Raindrops on Roses, and whiskers on kittens...

Well we finally made it to the Princess Festival today. It took me one week to finish their dresses but it was so worth it. They felt totally beautiful and special and had a wonderful time learning how to become a real princess. They had an interactive adventure and they had to help each of the princesses in the stories and then they became real princesses.

When we got there it was pouring freezing rain but the sun came out and it warmed up, so we were able to enjoy the program. I love my girls and I love that they love to dress up!! We are truly girly-girls!

Three Cheers for the Princess Fest, and then three cheers for MOM!

The Princess Festival is an interactive adventure put on by a non-profit organization here in Orem. They support some villages down in Kenya and so in order to raise money they put on this festival once a year for girls 4-12. I am volunteering this year so my girls can go. I just have to dress up in my princess dress and help with registration, which I will be doing next week on Tuesday and Thursday. I loved dressing up as a kid and so I love making costumes. The one I am wearing is from a Shakespearean Era. I made it several years ago but somehow I always end up getting it out for Halloween. It's my favorite. So when I found out that I could wear it again by helping out at the princess festival, I was all over that!

I got so excited about my girls going to the festival that I decided to make them new princess dresses. I'm almost done with Mary's dress, and I'll post the picture. Creating something with my sewing machine, fabric, and my imagination and a pattern here and there, gets me so excited. I was working on it yesterday and mom called me while I was working on it, she asked me how I was doing, and I said 'FABULOUS!' She was really surprised. I guess I answer the phone too many times and I'm down and depressed. It was awesome to answer that I am doing fabulous!

Do you remember your first trip alone to the gas station?

As a child, I remember being at Grandma Johnson's house and mom would let Rosie and I walk up to the Crystal Palace on 13th East. It was this wonderful little neighborhood grocery store and we would go get an ice cream or a snickers bar. The cashier lady was married to one of the NSL police officers. She always knew who we were and it was a treat for us to get to go by ourselves to the store.

This morning Sam was up early as usual. I was out of milk and was desperately wanting a bowl of cereal. I debated letting him go to the Holiday gas station down the busy street of 1600 North. I decided that it would be ok, because he is smart and is getting more and more responsible every day. I asked him if he would do it and of course he was all over that! He got his money (which he let me borrow because I didn't want him taking my debit card) and got a backpack and was off on his bike faster than anything. He also asked if I would like a box of donuts or anything else. Is he my son, or what?!? :)

He was back in 30 minutes flat with a gallon of milk and a box of hostess chocolate donuts. (Of course it helps that my friend manages the gas station, so I texted him and told him to watch for Sam, and then he texted me when Sam was on his way back.)

I LOVE how my kids are growing up! Yeah for first time trips to the gas station by yourself!

I also remember walking all the way down the NSL hill to Orchard Drug, now that was a commitment. Rosie, do you remember how old we were when mom let us do this?

Last Day of School

Mary and Ms Lynn


Sam and Mrs Grover (he was bawling, such a tender guy)


Sarah and Ms Edwards

Today dawned bright and early. Sam was apparently trying to earn more allowance and so he got up at 5:30am and cleaned and scrubbed his bathroom, weeded one of my flower beds, unloaded the dishwasher, vacuumed the rug underneath the dining table, and was attempting to vacuum the stairs when my renter (Serena) had had enough! She stormed into my room thinking that I had asked Sam to get up this early and do all the vacuuming. I was out cold, as I tend to be at that hour. Disoriented, I told her that I hadn't asked him to do it and to send him in. He got cozy under the covers and promptly fell back asleep (which hasn't happened since he was a baby!) Anyway, he is a dude! And has some damn fine good working genes if you ask me! Grandpa was proud!

(Can't figure out why the video isn't loading, will put it in later.)Here is a video of Mary at her graduation program on the last day of school! She's got the moves!

When we're helping, we're happy, and we sing as we go...

I had another 'first' today. Taught Sam how to do his own laundry! He stripped his own bed, loaded the sheets and a few dirty shirts and things into the washer, turned it on, added the soap and shut the lid! Can I just tell you how wonderful that is!!! After nine years of taking care of every little itsy bitsy detail of his life...he can now do his own laundry! Wow, I'm really ecstatic, can you tell? ;)

Although, the day for him to leave on his mission is 9 years away, it'll fly by so fast. I keep telling him that I'm not going to be able to go on his mission with him just to fold his blanky the way he likes it. And he laughs and laughs. But oh I will miss him so. I already miss him so much on the nights he goes to his dad's house. What will I do when he's gone for two years? Wow, I'm already getting sad about that. Now is the time to savor each minute. I can't believe my baby boy is 9.

Took the kids to see Hotel For Dogs tonight. They all loved it but at one point in the show, all three of them were crying...I have some very sensitive children with huge hearts. I love them all so much. I am one lucky mom! TTFN. (For we love to help mother, for we all love her so!)

More pics from Snowmobiling Trip, Island Park, Jan 2009

The Girls: Kennedy Sarah Mary Ava

Mary & Ava

Dad & Rosie

Bill & Brooklyn

And over the hills we go...

We just returned from our annual snowmobile trip and what an amazing time we always have as a family. We take an obscene amount of food and STUFF and caravan up to Island Park, where we rent a cabin and chill for a couple of days. It's almost always chaotic and nobody gets very much sleep but I'm so thankful that I have family to be with and share the holidays with. The kids love to be pulled in the sled behind the snowmobile. My dad has been planning this trip for over a year now and he gets so excited; he is the biggest kid out there! I'm so thankful for my parents, and my brother & his fiancee and sisters and their husbands, for all making it possible for us to have so much fun together.


We also were able to celebrate Sam's 9th Birthday! Happy Birthday Sam, we love you!

PS. Sorry for the lack of format, I'm still trying to figure this out! ;)