trip to campus MOA

Last week Hailey & I picked up Chloe & headed to the

 Museum of Art on the Brigham Young University Campus.

It was a blast!

A great activity for a hot, hot summer day.

 Right now there is a fantastic exhibit called Work To Do
Click on the words & check it out! We loved some of it, were confused by some of it, it made us think... and most importantly we had a GREAT time.

This was my favorite & very thought provoking.

Think about it-

both plants got equal amounts of water & light.

One is spoken only "good" words to-

the other only "evil" words.

The difference was obvious. Not huge- but obvious.

Leave a comment- and let me know what you think about this! 

I think it's amazing- absolutely amazing.

***

Chloe could only stay with us for a couple of hours, but afterward we met up with Jack.

He needed some new clothes so we headed out with him and... 

it's always fun to be out shopping with Jack.

That's really all I have to say about that.

We headed to dinner with a gift card to Olive Garden I was given- (LOVE Gift cards)

And- I realized how fun to be out with my two

Middle Children!

I am pretty sure this has never happened before.

It was great. These are two fantastic kids.

Jack is working for the summer. He has a job & an internship. 

He also has a .... girlfriend... and we are loving that!

Hailey- just started school to learn American Sign Language.

She is loving it & hoping to work with Autistic kids or just be an interpreter for the hearing impaired.

She is so good at this kind of thing! We are really excited for her.

I am sad that I didn't take any pictures with me in them???

I was there!

I really was!

But notice I did get a picture of my mushroom ravioli?

it was good-

it's time! time to RISE & SHOUT

Yesterday

Yesterday was the big day

that

Jack

moved 

back

to 

college.

Now, that was a quick 4 months!

We had a little-- going back to college-- dinner party Thursday night.

This time- no tears- all happiness & excitement. 

I am truly so glad Jack is going- being at the Y was some of the best years of my life & I am Thrilled for him!

I had the table set, etc.

Then went outside to start the grill- and WHAT?!!

It wasn't blazing hot?

happy day

we moved outside

Chickens & Nya

Brett has started calling the chickens

Lavern & Shirley

For dinner we had

salad with ranch

Steak

garlic mashed potatoes.

 Friday just before GO TIME-we went shopping---

Can you believe that some of Jack's buddies buy this deodorant just for the phrase on the back!

HA- funny!

I told Jack if he bought this sponge bob soap it would make him look cool.

He didn't go for it.

But he did find this brand of shampoo that they have in Brazil.

Once at a members house he rushed to the bathroom to throw up...

-made it to the bathroom sink-

The bathroom sink had a tiny drain that instantly clogged because Jack had thrown up a sink full of live worms. He used the cap of the shampoo to scoop them out & into the toilet to flush.

Oh my baby.

thus-

this face of disgust

Trent made it home just in time to say goodbye.

Poor Trent!

It's so hard being the youngest!!

GO JACK

GO COUGARS

I LOVE YOU BYU

AND

I LOVE YOU JACK

she's back!

Last Monday I speedily hurried down to Utah County to drop these two cuties off at EFY- BYU style. They were so very, very excited!!

Heck, I was excited for them. I told them on the way down that -exactly 29 years ago- I was the very same age, went to the very same EFY, stayed in the very same dorm rooms, with my best friend Stephanie. Boy did we have fun!

{checking in to get their dorm room key}
I adore these two girls.
They've been the best of friends since Kindergarten. Sweet.

This year they were finally old enough to go to to EFY (a summer retreat for LDS youth.) Chloe is my 5 - fifth child- I've dropped off here. What lucky kids!

I was feeling old as I drove home lickety split to put dinner in the crock pot, pick up before Marcus & Brittany came, and run off to work! I had traded my usual morning shift for evening so that I could be the dropper offer. It was worth it- so fun.

Trent of course- cried when we left Chloe there. But- all is well now Chloe is back home!

HOoRay!! We missed you girl.

livin' the life

Yesterday I drove down to the land of Cjane & Jill & Nie & Jack the college student.

Right here:

this is where I lived when I lived here...

a long time ago.

Just to the north is where jack lives today.

We went to lunch, shopped for groceries...
he didn't need much


(what's up with my crooked nose & lazy eye... total self esteem buster here, dang)
and I got to check out his apartment for a minute.

It's hard to believe he is all grown up & living on his own.
Right here under the Y.

He is living the dream-

I asked him how it felt to be here at BYU after wanting it for so long. He said- "it's weird." He is a man of many words. He said, "I just want to go on my mission, it's hard to think about school." Well... I guess we need to start on that.

Back home I went-

to drive ballet & make dinner & not get enough done.

heck, I'm not crying... that's just my allergies

Well, today is the big day-

Jack just left.

We sat here on the porch this morning waiting for his dad to come home from work to say goodbye and talked a bit-- while my allergies bugged me....

Poor kid, has to sit with his sniveling mother.

It's the price he had to pay since we won't be eating for a month or two with all the money we spent getting him out the door. Seriously- new tires& windshield, food, bedding, apartment stuff- it adds up so fast!

I am proud of this kid.

He can do it- I'm am so thrilled he is at my beloved BYU. Living on campus just a walk away from where his dad & I sat talking on the back steps until much too late- just a walk away from where his dad held my hand the first time at a BYU football game in a near blizzard- & just a walk away from where his dad asked me to marry him.

so ya- I'm not sad- not sad at all.


NOpe- I'm not crying either...
or sitting alone in my bedroom with a box of tissue...
or eating pie...
or any of those things
dang kids

pta convention 09

It's been a busy week for us all, I'm sure!

These last few weeks before school gets out- are jam packed with loads of goodness- plays, parties, college orientation (already?)

Plus, all the ol' regular activities- scouts, ballet... you get the idea.

Spring also brings- the Utah PTA convention at one of my favorite places in the whole world- BYU campus. Oh again... how I love that campus!

Yesterday I drove down by myself- I had to be there early & stay late for some legislative issues. The older I get the more I enjoy being alone with myself. Interesting... the younger me hated being alone & always wanted to be busy (well I guess that hasn't changed but I am doing better.)

I guess being in my 40's now- I'm finally coming to terms with myself & who I am.

(most of the time)

Brett was so great to work from home, get the kids off, be there when they got home- order pizza, the whole mom bit- he's so supportive of me always. I don't think I give him credit here on this blog enough- he is the best!

I found this fabulous parking spot right across the street from the Monte L. Bean life science museum. When Brett was in school I would take Megan & Brian there. It's full of taxidermy animals- kind of gross now that I think about it- but two toddlers loved it & it was free. The best price for our little college family. It was delightful walking down past the bell tower in the morning sun as the bells played "Come, Come Ye Saints."
And look at this-
Right down from my car...
loads & loads of blooming lilacs!!
I took this shot as I came around to the Wilkenson center. I love it. the sun is coming over the mountains, students walking & the Y in the background. Happiness. There is just a feeling here-

This year in PTA I am the region legislative representative. My goal is to educate & increase awareness of what the PTA locally & nationally does for children. Increase my own awareness & knowledge of local & national issues & use my voice to hopefully make a difference.

I love legislative issues, the legislative session, being at the capitol, etc. This position is a good fit for me & has made me excited to be involved on a different level.

At this meeting I was sitting next to my PTA friends, Charity & Natalie- (I should have gotten a photo) Charity was worried about here parking spot & left to move her car- I was of course telling her about my Fabulous spot near the bell tower- gush gush.
I met Janae for lunch- we shared a mint brownie- the verdict is in... hers are SO MUCH better! I feel so privileged to have experienced her mint brownies in real life.
Ms. Utah spoke- she was surprisingly excellent
Ryan Shupe & the Rubber band was there- they are FAntastic!
I went to three classes:
1. Legislative VP 101- been here before
2. Legislative VP- what is the National PTA's agenda
3. Protecting Children from Abuse
I checked out all the vendors trying to get fundraiser commitments, & I won a Marie Calendars Pie!! woo hoo- I didn't want to carry that around all day- so I called my newly engaged nephew Marcus aka: BYU student extraordinaire & he came & picked it up. I hope it was good, I don't even know what flavor it was!? Later I stayed & voted on this next year's resolutions.
As I walked back to my car... I saw something in the distance on my windshield?

WHAT THE???
how does that scripture go-
pride goeth before the fall
I guess I didn't see the "Y zone only parking" that was not clearly marked on the curb.
dang it!
When will I ever learn? I tell you I am just like one of my kids...
The good news?

I had a dinner date set up to meet Jill & this oh so fabulous Bacon, Blue Cheese Burger!

Jill is the best.

I talked and talked and talked my full blown head off & she was so GREat!

Jill is one of those people who just get it-

she is amazing & so warm & kind & even brought me Chocolate chip cookies!

I am so lucky to know her in REal life.

Thanks Jill!

I came home to find my two guys waiting for me.

Brett & Trent

What a great day