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!

Music & Mountainside Mile

Recently I have been ultra emotional.  I don’t know if it’s because I am watching my girls grow up so fast.  They are both growing into such incredible people and doing it way too quickly for my liking.   I am reminded daily of the responsibility of raising such special spirits.

Recently Taylor had an end of year orchestra concert.  My camera has been on the fritz so I only got a few photos.  Jeff got some with Taylor’s camera but I have not yet got it ready to down load onto the computer.  Jeff, Grandma, Jordan and I attended her concert.  Grandpa had to to on a call at the last minute and asked Grandma to bring Taylor 3 roses because he could not be there.  What a wonderful person!  My girls could not have better Grandparents.

Taylor played the violin this year.  She learned a lot, is going to take lessons this summer and keep playing next year.  I am so proud of her! 

 

Today was the Mountainside Mile.  The city of Wellsville is famous (in Cache Valley at least) for the Wellsville Mile.  The students in Taylor and Jordan’s elementary school practice for the Wellsville Mile by holding the Mountainside Mile.  What a fun, incredible event.  Hundreds, yes hundreds of parents came to the school to watch their children.  I love supportive parents!  Where else do hundreds of parents come to watch their children run around a field!  Incredible!

I was not on the ball and missed Hunter running, but made it for Taylor and Regan.  Taylor did great and ran near her personal best.  I cried when she started and cried when she ended.  The good news is, everyone was crying!  To see kids work so hard and exert so much physical and emotional energy is an incredible event. 

I realize I probably sound like a broken record but Taylor has the best friends.  I feel so blessed that she is surrounded by such incredible people.  Check out the top left:  Yes!!  Mother of the year forgot to send her in her tie die shirt!!!

Brytan and Taylor,  they are such fun friends.  They came in within one second of each other.   I absolutely love their friendship!

Jordan and I stayed to watch Reagan.  I LOVE to watch Reg run.  She is so steady.  She puts her little head down and goes, never speeds up, never slows down.  Taylor ran with her to help her along…  made me cry again!  My girls are so blessed to attend school with their cousins.  I absolutely love being a part of the “school life” of the my nieces and nephew. 

The bottom right is Reagan’s cute teacher helping the kids stretch out!  All in all and incredible day.  A day that again reminds me what a wonderful community I am a part of and what fabulous people I am surrounded by!

Reunion Weekend

Jeff and I spent this past weekend with many of his old high school friends.  What a blast!  As part of their 25 year reunion they planned a weekend away.  About 30 people came and I was able to meet some really neat people.  Having not know Jeff in high school it was really fun to hear stories from the good ole days.  We spent time on the beach, played games and ate tons of great food!  It was not super hot, but hot enough to soak up some rays. 

Some things never change… grown men pull pranks on one another!  Note the middle right!  All in all I made some incredible friends.  In the top two photos the other gal pictured with me was a sole mate of sorts.  Jeff says she is the only person besides myself and Kim that exaggerates everything!  That’s why I loved her!!!  We laughed about it the entire time.  I also met the class mate of Jeff’s who coined the term “Jeffretard.”  He is in the middle left, second from the left on the bottom.

Precious Birthday

7 years ago tomorrow my sweet nephew’s spirit met his body.. just for a brief time. Every year on April 23 (or near) we go to Hinckley’s grave site and drop off some flowers or some sort of decoration. Hinckley would be 7 and at this time of year I often miss how much he would have blessed our lives. Hinckley did bless our lives in a very different way. We know how just a little more push to live better each day.

When we were getting ready to leave Taylor said, “Well, the good news is Hinckley only had to know Jordan in Heaven, before she was mean sometimes.” I love how kids think!!!

Sweet Taylor!

10 years ago at 4:52 a.m. on April 15th surrounded by my family I became a mom. An experience that most of you know, can’t be sufficiently put into words. I always feel bad for the oldest child because I feel like that where we make most of our mistakes. Taylor has been such a survivor. She truly has blessed my life and been my comfort. She has such a sweet spirit and was born with an innate desire to do what is right. She is caring and so sensitive. She LOVES her family and is often found making cards and writing notes. The other night was I preparing a presentation for a training I had to do at work. The printer (of course!) ran out of ink and I had to run to Wal Mart. I must have made mention that I was tired because when I returned home there was a note that said: Dear Mom: I swept and vacuumed the floor. I cleaned my room and Jordan’s room. I hope this makes you be able to go to bed earlier! What a sweet girl!

She is getting so old and I wish I had scanned some photos of her when she was a baby. I didn’t, so we will make do with recent photos. Taylor loves music and plays the piano and violion. She loves, loves, loves to ski and it is so incredible for me to share in that passion. She loves soccer and swimming. She is an excellent student and loves to read. She loves the gospel and is quite often the one to remind me its time to read scriptures, say family prayer or have family night. She loves activity days and has the best friends in the world!

When Taylor turned 9 she told this was the year she was going to do everything! She has done just that!

Top Left: Book of Mormon Marathon

Top Right: Taylor friend Christmas Party

Middle Left: Taylor is the old man! She was such as hoot at Halloween. Can you say Glen H?

Middle Right: Christmas Eve

Bottom Left: Grandma, Grandpa and cousins in Goblin Valley. Taylor LOVES Andrew! She loves all of her cousins so much. she is already concerned about who will take care of Jordan, Reagan and Samantha on the school bus when she moves on to middle school!

Bottom Right: Skiing with Hayden and Kaleb

I love you Taylor! What a great year. Thank you for being you!!

Everything!

I have been a blog slacker the last few weeks.  Sitting down at the computer has just not seemed appealing.  Over spring break we went on an amazing trip to Moab, which I will blog about later.  We took over 200 pictures so that may be a chore.   For now I need to catch up on the past several weeks.

We have our final ski day with the family lunch.  I look forward to skiing together as a family every winter and I love our lunch day.  We fry burgers out in the parking lot.  Grandpa usually comes and skis with the kids that day, but because of the two trucks he was unable to make it.  We sure missed him!!  Hayden took an interest in cooking that day and grilled all the burgers.  What a beautiful ski day. 

Taylor improved so much this year.  She no longer does “pizza” and has learned to pivot turn!  Mitchy will got straight down any run and has no fear!  Jord, well Jord conquered one session of lessons and can ski little Beav independently.  Another great winter passed by!! 

 

Taylor has been taking Orchestra this year and is playing the violin.  She had her spring concert and did wonderful.  It is always amazing to see all these elementary school students come together to make such beautiful music.  Thanks to Kim, Reagan, Sammy, Jill, Andrew, Jordan and Grandpa for supporting her.

Here is a photo of Taylor and her teacher Mrs. Morgan.  She is excellent!

Taesha started playing Lacrosse.  She made two goals in this game and played really well!  In the top left photo is Taesha playing goalie.

 

For Easter and Conference weekend we headed up to the Ranch.  I love spending time at the Ranch.  Because there is no cell phone or internet service complete relaxation is required.  The kids love to play outside and Grandpa and Grandma are always to good to them.  While Mitchell, Taylor and Jordan were watching a movie Grandpa served them  popcorn and soda!

We also played outside, drank hot chocolate, dyed Easter Eggs and had an Easter Egg hunt.  We had such a great time I hated to return to reality!!