Observation Point

I am a "herd animal". I don't really like to be alone, or go places by myself, I like to share experiences with others. But I had an amazing day today, all by myself, hiking Observation Point in Zion. I nearly cried, it was so beautiful.

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Beautiful day and a trip to the Silver Reef Mine

It has been over 100 degrees everyday this week, which has been nice since Scotty arranged for a break from his school work and it is my first week of summer break, as well. We spent too much time at the pool yesterday and got sunburned. Today was a wonderful 85 degrees and so we decided to go exploring at the Silver Reef Mine in Leeds which is about 15 miles away. They had a nice little museum there. The boys mostly enjoyed looking at all the old guns. (So predictable, really.)
We came upon some weird plants there. Brought it home and sliced it to see the inside. It looked like a cucumber. Another fun plant was a giant Mulberry tree that was 130 years old. We have never had a mulberry berry before. It was a cross between a black berry and a blue berry and stained our fingers and lips immediately.

Not the most exciting of pictures but it was so nice to have a pleasant, relaxing afternoon. We are enjoying the beginning of our summer. What a relief to our hectic schedule all through May.

Club Mommie

I got a chuckle out of this article today. I have experienced this very thing . . . and my kids saying, "Do you know her?"

Club Mom
By Margaret Anderson

"Mom, do you know that lady?"

"No, why?"

"Then why are you chatting together like you're bestest friends?"

My six-year-old, Kate, asked me this question at least three times today while we ran errands.

My mother used to do this too: strike up conversations with complete strangers in the store, in line at the post office, and in doctors’ waiting rooms. To my young mind, I couldn't comprehend how two strangers could be giggling together like old college roomies after only two lines of dialogue. Now I know. They're all fellow mommies: members of Club Mom.

You see, we're all part of the same sorority. When I see another mom with her shopping cart weighed down with more kids than groceries, I feel like I already know her. We need no introductions. I can just blurt out,

"Hey, have you tried these yet?" or, "How much do you think these will shrink in the wash?" and before we know it, we're swapping laundry tips and recipes and potty training horror stories. That's when Kate looks on and can't believe we're perfect strangers.

Being a member of Club Mom has other benefits too.

"What do you do if you get lost?" I ask my kids each time we go someplace large and crowded.

"Find another mommy!" is their hardy reply. "We look for someone with a stroller and kids to help us!" I teach them this because I know I can trust my fellow mommies more than any other group of people on earth.

I know a fellow sister in the trenches will help my little one find his way back to me no matter how many obstacles stand in her way. She'll probably even have a wet wipe for his nose and a few fruit snacks in her purse. I know this because these are my people. This is my club. Millions join our ranks daily.

But I'll tell you...whew! Club Mom has one heck of an initiation rite!