2 more games.

I have spent my whole life hearing about football. I remember hating football season as a child because all it meant was A LOT of noise. I loved soccer because that was what I played. As I had my own kids I integrated them into my same love of the game. Then High School happened. Stephen has had such a fun time playing, even though he hasn't played a lot. They switched his position from linebacker to tight end. I have decided that I LOVE this new found passion as well. I have had so much fun sitting in the stands cheering. I have learned so much. I now know what off-sides, false start, and face-masking are. To name a few. I have learned what some of the different positions are and that a tight end isn't a "blond" as I was told by a friend.... As the boys finish their season I am really very sad to see it end. We went to the last Varsity home game last night and had a blast, and relished it until next year. What a fun time. I cant wait to see what he does in the off season. Maybe I will get the chance to learn a little about wrestling......

FFFFOOOOOOOTTTTBBBAAALLLLLL!!!!!!!!!

Stephen decided this year to play football. He practiced the whole summer and when school started continued. I thought that after a couple of months of practicing in 100+ weather he would have had enough..... I guess that is what I get for thinking. Actually it seems to have fueled his desire to play. He is definately not one of the big boys, but he has the same heart and seems to love the game. Funny how it has taken the seat of soccer.



Last week was his first game. They start the game huddled, jumping up and down and chanting. Then they break and go out on the field. Stephen is on the kick off special team, so he got to play on each kick off. I also expected him to not see any playing time but to my surprise he did get to go in for a few minutes in the second half. They ended up losing their game, but it was fun anyway.

New furniture!!!!!

I love it when you come across a great deal, or better yet I love it when your friends decide to get new furniture and theirs is in pristine condition. Such was my luck. A dear friend and I were chatting and she commented on wanting to get new furniture and I said I want yours.... Thankyou dear friend, we love it. Funny how MY living room has turned into Stephens hang out spot to rest, talk on the phone, read a book...... Hmmmmmm I need to reclaim my room.

I forgot the pictures of Sarah and all the kids new clothes. They reminded me that those are important shots. The new cloths and the back to school blessings. "Come on Mom"..... Hmmm







Stephen, was being honery that morning and it was difficult to get him to stop and pose. I guess he is now TO COOL to take pictures. Stinkerpot!!!!

We made it!!!!!

The first two weeks of school are done..... We did it this year without Mom which I felt was a huge accomplishment. It is funny, the way I motivate myself it to prove things to me! I look around and pick someone who appears to me to be doing it correctly and I make them my example. I tell myself, "if they can do it so can I". By doing this, it is funny but I honestly think I can accomplish ANYTHING! So, back to school. I was really nervous this year because I was putting Stephen in High School, and let me tell you that was an experience, and putting Elizabeth in Jr. High, and I still cant believe it, and leaving Sarah in elementary. Back to school at the high school left me with the distinct impression that if I hadnt taught him correctly by now, it was TO LATE! The variety of spectacles left to the eye was amazing. First boy I saw had a mohawk that stood 4 inches off his scalp. The next girl I saw had the most beautiful shade of lavendar hair. Hmmmmmm, left lots to the imagination, MY imagination. I took Elizabeth to her back to school night and all I could think about was how she was not old enough to actually be going here... We went through all her classes and I just kept telling her how wonderful and great she was going to do, meanwhile I think I was trying to console myself internally hoping that she will enjoy this new school and be as successful as Stephen was but wanting so badly to keep her as innocent, naive, and beautiful as she is. Sarah, she was such a trooper. So proud to be the ONLY one left in her school.
The first day........ I dropped Stephen off and watched as he practically ran to his crowd of "football" friends and trying not to lag to long so as to be an embarrassment. He is growing so nicely and I am so proud of him. He is loving seminary and loves to start his day each day there. We left the HS and moved to the Jr. High where it was very different. Elizabeth must have told me she loved me 20 times, and lagged in the car not wanting to get out to face the BIG Jr. High. What a sweet daughter I have. I hope she will always stay so kind, and gentle. If I could just put a big bubble around her so no one could hurt her, and she wouldnt be exposed to all the junk out there. Sarah couldnt wait to be dropped off.




I took her and we walked down to where her class is and we waited till she went in. I picked Elizabeth up after school and we went to her physical. Sarah had been fighting with me about how she is so big and why I wont let her walk home alone because she is a big girl. Well, that was her chance. I was a little late picking her up and missed her getting out of school. Boy did I get the business. She was mad at me the whole rest of the evening. I couldn't figure out why she was so grumpy and figured she was just very tired. When I laid down with her to put her to bed she finally started crying and wondered why I hadnt been there to get her after school. She understood that I was running late but didnt understand why I couldnt have done something so I was there when she came out from school. She was so cute. She wasnt such a big girl after all. She was also upset because she is sure that Elizabeth is going to forget to pick her up after school and she will have to walk home alone. So cute how much she relies on her sister. Ahhh the untold value of sisters. I love it.
So, this week, I went back to work. What a joke. I think this was the week that I was SOOOOOOO tired. We all got up at 6 am to try to be out the door by 7 am. It quickly became apparent that we couldnt all get up at the same time, so I started getting me up at 5:30 and Elizabeth at 5:45. Wouldnt you know it, the two girls have to get up first. We made it though, I didnt think Friday would ever come. We had a couple of days that the Ogre, the kids nickname for me when I am very crabby, was here visiting. We gladly sent the Ogre back to her land about thurs. and this mom actually got to the gym every day, yes most evenings it was almost 11pm when I finally got home and to bed, but we did it.
It was great to see the kids working together to try to accomplish our goals. It was cute, a couple of nights Sarah would say, "mom you dont have to lay down with me tonight because I want you to go to the gym". So thoughtful, but we still did it even when I got to lay down with each of them and take advantage of our talk time.
Thanks kids. Hopefully it will go smoothly with only little bumps from here out.

Dear Tricia......

Five years ago this morning I was up getting kids ready for school, filled with excitement and anticipation. We went about our day as usual and it was a great day. I picked up the kids after school and we talked about their teachers, and friends, and the goals for the coming year. About 4 pm I got a call from mom saying Tricia had had a seizure and was having a c-section. Still, I thought wow in a bit we will have a new little life added to our family, little did I know that one would be taken. If I had known how this day would have impacted my life, wow the things I would have done different. I would have been kinder, I would have told her just how much I loved her. I would have made sure she knew that she was my very best friend. I would have taken more time to attend the temple, read my scripture with more meaning, truly talked to my Heavenly Father and shared with him my deepest concerns and joys. I would have been doing all the things that she did so well, non of which I was doing at the time. Tricia, it was so hard to have you just gone. So many dreams died with you. We were going to raise our kids together, share the teenage blues together, send our boys on missions together, talk about the worries of driving together, laugh about the HS dances and the kids funny dates together, cry when they got their hearts broken together, we were going to marry off our children together and then think how did we get so old together. So many things we were going to do together, and now I am doing them by myself. I miss you, but I think of you every day. That day that you left I promised that I would change my life so that we could be together for eternity. I started reading my scripture diligently, talking to my Heavenly Father and really sharing with him. I attend the temple at least monthly, I still struggle to keep up with your weekly visit. I love more openly and definately more deeply. I tell those around my how I feel, and I compliment more often. I wonder if you were taken so I would get my life in order, and if so then it has been worth it. I thank Heavenly Father every day that he let you be my sister and bless my life. I know you were with me when I went through my divorce, and felt so much better when Mike shared that you had wanted me to do that long before. I know that you were with us during the hard time just after you left. I feel you with me when I struggle, cheering me on. I have felt you with the kids starting school, and know that you are with me as I wonder how I have gotten so old. So, I guess we are still doing all those things together. I have found many wonderful women that have taken me in as their sister, thankyou for sending them my way. They will never take your place but as true sisters they ease the everyday burdens. Thankyou dear sister for everything. For watching over me, guiding me, loving me, and helping me see what is truly important. I love you so much, and miss you dearly. What a wonderful day it will be when I get to run into your embracing arms and I can finally give you the hug I have longed to give and tell you how much I love you and how important you were to me through life and how excited I am that we will be together forever. Thankyou for keeping me grounded because you know how flighty I can be. Thank you for reminding me that it is really about the quiet, peaceful, small moments. That you can be soft and still be strong. I love you.

Last day of school 2009.

Then, I met the girls to pick them up after school. I was surprised that Elizabeth didnt say to much about the last day this morning. I remember Stephen ending elementary and he was quite sad. So, I say the girls walking towards me in the car and didnt think to much until Elizabeth came a bit closer..... She was BAWLING..... All she could say was that she didnt want it to be over. She is so cute, and VERY sentimental. I knew she would get emotional. The school has a FANTASTIC 6th grade team that does so much for the kids. They really sent them off with great memories. Each of the kids then had invited 2-4 friends to come over and swim after school and I took the liberty of inviting a few of my own. What a fabulous afternoon. It is so fun to be forming great friendships again. I have really missed that and I am enjoying watching the kids enjoying themselves also. There is no value that can be affixed to a great friend.




What a FABULOUS day I had. I got to spend the morning with Stephen at his promotion to HS. I had to really fight off getting emotional (yes, Rob I am a sap). I am so proud of him. He has really blossomed into a delightful young man. I am so proud of his accomplishments. He far exceeded my expectations. The Jazz band played the prelude music and sounded fantastic. They have all grown so much this year and what a great experience that has been. I cant wait for him to continue through HS.

Between the band concerts we had to fit in play practice. Iam not sure what to think about the end of the school year. We have been so busy, running here and running there. As it comes to an end I have a bit of sadness. We are comming to the end of two significant times in the kids lives. I know Elizabeth is so sad to see sixth grade end. We have the best sixth grade team, and they really do a great job of getting the kids involved in many activities through the year. They leave with very mixed emotions. They are growing up and entering the BIG time in their lives and yet I think they are hesistant to leave the "little" part of their life. They arent in elementary anymore. There is more responsibility and more accountability along with more freedom. What a great year it has been. I have been able to share so much with Elizabeth. I am a little sad to see her grow up but so excited because she is turning into a beautiful young woman. She had so much fun acting in the play the wizard of oz. She had just a couple of parts and my cinemotography was terrible, but she did a great job. She loved the whole experience.

Look how far they've come......

How fun it was at his concert to hear the fun movie pieces and especially the video recapping the year. I am so sad to see Jr. High come to an end but very excited to see what you do with High School. Enjoy it Stephen, be active, have a great time, make great friends, get good grades. This is the beginning of your future and let it be bright. I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!! It is the end of the year and it seems this year is the busiest so far.... I have spent all week running from one activity to the next. This week it was band. It was so fun to hear the kids and how far they have come. I am so proud of them. The last couple of weeks the Jazz band has played at multiple functions and I am so proud of stephen. I love to hear them play and know he is a part of this group. He has grown so much. They sound fabulous. What a great experience Jr. High has been. He has made so many wonderful friends and has had some great experiences. I am proud of the attention he has payed to his grades. CONGRATS STEPHEN for making the honor roll the ENTIRE time you were in JR. HIgh I am so proud of you......

Stick Figure Family

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Holy What???????

It has been a little over a week and Elizabeth is no longer dealing with sore teeth. She has however really stepped up with brushing her teeth and flossing better. I am so proud of her and looking at the little purple and blue rubber bands that line her teeth make me giggle. She is so cute with braces and in 20 months her beautiful face will be exquisite. I am so glad that wearing these is still such a novelty, hopefully it will stay that way for a while. I took before and after pictures, and someone suggested taking profile ones as well because her profile will change when they fix her bite. Here's to 20 months and the arm and leg that I left at the orthodontists office......

Easter

I am definately a little late. With school ending it feels like all we do are try to get to all the activities and stay half way on top of things. Often finding NO success. Here are some of the pictures from easter. We had no eggs this year mia. The dog didnt eat a single one.

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