Girl Scarecrow

The other day I asked Tyler what he was doing and this is the conversation that we had.

Tyler: "I am making a girl scarecrow, actually."

Shar: "Why a girl scarecrow?"

Tyler: "Because they are more scary and have shortening hair."

Shar: "What is shortening hair?"

Tyler: "You know--long hair!"

I just thought that was hilarious so I thought that I would share with you all!! His scarecrow is in our garden that can be seen on my previous entry.

Weeks Review

Mackay was the winner of the milk mustache contest that we had after school on Wednesday.

My Garden is growing! We have already eaten green onions from it and they were so delicious. Hopefully we will have more produce. I am just happy it is growing.
We bought a water slide for our family and decided to check it out on Memorial Day with some friends. It was a blast. The kids loved it, even the grown-ups got to test it out. We played with it for a good 3 or 4 hours. I am paying for it now with a major sun burn, but that is what I get for forgetting to put on sunscreen.

This week was a really fun and great week. I am so sad that it went by so quickly. Anyway here is what is up in our California life:

Monday night for family night we pulled out the Go Fish cards and had fun playing a couple of rounds of it. We all tied but poor Tyler who always lost.

Tuesday evening it was so windy outside so we decided to pull out the plastic bags and did some red neck kite flying.

Thursday we headed over to Gateway Elementary School for an Open House. We were able to see all the things Mackay has done lately and check out the class rooms for the 2nd grade and kindergarten classes. Our kids sure are growing up. It boggles my mind to think that Mackay is going to be in 2nd grade and that Tyler is starting kindergarten this year.

Friday the boys and Justin went to Fathers and Sons and had a great time. The kids loved having so many friends to play with. It was fun to hear about their adventures when they got home. I went out to Chinese with some friends and then watched "Becoming Jane" with a friend after eating. When I got home at 10:30 I found that I was locked out of my house, but luckily I was able to get in. I ended up painting our hallway until 1 a.m. Crazy eh!

Saturday I was off to the church to help clean and then did a few things at home until Justin and the kids got home. That night we watched a movie called "The Ultimate Gift". I would highly recommend watching it. It was so good and very thought provoking. Make sure there is a box of tissues close by.

Monday we went to our wards annual Pancake Breakfast at the park and then played with our slide all day, well pretty much most of the afternoon. We were so tired that evening that we ended up watching a show for Family night and ate ice cream for dinner.

One Word Tag

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your significant other? reading
3. Your hair? helpless
4. Your mother? talented
5. Your father? industrious
6. Your favorite thing? playing
7. Your dream last night? forgotten
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream/goal? celestial
10. The room you're in? family
11. Your hobby? reading
12. Your fear? blindness
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? sane
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you're not? crazy
16. Muffins? Poppyseed
17. One of your wish list items? understanding
18. Where you grew up? West Valley City
19. The last thing you did? scriptures
20. What are you wearing? p.j.s
21. Your TV? off
22. Your pets? tortoise
23. Your computer? mobile
24. Your life? unproductive
25. Your mood? peachy
26. Missing someone? family
27. Your car? clean
28. Something you're not wearing? earrings
29. Favorite store? Internet
30. Your summer? HOT
31. Like someone? lots
32. Your favorite color? green
33. When is the last time you laughed? today
34. Last time you cried? yesterday
35. Tag? Erin

Fun in the Sun - Cooling off in the HEAT!

Mackay Swinging and SlidingTyler and friends playing in the pool

Mackay and his new little sister

Well he wishes she was his sister.

We watched a friends little girl overnight.

Mackay thought it was great.

This week it was so hot! We were glad that we had our cooler up and going. On Friday we needed a break from the heat so we got out the slip and slide and pool and played with them for the afternoon. Even I went down the slide, amazingly enough. It felt great!

The kids got tired of the slide so Justin pulled the slide over to where we have a rope swing and the kids would swing out and then land in the water. We had a couple of injuries but everyone kept wanting to try again.

Saturday we had our Primary Activity which turned out pretty good. We had an I am a Child of God theme and talked about how we are all different and have different likes and dislikes and different favorite things. That was done with an M&M color question game. We also made key chains shaped like kids and talked about how Heavenly Father gave us the gift of bodies. Our third activity was a relay race in the gym. The kids had a good time - at least it looked like they did. In order to not have a big clean up we had the kids eat their sugar cookies and juice boxes outside in the shade.

After the activity we went to check out a rummage sale at our elementary school and because my husband has a sweet tooth only bought sweet rolls, Popsicles and popcorn. Unfortunately that was our lunch for the day.

In the evening we decided to have movie night with the kids. We went to Hollywood video to get a movie but both of us forgot our licenses (I know we were driving illegally, luckily we didn't get pulled over). We went back home and tried to get a movie off the Internet, but that wouldn't work for us either. So we called a neighbor and they were going to lend us a movie but couldn't find it--meaning it wasn't in it's case so they gave us another movie which was pretty good. It was called "Down and Derby". All about those crazy pine wood derby fathers. We liked it! It ended up being a good movie night after all.

During the week this week Tyler was asking me about Fast Sunday so I told him what it was and he is smarter than everyone so he told me that it meant that every one goes really fast on Sunday. Today he told me before we went to church that it was Slow Sunday so we needed to go really slow. So now you know the difference between Sundays. On the first Sunday of every month you need to do everything really fast. On all the other Sundays just take your time and be slow.

How to be a Cat!

Last weeks review

2007-2008 Joy School Group

I wrote way too much in my blog last week, but it was totally worth it because mother's are so great!


Anyway, we had a fairly busy, but great week last week. Our highlights were:


Tyler got to go swimming with his preschool. They get to go every Wednesday until school ends, which he thought was great, but said the water was very cold and was shivering when he got out of the water.


Mackay got to have a play date just about every day but Wednesday, lucky kid. He also sent a sweet not to his teacher for teacher appreciation day.


I taught my last Joy School lesson on Thursday. The kids were all so good! I was so glad that my last lesson went to well. This month we have been talking about how great and different each of us are. The kids also did a talent show that was very cute and fun to watch. Now I am just sad that this chapter in my life is ending. Tyler will be starting Kindergarten in the fall so their are no more playgroups, joy school or preschool. I am very sad about that, but I will cry later.

Saturday after doing a little work around the house and going to Mackay's soccer game we had a very lazy afternoon. In the evening Justin got a babysitter and we went to see Iron Man with our free movie tickets from Albertson's.

Mother's Day -- it was actually a nice relaxing day. Justin told me I could just hang out in the room or sleep in and he went and entertained the kids while I spent the morning reading. It was nice. I didn't eat breakfast until 9 a.m. Justin and the kids gave me a rose and then after church made me dinner. Justin isn't much of a cook so he went and got take out Chinese the night before and surprised me with a Chinese dinner for Mother's Day. It was very nice and thoughtful.

In the evening we went to an open house for twins going to different missions in Mexico. It was so much fun talking to all the people there. We actually ended up staying later than we had planned but it was worth it.

How I became a Mother...

Wanting to become a mother started for me when I was a little girl. I remember singing the song by Janeen Brady that contained the words, "When I grow up I want to be a mother." I always dreamed of having 2 boys and a girl. I would have had them in this order: boy, girl, and then a boy, so they all could be equally spoiled.

After high school and after attending college for 3 years I had the distinct impression that I should go on a mission. So off I went to Japan for 18 months to serve the people there. After my mission I thought now maybe I will meet a wonderful gentleman and get married and have children. That was not in the plan though, I finished college at Utah State University and then headed to Ceder City, Utah for my first big job. Within 3 months of moving I met the man that would take me to the temple and we would be married for eternity. We then decided that we would wait a year until we had children because I was the main breadwinner and my husband (Justin) was still going to school. After a year of trying we decided to see what was the matter. We then went through a bunch of medical stuff that I really don't want to get into (doctor's told us we basically would have better luck winning a lottery than having kids is what it came down too). All along we were praying that we could have a family and trying to be nice to all the family, ward members, and many others who would ask us when we were going to have kids.

Finally we had an answer, we visited LDS Family Services with the intention to adopt. We were still in Cedar City when we started the whole process. Justin finished school and that brought us to California. When we got here we immediately contacted LDS Famly Services and learned that California had different processes that we had to go through, so we were back to square one in filling out paper work, having home visits, taking parenting classes, making sure our home was safe, and attending CPR and First Aid courses. That didn't take us too long and we were approved within a few months. The waiting was excruciatingly painful. Meanwhile I was not able to find employment, but found myself being able to watch and care for many of my new friends children. I loved it. I was grateful for the opportunity to help out and feel a little bit like a mother.

Anyway time went by and in January of 2001 we got the wonderful call from LDS Family Services that changed our life. Mackay was born in April and then two and a half years later in August of 2003 Tyler joined our family.

Patience is really what it is about in my life. I have always had to wait for the good things to happen. Though the journey was long and emotionally painful, I made it! I was able to be called that blessed name...mother!

This is a short poem I wrote about mothers!

Motherhood is a gift from above.

A gift of life, of learning, of love

It is something that is felt from the heart

A blessing, a service, a life from which we can't part.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day to my Mother-in-Law

I am so grateful to my mother-in-law for the son she raised to be my husband and father to our children. Things I believe that she taught him are:

1. How to be a gentleman

2. Being helpful to others

3. Being very giving of time and money.

4. Honesty

5. Showing respect and love to others

6. Teaching him the gospel.

7. Love and respect for family

8. How to clean and do laundry - a definate plus at times.

There are many more I am sure, but these are ones that come to my mind instantly.

Thank you mom, for all you do! We love you!

Tribute to my Mom...

This is my mom when she was a little girl.

My mom and dad.

Growing up my mom was always a wonderful example of what a mother could be. She could do everything. She could sew (she tried to teach me, but I wasn't a very eager learner), she is a fabulous cook, very crafty, and incredibly organized and always keeps a clean home. That I thought and still think are great qualities that a mother holds.

Now I am older I understand she also had an incredible list of duties or jobs that she held as a mom:

Nurse: She took care of all our families owies.

Secretary: was great at typing reports, and keeping our schedules straight.

Comforter: Mom was always there to help us and lift our spirits. I remember when I was 11 I got really sick and my mom was there to take me to the doctor, carry me, sit by my bedside when I was in the hospital, and stand behind me when walking down the halls of the hospital so no one could see me underwear (hee! hee!)

Cheerleader: she would cheer us on out our sport activities, concerts, plays, and what ever else we did.

Teacher: Mom would help us to know right from wrong, and even try to help us with homework and other things we didn't understand.

Chauffeur: She took us everywhere we needed to go.

Gardener: Took care of a rather large garden, plus loved planting flowers and other pretty plants.

Maid: Cleaned up after us a lot.

The list goes on and on. I just want my mom to know those things never went unnoticed. We still appreciated all that she did for me and my 3 sisters, because of her we all turned out pretty good! We owe that all to her and my dad of course.

Tyler

copywrite: windblown photography

Here is Tyler's picture that is like the one I put on previously of Mackay. These are our Mother's Day Gifts to our Mothers.

It's okay to cry!

Why Mothers CryA Special InspirationalStory for Mothers Day

"Why are you crying?" he asked his mom.

"Because I'm a mother," she told him.

"I don't understand," he said.

His mom just hugged him and said, "You never will!"

Later the little boy asked his father why Mother seemed to cry for no reason.

"All mothers cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why mothers cry. So he finally put in a call to God and when God got on the phone the man said, "God, why do mothers cry so easily."
God said, "You see son, when I made mothers they had to be special. I made their shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort. I gave them an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from their children.

I gave them a hardiness that allows them to keep going when everyone else gives up, and to take care of their families through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

I gave them the sensitivity to love their children under all circumstances, even when their child has hurt them very badly. This same sensitivity helps them to make a child's boo-boo feel better and helps them share a teenager's anxieties and fears.

I gave them a tear to shed. It's theirs exclusively to use whenever it's needed.
It's a tear for mankind."

-- Anonymous

In a home full of testosterone I have to take a minute or two for a good cry every now and again. I will not feel bad about it anymore, because I know Heavenly Father gave us the sensitivity for a reason. So now I will just have a good cry when I feel like it. I think all mother's should be able to do that every now and again.
Mackay asked me why I cry when I am happy and when I am sad. At the moment I didn't have a good answer for him except for telling him that I was moved by the spirit.
So cry on if you feel like it -- Cry on!

2 a.m. ugh!

This morning as well as many morning for some crazy reason I wake up at exactly 2:30 a.m. I have to say it drives me absolutely crazy. So I am going to take you into the journey that I take inside my head:
First of all I think, "Why in the heck am I waking up so early, I should be able to go back to sleep". Then I try to sing songs, count, say a prayer, Nothing works of course! I look at the clock it is 2:45. "Ugh! Why am I still awake!"
Next I start thinking about the things that I need to do during the day and then the week. That turns into thinking about Primary (my current calling as president). I wonder if my teachers are happy. I think about the kids and the problems they are facing. Then I worry about them. I wonder why they can't be more respectful and show more reverence and so on.
Next, I start to think about the problems in the world and why people do so many crazy things. I wonder why there is war and why we can't have world peace. I start to sing 'I Am A Child Of God", inside my head of course, just so I will stop thinking about the world and what is going on.
Finally, I give up trying to go back to sleep and walk out to the couch and read for an hour or so until I am tired again.
This morning luckily I was able to get back to sleep by 4 a.m. and sleep for a couple of hour, but some mornings I don't have the same luck.
Maybe it is insomnia, or maybe I am just CRAZY!!!

The wind blew

Well the wind blew and blew and blew this week, therefore allergies came on like crazy and I had to blow and blow and blow my nose. Anyway, because of allergies it was hard to be motivated to do much this week, but I did finish "Eclipse" the third book in the Twilight Series.
This week was a good week anyway.
Monday night Family Night we forgot to prepare a lesson so we read a story out of the Friend and talked about it.
Wednesday Luke our pet tortoise got to visit both Tyler's preschool class and Mackay's 1st grade class. Poor thing was probably scared to death. I always wonder what the tortoise is thinking. It can't make any sound so as the kids haul it him around I wonder if he is about to have a heart attack or if he really loves having the attention. Who knows? He probably just thinks that we are a crazy family.
Thursday Mackay had his second to last soccer practice, which his dad took him to because I was off to book club. Only one more soccer game to go, on Saturday they had a great game and played hard but unfortunately lost by 1 point. Mackay even kicked the ball away from a big kid, we were so proud of him.
Friday Justin and I were able to escape down to L.A. (thanks to some great friends) to go to the temple. It was really nice, we really needed that. We also ate out at Olive Garden and took a trip to Costco of course.
Saturday we were able to get a few things done around the house. Justin took Tyler to the park, so they had a great time doing that. Mackay just wanted to play with a friend down the street.
All in all it was a good week. The kids were really good this week and helpful, it makes you feel good when you have weeks like that.
Hope all is well with everyone's week this week!