What have we been doing this summer?

Left: City of Rocks Below and right: at Bounce house in Twin Falls

At Planetarium in Twin Falls

At Twin Falls Temple

Modeling their own creations at 4-H Style Revue

I haven't posted for 2 months! We have been busy. The kids start school on Thursday. I will miss them. I enjoy the company during the day and the adventures we find ourselves on. But in the famous words of Tony Horton: Bring it!

4-H (Swimming, Electronics, Fitness, Sewing, Cooking)
Williams Family Reunion
Cousin Camp in Lewiston
Swimming Lessons

Goodliffe Family Reunion
Camping at Lake Walcott
Corban's Arrow of Light
Bannock County Fair
Refinshing our kitchen table

A picture says a thousand words

It seems like it has been forever since I have had time to write. A lot has happened and I thought photos would say it all!

Corban graduated from elementary school and Brynna graduated from kindergarten.

Kjerstin had her 9th birthday!

Corban got to go to work with Dad for a day!

Gideon leared to vacuum!

We've been swimming!

Milestone

Usually you think of milestones in a child's life or development. They happen a lot more frequently than the home improvement projects we have at our house that are waiting for my husband to have time to do them. So when one of them gets done, it is a big deal around here! When I was 9 mo.pregnant with Daven my washer (front loader) overflowed and flooded my laundry room. The linoleum had to be replaced and thus the baseboards came off. He is 3 1/2 now. Two years ago, we had a crazy hail/rain storm that filled our window wells in the basement and flooded our basement. The floorboards had to come off to help dry out the drywall and carpet. They have been off ever since. My kids have come to accept this as just the way things are. I heard on Saturday, "What is so great about having baseboards anyway?" Now thanks to some WONDERFUL friends, we have baseboards again! We were invited over to dinner on Saturday and after dinner, Bridger and Ryan (their dad) came over and knocked it out! I am so grateful for their service! They made it seem like it really wasn't a big deal to them, but it was such a great service for us! I keep meeting all these people that I want to be like when I grow up! When my kids reach a milestone, I say, "My baby is growing up!" I want to say, "Ah, my house is getting fixed up!"

Mothers Day

What makes a good mothers day? Do you have to have breakfast in bed? Do you have to get a gift ? Do you have to have dinner cooked for you? Do you have to have a nap? Is it spending time with the ones who helped you to become known by this name or is it an opportunity to take a break and spend some time alone? Do you have to get the cute kid made gifts? Does someone have to wish you a happy mothers day? Bridger usually takes a Friday off before Mothers Day and plans something for us to do for Mothers Day. This is secretly one of my favorite things about Mothers Day. It didn't happen as planned this year. We were all sick and Bridger had to work and I had to do some things to finish out the jump a thon at the kids school. I was a little disappointed. I did get to sleep in (a little-7am) and didn't have to cook on Friday. Bridger took me out to lunch and got the kids a Costco pizza for dinner. I think that is good. I averted my eyes from my laundry beckoning me to pay attention. It was good. Today we cooked dinner for our mothers and I felt it was a day for them to feel special. I can't say what made Mothers Day this year good- but it was. I don't think it is a check list of what you get or what is done for you. It isn't the same from year to year but it always seems to be good.

How Not to Deal with Stress

This last week has been one of those you see on the calendar and just dread its' approach. In my philanthropic spirit, I volunteered to co-chair the spring fundraiser at the elementary school. We are doing a jump-a-thon. Last week was the jumping days and I got to spend a good deal of time at the elementary school. I also had visiting teaching scheduled. And it so happens that a majority of the mystery shopping jobs were available last week. It was also Easter and I had family and church obligations in addition to everything else. I still feel tired and would like a secluded week long vacation where there are no children, computers, cell phones, etc. Bridger is gone for this week and there is still SO much to do. I think I have taken some of my stress out on Cadbury Mini Eggs. I also have over-reacted to otherwise mild situations at home causing my loving family to wonder where their mostly sane mother/wife has gone. Now that I'm pretty sure I hit all the wrong ways to deal with stress, I hope to do better this week and try the right ways. Inhale, (pause) exhale--and continue. But I would be willing to take applications from those willing to lend me their beach house and watch my five children!

Peeps Time

I recently have acquired more peeps. I had to look on my blog for the recipe I had used before. I found one more idea for those peeps that might be fun especially for FHE! http://peepsofmormon.blogspot.com/

April Fools!

When I was little, before my child brain could register it was April 1st, my mom would make us cardboard pancakes for breakfast and stuff our shoes with newspapers. I have yet to be such a Mom. I always get to April 1st and I am too tired to do anything extra. This Friday I woke up with a migraine and I thought it would be yet another boring April Fools' at our house. I took my medicine, and got over my migraine though! I was thrilled. I told the kids because it was April Fools they got to eat dessert for dinner, and dinner for dessert. (I got all of this off the internet). I made meatloaf cupcakes with mashed potato frosting for "dessert" and a giant hamburger cake for "dinner." I think the kids were thrilled with it all and I felt accomplished for finally being the type of Mom I was I was everyday! I also took them to see the Weiner-mobile. It was here in Pocatello! I was doing a mystery shop and stumbled upon it. Bridger has had a little Hotwheel car of it since he was a boy. I always get asked, "Is this real?" Now they know! I took my kids back after they got out of school. Here is a photo and some stats:

A hot dog roof, custom ketchup and mustard upholstery, a mustard stripe aisle, a "bun"box, a horn that plays 21 different versions of "I Wish I Were an Oscar Meyer Weiner."