Simple Pleasures

This past week was filled with every day things that keep us moving and going from sun up to sun down. Nothing really big happened, which I appreciate. Rich worked seven straight nights (Saturday-Friday) which left me a lot of free time with the kids, and I consider that a good thing. Though, I miss not having Rich around.

I took a variety of pictures over the week and as I looked at them, I knew that even though our days were more or less 'normal', they were brimming with happy times, good memories and most of all a lot of smiles. Sometimes the simple pleasures of life truly are enough....

* Matt and the girls ran into Lowe's with me on Tuesday while Trey was at piano so I could buy a few more flowers for the yard. He spied this cool cactus and I knew it was just the thank you he needed for running errands and helping me so often. He was so thrilled with his new plant that he took it in for Show and Tell at school the next day.

I wish we all could find joy like children do, even from a $3.00 cactus.

* Wipeout started again on Wednesday night. Trey had the DVR set a week in advance. I loved hearing the intense laughter from the basement as it aired. Over the next three days they boys kept pulling me to the screen to re-watch the best parts.

People doing silly stunts and falling all over the place make you giggle no matter what age you are. *Swim team: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. We hit the pool on Monday, Friday and Saturday as well.

Being outside and enjoying the gorgeous sunny weather while watching your kids swim and splash is a highlight of our summers here in Lexington.

* Baseball games took over. Josh played on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Twice we had Trey and Matt at swimming across the street while Josh worked hard getting runners out at first base.

I love baseball and my favorite meals in the summer are straight from the concession stand window. * Scribblers popsicles. I wish we could buy them by the truck load. Yummy!

You can't help but smile when you are gobbling up such a cool and refreshing treat. *I love working in the yard. I am certainly not the one mowing the lawn this year, but I love trimming the bushes, digging weeds and enjoying the beautiful blossoms.

Every few days the girls aske me when we can go and buy more flowers and plant them. They have their own pink spades. I love that they are turning into me! (I can't help myself when I'm in a flower shop!)* I asked Rich to pick up some meat and crackers (funny list) at the little Wal-mart on his way home from work (at 9:30 AM). He surprised me with these lovely roses.

Who doesn't love flowers from your sweetheart?!* I am SURE I will be getting A LOT of help from these little ladies when this baby arrives. Kaitlyn often calls Brynn 'her baby' and loves to take care of her. She's often found in the kitchen making sippy cups for her sad little one, who's napping in her (doll) crib.

Girls are SO different than boys.* Picnics in the living room are just as fun as ones in the park. Especially when they include no less than 24 popsicles!* Watching DVD's on the floor is a perfect way to relax in the afternoon, but beware of the lull of Barbie's songs. They might just sing you to sleep.* I know I can't spell, but man, I appreciate those who can. I watched an unbelievable amount of the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee. It's so compelling, and yet heart wrenching when these brilliant 12 and 13- year old kids miss their word. Oh the agony. I set our DVR for the final since Josh had a game. I watched until the bitter end and was sad when it was over.

Kavya Shivashankar, a 13-year-old from Kansas competing in her fourth National Spelling Bee, became the national champion by correctly spelling Laodicean on prime-time television Thursday night.

The 82nd annual bee attracted a record 293 participants, with the champion determined on network television for the fourth consecutive year. There was even a new humorous twist: Organizers turned the sentences read by pronouncer Jacques Bailly into jokes. Asked during the semifinals to use "noisette" — a type of food — in a sentence, Bailly replied: "Gail couldn't keep her eyes off the piece of noisette in her date's teeth." Later, Bailly offered this gem to explain a word that means something that happens once a week: "Stacy told Alex that his dating prospects would improve greatly if he started bathing more than just hebdomadally."

The day began with 41 semifinalists. Five were eliminated in one round, then 20 were wiped out in a round so brutal that officials were getting concerned there wouldn't be enough finalists left for the TV special.

*Life is good. Especially when you can enjoy the little things!!

Lunch on the Green

One of the end of school events is having a picnic lunch on the grass in front of the school. It is aptly named: Lunch on the Green. The girls and I were so excited to join the boys today. We are always up for a fun event during the day, especially when it involves Trey, Josh and Matt!Trey's class eats before Josh and Matt, but all the boys were able to spend a few minutes together before Trey headed back inside. I've got my fingers crossed that their lunch schedule next year will allow the boys' times to overlap. (And that Trey doesn't think he's too "old" in 4th grade to have his mom and younger siblings join him for lunch once a week! Though, I think I'll still be safe.)Josh and Matt's classes eat lunch at the same time.Rich has been working nights, so we had a late breakfast with him. I didn't think the girls would be very hungry. I was wrong. Here's Brynn savaging for scraps from her brother's lunches. We hit McDonald's for food and their play land after we left the boys.Thanks guys for a very fun and memorable lunch!

Life's little Gems

Once in a while you get a life "payday" when you don't expect it.

When I checked my email this afternoon, I discovered I had a note from Trey's teacher. She wanted to share a funny quote from Trey and send me a copy of what he wrote in school this morning.

When you hear from other people nice things your kids say, do or write it lifts your spirit and gives you resolve to keep trying hard to strengthen your children with good examples, praise, discipline and positive reinforcement. It also helps you see that even though you don't know if your kids ever really listen to what you say or do, that it does somehow get through.

But to know that they love you, through all the ups and downs of parenting them, I'd call that a pure "Gem of Life". Beautiful, precious and priceless.

(This is the email from Mrs. Newton)
Hey Cheryl,

Trey gave me a really good laugh today. At this time of the year, I really need all the laughs I can get…

Anyway, I lost all the students memoirs that were completed. So we had to redo them, all 25!!! Trey’s new memoir was about you. I’ve attached a copy for you.

My good laugh came when he was telling me about all of you shopping at Wal-Mart and shoppers looking at you saying “Bless your heart!” I told Trey what made it possible for you to take them shopping was the fact, that you all are so well-behaved and polite. You do have wonderful children. Would you like my 19 year old son? It might be too late for him, but maybe you can work a miracle.

Melody


The Most Important Person to Me
By: Trey Jackson
May 28, 2009

My mom is the most important person to me. She comforts me when I’m scared or sad. Also, she is always there to help. I would have lots of homework sent back, especially my math homework. Usually Dad’s at work or sleeping, he‘s nocturnal.

Plus she makes the food we eat. My favorite is her white chili. I don’t know how we would live without her around.

Mom makes me feel special because she doesn’t have favorites. She treats me and my twin brothers and twin sisters like royalty.

Another reason is that she is the reason I’m alive right now. I love my mom.

These are just some of the reasons my mom is the most important person to me.

Salem Hills High School Graduation

Congratulations to my youngest brother RHETT on his high school graduation last night. It was Salem Hills' first graduating class. We love you and are so proud of you. We only wish we could have been there to share in your big day! Especially when it included you in your cap and gown, skydivers bringing in the American flag, fireworks and a feast at Mexican in Payson with Greg, Mom and Dad! Perfect.

Way to go little bro!!!

(Didn't I grow up in a beautiful place?! Thanks Dad for texting me such a gorgeous photo!)

Grandpa Hansen

CHARLES NYBERG HANSEN

November 28, 1915- May 22, 2009Rich's wonderful Grandfather, Charles Nyberg Hansen, passed away on Friday night in Salt Lake City, Utah at the age of 93. He was a remarkable man. He was a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a brilliant chemical engineer. He loved to learn. He was a gifted artist. He traveled the world with his sweetheart, Grandma Lois Ivory Hansen, visiting Holland, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Japan, China, Indonesia, Tahiti, Australia and New Zealand. They took their trip to New Zealand when Rich was a missionary there and spent time with him. They served a mission at the Oakland Temple visitors center. He traveled to Mexico with his son in July 1991 to see a total solar eclipse of the sun. I saw the same eclipse in Hawaii. He was generous. He had a great sense of humor. When asked how he was doing he would playfully state, "Not too bad for the shape I'm in."

We will always love and miss our dear Grandfather. Our thoughts and prayers are sent to Grandma and to Rich's mom. We wish we could be there to give you our love in person.

We are so grateful that Families truly are Forever.

Charles N. Hansen 1915 ~ 2009 Charles Nyberg Hansen, 93, passed away May 22, 2009 at his home in Salt Lake of causes incident to age. Born November 28, 1915 in Fairview, Utah to Hans Peter and Selma Nyberg Hansen. He was the youngest of six children and had many wonderful childhood friends in Fairview and Salt Lake City. He married his sweetheart, Lois Ivory of Fountain Green, Utah, May 29, 1943 in the Manti Temple. They had two sons and two daughters and were a devoted couple, celebrating 66 years together on Friday. Charles graduated from the University of Utah in 1940 with degrees in both chemical and metallurgical engineering. He was a member of the American Society of Professional Engineers and upon his retirement from Wasatch Chemical, developed seven patents in the field of de-icing, including some of which were researched and prosecuted pro se. As much as Charles loved to be an inventor, he and Lois also loved to play tennis with their friends well into their nineties. An active and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he and Lois served a mission to Oakland, California from 1983 to 1985. He was an instructor in many church classes and served in a bishopric and stake high council. The highlight of his church service was the opportunity to work in the Salt Lake Temple for 20 years with his sweet wife Lois. Charles always considered himself to be a "stay-at-home" person but since he was married to Lois, who was more of a "gypsy," they traveled to Mexico, Israel, Egypt, China, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and Scandinavia where he was always "proud to be a Dane." His greatest happiness together with Lois was his family. He was always supportive and "relished" in the various activities and accomplishments of his children and grandchildren, who were the joy of his life and have brought him great happiness. The family would like to thank Tracy and Sidney, angels of mercy, for their help and tender care during these last days and Rick Lake, a long time friend and neighbor who has unselfishly looked after our parents. Survived by his wife, Lois Ivory, his children, C. David (Suzanne Barton), Royal Ivory (Laura Cowley), Marianne (Richard) Jackson, Julie Lynne (Boyd) Jensen; 24 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren and one sister Edith Willardsen. Preceded in death by brothers John Castleton Hansen, Allan Lamont Hansen, Edward LeRoss Hansen, sister Mary Vondella Hansen Hanley, and a great-grandchild Jill Marie Jensen. Funeral services will be held at the Colonial Hills Ward chapel, 1455 South 1700 East, on Friday May 29th at 12:00 noon. There will be a viewing Thursday evening, May 28th at the Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South, from 6:00- 8:00 p.m. and Friday at the chapel 11:00-11:45 a.m. Interment will be at the Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Pinnacle Pool

Our neighborhood pool opened on Saturday. Swim team starts on Tuesday night. Our life at the pool has returned. Pull out the wrinkled swimsuits, dust off the goggles, lather on the sunscreen, gather the pool toys and get out the cold drinks. We are in it for the long haul.... and what fun it will be.

Summertime....

It might have been the bright and sunny early morning game (9:30 AM) or hot temperatures, but Saturday felt like summer was coming.... soon. And I welcome her with open arms. What's better than a little baseball and shaved ice, followed by a trip to the pool? Not much if you ask me.(Josh' teammate Jamal lost his shoe while running the bases. I loved the lone cleat left behind near second after the play. And I loved how the coach picked it up with his mitt.)

Hello Summer!