Memorial Day

We went to my brother Zachary's grave on Sunday to clean it up a bit. My mom and dad had sent some cute flowers and there were some mums from Ryan and Angela there. I dug around the headstone as only my mother would and planted some pretty yellow flowers. We brushed off the headstone and washed it clean with some water. On the way home the kids wanted to sing "Families Can Be Together Forever." My kids asked me about my memories of my brother and I really had a hard time remembering specifics so I decided to drag out my journal and see what I put there. As I began reading the memories came flooding back. Here are some.
*He loved to stomp on the cat's tail and then fall back and laugh.
*We had a dog named Moe that would bite his bottom and he would turn around and shake his finger at him and say "no, no Moe."
*He loved green fruit. He would always eat the rind of the watermelon and eat the green raspberries never the red ones.
*He loved to get down on his hands and knees and eat the hay like the cows.
*He took handfuls of grain for the cows and stuffed it in his mouth and he then would spit it out.
*He loved to lap up milk in the buckets like the calves.
*He always laughed when anyone burped.
*He scattered toys from one end of the house to the other.
*He loved getting into my makeup.
*He always wiggled his body around when music was on and then he would go in slow motion and look around with a 1/2 smile to see if anyone was looking at him. Of course, we always were.
*Whenever my brother Jeremy chased him he would run into my arms and bury his head and move side to side as Jeremy tried to get his attention.
*He loved to go anywhere with my dad and he would stand right next to him in the truck. (Back before the days of seat belts.)
*He copied everything that his older brothers and sisters did.
*He loved to sleep in dark places (his room had no windows) and we often found him asleep in the linen closet.
He was truly a gift from God. I can't wait to see him again and I know that he is watching out for his family on the other side. I am grateful I was able to associate with such a valiant stripling warrior if only it was for a short time. I love you Zachary!!!!!

Switching Rooms

We did some room switching on Saturday. Rachel moved upstairs into Allie's room (across from our bedroom) and Allie moved downstairs into Abigail's room. We painted Rachel's room pink and brown or Neapolitan colors according to Alan. Everyone got in on the painting except for Hannah, Alan and Zach. Hannah was at a sleepover and Zach well he really isn't into that sort of thing. As for Alan he would much rather do something else. Melissa painted the dreaded closet for me. I hate painting it. For some reason the new room was one that everyone wanted but Rachel held firm. She was not going to trade this room with no one! She debated about bedspreads for 1/2 hour in Target and finally decided on the brown and pink poka-dot one. It really was the cutest one there. Rachel was fearful of Hannah's reaction because these are the colors that Hannah was going to choose when we redid her room. Hannah was gracious about it but let her know that she stole her dream room. I tried to help Hannah understand that she too could have the same colors but she doesn't want to be the same. It is hard to please everybody...
I was a little unsure about Allie moving downstairs. After all she is my baby and I wish she would quit growing up. She was totally excited about the move and only came upstairs 3 times the first night and not at all last night. She was all giggly about having a roommate. Now Abigail on the other hand was not quite as excited but I told her she gets to be the big sister now and that seemed to satisfy her. They really are best buds and play and fight together all day. We rearranged Abby's room downstairs and so now it is new and exciting. I have a feeling that room is going to be the biggest headache to keep clean.

Lady MacBeth

Hannah had the leading female role in her 5th grade class play "MacBeth". She was Lady MacBeth. She did a great job and was one of the only students that you could actually hear clearly up on stage. She remembered all of her lines and she did such a great job acting. She had to faint in a scene and she did it so elegantly. She didn't like the fact that two boys had to help her up so as the were bending down to grab onto her hands she hopped right up! I think I see some future acting in her future! Alan wasn't too sure though about her playing a queen who ploted her husband's murder.

Busy Week

Last week was so crazy with activities and I don't think that things will slow down until the kids get out of school. I used to get really up tight because of all of the activities that the schools try to cram into the month of May but I have learned that it stresses no one out but me! Nobody cares! So now I just roll with the flow and TRY to have a good attitude.
Melissa started out last week with a concert for Madhatters. She sung (with her group) and then played the song "Windy Nights". She did such a great job and received the "Most Musical" award for her group. She loves to sit down at the piano and figure out songs. Her piano teacher is so impressed with her dedication. I have encouraged Melissa to really practice the hymns this summer.
The previous week Abigail and Rachel had spring concerts. (One of those concerts where they cram you all into a tiny, hot gym to watch your children sing. Really they are just trying to get parents out to vote for the school bond levy! O.k. so I am not perfect with the attitude thing yet!) Abigail's concert was short and sweet. Those little kindergartner's are so cute to watch! Rachel's concert was a bit longer because each class played hand bells. Rachel said that she always has to play the big bells and that it is really boring because it is just two notes that you hit and you can't sing. (She doesn't know that it is the most important bells that helps keep the rhythm.)

Hannah also had a cute 5th grade music program last week. The music teacher had them do actions with every song and as silly as the actions seemed to Hannah the kids really had fun. Hannah is not afraid to be different. She rocked out on a blow up guitar and wore big pink crazy sunglasses unlike everyone else. She has had such a great school year and has formed a special relationship with her teacher. I am so grateful for good teachers!!!!

Zach ran in the district track conference meet last week. He was the first leg in the 4x200 relay. He has mastered the blocks and had a great start. The baton was dropped between the 3rd and 4th leg so that lost the race for them. Before the drop, they were in position to qualify for state. Too bad for Zach, but since track really isn't his favorite thing it was like no big deal to him. It pumped me up so much watching the kids run that I came home and rode 13 miles on my bike.

Friday I took the little girls along on Rachel's school choir tour. We started out performing in Shoshone where everything thing was going well and then all of a sudden one of the boys (Jeremy Colvin) fell over like a log tree to the floor. That pretty much ended the show at that school. The music teacher tried to keep the kids singing but about 10 kids starting to get light headed and started crying and they were sporadically leaving to sit behind the risers. It was kind of funny to watch them. That is why we never stand with locked knees boys and girls! Next we went to Gooding where the kids had been sitting on the floor waiting for us to show up for a 1/2 hour. We kept that performance short and sweet. We then traveled all the way over to Sligars to eat pizza and swim. It was quite interesting being in the water with my two little girls all by myself. Allie was terrified that I was going to let go of her and Abigail was floating around me in her little life jacket. We really need to take them swimming more often. I was glad that I was able to go with Rachel and it was fun to see her interact with her friends. Later that evening Alan and Zach left for a father/son Aaronic Priesthood overnighter and I took my four youngest girls out to eat and to buy some shoes. I was pretty much the best mom in the world that day!
Saturday morning I had a "Mom & Miss" date with Hannah at the church. It was simple but effective. (Rachel was at a stage rehearsal for TaVaci.) The girls made cute picture books for me. That afternoon I set up the water slide and a slip-n-slide and the girls played outside for about 4 hours. The weather was perfect at almost 90 degrees. While the girls played and got burnt in the sun (yes, we did apply sunscreen they just didn't wait long enough before getting wet) I finally planted the garden. It will be interesting to see what comes up from the garden this year. I was so pressed for time that I didn't have time to place one seed down at a time in the dirt. I basically did my best to spread the seeds out as I sprinkled them down the rows and hurried to cover them over with dirt. In the meantime, Alan asked me if it would be o.k. to burn a pile of tree limbs next to our garden. I said that it might catch the field on fire because it was very dry but whatever. The next thing I see is the limbs on fire then the field. I had to quickly assemble hoses so that we could keep the fire away from the trailers. Alan said that the field needed to be burned anyway. He about died of heat as he was out there sweating trying not to let the fire burn the gated pipe. I am sure our neighbors to the east of us were thinking kind thoughts. Later that evening Alan went to a piano recital for Melissa and Hannah and I took the little girls to Rachel's TaVaci concert. It was so cute! It was a well organized and fun little performance.

This next week is also full of fun events for us, a school B-Que on Tuesday, and Hannah is the leading lady in MacBeth Wednesday night. For all those interested in attending this play it starts at 6:00 p.m. Wed. at Summit Elementary. It should last about 45 minutes! Rachel has a patriotic program on Thursday and another field trip to the Herret's Museum on Friday this week. Only 7 1/2 more days of school are left! I can't wait for the kids to get out of school!

My Mother's Day Weekend

My family totally pampered me this weekend for Mother's day. Abby brought home from school a cute picture of her and a card that she wrote all by herself! She was so proud of it. Rachel and Hannah put some forethought into a gift and ordered a watering glass bulb that keeps a pot watered for up to 2 weeks. It was very thoughtful and will come in handy on a flower basket that is kind of a pain to water. Melissa made me a nice card that almost made me cry and Alan was so sensitive and wanted me to feel special. Mother's Day was all weekend for me this year. Saturday we went to Home Depot and Alan bought me a round plastic table with an umbrella that I have had my eye on at Costco. He assembled it with Melissa's help and set it up for me on the deck. The girls thought it was a wonderful place to play. We went out to eat at Pizza Hut Sat. night as a family after an afternoon of working outside. I was exhausted from a 1/2 day of spraying off my house and washing all my windows from the outside. It can be a bit tricky on my windows up high. Just picture me trying to steady myself on a ladder holding on to basically nothing and removing screens and doing my best not to have any streaks. They look pretty shiny now until our next rain and wind storm.
Sunday Alan called off most of his early morning meetings and made breakfast for the family. Alan & I did something different for the ladies of the ward this year than the traditional flowers. I believe it was well received and appreciated. I asked a lady in the ward to decorate a couple of tables and we had fruit and sweet breads/desserts for all the women. I asked about six ladies to help make the breads/desserts and the fruit was a hit. We served a Shasta pop in a punch bowl for drinks along with water. We also gave out small bottles of lotion with a poem attached about "Sisters Hands". We thought that the ladies would grab a plate and go back to RS or Primary but when I came in with the YW the women were all still milling around talking and having a great time. I think that they appreciated the change. Who knows maybe we started a tradition!
After church and a short nap Alan grilled some hamburgers and we had strawberry cheesecake for dessert. We had intended to go on a drive but the weather wasn't cooperating so we just bagged it and hung out at home.
I reflected on my own mother during church and how much I appreciate all that she did for me while I was growing up. She was a wonderful mother and I am grateful for her friendship today. I am excited to cruise Alaska with my parents the end of June. I am also so grateful to my mother-in-law for raising such a wonderful, sensitive and kind son. I hope that Zach turns out as great as his father is today.
Happy Mother's Day To All!!!!

Beautiful Sunday

What a beautiful Sunday it is today. I love the warmer weather and can't wait to get outside and plant my garden!
Last week was a eventful one around here. On the 24th of April I went to the Dentist to be fitted for a crown. I had just had a root canal a month earlier. I was anticipating a quick in and out visit but was very surprised when she had me scheduled for 1 1/2 hours. I asked her if they were kidding about the time and she said no that it takes that long to be fitted for a crown. I was completely surprised that they had to numb my mouth and then drill around my tooth until it was a nice peg. It wouldn't have been so bad except that it was my very back tooth and probably the hardest one to get to he said. I left later with a temporary tooth and very sore gums. The next day I took Melissa and her friend Lizzie up to a volleyball tournament up in Oregon and while we were finishing up dinner at Red Lobster my tooth popped off. I discreetly put it in a napkin and called the dentist. He called me the next day and told me to put some toothpaste on it and pop it back in and he would see me the following Monday if it didn't stick. Well - it didn't stick and kept coming out every time I ate and I was seriously afraid I was going to swallow it. I managed to make it to Monday and the tech put on some more semi-permanent stuff and then poked around with her sharp little instrument in my already angry gums. So far the temp is still on but I avoid chewing on it and I am very careful when I am brushing. My next appointment isn't until the 27th of April.
Well I was released from the YW again and then put back in again. I am the 2nd counselor still. I really haven't been in very long I have just been in three different presidencies in a year. I am completely excited to serve with Jessica Burk and Lynn Olsen, they are two totally dynamic people! I love serving in the YW. The girls are so awesome! It has been so exciting to be a part of the youth temple celebration. The youth are dancing and singing every Wed. night. They are completely excited and it is fun to see those that normally don't get excited over cultural things being totally into it. The youth have a few more weeks to decide if they want to do singing or dancing. So far everyone wants to dance!
Zach ran in a Varsity meet in Twin Falls last Friday. He says that running isn't his favorite thing to do but he is a great runner! He is getting so tall. He is no longer one of the short ones within his age group.