The Best Mothers' Day Ever

At 7:30 a.m. on Sunday Richard and I awoke to the sound of the kids singing Happy Mothers' Day (to the tune of Happy Birthday.)  In they came with a tray of scrambled eggs, bagel toast and shredded wheat cereal.  It was all very delicious.  

Breakfast was followed by cards and gifts made at school (a book mark, a fan and a painted pot with a flower in it.)  Richard gave me a movie.  I also received some great coupons for "folding clothes while you are watching a movie," "give orders," "make you confterble with pellows," "kisses and hugs," and "free mashose (massage)."  I have almost used them all up.  

After all the fun I got ready for church and had quite a pleasant morning.  On the way out the door I went into the kitchen for the first time.  Yeah, beautiful.  What you can't see in the picture are the eggs that Baby R cracked into that open drawer.  

After church Richard gallantly cleaned up the mess and made me my Mothers' Day meal, pizza from Papa Murphy's.  I got a nice long nap, went for a walk with the family, chatted with my mom and Richard's mom, and had an awesome day.  Thanks guys.

The Laundry Room Salon

This week the older girls decided they would like to have their hair cut.  With each girl I would wash their hair, take them down to the salon (laundry room) and sit them on the washer for the cut, then style it afterward.  It was a fun mother daughter bonding time.

Cub Scout Express

This year our cub scout pinewood derby was a blast.  Mr. M did such a good job designing, cutting and painting his car.  Richard and I are very hands off when it comes to these types of projects.  We have found he almost knows more than us when it comes to building and creating.  At one point I was trying to drill a hole and the bit would not go into the wood.  After five frustrating minutes I saw that the drill was set on reverse.  Ah duhh.

Adam's Wedding

This last weekend we took a trip to Santa Rosa, California to attend my cousin Adam Baughman's wedding.  He and his new wife, Veronique, were so happy.  They smiled ear to ear through the entire ceremony.  Their pastor gave a very beautiful and insightful speech about marriage.  It was a beautiful ceremony.  We were at an amazing winery and everything around us was breathtaking.  

Following the ceremony we were served drinks and hourdouvers.  It was so fun to try all of the fancy food.  My sisters and I took a lot of pictures (as is customary when we get together.)  We were  only missing Michelle, the eldest.  I am not sure why we didn't have the boys in the picture.  Three of the four of them were there.  They must not have been pretty enough.

Not long after that we were invited into the dining room.  Everything was so elegant and beautiful.  We were served really nice food and got to hear some fun toast speeches.  It is so wonderful to see two very loving, good people get married.  I was so thrilled to see Adam with someone so gentle and caring.  They will be so happy together.

After the dinner was the dancing and that was a blast.  Dancing is one thing my family loves to do (almost as much as quoting movies.)  I loved being out there with my brothers and sisters boogying down to great music.  We danced until my feet hurt.  

Now, I am sure you are wondering where all the little people were while we were having all this fun.  Well, my uncle Kevin, the kind and thoughtful person that he is, hired four babysitters to watch the 13 children.  That made the evening a perfect date for all of us.  What a great wedding.

Old Stomping Grounds

Last weekend we were at a wedding in Santa Rosa, California and the suggestion was made that instead of going to church in a ward where we knew no one, that we should get up early and drive to Sacramento to attend the ward where I grew up.  It was soooo much fun.  I walked in just as Bishop Newey (my old seminary teacher) was welcoming the visitors.  It was so fun to see him up there, the big, important bishop.  We visited with a lot of old friends after sacrament meeting and then went around to see a few places in town.   

First we stopped at my old house.  I showed the kids around the back yard where we had a pool, basketball court, swing set, trampoline, etc.  The kids kept saying,  "Whoa, you had a pool."  Well, everyone in Sacramento has a pool right?  Next we went to my elementary school.  That wasn't so exciting, but it gave them a place to picture when I tell them my stories of when I was a younger girl.  

The fun began when we went to my junior high, Pasteur.  I showed them the gym where I played basketball and volleyball.  I showed them the path where we would do a run around the perimeter of the school and I always beat all the girls in the school (and sometimes a lot of the boys.)  I showed them where I used to practice routines with the drill team.  I showed them the little court where we would eat lunch with our friend Danny who was in a wheelchair.  It was a blast.  

Then we drove around the corner to Casa Robles H. S.  First I had to show Richard the track.  He couldn't get over how it was a dirt track.  He didn't know those really existed anymore.  Somehow we managed to run on something other than an all-weather track.  He kept saying things like, "You couldn't have worn spikes on this?" Yes Richard, we wore spikes.  "How did you not sprain your ankles with all the uneven parts?"  I guess we were just lucky.  "How in the world did the hurdlers three step in this dirt?"  Mmm, I dunno.  They probably weren't  good enough to three step.  

As we walked around the school I showed them the pool where I was a life guard and swimming teacher for three summers.  I showed them some of my old classrooms.  I showed them the uneven pavement where I tripped and fell my freshmen year and was teased for having all my books scattered all around.  I showed them the band room where I played the flute and the yearbook room where I spent way too much time.  

I was so glad we had made the sacrifice to go back to my old stomping grounds.  It was so much fun to share all of those memories with my family.

50's Week

Last week was 50's week and my friend Lisa offered to make our kindergartner a skirt to match her daughter's.  The skirts turned out so cute and the girls looked so adorable together.   All week our oldest would wear his white t-shirt and do his hair all slicked back.  He looked pretty cool.  I should have taken a picture of him too.  Ooops.

Citizen of the Month Part 2

A few weeks ago I was in the van with the kids and our kindergartner announced that she would receive the citizen of the month award for April.  We were so excited.  That left our second grade daughter as the only school aged child to have not received it yet.  We told her that maybe next month she would get it.  She replied, "No, I don't think I will get it."  I assured her that she was a smart, well behaved girl and that she could very well get an award too.  

A week later I received not one but two invitations to the citizen of the month assembly.  Both our daughters would be receiving the award for that month.  What a fun surprise.  Here is what their teachers had to say about each of them.

Kindergarten daughter:

You are the kind of person who enters a new school and fits right in.  you are well-liked by everyone and you possess excellent citizenship qualities.  You are a well-rounded student with a strong sense of responsibility for your studies.  You like to learn and are eager to do so.  I see you excelling at whatever you put your mind to.  Congratulations, you are a welcome addition to Winchester and our AM Kindergarten classroom.

Second grade daughter:

To be responsible means being able to be trusted with something important, being dependable and reliable, and not blaming others for your mistakes.  She is a student that fits that description.  She hasn't been at Winchester very long but it is easy to see that she is an honest and reliable person.  She always accepts responsibility for her own actions and never blames other.  She is wonderful to have in class and is a great example of a responsible student.

Needless to say, the girls loved sharing that day together.  I was so proud of both of them.