Unusual Pet Show

Sawyer & Grandma Nordahl
Casey & Sawyer worked so hard all week on his alligator-what a funny thing to choose to make! When Sawyer told me it's what he wanted I was super grateful we had Casey-he's way more artistic than me!!!
This is in the wrong order-AFTER the kids sang A Tootie Ta the parents had to do it-the kids were laughing so hard! It was hilarious!
Mrs Karren & friends singing A Tootie Ta.....

Today was Sawyer's Unusual Pet Show in kindergarten. It was so much fun!!! The kids really worked hard and made some creative "pets"-I should have taken more pictures of the pets they made! As parents & grandparents we got to walk around the room and ask them about the pet they made-they were so cute and excited to tell you all about their pet and how they made them! They sang some fun songs for us and we all had a great time! I'm so grateful Sawyer loves kindergarten so much-who wouldn't? His teacher is amazing. I am pretty sure I've said that before. He's making so many fun friends and learning so much.

Twins???

Can you tell which one is Shaylee? One is Shay & one is her cute friend Kylie. They have been friends since they were 1-when we lived in Herriman their house was in our back yard. They look so much alike that I've caught myself getting mad at Kylie and had to apologize when I realize she's not Shaylee! Kylie's mom has done the same thing. Hilarious. They are looking less alike as they get older BUT they still look like they could be twins-they even have twinner names! We love Kylie and are grateful these 2 are still such close friends. We still live pretty close but it's definitely not as convenient to get together now that we aren't neighbors. I'm glad distance hasn't taken a toll on this cute friendship or our friendship with their awesome family!

Sawyer & Jaycee Sittin In a Tree ;)

Sawyer has the neatest kindergarten teacher-her name is Mrs Karren. She inspires me. I want to be like her or possibly take her home. She is amazing and loves my kids. She was Shaylee's kindergarten teacher also-and she still loves Shay. I LOVE MRS KARREN! I helped in her class last week-it was so much fun! I love to hang out in kindergarten! She called yesterday and asked if there was any way I could come help in class-I jumped at the chance. We love it there. Without me even asking she told me to bring Jaycee-Jaycee loves to be there and feel included.

As I was sitting at the center I was in charge of I watched my awesome Sawyer with Jaycee and seriously had to choke back the tears. They seriously just love each other and Sawyer was totally watching out for her. He helped her put on her headphones for the listening center-he then pushed in her chair and explained what she needed to do as he handed her a book. Only after she was settled did he sit down to enjoy his own book-he kept watching her to make sure she was ok. When the bell dinged to change centers he held her hand and helped her find a costume in the Vet Center-that's where they get to wear doctor costumes and check all of the animals to see why they are sick and record the information in the animal's chart. Sawyer made sure all of his friends included Jaycee and helped her write when it was her turn. When the bell dinged again and it was time to listen to each other share stories they had written he held her hand and walked her to the carpet-then held her ON HIS LAP while they listened to stories. I was shocked. He gives me rocks when I drop him off for school-there's no way he'll kiss me or hug me because that's not cool. I'm pretty sure holding your little sister on your lap can't be cool, either. But she mattered to him enough that he wasn't worried about it. I wish I had my camera so I could've taken a picture-it would be so fun to share that!

Last night after dinner I was trying to get Sawyer to tell Casey about his day. I finally told Casey about our experience in kindergarten and shared how grateful I was that Sawyer is such an incredible big brother. Sawyer said, "Well-I love her. She is my sister." I smiled and he quickly said, "I don't LOVE HER love her-like I'm gonna marry her. But I love her." Made me laugh! It's such a blessing to have experiences like this-it honestly makes it all worth while and somehow drowns out the stress and memories of all of my kids fighting and arguing...being a mom is so worth it! Please remind me of that next time you see me ready to crack! ;)

Soccer Saturdays

Sawyer scoring a goal....he's such an awesome little soccer player!!! His games are so dang fun to watch because he plays with all of his buddies from our neighborhood-it's a blast to sit with my friends and watch him play with his friends! ;)
Shaylee doing what she does best-being the goalie. It COMPLETELY stresses me out but she seriously is so good at it. I love it! She's playing competition and getting older so the games are getting more intense-I sorta miss the "fun games" but she is happy and learning tons.

Every Saturday is spent at soccer games for us. My favorite thing to do on a Saturday-sadly-is to sleep in! Once I get myself out of bed it is so fun to go watch my kids! ;) I love watching them grow and progress and find their talents. Soccer is really such a fun sport!!

Homemade Strawberry Milk

Have you ever had a time in your life when you feel completely overwhelmed? You know-like you are drowning and no matter how hard you try you just can't get your head above water? That's been my last couple of weeks. I love my life-wouldn't trade it for anything. I love my husband and each one of our children. They are all such a blessing to me. HOWEVER I am one person-there are 5 of them. My job is to take care of them-their laundry, their meals, help with homework, find time for each of them, make sure we read scriptures and say prayers, try to keep our house clean. I drive my kids to school, activity days, soccer, dance, young womens-trying to keep the car clean is almost impossible!! In the midst of all of the responsibility I want "fun" time with each one of these awesome 5 people, too. Date night with Casey and atleast a good conversation or reading a book with each one of the kids is a must. I am in the Young Womens Presidency of our ward-love my girls and the women I serve with-this takes some time even though I love it. Lots of work but seriously the best calling in the world! I am a visiting teacher. Then to squeeze in "me" time-scriptures, reading a good book, time at the temple, down time. It can be crazy!

Yesterday I decided it's a new week so I ran to Costco to get some milk and fresh fruit-strawberries, grapes, peaches, pineapple-we all love it and it sure makes good snacks for us while we are home and to send with Casey to work. I also got a good start on the laundry, swept & mopped the tile, cleaned the bathrooms, glanced at my lesson for Sunday and made some phone calls that needed to be made. I am telling you this for a reason...

Today Alyssa needed to go to dance immediately after school. Shay wanted to stay home and hang out with friends. I cut up some strawberries & grapes and left them in a bowl for them to have a snack while we were gone. When I came home there were 3 giggling girls in my kitchen. They were THRILLED-I knew I would not be from the looks on their faces. (REMEMBER-I BOUGHT FRUIT & MILK TO LAST THE WEEK SO I'D BE PREPARED & I HAD MOPPED THE FLOOR!!!!) The cute girls decided to make homemade strawberry milk. Instead of using the Quick syrup they got out the strainer, mashed a ton of strawberries, mixed them with quite a bit of milk and sweetened the concoction with sugar-lots of it. As they were pouring and measuring and stirring they had a few spills. So trying to be helpful they used about 7 washcloths and 4 dishrags-some soaked in water, some not. The counters were smeared with trying to be cleaned up yummies, my feet are sticking to the floor. My blood is boiling-I can't say anything because I am trying not to cry. I calmly talked them thru why this probably wasn't a great idea-they excitedly explained why it was and tried to give me the glass they saved just for me.

Thankfully Casey walked thru the door right when I wanted to crack. He smiled, then he laughed, then he tasted their awesome drink and said it might need to go in the blender with some ice-he'd help them fix it. Such a relief to have him home to downplay the situation before I flipped. I am so grateful for him-he is so much calmer than me! I have so much to learn from him. I think he's chilled me out a ton-I obviously still have a long way to go. I think tomorrow I'll go back to Costco for more strawberries and milk and then I'll invite these cute girls back over to replay the afternoon-this time I'll enjoy their creativity, their yummy recipes & their smiles and giggles. I will for sure wait to re-mop the floor til they leave! ;)

Scripture Time At Our House

I have mentioned before we have "scripture treats" at our house after we read scriptures. It has been so awesome! The little bribe has made it a way more spiritual experience for us~WAY less chaos when we can earn a piece of candy. I love it. My cute kids even ask to read scriptures before bed. I always have a little hope that it's because they love the scriptures and not just for the candy. I know either way they are learning to recognize the Spirit we feel when we read them as a family and their testimonies are being strengthened. It's awesome!

Tonight during Sawyer's turn his verse had the word "hell" in it. It's always such a confusing moment for him-WHAT IS HE SUPPOSED TO DO? That is a swear word and he gets in trouble when he says it. I always remind him it's ok-it's teaching us about a place in the scriptures so he can read the word. So he hesitated a little-gave me a quick glance to seek approval-and read it. He giggled a little. When he finished the verse he asked me, "Mom, what kind of language do they speak in hell?" I am pretty sure it wasn't a real question-just an opportunity to say that fun little word one last time tonight. ;)

Jaycee is the only person in the family that can't read. It really bugs her. We used to whisper the verse in her ear but she is so beyond that now. She can read. She is just sure of it! So when we are done we let her "read" us one last verse. It's always hilarious to hear what she comes up with. Never fails the verse she reads always begins with "Behold"...funny she has caught onto that. Pretty common word in the scriptures, huh? So tonight it was, "Behold, we can only say bad words when they are in scriptures. And not potty words unless they are in scriptures." She rambled on a little more then her closing words were "Chapter 14 verse 32." She just makes that part up, too. Cracks us all up.

In all seriousness I am so grateful for these simple moments with my sweet family. I wanted to be a wife and a mom more than anything in life~it has been better than I could have ever imagined to grow and learn with these awesome people I have been blessed with. I thought I would be "the teacher" and it felt like so much pressure. Pressure because I love them so much and want them to live lives of peace & happiness that only the gospel can bring. It's interesting to see that it's the experiences we have as a family that teach us together-we are growing so much and becoming so much. I learn so much more from Casey & our kids than they will ever learn from me. They are just awesome!!!

The Healing Fields

We have driven past this every year and never taken the time to walk thru it....I of course spent a lot of time yesterday reflecting on the sad, scary memory of September 11, 2001. I love our country-always have. But somehow that day brought a deeper love and appreciation for the blessings we enjoy-for the peace & safety we all cherish in this country. It's amazing how "back to normal" everyone has gotten since that day-for a long time it felt like life just stood still. I'm grateful for the awesome music that is played on the radio every September 11th-really makes it such a special & sacred day. It's so good for all of us to be reminded! I love to see the flags in everyone's yards-NEXT YEAR we will have one for sure. It made me sad to wake up Friday and not have one flying in our yard. Alyssa & Shaylee both came home from school yesterday rattling off stories their teachers shared with them at school...my first thought was The Healing Field that I've never taken them to. SO we went tonight as a family. Sawyer & Jaycee just thought it was fun to run thru the flags, but Alyssa & Shaylee "got it". I'm so grateful for that! Now I think I'll reread "Let's Roll" by Lisa Beamer-amazing book. We all remember that story. If anyone wants to borrow my copy you are so welcome to it! ;)

Kids School Pictures

Jaycee's 4 year old pics....
Sawyer Kindergarten.....
Shaylee-4th grade---LOSERS didn't send her cd so I just took a picture of it with my camera-not high tech enough to have a scanner! LOL She's super cute!
Alyssa's 7th grade picture...

Yikes! They are all getting so big and are such good, cute kids! Love them all so much & am so grateful to be their mom!