Stingray Part II

This morning we enjoyed the 100 degree morning at Todd's second swim meet. He greatly improved his performance since his last meet and was dog-tired and GROUCHY by the time we got home. After a PBJ he's improving. . . In his individual heats, he placed 1st in freestyle, 1st in breaststroke, 2nd in IM (individual medley), and 3rd in butterfly. Way to go, little man.

Stoic after his warm-ups (we can't call him Vast the Stoic, perhaps Skinny the Stoic?)

Putting on his game face

Check out the 6-pack on this kid. (And his race tattoo)

After a good race

Getting some good height on the butterfly--poor kid in the next lane lost his goggles

Freestyle form

Treading water waiting for the other kids to finish

Sierra Ranch Girls Camp 2010

So, I have an excuse for my lack of blogging presence for at least one week--I was at Girl's Camp. And it was fun! I had many offerings of condolence when I was called as the assistant camp director, but I was excited. I have only great memories of my time at girl's camp as a youth. My mom and aunt were my camp leaders every year, first in our ward and then at the stake level. I didn't appreciate them or their efforts nearly as much as I should have until this year. You guys were both amazing to share girls camp with me for FIVE years! Love you both.

It was surprisingly FREEZING up there at night. Coming from the mid 90's, this girl was freezing. I had a serious claustrophobia attack in a tent with four other adults and a sloping ceiling. I'm used to sleeping with very few covers on in the heat, so that zipped-up sleeping bag about did me in. Then, when I'd finally talked myself into relaxing, we hear, "Sister Warner!" Ginger got out to check and seconds later yelled, "Back up." So I hopped out of my sleeping bag to find a puke-covered tent. Delicious. Note to self for next year--don't give the girls free access to the snack box on day one. That was seriously a test of my constitution. Ginger Warner is the most amazing woman I know--it didn't even phase her. Then back to the sleeping bag and another round of claustrophobia, and another half hour of clenching and unclenching my feet to try and relax. Finally, I drifted into that blissful land of nod when, again, "Sister Warner." This was followed with another, "Back up." At least round two only consisted of emptying the bowl. . .After that we finally got to go to sleep for the night.

So, we did have a bit of drama and there were moments of homesickness. I wanted to strangle a few of the girls repeatedly. But overall, it was fantastic. There is truly something amazing that happens to so many of these girls when you get them away from the city. One afternoon during free time I looked over to see little groups of girls spread across the hill. And they weren't holding anything. . .no phones, no iPods, no nuthin'! They were talking and laughing and having a good time. Electronic devices were not only prohibited, there was absolutely no reception up the mountain, so sneaking them in wouldn't have helped. Aside from the lack of technology, there is just something about being close to the Father's creations that I truly believe brings out a spark of divinity within these young women. The world around us is so filled with things that simply aren't real. When you can take a girl away from that, she is filled with things that are real, that are tangible, and that bring out her true divine nature. I loved it.

On Friday night, the bishopric came for dinner and testimony meeting. It was a serious crack up to me. Those girls were so excited for these three middle-aged men to come up for a visit. They asked me all afternoon when they were coming. I kept reminding them that I had been with them all week and I had no idea when my bishop husband would show up. When they arrived, the girls surrounded them and sang them camp songs for an hour straight. This is in no way an exaggeration. They were giggly and giddy--it cracked me up.

I was glad to be back home and sleep in my own bed on Saturday night. I was glad for a return to my flip-flops. I was even glad for the heat so I could sleep with a sheet and not wrapped up like a mummy. A little sunburned, a little sore, but happy to have shared a week with these amazing young women.

Watching the flag ceremony. The girls called the bandana look "beast mode"

Brother Dill cooking up some good food

Brother Thiriot

Cute Miss Meaghan

Ally and Katie--"Spirit Fingers"

Only at girls camp will I play a raging bull--sorry you all missed it

Emily (with a peek from Aubrie)

Our flamenco dancers

Allyson Gunnell (and Ginger's hands), Cami, and Hayley

The dancers strut their stuff

Dutch oven deliciousness

Our Little Stingray

One of Todd's adventures of the summer has been participating in swim team for the city. We have LOVED it! He comes home hungry, physically tired, well-exercised, and happy. I have been very impressed with the high school/college-aged kids who run the program and do a marvelous job. Todd's swimming skills have improved by leaps and bounds. It has been something of a struggle to find something that has really clicked as far as Todd and sports. I feel so grateful to see him confident in his emerging talent. This team is just the right mix of preparation and competition for our boy who does not thrive under scrutiny. They have seven weeks of daily practice M-F and two meets. So it's been more about honing skills than about rigorous competition or focusing on time trials. Perfect for our emerging fish.

He looks like a pro! (I am admittedly a little biased)

Love that orange. This next series was a fun one Ryan captured during Todd's breaststroke--

Go Stingrays!

4th in CA

The McMillan van (yes, we finally took the plunge and got a new vehicle) made it's maiden voyage to Monterey for the 4th of July weekend. Fun stuff. This is how Ben initially felt about the fireworks: covering his ears in the back of Grandma's suburban.

At Golden Gate park (just a few blocks from Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Liz's house).

Todd reached the top of the amazing rope structure.

Growing up baby Finn--he is a super cute cousin!

The rope structure--note Todd in the middle in red

Happy little monkey after a ride down the concrete slide

The boys take a ride down the concrete slide of death. How they don't get sued I don't know, but I'm glad there are still cool playground toys in existence. Loved it!

Todd was working just as hard as Finn was to get the food in the mouth. He loved that he got to be the big kid and feed his cousin dinner.

Yummy.

We had a great time.

Spent a day doing projects--assembling stuff, planting flowers, playing outside in the beautiful weather.

Took a nice walk on the beach.

Spent a day in San Fran visiting Jeremy, Liz, and Finn--what a fun place they live.

Watched fireworks and lit a few off ourselves. Ben finally got out of the car.

Ate at our favorite pizza joint--Gianni's in Monterey.

Loved the weather (54 when we left at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 100 when we got to Vegas at 7:00 p.m.--the injustice of it all).

As a side note, we are officially old. I used to be utterly confused when my parents would say they were ready to get home to their own bed. What difference does a bed make, I thought? But, I was glad to be home in my own bed.

Thanks for the fun extended weekend, Kathy and Glenn! We'll be back.

Lessons in Parenting Vol 1

Since I am an oh-so-amazing parent, I thought I'd dish out some parenting know-how for the day. (I hope you're catching my sarcasm here)

I was chatting with my sister today about our cousin-twin boys. She casually mentioned that Kyle's feet have been growing like a mad man and she's having a hard time keeping the kid in shoes.

I said, "That's funny. Todd's feet haven't really been growing at all. But I do need to get him some new shoes for the summer so he can go sockless and stop destroying pair after pair of socks."

Fast forward a few hours to some family birthday shopping for moi (happy birthday to me). We were in an sporting establishment which just so happened to have the shoes I had in mind for my little men. So I asked the friendly try-on man if he would measure Todd's feet. "Sure. What size has he been wearing?"

"Um. . .I think size 2, maybe 2.5" I said.

So he measured the feet in question and gave me a look meant for a crazy-mommy-lady. "Looks like he's measuring a size 5 or 5.5"

Yep. I'm that cool.

He hasn't even complained, seriously. Well, he complains that he hates to tie his shoes, but about the fact that his shoes were 2 sizes too small (I checked and his tennies are actually size 3)? Nope. Not once.

So, if you ever find yourself in this situation, here's what you should do:

• Repeat aloud ten times "You are an awesome mom."
• Smile, because seriously it's kind of funny to miss stuff like that.
• Then go order some shoes off Zappos.com (sorry shoe-measuring man. They're too expensive in your store and you don't have any cool colors).

Warning. . .potty story

I probably shouldn't post this. But it was hilarious. . .

Some of you will be absolutely appalled by the fact that I still help Ben wipe after he goes #2. I am just seriously opposed to underwear skids and poo-smelling boys. I find it a small inconvenience in my day to keep certain hygiene standards. However, I have recently realized that Ben is almost 5 and really needs to learn the important skill of self-wiping.
So we had a talk the other day in which I informed him of his new job--wiping himself after using the bathroom.
His main concern was a valid one, "Yuck. I don't want poop on my hands."
We discussed proper technique and I shared with him the fine art of wrapping toilet paper about one's hand to make a "glove."
He countered with his own version of the "toilet paper wad" which he claims to prefer.
After many discussions, he finally responded in the affirmative but later came back with a negotiating point, "How about when it's not very messy I will wipe, but if it's really messy you will wipe."
"Deal," I said, a bit unsure as to the specifics but willing to encourage any form of independence.

Well, moving on to yesterday afternoon. He had been in the bathroom for quite a while so I decided to check on him. I found him precariously perched on the bathroom counter, bum toward mirror, legs spread so he could bend over and look through his legs to the mirror. It was a shocking scene until I figured out just what it was he was doing. . .
"Not too messy, mom. I can wipe it."
And there you have the checking method. Nicely done, my little man.

Women's Conference 2010

Random male passerby grudgingly took this picture for us. He was trying desperately to avoid eye contact as he walked by. . .but we didn't let him.
Chelsea and Alysia masterfully crafting stockings at the service project

Allyson. . .nearly finished

Me and my mom

Another mom with her little family. Apparantly she didn't get the memo that you can't bring infants to Women's Conference. This little family was strolling across the parking lot.

Mom said she'd adopt Chelsea for the weekend.

Me and my super cute mom

The North Las Vegas ladies

I just love this annual post!

BYU Women's Conference 2010 was fantastic. I'm pretty much set on it being an annual tradition, so if you want to join the party, just let me know. I drove to Utah with friends from Vegas and met my mom there. We stayed in the dorms for the first time this year. Somehow, they did not seem as magical as they did when I lived in them. And the towels were absolutely miniscule. Perhaps they just gave us the hand towels and forgot to hand out the bath towels. But, the nostalgia was great. We stayed just across the street from my own freshman home. Lots of great memories.

The classes were fantastic, as usual. My three favorites were the keynote addresses. I'm sure that everyone took away the message that was meant for them, but these were the high points for me:

Sister Beck, who is an absolutely amazing woman, spoke about priorities. She talked about how many years ago she realized that she needed to evaluate her life. She prayed and studies and came up with three categories: essential, necessary, and nice. Those things that were essential were things that would ensure eternal life for herself and her family (personal revelation, scripture study, prayer, fasting, making and keeping covenants). Necessary things were those that would make her environment a place where the spirit of the Lord can dwell (think "homemaking", smiling, teaching, self reliance). Nice things were reading a book for pleasure, going to lunch with friends, etc. these are things that are nice to do, but will not save us. I have pondered these ideas over and over, realizing that where our heart is will determine what we do, and what we do will determine what we will be and where we will ultimately end up. Some of these things I do well, and some I need to change. I have some priorities to shift. I also have some paradigms I need to readjust.

Sister Renata Forste spoke about sisters being perfectly joined together. She talked about sustaining each other in our choices and how charity and thankfulness creates a bond of perfectness. She spoke about how we're all at different levels and we all have different talents. I may be a 7 at sewing and you might be a 4, you might be a 9 at patience and I am a 2, she might be an 8 at missionary service and another is a 6. But together, we are all a perfect 10. Why do we as women always feel inadequate and why can we not just be happy for the good things others can do? Is it jealousy of each other or a lack of confidence in ourselves? I need to work on this!

Elder Dallin H. Oaks was the concluding speaker--what a beautiful privelege to hear an apostle of the Lord speak, to be in the same room and feel the spirit. His message was about selfishness. He had many amazing things to say, but the one that has been rumbling around in my head for these last weeks is, "IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME." As a parent, a wife, a friend, in my calling, in my family, it is not about me. It's about other people. His mother used to say, "It's amazing how much you can get done if you don't worry about who gets the credit." If I didn't have a moral standard against tatoos, I'd put this one on my forehead. I can work on this.

So. . .these and so many other things to learn and think about. If you want a run-down of the rest of my notes, call me up and we can have a cup of hot cocoa together and I'll tell you all about it.

Thanks, Mom, Chelsea, Allyson, Alysia, and Karen for a great weekend with the girls.

Thanks, boys for holding the fort down and letting me get a spiritual uplift.