A Day at Jester Park

State park with bison, elk, and a natural playscape...perfect way to spend a sunny summer afternoon.

--KC

Reverent Legos

In this house, we live and breathe Legos.

I know every set in the store, how many pieces it has, and why Topher needs it.

We play Legos seven days a week.

But Sundays are special, and Topher used his skills to play with Legos reverently yesterday.

I have never loved his creations more.

First up is his "Conference Center".  

Since General Conference was broadcast from Salt Lake a few weeks ago, it was fresh in his mind.  (Although he may have incorporated a few general Salt Lake Temple Square ideas as well.)

Let me walk you through some of the details as they were explained to me.  

This is the Christus statue:

This is President Thomas S. Monson addressing the people with a "garden" on either side of him:

This is the big screen that allows people in the way back to see the speaker (I LOVE that you can see the prophet's face big on the screen):

These are the conference gates, complete with an apple tree "in case people at conference get hungry":

Sitting on either side of the prophet there is a policeman (to keep him safe) and a gardener (to keep the flowers looking nice):

When Topher showed me all the details he included, I was absolutely floored.  

I love this little boy so much.

This morning he decided to make one more thing.

He looked at his scripture tag first (since he can't spell yet):

And then he started building:

 

I don't know what to say except that I am so lucky to be this little master-builder's mom.

He's busy stacking up bricks, but all I can see is carefully constructed piles of love.

I can't wait to see what he builds next.

--KC

A boy and his dog

I'm sure you've read the articles.  Pets help children physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.

It all rings true to me.  But I'm most fascinated in what my dog is non-verbally teaching my son.

Follow me, I will show you how to expend your energy.  It doesn't matter how we look.  We will be so engrossed in the moment that we will become unaware of our appearances.

I am an animal, and I know how to be joyously reckless.  Watch me fly.

Now you try.

Sometimes we'll run along together, perfectly in sync with each other's pace.

Sometimes we will be going different ways, and maybe we won't understand each other much on those days.

But we will find common ground, and we will reconnect.

 I can sense your mood, thoughts, and impending movements.  Sit with me awhile and see if you can do the same.  We are not so different.

It's really okay to fall down.  I do it all the time.  But as a dog I never bemoan the fact that it happened.  I jump up so quickly that it might never have been.

That's it.  Back up you go.

Now keep playing.  Always keep playing with me.

I will let you catch me sometimes

because you are my most favorite person.  I trust you.

But if you want my ball, you will have to work hard for it.  Dropping it at your feet would teach you nothing of hard work.

Run with me until it's too dark to see, until we both collapse in the scratchy grass.

Dogs know nothing of favorite movies or video games.  

They know that birds are fun to chase, and that people need a lot of kisses.  

All they need is a ball and an open backyard.

And always they remind us to be gentle and humane, playful and happy, serene and absorbing, 

forgiving and open.

These are the things I want my son to know, too.

--KC