Columbines

For some reason this year, my Dad has been in my thoughts more than usual. Last week I attended a reunion of people from the stake I grew up in in California and one of my favorite things about attending is that I am somewhere with people that knew my Dad. It doesn't come up very often, but I usually get one or two comments about him. This year's was especially touching. Someone approached me and just wanted me to know that although he has worked as a cop for years and met many people, and has traveled around the country, he has never met anyone who was like my Dad. Who had the kind of impact that my Dad had on him. I am always humbled and proud by these wonderful comments! I've been seeing him in the little things around me. My Dad was a runner and even though my early morning jaunts are more walking than running, I think of him. Usually it only lasts a few moments and them my mind drifts to other things.

He was a lover of nature and there are certain things that remind me of him. One of those is columbines. We had a few in out back yard growing up so I'm not sure why those particular flowers make me think of him but they do. Memorial Day we placed a potted columbine by his grave site, and so far it is still there and growing. And each day as I return from my walk, I see surrounding my fountain in the front yard, beautiful columbines, and I think of him again.

Tagged

So I've been tagged twice this week - and I'm supposed to tell little known facts about myself. I'm not very good at coming up with interesting things about myself so I've been pondering... I even asked my kids what they thought. They had trouble coming up with anything too, so I guess that I am officially a boring person - but I will do my best.

Current Obsessions:
1) Catching up on my stack of books accumulated over the last half of the school year
2) Finding time to be alone each day (usually about 5:30 or 6am)
3) Not thinking about the Twilight series until at least mid-July!

Goals:
1) Run three miles
2) Make my kids smile each day
3) Hope my kids still want to hang out with me by the time THEY have kids!

Joys:
1) Solitary walks
2) Time with Tim
3) Hearing my kids' laughter

Fears:
1) Something happening to one of my kids or Tim
2) Depression
3) Heights!

Little Known Facts...
1) I refused to go on a full-size roller coaster until my honeymoon! It took the blindness of true love to get me past my fear. Even so to this day I still have to talk myself into each and every one!
2) I've been doing speech therapy for 13 years and have successfully avoided having an intern all these years. That would require me to be organized and plan ahead (something I fake well but am really not)- But I was too nice to some college students that were working on a research project and now next fall I get my first intern! Yikes!
3) When I was about 12 I got tired of telling everyone how I got the scar on my leg so on a whim I told someone that my Mom had stuck my leg in a waffle iron... and they believed me! (Sorry Mom!)
4) I took German in high school because I wanted to go to Holland and German was the closest language. Almost 20 years later I think I remember exactly three phrases "Wie Langweilig!" ("How Boring!"), Du bist eine dum kopf! ("You are a dumb head!" - nice huh?!), and Ich Leibe Dich" ("I Love You!") - Hopefully I was somewhat close on the spelling!
5) Although it has been years since I have been there I have this fabulous memory of the chandelier in the Celestial Room of the Oakland Temple. There is a slight breeze and it causes the chandelier to make this light very soft tinkling noise. Just the thought of it makes me feel peaceful!
6) I once lit off a bunch of fireworks in the middle of a national forest in California with a couple of friends. One of them let off a flame that was a foot and a half high (at least that is what my memory says) and I was sure that we were going to burn down the forest! I never did that again!
7) I'm claustrophobic. I hate small skinny sleeping bags and being in the middle if my kids decide to crawl in bed with us, but mostly I hate crowded places. I'd rather stay home than fight a large crowd!

Wow I did it! I won't tell you how long it took me and I'm a little offended at one of the suggestions my kids had, but now maybe, you know a little more about me. Thanks Mindi and Jaqui for helping me not take myself so seriously!!!

Boring Summer

In desperation, after much sulking and slamming of doors and stomping around,
etc... I decided to get out the project book and let the kids pick somethings to
do. Jarom had a friend over and they were engrossed on the computer so that left
the other three plus Brienna (Kayleen's friend).

It began with the vinegar and baking soda experiments and progressed to the "what else can we mix with it? stage.

Following that cleanup, we moved to "what does Mom have in the basement" and the wood sculptures were created!

We painted with a failed corn starch experiment and the fun continued until we began to run our of supplies. Now I guess I get to clean up - but you know what? For a while there I heard very little fighting and no one said "I'm bored!"

Monster Band

Robby has been playing the drums this year in band at school. They first part of the year was boring, but they actually finally got to the point where they were playing music and he is enjoying it a lot more. Several of the schools get together and create a monster band. They practice all together once for 2 hours and then do a performance. Robby loves to perform so he looks forward to monster band!

This summer he is taking a summer band class at one of the middle schools and is having a great time because he is getting to play the bass drum and the cow bells and other cool stuff and she has promised them that they will try the theme from Indiana Jones!

Spencer's Mother's Day

So Every Year the Third grade does this amazing program for the Mother's. The kids spend weeks practicing and then they invite us to come and watch. My question is, shouldn't Spencer look more excited???

Actually - He was very excited and very cute as they sang their songs and did all of the actions. The program was about ways we can help to save our planet. I am amazed at how the third grade teachers can get these kids to sing!!!

After the program we are invited back to their classroom where they shower us with gifts and punch and donuts. What Mom wouldn't be thrilled with that (of course the smile on his face trumps everything else!!!) The best part is Kayleen is in third grade next year so I get to do it again!

MAY!!! Where did it go!?! All About Kayleen...

We had so many thing happen in May and I intended to blog about each one, but now we are actually half way through June so I guess I'll just do highlights!


First was Kayleen's Birthday! I can't beleive that she is 8 already!! We did a scavenger hunt and of which the highlight was a new bike!

The Next night was her actual Birthday, and she had a dress rehearsal for her big Dance recital. I was able to go and help out behind the scenes and throw Kayleen a little party while they were waiting!

Then the next night was Kayleen's Dance recital. She did two dances - The first one my camerqa batteries died and I didn't get the settings right so they're blurry, but the second dance was better!

Out of time today (the kids have decided I've been on here long enough) - Ill try to post Spencer's Mather's DayProgram and Robby's Band Concert later!!

Magic Pack Meeting

The Theme for Pack Meeting this Month was Magic. The Bears got to perform some magic tricks. Spencer was awfully cute up there performing his tricks!

After that they played some games, including the candy bar game, except they used Kisses. It is amazing how much you can get those cubscouts to concentrate when there is chocolate involved!