Striking a balance

The other day I had a conversation with my friend, Kerry, about instilling fear and worry into our children. We were lamenting our over-protectiveness, yet we were truly concerned for our children's safety. Case in point . . . the whole running across the street thing. Admittedly I have gotten graphic and have told Jayce multiple times that he could be hit by a car if he doesn't stop, look, and wait for me. I never bring up the fatal possibilities, but I have mentioned the hospital (a place he hates due to his multiple surgeries). After these little threatenings, a nagging voice seems to echo in my mind -- did I go overboard? I guess in a time of panic and desperation I'll say anything to get my point across.

Another example was at the grocery store yesterday. Jayce started eating some grapes while sitting in the cart. Being the germaphobe I am (and noticing that recent food contamination warnings usually involve fruits and vegetables), I told him that the grapes had poison on them and we needed to wash them off (pesticides just didn't seem like the right word for a three year-old). He wanted to know more, so I explained that farmers use poison to kill off bugs to protect the fruit, and we consumers must wash it off so we don't get sick. His eyes got wide and he immediately stopped. Feeling satisfied with my success, I then realized that I probably went too far. I don't want Jayce having nightmares of sippies laced with unwashed fruit debris . . . he's only three! And does he really need graphic images of injuries, leading to hospitalization, as he sees cars pass on the street? And I don't even want to start on the whole straying-away-from-me-at-the-store paranoia that I've probably instilled. I want him to be safe, secure, and happy, and I'm trying to figure out how to accomplish that all at once.

Oh, and one other worry. My husband and I vowed that we wouldn't pressure Jayce to go to BYU (in the future, when he's older), but I think we're indirectly doing it already. We watch the games and cheer the team, we have BYU shirts and other paraphenalia, we talk about the school, we visit it often when we're in Provo, etc. Jayce is all about the Cougars (see shirt), and as much as we love that, we worry that we're sowing the seeds of BYU eventuality. And I don't think I can change that . . . my enthusiasm comes bursting through and I can't contain it (especially with football season around the corner -- go team!). My children are doomed! :)

A Coke, Anyone?

I'm still trying to document our Utah trip, so here's another random post. Here is Jeremy at Colonial Days displaying his two favorite things . . . Alyssa and Coke (Jayce is also a favorite thing, but he's not in the picture -- "Seinfeld" is another one, but I don't think the cast was in Provo that day).

Okay, Jer claims he's not an addict. He simply enjoys the taste of Coke (don't all addicts in denial say this type of thing?). Hmmm . . . it's gotta' be more than that. I love the taste of chocolate, but I don't insist on some everyday (now if it was readily available in my cupboard, maybe I wouldn't be able to resist). I don't even like carbonated beverages, as a rule, so I look at him with such bewilderment. What's the draw?

On a completely unrelated topic, Jer has been working INSANE hours at his new job and is rarely home to see the kids. We really miss him and hope things settle soon. Both Jayce and Alyssa mention him throughout the day, and before I tuck Jayce in at night he insists I wake him up when Dad gets home (I haven't done that, yet, because he's so soundly asleep). Alyssa gets excited just to see his shoes and screeches his name. When she gets sad and hurt, she calls out "Daddy!" Phone calls are another HUGE source of excitement. The conversation usually ends in tears because Alyssa and Jayce compete over the phone. Every night Jayce will say, "I love my dad so much and I miss him so much and I want him to come home."

This isn't meant to be guilt-inducing, it's simply to show how much my kids adore their father. He's a rock star at this household! A rock star who loves Coke, Seinfeld, and above all, his kids.

No shirt, no shoes, no service!

(I've always thought that saying was so silly . . . so shirts and shoes are required, but no pants?)

Recently my kids have decided that naked is good. As I try to get something done in the day (i.e. cooking, cleaning, etc.) and leave them to themselves for a moment, they rush in with a grand "Ta da!" and show their bareness. They are so proud -- especially Alyssa, who tries so hard to take her clothes on/off by herself. I stay mellow about it (for if I'm anything but mellow, they'll enjoy the rise out of me), and tell them, very matter-of-factly, to get their clothes back on. However, they insist on a few run-throughs of the house, and I relent because I'm in the middle of some random chore.

I came from a very puritanical, modest upbringing, where nudity was never seen or discussed. I knew it existed, but I was just glad I never had any run-ins with fellow family members. Now here are my kids, taking such glee in this new-found freedom. One side of me says, "Lisa, get their clothes on now!" The other side says, "They're only 1 and 3 . . . lighten up!" I'm leaning towards the latter and figure this is just a stage that will pass. I do insist on clothes eventually, but I do give them that 10 minutes of gallivanting.


Taken in Utah . . . they took their shirts off at Grandma's. At home it's the whole caboodle!

Remembering

I've been tagged!

As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Why Jayce Loves Utah

While vacationing, Jayce repeatedly told me that he wanted to move to Utah. I wondered why.


Was it because of his fun cousins? They had this instant bond despite the fact they don't see each other very often.



Was it because of the trampoline in my parent's backyard?


Was it the availability of new and different toys?

Family? Uncles? Grandma and Grandpa? The cooler weather? Seven Peaks? The beautiful mountains? The huge backyard compared to our tiny plot in Vegas?

Nope, none of these. When I asked Jayce why he wanted to move to Utah, he responded, "Because Utah has more guns!"

My brothers have some realistic arsenal stored up from past movie making and just typical boy play. Jayce was in heaven with all the weaponry! I'm surprised I don't have a pic of him with a toy gun, but I do have one with a make-shift light sabre.



Good grief! :)

New PJs

I wish I could get as enthusiastic about new PJs as my kids do. How fun would life be? Here they are, posing at Grandma's house -- looking fine in their Disney attire.

PHS Picnic

Our fearless student body president, Katy B, has taken it upon herself to arrange these little get togethers from time to time (it wasn't even a reunion year!). I am so grateful for that -- without her, I'd lose touch with so many great people. We had a little picnic in the park for visiting and the like.

Chris B. (a screenwriter), Jared M., Jon H., his wife Natalie, and married couple Hannah and Michael. Fun Fact: Michael was recently featured in an independent movie featured in the LA film festival. He breakdanced in "HootieBoombaLottie," directed and written by Hannah's brother, Seth. Check Michael out on imbd (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3024598/). :)

Holli and Reg and their three boys (the other one was on the swings). Fun family!

Katy, Tara, and Kirk. Katy is pursuing her PhD, Tara is the mother of four girls and boy, and Kirk is an amazing writer, painter, and musician (see http://jkirkrichards.com/).

Alicia (friends since kindergarten), Hannah (former roommate at BYU -- so we went beyond high school), Michael, and me.

Alyssa could not care less about my friends. Nothing can compete with a drinking fountain!

Happy 4th!

As many of you know, we just returned from Utah from an extended vacation. I have loads of blog entries/pics to catch up on, so I may go crazy with the posts the next couple of days.

The following pictures were taken at the Freedom Parade in Provo. Just FYI . . . it's the biggest Independence Day parade in the nation, boasting more than 200,000 in attendance. Fortunately my mom purchased bleacher seats so we didn't have to camp out (not that I've ever camped out -- the parade isn't that good). Bryan, my brother, is the official photographer for the Meyer family (he prefers photo documentationalist), so you can thank him for the following pictures.

This was taken before the parade even started -- tired kids! Not a good sign. Jayce had his tough-guy look going, but his fatigue lessened the menacing glare.

Okay, I succumbed to the patriotic hype of dressing your kids to the Independence Day theme. I bought the shirt and matching bows . . . what have I become? I tend to avoid trendiness (not that there's anything wrong with that), but I couldn't resist. Alyssa . . . obviously still tired, yet looking so stylin'. I actually gave her symmetrical pigtails! As a pianist, you would think my fingers would be nimble enough to give her amazing hairstyles. That's an incorrect assumption, however.

Okay, Jayce may have his tough-guy look, but Alyssa has the movie star/diva act down pat. What is up with her coolness? She definitely didn't get it from me! Jer's pretty cool, I guess.

Bleacher seats seem to call out to toddlers . . . "Please crawl on me and scare your mom!" I'm not sure what Alyssa was doing, but don't worry, she was perfectly safe.

My children were amazingly well-behaved during the parade. As long as we engaged them and pointed out the details, they were interested. We lasted 80 out of 120 entries before it was too hard to contain them. We left a little early to enjoy a day at Seven Peaks.

Pink sunglasses and a pink upside-down pacifier -- the coolness factor continues . . . .

Alyssa had reached her limit by this point. Her face seems to say "I'm done! Take me to Seven Peaks and I'll nap on the way over."