I Have Issues

You all know I have issues.  I am always too busy, too crazy and have WAY too much going on.  The problem is:  I like it that way!  However, somewhere in the past several weeks I have missed my opportunity to stop and document what really matters. 

I love this time of year.  I love Thanksgiving. I love Black Friday. I love Christmas Shopping. I even love the 900 parties.  There are class parties, ward parties, work parties, family parties, primary parties and orchestra parties.  Given that it’s only December 8th we have already checked several off the list.  But first…

BLACK FRIDAY…

Need I say more!

Why yes I do..  What I hope to remember from this year.

Shopping from midnight until 9:00 a.m.

The less sleep I get the sillier I become.

Sleeping over at my parents house with my sisters.  There are some things that never change.  My dad still woke up at 3:00 a.m. to go on the tow truck.  He still turns on the same lights and sits in the same chair while he puts on his boots.  What an incredible comfort there is in familiarity.

Breakfast at Einstein’s with my mom, sisters, aunt and cousin. These are 5 of the women I love and respect most in the world.

Jill’s cartwheel in the mall.  I will leave it at that!!

What I missed this year:  No trip to IFA for Uncle Loyd… Girls you know what I mean!!

On the evening of Black Friday we took the girls to the Nutcracker.  We ate at the Coppermill first and then went to the ballet.  With the exception of auditions to the Chicken Bak Bak club at intermission on the stairs they were great! Thank you Grandma for a great evening.

One of Taylor’s best friends was Clara.  That was an added bonus to an already great evening!

Taylor and Mary after the ballet.

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving was the ward party.  It was my final event as activities chair.  My Bishop always tell me that I don’t need a committee because I have Jeff and the Watrins.  He is right.  Thank you to Jeff, Kim and Shea for all their extra help! We had a great turn out and even better… I am done!

The following weekend was our traditional “Salt Lake Weekend.”  This is one of my favorite weekends all year.  My kids talk about it the entire year and anytime they are asked to share a favorite family tradition they usually share this one. 

We shopped hard and ate a lot.  Jordan came home with a 2 foot tall Rapunzel doll with more hair than I have ever seen on a doll.  Taylor also came home with hair!  Seriously.. she bought some of those hair clip things to make you hair look longer.  Weirdo!  She is growing up!  Mitchy bought his usually assortment of tanks, helicopters and Star Wars Stuff.  Another great weekend for the memory books!  Thank you Mom and Dad!

All of that was wonderful!  However a few days ago I got a “payday” as a parent.  Often times as my kids stumble through life I wonder about my effectiveness.  A few days ago a ward member of mine was in a really bad accident.  The Ward did a fast and at breakfast I was telling my girls about the fast and to remember Brother Lindley is all of our prayers during that day.  I talked about how I was fasting but how I wanted them to eat at school and etc.  Taylor told me this “Mom, I will just not eat anything really yummy or like a treat or anything.  That will be the way I fast.”  Now, that probably doesn’t seem like a big deal to most of you but her spirit and intention was so strong.  My hope is that in a few years, if she is ever struggling I can refer her back to this post and remind her of her unshakeable faith when she was 10.  Her strong desire to do the right thing for the right reasons.  I am blessed to have children who have such a pure spirit!

Cousins and Concert

We had a week full of cousins!  I have always felt so lucky to live near my family.  My  mom makes dinner for us every Sunday.  My kids look forward to this all week!  When my mom got called as the Stake Young Women’s President one of the ways we helped “lighten her load” was by taking turns cooking one Sunday per month for her.  Last Sunday it was our turn.  I am never sure what exactly goes on when the kids are playing together!  Our presentation this week was hilarious!

Again, not exactly sure but I love it!!  Please take not of Samantha’s face!!!

During the week we were able to have Reagan and Hunter on Tuesday night, Wednesday and Thursday morning while Samantha went on her “one on one” with her parents!  I absolutely loved having the Watrins over.  Reagan is my cohort in crime when it comes to watching endless hours of the Food Network.  Needless to say, after spending two nights staying up late they kids were pooped!

On Friday night Mountain Crest played in the State Championship game.  Taylor has been part of the “pre-teen” crowd that walks that track during football games!  Those of you who went to MC know exactly what I am talking about.  Anyway, my cousin Troy is one of their best players and Taylor truly feels like a super star and brags often about being related.  She came home the day before the State Championship game and said one boy in her fifth grade class asked her if “Troy is really as tall in real life as he looks when he is playing football.”  HOW FUNNY!!   We have went to several games this year and I have really enjoyed it. 

On Friday, Taylor and I (Jord opted to stay with her dad), Grandma and Grandpa and the Watrin family headed to Salt Lake.  Unfortunately, Troy got a concussion on an incredible catch very early on in the game.  Unfortunately, he was never able to return to play in the State Championship game.  Unfortunately, Mountain Crest lost in over time. Fortunately, despite all of that it was an incredible evening!  Fortunately Mountain Crest showed incredible class!  Fortunately, not one player from Mountain Crest did anything that wasn’t absolutely admirable! Fortunately, we were able to remind our kids the lesson of close family.  When Troy was hurt he kept looking in the stands for his family.  On several occasions the coaches pointed out his mom and he would wave and she would wave back.  By the end of the game his brother Brian had left the stands and was standing on the side line next to him.  When your are down you need your family even more!

  

Taylor and Hunter during over time.  They had a blast!  We also got to watch the Caprielle’s dance which was an added bonus!  My sister in law is the coach and puts in countless hours to make them look SO good!

On Saturday Taylor had a violin/piano recital.  She has been taking from Rachelle Cook Jones and we love her!  With Rachelle’s help Taylor has improved on the violin SO much!  Taylor sounded great and I love the “young lady” she is turning into.   Thank you to Grandma, Jeff, Jord and Mitchy for coming! 

 

Oh and P.S. about Taylor growing up..  She shaved her legs the other day… Without my knowing.  She is such a rule driven girl she told her before she even got out of the tub!  Good thing to because they were patchy..  to say the least!!!  Where does time go?

Youth 2000 Leadership Conference

Last Monday Taylor and her Youth 2000 group went to a leadership conference in Provo.  I reluctantly offered to drive thinking it was a chance for me so spend time with Taylor.  I think it is SO important for me to get to know all of her friends and I felt like this was a way I could do so.  However, it turned out to be one of the most powerful, fun experiences in memory.  20 of her classmates went down and the conference was excellent.  We left Mendon at 6:00 a.m. and go back to Wellsville around 6:00 p.m. and I loved the entire time. 

The overall message  was so powerful.  Here are a few ideas that stuck with me the most:

Popularity ends on yearbook day, respect goes on forever.

Do the right thing, even when it’s hard and other don’t respect you for it.

Your first priority it to be nice.

Life is hard!  Get used to disappointment and if you make it a point to learn from disappointment you will become a better person.  Love others through their disappointment.

Learn to let go of things.

You are your own magic wand. 

Resist temptation and don’t give into “illusions.”   They told the story of a deadly snake who deceived his master into picking him up promising worldy reward.  When the master picked up the snake the deadly snake bit him.  The snake  then said to the master “you knew what I was when you picked me up.”

Don’t EVER get involved with drugs or alcohol. 

I could go on and on.  I truly wanted to stay longer to soak up the good feeling!!

Here are a few photos:

 

The bottom left photo is with John Bytheway!  He is an excellent speaker and I felt so blessed that the kids all got to hear him.  What an incredible day that I will not soon forget!!

The follow Monday the Youth 2000 did an assembly for the school.

Bands of America 2010

Taesha just finished her last high school marching band competition!  I cried yesterday both times she marched.  She is such a talented trumpet player and marching band has been such a rewarding experience!  Taesha has marched for Sky View for 3 years and this year, her Senior year, was phenomenal!  Sky View placed well all year.  They won the overall competition at ISU and ended this year by being Regional Qualifiers at BOA and took 5th in the regional finals.  That is the best placement by Sky View EVER! 

Yesterday we got to spend the day sitting in 75 degree sunny weather in St. George. 

I love band kids! I love that 100 silly teenagers can produce a show that brings adults to tears!  I love that they love music!  I love the positive influence they are one each other!  I love band parents.  They are down to earth, excellent individuals that I would choose to spend time with any day!  It is a rule that a band director can’t be on the playing field during the competition!  I love to see the band director walk his kids onto the field and then they take over.  The hope is they worked hard enough, learned enough and can perform well!  Much like life!

I am sad to see marching band come to an end and am grateful that I got to be the “mother figure” to Taesha as she would say.  Grateful that she has blessed my life and made me proud beyond words.  Grateful that she provided this example to the younger kids and I hope some day they too join marching band!  

Last night when Mr. Beach “dismissed” the kids he had the Seniors stand in the middle of the cheer.  Among other things they said were the words “with pride.”  T, I hope that you are so proud of your accomplishments with band over the past 3 years.  It is a culmination of 1000’s of hours of work.  Work in the hot sun, sleeping on gym floors with not enough to eat!  Proud that you so valiantly finished what you started!  Proud to be part of such an amazing group of kids!  T, I hope that you are proud that your work touched other people and certainly gave me memories and friendships I will never forget!

I love you Taesha Rain you are 1 in a million… NO 1 in a trillion!  Congratulations Taesha and Sky View!!

More Halloween…

Halloween NEVER ends.  By the time Saturday rolled around and it was time for the traditional “Trick-or-Treat” my kids were tired of putting on their costumes.  Good thing that only lasted for a second.  But before that… 

We spent Friday at school having parties.  Here is Taylor right before heading to school.

She seemed to have a great party!  I was in charge of Jordan’s class party so I didn’t get to see Taylor at her school party!

We had a great time in Mrs. White’s 1st grade class.  We ate spiders, drank witch’s brew, make ghosts that fly, heard fun stories and played great games and every child got a costume award.

I love 1st graders.  They are still so sweet and cute.  Check out AJ on the far right, his mom is SO into Halloween thus his incredible costume.   On the bottom left if Jordi’s incredible teacher Mrs. White.  We are so blessed that Jordan is able to spend 6 hours a day with her!  Also on the bottom right is little Cade.  His dad’s family was close family friends of ours and he just delights me!  He has all the fire of his dad and I love it!

On Saturday we made caramel apples.  There is a story behind that.  Samantha wandered over to me a few weeks ago during Sacrament meeting.  She sat on my lap and said “I sure wish I could have a caramel apple.  I have never been able to taste one.  Have you?”  Well from that ensued our plan to make caramel apples.  Mitchy was here and it turned out to be a really big, really fun project!

Hunter dipped apples with us but we never got him in a photo!  The kids had fun and the apples were delicious.  I definitely had a sugar hang over on Sunday.

We didn’t get many, OK any of Trick-or-Treating or the party at grandma’s house.  The kids had a great time going door to door and then we went to grandma and grandpa’s had pizza, ate more apples, worm desert, witch’s brew and had a fish pond.  I stole these photos straight from Kim’s blog.

Overall we had a great week! 

 

Mitchy:  Soldier

Jordan:  Bat or Witch depending on her mood!

Taylor:  Sumo 

When she got home she said:  Brytan and I have decided that next year we are going to be something cute and glitzy.  We are going to be girl pirates!  What a great friend!  Needless to say Taylor was done being,  well being…  a sumo.  She was ready to go back to pink, earrings and skinny jeans!! 

Trunk or Treat 2010

Every year our ward does a “trunk-or-treat.”  Every year it snows!  Okay, not every year.  Of the 8 years I had lived in Wellsville 4 of those years it has been snowing. Please, it’s October!! 

I live among the best people in the world.  I am truly grateful to live and serve with families that I love and am so comfortable raising my children around.   I feel like I have the best church job in the world because I get to provide fun, meaningful activities for the families in my ward.  I didn’t get a lot of photos, Jeff got a few.  So.. for further photos you may  have to stock Kim’s blog!

Many of you remember Taylor last year on Halloween… The Old Man.  I thought it was just a phase and this year we would go back to some classic, cute and trendy costume.  But OH NO…

Last year….  (I love Reagan leaning on the walker)

This year….

A Sumo Wrestler!  And by the looks of this photo she and Brytan should be in the National Geographic magazine!  SO WEIRD!  Taylor and Brytan came up with this idea several months ago and they did not disappoint.  So funny!

Jord opted to be a Witch this year and it was the year of the Witch.  Jordan, Samantha and their friend Olivia all dressed up at witches.   Jordan has the best primary teachers in the world!  I mean it!  They embrace and love these girls and trust me that is no easy task.  There are 11 girls that age and they ALL have big personalities.

Jordan, Samantha, Sister Sorenson and Olivia.

Here are a few other random photos.

Thanks to Jeff for helping out so much.  Also to Kim and Shea for getting my girls ready and helping out so much!  Hold on to your seats… in the next few days we have class parties, school carnivals, trick or treating and a party at Grandmas. 

Happy Birthday Chaser!

Happy Birthday Chase!  I don’t want to start out negative BUT.. It really sucks having Chase so far away.  As most of you know he is a Sophomore at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA.   I have been working very hard on perspective lately. For example, when my girls are fighting about who wants to wear the red bow I try to feel grateful that I have children!  When the house is a disaster and I feel like it is pushing me over the edge..  Grateful I own a home!  Okay, you got it..  So here is how it applies to Chase.  When my heart hurts that he is living so far away I feel grateful Chase has such an incredible opportunity, that he is SO smart and can get an education from such an incredible University.

I truly am grateful for Chase.  He is one of the brightest lights in my life.  He is funny, hard working, friendly and has an incredible sense of humor.  Chase is athletic, persistent and is not afraid of anything.  The younger kids think that Chase is the “coolest ever.” They are right.

Chase loves to snow board and is very talented.  Here he is with his good friend Cade Huskinson.  I love that picture!  Chase also loves to wake board and can do an entire front flip on the water.

Taylor and Chase on our cruise this past summer.

Who knows??  Like I said: Chase is funny!!!

Happy Birthday to Chaser!  Thank you for being such an incredible young man (now I sound like my mom).  Thank you for texting me sometimes just to say Hi and you miss me.  Thank you for being so great to your dad and the rest of the kids.  Thank you for working so hard in school.  Thank you for allowing me to love you and hover even though it probably drives you crazy.  Thank you for making me laugh!  I can’t wait to see you!!

I love you Chase!