Easter ... a little bit late

I had a great time at the Easter Hunt with Brayle and Hunter over Conference weekend! Mon really wanted me to post some pics (especially this embarrassing one where I look like a rabbit.)

I also thought that everyone would appreciate this one with Jory, Sarah, and Aaron. Of course, we all have our baskets. I'm not sure why - we didn't hunt for anything. That was Hunter and Brayle's job!

Here's Jed. I got him this rocket for Christmas. It only took us this long to get it completed. This picture is just before the first flight.

We also did a little clay pigeon shooting. I was 1 for 6. Not so great. My skills are rusty for sure.

Another Gray Hair - My Superpower

Another Gray Hair, my newspaper column that is published every other week.

I don’t know what it is, but when I first became a Mom I also gained a super power. Not quite in the Superman or Hulk way, something a little more subtle. I gained a greater sense of hearing. I know it may sound a little corny and Marvel comic like, but think of it more in the sense of someone that lost another sense and one became heightened.
I can hear my boys in the night time, whenever they roll over, cough, thud against the wall, whatever. It often wakes me up. However, I can’t hear someone honk coming down the street. We lived in Othello for about a year and a half before I realized that the train tracks are even still in use. I just saw the condition of them and never heard trains so I thought they were abandoned. I can’t hear them at night either, even though they are only three or four blocks from my home. My husband laughed at me when I told him with amazement that they are still in use. He knew all the time.
I can hear doors open and little ones escaping. I can tell which door has been used for escape to a friends to play without Mom’s permission. I have even installed a lock on our screen down - up high, so Noah, the best Houdini of them all couldn’t run away to the neighbor’s. He learned to take a stool from the kitchen, hauling it up the step, into the kitchen, across the entry and to the front door. He would climb up on it, stand on top, right near the stairs, and unlock the “tricky Mom installed child escaping deterrent.”
Usually I would hear the movement of the stool and catch him in the act - but not always. Luckily he has grown out of that phase and is very good about asking to play with neighbor friends now.
When my boys are away from me at church or other meetings where there is child care, I can stand outside the door of the room and hear if my child is the one crying. They all have a distinct cry, at least to my ears. If someone is bring them to me I can hear them coming in the hall before they ever make it to the room I am in.
I can hear them from the other room, or even other side of the house being little boys and their rowdiness. Someone was visiting me and we were in the living room while my boys were playing fairly well together in the family room. I could hear that the play was getting a little rough. My friend was able to see freely into the other room from where she was sitting.
“Noah, get off Kade,” I called out to them. My friend was amazed that I could tell not only what was going on but who was doing what to who. Luckily I can do that, but I can wait until they learn how to really attack each other through wrestling, football or other contact sports.
I can also hear when things have become to quiet. It usually means that by boys are working well together - at something they shouldn’t be doing. That is the time that I truly listen… and then run and find them.

We also have a section where we ask 4 high school kids each week what they wish their superpower was. I just wanted to expound on that. What is your superpower?

Utah, Brayle & Daggett County

Brayle, in a black dress, is on the left of the 2 boys in this photo.


Brayle performed in a wonderful school program about Utah. It told about the many types of people that helped make it the great state it is today. Fourth graders sang, danced and recited many interesting things about our state. Wearing a long black velvet dress, Brayle portrayed some of the people that came from Europe to live here.

Utah history is taught in school all year with each student required to choose a county to study, make a diorama about and report on. Daggett was her choice, with Aaron helping build a large stone mountain as the centerpiece. It was fun for Breann & me to see the cute fourth graders of Willow Elementary, the variety of artwork and enjoy the excellent program. Great Job Brayle! You're Terrific.

Breann is HERE & Easter is Almost!!

That's right, Breann is in town and will be attending Brayle's Utah State program. It seems no one finds out about it until she's ready to head home. She'll be here until Saturday afternoon.

We'd like to have a lunch or brunch together about 12:30 or 1pm earlier if you prefer)to celebrate her visit & Easter.

We have 2 (make that 3, Aaron) kids to battle the hunt for goodies. What do you all suggest we do? We could die eggs, make goodies, have grab bags, scavenger hunt for the few prizes. Give suggestions of what you would like, your fave candy, movies, eating spots & etc. List some of those things you always wanted, but too embarrassed to tell anyone about.

Smith's is having a great case lot sale this week. Pork & Beans 3/00, black or kidney beans 2/00, cream of mush/chicken soup 2/00 & so on. 5lbs of shredded cheese is only $8.00. These may be some of the gifts for you & other food storage items.

Otherwise Known as:

Choose the best description for these couples that are listed below. See if your kids can tell who they are. Come up with some catchy name phrases & add to them. Each group is the same couple. The first one is easy.

Balding & Keep it Clean
Baptizer & Sympathizer
Helps all & Over the Wall

Drives a van & Head store man
News Writer & Fire fighter
Picture taker & Dinner Maker

Hoyt & Adroit
Charmer & Farmer
Hunts Game & Unique Name

Ward Leader & Story Reader
Informaticist & By Family Missed
Big Apple & Likes Snapple

Mouth Cleaner & Keeps Leaner
Head is Red & Wife of Jed
Computer Wiz & Takes Pepto Biz

New Teacher & Tire Screecher
He's been paged & She's engaged
What's the plan & Found my man

If you disagree, or have a preferred name, let's hear it.

"I got new friends!"

Children are so open to the world and the way they look at things. Sometimes they say things and I have to wonder how they came up with the idea. My three-year-old is especially good at these comments.
He recently was talking about his excitement to begin planting seeds outside since the weather is becoming warmer.
“Mom, we need to plant these flowers so they will grow up to Jesus and he can slide down to come visit us,” he said fully expecting it to come to fruition.
His creative mind and thoughts on life are so refreshing. Makes me think I am doing something right with this mothering thing.
My parents are visiting for the Sandhill Crane Festival. My boys love their grandparents. We went for a walk while we were waiting for my husband to come home from work. All of us: Grandma and Grandpa, my three boys, I and our dog, Whiskers were walking to the park. My husband drove by while taking someone home from work. My three-year-old and I were waving to him driving by.
“Hey Dad, I got new friends,” he called out to his Dad.
I couldn’t help but laugh inside at his cute comment. He did have new friends – that is how he saw his grandparents.
It is amazing how children can find friends anywhere. There is no issue with age, race, gender, social status, clothing, whatever. They can find a friend while waiting in the line at the grocery store, a new school, on a public bus, just about anywhere.
Why do adults make this same thing so difficult? We will often exclude someone from being a friend that could be a great and lasting relationship. We think about things like: how many children do they have, are theirs the same ages as mine, would she be uncomfortable coming to my house for one reason or another, all sorts of things. Is this stuff really so important?
Becoming friends with a variety of people from all walks of life can be rewarding and enriching to our lives. I know someone that is friends with her neighbor who doesn’t speak the same language as her. Their children will translate for them to communicate. They teach each other great recipes from their culture and do both love the experience.
I once sat down with a widow that was an empty-nester and had a great conversation about life. She had a totally different perspective on life than mine but completely understood where I was at in my life since she had been there. It was a really rewarding conversation and I felt like I grew from it. I began to value her perspective and my current experiences were more enriched.
Different people have different experiences and life challenges. It would be great if we could grow from each other and not be so closed off to other people.
I want to be able to say “I got new friends” too!

North to the Sandhill Crane Festival

We leave for Jennifer's & the Sandhill Crane Festival soon. Farilyne's family will get the mail & check the house a few times. Boise is our destination tonight or just north of it. Pray all goes well & have a Happy St. Patty's Day wearing green, watching for lepracauns & rainbows.