Bryan is an excellent daddy. The boys love him so much, sometimes they just follow him around the house wherever he goes. They can’t get enough of him when he’s here (I’m always here so I’m no big deal). They were very excited to get him some presents for Father’s Day. First, we took the pictures below & put them in a three-photo frame with nice mats. We also got him the camera he’s been ogling (it’s the panoramic one that Taylor Swift is hawking on TV). At least I think he’s ogling the camera. Maybe he’s ogling Taylor.
Bryan taught me how to make an omelette today, while I made him one for breakfast. It was pretty good! Ham, beef smoked sausage, green onions (homegrown), olives, cheddar, & feta. Mmmm…
Today we took a tour of our nearest fire station with some friends. The boys loved climbing in & around the fire engine & fire truck. They got to try on headsets & work the radios. They got to hear a special message on the radios (from dispatch). They even got free hats!
While taking a tour of their living area, I was surprised to see a large “DV8″ sign hanging on the wall in their TV room. I asked one of the firefighters if it came from the club. He explained that they were the station that worked that fire, & the building owner let them have the sign (they have had it re-lit). He happily turned it on for me to take some pictures. Bryan & I attended a whole bunch of concerts there before it burned down.
Click on any photo to enlarge, or click here to see all the pictures.
Today was Mrs Z’s last day of kindergarten (tomorrow is the official last day if the kids still want to come). At the end of class, the kids & parents presented her with a gift. We gave her a basket of useful items when bedridden (she’s having knee surgery) – books, DVDs, treats, puzzle books. We also presented her with a quilt made by yours truly. The design looks like bookshelves, which was chosen because of her love of books. The back includes art & signatures from all the kids.
Mrs Z has been an interesting person to know. I had my doubts about her at first – her personality was much different than I expected. But it just so happens that she’s pretty much brilliant. Rees’ elementary school education is off to a great start. We will sure miss her.
After class ended, a bunch of parents & kids grabbed lunch & ate @ a local park. Fun times. My friend took these classroom pictures for me because I forgot my camera.
We spent the morning packing & hanging out with Grandma. She took us out to a nice lunch & then we started home.
Bryan really wanted to try a slot canyon hike in Kanarraville that he had read about. We were able to locate the trailhead & headed up. We knew we’d be hiking in water, & I felt pretty unprepared hiking in skinny jeans & Chucks. However, it turned out to be perfect – the jeans protected my legs & the shoes were actually super comfortable! Jamie was tired & fussy, so Bryan ended up carrying him the whole way up & back. At least he was in a good mood being carried. Rees was awesome, he had a blast & only needed help when we forded the creek – which was very often, because the trail criss-crossed the creek the whole way up. The whole hike took us a little under four hours.
I brought the Flip but we totally forgot to use it! Dang! At least I have nice pictures. There are more pics here.
We are spending Memorial Day weekend with my Grandma in St George. We arrived late last night (lots of holiday traffic). This morning we got up & went to visit my Grandpa’s grave at Tonaquint Cemetery. My Grandma had gotten some beautiful fresh flowers that we arranged when we got there.
While poking around on the internet, I found a sketch of him (below) & his obituary. More pictures here.
After spending some time at the nearby playground, we went to see the famous dinosaur tracks. I had not been there for many years. Bryan reminded me that the two of us actually went with my Grandpa before he died (Grandpa was pretty excited about it). I’m sad that my Grandpa died before Bryan & I were married, but I’m grateful that they got to know each other & got along well.
The last time we went, there was no charge, & the tracks were in a big makeshift tent. Now there is a new building & an admission charge! Jamie’s favorite part was the dragonfly tracks.
About once a week after school, I take the boys out for a treat. Today we went to Arctic Circle for ice cream & fries. James stuck with his usual chocolate soft-serve cone (he can eat the whole thing no problem), but Rees branched out & tried the root beer float. We also walked over to the park nearby.
This year, I got to thinking about mothers that have influenced me in my life. Of course, the list is pretty much endless. However, I decided to write down some of the things that I remember quite specifically (in chronological order of when that person affected me).
First – my Mom, of course. My mom taught (& still teaches) me to sew. She taught me to appreciate art. She taught me (& still teaches me) how to garden. She has taught me to reduce, re-use, & recycle (she has been recycling for as long as I can remember – I think she was the first one on our street to sign up for curbside recycling many years ago). She is so encouraging. She taught me the importance of honesty & respect. She is extremely creative & persistent. As my brother says, “My mom can fix anything!” She has been teaching Sunbeams (three-year-olds) in church for as long as I can remember (at least 15 years), & loves those kids. She is always there for me to talk to or help me as best she can, & I can always trust her to give me great mothering advice to me when I need help with my boys.
Then – my Grandma Hansen (my Dad’s mother). My Grandma is my second mother. She is the ultimate example of a homemaker – I wish so much to be like her in that way. She always had (& still does) have an immaculate house & garden. She accomplishes this without a hint of obsessiveness – nothing is off-limits at her house. She is the sweetest, humblest, most stoic, & least judgmental person I know. She taught me the importance of consistency, duty, & self-control. She taught me the importance of education & volunteerism (she received her Masters degree back when very few women were doing so – in the forties).
Then – Sister Baker. I did a lot of babysitting in junior high & high school, but as one of my Young Women leaders, Sister Baker had a big impact on me. I babysat her four kids on a regular basis & spent a lot of time with her. She had a nice clean house, she was super cute & well dressed, her kids were super cute & well-behaved. She was so sweet & nice & spiritual. Her tears were always very near the surface, just like me, which helped me feel less self-conscious about that. She & her husband had a cute relationship, they went on dates all the time & were affectionate. I still remember when I took care of her baby Zac for the first time – I had never held a baby that small, I think he was just a few days or weeks old. I couldn’t believe she trusted me to feed him. I felt so special at that moment. I think he’s probably in high school now!
Next – my sister-in-law Kathi. Watching my older brother Chad get married & become a father was pretty amazing. Kathi is such a great mother – she is so cute, bubbly, sporty, outdoorsy, funny, adventurous, brave & patient. She is always doing fun stuff with her kids, & they are all so cute & well-behaved, while still maintaining their fun individual personalities. I remember sitting with her sisters once & hearing them tease Kathi; they said that when they all got together & complained about their husbands, Kathi never had anything to say because (sarcastically) “Chad is perfect!” Well, I’m pretty sure Chad is not perfect, but it taught me a lesson about how a wife treats her husband.
Then – my friend Kristin. I have known her now for over 20 years. She was the first of my friends to become a mother. It was fascinating to watch. She had a rough go of it with her first baby, Parker – he had some eating problems that were extremely stressful. But she loved him so much. I learned so much from watching her struggle through that. Now she has three kids & is such a fun, cute, organized, funny, creative, & talented mom. I still look up to her a lot.
Next – my mother-in-law, Maryanne. She has four boys, & has absolutely embraced her four daughters-in-law as her own as well. Since I met her when Bryan & I were dating, she has always made me feel welcome in her home & in her life. She taught me that each child has their own personality & needs, & to adjust your parenting to what is best for each one. Lately, she has also been an example to me in her devotion to caring for her mother (Grandma K). She loves my kids unconditionally & they know it.
And most recently – my friend Carol. I have not known Carol for long, but she recently had her first baby. I have a pretty good sense of humor, but sometimes it goes by the wayside when I’m stressed out & dealing with boys & schedules & school & chores. She has reminded me of the importance of that humor. Her comments catch me off guard & make me smile, & we all need to laugh more. One of my favorite stories of hers was this: Carol was visiting with family, & was telling them about how her weeks-old baby girl had pooped while laying un-diapered on the changing table. She then matter-of-factly told her family that said she rubbed the baby’s nose in it & told her never to do it again, so that should put a stop to that in the future. The looks on the faces of her mother & siblings were pretty priceless.
Of course, there are countless more. If you know me, & you are a mother, you have no doubt influenced me in a positive way. So thank you.
Tonight the boys watched a movie on my laptop in the foyer while I had an organ lesson at the church. Rees was also drawing on his Doodle Pro. When I was finished, Rees showed me his drawing & asked me to tell him which state he had drawn (he did it from memory).
California?
No. Florida?
No. Okay, which one?
I’ll give you a hint. It’s next to Texas. Oklahoma?
No. It’s shaped like a shoe.
(getting embarrassed) Ohio?
(shaking head sadly) No, mom. It’s Louisiana.
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