Career move

The average person changes careers three to five time during his or her life. I checked it on wiki-answers, so I know this information is reliable. I wanted to know because shortly after graduating from law school, passing the bar, and starting a clerkship, I find myself faced with a serious career change. It makes sense to wonder why I would be considering a career change at this point. Well, the short answer is, somewhere along the way I seem to have acquired two children.

Without going into too much detail, I've decided that my kids need a full-time mommy right now more than I need a legal career. Part of me can't believe I just typed that sentence. I mean, I induced my delivery with Ben during spring break so I could be back for class the next week. I took my finals when he was weeks old. I was still so dazed from his delivery and those sleepless newborn nights that I stumbled through finals the semester he was born. As a 3L I did law review edits and outlined in the middle of the night because there weren't enough hours in the day for me to be a mommy and a law student. I found out that I was pregnant with Davie weeks before taking the bar. I puked non-stop while I was trying to study for it with an IV in my arm. I went back to work ten days after he was born. I just worked through it, trying to to be the best at everything because I wanted to have it all. Generally, I have just felt all-round inadequate.

Being a woman is complicated. Having kids just makes things more complicated. And having it all is a joke. I mean, if you're a woman and you believe you really have it all, then that's great, I guess. Maybe I just haven't found the secret. Because I think that womanhood is riddled with sacrifice. I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing. But I'm not so naive as to believe that I'm going be intellectually fulfilled by changing diapers and wiping up puke full time. Nor am I convinced that I could devote myself to work without feeling guilty because I wasn't there to kiss skinned knees and cheer on first steps.

This whole post seems like kind of a downer, and that's not my intention. Really I guess I'm just using this blog as a forum for some introspection. So just wish me luck as I embark on my latest endeavor: making mac & cheese, enforcing nap time, and subjecting myself to daily doses of Handy Manny. A daunting job description indeed. I'm hoping I'm up to the challenge.

The B.L.

Having spent the fourth in Summit, we made our way further north to Bear Lake the next weekend.

Sidewinder falls made an appearance.


Even though the water was freezing, Ben and Minie made the most of it.

Ben also discovered his artistic side.


And let's not forget the fireworks. Ben was spectator this time and thoroughly enjoyed the show.


We went hands-free on the sparklers.


Lovin' some king of bling.


The captive audience.



There was blanket time

and smores.

We loved us some B.L.

The Fourth of Ju-ly

Now that the 24th has passed, I'm finally getting around to blogging about the fourth of July. Pathetic? Yes. I blame Cameron, who considers himself keeper of our camera, and who uploads all our pictures to his computer. I've ended up delaying my blogging efforts until I felt like I had access to the pictures because, let's face it, no one wants to see a blog post without pictures.

Moving on . . . .

I hold with those who say that some holidays are best experienced in a small town, Independence day being one of them.

Our day started in Summit with the annual town parade. Pretty much any interested person is free to participate and my Dad was only too pleased to haul the grandkids along in a festive garden wagon. The parade got going earlier than we'd expected so we were momentarily concerned that the kids may have missed the grand event. Fortunately, there were multiple passes up and down the main drag, so they were able to jump in and enjoy their moment in the spotlight.


Unfortunately, Ben was determined to be a stinker, and he refused to join the crowd. Nice, Ben.

Did I mention how much I love the Summit parade?

Given that even with an encore procession, the Summit parade lasted all of about 10 minutes, we decided to head over to Parowan for a larger-scale event. The Parowan parade is just my style--and just Ben's style too, as it involved several tractors,


every available emergency response vehicle in the area (sirens blaring),


horses,


the local drill team,


and lots of candy.


Let's not forget little Davie.


Well, actually, we kind of did forget about little Davie. So grandpa took it upon himself to care for his namesake.


He was rewarded by being pooped on. Sorry, grandpa.

We spent the rest of the day lounging and eating (no pictures, but trust me, it was lovely). The day culminated with a lavish firework display at 8:00 p.m. We may have been a little too anxious to get the kids to bed.

My parents' yard isn't landscaped yet (this year though, right Mom?), and since it's pretty much the definition of a fire hazard, we took the show into the road.


Things started off good. Lizzy and Jane enjoyed their sparklers.


Then Ben managed to burn himself pretty good. There were tears followed by much discussion of the boo-boo.


We'll probably wait a couple of years before we try the hold-your-own-sparkler thing again. But, in the end, the day was a success.

Yeah for the fourth!

Lord of the Flies

He was supposed to be painting Rocks, but as is the case most of the time, Ben got a little carried away and "became the canvas" as his uncle Dustin said. Sorry this was shot sideways.

Very Cherry

So we're hanging out in Summit for the fourth of July. My parents and my Great-uncle have cherry trees that border their properties and they've gotten quite the cherry crop this year. We devoted some time to harvesting cherries this morning. A good time was had by all.

Cam proved to be especially adept at cherry pickin'. And Ben has yet to meet a ladder he didn't like.

Helpful little boy.

Look at all those delicious cherries. Yum.

We may have eaten a few along the way. Although, some of us ate more than others. (Note: white shirt + two-year-old + cherry picking/eating = some serious laundry)

Good thing he's so cute.

Four Months

So little Davie Doo turned four months old recently. I can't believe my little baby is already four months old. It's crazy. Fortunately, he's only the size of a two month old, which really works out well for me since I want to deny that he's growing up.

When we went in for Davie's four month well-check, we discovered that he is a whopping 12.5 lbs and 23 inches long--making him, uh, really small. But it's cool. He somehow still seems like a total chunk. He's a much more enthusiastic eater than Ben ever was. And (so far) his hair is staying pretty dark. Could it be that I have given birth to a dark-haired child?

He's also learned a new trick--the boy rolls over. Have I mentioned that I love this little rolly, polly little guy?



And I love his brother too. (We like to roll a little white trash in the summer--shirts are optional.)

Catch up

I am apparently a fair weather blogger, and when it rains it pours. Now I've finally caught up.