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…Photo style, curtosy of my early Birthday present a digital camera. (my b-day is Thursday)
Cub scout Pack meeting rocket race. Big fun!
Cub scout Day camp with 16 boys!
This is supposed to be rafting, but it looks like a dock to me.
My boys painting with daddy.
Working hard.
The finished product.
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Oh and by the way 2.7lbs. until I hit my first goal. I can’t believe how good this feels. I’m still not even close to being done, but it’s a start.
Yesterday I got the pleasure of spending the whole day up at Cub scout day camp (I know me at day camp with the Cub scouts is pretty funny, but you can stop laughing now). Despite my fear, we had a great time and the camp is run really well. The boys seemed to enjoy themselves and were well behaved. I don’t know if having 16 young boys with fully loaded BB guns is the best idea, but we made it through with no bodily injuries.
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With two hours left to go in our wonderful adventure I get a phone call from my sister-in-law. This really puzzles me since she knows I’m in the mountains all day with 16 boys. I know she didn’t forget because I’ve got her son. So of course there isn’t enough reception up their to answer the phone so I went out to the parking lot (for better reception) and called my messages.
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Her message is a little frantic, and she is saying something about my mother-in-law (who is in the middle of chemo for breast cancer) and something about calling 911. Well now I’m totally panicking. I ran to the office and asked to use the emergency phone to call home.
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To make a long story a little shorter I find out that she had a seizure, hit her head pretty hard on the night stand, and bit through her lip requiring 4 stitches. She also had a second seizure on the way to the hospital but after a CAT scan she was cleared and headed home to rest.
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I was pretty worn out when I got home so I took a brief nap. Then had to run to my kids school for a back to school picnic in the middle of the worst storm I’ve seen in Utah since I moved here. We all got really soaked but they had fun so that’s all that matters.
This is SO me! I could have wrote it almost word for word. I’m glad I’m not the only heartless wife ;0)
(the post on July 30th about her sick husband. She didn’t provide a permalink for it, sorry. It is totally worth reading)
Yesterday I decided that the perfect place to be on pioneer day is This is the Place Heritage park. We had a great time. The weather wasn’t to hot (clouds rolled in and gave much needed shade), there were lots of activities for the kids, but the crowds were horrible.
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It took us over an hour to get our lunch, and the kids whined that they were starving. I not so nicely explained that whining doesn’t make it come faster. The candy cannon totally made up for it. They launched massive amounts of candy out of a cannon 3 times that day, and the kids ran and grabbed what they could.
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After the park we went to a friends house for a BBQ. We BBQ-ed pizza. Yes you read that right, pizza. I had never heard of such a thing, but it was good. Everyone brought different pizza toppings, and we made mini pizza’s and cooked them over a fire, yummy.
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Late that night an insanely wealthy neighbor put on an amazing firework display that would rival the stadium of fire. We had front row seats off our balcony since he lives 2 streets below us. The fireworks were so loud we thought the windows would break.
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My nephew that is here for the summer couldn’t believe how big pioneer day is here. We had a blast, next year we will have to invite people over for our neighbors firework show ;0)
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*sorry this is a little old I was waiting to get the pictures. I need my own camera so I don’t have to keep borrowing Ash’s
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…There was a boy and his mom that went on a walk. They crossed over a bridge, and a troll jumped out and said “give me some money” (in a really growly voice). The little boy says I don’t have any money, but I do have a song, and then the little boy starts singing “I am a child of God”. When he is done the troll lets him pass safely.
This is my 4 year old’s latest bed time story that he tells me every night. He likes to tell me one after I’ve told him one, but where does he come up with this stuff? I haven’t told him a story even remotely close to this, but I love it.
Today Sadie had a temple trip with the YM and YW. Of course since procrastination is my middle name, I waited until 5 minutes before it was time to go, and then decided to look for her recommend. I new exactly were it was, or at least I thought I did, so as I’m frantically tearing the house apart, and she is getting closer to a total melt down, I decided to beg Heavenly Father for help.
This has always worked for me, but I was afraid this would be the one time that it didn’t. So after a frantic prayer the recommend was found tucked away safe and sound next to mine in my wallet. Phew. I then drove like a mad women the whole mile and a half to the temple and dropped her off at the door. (with a disk of family names hopefully to get done)
As I watched her walk away into the temple something hit me, how grown up she is, and that not to far off she will be walking into the temple for a bigger purpose. Where does the time go? Just yesterday I was rocking her to sleep, and putting band aids on skinned knees.
Last night we went to the ribbon cutting ceremony for our kids new school building. They have been attending a charter school in a temporary location waiting for the buildings completion. We were told that the move in date for the building would be last October, then last December, then January etc. Finally the building is done, and definitely worth the wait!
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It is beautiful. They went all out for these children. There love and care for the children shows through the hard work that went into making this building exactly what the kids need. I can’t wait for the school year to start (today was our last day for the summer, and I’m already saying I can’t wait for school to start.)
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I’m not a big fan of public school, it’s not that I don’t appreciate the teachers. I think they are saints for what they have to put up with, but public school is a very flawed system. It was designed to make children fit into a mold that most kids just don’t fit into.
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I have one child on either end of the spectrum, and the public school can’t help either of them. My child that is behind in school struggles to keep up, but doesn’t qualify for special-ed so they say “sorry we can’t help you” while she falls further, and further behind. She feels like a failure, and has decided that she just isn’t smart enough and learning isn’t for her.
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My son who is about 1 1/2 or 2 grades ahead in every subject has a hard time because he is bored. He refuses to do his work because it is “baby work”, and has decided that he must be smarter than his teacher so he acts off. His attitude at home changed also. He became more and more moody, and sarcastic which is not like him.
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Finally we found a school that will put both of our children in classes that meet the learning skills for were they are at. They test them at the beginning of the year and determine what grade level they are working at, and then let them do break out sessions for math and language based on there ability while keeping them in there grade for social reasons. This has worked wonders. Both of my children have rediscovered a love for learning and a confidence that they lost in public school.
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My son has turned back into the sweet, thoughtful, loving child I knew he was. His teacher even said to me “Do you know what a scholar he is?” Well of course I do, but I’m glad someone else sees it and value’s it in him to.
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My daughters teacher didn’t believe me that she suffers from a learning disability, because she is doing so well. Her grades have come up, and they were able to move her up a grade level in math half way through the year. Now we just need to work on staying organized ;0)
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In my last post, about our sex-ed conversation in the car, I mentioned the “maturation” program my daughters old school taught. Today while reading one of my very favorite blogs I came upon an article on the very same topic. Check it out it is definitely worth reading. I wonder how many of us know what are kids are being taught at school.
Carpool is a funny thing. I love listening to the kids after school talk about there day, and about there opinions. They say it with such authority, like did you know that it takes 1,000 years to count to 1 billion or the debate about Pluto, and if it’s a planet or a moon.
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Today I overheard a very random conversation about a teacher that they think is “psychotic” I mean come on does a 2nd grader really know what that word means. When asked why the art teacher is psychotic the second grader responds that she has dirty books in her class. I totally understand how art books may seem dirty to a little kid.
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This is where my daughter chimes in, the conversation went something like this:
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Sadie:Â yeah she is crazy, when I was in her class she gave us THE talk during art class.
Me:Â What talk do you mean?
Sadie: You know mom THE talk?
Me: Know Sadie I don’t know what THE talk is.
Sadie: Mom you know the one I had in 5th grade. (notice she still won’t say what it is.)
Me: Oh you mean the maturation talk (dumb word, but it’s what the school called it)
Sadie: Yeah mom, she asked us if we knew all about IT and even though we told her yes she still gave us THE talk.
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At this point I could not help but crack up laughing, that she thought it was such a big deal she couldn’t even say it, and the way she emphasized the words IT and THE.
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I do have to say that the sex-ed talk in Utah is much more G rated than the one I got in Seattle. Here I was invited to go with her, and all they talked about was body hair, and the need to use deodorant at there age. The lady giving the maturation talk held up a stick of Secret deodorant, and said to the girls “ladies the secret is you stink”. I tried my hardest not to laugh at her cheesy jokes while all the girls sat horrified that someone was talking about this in public. Where I’m from they are talking about AIDS, different condom choices, and how to use them. I’m glad we are raising our kids in Utah!
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* This post was written 2 weeks ago *
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Yesterday we went to see Thomas the Train in Heber Utah. My 12 year old and 9 year old were not very excited about it, but I told them they needed to “suck it up” for there little brother who is 4 and loves Thomas.
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The problem with the plan was our 4 year old woke up in the middle of the night and threw up. We bought non-refundable tickets 2 weeks ago, so I wasn’t excited about letting the money go to waist. It turned out he had a cold (my kids throw-up no matter whats wrong with them) so our trip was still on.
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We got there and looked around for a while (a little disappointed over how hokey the whole thing was) then got to ride the train. The highlight of the trip! Right after the ride you can go up front and have your picture taken with Thomas.
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My nephew Gage, who was the whole reason for the trip had a total melt down and refused to get his picture taken, (in his defense it was really hot, and I think he was overwhelmed) or do anything else. So we loaded up in the car and went home.
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Over all it was worth it to go once since the regular train ride is around $24 for kids and $35 for adults and the Thomas event was only $16 a person. I don’t think we will be doing it again, but we have fun memories.
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Three years ago today I stood in the delivery room with my sister, and held her hand while she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl that she named McKenzie Kelly. Her little angel lived for a brief 3 1/2 weeks and then went back to her father in heaven. We miss her dearly. Happy Birthday Kenzie!
This morning I woke up and decided to sluff work, and hang out with my youngest at the zoo. I guess I feel a little guilty for working on the days that he doesn’t have school instead of spending time with him. He’s 4 now, and growing so quickly I know I won’t have many more carefree days at the zoo with him.
I have always stayed home with my kids, but my youngest doesn’t get as much quality time with me as my older two did. When I do find time to spend with him I feel a little distracted. Not today, we packed lunches, and headed for Salt Lake. We walked around for a while, and then ate lunch next to the zebra’s, and got ice cream afterwards. We rode the train and then headed for home. It was a great day!
Pushing the Globe
He LOVES trains!
Waiting patiently for a turn.
WOW they smell!
Riding a rino
but I have the best kids.
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It seems sometimes that there are very few rewards for stay at home mothers. I mean we devote every waking moment to our kids, and pray that someday it will pay off and our kids will finally listen to the wisdom we try to impart to them. Don’t get me wrong I wouldn’t want to do anything else with my life than this, but there are very few “thank yous” for my efforts.
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Then all of a sudden the stars aline, and your kids show you what they are made of and it blows your mind. My oldest son (who is 9) brought home a certificate that says he scored in the top 10%Â in the NATION on his testing. I couldn’t believe it (his dad and I never did that well) I’m beaming with pride.
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My youngest (he’s 4) brings me a card he made in school that has his picture on it and says “I love my mom because she tucks me in at night and makes me brownies” and it all seems worth it. I’ll never miss tucking him in again.
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My oldest (who is 12) and my only girl is the kindest most friendly person I know. I beam with pride every time I see her extend a hand of friendship to someone others don’t want to play with. She makes me proud to be her mother.
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With Mother’s Day only a day away, I’m grateful for my kids, and the wonderful husband who gave them to me. Â
 
I don’t know why I don’t seem to learn from past mistakes. I get these ideas in my head, and just run with it. The newest brilliant idea of mine was to take 9 12 year olds to a nail salon to get manicures and pedicures for my daughters 12th birthday party. Sounds fun huh. In all fairness it didn’t turn out that bad, the girls were really great. I just realized right before we left what I had agreed to.
This of course isn’t the craziest party I’ve thrown for one of my kids, I have a long track record of over doing it. One of these days I’ll come to my senses, and have a simple home party.Â
My daughter turned 12 (yeah) this is what I’ve been waiting for, a free babysitter. Yes, I have used her to watch her little brother, on short trips to the grocery store but there is something more official about being 12.
So my hubby and I decided to go on a date night. We have never been to Octavio’s before (in American Fork) so we decided to try it out. I want to apologize to everyone who loves the restaurant in advance, but I was not impressed. Not only was the food so so, but our waitress didn’t even bring me the meal I ordered instead she brought me her favorite dish.
I know I need to be a little more assertive, but I didn’t know what to say so I just ate it and didn’t say anything. We took some cheese cake home with us for later (my favorite) and that was also just ok. Needless to say we won’t be going back.
The good news is my daughter only had to call me once while we were out, and that was to ask were the drain stopper was for the sink, because she was trying to surprise me by cleaning the whole kitchen including mopping the floor but she couldn’t find the stopper. What an angel.
Tags: Date Night, Restaurant
