grad night at the temple

Last Wednesday night the YW & their mom's celebrated our graduating seniors.

We met up at the Bountiful Temple for a special speaker & a spectacular view.

(our guest speaker, Tyler- leaves on an LDS mission to Phoenix, AZ in August)

This view was absolutely breath taking- It was unreal.

I couldn't help but feel like I was in a photo. Amazing.

 

Tyler talked to the girls about keeping the gospel centered in their lives. 

How - now that they are adults & leaving home etc- it's even more important make good choices.

afterwards--- amazing refreshments!

For real!

I think moms need to be invited more often!

what a great night!

side note: what the heck? how can it be that in less than two weeks Hailey will be graduating from High School... this is definitely sneaking up on me.

hot chicks

~okay~

so apparently we have joined the world of chicken owners

I've wanted to put some chickens in our backyard for a long time now... but I'm just nervous.

 REally nervous.

 I have a lot to do & a lot of mouths to feed & did I mention I have a lot to do?!

Plus, what if dogs come into the yard- or mountain lions- and eat them?

What if we don't do it right? Then, they could stink up the backyard & our neighbors will hate us.

 I am feeling the pressure. Am I making too big of a deal out of it? 

These two girls could not be happier!

Shoot- the are really cute.

And you guys are my witnesses that these two chicks promised to take care of these two other chicks.

 We may add two more chicks- for a total of 4 chicks- which will grow into 4 chickens- which should lay lots of delicious eggs. 

I hope. 

oh golly

what have I gotten myself into?

lots of changes for the graduate

Last week Mr. Trent graduated from D.A.R.E.

or was it the week before?

Right now we are smack in the middle of

that time of year

You know-- when life is so crazy busy.

Oh wait, that's all year?

 Why does it seem that spring is busier than ever?

Our town still participates in the D.A.R.E. program & Trent really enjoyed it.

Besides graduating from D.A.R.E. he will be graduating from elementary school soon. I can't believe it- how is it possible that I will have no more- not even one- kid in elementary school? I love elementary school. I have given lots of time volunteering & just being there with PTA & Community Council. It has been a privilege. Honestly..... I stopped volunteering a year or two ago. It just got to be too much. Too emotional. It's hard to see your child with his peers, when he is so different. He's darling, he's great- but he is different & at home it's our normal but at school - it just got too hard for me to be there.

Today he had to miss school. 

End of level testing started this week. The stress, anticipation & anxiety of it all- has thrown his tourettes into full swing. He is ticking so hard- his poor throat is sore & his voice is scratchy. He has been ticking every second (or even more than once a second!) for about 48 hours. It took a blessing & both Brett & I laying down by him to get him to settle down enough to fall asleep last night. His doctor says this is typical- that we should treat it like a cold- no guilt, just gotta stay home, de-stress & get better.

 We have canceled tutoring & may go swimming this afternoon. 

School is out & he is playing happily with his two favorite friends- 2 darling second graders- outside in the beautiful 72 degree weather. 

Summer- we are so happy you are almost here.

the real deal

A couple of weeks ago

the big boys (Brian & Jack) took Chloe & Laura 

fishing with them.

Look at this~

Chloe caught a big ol' fish!!!

She even brought it home & cooked it outside on the grill.

Sunday she made dinner

ALL BY HERSELF

rolls- the girls can make some mighty fine breads-

mashed potatoes & gravy

not to mention...

roasted lemon & thyme chicken.

It was so good.

~Chloe- she's the Real Deal~

one step ahead

This week (so far) I've been trying to get some things done!

Some BIG things done!

I'm blogging about it to help me feel like I've actually achieved something.

Some day's I have to wonder....?

I made & froze:

waffles

muffins

granola (okay I didn't freeze the granola)

for easy quick breakfasts.

I planted herbs-- Woo HOooo!!! 

seeds & plants

I always mean well, and think I'm going to get my gardening in early...

 but it's so much harder to do than it seems.

I checked the weather forecast & saw that there is not a freeze in sight.

So I put in my tomatoes- well three so far. I need to pick up a couple more plants.

Surprise, Surprise

Look was is coming up all on it's own here.

YEP

pumpkins!

We had a contest last fall to see who could chuck their pumpkin into the garden from the deck.

(It was really funny)

Some of us made it- some did not- never the less- the pumpkins made it into the garden & now a pumpkin patch is growing. I LOVE it. We will have pumpkins growing out of our ears. I counted at least 10 plants- uh oh.

These are my raspberry bushes.

Kristy gave me some starts & they are coming along but not producing. They are much bigger this year & I am hoping this is the year!?

I have more planting to do- but this is a GREAT start for me.

Last but not least-

Happy Happy Day

Two weeks ago I ordered myself a key lime tree.

I have always wanted one of these little citrus trees- I am so thrilled to have it!

So far so good.

 It's darling. I LOVE it.

I can't wait to see flowers & little limes. It may not be until next spring- but it's okay.

 I can wait.

 I can wait.

Can I wait? I guess I will have to.

cupcake cookoff

A couple weeks ago the YWomen in our church congregation got together for a mother/daughter cupcake cook off-- oh ya, this is my kind of activity. Chloe & I were so excited to go!

We got there & made our game plan right away... 

um- if you didn't know it- Chloe & I are fiercely competitive. 

-It's not really a good or bad thing- it just is what it is.

The spread of choices was incredible!

There were all kinds of possibilities- the YWomen leaders really went over the top. 

There was cake mix, sour cream, filling, sprinkles galore, fruit, chocolate, anything & everything you need to make a gourmet cupcake. I just have no way of doing this activity justice. I didn't take enough photos- I couldn't- there was a job to be done.

The decorations were so cute- cupcake bunting & look at these tables.. oh man!

I am this year's YWomen camp director & guess what... these girls better lower their expectations... seriously.

While the cupcakes were baking- we played a get to know you game. 

There were questions that we each answered, then the girls had to guess whose answer was whose.

Chloe & I made a key lime cupcake with lime butter cream frosting, filled with custard & stopped with a strawberry.

-we won best tasting-

We also forgot to take a photo before we ate it.

trust me it was beautiful & it was gooood.

women's conference & chloe's roasted chicken

Ruthie & I went to Women's Conference last Thursday & Friday.

It was just what I needed. 

Seriously folks... I really. really. needed to be there.

Before I went I prayed that I would find some answers to what I need to do to help my family with our current set of trials.

 Specific answers please.

 Humbled by our current set of trials- I was feeling lowly of heart & ready to learn of what I could do. How I can change & do better.

Well, guess what?

I did receive those answers.

I really did. It was amazing. There were times while listening to speakers when it was like they were speaking specifically to me- like I was the only person in the audience. 

I was reminded by the gift of the Holy Ghost-

*that I can only change myself- my attitude- my opinions & choices

*that I needed to recommit myself to what is truly important in my life- God & Family

*that family prayer, scripture study & family home evening need to be of absolute importance- not to be taken lightly or half heartily prepared for. 

*that making my home a place of Peace & Love takes effort- and that effort is worth it.

This week I have been working on memorizing all the verses of this song. I sing it to myself throughout the day. 

Even though today wasn't Mother's Day- I came home from teaching a class at work- on Sunday

(not cool... especially after all my enlightened women's conference experiences)

to this beautiful roasted chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy & homemade rolls!!!

so today...... I learned that CHLOE rocks - another reminder- because, duh- I already knew that. 

It's a good life.

my saturday

Typically I work on Saturday mornings. 

Not today!

Today I woke up to - all the boys in the house, Gone Fishing.

(Jack has gone fishing every Saturday but one since he has come home from Brazil.)

Just Chloe, Hailey & I- sleeping in.

 It was glorious.

I headed out the door to meet with a sweet lady, I am making a quilt for- she had me come over to see the colors of the room it will hang in. I am thrilled to have a paying project!

Then the girls & I got donuts, Hailey drove Chloe to ballet, & the boys came home (Brian caught 3 fish)

Then after much discussion about who, when & where--- the big boys & I went shopping for some new summer clothes for the former missionary Jack. The discussion over what/when/where would we/some of us/just us/who?? would go shopping etc. was quite comical & Jack was fairly positive he would NOT be shopping. BUT WE MADE IT-- the three of us out the door. Unfortunately everyone else had somewhere else to be & the details of all that was just too much. Oh golly- do you ever have times like that? Times when just getting out the door seems so ridiculous that you just wanna scream- 

 Leave now or I'm not going! Pee or get off the pot!

Too much talk about who, when, where to go... geez louiz- let me tell you- I was not born to shop.

Or at least that's what I thought. Oh man, these two had me in stitches the whole shopping trip. It was so much fun. We laughed & laughed-- I nearly wet my pants again & again. I'm pretty sure it was divine intervention that kept us from getting in a car accident. They had funny story after story from their mission days & were teasing each other ruthlessly over their weight- or lack there of. The jokes & digs & ducking out of the way before the other whooped him- kept me in a constant state of the giggles.

You will be happy to know that they DID NOT buy those two hats above- but Jack is now ready for summer. Some new shorts & t-shirts were definitely in order. 

It was a quite night getting ready for my cooking class Sunday morning & cake.

I made this lovely cake.

~Great Saturday~

How was yours?

one of those kind of days

Even guys in capes need a little help sometimes. 

This past month past month has been amazing. Amazing for many different reasons

of course Missionary Jack came home-

and Megan, Tony & the boys were here-

and the whole family together for Easter... etc.

But- we've also had some struggles. 

I am learning.

 Slowly my Heavenly Father is teaching me that I need a little help sometimes.

(slow because I am slow to learn... )

It's not easy for anyone - this life.

The longer I live, the more I learn that no one is exempt from trials. Everyone has their own hard times. From the outside looking in it may all look peachy. Shoot- sometimes it may all be peachy- but because God loves us, he gives us opportunities to learn & grow & stretch farther than we thought possible.

stretched- that's me.

maybe sometime I will tell you about it? 

maybe not- some things are just private- somethings are just too painful- other things are just to sacred

I just know this- that through it all

I know that my Redeemer, Lord & Savior lives. 

I know it.

I just know it.

just a few pictures of all the fun

Seriously there is nothing better than having my two sweet grand babies here!

Here are a few pictures of some of the fun we had last month.

Brett & the boys!

Charlie having fun in Chloe's room with Hailey's ukulele.

Charlie in the family room window "up high."

Joey the sweet heart.

Oh words cannot describe how sweet this boy is!

Uncle Brian a big fan of nephews.

The night before Jack came home we went downtown & visited the new

 City Creek Center...

 oh my- good job Salt Lake City!

It's a world class shopping center with a creek running through it- beautiful & so fun.

There is a Disney Store there!

Trent was in love with the Muppet characters from the Muppet Movie.

We went to Kneaders for treats-- YUM.

Two photos- two sets of eyes shut. Oh well.

Charlie found some cute things as we explored.

REally cute & delicious cookies.

 We had so much fun- I waited to long to blog it all.

I really didn't want to- it just happened.

STill --- it was heaven on earth.