When is a safe not safe?

Some things really burn me up! I especially despise spending good money on things that fail--only after the warranty has expired. Case in point...our safe.

We researched safes and for the money felt we had purchased a good product. Everything seemed to be great and time passed. Then, last night, it refused to open. It showed that the combination was correct, but the locking mechanism refused to release. After many attempts to open, research online, and a discovery that the warranty had expired a while ago, the decision was made to open the safe by force. The company actually gave suggestions for accomplishing this--I guess we missed that bit of info when we were researching! Hmmmm.

So the Big Guy Lowe's morning project today has been conquering the safe. This is what I found just a few minutes ago.

Notice the power tool in hand and the cut around the safe?

I think this picture is probably more accurate as he was pretty happy to purposefully use one of his power tools to destroy something!

So for the time being an empty diaper box has taken the place of our comfort-inspiring safe. Who would've known that pampers could provided security in more ways than one?

Interesting way to start the weekend...I wonder what's next!

If you don't try, you won't know!

I like to think that I am a pretty aware and on-top-of-it mom. I'm involved in my kids lives and provide opportunities for them to grow and learn, most of the time at least.

Recently we were at a doctor appointment for our youngest when the doctor asked me if he was doing a few things. I felt like a deer caught in the headlights as I thought "I haven't ever given him the chance to do that!!" The incriminating activities asked about were as follows: eating with the help of utensils, holding and moving a crayon on paper, and lastly, drinking from an open cup.

After sheepishly admitting to the doctor of my gross neglect, I decided to see if our little guy could in fact do these activites. The following is what I found:

1. Eating with the help of utensils. Now in my behalf, I have often given him the plastic utensils to chew on and play with. Does that count? Oh well, this is what happened.





Showing that he was indeed able to maneuver the fork, he was pretty pleased to keep this up throughout lunch!


One down, two to go!

2. Next was the crayon trick. Again, in my behalf, a vision of crayons marking up walls was not very appealing to me, but I guess he can't get too far in a high chair. Here we go!

Our middle son was able to be a helpful big brother by showing his younger brother how to color (dark blue marks are compliments of mommy trying to demonstrate earlier).

A quick taste, just to make sure he wasn't missing another opportunity...

then down to work, or play, really. Front of paper is good,

let's try the back. More difficult to color. Hmmm

Final product, soft marks on paper considered a passing grade for this boy's freshman attempt!


Two down, one to go.

3. Drinking from an open cup. Here we go! Obviously eager for this activity.

Pretty sad little boy as I take the water away from him. What did you think? Who would give a cup of water to a one year old when there are sippy cups available! :)


So, two out of three is pretty good for this mom. Hmmmm, is it odd that I feel like this was a test for me rather than our cute little guy?! In my book we are both more accomplished than when we began!

Teaching the important things

Anyone who knows our family, knows that The Big Guy Lowe LOVES cars. Being the involved father that he is, he is doing his best to instill this love in each of our sons. Today I found him working in his office--working on our youngest!

What you can't see here is that The Big Guy Lowe is determining online how his current car would look with different front grills. These slight differences sometimes are all it takes to make a car perfect. Note the concentrated interest shared by both father and son.

Now The Big Guy Lowe is demonstrating how to shift at high speeds while the laptop is making the shifting sounds. Passion. Pure passion! Looks like our youngest was enjoying the intensity as well!

You just have to love time with daddy!

Starsky and Hutch in their early years?

Every undercover detective needs their equipment.

Cool shades. Shiny clip-on badge.

A firearm (bright yellow/orange color will fulfill requirements, obviously more training needed).

A plastic walkie-talkie to communicate with others.

Equipment found in an all-inclusive detective package from the dollar store.


We are in safe hands.

After school activities with Sue

I am a big believer in routines. As a mother I've reinforced this belief while at the same time recognizing that all routines will be foiled at one time or another. Rain is generally the culprit, but that's a given, considering where we have chosen to put roots down.

I digress, back to routines.

One routine that has become a favorite mid-day activity of ours is visiting our good friend Sue, her husband and their cat.


I'm glad that they like our visits, because I think it would be hard to break the boys of this routine. This is generally how it goes...

The little boys and I head to the bus stop to pick up their big brother from Kindergarten. As we walk to the bus stop, our 2 1/2 year old starts asking to go to Sue's house; our neighbor who lives across the street from us. I reassure him that we will stop by after we get his brother off the bus. He acquiesces and we continue. After being reunited with our 6 year old, we talk and walk until we get about a block away from our home.

Then the competition begins.

Our middle son starts running as he wants to get to Sue's house first. That doesn't last long as our oldest son is very competitive and has longer legs.

They turn the corner and keep running.

Sue has become so well acquainted with our family visits that she has the door ready and welcomes the boys in, leaving the door open for me as I am usually a bit behind them.

Once inside, the boys head over to their cat.

Sometimes we have to ask the boys to remember that the cat needs space to breathe too!

Sue has nicely reassured me that their cat would leave if he didn't like the attention. But sometimes I think I hear a sigh of relief as the boys begin to leave...
Then there is the excitement of "Mystery Days"; special days that Sue chooses to share fun things with the boys such as animal crackers, Hot Wheels cars, puzzles. One day she even gave them each a Sacagawea dollar. Our middle son was so excited about getting a "penny" that he has chosen to ask for them as often as he thinks of them--Sorry Sue! We're trying to teach them how to be polite!!

Thank you Sue for letting us be a part of your day and for being such a wonderful friend and neighbor! We love you and are so happy that we get to be your neighbor!!

Memories

Dates have many different things associated with them;
holidays
(Papa, Grandad, Grammie, The Lowe Girl--at Thanksgiving in Holiday, UT one week before our oldest son was born),














marriages, new babies
(Grandad holding our oldest son),
















baby blessings, (Grammie, the Lowe Girl, the Big Guy Lowe holding our oldest son after he was blessed in church, Grandad, Aunt Laura, Uncle Brett and their oldest son)
graduation, (The Big Guy Lowe's graduation with honors from the University of Utah--Grammie, The Big Guy Lowe holding our oldest son, Grandad)














family gatherings (Visiting Uncle Brett and Aunt Laura and their family in CO),
new homes, moves and many other events.


Today is a date with which many emotions are associated in our family. We choose to remember the wonderful ways Grandad blessed our lives before and how he continues to bless our lives as we look forward.

I am thankful for The Big Guy Lowe's Dad, our Grandad Lowe. I am thankful for the family he raised; for the wife that he loved and the kids that cherished him growing up and continue to now as adults. I am thankful for the example he gave my husband in caring for a family, for my husband has learned well.

One example that makes me grateful for Grandad is the lesson he helped my husband learn of the greater importance relationships have over "things". My husband tells of his experience as a novice driver behind the wheel of his dad's car. He was trying to back out of the garage, carefully trying to back out, when somehow he got too close to something and a horrible scraping sound was heard. My husband explains that he didn't know what to do so he tried to get out faster--only making the damage worse(you've got to love those teenage choices we make!!). He shared that he felt sick when he saw the damage, and like any teen wasn't looking forward to facing his father. His dad, recognizing the anguish his son was experiencing as well as the limited experience his son had driving, made a choice that has had a lasting effect on him then and now. His dad didn't ground him or yell at him, but simply said "It's only a car" bringing great relief to his remorseful son. That was something that my husband nicely said to me a few months ago when some wood I was transporting in my car damaged the interior, something my husband said shortly after he was rear-ended by a teenage girl driving with a learner's permit accompanied by her grandmother. Sometimes my husband can look pretty intimidating--shaved head, tall, dark suit, chisled jawline, crystal-blue eyes (so HOT!). Following the accident, the grandmother of this new driver said how grateful and relieved she was when she experienced the concern my husband had for them instead of experiencing a stranger's anger over the damage done to his car. My husband's dad taught him well.

I didn't get much time to get to know him in this life, but I have continued learning of him through the boy he raised; a boy that loves his dad, misses talking with him in person, and looks forward to being reunited with him after this life as we know families are forever. I know Grandad loves the son he raised and recognizes the wonderful man, father, and husband his son has become.

So today, we are celebrating our Grandad Lowe. We miss him...five years now, but we will always make sure our boys know him and love him through the stories, pictures and love we share.

My Angel

Often the days and weeks fly by without taking the opportunity to step back and look at all the wonderful blessings the Lord has provided for me throughout my life. I have a wonderful life which I get to share with my cute little family. I have an amazing career which has blessed me with much success and free time where I am able to watch my boys grow up. I have a beautiful home, a family that is blessed with health, 3 boys that brings smiles and tears at times to my face, parents and grandparents that are close and who we love dearly. I have food to eat and clean clothes to wear and I belong to a wonderful ward, where I am able to serve my fellow men. But the greatest blessing the Lord has seen fit to bless me with, my most cherished treasure of all, is my best friend, my wife, the Lowe Girl.
I cannot explain nor can words alone portray fully how much she means to me. Every time I pray, I give thanks for her in my life. How she is my world and when times get weary or seem to get out of control all I have to do is look at her and I know all will be good. When we embrace her smell always puts a smile on my face, and her voice is the soothing constant in my busy days. Just knowing she is by me provides comfort and joy. I feel guilty at times because I only want to spend time with her, I hate being away from her even on the days I work from home and I am just down the hall in my office. She is an amazing mother, perfection has not come yet (thank goodness, I don't want to lose her), but I cannot think of anyone else I would want raising my boys. She loves them more than they will ever know and I love watching her with them. How she smothers them with her kisses and hugs when they wake from sleep. How her face lights up when they call her name, how she glows when she shares with me the happenings of the days' events and even how at times she feels inadequate and lost. Those are the times when I love her the most, because she is a great example to me. At those times instead of raising her hands and professing she gives up, she walks away to find a quiet place and in doing so bows her head and turns to her Heavenly Father in prayer, asking for guidance, direction and strength. She makes me want to be better, because of her influence, her example, her support and most of all her love I am the man I am today. Without her I would not even be half that man.
In the days that seem the most monotonous, I am so grateful she is my eternal companion and partner and that we are blessed to travel this road together, though at times she must feel she does it herself, while I am out providing for our family. I am ever so humbled and so thankful, standing with open arms of grattitude, stripped of all my armor, and upon bended knee offer my thanks to you, my most ever cherished friend and treasure, my Angel. Thank you for being the mother of my boys, my wife, my partner, my lover, and my best friend.
Angel, I love you.
Forever your boy. (Big Guy Lowe)