Tuesday Tell All: Sight

Over the next five weeks, each Tuesday Tell All will focus on one of the five senses. Here are some of my favorite things in the world to look at.Salem Pond with Mt. Loafer in the distanceThe Salt Lake Temple SunsetsColorful fall leavesFireworksButterfliesWalking down Main Street in Disneyland and seeing Sleeping Beauty's castleThe world after a snow fallMy home (even more when it's clean inside and the yard is well groomed)Nature, especially flowers and mountains My kids dressed up for HalloweenMy Widow's Mite paintingSeeing the running of the Kentucky DerbyWatching waves crash onto the beachAny clock that shows I am on timeThe anticipation and thrill Christmas morning brings to childrenReading a good bookI love paintings and could spending hours in museums staring at each piece. (Chicago 2007)Wandering through museums (I visited the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. in 1988)The constelations- Orion is my favorite Rainbows
Family Trey's mischievious grin when he asks me to look up a new PS2 game online.Josh's look of determination after making a great play at first base.'Checkin' out' Matt's elaborate toy battles he builds every day.Kaitlyn and Brynn's beatuiful facesGetting glimpses of Rich's life at the hospitalA photograph of the two of us together

Life is BEAUTIFUL!

It's here...

Lately it had felt like school would never end. Like the beloved summer would never arrive. I guess that is what happens when you have to tack on an extra week after a winter full of unexpected snow days. And while I loved going to lunch with the boys, attending their school programs and concerts and getting to enjoy part of the day with only my baby girls- I love having them around all the time even more. So here's to a summer full of:Reading good books in your swimsuits, Trey: Comic Guy (a bit too easy)Josh: Magic Tree House (a bit too hard)Matt: Dick and Jane (just right)considering this as being dressed Swim team every morning (Matt and Josh far lane),Hanging out at the pool (Trey chatting up Hannah- no I'm not encouraging this)Water fights
And playing hard each and every day. Whew! This was just DAY ONE!

Enjoy your summer. I can't honestly put the word 'break' on the end, because I don't think that is really true. It's just a different kind of busy. But a very good kind indeed.

Mom of the Year

Yup. It's true. They should start engraving my name on the trophy right now. I mean look what I've done in the last three days that certainly merits this prestigious honor.

Yes the fire alarm went off during church yesterday.
Yes my kids had to leave the building.
Yes it really was an exciting way to break up Sunday School.
Yes I was right in the action.
And yes I was standing right next to my little Brynn when she pulled the fire alarm creating all this thrilling drama.

(But seriously why in the heck did they put it in the hallway, next to the nursery, where a two year old could grab it?!)

Yes I was playing catch with Josh last night in the backyard.
Yes I can throw a ball really high in the air.
Yes it went over the fence.
Yes I told Josh I could just hoist him over into the neighbors yard to get the ball.
Yes I have big muscles to lift my 75 pound nearly 7 year old.
Yes I was not quite strong enough to get him all the way over.
Yes his shorts caught on the fence.
Yes the denim ripped.
Yes he fell with a loud thunk onto the hard ground.
Yes I made him cry.
And yes I took him to Wal-mart for TWO new pair today.

Yes I went swimming with the family on Saturday night.
Yes I froze my girls in the big pool, but they only cried for a minute tops.
Yes we had a delicious gourmet dinner after , when Rich stated that I hadn't cooked in weeks.
Yes that probably is true.
Yes that fancy feast was from Taco Bell.
Yes it was brought home by me at 10:15 PM via drive thru.
Yes ALL my kids were awake to eat it.
Yes we do have 9 AM church.
And yes I was responsible and filled the van up with gas on the way home- in my swimsuit and short cover up.

What a mom! I hope all of you are as amazing as me!!

All Work and No Play?

No Way!! Saturdays are a special time in my book. I try to get all the chores, errands and house work done during the week so we can play hard! So maybe I do a bit of yard work once in a blue moon (love this cool Scott's mulch lawn seed)But as I worked I got a glimpse of our local rabbit. I saw three chasing each other at one point. So great, even if they come around to sniff at my 3 tomato plants and cilantro growing on the side of the house.Saturday's for the last three months mean: BASEBALL! Trey finally got the game ball. Good job bud!Rich was on call, so this day we grabbed some food in between games and had some fun at the little park by the pool.Brynn was a bit too brave for my liking when playing on the slide.Kaitlyn shows her sister how to properly go down.Matt found a Daisy for me. Love that kid!Her face says it all! I taught the boys how to play freeze tag. We had a blast chasing each other around. I didn't feel a day over 16. That's nice once in a while!Next up: Josh and Matt's t-ball gameKaitlyn stays hydrated And they both chat with the players.Matt's up nextHere he is on second base. He later scored.We got another victory under our belt. A parent presented Coach Jeremy with this cool poster of the team.Later that night, Josh built a double barrel shot gun. Usually Lego's and guns are Matt's territory.Matt peacefully slept as he waited for the tooth fairy to visit him. Complete with note tucked under his pillow.

Happy Saturday to all!