Why Dads Are More Fun Than Moms

For $20 a month you could provide clothing and food for a child.

Deep Thoughts

I've been thinking about wedding invitations and formality. I know, it's the type of subject that could cause one to lose sleep if you're not careful. It's a deep multi-faceted subject and so many opinions involved but I just won't have a happy summer if I don't impart my humble thoughts on the subject. Perhaps you will disagree and that's ok. Opinions at odds make the world go round and keeps wedding invitation companies in business.

The arrival of a funktified (I made that up but it's what it looks like) wedding invitation this weekend is the catalyst for my post. The young lovers are in their early 20's and I'm sure they are hip to the jive. I clearly am not. I lost my hip and jive a ways back. Perhaps I am old fashioned but I just can't feel settled with their choice of invitation. The invitation that they will someday show their kids and grandkids and probably put in a nifty frame first to be a proudly displayed trophy in their living room, then relegated to the bedroom after more recent photos of kids and pets become available, then eventually find it's way into a memory box in the garage rarely taken out except when needed for a school project. Not that their invitation choice has any bearing on my future happiness but everytime I look at it I have to think "when you are my age you are going to wonder 'WHAT WAS I THINKING?'"

I'd post a photo but with my luck someone would know them and I'll be on the dis-invite list and that could get really ugly--perhaps even uglier than the announcement. The concept and colors are cute--when used for a baby girl announcement (perhaps I should find out where they got it) or "we've moved to a new house" bulletin. The front has a bright fuchsia background with large white polka dot border. Accents of orange border the fuchsia and then the invitation/announcement is made in the center with the proclamation of where the happy couple is registered. The jury is out for me as to whether the registries should be printed on the invitation. On the back was a sepia photo of the love birds surrounded by the big dots and orange accents and their names clearly legible under the photo. It goes without saying that the guy had nothing to do with the selection. He just wants to get the whole wedding thing over with and he's too in love to put his foot down in the name of dignity. So alas, they actually made it to the mail and all his friends are going "dude, what the heck were you thinking. . . .????"

Maybe I'm old, maybe I just prefer more formality but this one clearly isn't working for me. It's probably the worst offender I've seen in a while and I've seen alot lately. It's the season of love and weekly wedding presents. Utah produces it's fair share of weddings and I'm sure folks here like to be unique for their big day but when does unique turn to plain weird?

Call me an old fuddy-duddy but I'm still a sucker for a heavy ecru paper embossed with black lettering and perhaps a little pearl border that doesn't tell me where to buy the gift.

Little Gym

Spencer and Connor (brown shirt)

Spencer has been attending The Little Gym for the past few months and he loves every minute of it. He pays no mind to what the teacher says but has a great time. Our friends Andrea and Connor have been going with us and have made it alot of fun. Spencer is the youngest in the class but that does not deter his spunky spirit. He can climb, jump and swing with the best of them. One of his favorites is the balance beam. It's probably easier to stay on when your feet are a size 5 and can fit side by side. It's cute to watch him walk it and jump off the end. He also is getting the hang of mat time where they sing songs and use jingle bells. We'll probably sign up for summer session since he's just getting into the groove.

People are Good

The last few weeks Corbin has been working in the yard--just one of the many projects we have rolling. He had to take out a good portion of our front yard sod due to a terminal fungus. It's a nasty little ring that starts and grows bigger until it takes over your house. The removal has been lengthy because I am married to a man who isn't satisfied with just removing the sod without redoing sprinkler heads and leveling out the one inch incline by the flower bed. He is a perfectionist which is probably why he married me. But anyway, it's a lengthy process and I wasn't sure when we would reach conclusion.

On Sunday evening, the neighbor who lives several houses away left a message for Corbin to call him. He came over and asked Corbin about our lawn and said that he had some equipment that could help and that he would come over last night to help us with the yard. I was very humbled and impressed with his generosity. It made me feel a little bad that I sometimes encourage Corbin to roll over and play dead when the neighborhood is looking for volunteers to do projects.

By the time we arrived home from work last night, the neighbor had already been by with a rototiller and tilled the area. Then he and his wife and my dad came over and helped Corbin level out the area and lay the sod (which they also brought in their Bobcat type thing) It was wonderful to have the work done so fast. It would have easily taken us countless hours, even days, to complete without the equipment and labor.

Good is out there, watch out! There are so many evil things in the world and it seems like that's all we hear about. I think there are lots of people doing wonderful things behind the scenes and I wish they would make the news. The experience was a good reminder to me of how much simple acts of kindness can help others. Thanks Dave and Camille!