I would like to do something for you Mom...

I was cuddling with Porter as a routine part of bedtime. This pretty much consists of me laying beside him while he talks, plays pretends, goofs around, whichever option he chooses and then I usually laugh or on occasion leave, after having my nose rammed with his head.

Tonight, he was just talking to me, sharing his thoughts. He said, "Mom. (pause) I want to do something for you. Like a castle." So I said, "What do you want to do with this castle? Do you want to build me a castle?"

His reply, "Yep."

That's muh boy! He's so sweet and thoughtful by nature. In 20 years, I'll send a notice to my neighbors to move aside for the big leagues and make room for my new castle that my strapping son is building for me!

Ape Appreciation Yo

I just watched 'Gorillas in the Mist', which is a film based off of the journals of Dian Fossey, a researcher and conservationist of Mountain Gorillas. Watching the movie reminded me of the need and the interest I have in conservation. I think the first step is becoming more educated on it.

I took a Primatology class at the U of C in 2007. The first half of the semester was mediocre to lame-o and then the tides took a turn, my friends. Brian Keating, head of the Conservation department at the Calgary Zoo taught the second half of the semester. He is truly a great teacher. He makes students not just learn but love what they learn and want to practice and act upon what they learn. I learned that problems for endangered species isn't just because of poaching or pollution, the majority of the problem is land conservation. They can try to preserve as many of any given species as possible but what good does it do if they have no where to live, to reproduce, to eat their natural foods?

I never thought I was a monkey or ape person, as in I never thought about them in any given moment; however, everything changes when you learn about it. My favorite great ape is the mountain gorilla, followed by the orangutan. Two things I would like to experience in my life time are going to the Borneo orangutan preserve and to Rwanda to witness a gorilla family for a day (or more). :)

Learning about these animals has given me a new and unrealized appreciation for Heavenly Father's creations. They really are remarkable. I am in 'awesome wonder' with these animal. To think I previously couldn't even stand a domestic cat coming near me! Actually, I still can't stand cats coming near me (they seem a bit tricky) and while I'm at it, I'll add squirrels to the mix. They seems a bit edgey.

Joking and admittances aside, everyone at point or another is impressed by some diverse and exotic animal. I think the second part of that is also seeing things with a fuller perspective, that is seeing Heavenly Father's hand in everything. By doing this, we learn and appreciate them as one of His creations. In fact, when we acknowledge His hand in all parts of our life, it always gives greater understanding.

The Calgary Zoo has tonnes of opportunities and information on conservation. They're part of an accredited zoo program that makes it possible for them to breed with animals from other zoos instead of taking them from the wild. They are also committed to donating money and research for conservation around the world to protect endangered species in their natural habitat.

Other good places to look are:

http://www.gorillafund.org/

http://www.janegoodall.org/

http://www.orangutan.org/

These three webites were all created because of three women known as Leakey's angels. Louis Leakey, a renowned anthropologist, hired three women: Dian Fossey to study Gorillas, Jane Goodall to study Chimpanzees and Birute Galdikas to study Orangutans. Their work is what has saved these species to the present day.

Learning at Home

Honestly, I feel inadequate when it comes to projects and learning styles for young children. It is just not in my mindset, possibly because I'm a 'me' person and I've had to learn to be more conscious of others as I go along; however, motherhood makes it easier because I really do want to serve those I love the most. By the way, I love my kids and the big man (Lane) the most, although don't think I couldn't do nice, lovely things for you too.

Another thing, is I love intellectual learning and until I had completely adorable children (I could've just said children but my children happen to be adorable. It's practically like a title. It could even be one word), I could only possibly fathom how to think and have a conversation with an adult. Learning and teaching styles were all adult based. Kids, me no clue. It had never crossed my mind to develop any skills in the childhood development realm. In fact, spending more than 15 minutes with kids while they were not sleeping was okay, past that it was torture (this was before my own of course).

Pretty much, I was clueless/CLUELESS as to what to do with kids. Once Porter was born and I would see what other mom's were doing, I'd think, 'seriously? Seriously?! Am I deficit because how did they just come up with that?' I think I am beginning to accumalate more knowledge in that area and can come up with things much easier than before. I also have Primary to thank for that. After I got married and was going back into a family ward, the calling I feared the most was Primary/children. Like I said, I just had no idea what to do with them. In retrospect, I realize now that the fear was a lack of knowledge.

Through a lot of time, frustration, mistakes, and in the end, fun, I gained a lot of knowledge on kid age appropriate activities by serving in three different Primary presidencies beginning when Porter was two weeks old. It was hard in the beginning but it turned into a huge blessing because it helped prepare me as a mother. I can whip together a sharing time in no time now. I am like the masked sharing time bandit. ;) Truly though, I do feel blest.

Second thing, is I had no idea the benefits of the blogging world until this last year. Who needs internet search engines to find good ideas on everything imginable, when you have blogs? I'll tell you: you don't need them. Blogs can be the encyclopedia to life. Okay just kidding! But I love getting ideas from them. I need to come up with efficiency tactics though, sometimes I practically get dizzy linking from one to the other, over and over until I have no clue how I got there or how I'll find it again!

Well, there's probably a third, fourth, and a hundredth reason why I am finally getting the kid creativity concept but it's coming, at a nice tortoise pace BUT they say he did win the race so maybe I'll be a wicked awesome grandma one day. ;) Bottom line, I've had a lot of other great young mom rolemodels to copy living in the southeast. Another blessing of location.

Here's some fun things that Porter and I have done recently.

Apple stamps:

Paint: We put paint in a bag and he was able to swirl it and make different designs with his finger without getting dirty. Porter hates having anything on his hands. Another thing he really liked on another glorious painting day was doing textures. We scrunched up paper, rolled his cars through the paint, used sponges, the works.

Learning the Alphabet. So far we've hit up the big running letters 'A' and 'B'. The first picture he had to find all the Big A's, then little a's, Big B, little b. He has success. Bravo ma boy. The last picture I wrote a row of letters and then did a box underneath the ones I did. Then it was his turn. By his turn, I mean mommy assisted turn. As well, it was also open mic time too. Sing your way to success is going to be the title of my next and first book. It's how I'm going to make it to the big leagues and compete for front cover space from Jon and Kate.

Edible Paint: So, clearly my creativity seems to be limited to paint. This is edible paint, namely milk and food coloring. He's painting his bread and then we toasted it, cut out a shape and ate the delicious morsel.

Baby (aka Elephant)

Who would've known two years ago that a dollar investment was worth more than Kodak's priceless pictures. For Porter's 2nd birthday, my pal Silvana and her niece came and brought Porter this Elephant. For a while, this elephant's name was Elephant.

I thought Porter adjusted pretty seamlessly to life with a new baby; however, I have witnessed ways it has affected him. From now on, when you see my firstborn, he's Muma PoPo. Just kidding, don't call him that.

This elephant not only is by Porter's side, he has now become a well nurtured child by a loving parent. By the way, don't call him 'Elephant'. Porter has re-named him 'Baby'. In fact, I called him Elephant and Porter was quite curt and clear, 'Not elephant, it Baby!' Pardon me. ;)

Here are some toucing pictures capturing Baby's growth and love in our meek and modest Trim household.

Behold baby being swaddled. Baby is not happy so Pappy Porter comes to snuggle him to sleep.

Grady was laying on Porter's bed and Porter lifted up Grady's arm and shoved baby under there. Grady looking a little dumbfounded. Poor guy is helpless although I'm sure he doesn't mind having baby there. Baby and baby! Awwww...

Lastly, Elephant waiting for a warm meal while quietly playing with a toy.

My Sunday Bloopers

Well, this past Sunday is what the Spaniards call, "LOCO!" My cousin was in town and was going to meet me at Church at 11:00 am. Lane was working that morning so I was cruising around and multi-tasking like a chimp. I just cannot seem to conquer it. I see a gnat and say, 'A gnat!' It's not that bad; I hope. Exaggeration folks! Well, I got out the door at 11:00 am instead of being at the Church at 11 am. I'm cruising down the road I like to call the 'I-tardy'.

Then I remember I have a movie due back at Blockbuster at noon. Curse them for their new 2 day policy. They take the 48 hours seriously! Now I have an errand I have to do or be penalized. The only thing to help this situation is speed like demon. I'm cruising to Mckenzie Towne when a cop steps onto the road and waves me to pull over. I should've floored it and faced the consequences later. Kidding! It wasn't Lane and this guy looked big and tough. As I rolled down my window and waited I started to sweat and began thinking of my pathetic plea I was going to give. I've been practising my speech for years now and all of a sudden it seemed really retarded. 'Officer, I should've known better! My husband is a police officer.'

I look at him guilty and then realize...it's Lane's partner! He said he was all excited because before he knew it was me he thought he was going to get a good one (if that explains how fast I was going). Then I hear Lane's laughing. He was in the second unmarked car beside his partner's police car. I was a joke to liven their day when they realize it's 'Trim's wife'.

I got off with a warning and continue on after being pulled over by the coppers. I pull up to Blockbuster and practically leap off my seat. Unfortunately, I am still a chub-chub from the baby and was wearing a jean skirt that was too tight. I had no feeling left in my butt so how was I to gauge where it swings?! I hit the door lock. I realized it before it was too late but this van is still new to me and as I was in a haste and couldn't find the unlock button fast enough, I just left the door open. As I took a few steps to the other side of the vehicle to get the movie out, my door closed! Locked out of the van with the two kids inside! Oh no! I ask Porter to open the door but he's strapped in, never opened a van door and laughing hysterically. No help at all. I can't remember Lane's number in his car. I go into Blockbuster and start using their phone and call the same three friends a few times each. I finally start leaving messgaes that go a little something like this, 'This is Stacey. I am stranded at Blockbuster and locked out of my car. I know you probably think you have a late movie because it's Blockbuster but you don't...I think. Please pick up your phone!'

Nobody picks up. I finally call the police station and get someone who will give me Lane's number. Then I call Lane and he leaves his post to come unlock the van for me.

As he unlocks the van from his car I can see him giving me a thumbs up for encouragement but the embarassment is shining through. Now his partner who just pulled me over hears I just locked myself out of the car. But I swear I am a genius!

I made it to Church at the ripe time of 11:45. My cousin thought she was in the wrong ward. Thankfully, she stuck it out and waited. In the end, we crowned the day with a warm bowl of Mac n'cheese and then the world became right again. The end.

Trains on the mind

Bright and early at 10:00 am I'm hearing some thudding coming from Porter's room. What I didn't know was behind closed doors was actually a construction site.

He had moved his curtain and hooked it on his bed for a little lighting and put on his Percy the Train hat to set the mood.

He then started propping up his books to make a tunnel for his pal Thomas. When I opened the door he was starting Thomas' engine and letting him travel through the long tunnel to be rewarded at the end by the light of day.

I only got a quick witness of it because then he stood up like he might be in trouble and even started to take it down. Poor fella. Little did he know this was a camera moment to document his creative genius! In fact. while I started to take pictures of it all, he started to take it down to give me the hint that he was tired of taking pictures!

Bushman

A few weekends ago I went to Time Out for Women. Whilst Grady and I were away in Edmonton, Porter and Lane were working on their manliness. Porter says to Lane, 'Dad, can I pee in grass?' Lane says, 'Sure.' I mean why not, right? So in our backyard, Porter whips down his pants to his ankles and aims for the middle of the grass. No folks, the yellow grass on the lawn is not from a dog but from my son. J.K. Then while we were on our family walk, the same one where Porter scraped his elbow, Porter said, 'I have to go pee!'
I panic, we are so far from home, how are we going to make in time for him to go the bathroom? Lane says, 'Come with me', and away they go into the bush. When Porter came out he said, 'Mom, I feel better!' This is a pro.

The con: Twice on our way to Church, Porter has whipped his pants down to his ankles and tinkled on the front lawn. Somewhere the line must be drawn. Peeing on the side of a highway while on a roadtrip: a good thing. Peeing on the front lawn when a toilet is 15 feet away: bad. Here is a picture of him on one such occasion on the way to Church.

I have a problem, I say no and tell him not to do that, but I guess I am too gifted at having an omniscient viewpoint. If I was just a fly on a wall, I would just laugh my guts out.