Seattle

With the thought of Julianne moving away from home and heading to college looming large in my mind, I started thinking about a family vacation. One last hurrah before she left. Similar to our Kauai trip before Rebekah went to college. After some thought and research, I started toying with a Pacific Northwest road trip. What if we: 1) flew to Seattle and spent a few days exploring that city, 2) then took a couple days to leisurely drive down the Oregon coastline with the idea of stopping whenever we saw a pretty view or beach to explore, 3) do some hiking in the Redwood Forest while passing by, and 4) end up in San Francisco where we stay another few days exploring and then eventually flying home from there. After finding an article detailing pretty much that exact trip where the writer claimed it to be the best and most beautiful vacation she had ever taken, I went to Bryan with my plans and ran it past him. He thought it sounded intriguing and fun and gave me the green light to start booking flights, hotels, and a rental car. I'm always surprised at how long it takes to book arrangements. Maybe its just me and my indecision as I search long and hard for the perfect hotel (for example) that will be a good fit in terms of price, size (there were 5 of us after all), and location. Schedules and flights...which week works best with Bryan's work, Brandon's gymnastics and Julianne's upcoming move to college. Do we want to fly early in the morning or should we do a red-eye? I pour over google maps, become way too acquainted with Expedia and their traveller reviews, intently study weather forecasts. Seriously, I put myself through such craziness as I overthink every last detail. Surely it should be easier than this? (And then don't even get me started on packing the actual suitcase.)

But it all turned out well and was a super memorable vacation. The only downside...I felt slightly guilty that we were on a "family" vacation without Rebekah!
Ready for vacation picture palooza?

We flew into Seattle early morning, rented our car and drove straight to the hotel, which was just one block away from the Seattle Space Needle. Even though we were there hours before official check-in time, our room was ready and we were able to get settled before heading out to find some breakfast and start our day's adventures.

I truly think Pikes Place Market is one of my happy places. I can't get enough of the hustle and bustle, the fish and veggies and flowers, the eclectic little shops, the cafes, and the unexpected hallways, tunnels and alleys leading this way and that. Something about that place just makes my soul smile really big and wide.

Julianne and I got maybe a little overly interested in some of the shops we discovered in our explorations of the lower floors of the market. Bryan and Brandon finally got bored following us around and decided to just sit until we were done. But seriously...when you find an awesome used book store, or a shop selling nothing but old copies of magazine covers, newspapers, posters and maps, and...the best yet...a store called Holy Cow Records where we happily searched through all the many, many boxes and shelves of vinyl (and even brought home some Michael Jackson, Chicago, Tears for Fears, Carpenters, etc)...it just takes time, you know?

We found the famous gum wall. The kids were equal parts fascinated and grossed out. As was appropriate for the occasion. Why has this gum wall become a thing? I mean, I realize that people have been sticking their gum in inappropriate places for years...usually under restaurant tables and school desks. But how did one person stick their gum on a wall in a dark alleyway in Seattle, and others follow suit until it became a tourist attraction? How did that even get started to begin with? Seems a little bizarre. But certainly colorful and interesting. In a very "ewwww" sort of way.


And not that we were really anywhere near close to being done with the awesomeness that is Pikes Place Market, but we decided we needed to give the boys a break so we walked for a few blocks further to Pioneer Square and I convinced everyone that we should go on Bill Speidel's World Famous Underground Tour. The rather humorous tour takes you below the city to see what's left of storefronts and sidewalks that were original to Seattle before the great fire of 1889 when Seattle then rebuilt on top of itself. There's lots of history, lots of ghosts stories and lots of laughing.

And then to Bryan's joy, we found Utilikilts...the store he bought his new kilt from online just a few weeks earlier. Yes, Bryan now owns and proudly wears a kilt. I'm still trying to decide how I feel about it. So we traded places. He and Brandon happily explored that store, while we girls hung out in the square outside.

The next day we woke up early, walked over to the Space Needle and headed on up. It was super chilly up there. But oh so beautiful! And what a view. We spent quite a few hours on top of the needle. Because not only could you walk all around the observation deck outside, but there was much to see inside as well...lots of interactive displays about the Space Needle specifically and Seattle generally. They also had a little a Starbucks (of course) so we grabbed some hot chocolate to warm us up when we were outside.

The Space Needle is just one attraction in the middle of what is called the Seattle Center, housing multiple museums, playgrounds, grassy areas, fountains and a convention center...just a really neat place for people to gather. When we got down from the Space Needle we discovered that a huge virtual reality gaming competition sort of thing was going on in the convention center. Outside were various activities for spectators. Bryan, Julianne and Brandon got the opportunity to go inside a big tent and try out some virtual reality gaming. Supposedly they were actually inside the game...which meant they could see and react to what was going on, though the actual players were not able to see them, so they weren't interrupting real play.

Afterwards, we found a big screen that was showing what was going on inside the game, inside the convention center. Brandon, Julianne and Bryan watched for quite awhile, obviously highly interested having just had their own virtual reality experience inside the game. Lilian found more interest in a nearby fountain.

We took the monorail back down to the waters edge and to the Pikes Place Market for some more shopping and lunch in the afternoon. Brandon discovered the very first Starbucks. And I rediscovered the awesome map store that was one of my very favorite finds of my first trip to Seattle. Have I mentioned that I am a little bit obsessed with maps and globes? And Pikes Place Market? Happy, happy, happy.

A little anecdote: we were walking down a side alley and Julianne was singing, as she is prone to do. Up ahead a girl was packing up her guitar into a case when she heard Julianne. She flipped around and walked right over to her. She was a street musician, she told Julianne. Had Julianne ever considered singing for tips? Because boy howdy, with a voice like hers, she could make lots of money. Julianne said she'd think about it and then the girl went on her way. But it was fun to see the little smile on Julianne's face as we continued down the alley. You could tell she kind of liked the idea.

Eventually we made our way back to the Seattle Center and decided to spend the rest of our evening there. We looked around in the Experience Music Project Museum, pointed out the cool Dale Chihully glass sculptures, watched street artists draw, considered joining in a group zumba class on the lawn, and eventually settled down with our books to read in the neat atmosphere and cool evening air while Brandon and Lilian ran around the playground areas.

Seattle, though. So pretty, am I right? Fascinating and eclectic and such a fun vibe. Beautiful and full of history. I wanna go back.

Up next: Oregon coastline and the Redwood Forest.

Maybe we should've name him Goober...

Buster Brown
Goober
Oscar the Grouch
Piddle Puppy
Oscar No Bite
Dragon
Oscar Possum
Knee Biter
Oscar Meyer
Damn Dog (when he's especially naughty and I'm especially irritated)
These are all nicknames that our new little puppy Oscar has acquired over the past 6 weeks or so since he's come to live with us.

This has been a different sort of summer for me. Oscar has turned me into an early riser...whether I wanted to be or not. And though I complain about it often, I have to admit that in some ways it is awfully nice. It's peaceful at 6:00am. And the temperatures outside are pleasantly cool. Oscar and I putter around in the backyard watering flower pots and the garden. We pull weeds and work on random yard projects. We sit on the porch swing where I read my scriptures out loud and he looks up at me and listens intently. Apparently I have a righteous puppy. ;) We come inside and do dishes and laundry. And after being up for an hour and a half, Oscar falls asleep at my feet as I sit on a counter stool and check out emails, social media and the news on my laptop. It's a nice routine.

But my summer does indeed revolve around this little puppy and his schedule while we house train him and adjust ourselves to having this new little member of our family. It's a lot more time consuming than I had ever expected.

Puppy quirks:
* I can't wear dresses. And during the summer, little knit dresses are my go-to wear to stay cool. Plus they make me feel girly and cute. But I can't wear them. Because Oscar jumps up and grabs hold of the hem that's swaying around my knees with his teeth...and won't. let. go. Which usually results in a hole in the fabric. Sigh. This shall pass, right? Please tell me that next summer I'll be able to mix my summer dresses back into my wearable rotation?

* Everyone told me that having a puppy was like having another baby/toddler. And while I accepted that was true to some extent, I didn't realize just how humorously accurate it would turn out to be.
Examples:

Oscar likes to climb up in an attempt to lick some left over food off a bowl or plate. I think Brandon just liked the adventure of pulling himself up and onto the opened dishwasher door...and sometimes to grab the spoons out of the silverware holder.

Every single one of my children did this as toddlers.

* I laugh every day. Belly laugh. At the crazy little things Oscar does. For example, this morning I was setting up a sprinkler to spray a dry area of my lawn. I had set the hose in the spot I needed it and headed back to turn on the water. It wasn't until I was in the process of turning the knob and looked back to see how high I wanted the water pressure, that I realized Oscar was standing directly over the sprinkler. And his reaction when that water shot up was priceless! I could not stop laughing! He's a water dog so he wasn't too upset, but oh my!

* When I give him a treat filled "kong" (rubber toy with a hollow middle for him to work food out of) he always takes it to the mat outside the back door to play/eat/work at it. When I give him a edible chew bone, he grabs it and runs down the deck stairs and onto the lawn to chew on it under the tree. Go figure?

* When I take Brandon to meet up with his gymnastics carpool in the mornings, often I'll take Oscar along for the ride. His favorite spot in the car is laying in my lap with his head nestled into the crook of my left arm while I hold the steering wheel. I have no idea if this is a no-no is terms of the laws of the road, but as long as he just lays there, which he usually does, it's not distracting at all. And kind of sweet...

* He will obey me better than anyone else in the family. Apparently I'm the alpha. And I must say, he has a darn good "sit" and "come" going on.

* Especially when he is wet but really any time, he does this little snake in the grass, writhing little dance on his back. Usually it is accompanied by small growls. I'm sure he's just getting a good back scratching in, but he looks so funny!

* He doesn't do this as much anymore, a fact that likely makes Julianne kind of sad, but when Oscar first came to our home he would put his little head down in your lap and make a kind of huff sound out his nose. It was remarkably cute, and reminded Julianne of a dragon...so much so that she had to go pull out and re-read "Dragonhaven" by Robin McKinley. And that is where Oscar's nickname of Dragon came from.

I have to document some of these little puppy stories because people say I will miss the puppy phase after it is over. Honestly, as cute as the little goober is, I think I will be rather happy to have these exhausting and sometimes very frustrating puppy months behind me. But I already look back on pictures from a month ago and say, "Awww...remember when he was so tiny and used to do that?" So I'm assuming they may be right to some extent. Personally, I'm just really looking forward to being able to go on a walk where I feel like I am walking Oscar instead of him walking me. That comes with practice, right?

Losing smarts

I was privileged to overhear this little gem of a conversation between Lilian and her Grandpa while we were at their house celebrating Fathers Day this past Sunday. I couldn't stop laughing...

Lilian: Hey Grandpa....you know how they dug a piece out of your head? That place where there is a dent on top...you know? (He had a patch of skin cancer removed a few years ago.)

Grandpa: Yes, I know what you mean.

Lilian: Well, when they removed that part, did they take away some of your smarts too?

Grandpa: {Teasing} Yep. They did.

Lilian: Really? What did you lose?

Grandpa: What do you mean, Lilian?

Lilian: Well, like is science or math gone?

Grandpa: I think I might have lost all of the 3rd grade.

Lilian: {Gasp} Really??? Well, don't worry, Grandpa. I just finished the 3rd grade. I can fill you in!

Puppy Love

I've gone through spurts in past years where I am massively puppy hungry. Not sure exactly why. If it had to do with all my neighbors getting puppies, or if I was baby hungry but knowing no more babies were meant to be it was manifesting itself in a longing for a puppy, or maybe just the idealic traditional scene of a family with a dog...who knows. I've never had a dog. Not even as a kid. Maybe that had something to do with it as well?

Three years ago my friend got a Havanese puppy. I oohed and ahhed and wished for one myself. She said her puppy had a sister still available and maybe I should look into that. So I did. It was hypoallergenic. She wouldn't get very big so she would make a great indoor pup. I talked with Bryan about it. We (I) researched the breed specifically and puppies generally. It seemed like I was making progress with Bryan...until he heard how much the puppy would cost. Because apparently hypoallergenic puppies tend to be a bit more on the pricey side. And that led to Bryan nixing the whole idea, cost being a factor but also more thought about just puppy craziness in general...Bryan didn't want the house destroyed by a puppy who pees on the carpet, chews the furniture and scratches up the floorboards. But oh, I had come so close!

Later I was kind of relieved. Puppies really did look like a lot of work. Maybe I had dodged a bullet? But I tucked the research and the longing into the back of my head to save for a later date. Because maybe it would be worth looking into again when the older kids were gone and Lilian was home alone. Would a puppy be a nice companion for her?

The puppy hunger reared its head occasionally, but I was able to keep it at bay until a few weeks ago. I came across an ad on FB placed by some friends from our old neighborhood in Centerville. Three little 8-week old goldendoodle puppies looking for a forever home. I was smitten! I could not stop looking at the pictures. I went back time and again to that FB page. The puppy hunger took hold in a big way and I started researching goldendoodles. These specifically were F1B which meant puppies bred from a goldendoodle and a full poodle. This makes the puppies 75% poodle, 25% golden retriever. Which for me meant, even less likelihood of an allergic reaction for my allergy sufferers (Bryan and Brandon) and little to no shedding. The puppies had been born into a home where there were lots of kids to play with them. They had been loved and bathed and given shots and were ready for their new families.

I emailed Bryan and started the process with him. He predictably thought I was crazy. And maybe I was. But I couldn't get over the thought that though this was a few years earlier than I had been originally thinking, maybe now was a good time for a puppy. Rebekah on a mission and heading back to USU as soon as she returns home. Julianne moving out and heading to UVU at the end of the summer. Brandon at gymnastics for long hours every evening. We were already heading into the scenario I had envisioned with Lilian being home with just the parents most of the time.

I gave him reason after reason why this would be a good idea. And why the timing was good. And why this puppy over others would be a good fit for our family. He wanted to talk about the downsides of owning a puppy which were admittedly, many. Finally he said he wasn't 100% opposed and we could talk later when he came home from his business trip. I emailed my friend in Centerville and told her we were potentially interested but that we'd need to bring Brandon and Bryan over to meet the puppy first. I wanted to rub that little puppy's fur in their faces. I wanted them to rub their eyes and breathe in puppy scent. I needed to make very sure if we brought this puppy home to be a part of our family that they wouldn't be miserable or even the slightest big uncomfortable due to allergies. It is their home first and foremost and I was not willing to give up their comfort for my dreams of a puppy.

But they weren't allergic! All went well with the meet and greet. We had a great time talking with our neighbors again after all these years, and they gave us loads of great information about raising puppies in general and goldendoodles specifically. It almost felt meant to be as we talked and they brought up concerns or issues and answered the questions we hadn't even told them we'd had. Their puppy raising philosophy aligned so exactly with the things Bryan and I had been talking about earlier. And the one little puppy left that we were considering was just adorable. Bryan told them that we'd go home to think about it and get back to them by the end of the day. And it looked good, it really did! It looked like Bryan was getting comfortable with the idea of the puppy.

But then we went home and reality sunk in. For me. I knew that puppies were a lot of work and needed serious time and attention to train and take care of. But I also knew that being the beginning of summer, my schedule would be lighter and I'd have helpers. Great timing! But oh, looking around the house and thinking about the ways in which I'd need to puppy proof. Thinking about our comfortable schedule and routine and the ways in which that would get a lot more difficult...did I want to really do that? And yes, it looked like I'd be able to talk Bryan into the puppy. But I didn't want it to be a reluctant thing or like I had bullied him into it. I knew he'd let me bring this puppy home. And I knew that in the beginning he might just tolerate him. But I wanted to feel like eventually he'd be fond of him. I didn't want him coming home from work every night and be irritated about puppy antics. So I texted my friend and told her that we needed to sleep on it.

I dreamed of puppies all night. And early the next morning I awoke to a text from my friend...a video of the puppy running around the yard and being the cute little guy that he was.  I left Bryan and the kids sleeping and puttered out to my computer to do more research. I went back and forth on my pros and cons list. And finally went in to talk to Bryan still in bed. I spilled my guts as to everything on my mind. He listened patiently to my somewhat tearful puppy ramblings and finally said...he would be okay with the puppy. He would help me when he was home. He enjoyed having dogs when he was growing up and knew that our children would likely enjoy it too. Specifically he liked the idea of Lilian having a companion and some more responsibility associated with owning a puppy. And he was pretty sure he would become fond of the puppy over time. We could do this if I really wanted.

(Oscar is a bit obsessed with our water fountain in the backyard.)

So I texted my friend, told her we were on board.
And then got really excited and nervous and felt all sorts of emotions.

We decided to wait till Friday to pick him up so as to be a birthday surprise for Lilian. (Plus, a little easier to get through the crazy last week of school which included Julianne's graduation!!!) Bryan ordered puppy necessities on amazon. I texted all my dog owning family and friends asking for advice and reassurance that I wasn't crazy. (Some of them told me that I was. But it was tempered by the ones who said I'd never regret it...you know, after we got through those first crazy weeks.) I emailed Rebekah and told her what we were getting a puppy (she was rightfully stunned) and asked her to send me some name suggestions so she could be a part of the process. Julianne, Brandon and I talked names all week...we had a running list that we texted to each other with additions or cancellations. We wanted Lilian to help pick a name...but we also wanted to be set with a few approved choices to present to her so we could guide her...knowing on her own she would likely try to name the puppy some silly or generic name.

(And being a baby...he sleeps a lot.)

And then we brought the little guy home. And it was indeed quite a birthday surprise! We named him Oscar. (Trumping Bryan's suggestion of Dorkadoodle...haha.)

And then our lives changed. A lot. More than I had even expected. I knew it would be a lot of work. I knew this! But wow, it wasn't too long before I was rather overwhelmed. Could I really do this? Had I bit off more than I could chew? Regardless of the years of longing, had I jumped into this too soon? Oscar was adorable. But taking care of him was hard. And he wanted to continually poop under my grand piano, regardless of potty timers and signals. He's a puppy and so naturally he was nippy at times. Especially in the early mornings when he was super hyper. And that made me nervous...because though it didn't hurt too much, there's just something about a dog lunging or jumping at you, even in play, with his mouth open wide and those teeth trying to grab your hand or clothing. (Shades of my past childhood fear of dogs coming back, maybe?)

I called a trainer. Which I had always planned to do. She came to the house and started training Oscar AND me. And suddenly I felt hope again. I knew of course that eventually we'd make it through the puppy phase. I could see that in the future we'd have a sweet dog that was truly part of our family in a calm, happy, companionable sort of way. But this puppy thing? I could do this. And this was what would make that future happy vision I had in my head come to fruition. She assured me that Goldendoodles were a highly intelligent breed, and people pleasers to boot...so training shouldn't be horribly difficult as long as we were consistent.

We got a fence/gate to put across the entrance to the kitchen in as we got serious about potty training. Oscar will be confined there and the back yard for the first few weeks until he "earns" his way into various other rooms of the house. We took Oscar to puppy class on Saturday morning and let him socialize with other puppies.

(I tripped over the fence a couple days ago. Oscar was ringing the bells on the back doorknob which is the signal we are trying to teach him that means we will let him out to go potty. I was hurriedly trying to get to the door when my pinky toe slipped in and got caught on that top rung and the fence and I went down hard. Multiple bruises and a pretty deep gash in between my pinky toe and the one next to it. Who would've guessed training a puppy could be so hazardous to one's health?)

Every morning I get up somewhere around 6:15. (This morning it was 5:45, but yesterday it was 6:30.) He is forcing me to become a morning person. And because the two of us spend a whole lot of time in the kitchen, I'm usually pretty on top of my dishes and laundry. He's sleeping a lot better, early mornings withstanding, at least he's not waking up in the middle of the night, or whining and barking when we put him to bed.

Every day I wonder what I've got myself into and think back somewhat longingly to my days of sleeping in and being able to leave the house and do whatever I want, whenever I want to. But every day I also spend a lot of time on the floor petting and scratching and loving on my little furry baby and know that it will be all worth it. Puppy phase is hard but oh so cute and I'm sure we will miss it when it's over.

Birthday surprises

Lilian turned 9-years old on Friday. It was the last day of school so she was rather jazzed about that. Kind of a double celebration of sorts. She originally wanted to celebrate by having a slumber party complete with homemade little lean-to tents that she had seen on Pinterest. Yes, my 9-year old looks at Pinterest. Have I mentioned she is a teenager in a little kid body? I mean seriously, check out this conversation I had with her just last night while she was watching The Bachelorette...on her own, even. Not even with her older sister!
Lilian: I think JoJo will probably send home Chad instead of Alex.
Me: Well, isn't Chad just the worst? Doesn't everyone hate him because he keeps threatening to beat everyone up?
Lilian: Well, yes. But Mom, just hear me out....I actually think Chad and JoJo look really good together. You know, the strong man taking care of the girl. (On the episode Chad had been helping JoJo as they were hiking.) I think maybe he's just mean around the other guys and that he could be really nice to JoJo. 

Umm....okay. Maybe I shouldn't let her watch The Bachelorette anymore.






















So, back to the story. She was insistent on having a slumber party. The thing is, we don't usually have sleepovers. And even if we made an exception, many of the girlfriends she wanted to invite have the same sort of no sleepover family rule. I told her between all the many varied things we had going on that week, I wouldn't be able to have a party on her actual birthday anyhow. Plus, I wasn't overly worried because I knew we were having a surprise to top all birthday surprises....






















I went to school with her in the morning and did a little VIP sort of presentation in honor of her birthday. Then left the kids to their yearbook signings and ran home to decorate Lilian's room. I'm not sure I will ever again be able to listen to the "Hamilton" soundtrack without associating it with blowing up balloons, but so be it. She came home from school doubly happy. Birthday happy and last day of school happy. She watched The Bachelorette (sigh) while I made the cake and did other such birthday prep. Cousins Megan, Emily and Nathan came over for birthday dinner consisting of the requested salmon, potatoes and veggies. Also requested, a treasure hunt with clues leading to her birthday presents. Julianne and the cousins had come up with riddles leading to various hiding places throughout the house. Her final clue led her to the back deck. And waiting for her there was...

A PUPPY! 

She was nothing short of stunned. A little mini goldendoodle puppy wagging his tail in excitement. We told Lilian that though this little guy was a family dog, he was adopted mostly with her her in mind...a companion and snuggle buddy as all her older siblings are moving out of the house (mission and college) or continuously gone (gymnastics). We discussed names while the puppy scampered around on the grass and Lilian opened the rest of her birthday gifts. You know a puppy is a big deal when it trumps the awesomeness of getting Pentatonix concert tickets. (See you guys, she's a teenager at heart. What 9-year old wants tickets to see Pentatonix and is willing to wait till October when they come in concert? Granted, she was also pretty excited to get a nerf bow and arrow.)

But yes, a puppy. A birthday PUPPY!

Up next: The story of how I convince Bryan to agree to said puppy....

Pocahontas

Despite the fact that we have had four 3rd graders, this was our first experience with the very popular wax museum project. Maybe it's a newer thing that came around after Brandon finished 3rd grade? Well whatever, I have to admit that I had a very bad attitude about it at first. I'm not entirely sure why. I mean, it's all about researching famous historical figures...what's not to love about that? Especially if you are a history major like me, am I right? Another admission...I'm so over elementary school. After three kids and then a six year gap before Lilian, I've moved on mentally. Been there, done that and much more focused on higher education, you know? At least this is what I've told myself. Maybe it truly had more to do with a roller coaster of a year that had me preoccupied with other things...things that took higher precedence in my mind than 3rd grade homework. Maybe next year I'll be totally on top of things in regards to elementary school again? Who knows, really. But whatever it was, the wax museum was giving me grief. I was frustrated with all the research and the worksheets to fill out and the poster to make, etc. It was just one more thing. One more thing that after sitting with Lilian to do said research and fill out said worksheets, I would frequently hear back from the teacher that it was all good, but...could I have Lilian fill out the worksheet in this different way, or make sure to highlight pertinent information in this other print out? Which just made me all the more irritable. Despite the fact that I had rather enjoyed learning interesting facts about Pocahontas. (Because you know, as awesome as I think the Disney movie is, it is not historically accurate.)

The big day came. We couldn't find Rebekah's old Pocahontas Halloween costume from years back. Of course...because that would've been too easy. We ordered another native american/indian costume on amazon and Lilian delightedly dressed up the morning of and let me put braids in her hair. Which is a feat in and of itself...she rarely lets me do anything with her hair other than brush it. Just saying. Lilian and I discussed a few poses she could use while standing all wax-like. She made sure she had her note cards for the oral report she was to give later in the afternoon to just her class. And off she went. Bryan and I followed about 30 minutes later.

But then. Oh, but then! I was blown away. Truly. All four 3rd grade classes were set up in the gym. Classical music was playing over the speakers. Parents were making the rounds. The 3rd graders were standing still in their wax poses, all dressed up as their historical figure. Props and posters helped tell their stories. So much work and creativity...they were nothing short of fantastic! I was so hugely impressed. And then I felt ashamed. What an amazing project this had been! What a wonderful learning experience and incredible way to show off their hard work. I wished I had been more supportive and less irritable. This is my last child, the last time I will be doing any of this. And though that thought does relieve me to some extent, shouldn't Lilian get as much attention and focus in her projects as I gave to Rebekah, Julianne and Brandon when they were her age? Because when it boils down to it, I'm normally a huge supporter or education in general and public school particularly. And the programs and projects that the elementary teachers devise to teach my children are often times very creative and just downright cool. The wax museum certainly was.