Mother's Day 2024

Here are the fun things my kids got me for mother's day.

Sarah put together this planter at young women's and I love it. Let's hope I can keep it alive.

A note from Henry

Cards from James

And awards and cards from Erica

They also got me some of my favorite treats.

After church and French toast brunch, we went to my mom's house to wish her a happy mother's day and give her a gift. I have the most loving and supportive mom in the whole world. She has prayed for me every day of my life. We then went to Justin's parents' house to give her a gift too. It's fun having them so close.

After our dinner of ribs and mashed sweet potatoes (so that Sarah would have something to eat) we had frozen yogurt and Russian cream for dessert and played hand and foot.

I was nice and waited to take our mother's day photo after Sarah's wisdom teeth cheeks weren't swollen and bruised.

I love this kids so much. They make me laugh (and grit my teeth and roll my eyes) every day and are each other's best friends. I love listening to them sit around talking with each other about pleasant things and getting a glimpse of what the rest of their lives will be like even when Justin and I aren't around.

I tell my girls (and any girl that will listen) that being a mom is the best "job" in the whole world. (Motherhood is a calling and a role but I get how it gets lumped together with occupations.) It's the only job that has all the jobs. At one time or another a mom is a: chef, nurse, maid, organizer, hair stylist, chauffer, repairman, interior designer, party planner, occupational therapist, speech therapist, mental health therapist, teacher, tour guide, financial advisor, academic advisor, photographer, pastry chef, librarian, events coordinator, tutor, coach, cheerleader, life coach, lifeguard, nutritionist, fashion consultant, employer, taste tester, art critic, proofreader, crafter, referee, judge, gardener, administrator, answering service operator, dental hygienist, sanitary engineer and seamstress to name a few.

I also tell them it's not the hardest job. Soldiers and air traffic controllers, brain surgeons have the corner on that. But it is the most important. A woman is replaceable in an occupation. She is irreplaceable to her husband and children. Go and stay where you matter most. 

It is hard to be a mom but anything worth doing comes with conflicting and swaying emotions. You can feel like you're good at it and feel like a failure. You'll feel like you want to quit and that you never want it to end. 

This is my favorite quote about motherhood. President Holland quoted these words of a mother in a talk from 1997 and I was blessed enough to find them when Sarah was a baby. (I now have a goal to be quoted by President Holland. Could you imagine??) Link to talk here.

“Through the thick and the thin of this, and through the occasional tears of it all, I know deep down inside I am doing God’s work. I know that in my motherhood I am in an eternal partnership with Him. I am deeply moved that God finds His ultimate purpose and meaning in being a parent, even if some of His children make Him weep."

Henry Turns 13

Thirteen? How did we get here?

We started the celebrating early. On Monday evening we had grandparents over for dinner. Henry requested triple bacon burgers with french fries and onion rings so that's what we did. I made his cake while he was at school and later that afternoon I handed him the piping bag and told him to go for it. 

I think it turned out great. It was white cake with whipped ganache filling and Swiss buttercream frosting. (How many more years until he's taller than me?)

We sang outside and we had to be quick or the candles would blow out.

Money from my mom and dad and Ruffles from Justin's parents (the rest of their gift came later...football cards and an elephant squishmallow)

Tuesday morning for his actual birthday we had crepes for breakfast with strawberries, syrups and whipped cream from a can.

Then he opened presents. I think he really likes his new BYU tie and shirt.

He also got a hammock, some snacks and treats, some ball storage, shorts, and a yoga ball.

The littles were under strict instruction not to play with his yoga ball after he left for school.

That afternoon and evening was pretty crazy which is why we had his birthday dinner the night before. I took Sarah and James to piano and then while they were there Erica and Henry and I went to Reams to buy some doughnuts for him to share with the deacons that evening. I dropped them off at home and then picked up the piano players. Then I drove Sarah to the high school for her orchestra concert rehearsal. Then I drove home and the remaining four of us ate leftovers for dinner (Henry got another bacon cheeseburger so he was happy). Then the littles and I left for Sarah's concert at the high school and Henry stayed home hanging around for a half hour until he got a ride to his YM activity. Justin was busy prepping for his priest's activity and came to the concert in time to see Sarah perform. Then he left the school for his activity, I brought the 3 kids home, Sarah changed for YW and then she went to the church. Whew!

 (And just to be clear, we didn't choose church activities over celebrating his birthday. Sarah had to be at her concert since her grade depended on it--that's why we celebrated Monday so she could be there and not fail and that opened up Justin and Henry to choose to go to their activity if they wanted. Henry had a lot of input on what they did for the activity.)

I was feeling guilty that he spent the entire afternoon of his birthday doing I don't know what because I was driving around so much. But then he came home at like 9:30 all grins and talking fast about his fishing activity with his deacons quorum. 

Then his leader shared some pictures and I felt better. He had a great time and his quorum is full of friends.

Friday night he had a friend party. Thirteen means he can have a big friend party. He invited 19 boys and I think all but 2 came. I set out some pizza and a cooler of sodas and backed away slowly.

They played night games and ate and played some more for two and a half hours.

I was worried some of the kids would get bored like my nephews and a neighbor that aren't in his grade and don't know many kids but I think it went okay. 

Here are a few things about Henry:

1. I have to say goodnight to him every night and it's quite the routine. After watching him show me some random stuff he has me choose the color of his nightlight and I ask him about the book he's reading. Then he asks me what we are doing tomorrow and then we say I love you and good night. I may not mess with this routine.

2. He fed a neighbor's horse every day for four months. Seven days a week. He never forgot and never complained.

3. He loves all vegetables except tomatoes which are technically a fruit so he loves all vegetables.

4. He is super interested in gardening and is taking an agriculture class in the fall.

5. He's playing tackle football this fall and is super pumped about it. (I am not excited.)

6. He can make it home from school 9 minutes from when the bell rings. It is 1.5 miles away.

7. I have no idea what his favorite TV show is. He watches like the Mr. Beast type stuff.

8. He likes to cook and has written down the recipe he created for butter noodles.

9. He wants a phone so bad. 

10. He thinks we are the strictest of parents because we don't have video games, don't allow sleepovers, and he only gets 30 minutes a day on the computer. It was an interesting conversation.

Happy birthday, bud. Please be a pleasant teenager.

Here's his birthday interview.

Hooray for May!

 Every elementary schooler's favorite day: The Track Meet. Unless you're like Erica and don't like running or competing. She does like hanging out on the bleachers with friends so she was okay with the day.

Justin's parents are remodeling their house. We went over to help with some demo because that's fun.

 Here are the biggles pulling off the mantel and surround.

Spring around here means green grass and trees but snowy mountains at the same time. I love it.

James's little group of friends are so funny. They migrate from house to house eating popsicles and granola bars, jumping on trampolines (here), playing video games (Calvin's), etc.

On Saturdays they start right after school and go until dark or even past dark. I think this is the right way to be seven.

Saturday morning we hauled in a truckload of compost for our garden. It took a few hours and the kids did a better job not complaining than I expected.

This is at Walmart later that day. Erica and Henry discovered the toilet paper tunnels.

Erica is trying again to get her submission accepted into the Friend magazine. I sure hope she gets it but maybe they get a lot of Lego temples. (This is not the photo she submitted but I kind of wish it was)

More green and snow days. We like to ease into spring around here.

Demo started on the Provo Temple. Is it a complete knockdown or just a outside redo? I'm thinking full knockdown. I'll go back soon and see.

While I was in the area I walked around rock canyon park.

Sarah got her wisdom teeth out yesterday. I took a picture of the spread of instruments but I didn't show her. It would freak her out.

Not laughing so much with the laughing gas. I stepped out once she went under and it only took a half hour. We were home 90 minutes from the time we left. She didn't say or do anything funny, only that she couldn't find her mouth because it was so numb.

That night was Henry's orchestra concert.

He did a great job and has so much fun performing. There are so many orchestra kids in middle school that his teacher held 4 separate concerts.

Next week is Sarah's last concert. The school year is winding down!