Pioneer Ponderings, a fence, Joseph and fondue...but mostly nothingness.

I just sat down for my Sunday Evening Blogging.

For the first time in a long time, I'm not sure what I am wanting to accomplish with this evening's attempt at documenting my/our life/lives as I/we experienced it this week.

I'm also in a slightly melancholy state as, while I was rocking Ben to sleep (something he rarely wants me to do anymore) and stroking his feverish brow (molars coming in...little body working hard), my mind wandered to the pioneers who moved west all those years ago. I'm not sure why I suddenly felt connected to them in that moment...but it had something to do with witnessing, and being helpless against, the suffering of our children.  I started thinking about the lives that were lost in that trek west.  The little ones.  The parents that held their children as they struggled against the elements, their bodies fighting to survive. Sometimes they did. A lot of the time, they didn't. 

I have taken this to a rather dark place, so I will stop...but thinking about such things is nearly impossible for me to handle. When my children are feverish or dealing with the pain of a simple ear infection, it all but rips my heart out of my chest and stomps it into the ground.  I cannot begin to imagine the feelings those pioneer parents felt at times...those who lost most, all, even one of their dear children along the way.  Even those who watched their little ones be cold, hungry, sick or tired.  Again, when my mind wanders to such things as these, it nearly shuts down...I am not strong enough to even contemplate what it must have been like.  Imagine the strength of those amazing people.

I suppose this shpeil would be more appropriate around Pioneer Day, yes? But I also suppose we don't really have a say as to when these things speak to us.  Perhaps I have a rough week ahead of me and I need the reminder that my family is generally safe, comfortable, happy and healthy, with opportunities all around us...and I am not allowed to feel sorry for myself because my baby is irritable due to teething. :)

Anyway, I am here anyway, wearing JC's pajamas instead of my own.  I don't know why but it is always the first thing I do to comfort myself if I am feeling overwhelmed or sad...it's like an on-going hug. Then, if I need more, I just go sit with him and it's like a double hug. 

I'm glad we could share.

Moving on...

This last week was good!  It was spring break...that doesn't mean a whole lot to us yet since nobody is in the school system BUT Bethany does have those two days of preschool and she didn't this week. So, we had a little change of pace.  It's always good to change it up every once in a while. Even if all that means is we played outside in the morning as well as the afternoon. Good deal if you ask me!

I am really blah tonight in my writing. Let's turn to some pictures...my usual refuge... :)

Here's some snapshots of our week in no particular order. Because I'm lazy. :)

James decided to let me know that the backyard needs cleaning up by climbing on things he shouldn't be and playing with things he shouldn't be . . . it seems after a birthday party in the backyard (even a rather low-scale one), it takes us quite a while to recover!

But at least he was cute while doing it.

Bethany brought her doll family out to play in the nice weather with us.

This was her birthday present from us. SO cute. I keep hinting at her that maybe around Christmastime, they will have a house of their own (Melissa and Doug make a super cute dollhouse to go with these little cloth and wooden dolls!)

JC got the first section of our garden fence put in. OH HAPPY DAY!!!

It will be a while until we use the space it marks off but still, a step in that direction! 

So, let me say again...OH HAPPY DAY!!!

He is so awesome. He always brings my visions to life with his inventive mind and hard work. I can't wait until we get more put in!

The kids are also pretty excited.

During the fence-building and general outside-ness of the week, Bethany discovered frisbee.

And the boys discovered that the best way to eat an apple is swinging...

or hanging out in a fort.

And, for the first time in several months...the afternoon got the better of Bethany.

It was a nice, comfortable week. And, my apologies to those of you reading this who are experiencing other parts of the world being relentlessly hammered with less-than-ideal weather . . . because here? It was gorgeous again this week.  That'll show you to embark on ambitious journeys outside Arizona.

I have to say, it is starting to get a bit warm. We attempted some time at a park on Saturday morning and didn't last long. Granted, Ben had a fever already and we had just come from family pictures (which didn't go so hot either!) so we were all in long pants and polos (yes, we are that family now apparently) . . . I am trying not to dread the summer too much. I am determined to make the best of it...but I would prefer it not come quite yet!

In addition to the kids and I making our way through the week, JC and I were able to get out a couple times in the last week!  Last Saturday night we joined the rest of my family for dinner and a show. My parents got us all tickets to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat out at Orpheum Theater in Phoenix. We had dinner at a yummy Italian place in Tempe...at which I managed to, of course, drop sauce on my white shirt...then made our way to the show. The Orpheum Theater is GORGEOUS and kind of an experience in itself. If it weren't for having to maneuver our way through the streets of downtown Phoenix, I may want to go back there quite often!  Haha...I get so anxious with all the one way streets!  Anyway, the show was awesome and I was very swept off my feet, as I always am with live theater.  It was also very fun to just hang out with my family all together. And, though Katie and I sat next to each other at dinner, we managed to get through the evening without causing too much trouble.  

Though we did nearly lose it when, after asking if we would like any appetizers and everyone hesitated, our waitress said, "I know it's a hard decision. I'll give you a minute to think about it" in the same tone one would ask if you were willing to give up your first born for the good of mankind or something along those lines.  

Gotta love family dinners.

The show was really great too . . . but I already said that.  In fact, I was so excited, I asked for the soundtrack for my birthday. And, tonight, at my family's early celebration of said day, I did indeed receive it. So, listening to it presently.  Already getting "Those Canaan Days" irremovably stuck in my head again.  And already picturing myself as the narator in a future local production. Not because I think I'm that good. I'm just overly ambitious. And the narator in the one we saw got to rock a quick hip-hop scene. Hip hop plus a bible story sounds right about up my alley.

Then, THIS Saturday night, we enjoyed The Melting Pot with our friends Jimmy and Heidi.  We wanted to go to celebrate my birthday coming up next Thursday and turns out Jimmy's birthday fell this weekend...perfect timing to get out with some good friends.  I spent too much time in the sun/too much time holding feverish Ben that day and brought a terrific headache with me to the evening...so I fear I was lame, but I had a great time!  The food was great, as usual...the menu is especially yummy right now, Tuscan inspired and all...and we chatted it up and tried not to burn ourselves.  We followed that up with a movie...not sure what to say about that. We saw "Knowing." Afterwards, I told everyone that if you took everything that I can't handle, rolled it into a ball and threw it onto a movie screen, you'd get "Knowing."  

Then I told JC I was going to need an appointment with the therapist I used to see for anxiety as soon as possible. 

'Nough said.

Haha...anyway, it was a good night. (and no, I am not really in need of a therapy session after the simple act of seeing a movie...thank heavens those days are passed and it is merely something to joke about now!)  It was great to get out, enjoy some good company, good food and...a movie. :)

So, for those of you not majorly invested in the details of our life, this is a rather boring post. Haha, but I suppose it's nice to have those every once in a while. 

Now I can go sit down and get my double hug.