Mr. Pea Wasn't Feeling Well

Last week, the kiddies and I passed around a head cold, runny nose, and slight fever. This week, it finally reached Mr. Pea.  He wasn't feeling well, but he was well enough to go to work and accomplish the work that needed to be done.  

Once home, he quickly changed into his favorite sweats and t-shirt.  He then laid on the couch.  B-Man approached him and asked:  

"Daddy, are you feeling all right?"

Mr. Pea said:  "No.  I feel pretty sick."

B-Man asked:  "Then why didn't you stay home today?"

Mr. Pea, shrugging:  "I had work to do."  

Maybe those words are insignificant.  After all, a lot of people have work to do.  What struck me is that Mr. Pea didn't say:  "I have bills to pay" or "I have mouths to feed" or "I have a mortgage to pay off."  He said, "I had work to do."  In hindsight, maybe it's insignificant, but to me, those words mean he doesn't see his job as a way to pay the bills.  He had work to do, so he did it.  

I love being married to a man who loves the work he does.  I can tell because even though he's not feeling well, he goes.  Even more, when he works, he doesn't just see dollar signs.  His work has a purpose; he knows it, and so does anyone who gets to listen as he tells them of his day.  

My Favorite Fourth Grader

The last time I felt really good about B-Man beginning a school year was when he started first grade.  Why, you say?  I'm glad you asked:

We felt absolutely certain we were where we were supposed to be three years ago when B started first grade.  Since then, we've experienced many moves, uncertainty, unemployment, underemployment, a school with a bully, and school transfers.  It's taken nearly three years, but we're finally getting our life to a new normal.  It feels great!

So now, it's time to begin a new year, at a new school, with a new backpack, and a pair of Nike high-tops (yes, high-tops have made a comeback, and yes, I struggled when deciding whether or not we should pay for the extra two inches of shoe material).  B, and the rest of us are apprehensive, but we're also eager to begin and hope he finds good friends.

I miss him already.  He is the best fourth grader I know.

 

Leave of Absence

A few weeks ago, I called B's school to inform them B would be absent for personal reasons. I would have told them what the personal reason was, but I didn't think the attendance office would accept, "It's free zoo day at the Denver Zoo and I feel like spending it with my son." So I left it at that. B thought I was lost because I took the wrong turn to school, ha! I wish I could have taken a picture of his expression.

I hope, when B and Little Miss are older, they remember days like that Wednesday a few weeks back. I like to call it: "The day mom was cool and surprised me with a day off school because she knows I love the zoo." Yes, I think that is a good title.

Maybe, years from now, when my kids are too cool for me, I can refer them to this post and remind them of the time they thought I was cool enough to be with them in public; who knows, I might just embarrass them on purpose.

I love, love, LOVE this picture!  It perfectly captures the feelings of that day.

The Lawyer Joke (well, sort of)

The other day we were coming home from having lunch with the Mister's parents.  When we were nearing our destination, we saw an ambulance driving in the lane beside us.  Upon seeing it, B innocently yelled from the third row:

"Dad, there's an ambulance!  You gonna chase it?"

I'm happy to report that Mr. P isn't that kind of lawyer.  

The Comedian and his little sister.  (Salt Lake City, 8.2012)

We're Alive!!!!

It's been a busy year.  One filled with ups and downs.  I don't have the desire to outline each detail, but I do have a good excuse for not blogging in awhile:  no internet.  Having no internet puts a damper on one's ability to blog - FACT.  Now that we have it and have had it for a few weeks, I still haven't blogged because my habits have changed.

Anyway, I couldn't think of a good way to detail what we've been doing, so I'm going to cheat and use our awesome Christmas letter instead, so here goes ...

Presented in a style loosely related to the 12 Days of Christmas (plus a few extra facts):  

One New Job:  John was offered a job out of the blue; the offer was good, so we accepted.

Two major moves:  In February, we moved from Kansas to Utah; in September, we moved from Utah to Colorado.

Three State Capitals:  We lived in Topeka, Kansas; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Denver Colorado.

Four Elementary Schools and one FOUR year old:  B-Man began the year at (1) Wanamaker Elementary School in Topeka, Kansas.  He finished 2nd grade at (2) Whittier Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.  He began 3rd grade at (3) Westland Elementary School in West Jordan, Utah and now attends (4) Red Hawk Ridge in Denver, Colorado.

Little Miss turned 4 in January - she has an affinity for Dr. Seuss, Disney Princess', pink, purple and cooking.

Five Different Jobs: In 2012, we worked for a fruit stand, sewed for the LDS Church, reviewed documents at a law firm, owned a small immigration law firm and now work for a different immigration law firm.

Six Suits a Week: The Mr's work "uniform" is a suit, he also wears one to church on Sunday.

Seven Months: We lived in Salt Lake City just seven months before moving to Denver.

One EIGHT year old: B turned eight and decided to be baptized and get confirmed into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He loves math, soccer, superhero's and legos.

Nine Boxes: What is left to be unpacked (i.e. what may never be unpacked).

Ten hours: The length of time the Mr. spends working each day.

Eleven years: The wedding anniversary we celebrated.

12 weeks: The length of time we've lived in Colorado

In short: Our life changed. Nearly 2/3 of 2012 was stressful. We grew closer as a family-in the way that can only happen when stress is great and correct decisions are made.  The Mr. has a good job working as an immigration attorney; he works long hours and is happy doing it. B is attending a good school and making good friends. Little Miss is also in school, Preschool.  The Mrs. works hard at home so everyone can get where they need to be.  We are happy, so happy. We feel peace and a lot of gratitude. We hope you feel the same. 

We went to Yellowstone and did stuff ...

This year marked the beginning of a new tradition ... It was the first Pea Reunion.  All the living things in the following photograph are Pea's (I say "things" because I'm including the dog).  For the first reunion, held in early June, we went to Yellowstone - the cabin in which we stayed is not in Yellowstone - it's in Island Park ... So here we are in Island Park:

At Yellowstone, we saw all the usual sights and took all the usual pictures.  I have pictures of the sights, but for this post, I'll focus on people ... If you look closely at the reflection in my shades, you can see the bit of earth that is Old Faithful.  Old Faithful is just as faithful - I have photographic evidence!

Little Miss and I were excited to see it erupt, can't you tell?

Mr. Pea wasn't there.  Every morning, before proceeding with our hiking and sight seeing, we dropped him off by a body of water and he did what he loves best, after me, baseball and track and field, of course.  He went fly fishing.  After four years of enduring a trout fishing drought, it was time he replenish his store ... I don't think he's seen any part of Yellowstone other than the rivers ... 

As per tradition, we took a face shot. We were in a rush, so we didn't do as well as usual.  We were excited!  He was excited to meet some fish and I was excited to meet some vistas.  Ha!

The kids were eager to spend several days with their cousins and Grandma.  I love this picture because of the background; the rest of our family is walking behind the skipping group ...

If you're wondering what I did most of the time, here is the answer:  I took pictures.  I'd forgotten how breathtakingly beautiful and majestic Yellowstone is.  Here I am at Mammoth Hot Springs with my face behind the lens - practicing one of my loves, after Mr. Pea, my children, fresh fruit and rock climbing, of course ...

I learned a lot over those four days.  I learned about nature.  I learned what to do if I saw an American Bison or Elk.  I was reminded how beautiful Heavenly Father's creations are.  I remembered how graceful a sport fly fishing is ...

Most memorable of all was what I learned about the other three Mrs. Pea's: I learned that I am SO excited to spend eternity getting to know them because our differences add such spice and fun to my life.  We married into a great family, didn't we, girls?

So here's to Yellowstone and other stuff!  The "stuff" is what makes my life so great!  

I'm sure Old Faithful can rise for that!  ;)

4 of 12,000

Last Saturday, we joined thousands of people in the Race for the Cure.

We basked in the energy of the event and as we participated, we thought of our friends and family who have been affected by breast cancer.  Next year we'll put together a bigger team because the energy is contagious and must be passed on!  'Til next year!

B-Man and the Bully

A few Friday's ago, I picked B-Man up from school and asked him how his day went; in his words:  "Not good."

Anxiously, I've been asking him how his day went more frequently.  It started on his first day at his new school when some boys wouldn't let him play tag during recess.  It continued on the second when they wouldn't let him play soccer.  He'd never had trouble making friends and I wasn't too worried because he had only been at his new school for two days.  In the days and weeks that followed, he'd come home and would say he couldn't find anyone to play with him.  "No one sits by me at lunch," he complained.  He said the kids weren't kind.  "They said bad words, Mom," he said on another day.  I encouraged him not to play with them.  We prayed he'd find good kids.  I told Mr. P of my worry that they might single him out and bullying may ensue.  We considered homeschooling.

Then, my worry came to fruition.  On that Friday, one of the boys sat beside him in the lunch room.  "I'm going to punch you," said the boy, "we're going to play a game called war."  

B didn't want to play.  He went to tell the teacher, but not before the boy hit him in the back, scratched and pinched him.  The teacher told the boy to stop and the boy got mad.  When I picked B up, he looked worried as he said, "He's going to find me and want to fight."  

I called the Mister.  It took Mr. P 10 minutes to get home.  Minutes after that, he and I were sitting in the Principal's office.  I told the Mister to do the talking because I was too close to tears.  The Principal hadn't heard about the incident and after we explained what happened, she asked us to read between the lines as she generally explained the other boy's background.

We asked how we could collaborate and make B's experience at the school a positive one ... Her solution was moving B into a different classroom because that would get him to sit in another part of the cafeteria during lunch and they wouldn't be in the same class.  

"We still can't watch everything on the playground," she explained, "but at least we can change his learning environment."

Change classrooms we did (we let B make the decision) and we are waiting, as patiently as we can for things to change.  There have been a few incidents since that Friday, but things seem to be progressing and B no longer asks to be home schooled; he no longer asks me to play with him at recess when I come to volunteer; he doesn't seem as worried about making friends as he did; even more, he's started playing with boys again - he would only play with the girls because he thought they were kinder.  Also, he's learned who to avoid on the playground.  The preceding changes may seem minor, but to me, they are welcome and almost monumental.  

That weekend wasn't all bad.  B was baptized the next day and those present included good friends and loving family.  If anything, the bully helped make B's special day sweeter.  Knowing he has the tools necessary to judge for himself heightens my desire to instill in him all the goodness and good sense I can.  Even more important is the support we get.  B knows he is loved and appreciated.  He knows he has good friends who are kind.  He knows this situation will pass.  

As for Mr. P and myself, we just hope the things he learns during the last six weeks of school will include subjects like:  math, reading, social studies and science.  We don't think we're asking for too much.  

B with his favorite friends on his Baptism Day.