Cresap Zoo

Daniel Boone: Cole. Tall Luchador: Tal. Small Masked Wonder: Jack. Yep, they are still doing lot's of this kind of stuff. I'm glad, because the time is speeding by and I'm glad they are not in a hurry to grow up.

Memphis Zoo

Cheetahs have been by FAR Talmage's favorite animal this year. Sometimes it's all he can talk about. I think it came from watching episodes of Beastformers. Cheeator rocks in those, so we hear. Talmage took the first two pictures of the cheetahs. I was very impressed that he was able to zoom in and frame them so well.

Cole rocks, too.

All the boys at the zoo. I feel so blessed to have all these guys. Blessed enough that I always dress them in red and orange when we go through crowds, so as not to lose them. And it was crowded!--Spring Break, free zoo Tuesday on a 80 degree winter day! I met one Mom from the ward there (thanks for the invite Liz!), but the other two mom's never could get into the parking lot.

Friends

Tal came home from school the other day telling me about a new friend he'd made and commented, "You know making new friends is kind of like unlocking new characters in Lego Star Wars." Hhmm.......

Star of the Week

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Pump it Up

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Children's Museum of Memphis

This is where Talmage, Jack, Trace and I went for President's Day. Cole went to the zoo with a friend. It's a good thing we have a membership there, because the boys absolutely love it and never want to leave.

Who Cooks for You?

Did you know that is what the Barred owl's hoot sounds like? That's one of the things we learned at the Nature Center at the Meeman-Shelby Tennessee State Park. The ranger chick here is not holding a Barred owl, however, she is holding a Great Horned Owl. We learned they are NOT endangered "They are a dime a dozen," she said. Pretty much because they are awesome survivors. They can live anywhere (their territory spans from Canada to South America) and eat just about any warm living thing in the forest. There is nothing more startling than being stared down by one of these fellas. Isn't he beautiful?

Adult Brain, Child Brain, not Ying and Yang

You've heard how the two sexes are like Ying and Yang, opposite and complimentary. But have you noticed that no one has come up with a symbolic comparison of the adult mind and the child mind? I sometimes think it's because they are so diametrically opposed they couldn't fit together in one symbol. I read a piece from a Harvard brain scientist who wrote a book called My Stroke of Insight. She tells how she had a massive stroke, but instead of it being devastating to her, she found it utterly fascinating! To experience firsthand the breakdown of the organ she'd studied so thoroughly was awesome to her, because she could actually understand what was happening to her, as it was happening. Because her left lobe was damaged, at first she was entirely in her Right brain. She described it as euphoric. She was completely in the present and fascinated with every detail of her surroundings. On the other hand, she could not understand why she had to put her socks on before her shoes because she had no ability to analyze, predict cause and effect or understand a sequence of events that would exist beyond the present moment. Parents, doesn't that totally sound like a child's mind? And maybe one of the reasons (besides complete lack of responsibility) that childhood is such a happy, magical time. And no wonder we stodgy adults (when we have an ounce of energy and a moment of time to consider it) hope we're keeping our inner child alive.This weekend I took the boys to Meeman-Shelby State Park. We went to a Nature Center by a lake. Here are some pictures of the boys by the lake. I saw a lake and trees. The boys saw scenery filled with droids and clones that needed to be attacked. I remember when my imagination was so active as I explored the wilderness in my parents backyard. Now my imagination is pretty rusty. I wonder if that's a function of the adult brain, or just a lack of exercising it?
And tonight Jack was helping me clear the dishwasher. He knows where everything goes, but he wanted to make a game of every object to be put away. "Does it go in this drawer, Mom, or this drawer or this drawer, Mom?" (pointing to several different wrong drawers). Me: (tired, behind schedule and no-fun) "Come on Jack, you know where it goes, just put it away." When approaching a task the adult brain just wants to do everything as efficiently as possible. The child brain wants to make everything as fun as possible. I really need to get me some child brain, or maybe just a full-night's sleep.

I Think I'm Losing my Might!

That is what Cole said today as he was trying to pedal his bike up a hill in our neighborhood. Can you relate? I think that's what I'll have to say to myself next time I'm thinking, "I think I'm losing my mind!" It's not sanity I'm lacking--it's just that I'm a bit low on the superpowers. I just need to go mine myself some power crystals and get my might back.

Memphis Blizzard of 2009

We had our 3rd snowstorm of the season this past weekend. I was glad Clint had gotten the roof fixed. The weatherman said, "This will be the storm we'll be talking about for years and years to come!" I'll give you that it was over 6 inches deep, and I'll also give you that it was the biggest snowstorm that we've seen since we've been married, which isn't saying much considering where we've lived : Pensacola, Guam, San Diego, Maryland and Memphis. But from a Utahn's perspective it's hard not to snicker when the whole region shuts down for 6 inches of snow. This time it was a weekend, so all the churches canceled their services, including ours. To be fair, they don't have snow removal equipment and 6 inches of icy snow, combined with shoulder-less, two-lane roads make for tenuous passage.
This time Clint took the boys out for exploring and snow-man building. Preparation takes as long as the actual outside time. Clint put on his high-tech, military-issue, winter layers. Tal put on his own version of layers. Do you notice how nice and thick he looks? No, he hasn't gained weight. He has on four pairs of pants, two pairs of socks, four shirts and a life perserver under that coat! I tried to explain to Tal that the floaty vest was for floating in water and not for keeping one warm. "It keeps ME warm!" O.K.! If we weren't so cheap we'd spring for snow pants, real gloves and boots, but for 1 or 2 snowfalls a year? By the way, this was 10 days ago. The following Sunday it was 80 degrees!

Jackisms

This is Jack's own interpretation of a Star Wars Droidekas. I think it's pretty great. Jack is my buddy during the school days, at least he's the only one who can talk. He is a very energetic companion, with a very bright smile that buys him all kinds of forgiveness for the other stuff we won't talk about. I thought I'd pass on a few quotes from Jack.
Mom: Jack, you need to take "no" for an answer.

Jack: I need to take "yes!" for an answer.

Mom: Jack, do NOT hit the baby.

Jack: It wasn't a hit. It was a whack!

Jack (standing on the border between the kitchen tile and the living room wood): Dad! You are eating in the living room! Huff! You are supposed to eat at the table! (pointing to the table)

Dad: This is a special Dad privilege (thanks, honey).

Jack: Can I have a special Jack privilege?