Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Remembering

We had a very fun, busy Memorial Day weekend. I love to go to the cemetery each year I can to visit the graves of my grandparents. They all died before I was born, with the exception of my paternal grandmother, who died before my first birthday. So to me, visiting their graves is kind of like going to Grandma and Grandpa's house. The girls have gotten into the spirit and enjoy it as well. My sister and niece went with us so it was kind of a party!

My kids loved being with their beautiful cousin. She'll graduate from Murray High School this weekend (go David!) and plans to study child psychology. Let me know how that goes, kid!

A new stop this year was the Salt Lake City cemetery, where DH's great-grandparents are buried. He'd never been there, so I was excited for the hunt. We scrubbed and shined the tombstone and were pretty happy with the results.


Monday, we had a "barbeque" (meaning we grilled chicken outside but ate downstairs) with some old Hawaii friends. We love the rain (mother nature's irrigation system) but it certainly can be inconvenient! But I'm sure we'll get more than our share of sun. Belle's preschool graduation was today, out in the sun. I forgot how cranky that can make me! Sorry, world!

I'll do another post from "graduation" this week. Take care, everyone!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

A Springtime Concert (and a Major Undo!)

UPDATE: Houston, We Have Video! Note to Self: Seriously work on videography skills!

Bug had her Spring Concert last night and did very well, I must say. Daddy stayed home with Belle and The Guy who are still hanging onto our stomach flu, so it was just the two of us. Grandma and Grandpa came for moral support which was great fun. My Dad always has a book with him wherever he goes and sat on the back row reading until Bug was up. Not sure about the social appropriateness of that one, but oh well. After three tries, my video won't upload for some reason, so no video for y'all right now. If I can get it to work later today, I'll update.



The program itself was actually a game of Name that Tune since it was a "Pops" concert with mostly recognizable songs, which I won. Just sayin'. There was also Music Bingo and door prizes. Very different and very fun, and it gave me some great ideas for my own studio.

On a completely different and very whiny point, I have to undo a pretty good section of the Afghan I'm working on. In knitting I understand they call this "frogging." Either way it's very sad and I actually haven't had the heart to do it yet. It's killing me to flush that block of time down the toilet. But what can you do? I'm just about done, and looking forward to curling up with my creation, a good book, and a glass of ice-cold bubbles!

We're heading to the cemetery this weekend for Memorial Day activities. After that, we're cruising into Summer! We've got some fantastic plans and we're all ready for a change of routine. Swimming lessons, anyone?

p.s. Just talked to DH on the phone. Remember our stomach flu? Well, we managed to give it to Adam and Bri. Please show me to the closest rock I need to hide. Does anyone know the appropriate gift to say "so sorry I infected you with a disgusting intestinal disorder?" Is that paper or sterling?

Sunday, May 18, 2008

WARNING: Parenting Spoiler Ahead, Read At Your Own Risk!

80% of my family is suffering from some sort of stomach flu right now. Bug's doing the laundry and making us all dry toast and Ginger Ale. You must all know someting about me before I begin my tale of woe: I do not do stomach flu. I become 7 years old again, crying for my Mommy and having her bring me my "special towel" and some Sprite, and watching my favorite show on TV. I've been known to literally call my DH at work and tell him to please come home, one of the kids just threw up. No joke.

So, to all of you who a: haven't had this situation come up yet in your family, or b: are considering one day having children, please consider the following:

1. One day a situation will arise where both parents are sick. Who's takes care of the sick kids who could care less if you're about to, well, you know . . . ?

2. Motherhood + elevated gag reflex = a big problem.

3. When building a home or replacing carpet, go for the stain resistant stuff. Trust me.

4. Avenge is the best carpet cleaner ever. Hands down.

5. There is no such thing as a washing machine that is "too big."

6. Never be without Lysol and Febreze. And a big stack of old towels.

7. The "throw up bowl" should be clearly designated, and you should have more than one. If you have more than one sick kid, you need more than one bowl. The sharing rule does not apply here.

So, consider carefully and plan ahead. Now, if you'll excuse me, someone just . . . sigh.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

For Auntie Bara

Yesterday was our Kara's birthday. We all just love our Kara and we are so excited for her adventures. Well, Bretto and I are excited for her, the kids keep asking when she's coming home!

We hope you had the best birthday ever, Kara! Eat a Swedish meatball for us and enjoy your European tour with Erin!

Love you tons!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

To All The Moms In My Life

My mom and dad's 50th wedding party. Mom's the one trying to hide on the side, always letting someone else have the spotlight.

My mom is the most incredible lady I know. She has taught me so much and I have so many great memories of growing up in her home.
-- She can out yard-work & garden anyone out there. Some of my earliest memories are of my mom at the top of our crab-apple tree, doing the fall pruning. She mowed the lawn every week and kept that yard looking emaculate, pretty much by herself because of my dad's work and church assignment schedule.

-- You can literally eat off of any surface in my mom's house. The toaster oven she's had for 4 years looks like it's never been used, really. While most people spend months preparing their house to sell, it would take mom about 5 minutes, long enough to put up the sign in the front yard.

-- No one knows half of the service my mom does for everyone around her. She doesn't talk about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, she lives it.

-- My mom's favorite recipes: brownies, spaghetti sauce, homemade pizza and stuffing at Thanksgiving! When I was living in Israel, she made me a batch of brownies, froze them and mailed them to me. I was in heaven!

-- Because I'm 10 years younger than my next sibling, she did many things twice. I will always be grateful for my own dog, birthday parties, swimming, dance and piano lessons, mommy/daughter dates and disneyland trips, all when she should have been cruising into the teenage years and looking forward to an empty nest!

-- One of my funniest memories of my mom is when my oldest brother was playing around with her and put her on top of our fridge. And left her there, by the way. I don't think I've ever heard her squeal like that!

-- Mom is an amazing artist, although no one has seen her work without prying it out of her. Her handwriting is perfect and every poster she's ever made or scrapbook page she's ever done is lined and mapped out with mathematic precision.
-- Mom really dislikes mother's day! She always conveniently tries to go to St. George on Mother's Day weekend. With all the wonderful things she does, she always thinks she should, or should have, done more.

Mom's surgery last week went extremely well and her doctor's say they've removed all of the cancer. She's working on recovering and will them do a month of radiation treatments, but should be all done after that. We're all so grateful for a quick diagnosis and skilled doctors who helped all of us over this bump in the road.

Mom and Dad posing by the lake during a family trip to Canada. We should have had them face away from the sun, in retrospect.
My Mom H. is the other most amazing lady I know. We all think she must have 36 hours in a day for all the things she seems to get done.

-- Any event is a reason for a celebration! Only our Mom could turn her table settings into a blog post! Preserve your memories because soon your children will be grown and you won't remember what they looked like on their first Christmas morning. Parties with Mom are like nothing you've seen.

-- Life is an adventure. Embrace it! Most people would be scared stiff to live in a foreign country. Within months this lady knows her way around better than veteran tour guides!

-- Never pay retail.

-- Although she's not a professional writer like our sisters, I think they get a lot of their writing talent from her. She is very eloquent in her writing and it's a joy to read about her travels.

-- She's contstantly trying new things and stretching and improving in everything she does.

-- Her children and grandchildren absolutely adore her. Anyone who can inspire this kind of love from those around her must be doing something right!
I'm so blessed to have such amazing moms in my life. I hope my kids have half the mom my hubby and I did.
We love you!