Happy Mother's Day to My Mom!

A mother's job never ends. I can attest to that. In January I had to have surgery. Nathan's parents and my parents dropped everything and came right up to Ogden. I was really grateful for all of them, but I got the most comfort from my mom. I know, I am 32 years old. I should have grown out of needing a mom, right? Well, I haven't. When my mom got there I was just starting to wake up. She came over and took my hand and and stood by me for awhile. I don't remember much about that day, but I remember that because it brought me so much peace. So to my mom I say, I love you and yes, I still need you. Happy Mother's Day!

Looking Forward to Mother's Day

"Rachel, go brush your hair."
"I don't want to." You'll just have to imagine the whine in her voice.
"Well, do you want to brush it or do you want mommy to brush it."
"I want you to do it."
"O.k. Then go get the brush off my vanity."
"I don't want to."
"Rach, you just don't want to do anything, do you?"
"Well, it's not mother's Day you know."

Safety Check

We went to the kids safety fair yesterday. It was out of sight. We saw a life flight helicopter take off, scaled a climbing wall, and toured a bus, fire engine, and an ambulance. The scary part was the fire house. The kids went in without me to learn about fire safety. Inside, they also taught them what to do in case of a fire. They even had fake smoke fill the house for effect. As they filed out of the house I heard the cry of sweet little Benjamin. "What's wrong?"
"I got really scared."
Then Rachel chimed in "I wasn't scared." Her face was positively beaming.

Ben's a T-Ball Man

Ben had his first T-ball practice yesterday. At first he hated it because the coach posted him at first base while other kids hit the ball. "Why am I standing here?" he asked. I tried to explain the finer points of the game to him, but failed because I am his mother not his father. As soon as he got to hit the ball and run the bases he loved it. When I asked him what his favorite part was he said "They gave me a shirt and a hat." Yes, T-ball is cool.

It's Just Nature!

I was looking out the window, watching my children play gleefully in the water this afternoon. Then something crossed my line of vision. I took a closer look. Oh, it was just another fire bug. They are visiting us by the hundreds this time of year. I watched the little bug make his way along the screen to the next fire bug. On closer inspection I noticed there were many fire bugs frolicking along on my screen. . . and it's mating season. Well. . . it's just nature I thought.

My children continued playing in the backyard. Ok, it's Sunday, and I know we are heathens, but they were playing in the sprinklers. We have this neat sprinkler that shoots a rocket into the air. Rachel was bending over getting a drink from a soft arch of falling water coming from the sprinkler, when suddenly, Ben turned up the water full blast. "That wasn't nice!" Rachel screamed with as much feeling as she could muster. "I was just playing a little joke." Ben kicked his feet in the grass, a smile playing across his lips, looking like a wolf in sheep's clothing. Brother's love to torment their sisters. It's just nature.

Emily finally went down for a nap. I was fiercely guarding the doorway into the house, trying to assure her at least an hour of good sleep. Each time a child would cross the line from outdoors to indoors I would get up in a huff and say "Shhhh. Emily is sleeping. Go back outside." Hence my quiet time was spent worrying about losing it. I worry about things way too much. It's just nature.

The Frontrunner Adventure

Every once and a while we like to go on some crazy adventure, just to say we did it. Today was one of those. The first high speed commuter train in Utah started hauling passengers this week. Right now it runs from down town Ogden to down town Salt Lake City. We have been excited about it for awhile and everybody rides free until tomorrow so we had to check it out. While the ride was a little slow (hopefully that will improve as they work out the kinks), the train was comfortable and the kids had a blast. Well, let me revise that. Benjamin and Rachel had a blast. Emily liked it on the way and hated it on the way home. She was very tired. I personally think it is a tremendous step for Utah to be taking and one that will be well used for years to come. We rode from Ogden to Down town Salt Lake. We picked up a waiting trax train that took us straight to the Gateway. It was very cool.

This Weeks Top Ten

1. Our dryer stopped working, but my handy man husband fixed it for free.
2. My kids favorite show to watch this week was Letter Factory by Leap Frog and not the dreaded Sponge Bob, thank goodness.
3. It warmed up enough to send the kids outside.
4. We all got sick, but now we are all almost better
5. We made homemade pizza. A little messy, but the kids loved it.
6. I only exercised twice because I was sick, but I get to start fresh tomorrow.
7. We had a picnic and played in the sand on Saturday. Nate worked all day, bummer.
8. Ben and I had a big fight over snacks and I thought maybe he really didn't like me anymore, but today he told me he loved me.
9. Nathan is done with another semester. Hallelujah!
10. My brother Rick and his wife Eryn sealed the deal on their very first home. Congratulations!