My Favorite Day of the Year

I love Independence Day! It's long been my favorite holiday, but I found myself loving it even more this year. Perhaps it is because in the 365 days since the last one, I've visited Washington DC twice, and NYC once--places that can't help but make one feel patriotic and proud to be an American!

As I stood for the passing flag at the local parade, I thought of the early immigrants to Ellis Island, and of course this country's great fore-fathers. What a wonderful nation!!

Our morning was a little chaotic, but I gathered what children I could for our annual pledge and national anthem singing. I'm quite certain the older two (and Mike) were not disappointed to have missed it.

I suggested not going to the local parade this year, but that didn't go over well with most, not all, family members. Especially Luke: "What?! The first time I am in the parade and you aren't going to go?!"

We attended the parade.

(Luke was most excited to throw candy at his siblings. That's what he's doing in the photo. Throwing candy. Not waving.)

 (Not sure where Megan was during the photo.)

After the parade we returned home to get ready for my favorite party of the year! Love, LOVE, LOVE our July 4th Water Baseball BBQ tradition!

Usually we have a plethora of photographers. We didn't this year. No action shots of sliding into home-base, or water squirted in faces. But that makes me happy! We were instead, all engaged in the game! (I thought to grab my camera towards the very end to at least secure a few still memories!)

 By the end of the day, the slide needed to dry out--but the children still had hours of fun on it late into the evening!

My country tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died!

Land of the Pilgrim's pride!

From every mountain side,

Let freedom ring!

Mothers Day 2014

This year Mother's Day felt a little bit different than other years. I think it is because I hardly felt like I could justify a "day off" after I had barely been home 48 hours from 9 days off! Mike was pretty funny on Saturday night, and you really have to know him to not take his comment the wrong way, but I quote him... "I feel like I just spent the last nine days honoring you while you were gone, and I have to spend another day doing it tomorrow?"

It was nonetheless a wonderful day. Actually, I think I'm not remembering it as clearly as I should. There was one point Mike and I sat on the couch in the front room and looked at each other with that occasional look we do. No words are ever exchanged but it has come to mean, "What in the world have we gotten ourselves into?" It usually includes deep huffs of breath from one or the other of us, and lots of eye rolls.

I'm pretty certain, Mother's Day ended with each child getting in bed after having been lectured by both Mike and me. There may or may not have been a few raised voices too.

Some days are like that. Mother's Day or not.

Easter Around Here

Our Easter was pretty simple. It started with an impromptu family devotional on my bed before heading downstairs to see what the Easter Bunny brought.

I love Easter. I love the simplicity of the holiday set around the greatest event of all time! I love our daily focus on the days leading up to Easter that reminds us of some of the most important events of Jesus Christ's life. And guess what? I also love Easter eggs and chocolate!

The Easter Bunny always came to my house as a child, and yet I made it to adulthood with an understanding and belief in the realities of the real reasons behind Easter. (Same with Santa and Christmas...It seems so many parents of my generation inherently think their should be no place for such frivolousness amid religious holidays.)

The Easter Bunny brought the traditional flip-flops, candy and a few insignificant things.

(Not sure what in the world the Easter Bunny was thinking by Ellie's flip-flops being 2 sizes too big!)

Joshua had ALL but one of his candies finished by 1pm church and Drew was caught hiding under Joshua's bed secretly consuming more candy than he should have. Megan flew a new twisty plastic flying wand directly into Joshua's face, and Ellie didn't want to share her new chalk with the boys.

Before church, Mike attempted to get a decent photo of the children. Mike was put in charge, because I ran out of patience about the time Joshua's church pants developed permanent grass stains on them. I'm sad to say that was before the photo shoot even began.

(Believe it or not, this is the most decent one!)

We finished up the Easter holiday with cousins and family over for dinner, games, horse-rides, and fun. All in all, a pretty decent day.

Thankful Amidst the Realness

I've been reading daily gratitude lists from friends via social media, and my children and I (Mike?? Not so much.) have been faithfully adding to our Traditional November Pantry Door Thankful Papers. Yet, I feel like in spite of all the reminders of our blessings, this week especially has been easy to focus on the things I don't have.

I don't mean, things per se. I mean things like a more organized toy closet, a home for the package of toilet paper that sat in the hall for too many days and dirty clothes placed only in hampers, and nothing but tidy rooms throughout the house.

Enough already.
It's November!
The month of thankfulness and Thanksgiving--my favorite holiday.

Last year for my birthday, my sister-in-law bought this sign for me. I LOVE it. I smiled when I brought it back out on November 1st, and I smile every day when I look at it.

I do have a lot to be thankful for. We all do--those are the things that are easy to add to the Pantry Door Papers. I'm trying to be more grateful for those "other things" that are an invariable part of my life.

Here's an example of what I mean.

• A tile floor covered with leaves, sand, footballs and jackets means my children enjoy being outside playing.
• A tile floor with crumbs and food intermixed with the leaves and sand makes me realize the food we have in abundance. Some children would gladly eat those remnants from the floor.
• Messy bedrooms and undone chores give me the opportunity to teach my children good principles.
• An on-going challenging relationship with a family member means I have the opportunity for personal growth.
• Dirty underwear on bedroom floors and discarded socks strewn around the house mean my children understand personal hygiene to some degree, and they are changing their socks and underwear daily.
• Wet towels on bathroom or bedroom floors also mean they are grasping the hygiene thing.
• Homework papers covering counter tops mean my children are putting effort into their education.
• Making homemade lunches gives me the opportunity to provide my children with healthy lunches I know they will enjoy.
• A husband that has been snoring earlier than usual means he has worked another hard day and is doing his best to provide for our family.
• Drywall dust covering my bathroom and bedroom reminds me that a desire of mine is being met through the work of others.
• Having the workers have to come back to fix a mistake will allow me even more time to be patient and accepting of people without "people skills."
• Music strewn across my pianos and front room reminds me my children are advancing in their musical skills, and helping others advance too.
• A few extra pounds on the scale tell me I have a husband who often asks me to meet him for lunch or go out to dinner with him.
• A garage door that doesn't work properly reminds me that at least I have a covered place to park my vehicle on snowy/frosty nights.
• "Finger lines" through the dust on my black tables, and finger-prints on the back door allow me to daydream of future days when my house will stay cleaner longer.
• Not being able to see my mud-room floor tells me my children have plenty of jackets, coats and shoes to wear in the colder weather.
• Being frustrated with my new cell phone makes me appreciate being able to upgrade when the old one wasn't working well.
• The chaos of the morning routine helps me appreciate the closing of my front door at 8:23am even more than if mornings were peaceful and harmonious.
• Fixing dinner for my family each night gives me the opportunity to teach them manners and etiquette about responses to food that doesn't quite agree with their palates. 
• A bar stool slid up to the cupboard where I keep my "secret" chocolate stash gives me the opportunity to share fine chocolate with a 4 year old.

I always have much to be thankful for.

Even if I have to look for it sometimes.

The 31st

I dislike Halloween.
I just do.
I don't have a long list of reasons why I don't like it.
I just don't.
It doesn't help that Mike doesn't really like any holidays, so it isn't like he picks up the slack for Halloween.
So, it usually means I try my best to make it a fun holiday for my children, despite not throwing anything "extra" in as I so often do at other times.
It's just a few dressed up kids.

(Luke fulfilled one of my biggest pet peeves about Halloween costumes: not really being dressed up as anything specific. At least he didn't wear the head part that completely covers his face.)

Far too much candy.

(This is just Luke's loot. Although Ellie's collection contained 203. Ridiculous.)

And a sick little monkey who bailed early and watched television with Dad.

Until next year.

The Annual Tradition That Wasn't Cancelled

Due to several conflicting events, our 4th of July Annual Water Baseball BBQ was rescheduled this year to July 24th. About a week before July 24th, I cancelled the event all together. I just wasn't "feeling it."

Our Annual Water Baseball BBQ  is the highlight of my summer. It has always been held on July 4th (one exception being July 5th, when the 4th was a Sunday.) For some reason, I couldn't imagine having the Water Baseball BBQ and not having it coincide with America's birthday, the holiday of freedom, and all things independent. Playing baseball in honor of the early Mormon Pioneers, on July 24th just didn't seem to fit.

There were a few other minor factors in the cancellation decision too.

Apparently though, all the people who like to ATTEND the Annual Water Baseball BBQ, and who don't have to pull a weed, or scrub a toilet in preparation for it were in an outcry that it was cancelled.

Okay, I exaggerate slightly, but I did feel a little pull of peer pressure to un-cancel the Annual Water Baseball BBQ and hold it THIS YEAR ONLY on July 24th.

And I didn't regret it one bit.
Okay, well I did in the morning when I couldn't find my bucket of water baseball "stuff" and then I realized I had absolutely no ketchup. (Who runs out of ketchup?!) I made sure everyone in my little family heard my rants of "There was a reason I didn't want to do this, this year!" or "Why did I get talked back into this?"

But after our guests began to arrive, and I watched the Annual Water Baseball BBQ begin again for its 8th consecutive year, I smiled and I committed, that I would never again cancel our Annual Water Baseball BBQ on JULY 4th.

Love it.
Love it.
Love it!

 As for photos...I only have these small ones from my mother's phone that I can't enlarge.

The CUTEST cousin ever. Seriously. I love Baby Daniel. (He doesn't feel the same way about me, but for some reason he always makes me smile.)

And there's a video that I'm going to get uploaded soon. What fun!

Not the Best, But not the Worst

(Yes, in case you are wondering, my hands are holding children in place and are not gentle grips of love or affection.)

As far as Mother's Days go, I've had better ones. But as I prepared for bed on Sunday night, I reread the notes my children gave me and was reminded that I really do like my job.

"You are nice most of the time."

"My mom is fune" (funny)

"You are pretty much the best mom!"

"I like you."

"I hope I'm like you when I'm older."

I think my favorite Mother's Day gifts were the coupons I received from Ellie, especially these two. Although the excitement over them quickly evaporated when I showed them to Mike and he laughed. Not so sure he exactly permitted Ellie to grant me such a gift.

Oh well.
I could say the great sunny, Sunday spent with my fabulous children was far better than if a weekend away by myself to a fabulous location AND an unlimited shopping spree had legitimately been on my list of received gifts.

But that would be a lie.

And I'm not good at that.

Which is why I'll say, as far as Mother's Days go, there have been better ones.

Our Simple Easter

Our Easter was simple, except we didn't get the traditional photo of the five children wearing a new pair of flip-flops courtesy of the Easter Bunny. Not that I'm too bothered about the forgotten photo, but Ellie is. I guess permanent records of 10 flip-flopped feet are a big deal to her. Maybe I'll still get around to the photo one of these days.

The Easter baskets were considered a big hit. Although by bedtime on Sunday night the older three children were one-by-one announcing missing pieces of candy. When the accused thieves were confronted, they were pretty remorseful. I take that back. One denied it, the other hid in his closet crying.

The Easter outfits were incomplete this year. Only the girls were treated to new dresses. Oh well-can't do it all now can I?

I couldn't resist having my children sit in the same spot for their Easter photo as they did 4 years ago. I think I still had some residual, "I can't believe my baby is 4" issues from Drew's birthday the day before.

Our Easter dinner was FABULOUS. A few weeks ago, Megan announced she wanted to do Easter dinner all by herself. She even wanted to buy the groceries!!!!

It was pretty awesome that after church I sat outside enjoying the warm sun, while Megan stayed inside fixing dinner.

Ham (Mike and I assisted with that part), roasted red potatoes, roasted asparagus, tossed green salad with homemade ranch, and a DELICIOUS strawberry torte for dessert.

(Oops, I think I told her I did get a photo of the fully set table filled with the pretty food. Guess I didn't.)

Lest you be thinking that Megan is nothing but a fabulous 14 year old who fixes great Easter dinners, mere hours after accompanying the church congregation on the organ...

remember, she is still 14...
This was the reaction I got earlier when I was trying to take nice Easter sibling photos.

Happy Easter!

Celebrating the Patriotic Way

The morning of President's Day (a holiday that marks the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln), somebody asked Megan and me what we were doing for the day "off." When we told him we were going to a party/dinner with a patriotic program, he kind of laughed and replied, "I didn't know anyone actually celebrated President's Day!"

It's funny, because even though it was my mother-in-law's idea to have this little party, it is TOTALLY something I would have thought of doing, and I loved everything about it. (Well except the fact that the other cousins didn't come.)

Everyone was instructed to come ready to perform something patriotic on their new stage. (The children LOVE the stage--I would have too as a child. I'm actually working up the nerve to perform something on it one of these days.)

Joshua couldn't stop smiling while he recited the pledge.

Megan eventually stopped laughing long enough to perform Yankee Doodle Dandy on the recorder.

Ellie told us the history of the song, America, The Beautiful and then sang it for us kneeling down. Not quite sure about the kneeling down part.

Luke read us his report on Thomas Jefferson that was coincidentally due at school this week, and displayed his Thomas Jefferson model made out of a soda bottle.

Let's pause for a moment and look at that cool bi-fold backdrop. Isn't that awesome? I LOVE my mother-in-laws love of America. (As long as she isn't asking me what I know about it.)

Drew got stage fright at the last minute, which so isn't like him and was thus excused from performing.

After the performances we commenced with a game of Pictionary-America Themed and then a What You Know About America, Jeopardy style.This is where I REALLY regretted the other family members not showing up. The teams consisted of my family with the questions administered by Laurie and Steve. I tell you, my in-laws KNOW America. I was hoping for questions like, "What color is the US flag?" or "What is the capital of the United States?" Neither of which were asked.

Perhaps my knowledge (or lack of) demonstrated throughout the game were part of the reason I left their house on Monday night with stacks of books to read up on before my trip to Boston this spring. (With my mother-in-law no less!)

And yes, in case you hadn't noticed, we were all wearing red, white and blue.

What a way to celebrate President's Day!
I think it should become a tradition.

Except for the What You Know About America game.

The Successful Pig

I don't do Pinterest. Not that I have anything against it, but I feel like I spend enough time on the computer for various tasks, that I've chosen not to add one more thing to my computer time.

Don't be too fooled by that noble explanation. The more accurate reason I avoid Pinterest is because the few times Megan has showed me something on it, my blood pressure rises as she scrolls through pages and pages of stuff until she finds the recipe or craft that is soooo important that I see at that exact moment.

With or without any Pinterest interests of my own, Megan and I laughed out loud when we watched this video together recently: 16 Hilarious Pinterest FAILS.

I think I laughed just as hard, actually maybe even harder as Joshua walked into school on Valentine's Day last week proudly carrying his Valentine's box.

First of all, let me clarify that I was NOT happy when I realized that for the first time in my parenting of school aged children, somebody needed MORE than just Valentines for their class.

Second of all, I'm not a fan of Valentine's Day being celebrated in school.

Third of all, I'm not a fan of having had to help prepare (or buy) 101 Valentine's (NO EXAGGERATION) for 4 of my children.

Back to Joshua's Valentine's box.

He wanted a goat shaped box. I informed him that wasn't going to happen. So after a little bit of research (with Pinterest I may add), we came up with this cute idea that Joshua deemed a suitable substitute for a goat.

(I'm not sure how to give credit for the photo. We found it HERE.)

Fortunately I had a vinegar bottle on hand that was almost empty.

Unfortunately, Megan was sick with a migraine that day and had no interest in helping.

Fortunately, Joshua was very eager to do most of the work himself.

Unfortunately, I am not a big Valentine's Day fan nor am I very crafty, therefore I had no interest in the pig being too fancy.

Fortunately, Joshua was pleased as punch and as proud as ever of his finished project.

Unfortunately, as Joshua was walking proudly into school carrying The Pig, he walked alongside children with definite Pinterest-type-Valentine-boxes, of which I'm sure not a single Kindergartener helped with.

Fortunately, Joshua didn't ever seem to notice that his Pig actually could have been a part of the aforementioned video, 16 Hilarious Pinterest FAILS.

Unfortunately, The Pig is still sitting on my desk and I don't have the heart to throw it away yet.

Fortunately, The Pig will be a favorite family Valentine's memory for years to come.

Unfortunately, I think The Pig's days on my desk are numbered, and he may meet the garbage can any day now.

Fortunately, though The Pig would certainly be considered a Pinterest FAIL, The Pig was a definite success as far as highlighting the individuality, confidence and pride of a certain little 5 year old.

Unfortunately, my other children are going to be mortified that I publicly posted photos of The Pig. They were already quite mortified that I even let Joshua take The Pig to school.

Maybe they could learn a thing or two from Joshua and The Pig.

Love, Our Way

Valentine's Day isn't really anything grand around here. Each year it's a bunch of construction paper cut-out hearts with messages for the children on them, a simple treat on everyone's breakfast plate, and a mandatory (Mike and Megan had to be reminded of that) family breakfast in the dining room.

There are never big bouquets of flowers (Mike knows I'd much prefer flowers on "just because" days not on "expected days"), expensive chocolates (although I do love the Cadbury Creme Eggs and Snickers bar I got today), or fancy jewelry (which will likely NEVER happen any day of my life).

There is however our happy (?) little family sitting around the breakfast table each Valentine's Day morning telling
1. what we love about being in our family and
2. what we love about the person to our right/left (I should have chosen 'to your left' this year!)

Immediately upon my instructions of professing our love, the teenager rolled her eyes and snidely said, "Gotta love Valentine's Day at our house."

And then,

It was Luke's turn to state something he loved about the person to his right, which this year happened to be Mike. Avoiding eye-contact with me, while glancing towards Mike, Luke announced, "I love that you don't get mad about all the little stuff Mom gets mad at."

Just as I was recovering from my subtle Valentine's Day insult, and may I add, carrying dirty dishes into the sink while everyone else scattered to get ready for school/work, Joshua following close behind me questioned, "Why does everyone have to pretend they love each other on Valentine's Day?"

So here I am, on Valentine's Day morning,
~ Having woken before anyone else to cook a warm breakfast to be ready before Mike and Megan need to leave.
~ Having lovingly written on umpteen million construction paper hearts and taped throughout the pathway to the kitchen.
~ Having placed a small little surprise on everybody's breakfast plate (including my own).
~Having given a good shot at helping my children feel love and give love on the day supposedly set apart for LOVE.

And then Mike gets one upped by me because he isn't quite as volatile as yours truly, and then Joshua thinks all our expressions of love are a giant facade?

Guess Megan's earlier comment, "Gotta love Valentine's Day at our house" really does apply.

Oh but Luke, believe it or not, Luke (who was previously skating on thin ice with me due to his perception of my short fuse), saved the day and exclaimed,

"I think Joshua means "pretending to love everyone" meaning because we have to give everyone in our classes at school Valentines not pretending to love our family."

I won't even read into it the fact that Joshua thinks he is "pretending" to love everyone rather than the hope that he truly does love everyone in his school class unconditionally.

And that's what Valentine's Day is around here.
Loving your family (some more than others because they aren't as prone to madness), and pretending to love  the kids in your school class.

Happy Valentine's Day.