Memorial Day

I always grew up decorating the graves of loved ones on Memorial Weekend. I have carried on this tradition with my own family. As we spent some time at the cemetary, I retold stories of family and friends that are buried there. I would share stories about when I was a kid and I hated to see an undecorated grave as if they were forgotten. We spent an unusually long time at the cemetary as we walked and noticed different grave markers. I always tear up to see the flags of service men who have died that have served our country. My own grandfather was a prisoner of war in World War II. He has a military flag raised in his honor, we always take the time to find his flag. We donated to the service men who continue this tradition of raising the individual flags, and the men gave my children a small flag each. I teared up as my Zach wanted to go back to my grandfather's grave and place a flag next to it. I teared up when Lexie all on her was clearing the grass from the overgrown grave. As we walked the kids would fix flowers that had been blown over by the wind, and were especially careful where they walked to show respect and not walk on the graves. I hope that my kids will always carry on this tradition, and take a moment to decorate graves and show that we have not forgotten about those who have gone on before. I am thankful for all those who serve our country and protect our freedom. I am thankful for my brother who serves today with the Air Force and is about to return for second trip to the Middle East.

Dance Festival

Lexie's Kindergarten class performed to a song from Tarzan "Trashing the Camp" she did a great job. She really enjoys dance and especially performing in front of a crowd. Lexie has to make sure I am watching and know exactly where I am or she will spend the whole time looking for me, luckily we made eye contact right from the start.

Carson's 2nd grade class performed to a song from Mulan "I will make a Man out of You" he did a great job. It is surprising to watch Carson perform, because this usually oh so quiet kid can really ham up when he is in front of a crowd. He is a joy to watch and he can always bring a smile to my face.

Zach's 6th grade class performed the Cha Cha, he did a great job. I think he is afraid to smile because it might look like he was enjoying himself and no eleven year old boy could possibly like the Cha Cha or dancing with a girl for that matter. I love you Zach and you did a fine Cha Cha (smiling or not).

Pinewood Derby

When you are an eight year old boy, the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Race is a BIG deal. Carson has watched Zach the last couple of years with great anticipation to the day he would get to one day build and race his own car. This was Carson's big year he was finally eight and could do his own car. He had design ideas, paint ideas, and a dad who was eager to help. They cut, painted and perfected this pinewood derby car. It came down to the last night and some last minute tips from Trevor (a pinewood derby genius in his own right), and the car had an awesome night. Carson won every race he was in, and won first place overall. His car was also awarded "Sportiest" car. Carson handled this fame as I knew he would shyly, and quiet, but on the inside he couldn't have been happier. I am proud of Carson for the work he did on it, and the way he handled himself throughout the night. I love you Carson! It will be a pinewood derby night he will never forget.

Our Anniversary

I cannot believe it has been 14 years since Kevin and I were married on May 20 1994. It was fun to go through the photo books and see where we started and where we are now. We started out in a one bedroom apartment in Provo, and we had one car for the first three years of our marriage. We were so young, Kevin was 23 and I was 19.

We have been through many moves and lots of schooling. Kevin and I have both received our Bachelor's Degrees, and we are both the first in our families to accomplish this. Kevin graduated in 2000, and I graduated in 2006.

We have had several medical miracles in our family with different members of our little family. We have gone through heart monitors, many hospital stays, numerous surgeries, and thousands of dollars.

We have had good times and bad times and we will have many more times to go through. I love Kevin very much and the three beautiful children we share together.

I love you Kevin, we have come a long way, and I look forward to our future together.

Motherhood

Motherhood brings up so many emotions for me. I first think of how inadequate I feel at this job, and the responsibility I have to raise three children who hopefully will one day grow up to be loving, kind, responsible, adults who have a testimony and who know who they are. It is a huge responsibility I feel, and many days I feel like I lack in so many ways. I want my children to know how much I love them, and want the very best for them. I want Zach to know that I support him in all his activities. I want him to know that when he is in trouble or I get on him, it is to help him become a better young man. I want Carson to know how much I appreciate him and his ability to love. Carson is the peacemaker of the family, and in our family that can be a BIG job. Alexis is my little girl, girly in every way. I love her for this. I love that she knows who she is and I hope that will continue to grow and deepen until she fully understands that she is a daughter of God.

Mother's Day itself can be a wonderful day of homemade cards, gifts, and dinners, but it can also be a day of guilt for me as I compare myself to other mothers around me, who I feel never yell, lose their temper, or forget spelling test day. I know that some of this guilt is ridiculous, but some of it is valid as I know that I can do better. I know what I need to work on and I want my children to know that I am trying so hard to do a good job.

Along with this responsibility and guilt comes a great deal of LOVE. I love my kids, and I am thankful everyday for my job as a mother. I love being a part of their lives. I love teaching them, I love reading to them, I love watching their activities from baseball all night, to pack meetings, to dance competitions. I love helping in their school classrooms, fieldtrips, and even swimming every Wednesday. I love all these things because they love it, and I do it all for them.

I LOVE you Zach, Carson, and Alexis!!!

Thank you for a wonderful Mother's Day. The night before Mother's Day my husband and children make me a special dinner, because on Mother's Day we go to my moms and Kevin wants me to have my own special dinner. Kevin and the kids made me a dinner dedicated to the one food I love POTATOES. It included a twice baked potato, hashbrowns, mashed potato, potato wedges, potato bread, fried potatoes, and funeral potatoes, and a pork chop (also a favorite) and let us not forget potato chips on the side. In the center of all these potatoes was my fry sauce. I LOVED this dinner and the love they showed me in preparing it. It was a lot of effort on Kevin's part and I Love him for it.

Kindergarten Fieldtrip

So, this was not my first fieldtrip to the Bean Museum. I am getting so much better at this. This time I was prepared for the museum itself, we did the scavenger hunt, colored a picture, and before they could get restless I asked an employee to start us a movie over in a corner (a cartoon one no less). Total chaos avoided. I had no younger children with me to wrestle or make arrangements for and it was nice. The only problem is the bus. A bus full of 5 and 6 year olds three and four to a seat is a lot of kids and the noise level is unbearable. Bless the hearts of all bus drivers everywhere.

Game of Tag

How to play this game of tag. Post these rules on your blog. List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

3 joys: my husband and kids, Chips, A clean house
3 fears: failing as a parent, MICE, heights
3 goals: Balance in my life, lose a little weight, create wonderful memories for my family
3 current obsessions: scrapbooking, potato products, sudoku (limit myself to only doing it in the car while waiting for kids)
3 collections: post cards of places I have been, scrapbooking supplies,
3 random facts: I love reality tv, I am competitive on so many levels, Do not like to try new foods

People I tag: Natalie K., Mandi, Lynae, Melissa, Kortney