bragsville

One more post, I don't mean to brag, but ok, I will. I finished a baby announcement for Shauna Chowen today and I just have to say, wow, it turned out so cute! I'm feeling so much more confident in my Photoshop abilities these days, although I am humbled on a regular basis. Shauna loved it, of course she did!

dad's 56th

Today is my dad's 56th birthday, I almost missed it until we were driving along this evening and it popped into my brain. I called him and he said it's just a number. I can't blog too much about this subject or I'll begin to sob. A few weeks before Christmas my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer and it was a rough few months for him. Things still aren't easy but at least he's cancer free. There's something about a dad, you don't want to ever view him as fragile, he's just the rock your whole life. I'm glad we have him around...Last week was Father's Day, I printed this same Photoshop creation for all three of the dads. Thank goodness for the dads in our lives, what would we do without them. Rich is going out of town for a few days next week and I'm already gearing up to sleep alone. What is that? I was single for so long, it shouldn't bother me, but it does. Sometimes I love how much he holds my heart in his hands, other times it scares me. I hope he takes good care of it, I think he will.

allie's eye

Allie has been taking a photography class through the city this summer and I have been noticing what a great eye she has for the details - my favorite part. I guess this may come from being the kid wrangler at a ton of my shoots, she loves to practice, bring me the camera and ask what she could do different to make it better. I wish I had started that young! She especially loves to shoot flowers and Ethan, the popcorn pictures from the earlier post about Ethan are actually hers...cute girl.

Utah Art Festival 2007

UAF is a tradition, we missed last year because Ethan was a little too little, but we always have a ton of fun. I love exposing the children to all of the different kind of artist that come and put their stuff up for sale. Of course I also love seeing the photographers' displays and also the uniqueness of some of the artists there is so great to see upclose. This year, the weather was in the 100's for all four days of the festival, so we chose to go Friday night thinking we would beat the heat. BAD idea, the freaks come out at night let me say, and it was so crowded, mostly with beer drinkers, yikes. Also, the kids' section was closed by the time we made our way over there, this is the best part for the kids, tons of interactive art projects for them to participate in and it was a huge bummer that it was closed. Ethan was a bit of a handful, it was hard for him to stay in the stroller that long which I can't blame him. I brought the backpack/leash thing that he doesn't love to wear but it served it's purpose. The kids also REJOICED in the cool steam tunnel so they could have a bit of a water break from the heat. The Mad Hatter is one of the kids' favorite parts every year and so of course we had to do that, I wasn't very impressed with the boys' creative effort, they must be getting too old. We brought James along for the ride, I laugh because he's like one of our own, I barely notice when Lauri's kids are over because they all just blend in. James is such a funny kid, he helped make kind of a lame UAF fun. Next year we'll be back but it will be during the day when the mom's with kids are there and the freaks are at their day jobs.

ethan

Ethan is often the source of entertainment around our house, it's like we're all waiting on pins and needles for him to say something. He was evaluated by the Early Intervention Team on Monday, they all agreed he is a very smart little boy who just doesn't want to talk yet. This was good to know, I was worried maybe was autistic or any of the other things moms worry about with their growing babies. Lately he loves having the kids home for the summer, he has enjoyed dragging them outside to play on the trampoline and also to have more people to bribe for treats. He is so his own person and knows how to push everyone's buttons to get what he wants. Do I dare say spoiled? I don't think so, there's no such thing, only happy babies! He has definitely turned into a mama's boy lately, he's right at that nursery age and so of course he's having anxiety about leaving me. Rich is trying not to take it personally. Ethan's latest obsessions are with Lightning McQueen from Cars and also popcorn, he wants us to have it available all day long...

spencer

Spencer is a whopping 10 years old, i can't believe he's already in the double digits! Spencer is very focused on playing as much nintendo each day as possible! We did set some limits this summer to how much he can play, I swear it's like taking away his air sometimes! He does enjoy other things, he just can't always think of them right off the bat when he's looking for something to do...The best part about moving to this new neighborhood is how many kids their are his age to play with and how well of them get along and play together. I need to take a picture of all of the new friends he has made, I'm so glad about this, it was a struggle in our last ward for sure. I can't believe he is going to start the 5th grade at Reading next year! It's crazy! For so long he was my baby, where does that time go? He had a ton of fun in fourth grade learning about Utah and loved performing in both of the fourth grade programs. He is a great little singer and isn't shy about performing either. Spencer is playing golf again this summer with Taylor, James Moore and also James Merrill. Every Wednesday he is up with the sun with his visor and teeth brushed and clubs loaded in the car, waking me up way too early to tell me we're going to be late! He is always very happy to go, and especially this summer to golf with grandma Smith and also Great Grandmpa Smith who will be visiting from PA for a week. I'll be sure to get some pictures of that rare event! Spencer is getting very good at his piano work even though he hates to practice. He set a reading goal for this summer and is so excited about his June reward, taking a friend to the rec center for a day, that he has been faithful to read without being reminded! This has never happened before. When he is finished reading he does his piano practicing and I have to say that I have been very proud of his effort. He is also Ethan's best friend, taking him everywhere, to jump on the trampoline, to slide down the slide, all the time. Ethan will be so sad when Spence and the rest of the kids have to go back to school in the fall, he won't know what to do with himself!

allie

Allie is the 11 year old firecracker in our house. She has this infectious smile and even though we are learning the new art of "attitude", I wouldn't trade her in. She has been very busy this past year with all of her various activities. She danced in her 8th dance recital this past spring, she contiues to put her all into her routines and every year Rich and I feel genuinely shocked by all grown up she looks on that stage! One year Melanie (her dance teacher) commented about her beautiful dancer arms and ever since then I've always noticed how graceful her arms always look no matter what dance she's doing. She also has continued to take piano lessons and now helps Spencer with his lessons because she has surpasssed my abilities for sure. She makes it look so easy too with all of the confidence in the world! This summer she signed up for a Photography class through the city, this is where her love of sewing began, so why not? She has really been enjoying it and how great to learn it in the digital age when you can see your results right away and learn how to make them better right away with the next try. She definitely has an eye for it, she's more artistic than me, I'm going to try and talk her into shooting some stuff to enter in the Davis County Fair, we'll see. She's also the child most willing to pose for a picture, she's like my little model to experiment different techniques on. It's been so fun to have her home for the summer, Ethan loves it too. We are crazy about this girl...

taylor

I've been feeling like I should post about my kids lately, life is too busy!

Taylor is my oldest, he is 12, but will turn 13 in two months aaaahhh! But seriously, he is such a good kid, I can't complain about him one bit. It is so fun to see him, and the others, transform into mini-adults from their little child bodies and minds. What happened to those early days before pimples and "can I please have contact lenses now"? I have to say that I do miss the little versions but I am very proud of the people they are becoming that it sure helps with the sadness that comes with your children growing up. Something I noticed at Taylor's last guitar recital was how little his guitar is now. When he started lessons four years ago, we got him a 3/4 sized guitar so it would be easier for him to hold and such. Now, it just looks ridiculous in his long arms and legs and I think Christmas will have to bring a new full-sized guitar for that boy to play. He is definitely perfecting his craft as well. He actually wrote a few songs this year and Heidi his guitar teacher is so great to nurture and encourage that kind of thing along. He wrote and sang "I hate planes" for his general music class opera and was fantastic if I do say so. He has a great little voice and I think we can thank Heidi for making him sing at all of his guitar recitals. This year he played, "Beautiful Soul" and sang it too, he was SO GREAT! Heidi gave him his certificate and said how proud she was because pop music is so hard to make sound great but he did it. I was so impressed! What a great kid! It's also been fun to see him passing the sacrament in church and how faithful he is to his priesthood, seriously, I don't know what I did to deserve him but we'll take it. I am also so grateful for him to have such good friends to be in jr. high with. Of course James Merrill take the cake but he really has chosen a great group of kids to be with and for this I'm very grateful. We did survive the first year of jr. high, especially all of the homework, and he did pretty well but wow, we're glad we know better what to expect next year.

100 things about me

I'm following suit from Patsy to write 100 things about me...maybe you'll learn something new!
* limey green makes me feel happy
* in my opinion there is no sweeter flower than the simple daisy, any color is great
* i am most afraid when i can't see or hear my surroundings
* i love fridays because the kids have early out from school
* i miss my kids and husband terribly during the day
* sometimes i just crave my husband's awesome smell
* i wish my husband would agree to having another baby
* spiders and especially ear wigs give me the heebee jeebees
* i am not afraid of death, but i am afraid to leave my kids without a mother
* i love to cook but hate to think of what do cook for dinner aaahhh!
* my heart swells whenever i attend my kids' programs & recitals
* i cry when i hear the pledge of allegiance or patriotic music
* i cry during every primary program and especially when children sing
* my eyes were born with rose colored glasses
* i am plagued almost daily by wicked headaches
* i am afraid for my kids to grow up and move away from me
* i am going to be the best grandma EVER
* i think teaching children to believe in the easter bunny is ridiculous
* i like to read three to five books at a time
* my hair is really long for the first time since i was little, and i love it
* i appreciate genuine people and try to be one myself no matter what
* i hate walking on eggshells around sensitive people
* i think jr. high should be against the law
* there is no such thing as "my favorite kind of music", i love it all
* i am proud and grateful to be an american
* my brain is constantly running which is why i can never sleep
* when i was a little girl i wanted to have eight kids! haha
* i miss my grandma jackie almost every day
* i am obsessed with odd numbers
* otis spunkmeyer cookie dough is better uncooked than cooked
* i am worried about global warming
* my favorite part about utah is how different all of the seasons are
* i wish i could snow board like Shaun White
* i always thought i would have lots of redheaded babies
* i only keep in slight touch with one person from high school
* i feel frustrated that because i'm the photographer in the family, there are no good pictures of ME!
* i hate fleeting thoughts!
* i am afraid of germs, especially public bathrooms
* i survived a nasty spell of bacterial menengitis when i was 11
* i have a testimony of Jesus and obedience
* i love President Hinkley
* i have kept a regular journal since i was 7 1/2 years old
* i love being an aunt to soooo many neices and nephews
* i love my sister in laws, i finally have sisters!
* spaghetti ALWAYS sounds like a good idea for dinner
* i eat a bajio salad almost once every week (shhh)
* sometimes i feel like i could just lay down and sleep for days
* getting great photographs is better than christmas morning
* i have the best husband on the planet, he even does dishes
* i am proud of my computer savvy, rich raised me from a pup
* family traditions are some of my best memories and parenting successes
* i stink at working the trimmer
* i have never understood racism and have no tolerance for it
* i would like to go to hawaii some day
* i've yelled at people who are mean to their kids in public
* i am addicted to grey's anatomy even though it's a smut show
* i almost always agree with simon cowell's critique but never with how he delivers it
* this one is for my husband - i am a type b personality
* i am the family guidance counselor, people tend to call me for advise
* i think staying home with your kids is the best and hardest thing you'll ever do for them
* i love the written word, especially quotes that say exactly what i'm thinking
* if i don't write it down, then i don't remember it
* when i was little i thought i had the best singing voice i had ever heard
* i love sitting around the dinner table with my family
* my laundry room and office are almost always completely out of control
* i think TIVO is the best invention since electricity
* i could spend hours (and have on bad days) shopping every single isle and target
* i don't sleep well in other places besides my own bed
* i wish i could wave a magic wand instead of a paint brush to re-do my lipstick house
* when i photograph newborns i just giggle the whole time, they're so fresh
* i would rather be cold than hot, you can always add layers but skin is difficult to remove
* i feel baddly that my kids aren't growing up near the ocean
* i wish the utah was a recycling kind of state, i hate how much garbage we make
* spooning with rich in bed at night is one of my favorite things
* i love putting the kids to bed at night, but i love seeing them first thing in the morning too
* i am an emotional eater, whatever the emotion
* i volunteer at my kids' schools a lot, sometimes too much
* i want people to feel completely at home when they come to my house
* i feel baddly that i wasnt a very good photographer when my older kids were babies
* i hate having a day that we're obligated to tell our mother's we love them, i would tell her anyway!
* i love to look through scrapbook magazines and get inspired, but rarely have time for scrapbooking myself
* i love to sit and people watch whenever i'm in public, sick i know
* i talk way too much, especially when i'm nervous
* i starting taking piano lessons as an adult because i have always wanted to learn how to play
* i love combing through the ads on sunday while i eat breakfast
* i am afraid of breast cancer
* everyone should have a friend like lauri in their life
* i love to watch the planet earth series with my kids on sundays
* i love to have family prayer
* my kids teach me more about the gospel than i could ever teach them
* i am a harry potter freak! i am counting down the days to #7!
* i love george bush sr. but not so much on the jr.
* i wish i were a morning person, i love the cool morning air
* i have worn braces twice but i've never had a cavity
* i am very creative, really
* i have the best kids, but it's because they came that way, i'm sure i have nothing to do with it!
* i love love love rubbermaid containers! they are the best!
* i am learning to be very handy around the house, rich and i have role reversal in that department and i'm not half bad at that stuff
* someday i am going to take my kids back east to show them where i grew up, hopefully in the thick of the gorgeous fall leaves.
*i have at least one moment every day that i feel overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the love and blessings in my life!

Oxygen

I know the words "best friend" have different meaning for everyone, but for me they mean the world. Lauri is the girl for me, I can tell her anything, the line of TMI is very thin which means we talk about everything. She's also the girl that you don't have to have a reason for calling other than you need an adult time out and she's all about giving me my sanity back. We talk a lot about how we know that this kind of relationship is not common place and even people that think they have a best friend, don't have what we have. It's strange to put it into words because it sounds kind of gay, but I have to move pass the homophobia and just say that I love her like one of my own children, seriously. Like she belongs to me, or that we share something only mother/child can share. The kind of love that you adore them for all of their goodness and their faults are in the distant backround. And you want to help them and protect them and nurture them and cheer for them and fight for them, all very motherly feelings. Except, that I don't feel like her mother, not at all, that dynamic is definitely not mother/child like, althought we are always teaching each other things, ways to deal with different people, anxieties and every day chaos. She is just right beside me all the way and I am there for her too. In fact, knowing that she feels about me the way I feel about her has made my self esteem grow, she reminds me that I am worth loving and that I should love myself at least as much as my best friend loves me. I love that if my phone rings somewhere around noon that I know it's Lauri wanting to know if I want to go have a Bajio salad break. I love the comfort of knowing that there is probably nothing in the world that could ever separate us, not to jinx the relationship or anything! She is my oxygen in a world full of poluted chaos...

What Gives? You really CAN'T have it all.

So tonight, all three of the kids came in stinking like teenagers (bleh) from jumping on the trampoline like maniacs. Then later on tonight, Ethan took his new little chair into the bathroom, shut the door, then climbed from the chair to the toilet, then to the counter and then when Allie went into the bathroom to shower, she found him sitting in the sink. I should've gotten a picture, I don't know why I didn't, because we were all too busy giggling, what a funny kid. What is it about kids that they can just go along being themselves and something simple just makes you laugh and laugh. Such JOY from this mother job I tell ya. I worry about the pressure placed on girls today, that women can have it all, career, family, etc. I think this is true, you can have it all, but there is always a cost, usually the kids pay it. I want Allie to know that she can do anything she wants, but I'm hoping I can help her see that she also needs to have priorities. Motherhood is a full time job, in fact it's two full time jobs, with no days off, sometimes there's not even a 15 minute break for days. But it's worth every minute of it to know that I'm there for my children. That's rather soap-boxish of me, but it's been on my brain lately so now I can not have to think of it for a while.

First Timer

I decided that this was a good as a scrapbook ans since I am not scrapbooking lately or keeping a current journal of our family, maybe this would make up for all of that. Summer is a glorious time isn't it? Somehow the sun makes me feel completely rejuvenated and fabulous like I have time for crap like blogging. This is not really the case, there is ALWAYS something more pressing on my time like for instance, the laundry that is sitting in the dryer getting wrinkled as I type and don't forget the washed load that needs to go into the dryer, but what can you do? Prioritize I guess and right now, this is it baby.
I am one of those abnormal moms who loves to have the children home from school during the summer. I'm not sure why this is, we have our hairy moments, but generally the kids are a ton of fun to hang out with and I'm sure part of it is because I'm such a mother hen that I like having them under my wings more. Especially with regards to jr. high, I mean seiously, who wants their kid to go to jr. high and have to experience all the craziness of that stage of their life. I am happy to report that we did survive Taylor's first year there and he did quite well with all of the social aspects and grades too for that matter, but if it's all the same to you, I am glad he's home for the summer. This way I can re-brain wash him before I send him back in the fall. I am a believer in parent brain-washing, if we don't do it, the world will do it for them. Infact, isn't that what parenting really is? Ok, that's enough for today, the baby is fussing, but I do love summer!