Happy Birthday Big T!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful, hard working, talented mom.  When she became a “rancher’s wife” we began to lovingly refer to her Big T. 

My mom has been the best mother, grandmother, teacher and friend I could have asked for.  I never realized how hard my Mom worked until I became a mother myself.  On a day like today when I have worked 9 hours, cleaned the house and mowed the lawn I appreciate my mother even more!  She worked that hard every day!  She is an incredible example of charity and kindness. 

To this day she attends nearly every event of my children’s and all her grandkids.  We figured that last year she went to an average of 9-10 soccer games a week.  On top of that worked full time, is the Stake Young Woman’s President, tends my girls one day a week, endlessly serves my grandmother, attends swin meets, dance recitals, piano recitals, gymnastics meets, school events and church events.

I read once that the only script we get for appropriate parenting is the script our parents write for us.  I am so lucky to have such a well written manual!  I love you Mom!

“Bridge” to Graduation

Another great week in May! Taylor’s class has been working all year on an art tile project with the Utah State Art Department. Taylor has loved it and had her work displayed at the Gallery Walk and how it is hanging in the hall at Mountainside. They each made two tiles, one an independent clay tile of an animal. Taylor’s animal was a duck. The second clay tile was part of a mural of wet lands. It turned out beautiful and the kids were SO excited. The public unveiling was last Friday. The school hosted a reception. It was really neat, made me cry! Just like everything lately!!!

Today, Jordan had her Kindergarten Graduation. WOW! I am just absolutely loving my girls at this stage. I try to soak up every second because I am learning that they grow up WAY to fast.

Jordan had a great year this year. Her teacher was wonderful and Jordan made so much emotional and academic progression. I am so proud of her. She never complained about homework or going to school! In fact, she won the attendance award for her class!

Jordan’s teacher, Mrs. LaMont made a slide show of photos she had taken and had collected from all of the parents. The upper right is all the kids watching the video. It was darling. I was Jordan’s head room mom and loved spending time with her in the class room. Now, onto first grade! I am so not ready for that and will just cherish this summer!!

Chase also went back to Virginia Tech on Sunday.  He is attending summer school and putting in his last 6 weeks at the dorms.  He does say that his dorm this summer is a “suite” which means it’s much larger and has it’s own living room.  Next fall he is moving into an apartment.  It was wonderful having him here!  He just makes me happy.  We will see him again in about 6 weeks when he heads home for about one month until fall semester starts!  Can’t wait!!

Wet Wellsville Mile

What the Wellsville Mile has been in past years..  1300 4th and 5th graders from the South end of Cache Valley who have trained for several months to compete in a mile run.  A sunny day to sit and visit with the wonderful people of Wellsville and Cahce Valley and watch your kids and all their friends try run their hearts out.  Tons of tears and tons of photos! 

What the Wellsville Mile was this year.. An ABSOLUTE down pour.  Four hours of straight rain.  Not a light mist but a serious down pour.  So much rain that most people did not pull out their cameras and everyone’s teeth were chattering so much no visiting took place!  Given all that, it was still an event I would not have missed for the world.

Taylor ran in the pouring rain and did wonderful.  Her goal was to run in the lost 8s and she did just that!  Even given the rain she was cheered on by Jordan, Samantha, Reagan, Kim, Grandpa Elden and Grandma Tamra. I only got a few photos of her running.

Taylor at the starting line and Taylor down the final stretch! Hunter also ran!  I did not get any photos of him but he ran in just over 7:30 seconds and finished 5 or 6th in his heat!  Here are a few other photos I took.

A good friend of mine who we were sitting by sent her husband to get a canopy and that literally saved us!  I love the top right photo of the little girls doing a cheer for Hunter!  I did not get one good picture of Taylor in her running clothes.  The top left is after I had taken her home to change out of her dripping wet clothes.

After the Mile Kim and I took the kids to El Sol.  Yummy as usual.  On the way home Taylor and Hunter had a conversation that went like this:

Hunter:  I heard that so and so (un-named 5th grade boy) asked s0 and so (un-named 5th grade girl) to go to a football game

Taylor:  Are you serious?  That is like, so like not good.  I heard that so and so (un-named 5th grade girl) totally said to him like I can’t go because I have other stuff I have to do.

Hunter:  Can you believe that so and so (un-named 5th grade boy) would dare do that?  What was he thinking? I mean I would NEVER ask a girl to hang out like that

Taylor:  Well, I mean I totally would hang out with a boy but only one that is like totally  my friend, never one I had a crush on.

Hunter:  I know what you mean.

I love Elementary school politics!!  I also love how intensely there two talk sometimes.  Like world peace is riding on their conversation!

Happy 18th Birthday T!

Taesha is 18 today.  I literally can’t believe it.  When I met her she had just turned 15!  Times flies when you are having fun.  T was blessed with a HUGE personality!  Everywhere we got she attracts people to her because she is so fun.  She has 9 million friends and is super involved.  In the past year T has  painted and fixed cars, played the trumpet, marched in lots of parades, played in at least 20 Lacrosse games, participated in several debate tournaments, competed in band competitions, went to band camp, played the guitar for hours on end, wrote me a song  and made us laugh at least a million times.

Happy Birthday T!  Thank you for another great year.  Here’s to a bright future and many wonderful years!  I love you!

Soccer 2010

Soccer season is officially over!  Taylor had her last game tonight.  Both Taylor and Jordan played this year and it was a blast.  Both girls loved soccer and played really well. 

This was Jordan’s first year and she did great.  Towards the end of the season she began decreasing the amount of times she asked to “rest” during a game.  She ran and kicked a lot more and had tons of fun.  Jord and Samantha were on the same team and as usual the “babies” had quit a following.  I absolutely love the relationship of the babies and watching them in a new aspect of their lives was a blast!

Jordan is the family number 7.  My dad was always number 7 in softball, both of my brothers have been, I always ways and now Taylor and Jordan.  I love it!!  I love Wellsville.  Check out the mountains in the back ground of the bottom left.  Could you ask for better?

Also on Jordan and Samantha’s team was my second cousin’s son A.J.  It was like a Bradshaw family reunion at every game.  I absolutely loved spending time at soccer.  I would often get a little emotional when I looked around and saw generations of family supporting these kids. 

 

Taylor played soccer for her second year this season.  She improved a ton and took on the intensity of a real athlete.  Given  my love for soccer that was fun to see.  She became aggressive and unafraid of the ball.  It was so fun to watch her confidence grow.  She became a really good defender and her team never lost!  They had a great time and she had a really great coach.  Her games were so fun to watch because her team had so much talent.  She too had a wonderful following grandpa, grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents and step parents.   Taylor’s team also had the most supportive parents.  At least 20 parents at every game!

	Taylor.. Also #7!

Thank you to everyone reading this who supported Taylor and Jordan.  Having such wonderful support means so much to them and to me. 

Hot Springs & Piano Recital

This weekend was Jeff’s families annual trip to Lava  Hot Springs.  We had a great time!  It is only a couple of times a year that Jeff’s entire family gets together.  We had a great time!  We had “square” ice cream every day and the kids loved the hot springs and the river!  Jeff’s brother and sister-in-law brought their dogs and Jordan loved them!  She kept us all laughing!  I love Jeff’s family and feel blessed to have such an incredible family.  Note:  Chase was with us!  YEAH!  T was  also with us, but had to leave early to march in a parade with the marching band!  We missed her on Saturday evening and Sunday!

We came home just in time for Taylor’s piano recital.  She has loved piano this year and I love her teacher.  She has learned so much.  She played one piece with 2 other students and the other was a solo.  Taylor had 18 people there to listen to her play.  I frequently say to my girls..  “Do you know how lucky you are?”  What a wonderful supportive family!

Not pictured:  Lance, Tonia, Hayden, Ryker and Hunter.

Some weeks are just like that…

I swear, May is the new December.  When I turned my calendar page we have something every night of the month, except one!  The good news is I love every second of it.  We have had concerts, soccer games, Mother’s Day and a Jeff’s first annual International Business Conference (or something like that!)  Given all that, you can quite reading now!  This post is extra lengthy.

Last weekend we went to Idaho Falls to see Jeff’s mom.  My camera was not working well so we took lots of great photos on his camera.  I am going to do an entire post on the visit when I get those pictures.  Jeff’s mom lives in a nursing home and sometimes she is very aware and other times she is not.  Last Saturday she was awesome!  So, look for future post!

The following day was Mother’s Day.  Jeff totally spoiled me (as usual).  I got a Miche bag which I was SO excited about and totally surprised!  The girls gave me some indoor decorative lanterns. We then spent the rest of the day at church and then lunch with my entire family. 

Pardon the fuzzy photo of Jeff and I.  One of the girls took it!

Ifrogz had all of it’s international sales partners in town this week.  So, on Tuesday we attended a dinner and Benton Paul concert and on Thursday we went to a REAL soccer game and sat in the owner’s suite.

What a great time!  Jeff works with some really incredible people who have turned into really great friends of mine.  

On Friday was Jordan’s “unbirthday.”  Because her birthday is in the summer her Kindergarten class celebrated today.  We brought cupcakes and juice.  Jordan has grown so much this year!  What a fun, exciting year. 

On top of all of that… MY FAVORITE!!  Jeff’s company gave him a gift bag for having been there for more than 5 years.  In the gift bag was a SE Needham Jewelers gift certificate.  He gave it to me.  I got a Pandora bracelet which I was so excited about.  I got a charm to represent all 5 kids and Jeff and myself.  It totally made my day!!  I am so lucky to have found such an incredible, generous person!

Last, but not least…  Ryker and Hayden had a piano recital.  They both did great and after we went for Aggie Ice cream.

I have such a great family!!  What a fun time. 

But..  given all of the wonderful things that happened this week my absolute FAVORITE (I mean it this time) was Chase came home!!  It is only for a week but I can’t wait to soak up some Chaser time.  He is such a great kid, makes me laugh beyond belief and I have missed him terribly!  So, look for the next post devoted to the week with Chaser!