Lake Powell 2012

Cub Scout Day Camp

Words By Drake

Milk comes from a cow.

But what gives us Turkey?



Sacrament Meeting Bloopers

We're coming up on the year mark...

Since Paul was called to be in the Bishopric.

Initially, I was filled with anxiety at the idea of

Being by myself

With 4 boys

EVERY

Sunday

Besides being horribly embarrassed,

What would I do if one of them threw a fit

And I needed to take him out?

So we made a few changes

To hopefully help with reverence.

No more snacks.

Water and potty happened BEFORE we get to the chapel.

No leaving the chapel.

We must be reverent before and during the sacrament.

(drawing and finger puppets AFTER the sacrament)

Am I asking too much?

Am I being unreasonable?

Expecting (hoping) the boys to be reverent for 20 minutes

Until after the sacrament is passed?

I don't think so.

After the sacrament is passed,
They're welcome to draw,

Color,

Play with finger puppets.

With ONE condition...

They must be quiet.

So that others (including me) who want to pay attention, can.

So I still give plenty of "Shhhhsh"'s

I'm going to need botox to correct the lines in my brow from giving

My infamous Stink Eye

But for the most part I have been pleased with our boys.

Until...

Today.

Cooper was on a roll.

On the verge of tears BEFORE the meeting even started.

Obstinant

Disrespectful

Unreasonable

Unruly

At one point he was on the floor

Playing with his shoes

Picking at the bench in front of us.

I told him to come sit on the bench,

Now remember that if this had happened after the sacrament

I would tolerate it.

But not before...

Being the 6 year old boss that he is,

He told me exactly how it would be...

"These are MY fingers!

"And I can do what I WANT with them!"

(How can I argue with that kind of logic? 

Espcially trying to keep a straight face...)

So for the first time in a year,

I took a child out to the foyer.

{Sigh}

"Oops We Did it Again!"

The Kingdom (of God?)

Feeling very loved and spoiled for my 36th Birthday

My Birthday celebrations started with:

Paul taking the 4 boys camping

A weekend alone in my own house!

 

I put a lot of thought into how I will spend my 24 hours of solitude.

There's always SO much I want to get done!

And 24 hours simply isn't very much time...

Do I want to get up early to work out?

Or sleep in?

 

I RARELY get to sleep in,

So I had better get my work out done Friday evening.

But Friday evening doesn't have very much time,

So maybe I can swim laps Saturday late morning/afternoon.

It doesn't matter if it's already 100 degrees to swim.

That way I can get my shopping on as soon as the Fence guys leave.

(We had to replace a few rusted panels of our pool fence)

 

And I REALLY, REALLY want to blog!

I get SO far behind on my blogging,

But I can only concentrate on it when no kids are around.

With Summer break upon us,

And already 4 months behind in blogging,

I REALLY want to get caught up!

 

So I'd better hurry and get ready.

There's SO much to get done!

I LOVE getting ready with no one around

But there's shopping to get done.

I don't want to spend my alone time in the bathroom.

 

Most of my life is spent working around other peoples schedules

So I don't want any schedules of any kind.

I want to go where I want to go,

When I want to go there.

Or not.

No planning around anyone else.

 

So I hurry and get ready.

Jump in the car.

Stop for a quick bite to eat.

 

Target and Marshalls were the perfect cure of my shopping fever!

I shopped till I dropped.

Came home, climbed into my empty bed

Opened my book,

Read 2 pages then fell asleep.

 

Saturday I woke up at 6 am

(So much for sleeping in...There's TOO much blogging to get done!)

I blogged,

And Blogged,

And Blogged

Until I couldn't see straight anymore

(Which happened around noon)

 

The pool was a perfect place for me to refocus

And get my work out in.

 

With more pictures to upload,

I stood at the computer,

Sopping wet

Uploading more photos.

 

The worst part of my 24 hours of solitude

Is the "11th hour"

I know my boys will be coming home

Soon...

But when?

How much more time do I have to myself?

How much more can I get done before my tired, dirty, hungry boys get here?

Because I know at that time, I'm "Mom" again.

Of course I want them home.

Just not yet...

Not until I'm done.

But will I ever be "done"?

Probably not...

So, Bring on the boys!

And the laundry

And the dirty car

 

As a side note,

I'm VERY grateful Paul took the boys camping!

I'm VERY grateful for the 24 hours he gave me to be...

alone

It was bliss!

I'm a much better mom and wife

Because of the time he gives me

To not be a mom and a wife.

I love you, babe!

Thanks for giving me exactly what I asked for!

 

On Monday (the blessed day of my birth)

I felt incredibly loved and spoiled!

 

Birthday calls, texts and Facebook messages were abundant.

Friends dropped by through out the day with treats and cards.

 

My sweet friend Amy (despite being very sick still)

Made some amazing Creme Brule French Toast for Drake and I.

She also spoiled me with some cute jewelry,

A yummy chocolate cake

And beautiful flowers.

 

Around noon, I received a delivery...

From...

I've NEVER had flowers shipped to me!
Who could they possibly be from?
Paul? (that seems too impractical for Paul...)
WHO???

Awww! 

Beautiful, aren't they?!

Paul DID bring home a boquet of flowers also!

Can you imagine...

THREE beautiful boquets of flowers?!

Who wouldn't feel loved?!

 



The boys and I had dinner and cake,

Then it was off for a night of shopping at the mall

With April, Adrienne and Trisha.

 

They spoiled me (more) with treats and a rainbow of nail polish

 

Isn't it nice to feel so special?

Drake Graduates from Miss Emily's Preschool

Continuing with tradition,

Our 3 year olds attend an in-home preschool

2 1/2 hours, 2 days a week

 

The main thing I want our 3 year olds to learn is socialization skills.

If they learn their ABC's and 1,2,3's, that's a huge bonus!

 

Miss Emily went above and beyond my expectations!

She had Drake writing his name by the end of the school year.

 

He started out this school year very timid.

There were MANY days I left him crying.

Hanging on to my leg like his life depended on it.

But by the end, Drake was Miss Emily's biggest fan.

 

Drake was the youngest in this preschool group

Graduating when he was still 3.

He's going to be a young Kindergartner.

With a mid-July Birthday,

And being the caboose,

It's hard to believe that all too soon

He'll be going to school all day with his big brothers.

 

{Sigh...}

 

But first, Miss Emily's Preschool Graduation...

 

Do you love their graduation "gowns"? 
Dad's white dress shirt makes an amazing gown...