Back 2 The Grindstone

I've had a sense of panic over school starting next week. I’m sure it will evoke a sigh of relief when the bus pulls away Monday morning. So for that, I’m ready. I figured out however, that my panic is for the early morning tug and pull of getting the offspring out the door, setting the alarm again after a summer full of lazy mornings. I’m selfish and have become quite lazy. Time to kick it in the tooshy and get back in gear.
After attending Back To School Night I’m actually getting more excited. I couldn’t be happier with the teachers the kids have. Bring on the homework. Yuck! I’ve had a large amount of anxiety about helping Mason with his math this year. To put it lightly….math is not my forte. It’s Matt’s. Since he’s not here at homework time I’ve been a little worried. Then I figured it all out: We’d scan in Mason’s homework and email it to Matt then they would have a set time where they could Skype each other and wha-la…homework done with the help of his ingenious Dad. I’m thinking this is brilliant (and it gets me out of looking like the fool that I am ). So with a deep breath and a long sigh I say; bring it on!

On a lighter side, flatulence is the source of many laughs at our house and the other day one of the kids passed gas in the car at the bank. Laughing ensued. Then Mason’s mind starts working up scenarios and he said,
“Hey Mom, what if someone got in our car after I tooted. Then they smell it and say ‘Ewwww! Who died in here?’ And you say, ‘Just Mason’s dignity.’”
I laughed. Because really, I have no dignity left so why should my kids?

No More Hearts

The last day of school I decorated the kids bedroom doors with signs telling them how proud we were of them finishing up this past school year. I also plastered several hearts cut from construction paper all over the doors to go with the sign. They've both left them on their doors since that day.
We had a new visitor over on Sunday. Matt's brother Justin has a son Matthew who is just a few months older then Mason. We've seen him on a few occasions but this was the first time he's been to our home. Matthew and Mason got along well as Matthew directed the conversation to include how many girl friends each had had and what video games they liked the best.
After everyone had left for the evening I went in Mason's room and found him standing in there and the sign and hearts sitting on top of his dresser in a pile.
"You took your stuff off your door, huh?"
"Yeah. I just kind of felt embarrassed when Matthew was here."
"That's OK. I don't want you to feel embarrassed."
"Yeah. Hey Mom? Maybe next time don't put hearts on my door. They're kind of not cool."
"Oh, sorry Mase. I didn't even think that maybe hearts weren't cool. I'll leave them off next time."
"Well don't leave them off.......maybe just next time.....put stars up instead."

Point made. I'm holding on to the idea that maybe he's too old for hearts but somewhere in his handsome head, he still wants me to decorate his door. In the back of my mind I've always hoped I'd be the Mom that would stay cool and my kids wouldn't get embarrassed by me or what I do. I was wrong. I guess I didn't expect the tiny sting when he outgrew my heart(s).

Happy Birthday Mattie. I Love You!

What a way to spend a birthday. We kept busy celebrating the big day. The kids and I made him a cake and decorated the kitchen early this morning. Mason made him a breakfast of bacon and cereal and delivered it to him in bed. We gave him his gifts and cards and sang to him to get the day started.
We took the kids to the Aquatic Center to swim. We got there about 20 minutes before it opened and I still had to race another mom to get a spot in the shade. It was about 100 degrees today so the place was packed. We stayed until about 3:30 but I think the kids could have stayed a few more hours without any problem.
Later this evening we left the kids in the capable hands of our nephew and got our grub on at Goodwood. YUM!! Good food, good company and an appetizer on the house....what more could either of us ask for?
Then it was off to the movie, the late show if you can believe it! We're OLD and we still made it through the late show. We've still got it in us Babe! ;)

We had a long and FUN day celebrating your birthday, Matt. Thank you for being such a wonderful husband, father, friend...etc. I love you more today than on the day I married you. Good thing I'm signed up for FOREVER!!

Happy Birthday Mattie! I LOVE YOU!

Happy Birthday Gracie!

Today is Gracie's 2nd birthday.Amber and Gary were gracious enough to invite us to celebrate with them and their girls. We spent the day swimming at the aquatic center with most of the cousins. The kids played long and hard in the sun and when the clouds rolled in we were ready to pack up and head home.

The Hill's went miniature golfing and afterwords we met at their house for a BBQ and ice cream and cake.

After our stomachs were full we all loaded up and headed down to the cemetery. Her grave marker was put in a few weeks ago. It's AMAZING!! I love how it turned out. Amber and Gary did a great job designing something that reminds us perfectly of her. A cute little toy box with pictures of everything that says Grace.

I love the shoes. Gracie loved shoes and these are exactly the ones I picture her in.

Letter blocks with her initials.

The front has an elephant, a bear,a lion and a lamb. It's so sweet. What better to remember a child than with a toy box? It's a happy, sweet and sacred spot. I LOVE IT!

Thank you Hill's for inviting us all to celebrate Gracie. We miss her and love her so much. We love you too.

Happy Birthday Grace!

Memorial Day

We had a busy Memorial Day that started on Sunday. We went to visit Grace's grave that evening. We were lucky enough to run into Kirsten & Matt and Landon there too. Kirsten was sweet and made Muddy Buddies for Grace. That was one of her favorite treats. I remember how much she use love them.

The kids got to play with Landon. My kids LOVE HIM!!!! And for the record, so do Matt and I ;)

Madden had a great time running around and trying to name all the letters on the headstones. He's really into saying and recognizing letters and asking how to spell different words.

On Monday we made a trip up to Garland to visit Justin's grave. It's hard to believe he's been gone for 3 years.

The kids had fun running around this cemetery too and all of them tried to climb the trees.

On the way home from Garland we stopped in Willard to see Matt's grandparents' grave. Madden had to use the bathroom so our visit to this cemetery was short lived.

Then it was home to a bbq at Celeste and Shaun's neighbors. They're nice enough to ask us to join them now and again when they smoke some kind of yummy meat. This time it was turkey. It was really good.

After that we headed to my parents with the plan to visit my grandparents graves. We ended up staying to play at Mom and Dad's and helping pick up LOTS of branches in the yard from Dad and Russ cutting limbs down. Boy were there a ton of branches and twigs but there were a lot of us too so it made for a fairly quick job.

We never did make it to the other cemetery's. We'll make that a priority to get over there very soon.

School's Out!

Our neighbors behind us have a tradition of hosting a "Meet the Bus" party on the last day of school. It's such a fun tradition that we've loved being a part of. As the bus comes down the street it's led by a police car with it's siren on then the bus drives through a big paper banner welcoming the start of summer vacation! They have balloons, popcorn, cotton candy, cookies and drinks.
All the kids from the neighborhood are invited along with their parents. Madden & Eliza had a blast (not to mention they got a REALLY BIG sugar rush!).

Here's Mia with Britton and Megan. YAY!!! School's out!!

Mason in line for the popcorn. My kids take after me in their love for popcorn. It's a staple around our place.

Here's Amber, Annie and Livie enjoying another one of my favorite treats....cotton candy!! YUM!

After we got our fill we walked to Amber's to let the kids play in the pool & sprinklers. They had a neighbor give them a tent for their trampoline. It's awesome and the kids had a blast playing in it with the sprinklers on.

Welcome summer. Oh how we love thee...

County Report & School Programs

Both of the kids had programs to end the school year. Mason's program was all about the great state of Utah. Before the program started we got to walk through all the 4th grade rooms and see the kids county reports, shoebox floats and maps. Mason was assigned Iron County and his float depicts Zion's National Park. He did a great job on all of it! Way to go Mase!
The program was darling. They had it outside on the front steps so all the families could watch from the front lawn. You could tell the kids had worked really hard on it.
Here's Mason & Annie getting ready to perform. It's fun to have the Hill's to enjoy all these fun times with. Annie did a great job on her duet and Mason did awesome dancing the Virginia Reel (is that how you spell it?). I was so proud of these guys!!!

I think the speed must have been off on the camera for Mia's program. Sorry. Anyway, Mia's program was a week before Mason's and they had theirs in the auditorium. We got to see and hear all the things they learned this year. They've worked hard too. It was so cute!!!

I think this picture shows exactly how it must be to teach kindergarten. Everyone doing their own thing. hehe. :)

Mia you did a wonderful job!

Now bring on 5th and 1st grade