A Sunday Afternoon in June

I used to take my camera to Church all the time, on the odd chance that some little of piece of serendipity would strike, 

George really, really loves Evan

and I would be able to capture it in photographs.Truthfully, though, serendipity doesn't just strike my life occasionally. It stalks me like a hungry cougar, because I hang out with kids for a living. But the camera-at-Church thing; I don't do that much anymore. It's not because the serendipity stopped. No.

Yvy and her favorite birthday twin, Emma

Rather, I was emotionally scarred for life by my toddler, who pulled it out of my satchel during the Sacrament service and started practicing his flash photography skills for all the congregation to see. I don't take my camera to Church so much anymore. I'm sure you understand.

Good friends: Chase, Evan, Amber and Spencer

Last week, however, I took it on purpose. Friends of ours were moving far away (sob!) and I knew it was the last moment we would all be together, and I wanted pictures, baby! Documentation! Oh, yes, I know I live in the digital age of instant communication and social media, and you don't really lose actual touch with anyone. 

Elder Hall, Chase, Evan, Amber, Spencer and Hyrum. We have a great
youth group, and we're really gonna miss the ones who are leaving.

But I also know the every day grind makes it hard to stay connected and involved with each others lives. People change, kids grow up. I take pictures to save the "right now" for the "remember when".

My "May Girls" and the June flowers

Plus, it was a truly gorgeous day. The kids were playful and frolic-ish, and the flowers were shouting, "Summer! Summer!" everywhere I looked. We will miss our friends, and when Summer is gone, I will miss the flowers. That's why I take pictures.

Lucy and Catey had the pick even more flowers, just in case.

Aurora watches the all the flower picking going on.
Someday, she'll be able to keep up with the big girls.

Kid's eye view of me on a Sunday afternoon

Some superheros answer to Daddy

George. On the van, with completely trashed
pants. Grinning like it's all in a day's work.

Eliza and Hannah: friends since forever

Lizzy, Miriam and Gabba: you'll be hard pressed
to find a better trio of young women 

A gaggle of giggles for sure

Friends, flowers, sunshine, Summer, Church, cheesing for the camera. Definitely some excellently good times. Good-bye, Spencer and Hannah and Lizzy! We love you, and we will miss you oodles.

My Heart Belongs Here

The last several weeks have been full to the brim of amazing and wonderful and crazy things. Today was not an exception. After Stake Conference - but before my nephew's baptism - we took some friends to see the new Kansas City temple, and then to the Liberty Jail Visitor Center. We had planned to eat a picnic at the temple, but the landscaping is all young, and there was no shade, so we ate at the Visitor Center. Still, we walked around the temple a bit, and marveled at the beauty of it, and the wonder and blessing of having it here, in our area. The wind was strong, and as I stood gazing up, it snapped the flag around and unfurled it in the other direction.I thought, those are two of my great loves: my God and my country. This is where my heart belongs. So of course I took a picture. I wanted to share it with you, because sharing what I love is another thing that I love.

The Logical Fallacy Game

Something about teenagers. I remember loving the silliness of vaguely attached statements strung together to make a conclusion that has no bearing on reality. And now my Hyrum and Gabba are having fun doing the same thing. Gabba got this one from the New Era, and memorized it: 

Working out makes you ripped; if you're ripped, you need a tan; tanning makes your skin like leather; leather comes from cows; cows are fat. Therefore, working out makes you fat.

Complete nonsense, yes, but still fun to rattle off the top of your head. I actually memorized one when I was eleven and I can recite it perfectly, and it remains my favorite to this day.

Why are fire engines red? Because books are read, too; two and two is four, four and four is eight, eight and four is twelve; twelve is a ruler; Queen Elizabeth is a ruler; Queen Elizabeth is a ship; ships sail the ocean; the ocean has fish; fish have fins; the Fins live next to the Russians; and fire engines are always rushing around, so they're red, too.

See? It's just fun. I googled it, and apparently I'm not the only one who remembers it. Although, there are some differences. There's actually a Yahoo! Answers for "Why are fire trucks red?" Some of the people missed the joke, and gave good, long historically accurate answers. But someone remembered and posted

Fire trucks are red because newspapers are red. Newspapers originally cost 25 cents. Half of 25 is about 12. 12 inches are in a foot. A foot is a ruler. Queen Elizabeth was a ruler. Queen Elizabeth was also a ship. Ships are in the ocean. Fishes are also in the ocean. Fish have fins. Fins fought the Russians. Russians are red and that's why fire trucks are red. They are always rushing.

It's fun to see the differences. I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes this game. I was worried for a moment; when I tried to search online for logical fallacy games, not much turned up. I'm itching to come up with a new one, a really good one. Want to help me write it?