Happy Birthday T!

Holy Cow!  Taesha is 19!  Time flies when you are having fun! When Jeff and I started dating she was 15.  The first time I met her we went to Fire House Pizza for a pazookie (spelling??).  She made me laugh then and she hasn’t stopped making me laugh.

Taesha is talented in so many ways.  She is musically talented and plays about every instrument under the sun.  She is athletic and can pick up on just about any sport.  Taesha is also growing up!  She has turned into a full fledge adult.  She is going to graduate from high school and start at Utah State in the fall!  Go Aggies!!  She has a job and is working a lot. 

Watching Taesha go through high school has been a real adventure for me.  She refers to me as her “mother figure”  which I love!  I am so excited to watch her grow as she enters all of the new adventures in her life. 

Taesha has SO many friends!  She also has an inside joke with every one of them.  When I am with her and we see her friends it’s like they speak their own language.  I love it!!

When I looked on my camera this picture just showed up this way.  This is classic T.  Sometime when she had the camera she finagled these graphics and didn’t tell anyone!  Goof Ball!! 

Happy Birthday to my favorite 19 year old, curly haired high school senior!  Thank you for allowing me to love you!  Thank you for allowing me to make mistakes and forgive me.  I love you and am excited to watch you grow!  SKEEEEE-YAAAAAHHH

Wellsville Mile 2011

This day is one of my favorite days all year.   Every year I am reminded of the truly incredible community in which I live.  I love that 1000’s of people come to watch their children run around the block.  I love that hundreds of kids train for months to run around the block.  I love the finish line, the clock, the numbers, the time cards, the excitement and the cheering.  When Jordan and I walked to our chairs (I put them out at 6:30 a.m. crazy!!) I teared up.  Hundreds of people lined the street in front of the school.  Some kids ran a mile in 6 minutes some in 18 but everyone finishes and everyone is cheered for.  Last year it poured buckets of rain so this year we were grateful for a dry but windy 40 degrees! 

Jordan and Anders bundled up to watch the runners.

Yes, that’s Jord under the hat and blanket.  Jill, Maelee and Andrew came out to watch.  Jill is SO thoughtful.  She drove all the way into town to bring Taylor a Temptation cupcake..  Taylor’s favorite treat in the world!!  Thank you!!

Here is the sign we made and all signed:

Taylor paced with her good friend Hannah.  I played basketball with Hannah’s mom in high school so I got a little emotional seeing them together..  Brought back the good ole days.

 

 

Taylor and Hannah at the starting line:

Taylor finished in just over 9 minutes which she was totally bummed about!!  I thought she did great! 

Receiving time cards…

We stayed to watch all of the races.  As proud as I was of Taylor for her running I was even prouder of her character.  She cheered for EVERYONE!  Not just her friends.. but everyone!

Taylor and her BFF Brytan.. 

After the run they had  a pizza party.  The kids all sign each other’s shirts…

Taylor and Brytan wrote “Preslie" huge!  She is their good friend who moved away… they said they did it in memory! CUTE!

I had an incredible time today!  Sad that Taylor is growing up.  Next year she will move on to lockers and make up.  No longer will running around the block twice be the highlight of her year!  I will enjoy these last few weeks of elementary school with her.  I have no doubt that she will continue to be an incredible friend and leader as she grows up!

Ending of an Era

May is usually full of finale’s, end of the school year, end of soccer.. you get it.  This May seems extra final.  Taesha is going to graduate from High School and Taylor will leave Elementary school.  For some reason it gives me a tender heart.

Taesha has participated in Sky View’s marching band for the past three years.  It has truly been an incredible experience!  Marching Band is no small commitment.  Summer’s spent marching on black top and waking up VERY early!  Each year Sky View produces an excellent show and it has been my pleasure to be able to follow her around the state to watch Sky View.  Taesha has developed so many life long relationships. 

Last Wednesday was the last band banquet.  I was only able to stay for the first hour but Jeff took some great photos.

Some of my favorite marching band memories were:

BOA in Las Vegas.  Sky View made the final 10 which was a huge accomplishment.

Winning in the Mini Dome:  Taesha’s sophomore and senior years!

BOA in St. George:  Sky View placed 5th which is a school record.

Congratulations Taesha for finishing up an incredible high school band career.

Taylor also ended an era.  For two years she has participated in Mountain West Strings.  This year she also participated in the Ambassador program.  To be honest.. two years ago I used to shriek when she practiced her violin.  Now I love it..  she has turned into a great musician. 

Two weeks ago she had her final concert at Mountainside.  I cried after when I thanked her teacher.  Laura Morgan has been both an incredible teacher of music and an incredible teacher in life.  What a blessing for Taylor and myself to have been involved with this program. 

To My Favorite Mothers…

I recently started reading a book called the “Love Dare.”  It is a day by day challenge based on scripture principals.  Each day the challenge involves picking one particular ask the reader to focus on a behavior of their own that will if followed through with will positively impact your relationships. 

Day one:  Patience!!  SERIOUSLY?  Me.. I am going to be stuck on day one for the rest of my life!!  Progress, not perfection right?

Today being mother’s day I have thought of all the mother’s in my life that I adore.  Truly, most of them are more patient than me.  It is no coincidence that I started reading this book right before Mother’s day.  Lack of patience if the one vice that will kill me!!  So, given that I challenge myself to be more like my favorite mothers….

Grandma Gayle

My grandmother has been a blessing in my life.  She was been one of my greatest supporters and never do I see her that she doesn’t tell me she loves me and is praying for me.  She supported all my sporting events growing up and I always felt like she was in my corner.  She raised 7 wonderful kids one of which is my wonderful mother.  When I look at my Aunts and the wives my Uncles chose I know that my Grandma did something right!!  I love you Grandma.

Grandma Fern

I don’t have  a picture of Grandma Fern on my computer.  Growing up right next door I was blessed to see Grandma Fern daily.  She was such a hard worker.  She always cooked for us, made us laugh and gave the best back tickles EVER!  She raised 5 wonderful kids one of which is my incredible dad.  I miss her daily and laugh at our memories!

 

My Best Friends

My friends are the most incredible mothers.  We spend endless hours talking about your kids and how to do things better.  They all raise their children in the gospel and I am so blessed to have their endless support!

 

Jeff’s friends

I always tease Jeff that his kids and his friends are the best thing about him.  I am kidding… sort of!!  Jeff has the best friends who are great examples to me.  Remember that bit about patience in the beginning.. I need to hang out with Jenae more!!  I am blessed to know her and watch her interact with her children.  I will never understand everything she has done for Jeff’s kids through the year.  I will only hope to measure up!!

My Sisters, Sister-in-laws and Jen

There truly are the women I respect most in the world!  Everything one could ever ask for in a mother exists in these gals.  I feel so blessed and humbled to know I raise my children among such dedicated, wonderful mothers.  I feel so blessed that my children interact with all of them on a regular basis and that I have been able to watch them raise their children.. learning along the way.  I love you all!

Jeff’s Mom Bettie

Jeff’s mom has been in a nursing home for the 4 years that I have known her.  I wish I had known her when she was healthy because I hear she was a force to be reckoned with.  She supported Jeff beyond explanation never missing a sporting event or anything he was involved in.  She has an incredible sense of humor and loves her children endlessly.  I love hearing stories about her and love visiting her.   Bettie raised incredible children one of which I am lucky enough to be married too!  I am blessed to know her.

My Mom

Words truly can’t express my gratitude to my mom.  Know that I am adult I truly understand the sacrifices she made for me.  She always worked, had a huge church job and never missed anything.  As a parent I know that is nothing short of a miracle.  I know understand why she did the grocery shopping at 5 in the morning and spend late hours “getting things done” in the evening.  My  mom taught me the importance of the gospel and has been the best example of parenting using gospel principals.  I don’t try to live up to her because I would fail miserably.  Instead I try to be just a little more like her each day.  I love you Mom and appreciate everything you do for me and my family!!

I am grateful to each of my children for allowing me to stumble through this calling of motherhood.  Grateful to play a role in each of their lives and love and take care of them.  I feel inferior to them and they amaze me every day.  I only hope I raise my children half as well as my grandparents and mom raised me!!