Games

Not board games. Not card games. Not party games. Not video games. Not sports games. Not even Olympic games.

No, the games I’m thinking about are the silly games people play with each other. The mind games. The reading between the lines games. The subliminal and obscure meanings and messages people send out. I’m calling them the people games. Sometimes we transition from acting grown up to reverting back into a child like state. I am a people watcher and have noticed. I am a person and have played.

Like…Have you ever been in a store and seen someone you know and purposefully turn and go the other direction so they won’t see you? Like….being disappointed and hurt, acting like it isn’t a big deal to the person who hurt us – and then holding a grudge (sometimes for years!) And what is the silent treatment all about, what does it accomplish?

Why do we sometimes play crazy emotional games with each other? Why can’t we all just be real? Do we sometimes feel afraid that people won’t like the “real us”? Are we so confused with our own selves that we don’t expect anyone to “get” us? Do we choose to make our previous comments or choices (or even others) enslave us and live up to the person we think people expect us to be? Why is it easier at sometimes to give someone the “benefit of the doubt”, and also on the other hand, find it such a natural reaction to be critical or judgmental of others? Is it possible that we build unnecessary fences so high that we can’t climb over them?

I’ve been there, done that, still DO that! Why?! It is silly. It is pointless. It hurts us and the people around us. It limits us. It confines and sentences us to feelings of sadness.

Here is something I’ve noticed for myself about playing these kind of people games. I’m thinking way too much about myself! When I am earnestly (not casually) seeking to be Christlike, actively seeking to think, act, become like Him the Game is Over! It is a powerful force to recon with – that kind of pure Love!

And just to throw it out there – this rambling is to be taken at face value. No people games being played here….:)

Fourteen

Alexis is now 14 years old! Did I really just write a 1 and a 4? How could this be? It is scary how quickly the time is going by. Alexis is such a wonderful young lady. We are so glad she that is in our family and strives to be extra-ordinary. (there is a story behind that statement 🙂 ) 

For her birthday the three generations went shopping in Idaho Falls (my mom – Grandma Baldwin, Alexis, and me). We decided it would be the perfect day to gather cute items to decorate her room with. We came home with some darling items from TJ Maxx and Ross! Grandma Baldwin bought her a pillow pet – an item off of the top of Lexi's wish list. 🙂 We met Stephen and Grandpa Baldwin up at the University for a birthday lunch date. It is one of Lexi's favorite places to eat in Rexburg. She also finally got to go to the LuLu Bella Boutique she's been wanting to go to. When we got home from all of that we decided to do a quick paint job with chalk board paint in her room. She paid for the paint with the money Grandpa and Grandma Parker gave her. It turned out very cute and has been fun for her to decorate with her own drawings! Stephen helped her cut an old salvaged garage door for a head board. We cleaned and painted it turquoise as well as her desk. By the time the ice cream cake was served it tasted very delicious. When all was said and done I think one of her favorite gifts came from her friend Tanner – a pink Addidas Jabulani Soccer Ball.

The mia maid class from our ward came and kidnapped her the next morning for a welcome breakfast at Sister Hatch's house. We have such great girls in our ward. It is a good place to live and raise kids here in Sugar City.

Alexis has spent most of her summer thus far playing soccer as often as she can with a bunch her high school friends. They are awesome and self motivated to run/bike ride in the mornings and practice soccer for hours in the hot afternoon sun. The high school soccer girls have taken Lex under their wing and have really included her – she loves it and them! They all call her "Parker". She is gearing up for BYU soccer camp in a couple of weeks.

She and Lily have also just started a summer babysitting job. They babysit a family of 4 boys while their mom works at the Farmer's Markets on Friday and Saturdays. Lex gets $4 and hour and Lily gets $1 per hour. This is a great opportunity for them to earn some money and share a memory together- we are excited for them both.

Real SL Surprise

Back in the middle of May Stephen and I, along with our friends Casey & Diana, decided to plan a fun post Puzey move trip. We did this so that not only we would have something fun to look forward to after they moved, but give our kids a chance to interact as well. In the preliminary planning stages, we decided to keep it a secret from all of the kids.  It was kind of fun having a top secret plan going on for a month.

My niece Ashley is doing her internship with the Real Salt Lake Soccer team and we thought it would rock our kids socks to try and get tickets. We thought Ashley might be able to hook us up with a good deal and she delivered! 

The Friday before we left I told all of my children that we were going to be doing something fun the next day, but we were going to have to wake up at 6 am dressed in our bike clothes. They asked where we were going and I wouldn't give any hints. Meanwhile I was trying to secretly pack our suitcases and food, etc. It was very draining and overwhelming to do it all on my own and in secret spurts of time. Whew! Stephen and Mason loaded the bikes and I acted like I was packing a picnic that night. The next morning we woke up and were on the rode by 6:05 am. That is something for me to brag about here!

We drove and texted Puzey parents as we planned to meet them up on the highway somewhere and see how our kids would react. Somewhere around Pocatello, Mason exclaimed from the back seat, "Look, there is Puzey's van! Wait, it looks like they have their bikes too. Can we invite them to go on our bike ride?" As a matter of fact…. Stephen increased his speed and we pulled up next to their van and blowed the horn. The look on Ellie's and Sam's faces were priceless! It was the best. The rest of the day we tried to stay as evasive as possible as the rest of the plans unfolded.

We eventually ended up at Lance and Anne's house and the older kids hit a few mountain bike trails. It was so nice of Lance, Anne, and kids to help us with our surprise and plans. At lunch time I asked Alexis what she would give me if we found  tickets to the Real Salt Lake game. She told me she would clean my house for a month! Sweet!!! I tried to keep fibbing and disappointing her high hopes the rest of the afternoon.

At dinnertime we took our oldest three kids "out on the town" for dinner. They thought we were headed to DI afterward when drove past and saw the Real Stadium and the many cars exiting the freeway. We said, "Maybe we can go see if someone is scalping some tix for tonight's game." We parked and walked over to the stadium. Stephen excused himself to "see what he could do" and came back with the tickets that Ashley had placed in will call. It was such a great surprise! All of us had a blast and even though it was a tie game, we were impressed by the pro soccer skills of the Real Salt Lake. After the game, we talked to Ashley and our kids ended up getting to walk onto the corner of the field and get a picture. It was so great seeing the smiles on all of their faces. I forgot to mention that some random guy after the game stood up and opened up a box and started handing out Real Salt Lake cinch backpacks. Of course we fled to him and each kids walked away with a free pack! Sweet. Alexis gave hers to Ashley to have it signed by her now soccer hero – center mid fielder, Kyle Beckerman.

The next day, Father's Day, we drove down to temple square and walked through the north visitor's center. It was a special day to be spent with the world's greatest dad. Stephen is such a wonderful father and we are sooo lucky to have him to bless our lives.


Ashley with a dream job

“holding” dad’s present
Draper Park – JT, Sam, Lily, Will, & Owen

Olivia and Ellie got to go on a shopping date with their moms. They both bought lip gloss.
Olivia watches as Stephen opens the gift she has been saving saving to give him since school got out.

so proud and happy
What a perfect thing to say

He’s really excited about this one. Lily remembered him telling her what he really wanted for Father’s Day

guy with the ball is Kyle Beckerman
keeper was amazing

goal for Real
the sisters

A story of 13.1 Dam Miles


We did it!

Today I was able to enjoy a beautiful day running in the Teton Dam Half Marathon. I really enjoyed it and felt so great when I crossed the finish line. I set this goal for myself back in January and more than a few times didn't know if it would really happen. I am so glad it all worked out! It felt good to accomplish my goal.

For a person who claims to NOT be a "runner", I've decided to own up to the fact that I guess I like to run (on most days). I especially love to run next to a green field with a blue sky and marvelous clouds above me. I love this world and the beauty that surrounds me here in my neck of the woods. My soul yearns for it.

I also appreciate and cherish the friendships that I've been able to make as I do my "time" training. My current/recent running friend is a great person that I've met as we've served on the Stake Girls Camp Board. I call her my little tender mercy. In the early spring I was a very sad, cynical, and disheartened person who was frustrated with her current lack of friendship and exercise options. I was missing my previous exercise life. At one of our girls camp meetings Heidi wore her running hat.  When I asked her about her hat and if she ran a lot she said she'd always wanted to run a marathon. I told her that I was thinking about doing the Teton Dam Half and invited her to join. When Heidi acted interested I didn't dare get excited – it took me a while before I got my hope up again. You see it is a rare thing to find a person who is willing to wake up and run at 5:30 in the morning and is dependable and consistent.  Lucky me, Heidi is all of these things. Plus here is a fun side note: Heidi also has a road bike! Sweetness. This is a perfect combo for me – run 2 days, ride 2 days. Perfect.

So I'm here to thank Heidi for this memory and also for restoring my exercise ambition, hope, and determination as I trained to run 13.1 dam miles. 


Aweome Family!
How sweet is this?
Victory

oh ya
Happy and surprised to see my family. Stephen is the coolest.
Hugs help

gearing up for Summer’s Hill
I really did the half – not the team marathon like my bib declares.

Do the Du 2011

This year we made it a family event, Jodi and Lex were a team and Mason and I were a team.  It was fun to take time and spend it playing as a family.  Thanks to grandpa and grandma Parker for their taxi service and being our support vehicle.  Next year I want to see them doing the du.

Comments:

Anne said…

Looks like a great time! My kind of family fun :).
Monday, May 30, 2011 7:21:05 AM

Michelle said…

Way to stay active as a family-looks fun!
Wednesday, June 01, 2011 8:34:04 AM

Oh the Silliness

JT came up for church last week and had dressed himself in the craziest outfit. He was sooo proud of himself!

He is always on an adventure and lives life in intense mode. He is also quite a chatterbox with a great vocabulary.

Comments:

Anne said…

So cute! Perfect future missionary :).
Monday, May 30, 2011 7:17:28 AM

Michelle said…

I love his style! too funny!
Wednesday, June 01, 2011 8:35:47 AM

Stephen B said…

You’ll have to save a copy of JT’s dress up for church so you can compare the difference when he “comes up” ready to leave home as a missionary.
Monday, June 13, 2011 5:22:33 PM

Last day of Pre-School & the Zoo

Olivia had her last day in prechool. She was so excited to know that she will now be in kindergarten! She was really sick on the day her class went to the zoo in Idaho Falls, so she was able to go on the day the kindergartners went. JT and I got to go with her – we loved seeing the otters, the lions, and singing dog the most. I am proud of Olivia and the smart and happy little lady she is turning out to be. A few days ago she told me she wished she could go visit Jesus and see the nail prints in his hands. Her heart is sensitive to the things she has been learning and singing about in Primary and I can tell that she loves Jesus in her young age and wants to follow him.

Comments:

Anne said…

Zoo trips are always fun :). Olivia is growing up too fast.
Monday, May 30, 2011 7:14:52 AM

Michelle said…

What a cute girl-watch out kindergarten!
Wednesday, June 01, 2011 8:36:59 AM

Etiquette Lunch

For an end of school party this year, Lily's teacher had an Etiquette Lunch. Lily sure anticipated it and was quite a little lady seated at her table, using her best manners! She has been a wonderful third grader and will be an just as amazing in fourth grade.


friends: Emily, Lily, & Bailey

Comments:

Anne said…

You look very classy and full of manners Lily, so fun!
Monday, May 30, 2011 7:16:10 AM

Michelle said…

Wow-great way to end the year! looks like fun!
Wednesday, June 01, 2011 8:38:16 AM