Damon’s Birthday

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Damon understood the power of being the "birthday boy" for the first time. He literally sprang out of bed and bounded up the two stair to our room the instant he awoke singing, "It's my birthday! It's my birthday!" He was so happy that his big day arrived, he couldn't hardly stop giggling. Then, the term "for my birthday" promptly became a large part of his vocabulary throughout the day. "I'm gonna get a lot of presents for my birthday." "I want to get a happy meal for my birthday." "Are they coming for my birthday," and on and on and on went the phrase. Soon it became clear he expected every whim to be fulfilled just because it was his birthday. We had to keep him grounded a little bit, reminding him that gratitude was the most important thing—even more important than what he got or what we did. I'm not sure how much of it sunk in, but I think he soaked in a little bit of the lesson.

On Friday morning, while Damon was still at school, I tried to make the requested cake (Chocolate with cherry filling). Time was getting short by the time I was ready to put it in the oven, and it didn't fit. There wasn't enough time to make two round cakes, I only had one pan and couldn't fit two in at a time anyway. So, I had to pour it into a smaller pan and hope for it to cook all the way through. Despite the fact the oven tends to cook hot, I had to leave the cake in longer than the directions say. Even then, it was still a little wobbly. I crossed my fingers and hoped that it would firm up as it cooled. Well, two hours later it was still really gooey, so I called my mom on the way up there and told her the cake hadn't turned out. Thankfully, she didn't graciously offered to make a cake and we were saved from having to buy one.

Stacie and her family joined us for pizza, cake, and a movie at the discount theaters near my parents home. Damon was all smiles. He loved his presents—a book on dinosaurs with realistic pop-out pictures, a new bike helmet and a fancy bike. He only had two things to open and I was really proud of him for being happy with what he got and not expecting more. Of course he had to ask grandma Hinton if they only had one present for him, but he wasn't too rude about, just enough that we needed to remind him about being grateful.

First Steps

Ashton began walking a week ago last Sunday (on August 29^th), at almost exactly 14 months old. He was walking before, but it was really sporadic and he'd only take a couple steps from here to there when he was distracted. No amount of bribery or beckoning could convince him to step out on his own. He learned a couple months ago that he was fastest if he crawled on hands and toes, so he would promptly get down on all fours and rush to us or whatever his destination. But now, he tentatively walks in a step-pause-step-pause fashion toward us with a big smile on his face. He definitely knows he's doing something really special and he loves the attention. I just can't believe it's taken him this long to start walking and, furthermore, that his quickest mode of transportation is still the bear crawl (or the Mogley as my sister Stacie has coined it). Damon began walking at ten months and he practically started running immediately thereafter. One thing I've definitely learned during my short term as a mother is that kids will learn and develop at their own pace and no amount of convincing, tricking, or bribery will change when they're ready. With Ashton, we'd make funny faces, talk to him in high-pitched voices, and even try to dupe him into taking a step, but all he would do was lift his legs off the ground and do his best to wriggle to a crawling position on the floor. Man, we've got some stubborn kids!

Then, a week ago Wednesday, Damon had his first day of school. He was all smiles and excitement and hardly said bye to me before he stepped through his classroom door. He's been anxiously waiting his chance at being an official kindergartener for over a year. It was funny, for two nights before he started, he nearly giggled himself to sleep thinking how exciting it was that he would be starting school soon. And, of course, now all I hear when I pick him up is "Mrs. Packer this and Mrs. Packer that—" and "Me and Aiden this and me and Aiden that—" Aiden's his new close friend and they've been playing Super Mario at recess every day since school began, he's also been asking if Aiden could come play at our house since school began. I've asked Aiden and his mom to the park for Damon's birthday, I'm sure he'll love that.

Every morning, Damon gets up at 6:30 in order to be ready in time to ride with Adam to school. He's excited each morning and gets up eager to be off. I love seeing how handsome and grown up he looks in his uniform, which he thinks is really great like it makes school even more special for him. I just love to see his excitement for life; and while I'm sad to see him growing so big, I'm also excited to experience life with his. It's probably because of this that I got more emotional in my excitement for him than sad to being growing out of a stage with him—I made it through dropping him off for his first day without even dropping a tear. What can I say, this motherhood thing is great. It's exciting, emotion, and always different. I LOVE IT!!!

We've been close quarters the last few weeks. Since we've moved into the fifth wheel, I've learned that it really doesn't take much to make the kids happy and we can be resilient when we need to be. Damon really missed his friends at first, but now that he's started school, he seems content to just spend his afternoons with Ashton and I. He is such a good kid, he's trying just as hard to make the best of our situation as Adam and I are. And, he is so loving toward Ashton, always willing to guide him out of trouble and play with him when Ashton gets bored. He truly has a special spirit. Ashton, on the other hand, doesn't seem to notice much of a difference. He simply acts happy to have more things to climb on and he does get frustrated once in a while when I don't let him go play on the grass. Unfortunately, we only have about a 10'X35' patch of grass outside our door which happens to be sandwiched between two roads; which, of course, is not very child-friendly. Especially considering how fast Ashton is and the fact that he has absolutely no comprehension of the danger. Thankfully there are lots of parks and stores and we can go swimming at the park pool until the weather gets too cold. This is not a long-term arrangement, but at least we're together and we're having fun devoting this extra time to each other.

Yes, I am very, very blessed.

 

Our Summer @ a Glance

1. Adam has a hernia repair.
   
2. I work my tail off building raised beds out of salvaged wood, freeze my plants twice because I forgot that I had taken them out to air, and manage to get my garden in the ground just in time to hopefully get some produce by the time the autumn frost hits.
   
3. Don and Ada Hinton Family Reunion
   
   1. Dustin's reception
      
      1. Hectic, lots of visiting and food, and a late night.
         
      2. Need I say more?
         
   2. Sleeping arrangements a little tight considering two more families have been established since the last reunion; but we worked things out and all seemed to rest well.
      
   3. Damon and McKenzie once again hit it off. They decide they maybe could get married when they grow up.
      
      1. We reminisce about having crushes on our cousins when we were little.
         
      2. Decide that perhaps we should talk to the kids about "kissing cousins" in the near future.
         
4. We work like crazy to finish all the house improvements we've started.
   
5. Adam is offered a job at Lincoln Academy in Pleasant Grove, UT.
   
   1. Now we at least know where we are going.
      
   2. Damon gets to attend Kindergarten at Lincoln Academy. He starts in September.
      
6. We start actively trying to sale our house with no luck.
   
7. Lavar Hinton Family Reunion in Flagstaff, AZ
   
   1. Adam, the kids, and I go on a hike. Ashton enjoys the trip on our backs. Damon loves every minute and is still bouncing when we finish.
      
   2. Have lots of fun with the family. Damon meets Lizzie and now feels she might be a good prospect for marriage, too.
      
   3. Sean and Micole's daughter, Hadley, gets lost in the woods and Adam and I with Ashton on my back set out to help find her. We don't have much luck but she is found by a couple and brought to the fire station.
      
8. Damon goes fishing with Emily and Autumn.
   
9. We are still working to finish our home improvements. Adam finally puts in the grass in the backyard—of course too late for us to enjoy it, but at least it's done.
   
10. We put on a Patriotic fireside. It goes really well, and there are lots of tears.
    
    1. For the first time I get so emotional, I need help finishing a song. Adam sings with me.
       
    2. The spirit is there and I keep thinking how lucky I am to know such good kids.
       
11. We advertise the house for rent, get no calls till almost a month later.
    
12. We throw a late-night going away party for Damon.
    
    1. All his friends and the neighborhood kids come.
       
    2. We play games, eat pizza, play the wii, watch a movie on our front lawn, and roast smores.
       
13. Adam and I have a party with my voice students.
    
    1. We eat, sing crazy karaoke, and watch Little Shop of Horror
       
    2. Have a teary goodbye.
       
    3. Pack up and move the first week of August. The ward helps a tons to load us in the moving trailer.
       
    4. We're exhausted and burned out, but still have a lot to do. Make a couple more trips home to finish everything.
       
    5. We stay at Ammon's family cabin in Bear Lake for the weekend.
       
    6. Damon and especially Ashton have a blast in the sand.
       
    7. Damon, Ashton and I go out on the boat.
       
       1. Ashton spends his time staring at the water over the edge of the boat.
          
       2. Damon is very brave and goes out on the tube.
          
       3. I am brave, too, and also ride the tube.
          
       4. Despite missing Adam, we all have a lot of fun.
          
    8. Adam Starts work; and, shortly after, school begins. He has high hopes that this will be a much more positive experience.
       
    9. Get a couple prospective renters/buyers for our home. After hopeful negotiations we find that neither was ever actually seriously considering our home.
       
    10. We move into my Parent's fifth wheel until we find renters/buyers for the house.
        
    11. We're parked at Eastbay RV Park and are enjoying the swimming pool and the convenience of being close to stores.
        
    12. Damon goes stir-crazy waiting for kindergarten to begin while being cooped up in the trailer.
        
    13. We take advantage of the various parks in the area.
        
    14. Ashton handles the move much better than Damon. Damon grieves the loss of his friends and his freedom.
        
        1. I keep praying that we will take care of the house soon so we can move into a place where we can put down some roots.
           
        2. Part of me is really enjoying Utah Valley and thinks this might be a good place to settle while another part of me feels like we still might be in transition.
           

Through it all, the good and the bad, I continue to see blessings being poured down from Heaven. Naturally a big planner, I'm learning to be a little more patient and to have a little more faith. I just hope to be able to feel the promptings of the spirit more clearly and to better enjoy the journey. For I know Heavenly Father loves us, He wants us to be happy, and he will help us to end in a place where we may find fulfillment, happiness, safety, and joy.