My mom

It's my mom's birthday today and I'm so sad I can't be there partying with her. Happy Birthday mom! To try to make up for it just a little, this post is dedicated to what is so awesome about my mom:

* She has the funniness gift that I wish I possessed, but I do not.
* She has, hands down, the BEST laugh. Her sister has a pretty good one too, so it does run in the family, but for some reason, my sister and I don't have it.
* She has the musical gift I wish I possessed too.
* She has sincere concern for the people around her ( she might disagree, but I see it all the time).
* She is very confident and doesn't worry about what everyone thinks (a gift I also didn't get)
* She can do anything and is the best at everything she does.
* She listens to all of my drama and doesn't make me feel like a drama queen.
* Everyone wants to be around her. Growing up, my friends all loved her and I think they came over just to hear her jokes and talk to her.
* She has the kind of love for my dad that some search a lifetime for.
*She is a cool grandma. The kids miss her enormously and always beg to go see her.
* She has a testimony of the gospel and I think she has a deep reaching impact on the people she meets.

Mom, you are one of a kind, and I mean that in the best way. I love you so much and am so grateful to have such a close relationship with you even though I'm far away. Thanks for being the greatest! Happy Birthday!

The door

Meet my closet under the stairs door. My feelings toward this door epitomize the meaning of a love/hate relationship (an inanimate object, though it may be). You see, I really can't stand clutter. In my dream world, my house would look like one of those "parade of homes" homes. But, then I always wake up and have a daily battle within myself to make peace with the stage of life that I'm in...kids and clutter. Every time I look at this door, my first reaction is to cringe and I have to stop myself from tearing it all down. I hate it. Then, I remind myself of my stage of life and try to look at the door in a positive way. Here are the things on the door right now: 5 art/coloring projects from Brooklyn, a silhouette image of Trey's head from school, the word blend list he's working on and the letter and certificate for being the star student this month. I'm proud of my kids and want to showcase their accomplishments and this stops me from tearing it all down. You can really tell a lot about my life just by looking at this door, which I think is, in short-cool. I love it. (But, I hate it).

a glorious day

Do you hear that? I don't either! The kids are each at a different friend's house and the baby is sleeping....oh my! What do I do? You should know me better than to really ask....I shall clean! I just can't help it.

a mini-update

Just a little blurb to brag about my awesome kids and what we're up to these days...

The images above are of the first books Treygan read by himself! He is doing the story time reading now, which I'm thouroughly enjoying (reading aloud is exhausting to me), and you can often find him on the couch with a new book. He even read scriptures in our primary class today. I'm so proud of my Kindergartener!

Yep, that's broccoli; my kids LOVE broccoli, cucumbers & celery. don't know where they picked up those good habits. :)

Taylee sucking the water out of the squirt bottle. I was trying to get a picture of her cute pigtails, but as you can see, she was busy.

video

Attached is the link to a short video about why Mormons build temples. I wanted to share this to give some understanding, especially to those not of my faith of the sacred nature of temples. I am disappointed that something so special to me is being exploited in the media and portrayed inaccurately. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Romans 1:16:" For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x_-TQivCx8

Just Wondering

A few questions for all of you mommies:

1. If your kids are not napping age, do you give them what I call quiet time?

2. What do you do with your kids on Sunday?

3. Do your kids have clean-up jobs?

4. How do you find the energy to play?

p.s. I'm lookin' for ideas here. I seem to be missing the mark in all of these areas, though I've tried lots of things. Here are my issues: on #1- I think I give too much quiet time...it's so tempting to just never let them out! on #2- My kids are not liking Sundays, probably because Sunday gets even longer quiet time. We do play games and have a treat after, but that probably only takes up an hour or so. on #3- My kids love "clean-up jobs," stuff like wiping down the sink, even the toilet, but keeping their room and other messes cleaned up is a daily fight...one I'm not winning, at least not without me yelling and my kids crying. on #4- I'm sooooo tired...all the time.

Firsts

Thought this one was fun. I'd love to hear your firsts if you care to share.

Rachel's firsts:

First prom date: Kevin Brown

Do you still talk to your first love: nope

First job: Major Magic's Pizza

First car: Well, I drove my Grandma's Grand-am (with the letters switched to say Grand-ma ) after high school if that counts.

First person to text you today: no one today, but normally it's Marla

First person you thought of today: Taylee, she's sick, I was a worried mom

First grade teacher: Miss Maynard

First ride on an airplane: junior high to Chicago for a field trip

First best friend and do you still talk: Erin Mehelich and yes we keep in touch

Where was your first sleepover: I have no idea, but I'd guess with my friend Lindsay Ross

First person you talked to today: my hubby

First wedding you were in: Depends on how you define "in" if it means wearing a matching dress with other girls and standing in a line, it was my sister's. If it means walking down the aisle and standing there hoping to not pass out, it was Becky and Brad's.

First thing you did this morning: made breakfast

First concert you went to: The Lilith Fair with Nat, probably 2000

First tattoo: none

First piercing: ears when I was a wee baby

First foreign country you've been to: Mexico, just a few weeks ago!

First movie you remember seeing (in a theatre): The Little Mermaid with my dad

When was your first detention: In junior high, I forgot some paper or something and got detention along with Jenny Anderson. I danced on the desks while the teacher was gone, Jenny leaked it to her mom who leaked it to my mom and they still laugh about it today!

First Kiss: Oh, dear....Bobby Matthews

Truth or Dare? (choose truth)

Do you ever feel just a little loserish if you don't have as many facebook friends as others do?

Top 50...no go :(

Whatever Queensland Tourism. You're so missing out. I guess you just didn't want to support a family of five for six months (at least that's what I'm saying). I suppose it wasn't meant to be.