La cucaracha...

Ahhhh....Summer....

With the final days of school comes the final Thank You gift for the teachers. Not that I mind, I really appreciate all that these people do to instruct and edify the young minds in my home. Not to mention the love that they show to my children. However, as a teacher (to toddlers, but a teacher nonetheless), I struggle to decide on what to give the teachers in our lives. I want the kids to choose a gift that is meaningful, but useful; appreciated, yet disposable. Let's face it...many gifts that teachers get are lovingly displayed on their desk or shelf until school's out, at which time, they are guiltily bumped into the circular file. If this didn't happen, every teacher who has taught for any length of time, would be living the story of Sarah Sylvia Cynthia Stout. (You know, the Shel Silverstein character who would not take the garbage out...)

But I digress. When it comes to gifts, cost is also an issue, especially when you start to figure in multiple teachers for multiple children (Joshua had two teachers this year...everyday...) You get the idea. Anyhow, this year, Joshua decided that he wanted to give flowers. GREAT!! I have really appreciated the flowers given to me by my kids because there is no guilt in tossing them after I have enjoyed every beautiful moment and fragrance they had to offer! But, again, the cost must be weighed. Not to mention that when we went to the local (not so local) SuperCenter, the floral department had been scavenged of all but the most expensive, least pretty, simple cellophane arrangements. So to plan B. After a three-year-long learning curve, I finally left my hydrangeas alone this year, and as a result, I actually have some beautiful flowers this summer! So I decided to chop 'em off and give 'em to the teachers who mean so much to me and my kids! At the SuperCenter, I picked up some $2 vases, and some floral foam, and home we went to create what you see pictured below! I was very excited...obviously or I wouldn't be posting about them would I? Anyway, for your viewing pleasure, my hydrangea bushes (pre-cutting) and the gifts that they produced.

Ahhhh...Summer vacation is upon us at last. Now what to give next year?

Aren't you so sad you missed it?

This video was made for Parrish's benefit. Didn't want him to get too homesick while he's gone for two weeks. He has assured me that this was most helpful!

Random Happenings...

Josh entertained us last week with his preschool end of the year program..."Rockin' with Mother Goose." It's been a great year, and I can't believe he's headed to Kindergarten in the Fall. (It's really only 10 weeks away, but saying "the Fall" makes it seem like longer.) He can't wait to ride the bus, be at Madelyn's school, etc. I, on the other hand, am experiencing all of the emotions (good and sad) that go with letting go. I am excited for Josh to embark on the next phase of his learning, and he is more than ready...he started reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle outloud to me a few weeks ago like it was Hop on Pop...

That's my Josh!

Madelyn once again had a successful gymnastics exhibition showcasing all she has learned this year! She can almost do the Chinese splits, is frequently (meaning any time she finds an empty space) found doing cartwheels and practicing round-offs, and is improving her skills on the balance beam. Ms. Ning told her recently that she had better pay attention better in class or she would never go to second level! This caught her attention, and she has been trying harder ever since. Ms. Ning is a wonderful gymnastics instructor who is a former Chinese Olympic gymnast, and former Chinese Olympic gymnastics coach! And we only pay $30/month for 2 lessons/week! What a blessing for her to share her talents in our little town!

We got new bunkbeds for the boys this week...our old ones have served us well, but we were starting to wonder when Josh would land on Dallin in the night. Yup, they were the ones from the dumpster in good ole' Northwood Family Housing!

We recently moved Madelyn into the former playroom which meant moving many things around...redistributing toys between the bedrooms, recycling toys at the planned yard sale, and relishing in newfound space created by redistribution and recycling!

Rain + Rain + Rain = Mushrooms on the woodpile!!

Ward Easter Egg Hunt

We stayed just long enough to hunt the eggs and came home to clean out the garage...the kids were content to do just that, and spent the afternoon playing in the sprinkler! Ahhhh...early spring in Alabama!

Tis the season for T-ball

The Flood of '09

Upon our arrival home to Alabama, after our snowswept holiday, we were looking forward to the early spring of the South...only to find our first days home fraught with tornado warnings, wind and rain, rain, and more rain! Here are a few photos of our experience...we were some of the lucky ones!

Birthdays and Baptism and Snowfall...Oh My!

We only do "friend" birthday parties every other year with our kids, and try to plan a fun trip or outing as the birthday celebration the year in between...In fact, in past years, Madelyn and Joshua have always shared their birthday from opening presents (by their own choice) to taking turns blowing out candles on the cake. They were young enough that this was fine by them, and was easy on us! HOWEVER...Times, they are a'changin'!

Due to some unforeseen circumstances a couple months ago, our plans for March changed dramatically. We were preparing for Parrish's mom and my parents to come for Madelyn's baptism, but ended up hopping the flight ourselves!!! On March 17 we left Alabama and flew to SLC. We arrived late at night, and enjoyed a few precious hours of sleep in the cleanest Motel 6 EVER! (We had previously determined that we wouldn't pay more than $50 for the few hours we would be in a hotel that night.)

The next morning, Josh's birthday, we drove to Sandy and met my brother's wife for breakfast! It was so fun to meet Amy and Ellie...who happened to be visiting from Arizona for the week. (Next time we will plan ahead and might even get to see Craig!) From there it was on to Idaho Falls where we spent Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday at Nana's. The kids enjoyed homemade birthday cake (well, due to the late hour on his birthday, Josh picked out some lovely cupcakes at Albertson's), playing in Nana's basement (wishing all along that we had one [ME TOO!]), and were properly spoiled during the duration of our stay!

On Saturday morning we woke early and made the 2 hour trek to Burley. We arrived earlier than expected and were thus instructed to drive around until Mom was done at the grocery store...so the kids got the big Declo tour past the elementary school, junior high, high school, etc. which took all of three minutes. We drove up to Farahlyn's old house, and I shared a few precious stories from growing up. At which point, we couldn't drive around any longer...we had just spent too much time traveling...so we went to my parents' house. There we were surprised to find that Matt and Alicia had made the drive from California to be there with us! Thank you so much guys! We know what a sacrifice that was! So with Alicia making the trip, I saw all but three of my siblings over the course of our trip!

Madelyn's baptism took place at the Declo Stake Center and was perfect! Lots of family and friends were there (even Farahlyn came up from Logan just for the day)!! It was perfect!

The rest of the day was spent at Mom & Dad's celebrating all of the March/April birthdays, and just plain having fun! The grandkids got to drive Grandpa's tractor...Grandma had a pinata...and they all had a blast playing on "the playground." It was such a fun day, and we were so happy to get to be a part of it this time!

The next day, being Sunday, meant church...which was made more difficult for anxious children by the arrival of a good amount of snow that morning. We finally got them dressed and ready for church with the promise of playing in it afterwards. Mom even let me drive her brand new suburban to church!!!

Within minutes of arriving home, the kids were changed into multiple layers to compensate for their lack of snow clothes, and out we went to make snow angels, build snowmen, and have a snowball fight! I don't have pictures of the sledding, but the kids went sledding, and when the snow was worn away, they continued to sled in the mud! It was a fun day, and my kids were happy as clams even as they watched their snowmen melt over the next couple of days!

We spent Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday in Burley, and on Tuesday evening left for Logan. We had dinner that evening with my sister Tammy and most of her kids...it was lots of fun! And from there, we headed to Farahlyn's to spend the night. I love it when our kids get together because they get along famously, and even as I repeatedly tell them to go to sleep, I am secretly thrilled that they are enjoying each other so much that they are still awake late into the night! Not that Farahlyn and I were very good examples...we finally went to bed around 2am, having spent that last few hours trying to catch up on everything we could think of!

On Wednesday morning, we left early to meet Maegan and Mindy for breakfast, (our departure was again hindered by the arrival of a wonderful blanket of the white stuff which the kids would have stayed and played in for hours if we had let them), but we perservered and were off again for an afternoon spent at Temple square. As always, everything was beautiful there! Joshua enjoyed reading the plaques at the statues, the new presentation on the family was enjoyed by us all (except for Dallin who chose to leave early on account of ...well, he doesn't really have to have a reason). Anyway, it was a fun afternoon, and just long enough for two parents, three youngish children, and weakened cold thresholds on the part of all involved.

That evening, we left the kids in Layton to be babysat by the older kids of one of Parrish's good friends while we all went to dinner. It was so much fun to meet most of the guys that Parrish went through Young Men's with, and to hear them swap stories about scout trips gone wrong and even some gone right! We laughed and laughed, and practically had to tear ourselves away when we knew that school-night bedtime was upon us (for everyone but us that is...)!

Following dinner, we followed another of Parrish's friends to his home in Sandy where we stayed our last night before flying back to Alabama on Thursday. It was a whirlwind trip, but we felt so blessed to have been able to see so many family and friends who mean so much to us! Thanks to everyone who helped make our trip so wonderful!

Prioritizing 101...

I have always prided myself on being a "go with the flow" person. Nothing ever caught me off-guard. I could drop whatever I was doing and be the most spontaneous person in the world. I love that person...and I miss her...and I wish I had taught her just a bit more about prioritizing and planning, list making, etc. You get the picture...

I obviously haven't blogged since Halloween! Not that our lives aren't filled with blogworthy happenings, but rather I just can't seem to find time to blog them! There are a billion other things that seem to take precedence...so sorry.

In the name of catching up, Thanksgiving was spent at a farm with friends that come from a family with 13 children...gorgeous weather, tons of people, games late into the evening, needless to say...we loved it!

I got an early Christmas present in the form of being rear-ended by a good 'ole boy in a jacked up pick-up truck...oh wait...that wasn't a gift...I got a new back door on my car and still have no A/C! Sorry, I got confused!

Christmas was as busy as everyone else's. I played the shelf elf in Madelyn's classroom, created the North Pole scene for Santa's visit to the church Christmas Party, made homemade gifts and treats for anyone and everyone local, and somewhere in the midst of all of this, we cleaned house and got ready for Nana's annual visit...which was once again, wonderful and as always too short...so she extended her trip by two days, and we reveled in having her around a bit longer.

We rang in the new year quietly, but it seems that that was just a mask for the craziness that has ensued ever since. We are doing well, getting ready for Madelyn's baptism next month, and prepping for the flight out west for that very event. I flew to Virginia with Parrish for a few days in January, leaving all three kids at home with friends who stayed here at the house...it was a much-needed get away, and we got to visit Michigan friends and even my sister Cheryl and her husband Gavin in DC for a quick dinner one night! February has brought Valentine parties, T-ball sign-ups, Dave Ramsey classes, and the usual YW craziness...I really have got to start making lists...I cannot continue to "fly by the seat of my pants" because they keep catching fire! Here are a few pics to play catch up...some day I really will...or maybe I won't...who knows!?