Summer fun so far. . .

Anna had her annual dance recital. It happened to fall on the Stake Conference adult session on Saturday night so I got to do the very long FIVE hour dance recital with one dancer and four kiddos.

Anna did great, Jensen slept most the time (wheeeww), and only one potty break and am I ever glad I threw that bag of life savers into my purse.

We have been spending as much time as possible at the pool. Which in my opinion is not nearly enough. I feel like our summer is busier that our school year. I was really hoping for a restful laid back summer- but thus far it is not the case.

Eliza is a crack up- she won't take swim lessons. She tells everyone at the pool "I will take swim lessons when I am Julie's size" so until then I am not spending the money and she is perfectly happy in the baby pool. She doesn't even need a friend to swim with.

Jensen is four months old and growing like crazy. He weighs in at 16lbs. 14ozs. and comfortably wearing 6-9 month old clothes. He is the greatest joy. My little man is so happy and content. He lights up the room and makes all of us happy.

Julia's Graduation

Julia graduated from kindergarten. This is my first kindergarten graduation our previous school didn't have any kind of celebration. It was fun for Julia to have something that her older sisters did not have. She had fabulous teachers this year and we are sad to move on but overjoyed for full day school. She is beyond ready for full day!

In other Julia news. . . she ran away recently. All the kids were playing out in the back yard while I cleaned out the garage when Anna came and said Julia was gone. I found her all the way down the street ready to cross the intersection to find a new family. She was feeling unloved and frustrated with her big sisters so she left. That is the reasonable thing to do right??

I was so shocked that she would even dare leave the yard I didn't know what to do. I was furious that she left but heart broken she felt bad enough to go. What to do?

Since she was born I have had this strong conviction about her. I know she will be an amazing and wonderful woman. She will have the ability to accomplish a great deal in her life and have a great impact on whatever she choses to do- if only I can get her to adulthood and headed in the right direction. I am trying my best!

I love my head strong girl I hope she takes it easy on me in the teenage years!

Super Cool Mom

I love it when the rare occassion comes along when I get to be the super cool mom. I love it even better when it only costs me 12 bucks!

Old Navy had a $1 flip flop sale and we went. That made me cool- but I became Super Cool when I let them all get three pairs.

Julia said "Are you sure mom, school isn't starting and we already got our pictures taken? We are buying them just because, are you sure our budget can handle this?"

Field and Track day in Colorado

Field days are supposed to be fun beautiful sunny day. When the kiddos get to run and play and enjoy the first days of summer. Parents break out the sunscreen and shorts for the first time and head up to the school to cheer their kids on.

This is what we got instead this year. It snowed, it sleeted, it rained not one ray of sunshine. It was a balmy 21 degrees out. Field days were no picnic in the park this year.

But they still served popsicles afterwards hate to break tradition!

Eliza's Bday

Eliza turned four. Wow how the time seems to be going by fast.

Her birthday was a hit even though it rained and she could not go to the zoo with daddy. So she took him to the mall instead- what a good daddy-o.

I made her the ugliest birthday cake known to man. Something went seriously south with the frosting but she was perfectly happy. It was pink and that was all that mattered!

She had her first friend party (oh how I love friend parties. . .) but we made it through. There are no pictures of the party because in between cleaning up painting fun for 12 four years old and serving blue juice the Kodak moments slipped past me! We painted pots and then planted flowers in them. All the kiddos got to take home their flowers and their own garden shovels that I scored at target on clearance for 50 cents! Love a good deal!

She had fun and now can't wait to be 5 so she can go to kindergarten.

In years past I have had a specific vision of what I thought my Mother's Day should be . I usually end up a little sad and disappointed at the end of the day because it didn't go as I had hoped or thought it would. For example. the whole idea of asking my five children to have one day with pure happiness, kind words, and zero and I mean zero fighting is totally unrealistic. Try as they may (and they do really try) there are just too many pressing issues to set aside for one day. Such as who sits by who at the dinner, or one sister wearing the blue and white polka-dotted head band that belongs to the other, but she has completely forgotten that she even owns it until this very moment and therefore can not live without it!!!
So as I sit here late on Mother's Day night with my house torn to pieces, dessert still sitting out on the counter and a sink full of dishes; I realize that today doesn't really matter. I love the cards, I love watching my husband spend all day in the kitchen making turkey with all the fixings, I love all the extra hugs and kisses but it is the everyday things that make me appreciate my role as a mother.

Each of my children have taught me something, each one has made me laugh and cry. They age me and they keep me young. So for them I want them to know what I love about being their mother.

Eve

I love this girls spirit. She is incredibly wonderful and giving, she always thinks of others. Eve sees the good in each person she meets. She already at a young age has a strong testimony of the gospel, and the desire to learn and study so she can do what is right in her life. I am grateful for her strength and example.




Anna

I love this girls drive. She is smart and clever and loves a good challenge. She is inquisitive and driven and because of that she is always successful at whatever she tries. She is a teacher and a little mother in the making. I love watching her work on homework and reading with her younger sisters. She is patient and tender with Jensen even when he fusses. I look forward to the kind of woman she will become.


Julia
I love this girls wit. Julia can make any one laugh. She has truly been our families comic relief and always when we really need it. She also has a compassionate heart and a creative spirit. She is willing to help and serve where we need her and she works incredibly hard (usually harder than anyone else). I love her creative mind, her art, her ideas and her thoughts on the world around us.



Eliza
I love this girls sweetness. She is fun loving and brings out the child in me- we dance, we sing, we play and we laugh. She helps me to remember to still have fun in life. Her big blue eyes melt my heart but her sweet way of showing her love and making me smile brings me the greatest joy.




Jensen
I love this boys tranquillity. He has reminded me of how great this time is we have with our children. Late at night when it is just the two of us- I sit and ponder the many blessings I have in my life, the great joy I have found in being a mother. Of course I just can't get enough of those chubby cheeks. What's not to love in that little face?



SO tomorrow is back to the regular old grind of a stay at home mom. I will do my best to not lose the mother of the year award yet again!! I will remember on those not so glamorous days of mothering that this is the best job in the world.

Locks of Love

The Locks of Love campaign is currently under way at the girls school. For those of you who don't know- Locks of Love is an organization that makes wigs for children with cancer or alopecia.

This year the girls jumped on board. Anna has been growing her hair for two years so she could donate. Eve on the other hand loves, loves, loves, her long hair and has never had more than a trim. So she really struggled with this decision. It was pretty touching to see her work through her internal struggle. She loves her hair and was nervous about cutting it but she also wanted to help another child. I am proud of her for making a hard decision and thinking of someone else (she does that quite naturally- but this time it was a real sacrifice for her).

Eve and Anna were selected to have there hair cut at the kick off assembly in front of the whole school. That was pretty fun and of course the girls loved it! Anna cut off 6 inches and Eve donated 12 inches! I did shed a tear when they chopped it- the staff at the school were laughing at me. . . sad to see the hair go but so proud of my girls.

Today when we were talking they both spoke of how they felt once their hair was cut- that warm feeling of the Spirit telling them they had done a good thing.