Utah 2010

The kids and I spent 2 1/2 weeks in Utah this summer. Brian joined us at the very end.

I took a paltry amount of pictures, having spent most of my time chasing two busy two-year-olds. Most of these pictures come from other people.

Right after we arrived, we attended the annual reunion of the extended family.

The twins and Nathan had a ball being carted around in the handcarts.

We played "Survivor: Utah." Isaac won the Diaper Dash for our team. It was a proud moment in my life.

Below, our team analyzes the results of a race.

The kids made bottle rockets, under the direction of their physicist uncles. Nathan was sooo excited to shoot off his rocket.

Every time a rocket would be shot off, Madeline would protectively hug her little bro, Isaac. And afterward, Isaac would run around and collect everyone's rockets.

Brian's parents with all of their grandkids.

We spent a big chunk of our trip at Bear Lake with Brian's family. It was blissful.

We ladies floating in the lake.

Brian, Nathan, & Emma on the jet ski.

The twins playing frisbee.

Isaac was a pro on the jet ski.

Brian and our fabulous duo.

The spectacular double rainbow from our last night in Utah.

Violation

On Thursday morning, the kids and I headed out to the garage to take Emma to a church activity. Our garage is detached from the house. We headed down the sidewalk and when I reached the garage's side door, I noticed it was unlocked and not pulled completely shut.

Then I entered the garage, and I saw that the front door of the van was also not completely shut, yet strangely, it was locked. The rest of the car was unlocked as normal.

With a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I opened the door and saw... a mess. The glove box was open. Several other "boxes" were open. Coins were scattered everywhere. A CD was on the floor. And so on.

Someone had broken in over night and stolen a number of things out of the car. Over the next hour, I would realize that more and more things were missing.

While I digested this whole incident, I was also attempting to get Emma to her activity. I was so flustered that I ran a stop sign. And I got lost. By the time we arrived, I was near tears.

The kids and I went home and called the county police. I filed a report and waited for an officer's return call.

All day Thursday I had a very icky, insecure feeling. Even now, when I think about the incident, the feeling returns. I don't care (much) about the stuff that was taken. It is, after all, just stuff.

What bothers me is that someone, some nameless, faceless stranger, took the liberty of entering our personal space. This unknown person opened up and sifted through and cast aside and took away. And did it all while I was home, sleeping, with my children sleeping down the hall. In a neighborhood new to us, within a large, bustling city. Where we know very few people.

I know this is a minor incident, but even still, when I think about it, I feel violated. Today the world looks a little less secure, the strangers crossing my path a little more suspect.

The Secret

My name is Madeline.

I am the big sister.

Two days ago I watched my little brother fight a battle.

It all started after lunch, when Mommy read us a story.

She read No, David! That story makes me giggle. And it always gives Isaac ideas.

Doesn't Mommy know she shouldn't read No, David!?

After the story, Mommy tucked us into bed for naps. I sucked my thumb and gazed at the white ceiling.

Isaac threw his blanket over his head and giggled.

Mommy said, "Sweet dreams, babies," and she closed the door as she left.

Isaac instantly climbed out of bed and shouted, "Look, Maddy! I jumping!" as he jumped up and down.

I sucked my thumb and gazed at him with superiority as Mommy returned and tucked him back into bed.

Isaac threw his blanket over his head and giggled.

Mommy said, "Sweet dreams, Isaac," and she closed the door as she left.

Isaac instantly climbed out of bed and began to throw his trains around the room, laughing delightedly.

I sucked my thumb and gazed at him with superiority as Mommy returned and tucked him back into bed. This time she wasn't as nice as last time. "Night night, Isaac," she said in her Mean Mommy Voice.

When Mommy uses her Mean Mommy Voice, it means trouble.

But Isaac is the little brother, so he hasn't figured that out yet.

And more importantly, he doesn't know The Secret.

I watched as Isaac climbed out of bed a third time, and then a fourth. Each time Mommy returned and tucked him back into bed. Each time her Mean Mommy Voice got meaner.

The fifth time he got out of bed, Mommy returned with a big smile on her face. Her Mean Mommy Voice was gone.

And I knew Isaac was about to learn The Secret.

Mommy picked up Isaac and carried him out of the room.

From the other bedroom, I heard him start to wail.

And then I heard Mommy laughing in the hallway. She told Isaac that if he couldn't sleep in his big-boy bed, he would have to sleep in our old baby playpen.

For a few moments, all was quiet.

Then suddenly, I heard a thud. My little brother had climbed out of the baby playpen.

And then I heard him whimpering and running as fast as he could down the hall.

I heard Mommy laughing and laughing.

I heard Isaac shout, "NO, Mommy!"

And the bedroom door burst open.

Wild-eyed Isaac frantically ran across the room and threw himself face down onto his big-boy bed. He buried his face in his pillow and he held his arms straight down at his sides.

I sucked my thumb and smiled blissfully to myself.

Isaac had finally learned The Secret, which is:

Mommy always wins.

***

Epilogue: That same night, Mommy came into our room before she went to bed. This is how she found us sleeping.

Now that Isaac has learned The Secret, he really needs me.

Five!

My baby boy turned five a few weeks ago.

As a prelude to his birthday, he lost his first tooth.

In the last year he has decided that Thomas the Train is boring. And Lightning McQueen. He defers now to Star Wars. Darth Vader. Batman. And all things pirates.

He is obsessed with good guys and bad guys.

And weaponry.

He can run with the best of 'em.

He'll wrestle any little boy who comes along.

He wants to be a fireman when he grows up.

He'll eat everything in your pantry.

But he still has the sweetest blue eyes anywhere, along with a smattering of freckles across his nose.

And he still loves to snuggle his mom during story time.

This little five-year-old boy starts kindergarten in a few short weeks. He is ready.

But I don't know that I am.