Play hard, crash hard.

Nostalgia

The other day, an ice cream truck came through our neighborhood. I was so excited! I hadn't seen one since I was a kid in Nebraska. It instantly brought back a surge of memories; I could see our street, me and my friends grasping fistfuls of coins while we hopped barefoot on the hot tar-patched roads and tried to make our decision.

Prices have gone up a little since I was a kid.

Seriously though, I almost cried at the site of my own kids in front of the ice cream truck. I was so thrilled to see them get to experience something that was a part of my childhood. To be able to pass along my memories along with my money to give them a nice summer memory-in-the-making of their own.

The Prophet said to plant a garden...

So thats what I did!

I planted today, from seed. Don't tell me if its too late; I will find that out on my own.
We tilled last week, but have been too busy to plant, today was the first chance we had. I would take a picture, but its really not pretty; my gardens wouldn't win any awards for neatness or organization. Buy hey, the food grows and we eat it, thats what counts, right? I can't wait for fresh carrots, onions, zucchini, beets, radishes, lettuce, and whatever else I just planted. I left no room for my tomatoes, so they will go into pots this year.
I would love to can some of my produce, but have never learned how. Maybe my mom can come over and show me! She's canned lots of stuff. I only tried once, and made homemade applesauce that smelled wonderful only to have it turn all black and gross on the top in the jars. Ew.

So anyway, I am tired and rambeling, I have been sick and don't think I am totally recovered. But I planted my garden!

Preschool Graduation

We have had such a fun preschool year. This is the whole group, all five moms and kids plus a few younger siblings. For our end of the year "field trip" and graduation, we went to the zoo and had a picnic lunch at the park. The kids really enjoyed themselves. I kept telling Jason what a nice day it had been.

At the zoo, the peacocks walk around freely, and make a lot of noise. Corrine seemed to like it; when one would make its peacock noise, she would make it right back. It sounded pretty realistic, too!

Here is the girls in the group. Such cuties. They have gotten to be good friends.

We were given a show!

The lunch was yummy; everyone brought something to share.


Ava graduated! Yeah!

Ava absolutely loved preschool; she asked me everyday if she had school that day. She learned so much about sharing and being respectful, and hopefully she learned some about not throwing fits! (Still working on that one.)

Here are some of Ava's favorite things she did at preschool :

Coloring.

Snack.

Reading books.

Writing her letters.

Cutting with scissors.

Making crafts.

Recess.

Thanks to all the moms-I am looking forward to next year!

Spirit Week at school

This past week was a fun week at school. Every day there was a different theme, and the kids were encouraged to dress up accordingly. Our girls love these things, and were enthusiastic about every day.

One day was crazy hair day, a favorite. Payden had a cup in her hair, complete with straws.

Michaela had a flower pot hair do.


Another day was hippie day, another one the girls love.

Yet another day was 80's day, my favorite. Payden left for school before we remembered, but I got to do Michaela! Oh, what I would have given to have had some of my old leg warmers. And the girls don't wear colored bobby socks that you layer, so that was out too. I gave her the biggest hoop earings I could find, and she wore a skirt, leggins and a belt around the shirt. She thought that was really weird. The most fun for me was her hair; I couldn't quite achieve with her bangs what I used to with mine, but it was still fun.

They also had a school color day, and a sport day for which they wore their softball uniforms.

My little princess

A beautitul day, a gorgeous tree, and a sweet girl make some nice pictures.

This pose is all her, attitude included.

Mother's Day

Due to Jason's graduation, I didn't think much about Mother's day this year. (Sorry mom.) But Jason didn't, and he and the kids made it a great day.

Because we have church at 12:30, I was able to be treated to breakfast in bed. I had come out of the room to rescue the screaming baby and feed her, only to be shoed back to bed by my daughters "go back to be mom!"
They and their dad made me a yummy breakfast of a smoothie and ham and egg muffin sandwhiches. Yummy. And to be able to eat it in bed, alone, with a book was heavenly.
The girls also brought me the things they had made for me in school, I always love those. I am reminded each mother's day how lucky I am to have 4 happy, healthy girls, how lucky I am to be able to work so little and stay home with them, what a blessing it is to hold the title mother.
When I was younger, I never thought I would want this many children. My number was always two. But the experience of motherhood is so much more than I thought it would be, so amazing in so many ways that I would have felt cheated if I only had two.

Later in the day, we had our mothers over for dinner and gave them gifts.

Thank you mom, for having me and PJ and for all you sacrificed for us. Thank you for the wonderful mother you are today and grandmother you are to my girls.

Thank you Marlene for raising my husband. He is a exceptional man who honors his preisthood and loves his family, and he wouldn't be who he is today without you.

My hope and prayer for my girls is that they will desire to become mothers, and find it as fulfilling and delightful as I do.