.

Our littles are doing well; school here is quite challenging and while that is difficult for them, they'll only be better off in the long run.

We've gone a couple times to a place called the Red Rock Amphitheater.  It's about 30-45 minutes from us and it's become my happy place.  I feel my heart becoming lighter as I go out there and can just spend time in something like the mountains.

My Littles

View of Denver from the Amphitheater

Please Shine Down on Me!

Our first week here, we celebrated sweet Annie's 7th birthday.  She is a beautiful, helpful daughter. We have our struggles, but mostly when I look at her in awe and wonder how she got to be so tall and pretty.  Dad and Mom Shelley came over with us when we moved and we got to have them over for Annie's birthday.  She was delighted.

Blowing out candles with Kindie, the kindergarten bear that Michael brought
 home from school to spend the weekend with us

Seven princess in one box!

The birthday girl

Today, Annie is learning to embroider, and it's been fun to show her, but it's also be a trial in patience. I have to remember that she is only seven, and this is her first time. 

At work with her needle

My children have two days off for President's Day and it's been nice having them home and not having to run all over.  I figured living in the city would mean that things would be close by, but I'm driving around more than I ever have in my life! But we're busy and mostly happy.  Things are going well.