On Saturday we went to the Hill Aerospace Museum with my brother and his family. The kids had fun time making paper airplanes and throwing them off a balcony.

After, we went up to the Ogden Nature Center for a very hot small hike. We had lunch at the treehouse. Peter was very excited that he could climb all the way in a tree.

And I have a new goal to remember my camera more, so I don’t have to keep taking low quality photos with my phone.

It’s a strange holiday. It’s only in Utah, celebrating the first Europeans that settled here. There wasn’t any change in schedule. (My husband doesn’t get many holidays off.) But there was quite a fun celebration at the park in our town. They had music, games and crafts for the kids, food, and an opportunity to do genealogy. We have a lot of ancestors that were pioneers, so I did take the opportunity to share some of their names and stories with the kids.

Curtis finished tee ball! He did a great job. But I have to admit I’m looking forward to soccer. Tee ball is a bit boring for everyone involved.

I guess I could be considered a “stay at home mom.” That’s the normal term used for what I do everyday. I have called myself that plenty of times. Lately, I haven’t like the phrase at all. I wasn’t sure why, it just didn’t seem to fit what I did and what I aspired to. Housewife and homemaker were not that better.

I read this book, and she suggested the phrase “full time parent.” I’ve been using it ever since. When I think about my current employment status, I think full time parent. I never refer to myself as a stay at home mom. Even at time when I hear or read stay at home mom, I’ll replace it with full time parent in my head.

The side benefit of this is I’m more willing to spend time with my children. I look at my job as more of a career that is is worth investing my best effort. I can learn and grow as a full time parent, and I’m more likely to pick up a parenting book. I look hard at what I do every day do make sure it’s the best for my entire family.

I can also look at myself and still see Liz: not just Mom. I don’t have to feel guilty if I need a bit of time off, or I need to delegate responsibilities. If my children are well cared for, I feel free to pursue other interests, although I’m also finding that I don’t as much. I don’t need an escape as much as I once felt I did.

Being a stay at home mom was suffocating. Being a full time parent is hard, buy joyful. Terminology does make a difference.

It has been a week full of family. We had a family reunion with my mother-in-laws family on Saturday. The following Monday we had a family reunion with my dad’s family. We got to talk to a lot of cousins we don’t see that often and enjoyed it immensely.

My mom decided she wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese for her birthday. I’m glad Grandma is thinking of her grand kids, they had a great time there.

Cousins plus one random bystander

My sister also came up and visited with me. We basically repeated what we did last time she was here and went out the Crystal Hot Springs. I’d been there last Saturday as well. I like swimming there, and I’ll drag anyone along who will go.

Joe went on a three day backpacking adventure with his scouts. He had a great time up until the final day. When they were hiking out, one of the scouts was separated from the group and it took hours to figure out where he went and get everybody headed home. I think it was a good reminder to everyone involved to stay on the trail and with your group, as well as don’t panic if you do get lost.

Joe called this his little zen garden.