Jasen's Science Project

Jasen's 7th Grade Science Project was titled "To Be Full Or Not To Be Full, That Is The Question." He tested the distance a kicked soccer ball would travel, depending on it's air pressure. He invented and then helped build a kicking machine to ensure each soccer ball would be kicked with equal force and then performed multiple tests, measuring the distance the balls flew across the yard. He did a great job and learned alot. In case you are wondering, a soccer ball filled to it's suggested PSI will travel the farthest...go figure.

The Small and Simple Things

Over the last few weeks I have had the enormous pleasure of having a bird's nest in a bird house on my front porch. The kids and I have found such joy in listening the the sounds of baby birds. We sit on the front porch and smile at the frenzied "tweets" that fill the yard as 'Mother' arrives with a juicy bug. The baby bird sounds are nearly constant, and while to some it may seem grating or terribly annoying, I find it very maternally satisfying.

This morning, there was a bit of commotion on the front porch. One of "our" babies had ventured out of the bird house and tumbled from his perch. He wasn't strong enough to fly back and so he hopped about on the ground and low bushes. We were all delighted and watched him happily from a distance...until he made his way to the street. I intervened. He jumped aboard a stick I offered and I gave him a lift up to his front stoop. He sat there for a moment and then hopped back into the safety of the nest. All is right again with the world...and I was a bit of a hero to my kids. Isn't motherhood grand!
We loving refer to him now as Ferris, as he had a "Day Off" and was very bold and a little silly.

Punch Drunk Love

My Magic Man!

It was a hard morning. Sunday mornings usually are. Getting everyone ready for the day is typical, but throwing myself into the "get ready" mix, and adding the extra pomp of church clothes always seems to create a underlying layer of complication. People, especially those over 30, are more rushed and more grouchy. Unfortunately, that attitude stayed with me today as I walked into church. I gave looks of death and threatened horrible fates in dark and sinister tones as we entered the pew and sat down. My brood sat quietly, in fear for their very lives.

During the passing of the Sacrament, the most reverent and sacred moment of our entire Sunday service, Spencer leaned over and tugged urgently on my sleeve. I looked down and could instantly see by the look in his eyes, extreme excitement and delight. My initial thought was "where is the ice cream, or the puppy, or Ben?" I leaned over until my ear was in whisper range of his little grinning mouth.

"Holy crap, Mom, you aren't gonna believe this!" (I must interject here by apologizing for his irreverent and inappropriate language, that he most assuredly picked up from me.) "I am totally magic. I promise I am, I am."

He was nearly convulsing with excitement at this point, and I was actually concerned that he might forget his whispers and shout out, at which point I would be forced to throttle him in public. I hushed him gently, wrapped my arm around him, to keep him from blasting off and leaned in closer.

"Mom, mom, mom...when I close my eyes I make the lights turn off." He interpreted my stare as amazement...he interpreted incorrectly. "I know, it's awesome, huh? And, and, and...the lights turn back on when I open my eyes." He sat back from me then, folded his arms across his chest proudly and waited for my "Hallelujah!"

I stared at him for a moment longer, wondering how this innocent babe would ever survive the California public school system and then I burst into a silent spree of laughter. Tears rolled down my cheeks and my shoulders shook. To an onlooker I may have simply looked VERY repentant. I was a little repentant but mostly I was tickled. He was pleased that he brought me so much joy and hugged me hard and long. My spirits lifted and the rest of the day has been great.

I guess Spencer is a little bit magic after all.

Quirky Much?

Spencer bought these glasses at the $1 store last week with his allowance. He has been dying for a pair of glasses(???) and so when he saw these readers that were in his price range he was ecstatic and has worn them off and on every day since. The coolness of the glasses increased when he realized that they were foldable and came with their own case, about the size of a pack of gum. Whether he is wearing them or not, you can bet that they are on his person.

Everyone comments at how fabulous he looks in his "new" glasses. I'm afraid he will never get rid of them. All it will take is one person to tell him how goofy he really looks and they will be banished to the dress-up box. Any takers?

He has also decided that if he eats his breakfast with two spoons he will get done faster and be able to watch cartoons before school. While it hasn't happened yet, we all remain hopeful.

Going Buggy

Emma performed in the 2nd grade play "Going Buggy" last night and she was a huge star!! She played Little Miss Muffet and ran screaming from the stage! We are so proud of our little drama queen and look forward to her next performance, wither it be on stage or just belting out broadway in the bathroom!! We love you Emma!!

Miss Muffet and the Spider! Such good buddies!!

Little Miss Muffet

The Fatherless Son's Campout

This blog entry is a shout out to all of the fabulous men in my ward. In a ward incorporating a military base you are bound to find fathers/husbands deployed at any given time. Men of all ages and with all different life experiences step up to the plate to teach, guide and mentor the young "fatherless" children of the ward. There is no greater example of this than at the Father's and Son's Ward Campout.

Priesthood opening exercises becomes a bidding war of who will get to take the "fatherless" on the camping trip..."Two Dawson boys, two Dawson boys, do I hear three, three Dawson boys going once, twice, sold to the brave young father of an infant daughter in the back."

I can think of 10 "fatherless" boys who were quickly fought over and divied out for the testosterone festivities. My boys were so excited. I was so excited for them.

I did however take my precautions.

After all the fire peeing, the belching and flatulating, the ab comparing and sword fighting, the surfing and sand rolling, the smore making and scary story telling had come to an end my boys were so happy. They were given something that I was unable to provide. Man time!!

Doctrine and Covenants 136:8

Thank you San Clemente 1st Ward men for taking care of my boys! It meant more than you know!!