Memorial Day 2010

I was kind of excited when my kids asked if we were going to a cemetery today to decorate graves. We haven't really done that much, but it is one of my memories growing up. Seeing the cemetery covered in flowers. Hearing the stories about the folks we were visiting. So it was kind of fun to continue it with my kids. These are my grandparents. Gram has only been gone a year but my grandpa died when I was 14. Matthew wanted to know if we had any soldiers to visit so I told him how my grandpa flew airplanes in World War II. I told him the story about how my grandpa, his father and brother shot a bear one time when they were out deer hunting. It felt good to remember those who served and those who helped make me who I am.

Then we went miniature golfing. If you want entertainment take three year old miniature golfing. It was really fun to just be silly and have fun together. Then we came home and had a barbecue with my parents. Cause that is what you are supposed to do on Memorial day isn't it?!

Sparkly Toes

It has been a long time since I have gone a whole week without posting. This picture of Brittany and my newly painted sparkle toes is the most productive thing I have done all week. That is not entirely true, we did host a really fun dinner last night with William's siblings, their spouses and his parents. But before that I spent the week with a nasty head cold, a few sick kids and a work-absent husband. So I kept us all alive and that is something right? We are starting to feel better, and this is the last week of school so hopefully the desire to blog will return. Hope everyone is having a great weekend, the fact that the sun was shining enough to make our toes even more sparkly is helping mine!

Another Fun Week

The days are going faster and getting busier. Last week was full of kid stuff.Josh has his preschool program. We got such a kick out of watching him. He may not know all of the words, but I think his philosophy was if you do the actions big enough no one will notice. Really, we got this kid just for entertainment!

Brittany's class performed the plays they had written. As you can see hers took place in Hawaii. She always does such a good job.

Saturday was Matthew's last day of soccer. It was soooo cold at 8:30 in the morning and probably has something to do with the rotten cold I have, but still so worth it. He even scored a beautiful goal. This has been the greatest little team, I woulddo a lot to get this coach again next year. Matthew has really learned a lot and improved a ton.

Bring on the next week, only two more left until summer vacation!

New Necklace

It was my turn to host my "girls' lunch" today. So last night you would have thought I would have spent those couple of precious hours after the kids go to bed making sure everything was ready to go and the house was clean. You would be wrong. Instead I stayed up trying to recreate my own version of this necklace I saw on Celia's blog a couple of days ago. I can't decide if I went too far. From the comments on Celia and her sister Paige's blog there seems to be a lot of folks who either love or hate this necklace. I think I am liking it, what do you think?

Alice Swap

I joined an Alice in Wonderland doll swap and I keep forgeting to post my darling Alice. My partner was Cindy . She is so talented and sent me the most marvelous package filled with amazing goodness. In addition to this beautiful doll there were all sorts of extra surprises which I cannot post because someone in this house will be having a birthday before you know it and I am saving some of the goodies for her. Thank you so much Cindy, you truly spoiled me and treated me to another fun swap!

Free-quilting

I tried something new this last week. I have been wanting to try this for awhile and since I have had a quilt hanging around that needed to be finished for a new baby I figured I would give it a try. I didn't even use the special foot. I just reduced the pressure on my pressure foot (little door on the side of my machine opens and you can change it from the normal 3 down to 0 which is what I did). Basically I pretended I was one of the really expensive machines my brother-in-law's company makes. But it was really fun and not too hard. Just don't look too carefully!

Late Mother's Day

This is my late Mother's Day gift to myself. I picked it up yesterday. I was in Sam's Club a couple of weeks ago and they were selling these sittings. $15 for a 10x13. I am so glad I signed up, this may be my new favorite way to get the kids picture taken! No coordinating of outfits, no pressing of all the clothes.It was awesome! Plus I really love the finished product. Oh and the kids in it too of course!

My kids this week

Lots of doin's this week. Matthew's class put on a readers theater. He was a bird, two birds actually. He did an excellent job, his reading has progressed so much this year.

This is Brittany on her bike last year. Note the earphones. She reads and listens to books on tape.

Here she is this year. She and her dad went and got her a new bike! Still listening to the book on tape though. Round and round the block she goes, listening all the way. Can't imagine where she learned to multi-task like that!

Josh finally decided to like the super-cool Buzz Lightyear jacket I got him for Disneyworld that he wouldn't wear at the time. I think he was too sick to be agreeable. Don't worry it will be a bigger news week for him next week.

A New Smile

Finally! Matthew's two front teeth have given us such a hard time the last few years. First he had a couple of fillings that were constantly popping out and then he ground his teeth at night until they were tiny remnants of their former selves. We have all been waiting for him to lose his hill-billy look and this week it happened! This determined boy literally yanked the suckers right out. I am so glad, I hate pulling teeth. We love his new smile!

His and Hers Projects

We are still working away on some projects around here. This has been my night-time, television watching project. I can't seem to stop making Granny squares. William asked how many I am going for. I really don't know. I guess when I run out of yarn it is done.

William's project. The Yard. It is looking so nice. He has been planting carefully selected trees for weeks. I think his project may get more use than mine!

A Strange Snack

Our Joshua is a funny kid. He loves to have someone blow bubbles while he is in the tub. That isn't so strange, the funny part is that he tries to eat them! Loves them! Although he doesn't like them in his eyes so it is harder to hunt the delicious bubbles with his eyes closed.

(Also, Josh does not have some weird disease that turns his tonsils and tongue blue, the tub is the one acceptable place to eat Popsicles at our house when it is too cold to take them outside!)

One of my Favorite Days of the Year

Thursday was costume day at ballet! The day we get the costume for Brittany's ballet recital, and I do mean we because I am as excited as she is. This girl has the most amazing luck, she always get the prettiest costumes and her luck is still holding this year. Our ballet school's recital is amazing, the payday for parents and student who have carpooled and worked hard all year and this means it is almost here!

The Air Museum

Yesterday Josh had a field trip. I admit to being less than enthusiastic about going up to the Hill Field Air Force Air Museum again. I have been with both my other kids, but I knew that my days of preschool field trips are numbered, we only have one year left, so I decided to go anyway. I am so glad I did. I had forgotten that every time I go there I spend the whole time thinking of my grandpa. He was a pilot in in World War II and after the war worked at Hill Field as a mechanic. He always seems close when I am at the Air museum.

Handsome devil wasn't he? It is hard to see in this picture but

He is wearing a similar jacket and hat! As you can see Josh is more of a smiler for pictures than Grandpa was.

Of course the plane that looked like and alligator according to Josh was his favorite.

You could also put on a flight suit and jump in a cockpit.

They had it set up so it looked like you were flying over land, you could even take a friend.

Some other sweet grandpa made this one for the kids to fly. I kept looking at the gentlemen that are retired air force who volunteer as guides and thinking my grandpa would have loved to do that.

Appropriately this friend who rode with us was named Jet! As you can see Josh was more interested in Jet than the big wheels he is standing in front of! It was a fun day full of old and new memories.

Lion House Rolls

Since Mother's Day is right around the corner I thought I would share a new discovery. I tried this boxed roll mix for my Girls Lunch the other day. They were yummy, although I have to admit they turned out better the second time I tried them.

I found them at my local grocery store. Yummy, although you should be warned they did not include the yeast. So if you live in Utah they are great for Mother's Day dinner!

The End is Near!

The end of school that is. I can't believe soon my kids will be home with me EVERY day! What will we do? One sign that the end is coming is the increasing number of finals we have. Final concerts and programs. The fifth graders learned to play the recorder this year. Now Brittany doesn't know whether she wants to play a wind instrument or the violin. Actually she wants to do both!

The second grade had their Friendship program last week. Matthew is right under that green flower.

He was singing, really he was. Just not smiling. Had to laugh though, his friend Mason standing right in front of him informed his mom the night before that he was NOT going to sing. And he didn't. I guess the need to be cool starts at seven. As crazy as it gets I love all the finals. Bring on preschool graduation, the ballet recital and whatever else comes!

My New Life

I watched this video that has been made by my church last night. Stephanie's story is one I have followed for a long time now, I felt like she was already my friend when she had the accident. One of the things I love about blogging is it makes the world feel smaller, I have found and remembered that good people are all around us to inspire us and strengthen us. As I watched last night I was reminded that my motherhood is such a privilege. I am a little ashamed to admit that my kids annoy me sometimes. Sometimes they seem like an interruption to what I am trying to accomplish at that moment. Stephanie reminds me to treasure each moment. So this Mother's Day week I am really going to try to hug more, scold less and be the mom I want them to remember in their childhoods.

Spring?

This was my house on Thursday . Yes, those are snow flakes. You just gotta love Spring in Utah!This year it seems exceptionally late.

This is what Spring should look like. I look for this house every Spring. Can you believe all of that color? I think it would be like living in a fairy tale to live there.

This favorite old house was looking lovely too. I suppose I am posting these pretty places in the hope that Spring will stay soon!