“Rememory” Book

Quite a few months ago I found this book of paper all stapled together on Ashley’s desk.  The title caught my eye and I began going through the pages.  It was a journal highlighting Ashley’s year in First Grade.  The pictures, spellings, and memories were priceless. 

She told me that she was making a “Rememory” book for Mrs. Wade to remind her of the year.  I thought to myself, oh that’s really nice, but I’m sure it will get lost and forgotten about before the school year is over.  Well, she kept it going with the first entry highlighting the first day of school, and just finished with the end of year celebration.  She has the planetarium field trip, Colonial day, the fun run, concerts, Egyptian day…  it has A LOT of pages!

 

She went through my ribbon and tied it up with a bow to take to Mrs. Wade.  I freaked out that I HAD to have a copy of this book to keep.  I begged her to wait one more day so that I could make a copy.  It is such a perfect journal of her first grade.

I teased her about not including any of her visits to the principal’s office.  Let’s just say she made a few trips there this year.  Ash rolled her eyes and told me “That is NOT something we are trying to remember” – you got that right Ash!

Swimming Banquet

So proud of Jacob tonight!  TCA does not have a swim team, so Jacob swam for Liberty.  There were 34 boys on his team.  Liberty is a 5A school and Jacob made the varsity team as a freshman!  So exciting to see him getting his letter tonight at the banquet.

When I went to the meeting with Jacob back in March I didn’t know how we were going to be able to do it.  They practiced EIGHT times a week.  This meant that I would pick up Jacob, run him over to Liberty’s pool, then run back to pick up the other kids, drop them off at home, and then run back to pick him up.  Not to mention the 6am practices.  It was A LOT of driving, but so worth it.  I feel that sports are not only essential for you physically, but benefit you in so many other areas as well.

Three awards were handed out, and Jacob received the “Rookie of the Year” award.  He was THRILLED!  He went to state in Grand Junction this last weekend and had a blast.  They swam and ate and swam and ate…. He saw a boy break the 100 m butterfly record, doing it in 45 seconds!  Another one of his highlights was stopping in Vail and having a snowball fight with his teammates and coaches.

What a fun season!  You rocked that pool Jacob!

Lizzie the Lizard

Look what Miss Jerrica found outside right before we headed to church…

 

I freaked out that she was holding it, and demanded that it be put back outside.  Tears overflowed as she begged to keep him as a pet.  Later I noticed his “bedroom” that they had created in his container, made of tulip leaves and a cotton ball pillow.

Lizzie the lizard is now officially “missing”.  Ashley has made lost posters to hang up around the neighborhood.  They look hilarious and I really need to put one in the blog book.  She has that he “went missing in the middle of the driveway”  and that she “answers to the name of Lizzie”.

Oh the fun of pets!

Ashley’s Recital

This weekend was insane with everything going on, BUT I was able to spend Saturday afternoon with Ash at her recital.  She is such a performer!  The second she walks on stage she has that big smile plastered on her face.  She was awesome!  I have a feeling that this girl is never going to give up dance, which is fun for me because I so enjoy taking pictures of her in costume.

   

She sat on my lap for the third act and watched the performance with me.  She kept me in smiles with her comments, “I would never kiss a boy with lipstick”, “why do boys wear tights by their private parts”, “why didn’t everyone stand up and clap for me?” … I just sat there thoroughly entertained by her non-stop questions.

Halfway thru the third act we opened up her chocolate bar that I had brought for her to go along with the flowers.  We had quite a little party in that dark audience seat all snuggled together!  We both decided that we wished the flowers were chocolate as well.  :)

AND the last picture is one I took backstage of Ash and her little dance BFF.  I have taken a picture of the two of them together at EVERY performance.

Spring Sports

New sports

New muscles being used

New friends to play with

New coaches to learn from

New skills gained

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day was awesome this year.  I had a mother’s tea with Rebecca at her school and then the next day did a mother/daughter spa party with Rebecca. 

The kids at school had to write a letter to their mothers.  I smiled as I noticed the boys at our table had written a small paragraph compared to Rebecca’s TWO PAGES.  This girl of mine is a writer.  It truly was the sweetest letter filled with all kinds of details.

Then my Ash is a party planner.  I knew something special was in store when I found this list on her desk. 

“By the river’s edge” cracked me up because we don’t live anywhere near a river!  The list went on with “Learn how to make spaghetti, learn how to make Texas Fudge Cake, and have Nathan be a waiter…”

Sure enough we had an amazing mother’s day meal in the piano room, not by the river’s edge. 

While we ate, Ashley had Rebecca read poetry, Jacob and Kaylee play the piano, Nathan serve our food, and Jerrica talk about her artwork.  The entertainment was nonstop.

Here I am trying to light my hair on fire at her special dinner…

She had the cutest black covered menus and chocolates for the “appetizers”.  :)  The girl is only seven and knows how to plan EVERY detail!  She is my planner.

  

Clay gifts seemed to be the gift of choice from school this year.  I got a cat, flower, and a heart.

Kaylee is my service girl. She has always been so quick to do things for me. I can always find an icy drink on my nightstand, compliments of Kaylee. This year she didn’t disappoint and gave me a “Love U Lots Coupon Book” filled with massages, hair styles, chores, and promises of baked goods. She is the one quick to serve.

Jake is my artist.  He whipped up a beautiful daffodil drawing and sweet note that I now want to frame. 

Jerrica is my masseuse.  She can give a foot massage for hours.  I was in heaven on Sunday with my feet in her hands. 

Nathan is my comedian.  He is always quick with some funny comment.  He had me smiling all day with his personality.

That in a nutshell, was my Mother’s Day 2013!

Balloon Toss

Today was field day for the big girls.  I loved this shot sequence of Rebecca doing the water balloon toss with Neely.  She was making all of these lucky catches.

Until this one….

 

I don’t know if it’s because I’m mean, but these make me smile every time I look at them!

Dance

Tonight Ashley had her dance rehearsal.  She LOVES these!  She enjoys the attention of the older girls, the make-up, costumes, lights, the audience watching her, and running around with  friends.  It is pure heaven for her.

For me it is the complete opposite!  I HATE these!  I don’t like sitting quietly in the dark audience not being productive.  I don’t like how they don’t stay on schedule.  I just don’t have patience for rehearsals! 

Even though I hate these rehearsals, I love my Ash!

AND that’s why I sat there for hours tonight.

Spring Sports

Spring sports are slowly but surely winding down.  It has been so fun to watch each of them in activities that they excel in. 

I was talking with my oldest, Jacob, the other day about how important it is in our lives to have times of failure.  IF we always won.  IF we always had great success.  IF it was never hard.  Would we truly appreciate the wins and triumphs?  Would we really double down and work hard to achieve something that we struggle at? 

I’m grateful for those times that are difficult, and when my kids have to struggle because it makes them work even harder.  AND all of that extra practice and time they put into something makes them better people in the end!  :)

Here are some of our highlights from the Spring sports…

Blizzards canceled a lot of Nathan’s track meets this year.  He rocked the 800m.  He also loved his 4 x 400 relay.  Those boys were FAST!

 

Jacob is a freshman, and made the 100m butterfly seem effortless in the 5A school division!  He also swam the butterfly in the medley relay.  He leaves for State on Thursday.  :)

Everyone knows my feelings on soccer, but these three LOVE it!  Kaylee is by far the smallest and youngest on her team, yet always gives it her all like she is just as big as the rest.  Her team made it to the State Cup semi finals.  Rebecca does try-outs this year.  She plays a mid field striker position and can send through balls like no one else is on the field!

Then the YMCA volleyball finishes up this week.  These two turn their team’s would be losses into wins each week.  I am amazed at how they can save a ball anywhere on the court! 

So there you have it for Spring sports!  We have Ashley’s dance dress rehearsal tonight.  :/  That will have to be another post.

So grateful for all of the coaches out there that help my children.  They not only teach them a sport but teach them values that will benefit them for life.  ESPECIALLY, the value of hard work! 

Spoiled

I was spoiled today by Stephen and the kids.  It was a wonderful day filled with gifts, notes, and sweet little acts of kindness.  I sure love each of these sweet faces!

Mother’s Day

The other day Miss Jerrica and I were busy making cards for grandmas for Mother’s Day.  It was fun to pull out the paints and enjoy Jerrica’s giggles.  I learned that she quite the perfectionist!

We folded them up and stuck them in the mailbox.  I sure love my mom, mother-in-law, and my grandmas.  AND all of the other women that have mentored, taught and loved me!  I know that includes quite a few aunts, teachers, leaders, coaches, neighbors and friends. 

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Words

Words can be cutting, but oh how they can be uplifting!

Last week when  we went to Ashley’s art show, she wanted to find her art teacher.  There were TONS of people, and I told Ash that we shouldn’t bother her.  She then showed me a Thank You card that she had made for the art teacher.  It was the sweetest card expressing appreciation for putting on a “fabulous” art show.  We found the teacher.  She took the time to read the card and give Ash a huge hug.  She later told Ashley that her card was the only card she received thanking her for the art show.

Nathan came home from a track practice to find this on his bed.  I can only imagine that it made him smile at her spelling and the thoughtfulness of her making his bed.

   

I got this text last week from Jake, and of course it made my day!

Kind words and compliments can be very easy to give and yet make such a lasting impression.  Kaylee had these words on her soccer evaluation.

She came home and looked up “tenacious” on the computer. :)

I love seeing a person’s face change when something nice is said to them.  I love how I feel when compliments are given to me.  I love how I feel when I give a compliment to another.  I wish that more kind words were used in our society.  I know that we all could benefit!

“Kind words are easy to give, and make such a lasting impression!”

Some Lived, Some Died

We discussed our FHE flowers.  I’m not naming names, but I have one child that hates to read.  This particular child made no effort reading her scriptures this last week, and was honest in not watering her flower.

I told her that I was sad it died.  She said, “Mom, it’s just a plant!  I have been too busy to read.”  I then asked her what we were comparing the plant to and what happens to us spiritually when we neglect our prayers and scriptures.  It led into a really good conversation with her!

I hope my kids don’t die spiritually.  I hope that I can teach them all that I need to before they leave home.  Oh how I hope and pray for them daily!

Backyard Soccer

The weekend was FILLED!  The big girls had a volleyball game, Ash had her art show, Jake another swim meet, YW service project for Kaylee, track for Nathan, soccer games in Denver for Nathan and Rebecca, State Cup for Kaylee, date night for Stephen and I, parties with friends for some of the kids, … 

The only thing caught on camera though was the backyard soccer.  The kids came home from their soccer and immediately went out late Saturday afternoon for some more.

 

I love the mixed emotions in this one.  Jerrica had just gotten hurt and was being carried over to me.  Kaylee was giggling at the words Jerrica was using to describe her injuries.

 

Kaylee is on a mission to get her strike stronger.  I just wish that she would grow a little to have some more power.  She is just so small!

   

There was a bit of holding and slide tackling, which is what you have to resort to when playing older brothers.

Here Nathan whallops Bec on the side of the head before the picture.  Those two can’t get along, even with Kaylee in the middle!

 

Busy weekend, and the week doesn’t look any less busier.  :/

My Swimmer

I have said before that I’m a drowner and my Jacob is a swimmer.  Yesterday I was able to sit and watch him in action.  He is awesome!  His favorite stroke is the butterfly, which is a difficult stroke.  He rocks it.  Here is a video of his IM swimming all the strokes.  He is second up from the bottom, lane 2.  You can see how good he is at that first butterfly stroke, the breast stroke not so much.  :)

I’m just so proud that my little freshman can hang with some of these huge seniors!

Tonight he has a pasta party/ Iron Man movie theater night.  He has really enjoyed his swim team!

Incline

We did the incline with the Mason’s over spring break.  It was Rebecca’s first time and she ROCKED it!

  That last one is a blurry phone picture, yet it has all the cool kids that hiked!

Spiritual Food FHE

We did this one around the dinner table as we were eating dinner. 

I started out with thoughts from Dallin H Oaks talk on Spiritual nourishment…

“We know that our physical bodies require certain nutrients to sustain life and to maintain physical and mental health. If we are deprived of those nutrients, our physical and mental vitality are impaired and we have a condition called malnutrition. Malnutrition produces such symptoms as reduced mental functions, digestive disorders, loss of physical strength, and impairment of vision.”

What are some signs when we are physically hungry?  Then I continued with the talk…

“Our spirits also require nourishment. Just as there is food for the body, there is food for the spirit. The consequences of spiritual malnutrition are just as hurtful to our spiritual lives as physical malnutrition is to our physical bodies. Symptoms of spiritual malnutrition include reduced ability to digest spiritual food, reduced spiritual strength, and impairment of spiritual vision.”

What are some of the signs when you are spiritually hungry?  Then more of his talk…

“We know the principal sources of spiritual food: prayer, studying the scriptures, attending inspirational meetings, singing the hymns, serving in our callings, fasting, partaking of the sacrament, and making other covenants, such as in the temple.”

 

We then talked about what it means to feast versus snack.  We read and discussed 2 Nephi 32:2.  When we are hungry we feast.  When we are spiritually hungry and depressed, we too need to feast on spiritual nourishment and not just snack.

At Stake Women’s Conference a couple of weeks ago someone shared how her father had given all the kids a plant.  They could only water it AFTER they had read their scriptures.  No reading, no watering, and thus plant dying.  I LOVED the idea, but knew I needed a plant that needed daily watering.

I decided on cute petunias in peat pots.  Peat pots really dry out when sitting by the window, and need daily moisture. 

The kids have their flowers and challenge.  We shall see who is able to keep theirs alive, and in so doing are keeping themselves alive!