School's out for the Summer!

Honestly, I really dread school being out. Don't get me wrong. I love my kids. I just don't love the messes, the fights and the whininess. You know what I mean..."mom, I'm bored!" "he's touching me" "I don't want to play outside! It's too hot!" "I hate chores, none of my friends have to do chores!" I've heard it all in my 11+ years of parenting. I'm such a better mom when I have a break! That is why I send them to school instead of homeschooling. I'm not afraid to admit it! However, I do love the casualness of summer with no deadlines and no last minute trips to the store to buy something needed for the next day at school. I decided to embrace this summer instead of dreading it. I'm going to go into full force and I'm going to love it! At the last minute I threw together a little "welcome summer" ice cream/water party. I am so thankful for my friends that came and I hope they come often to help keep me sane! Please...help keep me sane!?!?!?

Dance recital and Arrow of light

Well, it's that time of year again...


Millie was fabulous as always! Dancing is really her thing. She doesn't get nervous and she always knows the dances really well. This year her studio tried something new. They had a typical dance recital with each class performing then they did a production of Peter Pan. Millie was an Indian and it turned out really cute. And of course, we did the traditional scones afterward.

Once again Adam had to miss in order to attend Pack Meeting. They were finally awarding Matthais his arrow of light that he earned last September. Yep, you read that right. September. I was really upset that it took them so long to award him and that I had to miss it and Adam had to miss the recital. Of course there are no pictures of it because Adam took the video camera and didn't think to take a still picture with it (our video camera does both). Oh well, what can you do...I can't be bitter about it forever right? I'm so proud of Matthais for earning it and I wish I could have been there!

The Prophet said to plant a garden part 2

Well, we finally got our garden in the ground...not sure that it's going to take...but it was fun planting!

Another life lesson learned...

Owen needed a haircut. I tried and I failed. I hate paying to get my kids hair cut. $13....what a rip off. So I decided to go to the beauty college...I can do $5. Well, I shoulda known that was not a good idea when last time I was there I watched a student take an hour to do a man's cut (I felt so bad for him!). I carry Owen in kicking a screaming because he doesn't want a haircut. The first 10 minutes he had the cutest pouty look on his face (I so wish I had my camera!). The next 40 he cried. And of course, because she was so inexperienced, it took 50 minutes to cut his hair. You woulda thought we were at the dentist as much as he cried! Lesson learned...Next time I will fork out the $13 to have someone who can get it done in 20 minutes...

Dance Festival 2009

I only have 10 more of these to attend...
Millie doing her "monkey" dance


Matthais didn't complain too much this year...maybe because of his cute partner?


Here is Ian's class....


Here is Ian...No suprise there eh? He sat it out...again.

Girls night out

Saturday night Adam was playing BYB and I had plans to go to a glitter toes party. Since my friend Sabrina (the hostess) has a little girl Millie's age I decided to take her with me.

I painted her toenails...

Then got mine done!

We played games...

And then Milie and I went out for dinner!

A night out with this girl is always so much fun!

A day in the Canyon

After seeing Thomas we decided to stop at Vivian park. The kids played on the playground and we fished in the little pond.







It's always fun when the kids get to catch something. We were by far the luckiest at catching the fish. Hardly anyone around us was catching anything! My honey aka the fisherman, rules!

Thomas and Friends

I've mentioned her several times how much Owen loves Thomas. Every year Thomas comes to the Heber Valley railroad and so I thought it would be fun to take Owen up. I wasn't about to fork out the $18 a ticket to ride Thomas so we just went up to look. Owen fell asleep on the drive up and when we got there he heard a train. His eyes popped open and he said "I hear a train!". We carried him and and as we got closer we asked him what he could see. It took him a moment before he spotted Thomas but he was so excited once he did! We got to look at Thomas and take a few pictures before Thomas had to leave...We told Owen he was going back to the island of Sodor. "I want to go to the island of Sodor!" he exclaimed!



He loved it and for a few days after he would tell everyone that he saw a "big Thomas and a big Sir Topham hat!"

Memorial Weekend

We really wanted to go camping Memorial weekend but it didn't sound so fun with scattered thunderstorms so we decided to camp at home. We cooked in our dutch oven, roasted marshmallows, drove the car and slept in the tent. It was a blast and way less muddy!

Banquo

Matthais's class did an impressing version of MacBeth last Friday. Matthais was Banquo and I was surprised at the size of his role and all of the lines he had to memorize. This in addition to the history report and other school work. I had too many kids with me to get good pictures but here are a few.



All of the kids did an amazing job! I really love this program and the opportunities Matthais has had!

17 years ago today...

Adam and I went on our first date. Here is how the story goes...

One of my best friends Missy and Adam were dating and I was dating a kid named Dustin. He was really not into me and so I spent plenty of time tagging around with Missy and Adam. I was often the third wheel riding in the back of her car(holding the passenger seat up for Adam! LOL!). This went on for quite awhile and I became really good friends with Adam. Missy had still had a thing for her ex and even cheated on Adam with him. I felt bad for Adam and was starting to like him and my friendship with Missy was kinda fading so I kept joking with Adam that I was going to ask him to the next girls choice dance. I was ready to do it too until Missy caught wind of it and asked him first (they were broke up by the way). So I ended up taking another kid. I had a miserable time as did he. So, I asked him out for the next Friday. I picked him up, we ate a McDonald's (because Missy worked there!) and went bowling. I had a great time and drove him home but really wasn't feeling romantic about him. We were great friends and he made me laugh. When I dropped him off he kissed me... And it wasn't just a peck. I cried the whole way home because I was worried we had just ruined our friendship. I spent the rest of the weekend in Yuba lake with some friends but couldn't get Adam off my mind. He was different than any of the other boys I'd dated. The next Tuesday at school when I saw him I knew I wanted to date him. And we've been together ever since. We weren't like most high school couples who broke up every other weekend. We fought, I cried, but we never broke up. We dated that whole summer, through our senior year and then another 21 months before we were married. Missy didn't like me very much that whole senior year but we're friends again now! And...as much as I like her...I'm glad I risked it for a chance to date Adam! Here we are at just one of the many high school dances we went to.

Wow Babe, can you believe it? We were so young and had no idea what it would lead to. 4 kids, 6 moves, 2 houses, trials that we've struggled through...Love that we thought couldn't possibaly get any sronger...remember that day near our locker when I declared that we were in love and going to get married? I'm so glad that came true...

I've blogged to book...

My Blurb blog book came in the mail today! I'm really happy with it! Anyone interested can come check it out!

Friendship

I have enjoyed many friendships over the last 30 or so years. It's amazing how each relationship is unique to me and that person. Two of my best friends are from high school or shortly after high school. I hardly ever see either of them but talk to them often. One I talk to several times a week. They know me better than anyone (besides Adam) yet, we hardly ever hang out. I have friends from each of the wards I've attended. Some I see and talk to, some I don't. Yet, I know that if I did see them things would be just as natural and comfortable as when we saw each other often. I have those friends that I never see or talk to but I know that if I did I would have the time of my life. I have friends I've never met in person. I have Bunco friends, PTA friends, soccer-wife friends.I have friends who I know I should end the friendships but I can't. I have friends who I enjoy more than they enjoy me. I've always wanted a BEST friend. One who I could talk to everyday...one I could go shopping and to lunch with...one that our families would vacation together. I've always been jealous as I witnessed those kind of friendships. But, I've also come to love having lots of great friends. And I am realizing that I am surrounded by lots of wonderful, loving people. I love my neighborhood!! (there, after almost 3 years I can finally say it!) A few weeks ago I was feeling really under the weather and I had mentioned it on facebook. A few hours later I had Christi at my door with cookies from smart cookie. Totally made my day! And yesterday...yesterday was a really hard day for me. I was feeling incredibly alone and discouraged. I had only mentioned it to Adam but lo and behold, Heavenly Father was looking out for me. Around 3:00 there was a knock at my door and I found this...

Thank you Abbie...I don't think you really know just how much I needed this! Really. I am so thankful for wonderful friends!

Motherly love

What do you do to show your kids how much you love them? For me, one of the ways is doing things for them that I find to be a big pain in the rear. Take the wax museum for instance. The kids chose a historical figure, do a report on them, dress up in a costume and pose while parents walk around pushing the "push here" buttons to hear the "wax statue" recite a quote. Matthais chose to be Robert E Lee. So being the good, but oh-so-not creative mom that I am, I throw together a costume (p.s. my sewing machine is out of commission). I spend lots of time sewing on buttons and glueing cotton balls to a shower cap for a wig. I also made a beard and mustache. Well, being the cool 5th grader that Matthais is, this didn't work for him. The wig was out, the beard out, what in the world was his mom thinking??? So, here he is.. the younger and cooler Robert E. Lee...

Not really how I envisioned it all when I began but I bit my tongue. After all...I love him.

Training Blog

My Training/weight loss blog is back in business if you're interested in following along as I attempt to kill myself...


www.stayingoncourse.blogspot.com

One whole week?

Can you believe it? One whole week without a blogpost. It's not like me is it?!?! No, I'm not sick or even busy really...in fact...the lack of posts is because my life is very normal right now. Or, at least what I've come to accept as normal. I still clean up poop off the floor each day and I still deal with nakedness all day but, it just doesn't seem newsworthy anymore. It's funny how you tend to adapt as life throws you curve balls. School is winding down and I'm gonna say it...I'm actually excited! Yes, that is a first for me. Sure it's going to be hard keeping the house clean and keeping the kids from killing each other but anything goes in the summer! I can't wait! Of course the next two weeks are a little crazy with everything they cram into the last two weeks of school but after that we can stay in our jammies all day! (don't worry, I'm not really losing it...a few weeks into summer I'll be asking when school starts again...)

St George, here I come!

I am happy to say that I got in to the St. George Marathon!! This is very exciting! I guess I get to see you at least two times this year Jen! Can't wait!

Why do I *love* being a mom?

I have four reasons...

"Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother’s image is the first that stamps itself on the … young child’s mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world” -President David O. McKay

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope of America

If you live in Utah County then the Hope of America program is pretty much a right of passage. It's a musical patriotic program that 5th graders participate in. We all know just how much Matthais loves singing so he was thrilled to know that we would have to first find him to video him. Try finding him in this...(I'll give you a hint, he's in red!)
Yep, impossible. Little did I know that he had brought home a note telling his almost exact location. He just never gave it to me. Well, I wasn't going to give up. I used the video camera to zoom in and look at every kid in every red row until I found him.

Good thing my video camera does still pictures as well!
The program has a great patriotical message and even though it was pain with my out of control kids I thought it was great! And, I even caught Matthais singing! HA!

34 years ago today...

Something happened that would shape my world and make me who I am today...34 years ago today my husband was born.


On May 6, 1975 at 8:36 p.m. His angel mother welcomed her 9th child. Adam was in a hurry to come into this world, his delivery was 11 minutes from start to finish. He weighed 8lbs 12oz and was 21 inches long.

Adam was shy growing up but was bright and obedient. His mom and dad remind me often that of any of their children, Adam could have been a doctor. He has the amazing ability to figure out any problem and fix anything. He has an amazing relationship with his Father in Heaven and lives his life with faith. He is the one who helped be gain my testimony and helped me become a better person. He is amazing husband and father who leads his family with righteouness and stregnth. He is amazing...period. I love you babe...Happy Birthday...thanks for being born!

Good or free deals

I love this site! I get lots of great shopping tips and freebies from here. In fact today I got two of these...

and this...

for $.90! Check out her blog to find out how! And...she's doing a giveaway! A $25 gift card to Walmart or the store of your choice...be sure to enter!

St. George Marathon

I just registered for the St. George Marathon...Hope I can get in this year. If not, I'm guaranteed a spot next year. I'm so fat. I'm so out of shape. I have no desire to be good. But I really, really want to run a marathon! Time to start training...time to be good...time to stop being such a lazy bum! I think I just might start posting on my training blog again to help keep me motivated. Any one in for some long runs?

Mormon Messages

I mentioned these in an ealier post and they really are worth checking out. Elder L. Tom Perry even mentioned them in his talk at Women's Conference. We can use media like this to spread the word about Christ and about our church. Here is my new favorite....

Women's Conference 2009

I was lucky enough to spend Friday at Women's Conference. It's amazing all the coordinating that goes into a mom leaving for the day! I don't know how my friends that went both days did it!! I had it all arranged only to come home at 9:00 pm Thursday night to a message that my niece was sick and so my sister-in-law wouldn't be able to help. I scrambled to find a new plan...thank goodness for fabulous friends and neighbors who rescued me! I love you Jillyn!

The classes were great and I felt the spirit strongly...so many of my prayers were answered! I have a new outlook on life and feel less discouraged with my trials. I didn't realize just how much I needed this!

It was so good to spend the day with Jen and to meet her friends. I had a blast with them at dinner! I could live in Brigham City...

Thanks gals! I haven't laughed that hard in awhile!!