SCRUBBING BUBBLES

So I Love this little Chore Chart Idea that my friend just did for her kids.  The system seems just right for Alyssa & Tyson’s ages.  They have their daily chores which are simple and basically make your bed, pick up your room & clean up after yourself.  Then there is a list of apx. 14 weekly chores.  With 2 kids, 2 a day and me helping them, it should work out pretty well.  Each day they will pick one of the popsicle stix and do that one weekly chore.  If they want to do any extra chores, they can earn money for them.

Tyson enjoyed today.  Alyssa whined…pretty much because her room was a disaster and it was going to take a while.  Of course I helped her, and we gotter done.  Then she wiped the coffee table and end tables while wearing her little red all-a-dollar fairy wings.  When she was done she smiled and off she skipped across the street towards her friends.

 

These photos below are of my friends chore charts.  I love the colors and stuff she used for hers.  Look how cute the chipboard animals are on her popsicle stix.

 

OPENHOUSE

I still remember attending the open house of the Jordan River Temple.  I was between 7 and 8 yrs old.  I remember winding the beautiful halls of the structure like it was yesterday, and the light shining effortlessly though one large window as we made our way to the second floor.

I am so Grateful Todd and I had the opportunity to take Tyson and Alyssa to the open house of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  We went with Todd’s Uncle & Aunt Bob & Cristy, their boys, Grammy,Grandpa,Lesa,Sierra and Sky. 

We had been working all day in the yard and were very dirty.  When it was time to get ready I told Tyson to shower and get dressed. He asked if we should dress up.  I said yes.  15 minutes later, he walked down the stairs with his new suit on, asking where his tie was.  Our hearts overflowed.  This little son of mine had not only known he need to dress nice, but decided on his own to put on his very best clothing to go to the temple.  He has only worn his suit once since he was baptized. He skipped the slacks and short sleeve plaids, for something he knew was special.

This kid did not make a peep through the entire open house.  He was so respectful and reverent on his own accord.  His little mind took everything in and I wonder to myself, what he was really thinking.

I hope he felt the spirit that night and will remember it as a special day.

As for Alyssa- the STINKER!  that little 4 yr old is pushing every button she can these days.  But of course we still love every little bone in her body.  Speaking of bones, she gets her cast off tomorrow.  She’s been a trooper, and last night said how excited she is. 

“It’s really been bugging me a lot mommy.” (the cast)

DADDY’S DAY

There is no greater happiness for a man than approaching a door at the end of a day knowing someone on the other side of that door is waiting for the sound of his footsteps.

-Ronald Reagan-

The kids and I were excited to share the day with their Daddy.  They spent a good amount of time Saturday night while he was away for a bit, painting a one of a kind ‘work shirt’ for Todd to wear while doing yard work or gardening.  Boy it’s a piece of Art (eek!) if I do say so myself.  The tomatoes on vines design is one from their very own imagination.  I put the Jersey stripe on the sleeves for just a little masculine input.  We grabbed Alyssa’s felt made crown for Daddy to wear as well.   It fit just perfectly!

 

Todd requested Flank Steak pinwheels with Spinach and Gorgonzola.  We had a nice French Toast Brunch as well.

We were blessed to have John & Anne, as well as Lesa and the kids come over this evening for a few hours to have some treats and play a game.

The kids and I gave Todd a map of the world for Father’s Day.  He has wanted one to keep track of his/our travels.  As we put the pins in, we sure realized although he has traveled quite a bit… looking at the entire world laid out in front of us…the majority of the land was not even touched.  SOMEDAY!

When I asked Todd one of  the thing he loves most about his father he said it is the unfaltering way he uses his time and talents to help his sons and others with…well pretty much anything…whether it be projects, yards, cars, planning trips or whatever.  He is willing to sacrifice and be involved in anyway he can.  He is a great example of service.

I also want to add a fond memory of my dad growing up.  That would be his warm hugs and loves.  I always felt safe.  Even still as an adult I enjoy those hugs from him.  They are never rushed.  Although they are fewer and father between, he will always make time to put his arms around me and give me a kiss on the forehead or top of  my hair.  There is something about a Father’s tender touch that can transcend anything that words might express.  Even when there are times  we may not be getting a long, at the end of the day sometimes that simply expression of love from him, lets me know that no matter what, I will always be his daughter and he my dad.  That love between any Father and Child, is eternal and extends far beyond this lifetime.  I thank him for teaching me that.

Lastly I want to add that I woke up in an unusual way today. Before I opened my eyes I had a specific phrase run through my head.  I remember hearing it and then slowly opened my eyes to have those words clear as day in my mind.  I have had them repeat in my mind through out the day.  It has been such a comfort to me.  I’m not sure what I was dreaming about- but it ended this morning with the sun peering through my window shades and these words said/thought clearly in my mind: 

I am God.  I am with you forever.

…Then I opened my eyes, looked at the sun peering through the shades, and then the clock showing 6:34am.  I was wide awake for a good 20 minutes before I fell back asleep.

I’m not sure why I thought those words.  But again, they were very clear.  What a wonderful phrase to have in my mind.  I have enjoyed the comforting reminder on this Father’s Day, that we all have a loving Father in Heaven who knows each of his children by heart.  I am truly thankful for all that He has given me.  And for the tender mercies He continues to extend through out this mortal life. 

 

 

LADIES TRIP

Last weekend I cut loose from my usual responsibilities as a wife and mother, and headed out of town with the ladies.  We went to the debut show of the musical FOOTLOOSE at Tuachan.  We had a ball.  One of my favorite dancers from season 4 SYTYCD was the lead in the play.  You can see his cute face below somewhere in the midst of all of us.  We stayed in a fabulous home equipped with a refreshing backyard pool and cozy comfy beds.   We had lots of fun chatting, shopping, laying out poolside, staying up late and sleeping in.  And of course  an hourly dose of the worlds  best medicine…A case of the GIGGLES. 

We as women all have a story, a background or hope for the future to share with one another that somehow brings us all closer in knowing we are never alone in this journey through life.  Friends are some of God’s greatest blessings.

Friendship doubles your joys,

& divides your sorrows

Todd also had a great time with the kids over the weekend.   He took them swimming a few times and to a movie.  And now I have been informed he’s heading out for a guys weekend soon. 

I hope he has just as much fun as I did.  He deserves it! 

SNAKES & SNAILS…

and puppy dog tails, that’s what little boys are made of!

These little finger snails are what Tyson found on his walk home from church in the rain on Sunday. 

I often find myself wondering what God’s little creatures are really thinking and communicating to each other. 

 

POPSICLES AT THE PARK

School’s out for Summer!  The neighborhood moms bring popsicles to the park for when the kids get off the bus on the last day.  (Ok, so after 2 years of ice cream cones, we got smart.)  All the little tots get to join in the fun and play at the park for a while.  Our primary president is a sweetheart and made this cute sign for the table.  She also announced once a week neighborhood night games, down on one of the middle streets.  “let’s show these kids what summer’s really supposed to be like.”  So ghosts in the graveyard and kick the can, here we come!

   

AIRSHOW

These are the posts I wish Todd would write.  Like the last one about camping.  When I’m not there, I would love for him to just offer a quick paragraph on the experiences he has with family.

I do know he and Tyson had a wonderful day with Grandpa John, Chad, Tommy and Jordan.  They spent the day at the air show and loved watching the tricks of the thunderbirds in sync. 

Grandpa John was in the air force in his younger years, and flew (I think) a KC135 re-fueler in the Vietnam War.  If I have that wrong I’ll have to change it.  Anyway- he went on  to be a commercial pilot for the next apx. 30 years.  From what I know, he has loved every minute of his career.  I wish I had a fun photo of him in his pilots uniform when he was younger. 

I thought Todd did an awesome job taking some great photos, while they were at the air show.  I cropped and colored some of them last night just for fun.  I love the one of the pilot parachuting.  The last 3 photos were taken by either Chad or John, I’m not sure which one, but you can definitely tell what a difference a zoom lens makes.   

      

RESCUE & RECOVERY

 

The boys, I mean men…I mean boys on my side of the family have a tradition of camping on Memorial Weekend.  They head up on the mountain every year- sometimes with a few horses.  Always with 4-wheelers, and now it’s the big debate whether it can really be called camping if not in a tent but a nice warm trailer equipped with toilette and microwave.  I say- up in the mountains, surrounded by trees…it’s camping.

This year didn’t turn out so well.  The night they got there, they were waiting for one last man to arrive on 4-wheeler.  He was heading up the pitch black canyon with only his headlights.  He wasn’t there on time so my brother went to look for him.  From what I understand, he came upon him about 10 minutes out…noticing him by what he described looked like two shining eyes laying off the side of the dirt path that looked like road kill to him.  Then he noticed the man move.  He realized it was Paul. 

Long story short, Paul is fine.  He turned his head for a moment looking to see if he was at the right spot and by the time he turned his head back he was heading off the mountain.  He ditched the 4-wheeler and rolled down a good 45 degree incline.  He was lucky (blessed) to be conscious with nothing broken and had managed to climb his way back up to the road to wait with a profusely bleeding head.  The emergency team from the nearest town of 3oo was called after about 20 minutes, since the only cell reception was a small spot down the road about 5 minutes.  The ambulance took him to the nearest hospital a good 45 miles away.  He spent the night being sewn up stitch by stitch, and thankfully walked out of the ER the next morning with a few relatively minor deep cuts and a small concussion.  Although the full recovery to his bruised body will be a while. 

The 4 wheeler was found the next morning 150 feet down the mountain side.  Only a small dent on one of the wheel rims and a few scrapes to the paint.  Pretty amazing considering what could have happened.  The last photo shows how steep the slope really was against the flat road.