Anyway, I don't spend an inordinate amount of time with the blog, although I'm sure I spend far more time than many since I love to write and don't watch as much TV as most of my friends and family. I know that may not seem to be the case because I've been much more active in the last several months than ever before. My secret, however, is the fact that I'm pretty quick at editing photos and typing since I'm a self-professed nerd, so I maximize my time online. In addition, I am often attached to a computer since I spend a lot of time in the lab at the University and, these days, Sarah goes to bed about an hour or two before I do so I'm up watching TV, reading, and online. In the mornings she lets me sleep in for an hour or two and then I stay up with Claire so she can lay down when Carter takes his nap for an hour or so. It's a tag team effort around here!
Some quick news items:
-Carter has been crazy lately and has even hit Claire with toys, etc. We're doing our best to deal with the situation without spanking, yelling, etc. We put him on time out, offer him choices, limit TV time, etc. etc. Three is his toughest age yet, but we have faith that, with time, he'll pull out of this. Thanks again to Jen who related to us her similar experience with Chase who is a very well-behaved boy. Carter is simply becoming more jealous of Claire these days because she's beginning to become more of a little person and less of a blob.
-Claire is beginning to make those darling little "talking noises" now. She babbles and makes the "da-da" sound. It was funny because Carter was convinced she was saying "Dadda." She can also roll around and crawl a little bit, but she's not officially able to crawl forward quite yet.
-Sarah is doing fine. She's still YW President and does a fine job helping the young women reach their spiritual and temporal goals, runs daily, spends time with her friends at the park, does preschool, takes Carter to "tumble tots," shops (mostly for food...hey, I'm a teacher!), and works once or twice a week. I fall more in love with her everyday and am so grateful that she puts up with my analytical (read: annoying) nature!
-I shaved my goatee and have decided to dedicate myself to a clean shaven appearance. I don't know if that is actually news, but to me it's a drastic change. Sarah didn't even notice! I am now only four months from finishing my program at the University of Redlands and I'm quite excited to be done so I can focus on everything else on my plate. I'm excited to go fishing with my good buddy Josh sometime this week and snowboarding with my friend Tony from work next week (I won lift tickets at work). I always say that if I don't get some sort of bump or scrape while I'm off track then I'm not fully living.
We're going to spend next weekend down in San Diego at a hotel with the kids since we're buying year passes to the San Diego Zoo; yes, there'll be a lot of photos from the zoo here from that point on.
I guess if the most important news is that I feel we're happier as a couple than ever before. We've really been focusing on being mindful of our thoughts, words, and actions in all situations. In this sense we're working together as a couple better than ever as we strive to do our best raising children at home, working in our respective professions, serving those around us, praying, studying and meditating regularly, and discussing what THIS (life, existence, whatever you want to call it) is all for. This "middle class lifestyle" of working and raising children that is so often ridiculed and derided in the media is what we've found has brought us the greatest sense of happiness. Some reject it, and that's they're choice, and I believe others simply throw all of these ingredients into the pot of life and think if they stir, everything will turn out perfectly. Now, I don't want to come off as if Sarah and I are setting the standard for others to follow, for we have our fair share of ups and downs of course, but I think what so many people are missing is the ROCK or the spiritual foundation that provides the base on which a family is built. If a couple doesn't share the same long term (and by that I mean eternal), spiritual goals, then the recipe can go bad. Although we are faithful members of the LDS church and share our faith with pride and passion, I just wish more people had some base, some spiritual foundation, on which to build. I see the effects of selfishness, infidelity, dishonesty, etc. all around, breaking down society and causing spiritual devolution. It breaks my hearts when my students give me saddened expressions when topics such as divorce, domestic violence, sexual abuse, etc. and how they can overcome the feelings and trials they are facing at their tender age by focusing on setting goals, striving for personal excellence and developing the inner life that will help them overcome the diverse challenges they face and will continue to encounter as they go through life.
I must close now, I've written far more than I intended. I hope everyone who reads these words realizes how much Sarah and I appreciate you; whether you're a friend, a family member, acquaintance, or even a stranger, we really love you and desire that all people obtain the peace and comfort that we have found in life as we strive to live like the Savior, even Jesus Christ. Although we respect people of ALL FAITHS, we have found our ROCK and, despite the storms that threaten our peace, we are in the place we always new we could find if we didn't give up. Now the challenge is to endure and never look back as travel this narrow yet joyful path.
7 comments:
Dan you are such a thinker. First I can't even picture you without a goattee. I'm sad to read that Carter is hitting Claire with toys. That must be really hard. I always get even more upset when my kids bad behavior causes a sibling to be sad. We have a lot of that going on around here lately. Chase has become a master at pushing Emily's buttons and Emily has started lashing out at poor Kate who wants her attention so badly. I remember something I did with Chase when he was young that worked for a while (any temporary reliefe was precious). We had a treasure box in our hall closet filled with legos, star wars figures etc.. (what ever Chase was in to). If he earned a certain predetermined number of good behavior stickers bythe end of the week we let him pick something out. He cold get a sticker for having a good day or doing extra special sweet things (helping me, playing with Emily, showing restaint...). Maybe somekind of bribery will work with Carter. I've always found that little boys are more rational thinkers than little girls so bribery works that much better. Have fun at the zoo. My favorite is the Hippo. I think his name is Jabba...say hello for me.
You do a good job keeping everyone posted!! I need to get better at that!
Hey Dan,
Just wanted to say that Melissa and I think that you guys are doing great and we are really happy to have friends like you. We admire your convictions and devotion to all things truely meaningful in life. I also am very impressed at how you manage to post so much interesting stuff! Reading some blogs can be like watching other people's home videos...not the case here! I must say that I really am interested to see what new enlightenment may sit atop the Todd Pad! Anyways, It makes me happy to see that you are all happy and we look forward to seeing you. Hopefully soon.
Man, are these the best comments ever written on our blog? I'm going to have to say YES! Thank you for your kind words. First of all, Jen, we are giving Carter rewards but it often goes like this: "Carter, do you want to earn a new car?" "No!" Regardless of his occasional aversion to extrinsic motivators, we keep on trying. I don't mean to paint Carter as if he were always a pill, it's just that he's changed a lot as he's grown older but it's not like everyone didn't warn us that toddlerhood can be quite difficult!
Jeremy, you know how Sarah and I love you two and we always wish we could spend more time together. Who knows, maybe we'll end up down there by you guys which truly would be a blessing.
What a great message. It has inspired me to do better, especially in the little things that I think sometimes we forget but that make the biggest difference. I was telling Sarah last week that we have zoo passes are still good till about July so we should all go sometime. Congrats with your health changes and choice that is Awesome!!! P.S. our kids are not going to Hawaii with us.
Love the todd pad tree graphics! Thanks for the family update. Paretnhood is amazing, isn't it? I never thought a 2 year old could run 2 well educated and loving parents to the ground, but I know better now! Our J just about killed us at 2,and has kept on challenging us at different stages in different ways. My mom says he is wearing down our edges and that we will become smooth, shiny gems. But ouch! It's not fun. So we totally know what you are going through. Not sure if it's the same motivation behind Carter's acting out as our situation, but here's a thought... Jackson would knock Brady over, hit him... for the attention. Now why in the world negative attention was so craved (especially when he honestly got plenty of positive attention and one on one time) is beyond me. i guess he also loved seeing the reaction, and probably loved having some control over a smaller person (which continues...)My initial response to such a situation was to scold J and then comfort the baby. One day it dawned on me (inspiration actually) to go directly to the baby w/o so much as eye contact to the perpetrator. After calming the baby (and myself) - a good 5 minutes at least, THEN talk to/punish Jackson. This enraged Jackson as he expected and wanted immediate attention. This type of behavior was minimized dramatically. One other thought - my kids seem to react well to "overhearing" me talk about them to the baby. Ex: "You have the best brothers in the whole world, don't you? Let me tell you some things I love about Jackson...He is going to be so happy to have you as a best friend..." (Some days I think this is to convince myself as much as anything...) Anyhow, good luck - our greatest blessings are truly our greatest challenges...
We love you "C"! I know I already said it to you via email, but thank you for your kind words and sage advice. When it comes to Toddlers I guess we often must say, "This too shall pass!"
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