Random Thoughts...

I know several of you have been on the edge of your seats waiting for me to post a picture of the most beautiful tree you have ever seen but I had to wait for it to bloom.  And then I had to wait for the wind, snow, and rain to stop.  And then I almost missed it.  But today, at long last, after slaving in the yard I was able to take a picture.  Behold.... the tree peony.  Laaaaa!

The only thing that could make it more perfect was if it was red like my Grandpa's.  Oh, and also if I had a better camera or Photoshop so I could get you a truer color.  But look at this loveliness.  It is breathtaking and amazes me every time I see it.  It strengthens my testimony of the Gospel because no big bang or evolution made this.  It will get a lot bigger over time.  That is how trees do things, they grow.  I also feel a little bit bad that it is on the side of my house so I can't see it unless I search it out.  But that is the way it is with a lot of great things.  You have to look for them.  If any of you would like to view it in real life you need to hurry.  It's blooms will fade by the end of May.  Please disregard the super tall grass in the foreground.  I am not allowed to use the edger.  We will discuss that in a later post.
These are some pictures I took of the kids for Mother's Day.  I wanted to say a little about each of them so I remember when I am old and senile.  First, the oldest, Taylor.
Taylor is the oldest in every sense of the word.  I am glad I got her first.  She is so responsible and smart.  She is also the hardest working of the bunch.  That being said if I were to describe Taylor using one word I would say PLAY.  She loves to play.  It is like air to her.  She doesn't care what, or who, or how, let's just play.  She gets annoyed if people spend time arguing over what to play because that is wasting play time.  I know she probably spends exactly 30 seconds eating school lunch because that is the longest recess and we don't want to waste time.  I know this because when she gets home she is always wearing some food on her eleven year old face. Use a napkin for the love of Pete.  She plays baseball.  With boys.  Twelve years old is about the time boys start to grow.  They are big.  Taylor is tiny.  When she is older I will tell her that watching her play with the boys has taken YEARS off my life.  And started the growth of a stomach ulcer.  I don't know if she realizes how hard it is for me to watch her compete with them.  It is painful.  She probably wouldn't care if I told her.  She would make a sarcastic sound and then go play.
Torey is the middle child in every sense of the word.  She is so sweet and lovable.  She can swing from happy to sad in seconds.  When she is sad she literally shrinks.  It is quite astonishing to watch.  She craves affection and loves any attention.  She has middle child syndrome and thinks that things are not fair for her.  She is right.  When she is older I will tell her that it will make her a better person, right now I just try harder.  She plays softball.  She is tiny compared to those girls.  The other day she caught three fly balls at practice.  One was a snow cone.  Her face lit up as big as the sky.  I loved it.  She is so smart, but more important is the fact that she is so motherly and compassionate.  That is her gift.  She can recognize who needs love and she will give it.  She is also hysterical and hyper and cannot for the life of her sit still for three seconds.  Sometimes the energy is too much for me, but that is because I am jealous of it.  She also worships the pagan idol of candy.  And yet, nary a cavity.  Makes it hard to be firm when she throws that in your face.
I chose this picture of Jake because he is doing something I always want to remember.  He flips his ears.  He does it when he is tired or even bored.  He is an ear flipper.  They are like elastic.  I flip them too.  I also rub them, kiss them, and tickle them.  His ears are a big part of him.  He is the only kid I know who draws ears on his people, and they poke out just like his.  I hope he is never self conscious about them because I love, love, love them.  When they wheeled him into me in the hospital bright red and screaming his guts out I was afraid we would have a boy with anger issues.  I thought that a lot in the early days of our life together when the rages would start.  Then I realized he wanted order, and a schedule, and order, Dangit.  Once we got that worked out he turned into my little sunshine.  He put himself on a nap schedule and things have been great ever since.  He still has the same schedule.  Wake up, breakfast, get off the stool and head for the shower.  Every day is the same.  He is the cleanest of the three.  The other day he came up and told me that President Monson said in conference that kids should do their chores without being asked, and also that a messy house drives Dad crazy.  He then proceeded to clean the bathroom sink, the toilet, and the mirror.  Then he jumped down and went and washed the dishes by hand - he made me dry.  Then he grabbed the vacuum and vacuumed the front room and the living room.  Then he headed to his room where he made his bed and then vacuumed.  The shock of this is still with me.  Who knew it could happen?  I also got a great big HINT from a six year old that maybe I could do better.  He loves his Grandpa's.  Friday is Grandpa day with Grandpa Mark.  He loves Grandpa Kerry, and he and Grandpa Simper have a very special bond.  He is SO affectionate, lots of kisses, hugs, and cuddling.  I would be lying if I didn't say he has me wrapped around his finger.  I don't know if it is because he is the baby, or he is the only boy, or because he really, really loves me.  I will try not to ruin him.  Dear Jake, will you please stop sleeping in my bed?  Thank you.

Also, as I was slaving in the yard today I injured myself.  I got a really deep bone bruise on the shin courtesy of the cooler and the sidewalk.  Swelled instantly, the little bugger.  I called Reed asking if I could file a workman's comp claim and he just laughed.  I will have to appeal that ruling.  It is not fair being an unpaid housewife.  There is no FICA, no Social Security, and apparently no worker's compensation fund.  Is anyone aware of any legal redress I might take? I didn't think so.