I see stars!

Last week our school had a fundraiser dance. The theme was Hollywood stars. You could dress up if you wanted. We didn't want to. Mason & Jordan decided to pass on this event. Here's Colten (orange shirt) dancing away.

Kassidy (pink shirt) even got into it.

Kelsie was very excited to go but once she got there this is what we had. She did not want to smile or leave her dad. At the dance they have a hula hoop contest which she had told us about before we left. She said "I think I can win." I thought for sure she would not go out there. I was wrong. The contest is broken down by grade level. They called for the Kindergartners. She ran out there. (13 seconds)

After all the contests were over she got a "Oscar". She was very happy. Kassidy & Colten did well but couldn't outlast their grade level kids. After it was all over Kelsie looked up at me and said "At least one of us got a trophy". That girl continues to surprise us.

In Review

It's been a couple of crazy weeks here. Here's some of or happenings. Doug went to Chicago and took his dad's hat. He went to see the Cubby's but didn't get into Oprah. Maybe next year. Colten was in a play. It was the 6th grade musical. He was the old Pinocchio. He loved his wig that Doug found in his old chest. Does he look like he is ready for Junior High?
Jordan finished up tennis taking 6th place in Mixed Doubles. Mason finished tennis. They both had end of year concerts. Jordan made Jazz Band next year. Mason will be his section leader. Pray for us!
I have been reminded lately of how fragile life is. I love my family here at home and those who don't live under our roof. Really!

Prickly Pear

Do you know that email that circulated around with all the misspellings in it but you could still read it? I aced it. I've noticed recently that I'm not very good at reading every single word. I have a class that I do their read aloud. I have to really concentrate to read every word. I guess I'm used to skipping words. It's doesn't work well for librarians. :)

Case in point: Last weekend Aunt Vicki came up for a rodeo. We all met her on Saturday morning for breakfast. I looked over Kelsie's menu and told her her choices. Without really looking at it I said she could get a Prickly Pear, then it became a Prickly Bear and when the waiter brought it out he said it was actually a Perky Bear. I guess I need to work on my reading skills. But just maybe they need to work on there presentation. Here is what it was supposed to look like. (Doesn't it look prickly?)This is what came.

Thanks for breakfast Aunt Vicki. Even if I didn't read the menu right. Come again!

Mother's Day 2010

Today has been a fabulous day. It started with breakfast in bed. Opened some presents, went to church, came home for a fabulous dinner made by my awesome husband, opened more presents and then looked through baby books at the things we remembered. It as been almost perfect except for when the kids fought over who sits where at the kitchen table, what kind of icing I want for the cake Kassidy is making and why can't I get off the computer so they can just check their facebook? I will forget those things, right???

Kelsie gave me a few things, a sunflower plant, some stationary that she loves to color on now, a coaster that she painted and a handprint with the poem:

Handprints

Sometimes you get discouraged

Because I am so small

And always leave my handprints

On furniture and walls.

But everyday I'm growing up

And soon I'll be so tall

That all those little handprints

Will be hard to recall.

So here's a special handprint

Just so you can say

This is what it looks like

As I place it here today.

Yes, it made me cry. I have one from each of the kids. They grow so fast.

Kassidy made me a special pin at school. She took 10 pieces of paper and glued them together. Once dry she sanded the edges so you could see the rings. She had planned my clothes today so I could match the pin she made. It is beautiful.

Colten wrote me a poem: My Mother

I have a mother
who takes care of me

She is like none other

She fills me with glee

I have a mother

She is the best

If there were another

She would get to rest

I have a mother

To you I wanted to say

You're not like any other

And Happy Mother's day.

I loved it too!

Mason gave me a funny card with these coupons.

"These ten coupons are 10 free hugs any time, anywhere. All hugs are only good for 5 sec. Copyright laws are active and will be enforced. " I heard once "hug your kids until they let go" I tried it with my boys. They complained I was smothering them. So my advice for you mom's with boys...get as many hugs as you can when they are little. My boys grew out of it way before I did.

Doug gave me a beautiful color bowl for our front door. It has beautiful yellow flowers and I love it but more then that he helped me create 5 beautiful children. I love them and I'm honored to be their mom.

Today, I also think about the 2 moms that have made my life the way it is. My mom and Doug's. Doug is a compassionate, loving & wonderful husband. I owe part of that to his mom. She left us way to soon. A few weeks ago I went to Women's conference and made this. It is a bassinet that turns into a purse. I couldn't have done it without my mom sitting right by my side. I decided right then that I could do anything with my mom right by my side. I love her and I'm very grateful for all the things that she has taught me. I love and look forward to our weekly phone calls. She is one of my closest friends. I hope to carry on the tradition.

Happy Mother's day to all the mom's who have helped me be who I am. Thank you!

Ojos

The other day (actually a few weeks ago but I'm behind) we were all watching tv. A Victoria Secret commercial came on. Usually we quickly change the channel when that happens, this time we didn't. My 15 year old is taking Spanish this year and when he saw that he said "Cover los ojos, cover los ojos". We just started to laugh. I wasn't sure whether he was talking to the commercial or to us. It turns out that ojos is Spanish for eyes. So our new family joke is "cover los ojos, cover los ojos". It's amazing how many times that comes up in conversations. Kids say the darndest things even when they are older.

Boys & Girls Nite Out

Tonight was the first Priesthood session of General Conference that all the boys went to. After, the boys went to Delsa's Ice cream parlor for milkshakes. It was full of white shirts and ties. Very cool. The girls and I went to Costa Vida for dinner and then went to Bath & Body works (another obsession of mine) and got lip gloss. I have promised them that the first time that all the boys are gone on a camp out we will go and get pedicures. We are looking forward to that day.

I love my girls!

Spring Break 2010

This is the first year that I've actually looked forward and counted down the days to spring break. After the laundry was done we got out of town. We decided to go and play with Grandma & Grandpa and the Browns in Utah. The drive down was uneventful. The next morning we woke up to this.The picture above was taken at a restaurant called "The Pie". We toured the University of Utah while we were in Utah. Two of my brothers went there. They texted Uncle Nate in CA to get the inside track of U of U. He told us we had to go to this place. It was in the basement of this building. People have signed the walls everywhere. The pizza was delicious. Aunt Dana said it was the best she had ever had. It was fabulous and now there is another "pro" in U of U column. Does Mason look good in red? Side note, I told Jordan to get ready to go and he texted back and said "if I go tour U of U can I get another BYU tshirt?"
April Fools Day: One of my childhood memories was coming home from school to a cake. Then we cut it to find a box. None of my other siblings have memories of this. Side note, my brother says that we did it to him. Nope. It was always dad playing the trick on us. This year Chelsea & Kassidy made the cake for Grandpa. This is him stabbing the cake. They licked the icing and it took just as long to make it as it did to destroy it. Perfect! Love ya, Dad!

Aunt Dana & I got on Family Fun and enjoyed playing with the kids. Doug says we are diabolical. We had cupcakes for dinner (meatloaf with colored mashed potatoes), sushi for dessert and juice (jello with a straw). The other fun thing was letting each kid pick a number. Uncle Eric had picked 16 different utensils and whatever number they had they had to use that utensil. (thus the ice cream scoop) One of the funniest was Max who got a mallet. He then mutilated the cupcake with a big smile on his face.

This is the day before we left. UCK! I'm done with winter!

The ride home was gross. It rained then snowed then rained then snowed (rinse, repeat) for the last 4 hours. But now it is General Conference Weekend and we have 2 days to recover from our Spring Break. It was very fun to be with my sisters and stay up too late.

Thanks Mom & Dad for letting us invade your space. We love coming home!