Spring Ballroom Concert

The end of the school year is always so fun, but OH, SO busy! It seems like everyone has concerts, plays, performances, and tying up loose ends. It has been so fun this year watching Eryn participate in ballroom. She has loved it! She has really learned a lot, and it's been such a great experience. She is excited, because next year, in 7th grade, it won't be an after school thing, but it will be her PE class! It was funny to listen to her when I would pick her up after practices. She HATED the costumes they were wearing for the Spring Concert! The blue dress was itchy, her top for one performance was too big, one of the skirts was too short (poor kid... she's the tallest one!) But despite wardrobe issues, she had fun. They did a great job for their final performance, and I was SO glad that someone was there with video cameras, because we didn't exactly have the best seat. We would catch glimpses of her (so I got a FEW pics) but she was hard to see when they would move around the floor. They had a fun little party and everyone got a DVD of the concert.

There should be something new here on the blog about every other day this week. I still have to blog about Mother's Day, and B just had a cute little play last week, so check back ;)

Signs of Spring

This has been a rough Spring. I have lived here all my life, and I still can't get used to the Jekyl and Hyde weather we experience during Spring. It fools me every year. We have a couple of gorgeous March and April days, and I make the mistake of thinking "Oh... Spring is here! Hooray!" I start getting Spring clothes out, retiring coats and gloves for the season, and thinking about the yard. Well, it never fails. It's 70 degrees one day, 30 and blizzarding the next! Seriously. Then after a few freezing cold days, we heat up again, only to go right back to Winter temperatures and weather. The only thing I can count on, is loving the spring flowers. They are always so pretty! I love seeing tulips everywhere, and blossoms on trees, and I especially LOVE bleeding hearts. I've always kinda liked them, but since I planted three of them in front of my house a few years ago, I have REALLY grown to love them. I love seeing them peek up through the ground at the early beginnings of Spring, then they grow so fast, and soon are covered with beautiful heart-shaped flowers. I get so sad when the wind blows really hard and beats them up! They grow bigger each year, and I love to go out and take pictures of them. Here are a few I took (and a few of our tulips too) and played with in photoshop. Now if the weather would just decided to STAY nice, I'll be the happiest person around!









And my favorite one!

The End...

... of Spring Soccer, that is. I'm glad there were at least a couple of games played in decent weather. We sat through games in hail, wind (not just any wind, but freezing, arctic wind), rain, and even one in snow. Honestly, it feels like Spring will NEVER get here for real. But the kids had a blast playing soccer. They didn't even mind having to wear gloves, coats, and beanies. And Kaitlyn thought it was fun for me to honk the horn from the van when she scored. (Yes, it was THAT COLD... and I think I honked 6 times that game!) I love watching them, I would just prefer to get a sunburn while doing so - just sayin'!

Anyway, here is Hayd's official soccer post. His first time playing was last fall, and even though there was only a slight improvement with his focus, there WAS improvement. After every game he talked about how much fun it was. He always gave his coach a giant hug, and sometimes even hugged a few team mates. Plus, he just looks so stinkin' cute in his long socks, shin guards, and soccer cleats! I spent most of his games just laughing. This age is just so funny to watch, it's definitely entertaining! He loved being the one to kick off at the beginning of the game, loved having the chance to play goalie (and he did great jumping on the ball when it was coming toward him), and loved throwing in. It was great, but I'm not going to pretend that I'm sad it's over. It was a long, cold season!!

Moms

Happy Mother's Day! I'm so blessed to have my mom. After having daughters of my own (especially the "pre-teen" variety) I understand better what my mom must have felt. I truly admire her for what she did raising FOUR OF US! Four girls! I can only imagine. I am so grateful for the example that she has been to me. I hope that one day I can be as good a mom as she has been to me. I never, ever questioned her love for me. It was always so evident. Everything she did for us made it completely obvious that she loved us... and she told us every day. I love you, Mom. Thanks for everything :)

And I am so thankful for my "other mom." Jared was so blessed to have such a patient mom... and trust me, she would HAVE to be patient to raise my sweet hubby. I know he gave her a run for her money as a teenager, but he has turned out to be such an amazing man. I know that her love and guidance had a lot to do with it. She is a great lady, and I'm so blessed to be her daughter-in-law (and I love that she always says that the "in-law" part is just a formality. She has always treated me like a daughter).

And of course, I am so thankful for the opportunity the Lord has given ME to be a mother. It is the most wonderful job in the world. It aint always the easiest job, but it is so worth it. I love watching my children grow and learn. They make me so happy! I LOVE BEING A MOM!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Once upon a time, 15 years ago...

Once upon a time, a boy decided he would move out to Utah from his home state of Virginia. He had no idea what was in store for him. He began working at the Olive Garden as a cook/host/busser (a young man of many skills obviously) and soon began to think that maybe Utah was not the place for him. It was okay, of course, but it was no Virginia. Apparently he loves humidity :)

Meanwhile, a Utah girl decided she needed a change from the Golden Corral she was working at, and applied at the Olive Garden. She got the job and soon began her training. She was a little shy, and really wasn't interested in doing anything other than coming to work, and leaving with a paycheck, but she made new friends (and even got to work with a couple of friends from High School - see our Halloween picture below. We didn't always dress that way at work LOL). It wasn't long before the boy noticed the girl and started asking her questions. She usually gave the shortest answer possible and went on her way. Soon the boy nicknamed her "Sargeant." He thought she'd make a great police officer or something (actually it was because she was all business... no way would she even think about dating anyone from work!). He was persistent, however, and soon began asking her what her weekend plans were. She always had some, of course... until one weekend.

This particular afternoon, when the boy asked the girl what she was doing later, she answered that she was working another shift. Not something she would normally do, but she was too nice to say "no" when someone asked her to cover their shift. The boy was shocked!

Later that night, during the dinner shift, the boy returned to the Olive Garden. Everywhere the girl turned, he seemed to show up. Picking up an order from the bar? Yep. He was there. Entering an order into the computer? Yep. There too. She soon became a little nervous (but also flattered). She wondered if he would ever just go ahead and ask her out! Thank goodness he finally did, because she was getting so nervous that she started tripping over things and dropping things. Kind of embarrassing!

Well, that first date almost didn't happen. The girl went to a high school graduation ceremony with her sister, and ended up stuck in traffic. The boy called the girl's home several times, and finally had decided that he had been stood up. But when she got home, she quickly called him. She apologized for what happened, and he promptly drove over to pick her up...

The first few dates were fun, but the boy wasn't sure if he should continue. This girl just really didn't say much. Oh, she answered his questions, but didn't start many of the conversations. He had decided to just let it go, when she happened to show up at the Olive Garden during his shift. She was there to pick up her check, but walked back to where he was cooking and said "Hi. What should we do tonight?" Reluctantly, he agreed to another date, and he was NOT disappointed. Apparently it just took a little longer for her to warm up. They were together every day after that, and soon decided that they wanted to be together forever. The boy asked the girl to marry him, and of course the girl said "YES!"

On May 5th, 1995, the boy and the girl were sealed for Time and all Eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. It was the happiest day of their lives. They were young and in love, and they didn't have much money, but they had eachother and knew that together they could do anything!!

Now, 15 years later, they look back at these pictures and laugh a little. Partly because styles have changed a lot (I mean, look at that giant bouquet), and partly because they were so young and skinny and they have learned a lot since then, but mostly because after 15 years they are still happy. Even more happy, because they have added the four most amazing kids to their family. But mostly happy because they have eachother, and that's all they need! And they are living happily ever after :)

What a Difference!

Bryson started playing soccer when he was four. I remember thinking several times that year... "What on earth were we thinking?" He was much more interested in watching his shadow in the grass as he ran crazily up the field. The bugs buzzing around caught his attention more often than the ball. And when he did run, it was with his arms straight out, airplane-like, and his eyes up in the clouds. It was entertaining, that's for sure. I was laughing and rolling my eyes more often than not, but he was having a blast, and that's what counts, right? Fast-forward a few years. He is seven now, and is AWESOME! I've only seen him do a cartwheel once, and heck, I would too if I just blocked a goal! So, here are HIS answers to my Soccer questions:

What's the best thing about soccer? I don't know. It's just FUN!

What's it like having Dad as your coach? It's GREAT!

Why is it great? Well, 'cuz I like him!

What's your favorite position? Offense (he has come SO close to scoring. He wants to score a goal SO SO badly!)

What's your least favorite position? I don't have one. (In fact, he is a terrific goalie. It's great when it finally clicks!)

What's your team name? YELLOW DRAGONS!

This is the first time Jared has coached B's soccer team. It's funny, because he has coached Kaitlyn's team for five years. Most of her team is made up of the same girls every year. They have grown so much as players and as a team, and they are amazing (and undefeated). So to go back to a team where most of them have never played before, and the those that have are just barely starting to really get it, has been a challenge for Jared. He feels so bad for them when they don't even get to score a goal. He's done a great job with them, and we are hoping that by the end of the season they can win a game. ;) The hardest thing, is that usually only 6 boys show up. So many times, there hasn't even been an extra to sit out. They get so tired!

But even though many of the boys on B's team are still trying to figure the whole thing out, Bryson is doing amazing. He GETS it! And he is SO focused (most of the time) it's fun to watch how much he has grown!

And here he is rockin' his sweet goalie skills!