(Alayna “laying out”- notice how she keeps her towel from flying away)
(Creating a lake in the sandbox. Notice the head phones)
(Garden is all in and starting to grow)
(I took a huge step and planted my baby christmas tree outside. Ive been raising it inside since it was a baby. I hope it can weather the Iowa summer storms…)
(Teaching Alayna how to drive the mower)
Summer is here and we are free!
This felt like the longest year of all time and we are so thrilled that summer is here and school is done!!! We were concentrating hard on just trying to survive the week so I hardly got any pictures. I have learned a couple things this week though…
1. Be careful what you pray for
Ok, just so you know, when you pray to lose weight so you look good and feel confident in your swimsuit on the beach, make sure you specify exactly how that should happen. I was hoping any extra “jiggliness” would simply disappear, however I ended up getting a nasty stomach flu for the week. I was so sick and it was NOT fun! Now I am very worried that all 4 kids will have it on the trip.
2. Taking That Giant Leap of Faith
Sometimes you decide you just need to take that “Leap of Faith”, but then you find yourself hanging over the grand canyon and you aren’t sure where to put your feet down, or even if you will drop to the depths below.
I made a huge leap of faith and resigned from my job as a teacher. There is a huge story that accompanies my decision to do so. I felt I needed a change. Long story short, I have a few options on where to land and I have to make a decision by Tuesday. Stay tuned to find out the rest of the story…
Miscellaneous
*I am proud to say that both Marisa and Kayla earned the Stake Presidents award for seminary!
*Bob and the kids headed to Nauvoo this weekend for the youth temple trip.
WE LEAVE IN 3 DAYS AND WE MAY NEVER RETURN!!!!!!
Happy 17th Birthday!
Marisa turned 17 this week! We made her a giant cookie and then she got what she wanted for her birthday…a guitar!! She is very excited about learning how to play it. She has also been teaching herself how to play the piano. We will go to Osaka to celebrate her birthday on May 31 because every day up til then seems to be booked.
(Alayna bought her the orange bandana she wanted)
She wore her “I only date ninjas” shirt to school that day. Kayla saw it and dramatically said, “Oh! So, that’s why you never date!” Oh, the joy of little sisters!
Turkey Volcanoes and Fruit Flowers
We have been trying hard as a family to exercise and eat healthily to keep ourselves as healthy as possible. This week we tried the volcano turkey burgers from “Biggest Loser” and they actually turned out pretty good. We even got Alayna to try one! Alayna also created our flower fruit plate to go along with it.
Day of Service
Our family participated in our ward “Day of Service”. Gardening work needed to be done at .
We also finished our garden! We finally got the tomatoes, bell peppers, and zucchini planted. We are trying a new way to keep the weeds out. After we planted, we covered the dirt with several layers of newspaper. Then, we put hay on top of that. I hope it works! It was a long hot day and we all slept like logs!
Finally! Summer weather!
The weather has been just beautiful this week! We have been spending a ton of time outside playing and soaking up the sun!
More concerts
Tyler had his final band concert this week and did a great job. His band also got to participate in a unique opportunity. His band director arranged for them to come to school Friday night and Skype with a middle school band in Australia!! He said it was VERY cool. They were able to ask all sorts of questions. Tyler asked their director if he had ever been kicked by a kangaroo and his answer was YES! How funny!
Kayla had her final band concert as well and Marisa had her final orchestra concert where she was awarded another letter for Fine Arts.
Misc
*Alayna auditioned for and made it into the Linn Grove talent show which is tomorrow. She was adamant about doing jump roping. So, she has been practicing a ton around the house and she is very excited!
*Marisa was inducted into the Thespian Society this week!
*Alayna is one of the most creative people I know. When I went downstairs, I saw that she had created a “Barbie Float”! She even attached it to the treadmill so it actually rolled and it looked like the Barbie was waving as she went by!
(The audience watching the float)
*Seminary is over! We had a fun seminary breakfast on Friday morning at 6am. The girls (and I) are looking forward to more sleep! Tonight is seminary graduation and Marisa is playing in a selected orchestra group made up of youth in the stake.
Only 4 ½ days left of school (thank the heavens above!) and 10 days until our trip <envision me doing the running man here!>
May 15, 2011
Prom
Marisa had her junior prom yesterday. I wonder if boys have any idea how much effort girls put into that day? Marisa went to a friends house to get her nails done, picked up the boutonnière, and then went to the house of a lady in our ward who did her hair and makeup. She spent forever shopping this week to find matching shoes, etc.
Anyway, I think she had a wonderful time. It was pouring rain so we weren’t able to take pictures outside, but I got a few inside. I will post the group pictures when I they arrive.
Parties
Alayna and I were able to go to the Mother/Daughter Activity Days party. We got to dress up, make matching bracelets, and even decorate our own giant cupcakes. It was a very fun evening to spend together.
Kayla and Tyler had friends over to party since none of them were old enough to go to prom. They made bracelets, played wii, and watched a movie.
Tyler had a Merit Badge Clinic yesterday and he earned his pioneering merit badge.
Only 9 ½ days left of school and 17 days until our trip!!!!!!!!!!!
“The best years of a woman's life - the ten years between 39 and 40”
May 8, 2011
“Forty isn't old, if you're a tree”
Well, I made it to the age of 40! I remember when I was younger thinking that 40 years old was “super old”! But I don’t think or feel that now. I have to remember it’s just a number and what really matters is how I feel which is 30-something (I think?).
If I had written this blog entry on Friday it would have been called, “Frumpy, Flabby, and Flippin’ Forty”! I took the day off of work to go shopping and spend the day doing stuff for me. However, the clothing selection out right now (as usual) is hideous. Everything I tried on looked, um…not good. Why can’t someone make clothes for women my age that are still cute, adorable, and fashionable, but modest? Maybe that’s the career I should be going into?
I did get to go in for a massage which felt AMAZING! I kept wishing I could just lay there and get a massage F-O-R-E-V-E-R!! I actually relaxed which never happens. But the massage therapist informed me that I was the worst she has ever seen as far as muscle tension and muscle knots. Figures. I probably need to go more often
However, yesterday was almost a perfect birthday! The weather was gorgeous and I spent the day doing some yard work with Bob and soaking up some much needed vitamin D! Alayna and Bob bought me beautiful flowers and Doritos (my latest kryptonite) and I got an ipod nano!! Whoo hoo! I am so excited and it will come in so handy on our trip in 24 days!! It will also come in handy on my walks/jogs/runs which I will need for all the pounds I have gained this weekend! Then we went to Pancheros for dinner and Coldstone for dessert so I could get my favorite “Berry Berry Berry Good” dessert. Sweet cream is the BOMB.
“When you feel neglected, think of the female salmon, who lays 3,000,000 eggs but no one remembers her on Mother's Day”
Today is my 16th anniversary of being a mother!! I can hardly believe it’s been that long. There are definitely ups and downs with being a mom but it’s all worth it (unless you have teens, then it’s very questionable!). I am grateful today that I am not a neglected salmon! I got some sweet little gifts, Alayna sang with the primary in church, and I hear I might get a much needed foot massage later.
(My #1 mom badge Alayna made for me!)
My quest to be “Mom of the year”
So, I added more to my resume to be “Mom of the Year”. Tyler had a jazz concert this week and I went to go see it. (I’d like to mention here that he told me it started at 7 when it didn’t start until 7:30, good thing I always bring a book!) Anyway, I pulled out my video camera that I brought to tape, cause I am awesome like that, and it seemed extra light. I realized “someone” had taken out the batteries! Tyler was a featured soloist in 2 different songs and he was so awesome! And I didn’t get to tape it for you!
Tennis and Titanic
At the girl’s tennis meet this week, Kayla won hers 4-1 and Marisa lost both games (but she has missed a month of practice due to pit).
Alayna had her Titanic Museum this week. She played Madeline Astor in the play and did a wonderful job. We got to see everyone’s titanic displays and she loved learning about this unit. So, now, we are getting the movie from Netflix to show her.
More Stuff
*Tyler went to Adventureland with the school band yesterday to play and perform.
*Both girls had State Large Group Competition yesterday. Kayla doesn’t know the results yet but Marisa’s orchestra earned a division 1 (the highest rank).
*We went to Red Robin on Thursday night for my birthday. Yummy!
