Heroes

For as long as I can remember, each Memorial Day we have gone to put flowers on the graves of family members who have gone on before us, we have flown an American Flag in front of our house, and we have remembered those who have served in the military. I have two heroes that are part of what is referred to as the "Greatest Generation." My Grandfathers: One that I have never met, and one that I am priveleged to be able to still go visit in his home, and get great advice, and big hugs from. Both of my grandfathers served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

My Grandpa Grace (pictured on the left) is one of my biggest heroes. Not only because he served our country valiantly, but because he has served the Lord so valiantly as well. His testimony and love helped me to gain my own testimony of the gospel. I always wanted him to be proud of me, and thinking about how he would feel if I made certain choices always seemed to keep me out of trouble. I always felt like everyone knew my Grandpa, and I was proud to be a Grace! He is a great man, who even through health problems and pain, seems to have a big smile on his face. I don't think I have ever heard him complain. Next week we will celebrate another of his birthdays, and I'm so grateful to still have him here with us to teach and love my own children. I want to celebrate him on this memorial day as one of my greatest heroes, and I'm glad I'm not having to put flowers on a grave for him yet.

My other grandpa, Grandpa "Richard" (pictured on the right) as we sometimes call him, passed away when my mom was only 11 years old after battling pancreatic cancer. Although I have never met him, he is also a great hero of mine. Hearing stories from my Grandma and Mom always painted a picture in my mind of such a wonderful, kind, heroic man. He also served the country and the Lord valiantly. I have loved reading my grandma's accounts of him. She always talked about how handsome and wonderful he was, and my mom made him sound like he must have been the best dad in the world. I have always said that he is one of the first people I want to meet when I leave this life. I always loved going to put flowers on his grave on Memorial Day, and imagining how awesome he was. Now that my grandma has been reunited with him, I miss her all the time, but I am so happy that she is with Grandpa again. I would have loved to have seen that reunion.

There are so many more heroes, some that I know, like cousins and friends who have served in the military, and many, many more that I don't know. I am so grateful for all the men and women of the armed forces who put their lives on the line daily to protect our country and keep us free. So many have sacrificed everything, and I couldn't be more thankful for their service. Yesterday when we went to visit the cemetaries, we saw a young man in his army uniform. As he passed, our boys said "Hi Army guy!" He was sweet and said "hi" with a smile. He walked over to the grave of a fellow soldier who had died in Irag. He cried and saluted his fallen friend. When he came back past us, my sweet Bryson said "Thank you for fighting in the Army." I wish we could tell them all "Thank you," because they are all heroes!

Dance Festival

More and more end of the year activities... they just keep coming. It's fun, but busy. We were just happy to have great weather for the dance festival. It wasn't hot (unlike some years when we go and get cooked in the sun), but it wasn't TOO chilly either. Just nice and cool.

B's class did a Mayan/Aztec type dance. It was so cute. They had these little "shakers" made from soda cans, and of course a Mayan head-dress. He was kind of in the middle of the group, so it was a little hard to get him on video, but I could see him better than the girls. He did awesome. He was so serious, it made me smile :)

The sixth grade did an Israeli dance. Eryn wasn't very excited about it... she felt like it was a boring dance, but I thought it was really cute. It's not as elaborate as some of the ballroom dances she's done, so maybe that's why it seemed "boring." The ballroom team also performed a few of their dances, so Eryn got to dance several times. She was in the back where I couldn't see her very well, but I did catch occasional glimses.

The fourth grade did a Brasilian Samba. The music was so cool, and they did a fantastic job. Too bad that when I was taping it, I thought I was right on Kaitlyn, but after a few minutes I realized it wasn't her! She had the same color and length of hair, khaki capris and a white shirt, and of course the MASK... it wasn't until I looked at the girls' shoes that I realized that I was videoing a total stranger. I finally found K clear in the back, and got to watch her for the second half of the dance. She did great.

I always enjoy going to the dance festivals. This year I didn't have a little voice in my ear saying "This is boring! When is it over!" That little voice stayed home and helped daddy do some trenching in the yard for the pressurized irrigation. It was the only day we could do it, and Jared felt bad that he couldn't come see the kids, but I was secretly happy to not have to take the "little voice." Good thing Daddy can watch the video... even if half the fourth grade dance is focused on somebody else's kid!

Gone Fishin'

Last Monday, we sat down to eat dinner, and Jared said "Hurry and eat. Tonight for Family Home Evening, we are going fishing!" You should have seen the kids' faces. All four of them! They were so excited. He had talked to me about it earlier, but told me not to say anything... just in case it didn't work out. I think it was so I wouldn't ruin the surprise! We have some really fun families in our ward that we are friends with, and we all went together. It was a little chilly and somewhat breezy, but it was so fun. The kids had a blast!



Bryson caught his very first fish. He didn't stop smiling for the rest of the night. The next day it was all he could talk about "I caught my VERY FIRST FISH!" I think he told everyone he saw... some even got to hear about it multiple times.




We caught more moss and mud than anything, and a few people accidentally stepped into the water and got all wet, but it didn't matter. We had a great time.



It was fun to go with our friends. One family ended up having to leave early... they had a little one that wasn't feeling well, so we didn't get them in the big group picture above. We were sad they had to leave.




Hayden was getting a little bit frustrated, because he just couldn't seem to catch anything but moss. All of a sudden, our friend Travis (who is also our bishop) called to Hayden. "Hurry Hayden! I've got a fish on my line! I need you to help me reel it in!" Hayds was so excited. He worked so hard to get that fish pulled in. He wished it was on his OWN line, but he was still pretty happy.



Eryn didn't catch anything, but I think she enjoyed casting her line out and reeling it back in anyway. The other two girls her age didn't want to fish. They just wanted to sit in the truck and watch a movie. I'm glad E wanted to be out with us! :)



K was hilarious. She didn't catch anything either, and she is a little more vocal in her frustrations. She let everyone know how irritating it was everytime she just had a little greenery on her hook. But then she would laugh and joke about it, and make us all laugh.



The kids are already asking when we can go again. Soon, guys. I promise!!

Cinderella Outgrows Her Glass Slipper

Last Friday, B performed in the cutest play! It was called "Cinderella Outgrows Her Glass Slipper." He was Storyteller #2, and he had a lot of lines to memorize. He was nervous, and afraid he might forget what to say, but he remembered all his lines, and pretty much everyone else's too! The play was about Cinderella, and how she really wants to go to school to become a veterinarian. She makes shoes on the side to save money, but her step-mother and step-sisters treat her like a slave (of course). One day, her Fairy Godmother comes to measure her for her ballgown, and no matter how hard Cinderella tries to tell her she doesn't want to go, her Fairy Godmother doesn't listen! She tries to pawn the Fairy Godmother off on her step-sisters, but they tell her they don't need a Fairy Godmother, because they can catch the Prince on their own! Cinderella ends up going to the ball (against her wishes) and meets the Prince, who falls madly in love with... her shoes! The clock strikes midnight, and Cinderella runs off, leaving just one of her shoes. The Prince thinks they look so comfortable, he MUST FIND HER! When he finally shows up a couple weeks later, he gets her to make some shoes for him, and some for his parents. Finally Cinderella has enough money to go to Vet School! And she lives happily ever after, of course ;)

We have LOVED B's teacher this year, and hope that Hayds gets her when he gets to first grade. This was such a fun little production, and I know the kids worked so hard on it! Congrats, B! You are the BEST ACTOR! :)


We were so proud of Bryson. He did such a great job!


All I took was our digital camera that does video, so these are just some screen shots from the video. I thought he was so cute sitting up on his tall stool "telling the story." He had to remind both of the girls of their lines a couple of times.

School Carnival

I love school carnivals. They are always a little crazy, with lots of people, but my kids love to go, and I think it's a fun way to earn money for the school. The weather was SO nice this time! Sometimes it's windy, or rainy, or chilly... but this year was perfect!

There were lots of fun games...

Face painting...

Friends...

Karaoke (where E spent most of her time!)...

and more games!

And when we had run out of tickets, but not out of energy, we headed over to the swings. Meanwhile, Jared was hiding over by the auction booth, getting me a really great basket of goodies for Mother's Day ;)

My Greatest Blessings Call Me Mom

My sister has this really cute frame with a picture of her 3 cute boys... I think the quote on it says "My greatest blessings call me Mom." I love that! It's so true. I love Mother's day... not only because I can honor my own mother (and my mother-in-law) but because I LOVE being a mom. It's the best, and definitely the greatest blessing. I love all the little handmade cards that my kids give me. They are the best!

Eryn gave me a cool card she had made in Arabic class, and a cup with flowers and flower pencils... along with a coupon for my choice of breakfast in bed, a foot massage, OR lots of hugs and kisses. She did inform me, however, that she would rather not rub my feet! I laughed. Not that I have bad feet or anything, but I don't know that I would want to rub anyone's feet either. Not my thing! But I'll take the hugs and kisses and breakfast in bed ANYTIME!

Kaitlyn gave me a really cute journal she had made at Activity Days. I love it! She picked my favorite color - RED, and then decorated it so cute. It turned out adorable.

Bryson gave me a little poem, with a note underneath that said:

Hayden made this cute, cute card in Preschool. His teacher asked him the questions... and he filled in the blanks. I just love how little minds work. This definitely made me laugh!

The Friday before Mother's Day, our kids had their school carnival (which I will post pictures of soon. They always have a big auction with baskets FULL of fun stuff. Each class is in charge of a basket, and the items in the baskets are donated... some from local businesses, some from the kids in the class. Jared decided to surprised me and bid on a basket. It was full of some REALLY YUMMY treats, which I definitely enjoyed eating and sharing :) Jared thought he should take a picture of me with it before I opened it up and started eating all the yummies!

I LOVE being a mom. Even the "not-so-good" days are worth it. Nobody ever said it would be easy, but it SURE IS WORTH IT! I love my kids so much, and I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father has trusted me with them. I hope I can be as good a mom as my own is ;)