GGGRRRR!!!!!

I am a little afraid to write because it has been a week of annoyances and I am afraid they will come flooding out in disorganized fashion and ultimately offend people because of my strong opinions. Here are just the vague highlights without giving reasons or saying too much.

• I am tired of people and groups of people looking for special rights instead of equal rights.
• Okay, it may be medicinal but I don't need the smoke blowing in my windows because you don't want your place smelling like that.
• (My selfish yet hypocritical statement) Why is it always about you and what you want? Can't you think of others? It's this little thing called sacrifice.
• I hate being in debt myself, why would I want my country to go into farther debt?
• Why can't we be friends? On the other hand, does everyone really need to know that?
• How about instead of focusing on the bad things that happened and wanting restitution for it, try being grateful for the good that came out of it?
• There is this little known fact of cause and effect. You do something and as a result something else happens. You break the law, there should be consequences and it's alright if they aren't pleasant.

I know these don't tell the whole story but I am trying to avoid jumping onto my soapbox. I have actually said these all at least twice this week while driving, visiting parks, reading the news, or just talking with people. Now this is sort of off my chest, I'll focus on the fact that it is a beautiful day and that my daughter climbed out of her crib without smashing into the ground.

HOA Ignorance

As summer was starting up around here, I thought it would be fun to take Ellie to the pool here. Unfortunately the HOA rules state that all children must be potty trained before entering the pool.  When I asked if an exception or a compromise could be made, I was told I would have to bring it up at the HOA meeting held monthly. So last month I attended the meeting. When I spoke with the presidency, I said I would like to spend time in the pool area with my daughter. Seeing as the current rules don't allow her to enter the pool, I wanted to know if something could be done; i.e allowing me to bring a kiddie pool into the pool area so she can enjoy the water or changing the rules to allow swim diaper. They told me it would need to be discussed.

 (P.S. my personal thoughts about what's going on are found in parenthesis.)

A month goes by and we hear nothing. The night before the July HOA meeting, Jake receives a message on his phone stating that our request to take a kiddie pool into the pool area was denied. So off I go again to the HOA meeting to ask if I will ever be allowed to take my daughter swimming.

I enter the clubhouse and say that we had received the denial information yesterday. Pres: "you didn't receive a letter?" Me: "No I didn't." Some guy: "Sorry, I forgot I had to inform you of our decision so I just called." My question is the current rules don't allow un-potty trained children into the pool. I would like to use the pool but can't because my child would want to enter the pool and besides me using the pool in front of her would be cruel. Would they be willing to make an exception if she were wearing swim diapers?

One lady asked what were swim diapers. (Seriously? What are swim diapers?) The maintenance guy told her they were diapers for young kids to use the pool. Public pools allow them, especially since there are swim classes for children as young as 1 year old. So the first lady says, well that makes sense. Swim diapers should be allowed in the pool then.

Me being stupid but since we already were yelled at by the previous HOA presidency because exact rules/procedure wasn't followed, I wanted to make sure I was covered so I asked, "Just to make sure, even though the rules state a child not potty trained can enter the pool, if she wears a swim diaper I can take her into the pool? You will allow the exception?"

"You mean she isn't potty trained. (Why else would she need a swim diaper?) Didn't you say she is almost 2 years old? Why isn't she potty trained yet?" (Are you kidding me? You don't have kids or grandkids do you?) "Well, we have denied other requests from other owners so it wouldn't be fair to grant you the exception,"

So I asked if they would consider amending the HOA rules to allow swim diapers on children not potty trained. Any bets on whether or not they get back to me in time to use the pool?

Little things that make you laugh

So I was sitting in construction traffic the other day and saw this in all it's glory.

No joke. I took this picture with my phone while sitting and waiting. I thought to myself, "No way. Can they be serious?" Then I thought, "Maybe it was just a freak accident." But no, there was an identical sign on the other side of the road. I really wanted to "borrow" one just because but what kind of example would that be for Ellie?

New Calling

Why do people always wait to give you good advice until after something happens? I was called as the 2nd Counselor in the Primary Presidency for our ward. After my wonderful sister says, "That's why you don't work hard and do a good job in the nursery." 

The interesting thing is because our ward is so close to the University of Denver, there are a lot of young transitioning couples and empty nesters. There aren't too many middle ground families so even though there are 2 wards (with separate classes for all the adults) there aren't enough kids to have separate classes for them. That complicates a few things when trying to organize cub scouts, activity days, and baptisms.

I think this calling does have a great benefit that I didn't realize before. Our bishop has asked that someone from the primary presidency attend Sunday morning meetings. So I trade off with the other counselor but have to make sure it is opposite of when Jake is supposed to be attending the meetings (so one of us can be with Ellie). The benefit; on those mornings when I am at the meeting, Jake is the one to shower Ellie and himself, dress both of them, feed both of them and then make sure Ellie's bag is packed for church. I come home from the meeting, do Ellie's hair, pick them up, and head back for church.

So far, I am enjoying the calling.

Jibber-jabber silliness

Ellie is talking more and more. Much is still gibberish but she loves to talk. One day she was on a role while we were playing.

Her favorite phrases: I got you, I foun it (found), I hep (help), jump, run run, fasser (faster), and juice. Other words come up during conversations that are mostly gibberish laced with real words.

More Crafts

I have been in a crafty mood lately especially since you can do cute, fun things for cheap. Here are my latest projects.

Campfire eclair sticks and "Hand and Foot" container

The box is a holder for our hand and foot game.  Yes, the hand and the foot print belong to Ellie.  The dowels are for camp fire eclairs. We have lost a few sticks in the past so I thought giving Jake nice painted ones, so that no one will mistake as theirs, for Father's Day. I hope one day we will be able to use them.

Picky about diapers

Ellie woke up from her nap with a stinky diaper. I asked her to grab one and bring it to me. She looked in the box, grabbed the diaper, pointed to the front and said "Mickey". (Her diapers have Mickey characters.) So she reached back into the diaper box and grabbed a second diaper. I said she only needed one. So she pointed at the new one and said "Mickey, Minnie." Then she put the first one away and brought the Mickey and Minnie one for me to put on.

Denver Storms and Fallen Trees

One day I was looking at a Colorado travel magazine and couldn't figure out why it showed June and July as the wettest months out of the year. Now I know. Apparently Denver has a monsoon season, just in case you were wondering. Recently we have had some of the biggest storms Denver has seen in a while. About 2 weeks ago, the old weather reporting location (Stapleton Airport) had record rainfall (3"+) while the new reporting location (DIA) only had slightly more than an inch. That was just in one night.

Last night we had awesome lightning. Check it out for yourself.

Here are images take by the Denver Post

Today at playgroup, I found out the true awesomeness of this storm which we didn't hear. If you noticed, there was very little thunder in the video. Apparently sound doesn't travel through 3 townhouses, around corners, has nothing to bounce back to us at our west facing window, or was just too far away. The women told me the thunder was constant and loud about 1-5 miles to the east and close enough that the delay was barely 1 second. On one hand, I love thunder and would have liked to have heard that. On the other hand, Ellie is terrified of thunder and lightning and it would have kept her up late.

I think she is afraid because of me though. During a daytime storm a few days ago, we were standing on our patio and a bolt of lightning basically hit the field there because the crack that followed caused me to jump and rip my child off the patio into the house.

This has also helped explain how Russ's property in Granby now looks like this.


Looking towards the play area from the front porch swing.

The road leading to the camp area.

About where our tent was set up

 

About where Rob and Kris's tent was set

About where Chad and Christy's tent was set

 

And Steve and Connie's truck and camper.

It's amazing what can happen in one night when Mother Nature is on a role. Just glad we were able to see the place before this all happened and that we weren't there when it did either.

Celebrating the 4th of July in Granby

We spent the 4th of July back in Granby, where the Watterson Family Reunion had just taken place; although things looked a little different.

Denver had some awesome thunderstorms come through last week. I guess parts of Granby and the surrounding area had wind storms. This is what the area now looks like.



What the tent camp area now looks like.

If you look at last week's post, Ellie and Rebecca would have been sitting to the far right of the picture above and this picture would be looking at their left sides.

The red circle is around the table right next to the campfire sitting area.

We spent part of the time helping clear out some of the trees. Needless to say, we were blessed to have the reunion when we did.

Though the weekend wasn't all work. While the menfolk worked Saturday prevening (before evening but after afternoon), the women and children went to play at the beach of Grand Lake. Now while I thought they might have been joking about stating you would need a wetsuit to ski this lake, I was mistaken. It is a glacial lake. Your feet are numb within 5 minutes of wading.


Ellie not letting the cold water stop her from having a good time.

The kids dug holes in the sand and filed them with water. Ellie would pick up dirt and either throw it into the lake or into the newly dug water holes. She waded in til the water was mid waist. I finally had to wash the dirt off her and then pull her out. Only then did she start shivering and act like the cold bothered her.

Sunday was peaceful as we attended church at the branch located on church row; right next to the catholic and baptist churches although they had direction signs and we didn't. After delicious homemade taquitos for lunch and naps, we went hiking back up to Adams Falls. Then back to the cabin for probably the 10th game of Settlers of Catan.

Monday morning, the men headed out to clear some trees before the Granby parade. At 10:45 we packed in to cars and headed down to the main street. 

The Watterson's setting up for the parade.

This was an interesting parade as there weren't traditional floats. It was simply put together by the people of the town of Granby.  It started with fire trucks and EMS vehicle with blaring sirens and flashing lights.   

Line of fire trucks and EMS vehicles.

 Some of those trucks are filled with water that it sprays onto the streets where the kids can run out and play in the water.


Now that's what I call a fountain.

Next came all the parade entries of the local towns people and businesses; support local veterans, boy scouts on bikes, girls scouts dressed in cookie boxes on a flat bed, horses, rent the local ATV/snowmobile, etc. Most of the people had candy or toys to hand out. Ellie was the recipient of a small windmill flower. She was excited.  

Watching the parade with Daddy.

After there is a huge BBQ in a nearby park, again put on by the Chamber of Commerce and the townsfolk. They sell a hamburger or hot dog with chips and a drink for $4-$5 each. There were also root beer floats, scoops of ice cream, pieces of pie, etc. all for sale and to support different groups.

Ellie and the "miniature horse" from the parade. Of course she just giggled at it.

Then they had kids games set up for all ages. Ellie ran in the under 3 foot race. She did pretty good. All the kids received prizes. The older kids had potato sack, wheel barrow, and 3-legged races. You couldn't keep the adults out of the water balloon toss and subsequent water balloon fight.


Jake (wearing Russ's hat) and Gil trying to beat the kids at water balloon toss.

To finish it all off, they bring back in a fire truck and let the kids run and play in the water. Ellie wouldn't run through by herself, but I wasn't dressed to run through more than twice.


Ellie and Mommy running in the water.

Daddy didn't want to run through the water.  After this we headed back so Ellie could nap while the men (and I) could clean up trees and the women and children went back to the lake. She was so tired, she slept close to 4 hours.   

Jake, Rob and the little kids getting back at Avery for all his teasing.

Once dinner was finished, we again packed in to cars to drive to see fireworks. We pulled over on the side of the road near a rodeo and waited.


Ellie and Daddy waiting for the fireworks to start.

She didn't stay in her chair long. Since we were sitting on the side of highway 40, Ellie jumped into my lap after watching one or two cars drive by. She was a little unsure about the fireworks at first and moved from my lap to Jake's. There he helped her see how fun they were to watch.  

Although her face shows concern, she was clapping and saying "weee".

Because Jake had to work early the next morning, we waited for traffic to clear and then drove home.

We want to thank Russ, Nila and their family for allowing us to come share in a fun weekend with them.

Problems with comments

I am having problems leaving comments on other people's blogs. It makes me login to post a comment but after 3 tries it still won't post my comment. Anyone who is not having this problem have any ideas on how to fix it?

Families

Because I hadn't done it in a while, I reread The Family: A Proclamation to the World. I had some interesting thoughts during this reading. It almost seems like it was written more for today than back in 1995.  Here are just a few of my thoughts.
"Each [all human beings] is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual, premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." - We were given gender to help us see our eternal potential and to provide us with the characteristics we would need to complete our purpose.

"We declare that God's commandment for his children to multiple and replenish the earth remains in force." - I recently read an article about a No Baby Boom. People are forgoing having children because of the cost and because studies have found that people are least happy with marriage during the child rearing years. I personally feel that having a child in my home makes it happier and well worth the cost. It isn't the child that cause unhappiness; it's a failure of communication with my spouse and when I (or he) starts acting/feeling selfish about our roles in life.

"Parents have a scared duty to rear their children in love and righteousness... Husbands and wives - mothers and fathers - will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations." - Rearing a child means more than just having and making sure they are alive. It means teaching them about every aspect of life; work ethic, responsibility, love, service, gratitude, respect, etc. It seems there are too many children nowadays that don't learn half of these and it is having a detrimental effect on society. (Ever meet a child that feels they are owed everything and anything?)

"By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners." - Just like a job, each person has a main job or responsibility but to make sure the company runs smoothly there are times when you may need to help out with other jobs. Actually, in my opinion, the more you help each other out (serve), the better. (This means men are designated to only fixing the house, taking out garbage, etc and women only cook, clean, watch the kids, etc. It takes a joint effort to make things work.)

"Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets." - I believe we are are already seeing this.

It was so nice to read this again and remember what modern prophets have said about families and the blessing families can receive.