A HISTORY TRIP TO DALLAS?

Lance had a business trip planned to Dallas so we decided to make it a family affair. Lance was so excited to see the JFK memorial and the grassy knoll, and introduce our children to an important piece of American history. (did you know he is a history major and almost became a history professor?) Our kids were soooooo excited and could not contain their desire to see these places too.... especially Sydney! (did you know our kids are not history majors and hate their professors?)

Anyway, it was all good until we came here to this monument and all the kids ran to grab those pretty flowers that someone so carelessly left there!

Here we are mostly smiling. In the background is where JFK was shot. This was finally becoming interesting to the kids, to actually see the X in the road that marks the exact spot, can't quite see it in this picture. We looked up accounts on the internet of eye witnesses and read them, it is extremely sobering and makes you feel for Jackie Kennedy.

We stopped at White Rock Lake and walked along the water as the sun was setting. So beautiful! Of course the kids found a water fountain that shot water about 10 feet up and created a contest on the spot.

They thought this field was so cool until they discovered the 5 foot ant hills.

And then there was Sydney, always so eager to participate in our family outings.

OLIVIA'S BAPTISM

Our Sweet Olivia was baptised on July 31, 2010. She was so excited and not a bit nervous. It probably helped that her best friend Brooklyn was baptised the same day.

She wore this cute dress that Stacy borrowed to us, her daughter Darby wore it for her baptism.

My niece Brittany happened to be visiting from Utah. She is one of the most positive people you will ever meet, just genuinely kind and totally real.

I don't know how we only got a photo of Lance's dad at the baptism. From the looks of it this picture was taken by one of the kids. Both Jerry and Annie were here. Annie said the closing prayer and Jerry gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and also confirmed Olivia. It has become a tradition that he confirms our kids, don't really know how it started but it's a good thing. Four down and one to go!

OUR SWEET OLIVIA TURNS 8!

Olivia chose to stick with tradition and go to breakfast with mom and dad at Denny's on her birthday morning. Even though it was probably 90 degrees outside she had to put on here fuzzy jacket.

Then it was off to the ice skating rink, which had to satisfy her birthday request for ice skating lessons. It's just too far away. I think it did the trick.

Olivia spent most of her time here. Her friend Brooklyn gave her a camera for her birthday and she spent most of the day using it and then repeatedly looking at the pictures. She looooves that camera! Might we have a future blogger in our midst?

Thomas spent most of his time here.

Mom spent most of her time here. Had back problems the next day.

TOO LATE TO APOLOGIZE....TOO LATE....(sing it!)

I had to apologize to my husband today. I was in a foul mood all weekend because I bombed my lecture test on Thursday. I actually didn't think I was in a bad mood, I just thought everyone was doing things to piss me off....especially Lance. Then I went to class today and found out I actually got a 99% on that test and suddenly I was soooo happy and everyone was perfect and could do no wrong. Funny how all the people around me can behave so differently in an instant. I can't seem to figure out how they do that! Ok, so I realized what I had done all weekend and gave my husband a true apology, over the phone since he is once again in New Orleans. (I know all you women are chuckling right now thinking I got off easy with a "phone apology") But regardless today restored my confidence and helped me not stress so much about my lab exam tomorrow on muscles. BTW, this has been said a million times but I am going to repeat it. Anyone who has studied the human body is lying if they deny the hand of God in our existence..... absolutely mind blowing, the more I learn the more I see that we were made by a Supreme Being who I am privileged to know and love.

LET SUMMER BEGIN!!

Our neighborhood does a fantastic job of throwing parties. This year they really outdid themselves. On the last day of school they met all the kids as they got off the bus in the central park and put a lei on each of them. It looks like Olivia must have gotten off the bus six times. Hmmm.

They had two giant jumping toys. Despite the cloudy weather, the rain managed to stay away for just enough time to pull this party off.

They hired a DJ, (that's his set up in the background). He was so fun, he would have the kids doing line dances and played any requests. (I don't think Thomas knew any line dances)

They even had the firemen come in the fire engine. Those guys were so funny, they sat and ate all the hot dogs and chips because the kids weren't really interested in talking to them! They did let them climb on the fire engine.

The DJ finally found something Thomas knew how to do!

FIFTH GRADE GRADUATION!

Daniel had the cutest teacher, she was wonderful, very caring yet energetic. He liked all of his teachers this year actually. We were sad to hear that Ms. Penny is moving and won't be here to teach Thomas next year.

After almost 200 students walked the line I came to appreciate these women. Especially Ms. Flemming who managed to smile the entire time....amazing. No, really, she is probably the best principal we have ever had.

This is such a great group of friends. Daniel somehow manages to pick out the kids who have the same values and easy going personality as he has. I hope they remain friends through middle school, they would be great influences on each other.

I can't believe he is going into middle school. Wow, one in high school, one in middle, and three in elementary! That's 24 teachers involve in my kids education.

THE 5 SECOND TRANSFORMATION AT 4 PM

BEFORE

AFTER

There are few things in life that give me more satisfaction and sense of control than a clean kitchen counter. It's the first thing I do when I walk in and the last thing I do when I walk out of the kitchen, clear my counter. So you can imagine the underlying current of my mood each afternoon at 4pm. This example is actually mild, missing bowls of cereal and milk left out. I call the period from 4-6 the witching hour, not sure if that means I'm calling myself a witch, but if the shoe fits....

SWEET SISTERS

The other night Rachel just could not sleep, kept coming out and "needing" something. I was getting tired and impatient, and with Lance not due until very late I was done. On the millionth time putting her to bed I was reduced to threats of time out, privileges lost and whatever else I could think of. Suddenly Olivia rolls over and sleepily says, "Rach, do you want to snuggle with me?" Rachel promptly climbs in and snuggles up to Olivia. They both immediately fall asleep. Why? Why didn't I think of that? Why do I have to use threats?......Why did Olivia wait until the millionth time??

How many stuffed animals and dolls can you stuff in there with them? Lance finally came home and had to take a picture, isn't that nice that he just sees the sweet result? Relaying it all to him just isn't the same.

PIANO RECITAL

This picture is sweet. It doesn't tell the whole truth, but I think it tells what is important, that they truly love each other. It doesn't tell that every single time we went to piano lessons there were snarky comments about the fact that they had to take turns in the front seat. Or that Daniel would constantly whistle knowing it is Sydney's biggest pet peeve. I always told her to just let it go..... impossible apparently.

Sister Lewis is a phenomenal piano teacher. I have seen some really great progress. Daniel was so excited that he actually memorized his piece.

Sydney plays so emotionally, she can take any piece and put her own touch to it. I hope I can keep her going for a few more years. The social scene is calling and practicing is cramping her style!

SINCE WHEN DOES THE EARTH DICTATE MY DAILY LIFE?

If anyone had told me 6 months ago that my life would be directly affected by an icelandic ash plume and a Gulf oil spill I would have asked if I could have what they were drinking because it sounded really fun. But, alas here we are having missed our trip to England/Scotland, and with a husband who is rarely home and mentally absent when he is! I am done with natural/man made disasters interfering with my mojo!

So this ash plume for some reason prevented airplanes from flying through most of Europe. And wouldn't you know it, a few days after we rebooked to Florida the airports opened. It would have been too late anyway, but how annoying!

The oil rig that collapsed killed 11 men. Lance had to attend the memorial service a few weeks ago and he said it was heartbreaking. Ranging from young fathers to grandfathers what a tragedy. Now the race to shut off the leak a mile below the surface is stretching into what feels like a marathon of failed attempts. My dear husband who is assigned to executive protection, thus following various execs around the southern states (mostly the CEO) is trying valiantly to keep his mood even kiltered. It's frustrating not knowing your schedule until 10:30 pm the day before and leaving on trips without notice, makes you feel like you have no control over your own life. But he's keeping up, I just hope I can too! Summer is upon us and with the kids home, Lance always traveling, and me starting school on Monday this could be very interesting. I'm trying to get organized with charts and schedules.....maybe I can chart myself some sanity and schedule a weekly freak out moment for my kids so they know when to sneak away and hide!

WHO STOLE THE BERRY FROM THE BERRY POT?

You know that song "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?" Well It came to mind today when I found this in my fridge. An entire container of blackberries gone in roughly a day. As I jumped to all my conclusions (that would be Daniel) I noticed that someone had written on the container. It's a little hard to see in the picture, but I would know that signature anywhere. She is becoming a real liability to my mothering. What has happened to my nice, obedient 4 year old?

NEW WEIGHT LOSS DIET (I'M GOING TO MAKE MILLIONS)

I have often wished that when I'm bored I wouldn't automatically turn to food. I have often thought if I could just channel those bored moments better I could lose about 10 pounds. Seriously, why does food call my name when I have a spare moment?? But the other day I found a whole new approach to what I can do when I'm bored. Nuff said.

MUSIC TO MY EARS

One of my very favorite memories is coming home from high school and plopping down on the couch and relaxing as I listened to my 13 year old brother Danny play the piano. He was exceptionally talented at the piano and took lessons from a professor at BYU, putting in hours of practice everyday. I used to beg him to play for me, it was such a source of peace during a turbulent time of life. Plus he would finish and then get up and promptly start teasing me about this or that until I had to show him who was boss and take him down. His piano music was one of the things I missed first when he died three years later in a car accident.

Which is why I am thrilled now that my children are getting to a point in their piano playing where the sound of it gives me the same peace. All those years of hauling them to lessons is finally coming to fruition. As a parent I think it's rare to see the fruits of our labors so soon. Usually we have to wait until they leave home and enter the harsh world before we see some payoff!

PANIC

I generally pride myself in remaining calm in most situations, but today I so didn't. I had just gotten home from picking up Rachel and Syd from school and was running around trying to do all the stuff I should have done today instead of shopping with friends. After about 15 minutes I noticed Rachel wasn't around and called for her. She didn't answer and I was a little irritated when I had to go search for her. After looking up and down and everywhere in the house I stepped outside and called for her. No answer. Of course I immediately ran to the pool, no Rachel. I went in the house and ordered Syd to help me find her. We looked everywhere! Closets, under beds, bathrooms, car, maybe she fell asleep somewhere, corners..... nothing. I started to panic after about 20 minutes, did she walk outside and get kidnapped? Did she fall down one of those drains I hate so much, those freaky ones just the right size for a child to slide into? My heart started to pound and I was trying to think of what she was doing the last time I saw her. This is the girl who won't leave my side at play groups, home or anywhere (usually annoying to me). I started praying in my head (you know I'm panicking now). I suddenly thought, would she have walked to the bus stop to look for the kids? No...... I was at a dead run through the neighborhood now, sure she was kidnapped. Just as I got to the bus stop guess who comes around the corner?? It took all my control not to pick her up and scream at her, instead I took her hand, marched her home and had a talk with her in her room that went something like this:

Mom: Rachel, you can't walk to the bus stop alone!

Rachel: Why, I've done it before.

Mom: No you haven't, you scared mommy so much!

Rachel: But I did it before, well I went part of the way.

Mom: No you haven't! You can't ever do that without a big person with you. Say you won't ever do that again!

Rachel: No I can't do that.

Mom: What do you mean you can't do that? Say it!

Rachel: I can't because I might do it.

Mom: Rachel do you know what a kidnapper is?......

And it all went downhill from there.

GLAMOUR SHOTS?

Occasionally I will upload photo's from my camera and find random pictures taken by my kids. Some are surprisingly good and some are just dorky.

I actually thought the strawberry was a very good one, especially since I didn't manage to kill it first. Gardening... not my specialty.

This one gives me clues as to when it was taken. After church? While Mom and Dad were sleeping? What else are they up to when we are snoozing??

I like this one, but I wish his clothes had matched!

And then there are the dorky ones.

BIRDS BEWARE

I looked outside the other night to find my wonderful husband on the porch working diligently on his lap top, enjoying the beautiful weather. Ten minutes later I took a double take. This is what I saw. You know that Alfred Hitchcock movie "Birds"? My husband is living that. First some birds made a nest in our chimney. Then they started pooping everywhere, I mean everywhere! In the pool, on the waterfall, on the patio, on the fence. It was disgusting, we were being overrun. Lance decided the solution was a bb gun, it became a sort of obsession for a while. I didn't care really, until I opened my bathroom blind one morning and found a hole in the glass. Not happy. But you know, I haven't seen any birds lately....

WHAT KIND OF PARTY FORCES YOU TO ACT LIKE YOU ARE 4 NOT 40?

I have never successfully pulled off surprising Lance....ever. One Christmas I had wrapped all of his gifts and put them under the tree. The day before Christmas I noticed that the tape kept popping up on one of them, and upon further observation noticed that all of the tape on all of his gifts was not sticking. Looking a little closer I discovered that every single one had been opened and carefully rewrapped. I was furious! Who does that???? Needless to say, he is like a kid when it comes to presents. So when I decided to throw him a surprise party for his 40th birthday I knew I had to think outside the box. I also wanted something very active that would force everyone to behave incredibly juvenile. So I rented Pump It Up. People thought it was wierd, and it was. My sis in law told me it would only work if we had really, really, fun friends....we do.

He was totally caught off guard. I sent him golfing with his brother and then called and asked him to "pick up Daniel at Pump It Up". He never saw it coming.

Then we played hard. The relay maze was a hit. Every couple raced each other, it was close every time. Everybody got some serious burns on their knees and elbows, one person came away bleeding! How do our kids do this?

This is one of the few gifts that I am allowed to show on this rated "G" blog. He wears this shirt proudly.

Not sure if the basketball court was made for 6 grown men, it got pretty wild. I can't tell who is sitting on the ground there, maybe Rob??

If you could blow this picture up a little you could almost hear them screaming. This was definitely fun, and without a doubt memorable. We came home saying how great our friends are that they can let loose and have a good time, anywhere. Happy birthday Lance!

A VERY SUPPORTIVE SURPRISE

On Easter night after all the commotion was over, we (Lance, Dell, Marche, and I) decided to take a leisurely walk and get some fresh air (ok we were running from the kids). As we approached the house Dell wondered what was in our trees. How weird, there are bra's in our trees! I thought of Sydney's friends immediately (not sure what kind of friends I think she has!)

Then we noticed the sign on the door.....

Could we ask for more supportive friends? We must have interrupted their great work, because the next morning we woke to some really fun balloons added to the decor.

The kids were wondering where they found such uniquely shaped balloons, the adults were wondering who actually had to blow them up. Lance said he felt like a rock star! We won't speculate on who did this amazing display, let's just say we intend to support our friends as much as they do us.

EASTER

Easter was "the more the merrier" this year. We had Lance's brother Dell's family here, along with his cousin Sonya and her family from Austin. That totaled 11 kids. It was crazy fun! We dyed 36 eggs (which wasn't enough), ate an entire ham, 5 sides, and 48 rolls.

Beautiful Aspen. Her underwater vision was a little off as she head butted the steps in the pool. Right between the eyes....

She looks happy here, but she was quite upset when she only found 3 eggs. I thought it was because she wanted more eggs, only to find out that she just wanted the one she had dyed herself... which Thomas had destroyed when he thought it was a plastic one and tried to open it looking for the money inside.

Literally seconds after we said "Go!!" we heard a splash. He thought there would be eggs to be found in the pool..... I suspect he just wanted a little dip on Sunday.

The gang ready for the hunt.

Easter morning before we went for the baskets we had a little devotional. We watched Reflections on Christ, and the adults bore their testimonies of their Savior. It was probably one of the most memorable and sweet Easter mornings I can remember.