Father's Day visit to Dad's grave

I can't believe it's been two years since Dad passed away. Some days it feels like an eternity and some days it seems like only yesterday.

I was sitting in primary during singing time three weeks ago. The kids were practicing their Father's Day songs and I just started bawling. Sheesh! I thought I was beyond that. But I guess you're never beyond it. I will always cherish the memories I have with/of my dad.

For our Father's Day celebration, we gathered as a family on Saturday. We enjoyed hoagie sandwiches and some swimming.

I just thought this was cute. Gray was telling Everett to clap, then Everett did. We were letting Mr. Ev show us all his "My Baby Can Read" moves. We went and visited Dad's grave. Mom and Kendra put in a new, more patriotic flower arrangement.

Then it was back to Mom's for some root beer floats and purple cows!

Camping Nightmares

We returned from a camping trip with our friends (Ericksons minus Mike and the Shirleys) on Saturday afternoon. I came home EXHAUSTED. Now, I know I'm usually tired after a camping trip...but this was different. I still don't think I've recuperated.

The kids were piggy messes the entire time...this is nothing new. Grayson felt the need to make dirt angels and roll in the dirt for no apparent reason. And he threw dirt in Mabel's hair. Multiple times.

Mabel and Gray woke up multiple times the first night...I lost count. Mabel woke up once the second night.

It was a lot to pack up and prepare...this is nothing new.

So, I think I've narrowed it down to my age. Maybe the older I get, the more easily I'll get worn out...but one would not think this would start at age 32.

NOW! On to the fun!

We enjoyed the swing. I biffed it on the landing and ended up with my pants FULL of dirt (glad there's no picture), Peter landed his dismount with a perfect barrel roll (wish I had a picture).

The kids would not just run off and play as they usually do...they wanted to hover. And whine. And wipe their dirty hands and snotty noses on me.

The weather was beautiful. We ventured up to the fish hatchery (or fish catchery as Gray called it). We played in the freezing cold creek.

Connie introduced me to a new game, Blokus, which I loved (thanks, Connie!). I shot the moon in Hearts (and I won't ever let you people forget it!). But we didn't get too much game playing done, which I did not love.

A good time, but it's good to be home and finally get a good nights rest!

D-Backs Gamin'!

For Nikko Metals' 2010 summer family party we attended a Diamondbacks game last Saturday. Here was the view from our seats:
I have to ask why I was the one at the weird angle in this pic? Makes my neck about three times larger than it is and it definitely doesn't need any help with that!The best part-each of us got $15 food vouchers!!! We got our burgers, fries and drinks, and headed to our seats for the start of the game.

I snapped a few pics of the family.

Aiden thought I had taken pics of Mabel and Grayson by themselves and not him. So he pouted. I thought it would be a good idea to take pics of each of the kiddos with their souvenir helmets: Aiden was still pouting when I took his:The kids made it about one inning before they wanted to go get more food. We made them wait.

They made it about one more inning before they wanted to go play at the Sandlot. We made them wait.

They waited for one or two more innings and that was the end of it. We took them up to run around. They had fun. Aiden and Gray were running around with about 200 other kids and grown ups couldn't go in the play area, so I didn't take any pics of them. But I took Mabel over to the little kids area and snapped some pics of her...shhhh, don't tell Aiden.

We got some free samples of Yakult (which, by the by, taste much like they sound upon first taste and then you realize they're not that bad). Then we headed for some ice cream. We made it back to our seats. Then the kids wanted cotton candy. And I wanted a pretzel, so they didn't have to wait!

Not that I have to tell you, but ballpark food is a RIP OFF...even though we weren't paying. They charged $3.50 for a pretzel and it didn't even come with cheese! Nothing like a dry pretzel to stick in your gullet. I asked the lady about the cheese, then she asked me something else (I don't remember) while Aiden started yelling, "I want to hold the cotton candy!" Then Grayson started yelling, "No! I want to hold it!" *Repeat three times* Then I yelled, "Nobody's holdin' it!"(even though, obviously, I was...moms don't tend to make sense when they're frazzled). Then I forgot all about the cheese and we stomped angrily back to our seats...dry pretzel in hand.

We made it one more inning and the kids were D-O-N-E (so was I)!

Thank you, NIKKO, for the good eats! And thank you, D-backs, for finally winning one!

Swimming Lessons

My mom has a swimming pool, so I now see the point in putting our children in swimming lessons. I tried with Aiden about 2 or 3 years ago and there was never a place for him to practice what he was learning so I didn't feel like it was doing much for him.

Anywho, we signed them up at AquaTots. These are pictures from their second day of lessons.

Aiden is happy because he can touch the bottom of the pool.

Gray is sad because he was traumatized a few days before the lessons started. We were at my mom's house. Bret was outside watching the boys swim. Gray fell in the deep end. Bret was there to pull him right out, but it scared the bejeebers out of Gray.

Their instructor moved them to the 5' deep waters on Friday. Aiden was sad. They both cried for most of Friday's lesson.

One more week, boys!

Gray and Orange Julius

Bret made Orange Juliuses last night for himself and Gray. Aiden wondered why Bret preferred the "Orange Juliet" to the strawberry shakes Bret made for Aiden and I.

Gray thoroughly enjoyed his OJ as evidenced in the blurry pics below (ONE day I will have a nice camera...or maybe I'll just learn to work the one I DO have???).

Do you like his jammies? I told him his jams didn't match and to go change them. He then informed me he didn't want them to match. I can still remember the day when he would have a melt down if they didn't match. I can't keep up with this kid!

A Funny Courtesy of Grayson

Gray: Daddy, when I say I want more, you bring it to me...okay?
Bret: Not if you're acting like that.
Gray: I'm not acting.

Mom's Day!

Today I spoke in church...yup, on Mother's Day. I spoke on the blessings of Motherhood. It was good for me, as I haven't been very appreciative of my blessings as of late. It made me realize how fortunate I am to have strong, talented, and righteous women in my life. I have much to work on and I've realized the Lord places women in my life who exemplify those things that I aspire to be: kind, spiritual, talented, loyal, hardworking, and genuine. It's my own little melting pot of goodness. I have a good family, good friends, and good influences. I am blessed.

Each year I learn more and more how big of a blessing and a pain being a mother can be. It makes me appreciate my mom all the more as I experience the things she has experienced. I guess it's the difference between sympathy and empathy.

I remember thinking how good my mom had it when I was young. She got to stay home all day with her AWESOME children! She got to watch television ALL day while we were at school! She got to pick what we ate for dinner all the time! She didn't have to go to work! Boy, was I warped! And now I'm getting my little slap in the face. So mom, here's a portion of your mother's day gift, "I WAS WRONG!" HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM!