Pure Joy

I don't want people to think that I am taking credit for this beautiful picture.  I saw a link to this on twitter and it means more than any words I could write on this great day.  

I wanted to combine it with a beautiful poem that was inspired by (World War 1-era) Joh McCrae.

"In Flanders Fields":

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

* The “though poppies grow in Flanders fields” in the poem is thought by some to refer to the blood stains from shallow graves where soldiers were buried.

(I found this excerpt on Pioneer Woman's site)  I obviously didn't have much time for a post, but wanted to observe Memorial Day just the same. Have a great day and don't forget to check out the new letter on P.I.M.D.E.  It is a beautifully touching letter by Elloa.

Yoga + Farmer= YOMER

Do you remember Barney?  Of course you do.  He has taken a lot of slack for having an annoying voice, being an annoying color, and singing annoying songs.

Kinley LOVED Barney when she was little.  Whitney LOVED Teletubbies, Brighton LOVED Elmo, Ella LOVED Boo Ba, and Halle LOVED Dora.  It was nice to make the rounds and enjoy them all but my favorites are The Backyardigans and Sponge Bob.

And while I thought I had seen it all, I knew today I hadn't when I saw this:

There is nothing to really say about the video other than it is awesome haha :)

On a totally different note - I am SO excited to go to the Casual Blogger's Conference all day tomorrow. I signed up for it several months ago and it just snuck up on me!  I am looking forward to meeting other bloggers I have talked to online, especially Jen. It's funny how you just connect with some people right from the start.  She is already at the conference because it went all day, but it is my kids last day of school and I have been plenty busy.  There were flowers to be bought, Native Honey bags to grab for the teachers, and pictures to take.  After school I took all the kids and their friends to the BEST restaurant on the PLANET *Chuck-a-rama*

Does it have the best food? NO
Is it the cleanest? NO
Is it the cheapest? NO
Do my kids pick the healthy foods on the buffet? NO

Does it gross me out when I find a hair my my food? YES
Can my kids be as annoying as they want, and nobody hears? YES
If they spill, do I keep on eating without a flinch? YES
Will I keep going even though many call it *BARF-A-RAMA*?  YES

So we go and love it.
More than anything, I love how Halle calls it *CUCK-A-RAMA* There is another restaurant just like it called *Golden Corral*  I was OK until one of the the 500 old people that eat there turned to set down his tray right next to mine and FARTED in my face.  Yes eye level...eye*level*far*to*the*face. Even Through the same crown goes to chuckarama, I eat there now instead.

Now onto a NEW note!  I posted about my loathing for dressing room mirrors over at P.I.M.D.E., so check it out and feel free to visit the great women that have contributed to the site.  I will soon be adding crafts to do with your daughters, summer ideas to keep kids busy, and much more!  If you have any ideas for the site or want to contribute, let me know!

Mc Nasties!

Mc Donald's is nasty.

One warmed up patty of nasty beef

3 sick pickles

one squirt of ketchup and mustard

four onion shavings

If that weren't bad enough, look at the mascot.  Is Ronald supposed to get me to want a burger?  He is enough to make me stay fast food free for a year. Barf.

All I think of when I smell that pink sauce is my favorite fight ever, not eating a burger.  

Misfit

Amber passed on this award to me the same week that my new friend Robin did, so I thought I'd better respond! I love to hear that people enjoy reading what I write because I often wonder if I am a crazy person to spend on average an hour a day writing to well..kind of nobody.  There are numbers on my computer that tell me people read, but I haven't ever seen them, so I am taking my computers word for it!  So a big THANK YOU to Robin and Amber for always commenting on my posts and awarding me with:

Alright, now on to the rules!! I have to provide you all with seven tidbits of information that you may not know about me and then pass the award onto 15 other bloggers.  I highly doubt I will make it to 15 but I will shoot for 5 :) Don't come hunt me down and hurt me for cheating!


I decided to take some random thoughts from seven years of school.  They speak for themselves.

1.  When I was in first grade I was playing kissing tag *surprised?*  I know ...me?  Anyway, some dude that will remain unnamed grabbed my friend and wrapped her up in a chain link fence which was detached from the polls.  He called it his "base" but it looked pretty freaky to me!  I knew I had to rescue her! 


 I ran into the classroom and frantically looked for a weapon.  After a few seconds I found it!  I ran back out with a 2 inch pin with a red ball on the top.  I wasn't quite sure what I would do with it, but that didn't matter.  It was up to me to save her life!  I ran up behind him and jammed it into his butt *ALL THE WAY* through his Levi jeans and everything.  Needless to say, he grabbed his toosh with both hands and screamed. 


 I still remember his red hair, and his red face, and the red pin. 

p.s. My friend was free!

p.p.s. The boy never talked to me again.

2. In second grade I had a girl in my class that loved to flash the boys.  I am talking flip up her skirt every day for the boys.  I was so annoyed that this was stealing the attention away from me and my normal second grade way to get their attention  (like doing cartwheels) that I didn't like her.  


At recess one day she was up to her same tactics once again as the boys stood in a circle.  She had white underwear with polka dots...so annoying!  I'd had it, I didn't have anymore patience for it.  I ran up and pantsed *sp*?  her.  


It ended up worse than I meant because her underwear came down with her skirt!  I was mortified and ran.  I am still running from that little incident, I still feel bad but hopefully it taught her a lesson and she isn't a 34 year old doing the same thing....

3.  In third grade I loved my teacher, Ms. Bonner!  I remember saying the word "crap" for the first time and reading "How to eat Fried Worms".  It was a good year, and I don't remember any major mishaps. *other than the time I jumped off the ski lift*.

4. In fourth grade I had my first male teacher.  I had him wrapped around my little finger and he knew it.  I got away with murder.  The memories that stick out the most are the birds in the back of the classroom, Jeremy playing the recorder through his nose, and Greg showing everyone his "diarrhea" meaning diorama!  I still laugh about that, sorry Greg!

5.  Fifth grade started the drama with the girls, just like I see my kids doing.  I remind myself of "Romona Quimby" when I think of the time that Nicole and I were drawing a mural on the wall of the four food groups.  There was another girl that was also drawing the same thing next to us and she kept trying to copy our work.  This was uncalled for, so we tried our best to cover our masterpiece.  


The next thing we knew was that Rochelle was actually bringing food from the lunch room, sneaking it upstairs to the class, and gluing it to the wall!  I guess she figured that if she couldn't draw it better than us, she would make it 3D.  It stunk so much that the kids in the class were sick but the ants were having the time of their lives!


I had another male teacher but he didn't like me as much as Mr. Baldrie.  He in fact, was so bugged by me he wrote *without my knowledge until my senior year on my permanent record* that he was


 "Seriously worried about my educational future!"  


What the HECK!?  I was what, 10!!? I remember flipping some rubber bands, laughing a lot, and flirting, but nothing that would put me at the bottom of the cesspool pool of students! He made me feel like I was Bill or Ted from their Excellent adventure.  Then again, I loved that show!

6.  Sixth grade was another fun year with another male teacher.  Everything went OK until I had to do a report on mummification and used my cabbage patch kid for the example dummy.  


So far so good until recess time.  Amber and I threw bags of flour at our friends...and this was so much fun we decided to sneak out of class to shove them up the tailpipes of the teachers cars in the parking lot!  What in the world were were we thinking?  We were so proud of ourselves for being so sneaky we told some boys.  Luckily they had SOME sense and let us know how dangerous this could be!  We went back out at recess and fixed our little issue.  

7.  Seventh grade brought with it more drama.  Of course all 5 of my friends had a crush on the same boy.  His name was Peter Petris.  How do I remember that?  Maybe I should look him up on face book tonight so I can see his picture and laugh for 3 hours straight! 


 I wore blue and pink eye shadow and ratted my bangs 4 inches in the air.  What was not to love?  We spent countless hours prank calling our crushes *this was back before caller I.D.* that ruined everything!

(I looked for Peter, but I couldn't find him)

hmmm...the memories.  After reviewing my academic history I am realizing that maybe Mr. Kartchener had it right.  Maybe I was a misfit that wouldn't amount to anything.  I watch my kids pull their little stunts, reflect on Jon's tricks he arranged and think that we deserve what we get.  When I am in parent teacher conferences and they tell me my kids are being a distraction, I shouldn't act quite so shocked. 


Don't get me wrong, I wasn't all bad.  I actually had a really good relationship with all most of my teachers, but there was a streak of trouble in there with my sweet phasod.

AND NOW FOR THE RULES! I need to pass this little award on to some fun blogs I have found lately!

Funky MaMa Bird


If the crown fits


Love Imagine Create


Milk and Cuddles


Coloring Outside The Line




It's always fun finding new blogs in this huge sea of blogs we swim in! I only wish I had enough time in the day to actually read all of them...but I can barely get enough time to write on my own blog. Every now and then I squeeze it in and find great blogs like these!  
Enjoy!

Who Am I?

Yesterday was Noo's 12 year old birthday!  I can't believe it.  She has been such a sweet heart and joy in my life.  She reminds me of myself in many ways and in others we are very different.  One thing that I notice is her intense concentration of other people, their mannerisms and idiosyncrasies.  She is sensitive to how others feel and wants everyone to "just get along".  I am the same way, and believe me this can be an annoying thing when nobody always gets along! 

 I couldn't help but beg her to write a letter to her older self because she is the exact age of the target of the letters on my project.  It was interesting to capture her view from this same age.  Since I have been collecting the letters on the other site I haven't shared any with my girls yet, other than my own.  I wanted to share them at the right time so they would be receptive and not fight it.  

Yesterday on Whitney's birthday I read her one letter.  It was Ashley's.  I had Whitney read it out loud to me and I could hear it affect her.  It was in her voice, and the faces she made at me during certain sentences.  Thank you for helping me out Ashley, and all the others that participate.  I knew that Ashley's would resonate with my Whitney.  Happy birthday Whitney!  I love you forever and always!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This school year is coming to a screeching halt.  All the girls have year end parties with treats to be brought, summer birthday parties to celebrate by the end of the year, performances of all types, and loads of fun that keep me running.  Ever running.  I remember loving this time of year when I was young, the school almost felt magical like Christmas morning, filled with wonder and anticipation.  

We have had another fantastic year filled with lots of learning, books read, and progress made.  Together with my girls we have experienced crushes, heart ache, "friends", and extreme feelings that only come with first time "love".  I feel like I am going through it with them, but from and older girls perspective.  Wouldn't it be easier if I could just hand all of these trials to them in the form of a book and hope they gleam some wisdom from the pages?  It would be much easier, but not the same.  Never the same as having to endure it yourself, so I watch.  I admire the strength and courage of my little ones.  I see myself in them. 

Sometimes I feel like yelling, "THIS Is for the BIRDS!"

 I understand when they beg to stay in bed that day because of what loomed ahead.  I get it when they are tired or want to give up on math.  I ache for them when through teared up eyes, they tell me

 "Mom, you just don't get it!"  

Sometimes I want to save them. 

 I want to carry them away from the pains of life. 

And then, I remember that it is a necessary part of the growth.  I wouldn't be who I am today if my parents hid me from sadness or my fears.  I wouldn't be as strong if Heavenly Father let life be too easy.  

Jesus Christ is the master teacher and if he has to go through pain, pain of the worst imaginable to be perfected, so must I and so must my children.  There is nothing that has taught me as much about the true love of Christ than having my own little family. 

 You see for the first time I really get it.  I get that when I pray, I will always be listened to but I may not get the answer I want - when and how I want it. 

As a parent I hold a bigger picture of my children's paths, just as Heavenly Father holds of us.  Who am I to second guess or curse God for the path that is mine?  I am only really a child in the bigger picture that is here on earth to grow.  

There is a certain peace that comes with surrendering. 

 Surrendering to HIS will is the only true way to happiness.  He knows us better than we do and has the whole picture in view; where we were before birth, who we are, and where we are going. 

 Anytime I fight against what I feel to be right, I make life harder for myself.  It is easy to see this with our toddlers, we say, "Don't touch the stove, you will be burnt." and it seems so simple to us.  The toddler might not feel the same and decide to make their own choice.  

Our life is about choices, we have our free agency.  It is ours to decide.  I pray that I will always have the faith and patience to choose the things that will bring happiness.

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 31:20

Marjorie Hinckley

Marjorie was a great woman that I was lucky enough to hear speak about 10 years ago.  I remember laughing and crying all within the space of about 30 minutes. She was truly a great woman with so much wisdom to offer in a humorous loving way.  She will always be one of my hero's!  I wanted to share a few of her quotes on this beautiful Sunday morning; the first being my favorite!

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.

I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.

I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.

I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.

I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.

I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"Home is where you are loved the most and act the worst."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"Be a Mother who is committed to loving her children into standing on higher ground than the enviroment surrounding them. Mother's are endowed with a love that is unlike any other love on the face of the earth."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"The trick is to enjoy life. Don't wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead"
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"The grand and the simple. They are equally wonderful."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"How did a nice girl like me get into a mess like this?"
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"There are some years in our lives that we would not want to live again. But even these years will pass away, and the lessons learned will be a future blessing."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

 Sis's Hinckley's advice to her grandaughter when she needed to know what to do about the fits her daughter was throwing. "Just save the relationship."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Dont'cha Wish!

We are so lucky to have a post from S.I.F. over at PIMDE today!  She is a wonderful blog friend and a great writer.  She has a lot of great things to say, so hop on over and leave her a comment.  Her blog is also great and has been featured on other blogs before.  Her community on Blog Frog has gotten the attention of many for being one of the most active because she is so sweet and tries to find the time to talk with everyone.

Onto what's on my mind today (well one of many things!)

I love having great friends...call me immature, but the friends in my video are about 15 years younger than myself.  Unfortunately for you...or me...or my kids...I am sad I wasn't with them when they recorded this!  I would have been right there with them.  Hmm, maybe that's an idea! 

So until I can record a scary video of myself, you will have to do with the video of my next door neighbors.  They are the best neighbors anyone could EVER ask for!  A while back I heard the door open *which happens all the time* and Sarah walked in, opened my fridge, took out the milk, poured it into her cereal bowl (that she brought), smiled and left.  This is a regular occurrence between our homes.  Our dishes find comfort in both places, and so do our kids.   We both believe it was divine intervention *possibly* for a few reasons.

1. We are both open door policy and that might stink if we walked into someones house and they weren't quite on the same wave length as ourselves.

2. The Leavitt's lost their sweet dad to cancer a few years back and Jon tries his best to watch over their girls as well as our own.  (Barbara has 4 daughters and we have 6!) You should have seen us last year when Jon and I took everyone to Hawaii for a week!  We brought our friend Kent to help with luggage and for Jon's sanity reasons.  We ate, laughed, slept at the beach, and played our guts out.  Amy *which is the dark haired one in the video* also came with us.  It was a stinkin' party!

3. If I need help with the kids, I have built in babysitters.  If they need help with anything we try to be there for them but I don't cook as well as Barbara THAT is for sure!

4. Barbara is my hero.  She has taught me many lessons in parenting, patience, service and faith.  I am a different person because of her.  One of her goals is to pass on the knowledge she has gained of helping in the community.  Jon and I always love to serve, but she has given us the tools to implement our passions.

Bottom line, we both would have gone crazy by now if we didn't have each other!  SO, without anymore commercial breaks, I introduce Sarah and Amy in "Dont'cha Wish!"

The Last Chair

I posted Ashley's letter today and thought you may want to check it out!  She reminded me of one of my girls and I can't wait to read this to her.  

I tried to put away the high chair today, for good.  I cleaned it up and started making lists in my head of who would want to inherit it.  Surely there must be someone that would want a freebie, those things are expensive!  I pulled it into the laundry room and marveled and the nice fresh look that was there in it's place.  I was so excited to knock off one of the last symbols of having a toddler in my home.  

Diapers and wipes that used to fill the bathroom shelf are non-existent, desitin and baby powder can't be found anywhere.  The bottles are long gone along with the formula and rice cereal.  No baby swings or diaper pails or funny monitoring baby cameras.  The crib has all been packed away and I no longer have to worry about "choking toys".  Each item I have checked off my list has brought in interesting rush, an excitement of feeling like "I made it", I actually made it through the sleepless nights consisting of ear infections, bad dreams, fevers, and feedings.  

Somehow I never thought this phase would come to an end.  My days have moved from dressing every child in the morning, to getting a kick out of what they choose to put on themselves.  I used to worry about everything they wore.  I was meticulous with my first few children and made sure they matched right down to the socks and fingernails.  After seeing that they had such a great time giving input on what they wore to express their individuality, I changed my ways and guess what, I love the combinations they come up with!  Sometimes it pushes the bounds of *do they have a parent?*, but it is OK with me.  I have seen pink cowgirl boots with formal dresses at church, and 3-D glasses as "fashion statements" while we are out.  You see, I want them to be kids and feel free.  As we get older, something happens.  We start looking around and try to be like everyone else and there is nothing more stifling than to think of a world of clone people walking around.  So "have at it" I say, dress yourself.  Halle is now three and insists on "NO, me do it!" already.  I just grin and know that every other daughter has done the same thing at her age.

  I think because she is the youngest though, there are certain things that she is just fine keeping around, like the high chair.  When she noticed that it was missing today, she was NOT a happy camper.  "Mommy, I want to sit in that thing...in that chair." Oh no, I knew it was coming but I played dumb.  I explained how she was a big girl now and she could sit at the table.  She wasn't having it and let me know in the typical 3 year old way.

  I thought of all the techniques I know of braking kids of a habit..cold turkey, that was usually the best and most effective way.  I had done it with bottles and Binky's, surely it would work on the high chair.  

As I was ready to put up a fight I had a visual in my head of Halle trying to fit in the high chair when she was four, five, six, ten, sixteen...would she ask to take it on a date when asked out?  Now that would be a sight!  Eventually I rationalized, she would want to sit at the table by her own free will and choice.  Was it really that big of deal?  And so it happened *for today anyway* she got her chair.  After all it is one of the last reminders of my kids getting older and believe me, I would take a crying toddler over a hormonal 12 year old any day!  

Why Buy Bunks?

Wordless Wednesday

I spent my blog time today writing on my other site.  I added the post "Running Away" and a new letter from Amber. Head on over and check it out!

Post Some Fun!

I want to give my daily reminder of my new post at my "In My Daughter's Eyes" site.  Lynn is a fabulous lady and I would love to meet her in person.  She has such a positive attitude and is always busy doing something.  I can see myself being like her when I am a grandma...busy as EVER regardless of years!  Go ahead and visit her and leave a comment and visit her site if you feel like you love her like I do!

Yes, yesterday was THE day.  

Jon and I just bought into an ownership where several people own three different planes.  It works out pretty nice because only half actually use them, and out of the half the three planes are all used so they stay pretty nice.  This has been a dream of Jon's forever and I am working hard to support it.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE flying but have wrestled with the thought of being ready to do it.  I didn't have to actually worry about it before because we didn't have the option, but now we do.  

Jon knew that the first time out with the planes would be a little stressful for me.  I am usually the dare devil but have been nervous to fly in little planes for as long as I can remember.  It is one thing to watch Jon do it, but another to know I will be flying with him because he is taking lessons.  Also, my kids will be (possibly) in the plane with us flying to the cabin etc.  Taking this into consideration, I believe I would rather know how to fly the plane also just in case something happened to Jon while he was flying...or he needed a nap, but the first step was to ride with  Nick our instructor and see if I could handle that.