Memorial Day 2009

I can't remember a Memorial Day that I haven't enjoyed. When I was little, we would pick the Lilacs and Iris' and place them on the graves of my grandparents and great-grandparents. At the cemetery, whenever we saw the field of flags, my parents would tell us of the importance of remembering and honoring the great members of the military who fought for our freedom, those who have died and those still living. My dad was one of those courageous men. When he died when I was nine, every Memorial Day after Steph and I would go to the cemetery and find his flag. While we were in high school, we played Taps for the veterans at funerals and military functions, including Memorial Day. One year, we were lucky to see and participate in the dedication of the Veteran's Memorial at Spanish Fork Cemetery where they had walls with the soldiers names. And yes, we found our dad's. One year, while I was in college, I was photographed and put on the front page of the newspaper. That was a great picture of me playing Taps in the middle of the flags of the veterans.

I will forever be grateful for the sacrifices of the men and women that I will never meet who gave their lives so that I could be here, safe with my children. I've always had a respect and admiration for the military members and their families, but now that I have children, that respect has multiplied. I am proud to be the daughter of an Army-Air staff Sargent and the sister-in-law of an Air Force Lt. Col. I am proud to have friends that serve our county. Your sacrifices are great. I am truly thankful.

Now that I'm crying (heavens, I'm such a baby!), I'll move on to our lighter Memorial Day activities. We spent the day just enjoying each other's company. We had a little BBQ for lunch, followed by a day in the kiddie pool. Brennan and Nolan couldn't get enough of the water (though it was FREEZING), while Ian watched them so intently. Such a simple way to celebrate such a great holiday!

Project Pictures

For the past few weeks (OK....more like months), I've been working on some projects around the house (wall art, scrapbook organization) and I finally think that I've actually got everything hung up that I have finished... Amazing! So here are some pictures. What do you think?

These are frames that Tammy's handy hubby made for me a while ago that I finally finished...they'll eventually have magnets that hold up art/school work from the boys.

These are some canvas' that I spray painted black and put vinyl words on for some basic art in my bonus room.

Here is one up close.

This is Don's Christmas present: His prized jerseys!

Could we have a house without a Ranger logo in it? I think not!

I finally hung the scrapbook pages up.

This is a recent purchase at the scrapbook expo. I used to keep my ribbon and fiber in a plastic container, but I found these awesome ribbon rings instead. I love being able to see what I have!

Another scrapbook expo find~ the Clip-It-Up, which holds all of my generic items that could be used for anything and didn't have another home (mostly rub-ons, alphabets, and flowers). I'm finally organized!

Sunday Puzzle

A few years ago, Brennan and Dylan got a giant floor puzzle of the world for Christmas. We've put it together a few times, but not for a long, long time. Don decided that for a Sunday family activity, we would put together this puzzle. I sorted by continent, Brennan did the flags, Don placed together the countries, Ian watched from his bouncer, and Nolan ran and ran all over the puzzle. It was a great discussion tool for teaching Brennan geography! It is a Sunday activity that I would love to do again and again (and I have a feeling we will...)

Snow Cone Heaven

It's finally snow cone season... Yippee!!

So what do you get when you take shaved ice and add flavored syrup? The best thing ever! (at least that's what Nolan thinks)

Ian's First Taste of Food

Saturday night, Ian had his first solid food: Sweet Potatoes! They have been the first food for all my boys and all have loved them since. I don't know if E will feel the same way. Judging by the pictures, what do you think?

Not Me! Monday

I found last weeks confessional so freeing that I've decided to continue...

*Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week*

This past week found us visiting family out of state. It was very refreshing to not have to stress about everything, but I may have taken it a bit too far....

While dressing the children for the day, I did not bribe my children with a visit to the Jump Zone if they would just stop being so loud and get dressed. And when they were finally dressed, I most assuredly did not make them go get their hair cut as the "surprise" that I also bribed them with. And since I am always prepared, I definitely did not forget to get money out of the ATM and did not have to borrow cash from my MIL. And when I borrow money, I never forget to pay it back (I'll mail it to you!)

Once we arrived at the Jump Zone, I was not the mean mother who let her two year old throw a giant tantrum because he wanted to ride the ice cream truck ride and, after 15 minutes, I did not give in just to make people stop looking at us. Even after all that drama, it was not me who made them leave after 40 minutes when a school bus full of bouncy 5 year olds came through the door.

Being the perfect mother that I am, when I heard Ian wake up the next morning, I did not pretend that I was asleep just so that Don would have to get up with him and Nolan. I would never pretend to be sleeping when my children need me! And when Don offered to watch the kids while Janet and I went to the store for a while, we were not gone for five hours just messing around like we didn't have a care in the world! I would never neglect my responsibilities as a parent.

Even when grandparents offer to babysit sleeping children, I would never go anywhere without my children attached to me at all times. I would never pretend that Don and I were going on a date, just like the days before children. And I would never go to a movie and get ice cream without my kiddies~ who does those kinds of things?

Now I guess it's back to the real world of children, school, and housekeeping~ we all know I would never let any of those fall on the back-burner in lieu of family fun and entertainment!

Happy Anniversary Honey!

Three years ago today, Don and I were married in an intimate ceremony with family and close friends in the backyard of a wonderful friend. At that point in time, I had no idea what kind of ride I was in for! Here is a rundown of the last three years being married to the best husband ever!

*October 8th, 2005: First date with Don.


We went to Macaroni Grill and learned a few things about Don that have never changed:
1. Don is very driven to get what he wants.
2. Children are an important part of our family.
3. He hates vegetables!


*May 12th, 2006: Married Don in Magnolia, Texas and merged our two families into one.


*July 14th, 2006: Built our first home together in Red Oak, Texas.


Don took a new job as a Controller at a manufacturing plant while I taught 8th grade science so that we could be closer to Dylan.


*May 12th, 2007: 1st Anniversary!

*June 9th, 2007: My mom passed away due to complications from calciphylaxis.

The last year of my mother's life, Don was my rock and was always there to comfort if not understand. He took control on the home front so I was able to go to Utah and spend time with my mother before her passing.

*July 3rd, 2007: Nolan was born in Waxahachie, Texas

There isn't anything Don wouldn't do for his boys!

*August 1st, 2007: Moved to Poplar Grove, Illinois for Don's work.
After Dylan moved to Oklahoma, Don's ambition took us to Illinois.

*March 4th, 2008: Don adopted Brennan.

Of all the occurrences in our marriage, this is probably the most significant. Don asked to adopt Brennan and truly cares for him as his son.

*March 20th, 2008: Family Trip to Disneyland!

*August 1st, 2008: Moved to Hendersonville, Tennessee so that Don could continue his climb up the corporate ladder and become Vice President of Accounting.

*October 19th, 2008: FINALLY took our Honeymoon to New York City!

*January 22nd, 2008: Ian was born in Nashville, Tennessee.

To sum it up:

Numerous Vacations, 4 Jobs, 3 Houses, 2 Kids, and 1 adoption later, I am just as happy as the day we were married! Here to the next crazy three year... but could we please not move again for a while?

I Love you Don!

Mother's Day Truths

Yesterday, I received an email from my sister-in-law Paula...yes, the super-mom of 7 married to my big brother Bill. I was absolutely roaring with laughter one moment and welling up the next~ here it is in it's entirety:


Just wanted to wish you all a Happy Mother's Day. I took the liberty of rewording a mother's day song....

I’m often found washing a sink load of dishes.
And I carry armloads of laundry to do.
I gather belongings the whole household over
‘Cuz that’s what my children think mothers should do.

“Oh Mother, I need something washed for tomorrow.
Please wake me up early - my project is due.
Bake cookies, bring homework, got practice, need money.
Thanks Mom, I can always depend upon you.”

When I was a youngster my mother was ancient.
Her ways were old-fashioned – Now I’m that way, too.
“If heaven gives prizes for preaching and nagging,
Dear Mother, no one can nag better than you.”

A mother forgives you. Her loves is eternal.
She’s watchful, she’s prayerful, her heart ever true.
She pleads with the Father for insight and guidance,
For isn’t that just what a mother should do?

--Paula Larson
05/09

Not Me! Mondays

So I saw this on another blog and thought that it was worth doing~ a little therapy for those of us who aren't quite as perfect as it would seem.




*Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week*

Here is my first go:

This last week, I totally did not let Ian stay in his jammies all day, everyday. I would never let my child sleep in the same clothes as the night before... Not me! And even though Nolan was dressed everyday, I did not make him sleep in dirty pjs because I couldn't find clean ones in the many, many baskets of unfolded laundry. I most assuredly did not put off folding mountains and mountains of laundry. My laundry is always done!



I also did not let Brennan stay up past his bedtime because I was too busy with my reality TV to notice. I absolutely did not forget, even if just for a moment, that I was a responsible parent. And I most certainly did not yell at him when I finally got around to noticing what time it was. I'm nothing like that!



And I most certainly did not go to Target this week in my walking clothes without having taken a shower or brushing my hair... I would never leave the house without getting fully dressed or at least brushing my hair, so it was definitely not me you saw there with two screaming kids and smelly clothes. Why I never!



And when I met my new *famous* neighbor, it totally wasn't me standing in my driveway, playing basketball with my boys, in my pajama bottoms and painting shirt. I would never go out in my neighborhood looking like I just woke up. That's just not my style...



While I could go on and on about the things that were not me, I'm more interested to see what you can come up with~ Tammy, Steph, Lyndsie, Stacie!

My Boys

Just some cute pictures of my sweet boys outside enjoying the great weather!

Mother's Day Tea

I was so excited last week when Brennan brought home an invitation for a Mother's Day Tea Party from his class. I've never been to a Tea Party before {I think others that have only boys truly understand the joy I felt!}, so I was super excited! My wonderful neighbor Sheila babysat while I {alone for the first time in a long time} went to Brennan's school for a fabulous Tea Party. While there was no tea served, the punch and cupcakes along with the entertainment (a sweet poem) were great! The best part of all of it were the sweet writings of Brennan!

Brennan's class reciting their poem

Brennan gave me a bouquet of handmade flowers in my favorite color!

Here is an excerpt:
(Quotes are exact spelling and punctuation from Brennan)

A good mom always... "Gives kisses and hugs to me and lets me and my dad go to the moves and on Fridays and Saturdays she lets me stay up."

My mom always says... "I love you."

My mom cooks the best... "cookes"

My mom really loves... "me"

My mom and I like to..."cook and play"

My mom is beautiful because she..."vary, vary, vary nice"

I LOVE being a Mom!