End of the school year.

Which means lots of performances.  Recitals.  Awards.  Field trips.

We got to go eat lunch at school with Morgan.  She always gets so excited when she sees us walking down the halls or catches us peeking into her classroom.  So you can only imagine how excited she was to have us stay and eat lunch with her!

She had her 2nd grade music program.  I was smiling ear to ear throughout the whole performance.  I love watching Morgan interact with all of her classmates and friends and seeing my girl do the same thing all of the kids her age are doing.  Morgan’s unpredictable and I never know if she’s going to happily participate or sit with her finger in her mouth, looking down at the ground.  She started sitting and not wanting to do it but as soon as she heard the music she couldn’t help but stand up and sing along.

Ryan earned the Tiger Pride Citizen Award “Cooperation" for his 6th grade class.  This award is usually only given to one student in the classroom but Ryan’s teacher decided to give it to Ryan and his best friend, Tate.  She said the reason she chose two boys this time was because they cooperate all of the time with each other.  They are always getting along even though they might compete with each other.  If they see someone being left out, they are always the first ones to go over and ask them to join their group.  It just felt like the right thing to have both boys earn this award together.

Ryan is receiving this award for cooperation.  The sixth grade teachers know that we can 
count on Ryan to cooperate with us in and out of the classroom.  
He is always willing to help the teachers and his classmates.  Ryan sets a good example 
by cooperating with the teachers the first time he is asked.  Ryan works hard 
and is a good friend to many students.  He is a great example to all of the students.

Ryan and Tate with their teacher, Mrs D.

I got to tag along on Ryan’s field trip to the zoo.  It was a perfect spring day and weather for the animals.  They were all awake and playful.  So were the kids.

Jack had his final band concert last week.  He had a solo in the concert and did so well!  He’s really loved playing the trumpet and surprisingly never complained about having to wake up early several mornings a week to go to Advanced Band practice.   

All of his hard work paid off.  Check out this trumpet solo.  Go Jack Go!  (He is not the crazy dancer kid in the middle but the one on the back row, far right).




Griffin has really loved his preschool.  He’s made lots of new friends and gets asked to play by someone everyday.  It keeps him busy but he loves it!  He’s all about friends and play dates!

He got to be the circus ringmaster at his spring preschool performance and did such a cute job with all of the songs.  It was just last year that he refused to sing any of the songs and just sat there asking me how much longer until the program was done.  You’ve come a long way, baby!

He told me that this was his favorite song.  “Because it makes me miss you when I sing it at school”.
Ahhhhhh.  You know the way to your mama’s heart!

We took all of the kids out to lunch after their school program.  

Watch out Kindergarten!  You’ve got a wild one coming to your school!

Surgery

My dad is going in for surgery in the morning and was lucky enough to spend the day in the hospital today.  Getting chest xrays, blood draws, respiratory therapy teaching, etc.  We decided he needed a little more chaos in his life and took the family up to see him tonight since the kids won’t be able to visit him tomorrow in the ICU.  He’s having a lung biopsy to get an exact diagnosis.  Please keep him in your prayers.  Thanks! 

Downtown

We spent the evening at The Gateway for Hadley’s singing/dancing performance last night.  Since it was such a beautiful Spring day, we decided to make it a family affair.  We were actually a little hot as we watched her perform with the sun setting on our faces.  Not that I’m complaining because I love the warmth and sunshine and it’s long overdue!  It was such an enjoyable evening.  I love it when we find an activity that works for all of the different ages in our family.  It was fun to experience a different part of our town, too.  I always feel like I’m a tourist walking around The Gateway.  

Hadley is the group, Sensation, and did such a good job!  I love watching my girl dance and sing with a big smile on her face!

Hadley and her friend, Jayden

We sat on the stairs around the fountains while we watched the performance.

Dinner in the Courtyard.  

Frozen Yogurt.

Enjoying the warm weather and frozen yogurt together.

I’m proud of my girl and the progress she has made this year.  

Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day! 2011

Hey “mamba”  “LOOK” “uno” we “Skor” “100 grand” cuz u r a “smartie” not a “lemonhead” don’t be a “Butterfinger”  “Rolo” over 2 ur “sweetharts” and give ‘em a hug! xoxo

I’ve always dreamed of being a mom and anxiously awaited the day of having my own baby placed into my arms.  I’m still amazed that all of these beautiful children belong to me.  Motherhood is a much harder job than I ever expected.  It took becoming a mother before I fully appreciated my own mom and realized what an amazing job she did with all of us.  Sacrificing her time every night to kneel down with each child by their bed to say prayers together.  Laying down by each of us every night to tickle our backs.  Home cooked dinners every night.  Hot breakfasts every morning.  Sack lunches for school.  Skipping dessert so one of us could have seconds.  Driving us to piano, softball, dance, baton practice, friends houses.  Making every vacation a family vacation, didn’t matter if it was Lake Powell or traveling around Europe, my parents took us everywhere even though it would have been easier and probably more enjoyable to leave their six kids behind and go as a couple.  My mom is amazing and I am so lucky she is mine!  I love you mom!  Happy Mother’s Day to you!

Germany 1976

Switzerland 1979

Being a mom is not an easy job and one that I know I could do better.  Every night I resolve to be a better mom for my children, to be more, but the next day I seem to be the same ol’ mom I was the day before.  Luckily my children love me just the way I am, imperfections and all.

I woke up this morning to Griffin calling out, “Wipe my bum, mom!”.   It just seemed so appropriate to start off my Mother’s Day with a little bum wiping.  I headed out to see patients and when I got home I was greeted by anxious, little faces, excited for me to open up all of their homemade goodness.   By the way, I think dad’s get the raw end of the deal with Father’s Day being in the summer.   They miss out on all of the cute things that the kids make in school.

Mia’s cute picture from nursery

Ryan’s top reasons he loves me and a coupon book:

I hope Ryan is okay with me listing his top 10 reasons.  I thought they were so sweet.  His coupons were quite specific, like do the dishes (unload only), picking up the dog’s poop (once).  He told me he had to keep them realistic so that he would actually do them.

1.You encourage me to do my best on everything.  I really like that about you.  You are awesome.

2.You don’t get in fights with dad.  You will never get in a divorce.  You always get along with him.

3.  You manage to control all of the kids.  It is really hard with Morgan.  I am amazed how good you are.

4.  You take time to find out how my day has been occasionally.  You help me when I have troubles. You are amazingly radical.

5.  You cook me food.  Without you life would be so boring.  Especially with just my dad.  You are funamenal.

6.  You give me stuff and you are not very overprotective.  I really like that about you.  You are the best mom in the whole world.

7.You love and care for me.  I am SO GLAD I am not an orphan.  You rock.  I wish you were alive forever.  I would never choose a different mom.

8.  You are very strong in what you believe in.  Which will help me a lot with my kids and having them go to church every Sunday.

9.You could never hate me and I would never hate you.  Even if I say that (which I don’t) I really don’t mean it.

10.  You are the best mom in the world.  I could think of 100 reasons why I love you but I only need ten.  I LOVE YOU.


Hadley made me this cute framed picture of flowers and taught herself how to stitch my name and her name.  Love it and can’t wait to get it on my wall!

How can I not love this sweet note from Morgan?  I know how long it takes to get her to focus and write one word so to get a whole letter from her means the world to me.

“Mom, I love you because . . .
You help me with my homework.
You took me to disneyland and on the pinocho ride
thank you mom
Love,
Morgan Seal”

P.S.  She hated the Pinocchio ride!


My new ‘bee bracelet’ from Griffin:

Griffin was most excited for Mother’s Day.  He brought home his gifts on Thursday and hid them under his bed.  He asked me how many more days until Mother’s Day.  He got so excited when he found out it was only 3 days away.  He’s so used to hearing 60-90 days when he asks those kind of questions.  “Mom, how many days until Christmas?  How many days until I turn 5 years old?” etc.  I thought I saw something with chocolate on it and told him he better hide it somewhere else so the dog wouldn’t get it.  Hopefully the dog enjoyed eating my m-n-m’s because Griffin was so disappointed when he found the package missing on his card.  Dad saved the day and bought him a new package.  We played the m-n-m game today after church (each color stands for a different question).  His gift was this cute bee bracelet--my new, favorite accessory.

It was a perfect Mother’s Day!

I’m the lucky one!

Celebrating Easter

We enjoyed a sunny and warm Easter weekend in St. George.  Nan and Papa’s neighborhood hosts an Easter egg hunt at the park across from their home the Saturday before Easter.  Every year they hide numbers in a few eggs for a drawing.  It’s usually something most parents are hoping their child doesn’t win.  My girls were really hoping they would win and get to take home one of these cute bunnies.  We’ve had rabbits since Jack was a baby (thanks Uncle Scott!) and had 6 at one time (mom rabbit, dad rabbit and 4 babies) and now have one left.  Rabbits live to be around 6-7 years old.  Ours is 10 years old.  They’ve been free to hop around our backyard which has kind of ruined the backyard.  Gavin is excited to have his yard back again one day soon.  So it was with much happiness that our girls didn’t win a free bunny. 

It was so fun watching the little ones run around collecting their eggs and trying to figure out how it all worked.  We didn’t do an egg hunt last Easter so it was like it was all brand new to them.  Griffin started opening his eggs and was a little disappointed, “There’s just candy in all of them!”  Not sure what he was hoping to find inside them but obviously something bigger and better than candy.

It was fun to have all of the family together.  Lolly decided to jump at the chance of getting a group picture while everyone was in the same spot.  We balanced the camera on a doll high chair and set the timer and ended up with a great picture of everyone.

Griffin had such a fun time with his cousins.  All of these boys are within two months of each other.  All turning 5 years old these next few months.  They are very similar and have the best time together, except a few times when Griffin got a little excited and too aggressive.  But they were all best buddies again in no time.  I love this picture of these cute and naughty boys!

Jack and Oakley. The two oldest grandchildren and growing up quickly, too quickly.  

The bunny found us on Easter morning and left baskets for the kids.  

Dressed in their new Easter clothes and ready to go to church.  I am forever grateful to my Heavenly Father for these six blessings in my life!  I can’t imagine my life without the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He is the center of our family.  I know that my Savior lives and that He gave us the greatest gift -- Eternal Life.  

  

Happy Easter!

Look who we met!

We met up with Sarah and her mom, Joyce while they are in town for a quilting convention.   I’ve admired Sarah for a very long time.  She has her own blog and I love keeping up on all of the happenings in her life.  She and her mom just opened a quilting store and both work at the shop.  Sarah (and her mom) was everything I expected and more!  

I kept saying over and over to my friend, Kristin, how amazing I thought she was and then Kristin hit it spot on with the comment, “She’s just so sweet!”  Exactly the word I was looking for . . . sweet!  The word that gets way too much mileage with our kiddos but it perfectly described Sarah.  Sweet, kind, a tad shy, soft spoken, sincere and beautiful!

Morgan was hesitant about taking a picture and found security in playing with her hair and covering her face.

Then Joyce suggested that Sarah put her arm around Morgan.  And a friendship was born.

Beautiful girls!

Thanks for making the time for us to finally meet you!  Here’s to hoping you make this trip an annual tradition!