Summer's on it's way

Enjoying some lunch in the sunshine on the patio.
Our tulips finally came up. We enjoyed them so much and the neighbors did too!
Our first run through the sprinklers.
Kate chillin'. She took my glasses and put them on like I wear them. She is always too cute.
Kate enjoying a "posicle", as she calls it.

The kids have only been out of school for 1 week but we have tried to make the best of it. We have eaten outdoors, run through the sprinkler, gone swimming, gone on lots of family walks around the neighborhood and so much more. I am trying to get my summer "plan" all set up. We are hoping to have "Fun Fridays" each week. Some things we will do at home and some things as field trips. Ethan and Anna will start swimming lesson in a few weeks, they are so excited. Why is it that the days are often long but the weeks fly by? I have had mixed feelings about having Ethan home all day but I think with a good plan and some lazy days too we will enjoy it. We hope anyway. We had a great enrichment last week with a lot of idea on how to get organized and things to do this summer. It got me really excited. Good luck to you and yours as we all break for summer.

I did it!

A few weeks ago I ran my first official 5k race and finished just under my goal time. Randall was so sweet and without me even asking, came down to the finish line with the kids to cheer me on. It meant so much for him to understand how big this was for me. I was so nervous I could hardly sleep. When I stood at the starting line with hundreds of other people waiting for the start, my legs were so weak with nerves I was't sure I could run at all. When I crossed the finish I felt the greatest sense of accomplishment. I felt more proud of me than I have been in a long time. It was the best feeling. In my book there is not much that compares to setting a goal and accomplishing it. Some you may giggle and think, a 5k? who cares? I know and admire people who participate in triathalons, run marathons, accomplish amazing physical feats. There are moments when I think about that and feel my accomplishment to be so very small, almost embarassing, and yet almost my whole adult life I have had a dream that someday I would be a"runner". When I turned 30 I set a goal to be in the best shape of my life this year, and while the vision in my head was of a size 4 super model, and I'm certainly not that, I think I am in fact the most fit I have even been in my life. It feels good to accomplish something that for years seemed like the impossible, but I did it and I'm proud of me.

Ethan's a Grader!

The best teacher ever!!! I'm pretty darn sure Ethan has a crush on her and how could you blame him?
"Bye Mom" He always looks back and said bye and he loves me. It melts my heart.
The bus coming on the last day. Reminiscent of the first day when I put him on the bus and was so scared all day waiting for him to get off and he didn't! Remember that???
My big boy. For weeks now he has been counting down the days until he would be a "Grader" He is so excited to go to school all day and get to eat lunch and have a longer recess.

Ethan graduated from Kindergarten last week. Of course I couldn't find my camera so all the pictures of the event are on my Mom's camera. The kindergarten put on a program showing off the many skills the learned. They did such a great job. Ethan was as enthusiastic as always and did a great job with his small speaking part.

Ethan is growing up way too fast and I have felt so emotional about that lately. I have tried so much harder recently to give him hugs and kisses anytime I think about it because I know all too quickly he will grow up and not want me loving on him anymore.

Ethan had a fantastic teacher this year. His school experience was only positive and in some ways it makes me nervous for next year because how can you top the best? Ethan loved every minute of school and is sad that it's over for the summer. He is a great student and had a perfect report card that last two terms. He got 1oo percent on his kinder assessment and was given the award of Mr. Responsible which I think is rather fitting. He is a lot like his Dad in that regard. He is such a sweet and caring boy and we are so proud of him and love him so much.

Way to go Ethan!!

Anna's Graduation

Anna has finished her first year of preschool! She was very shy in the beginning and it took some time for her to really feel comfortable, but by the end of the year was doing great. I love her little school with 2 teachers and just 12 kids in her class. She has learned a lot and they have done so many creative projects. Since she is an October Birthday she will go to the same school next year and do pre-k. She will even have the same teacher which I think is great so it won't take her as long to become comfortable.

Anna was sooo excited about her graduation program and was praying that practically everyone she knew, especially the grandmas and grandpa's would come to see her. I kept telling her the room was small and we couldn't have everyone come because there wouldn't be room for the other families but she didn't care. My Mother in law made sure to come saying anytime she could be an answer to a prayer why not. I though that was cute.

Anna loves all the friends at school and talks about them all day long. She had a little speaking part in her graduation program and her teacher couldn't believe how loud and clear she spoke. Anna is a cute little thing and we love her so much. We are really proud of her and all that she learned this year at school.

10 Year Anniversay

We made it! On May 14th Randall and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary. It still baffles me at times that we have known each other now almost 15 years and that all those high school dances and dates would now come together to celebrate 3 different educational degrees, 4 states, 11 moves, 3 children and 1 house and 1 happy marriage. Wow! To celebrate we were lucky enough to have my in laws watch the kids so we could get away for a few days. We decided to pretty much redo our honeymoon. We spent 3 days enjoying the sun and sights in St. George and Las Vegas. We have very seldom left the kids so it is always hard to leave but always nice to get away.

The first day when we arrived in St. George we went to Snow Canyon to do some hiking. We had gone there with the kids for Spring break and enjoyed it so much we decided to go back. We weren't overly prepared and it was so hot that we just did a little 4 mile or so hike. It was beautiful and fun to just walk a long and talk and enjoy the scenery. Then we had a nice dinner and went to a movie.

The next day we headed into Las Vegas. We aren't really familiar with downtown ( I guess that's good thing) so we parked way far away from the strip without knowing it. We had to walk about an hour to get to the strip. We mostly just did some window shopping since our budget doesn't allow for stores like Harry Winston and Tiffany's and the like. We did make a few little purchases for the kids at FAO schwartz. We wanted to buy some cinnimon bears, but at 13$ a lb. we decided otherwise. In fact Randall had been wanting some Gelato all day so when we were in Caesers Palace we decided to get some. I ordered mine before seeing the price and quickly jabbed Rand in the ribs with a "let's just share" He looked at me kind of funny like why would we share, until I informed him that my 6oz. Gelato was going to cost ust 18$!!! I just about died and would prefer coldstone anyday over that stuff.

One of my very most favorite things about Vegas is the fountains in front of the Bellagio. We first saw them on our Honeymoon and I have thought about that experience ever since. I remember that 1o years ago they did a song to New york, New York and I was so amazed. This time it was still pretty amazing. I think If I never get back to Vegas I would be ok with that other than missing the fountains. We ates crepes at a creperie in the Paris hotel. The inside reminded me so much of Europe and it made me feel so nostalgic. We really had a fun time. Our hour walk back to the car in 100 degree heat got a little tiring after walking around Vegas for 7 hours, so we stopped at a place to get a slurpee for a buck. Now that's more like it.... gelato for 18 bucks.

Our last day we spent some time lounging at the pool then did a little shopping and then ended the trip the best way possible at In and out! :)

I'm so glad that Randall chose me all those years ago. We have had so many rich experiences, and been blessed with so much these past 10 years. I can't wait to see what the next 10 year's will bring.

Our little clown

Through out the school year Ethan's class has been working on speaking, performing etc in front of their classmates to become more comfortable being in front of people and gaining that confidence. For the grand finale the Kindergarten did a Circus day. Each child was asked to dress up as a circus performer or animal and perform some sort of circus act. Ethan was so excited and quickly chose to be a clown. I was so glad since we had a darling clown suit that I wore as a child for Halloween. The costume is significant because My grandmother made it for my mother to wear one year for Halloween and now it has been passed from generation to generation. Anyway, parents were not allowed to attend because the teacher wanted them to perform in a "safe" environment without the parental stress etc.

Ethan was so cute and practiced many, many times on his performance. We bought him a squirting flower and so as he started his act he squirted the kids with the flower and the teacher said it was the best! She told me the kids had no idea where the water was coming from and thought it was so fun. Then for his trick he had used a Jacob's ladder to make a penny disapear which he would then act as if he had found the penny in someone in the audiences ear. Needless to say it was hilarious and he could really ham it up while practicing. Ethan is not at all shy and I'm sure did a great job. I had to work that day so left the face painting to Randall and they pulled everything off quite well.

Ethan said that the Circus was one of the best days ever because "we didn't do any work!" Well I guess in that case I"m glad the circus only comes to town once in awhile.

Need to update

So much has been going on, like our 10 year anniversary with a little weekend get away, Anna's preschool graduation, and Ethan's last week of school. Tonight is Ethan's graduation. I don't know why I am feeling so emotional about all this. I was choking back the tears at Anna's little preschool progm. I guess life is just flying by and sometimes I feel like I can't keep up enough to even remember and cherish it. It feels like not long ago I was putting Ethan on the bus the first day of school and now tomorrow will be the last. He has become such a big boy and had another perfect report card. We are really proud of him, especially after a little rough start. Hopefully After tomorrow I will have time to post some pictures and update on the many goings on's at our house. Summer is almost here and I am anxious to have things be a little slower paced and yet dreading the expected "I'm bored".

Mother's Day

Today has been a great Mother's Day despite the fact that I can't talk to my mother because she is cruising with my Dad in Europe right now. I sure feel bad for her. Not! I was spoiled as usual although Rand is always sweet and takes good care of me so today was nothing to out of the ordinary, lucky for me. One of the best parts of the day was when Ethan arrived in our room at 6:30 with his gift. (okay so the early part wasn't my favorite but the gift part was) He had made a book in school with sentences he had to complete and pictures to go a long with it. His answers were so funny that we laughed until we were sick. It went along like this
-My mom has ...blonde hair and ... blue eyes. -nice try I have brown eyes
-She is ...4 feet tall and ...blank lbs. - thanks to a kind teacher she had all the kids write blank in the lbs section. I'm sure she saved may Mother's some tears over that one.
-My Mom likes to swim with me. - good a normal answer, here comes the good stuff
-My Mom is happy when... She plays guitar hero - with a complete picture of me rocking out with a huge guitar.
-When I'm at school my Mom... goes to bed- here is where we completely lost it. It looks like I am total dead beat Mom that plays guitar hero and stays in bed. When I asked Ethan about this he was like ya know Mom you have "quiet time".
-My Mom is very smart and knows all about ...cooking.- It's interesting to see what he thinks I am capable of.
- My Mom likes to eat chocolate cake. - So he is right on that one but about 1 time a year for my birthday.
-My Mom gets mad when...I don't do my chores.- true.

So I guess the picture that has been painted is a am a good cook, guitar rockin dead beat Mom that likes to sleep and eat cake. Good thing he left the lbs blank cause after that description he probably would have filled in 400 lbs. What a crack up. I would be interested to see what the other kids wrote about their wonderful mom's

The kids helped Randall make breakfast in bed for me with an eggmcmuffin and a fruit shake. Then after breakfast I stayed in bed to read a good book and then even took a short nap before church. It was heaven and truthfully I kind of felt like a jerk being so lazy and having Randall take care of everything. Church was nice and they gave all the Mom's chocolate, what could be finer. After church we went of to my in-laws where the husbands helped to make the Mom's a nice dinner. It was good to get together and the day was beautiful.

I am so blessed to be a Mom. I certainly have hard days where I am tired and just want to run away from the kids but overall I couldn't be happier to be home with them to cook, and read and do fun things.

I am also blessed to have a great Mom who is now such a great friend and taught me so many good things when it comes to being a wife and mother.

My Mom-in-law is also great. Randall could not be a more giving, helpful, loving husband and Father. He cooks, he cleans, he changes diapers, changes sheets, provides for our family the list could go on. His Mom did something right in teaching him to be the Man he is today.

Happy Mother's Day!