Firsr Day of Summer Break

For our first day off, Grandpa Rick took us to Chuckee Cheese's for dinner. What a treat. The kids had a great time playing games and riding rides. It was especially fun watching Mckenzie and Bekkah dance in front of the blue screen. Thanks for a great time grandpa!

School's Out!

It's over! No more driving (4 schools this year!) No more phone calls saying "Mom, I forgot my lunch money." No more homework. No more lost library books. No more "I can't find my shoe," at 7:30 in the morning. No more "I need money for..." I have 83 days with my children. We don't have any great plans this summer. There's youth conference, girls camp, and a canoe trip for the teens, diving and swim lessons for the little ones, and a book that I got for mothers day waiting for me to get past page 2. We will do the library thing of course- and hit QT for thier 59 cent fountain drinks afterward (a summer tradition), we'd like to go camping one weekend, and hit a waterpark in the evening (cheaper at night), the Phoenix Children's museum is free the first Friday of each month, and the Mesa Youth Museum is only a few bucks. There will be lots of swimming, a trip to the mall, and maybe a dollar movie or two. So while we're not going to Disneyland, Hawaii, or Sea World, we're going to have a great summer, full of time to be together-because as all of you with children know, childhood doesn't last forever!

Our Graduate

What a day! Tres graduated on Friday. It was supposed to be held on the football field, but in the event of rain each student was given two tickets for loved ones to attend the graduation in the auditorium. Well 7pm rolled around and it was raining pretty hard. So we left all the kids and the preparations for the party with grammy and papa while we set out for the auditorium. We arrived to find the football stadium filled with graduates, families, and a lot of water! We sat on the crowded wet bleachers for three hours in the pouring rain, but as I heard them read off my first born son's name, I was filled with pride. I thought about some of the experiences he had as a student. The wonderful elementary years in a Montessori program, the very scary years at a public Jr High, and the challenging academics of High School. I am so grateful for the teachers and students who were there for him, celebrating his accomplishments and consoling him in his trials. Thank you to all of our family who came to celebrate with us! Congratulations Tres you're the best!!

Fathers and Sons

The guys had a great time at the Father and Sons camping trip! It was a bit farther this year, about 2 1/2 hours, but well worth it. Everyone liked the cave, and shooting the guns was another highlight (I'm glad I didn't know that was one of the activities ahead of time, I would have worried all day!) And the very best part was that they stopped and got thier mom some fudge from the Sweet Shack in Payson. Thanks guys!

Prom 2009

Tres' Senior Prom! My little boy looks so grown up! He took a beutiful young lady names Brenn who he's known since he was a toddler. He had a great time. They played frisbe at a park, had lunch together, went ice skating then went home to change. Then they went over to the Knudsen's home (thanks Marcy and Steve!) for dinner. Then off to the prom. Afterward they hung out at the Cameron's home (thanks Tami and Preston!) to for a movie and snacks. What a night to remember.

I'd rather be sleeping!

Jack fell asleep while I was doing laundry-what a life!

Mother's Day

I had the mistaken idea in my head that Mother's Day was supposed to be a day off. I woke up, to a nice clean kitchen and supervised my Mother's Day breakfast (Thanks Zane!). After a yummy pancake and bacon meal, I cleaned up the grease and batter, then opened all the sweet homemade cards from my children, a book, (that I am determined to make time to read) and a new microwave that grandpa took the children to pick out (thanks Dad!). Then began the Sunday morning preparations. While preparing the Sunday clothes I found a hole in hubby's suit, a stain on two of the white shirts (identical stains in color and placement - how weird), a hem coming out of my dress and only one black size 12 boy shoe. I guess I need to sing "Saturday is a Special Day" more often. Well hubby wore his old suit- the one he hates because it's wool and it's hot, no time for a load of wash, so did the best I could with a wash cloth and some Tide, re-thought my outfit, then dug through my box of hand-me-down church shoes and found a pair of size 1 boy shoes. A primary child "remembered" he had a talk in church, there were little girl tears because her dress felt "funny" and the hair brush got caught in her curls. We left for church five minutes late, but not before spilling an entire pitcher of koolaid on the kitchen floor. We got to church sat down and the fight for who got to sit by mom began. After some tears and harsh whispers, we listened to wonderful talks on some amazing women. I struggled not to compare myself and tried to remember that we all have our own strengths and talents, and that we just need to do the best we can, and Heavenly Father will pick up the slack. Easier said than done! After church I herded eight children out to the hot car and headed home to feed them frozen pizzas and mop the kitchen floor (koolaid mess remember). We changed into play clothes and prepared to visit family members at our Mother's Day gathering. We had lots of fun visiting with parents, siblings and cousins and ate lots of great food (Thanks Mike and Donna!) I missed my mom (it's the first Mother's Day in 38 years we haven't been together) We rounded up the crew and headed home for baths and bedtime stories. After the last one was tucked in, I collapsed on the couch and nursed the baby while watching some TV with hubby. Before crawling into bed, I knelt and thanked my Heavenly Father for all of my beautiful children and for my amazing husband who teaches them to love and respect the women in their lives. I snuggled with my baby and thought back over the day's events. What a GREAT Mother's Day!

I'm BIG!

Jackson is growing! He turns 3 months this week. We bought his first bag of size one diapers (thank goodness -- newborns size leaks!) And he finally fits into all the cute little 3-6 mo clothes (thank you so much Tami!) It's a bitter sweet feeling to watch your children grow. I love seeing the independence that comes, and ache as I realize I can't keep them little forever.

THE MEANEST MOM!

I have to admit that the first time one of my children called me "the meanest mom", I was crushed. Now, I've been called mean so many times, it doesn't have that same devastating blow. Take today for instance, my 5 year old asked for a cookie and I said no (she'd already had 3). She told me I was the meanest mom ever and that she was running away. I told her I'd be sad if she left, but if that's what she felt she needed to do, go ahead (but be sure not to go out of the cul-de-sac.) She slammed her door to go pack. A few minutes later she came out in tears with suitcase in hand and said, "Will you come visit me?" After a good laugh, we sat down and shared an only slightly healthier bag of chips.

Bedtime Stories

Have you seen the movie Bedtime Stories? It's a sweet story about an uncle (Adam Sandler) who comes to take care of his niece and nephew for a week. At night they make up bedtime stories together, and the parts that the kids come up with really happen.

I'm not creative enough to make them up, but I do read to them every night. I didn't get to Emily fast enough. Sorry Em.