Hope of America

 Nathan has been looking forward to this 5th grade rite of passage for awhile.  Hope of America.  Ever since my Nathan started at Meadow I heard about the older kids participating in Hope of American and how cool it was and all sorts of great things.  As the years passed I got excited that it was almost our turn.  And now it was.  For a good part of the year Nathan and the rest of the 5th graders around the valley have been practicing 10 or so songs about our great country.  We even got a CD at home to practice the songs.  All of my children loved the music.  On the day of the big even Nathan's school met up with the other schools at BYU to practice all together.  Then later that night we got to go watch. 
We left home at 5:30ish so we could get Nathan there b3fore 6:30.  Traffic once off the freeway was pretty crazy and parking, like any big event, was also crazy.  We got him there in plenty of time and found pretty good seats.  We were able to find Nathan right away since he told us he was in the white line kiddie corner from the bottom of the blue square.  He is the second kid in the line and even though he had no idea where we were, it looks like he is staring right at us.

There was an hour long pre-show.  We had no idea. It kept the kids entertained but it was really loud.  Luckily I had gotten Callie to take a good nap because the actual show didn't start until 7:30.  The kids sang and sometimes their were dancers in between. 

 

At one point they had all the families of the 5th graders with people in the military come march across the floor through some flags.  Nathan's uncle is in the army, but on the note home they said "brother, sisters, parents or grandparents".  But I of course thought of my big brother the whole time.  It was really cool seeing a bunch of 11 year old's singing with pride about their country.  It was cool how the program opened and closed with a prayer (only in Utah).  It was really cool when the lights went off and the 5th graders had flashlights (my camera doesn't do it justice). 

 

 It wasn't so cool that we were stuck in parking traffic forever and didn't get home until 10:15.  But we all had a great night and the kids did really well being up as late as they were.  1 down and 3 to go.  At least we will know what to expect in the future.

Bloom Where You Are Planted

 Growing up the phrase "Bloom Where you are Planted" was a favorite among my friends.  I think it stemmed from something at Church.  We were taught to become wonderful wherever we were and whoever we were.  I heard the word bloom at the last General Conference and knew that I wanted to have this word in my house.  Every now and then I will make a new crafty wood thing to place on my shelf.  "Bloom" fits right in with spring time and I love how it turned out.  Whenever I do decide to be crafty my counter gets covered with stuff until I finish.  That means other things get neglected and the kids know they can get away with things.  As I have grown as a mother I have learned that that is definitely okay.  I used to be more stressed when things weren't how they should be, but I am so glad that I can let some things like that go.
Every week Callie and I try to make it to the library.  We have been attending story time here for 9 years.  There have been new librarians added, but I love when the same Miss Linda leads story time that did the boys every week years ago.   Callie loves story time, she LOVES picking out books and she loves when some of her friends meet us there.  For the last few weeks I have started noticing something strange.  At least it is strange to me.  While I have let go of some things, I will never let go of the fact that the library is a quiet place.  I have always taught my kids that we whisper at the library and I thought that every one else knew this as well.  But the last couple of weeks the library has felt more like a McDonald's playground.  Kids are running around through the shelves and yelling.  I know kids get excited at the library, but when I notice the moms on their phones or talking to other moms than I get really frustrated.  I hear so many people talk about how kids don't show respect, and I totally agree, but I am sure that not teaching your children to be quiet at the library is definitely part of this lack of respect.  I don't mean to offend anyone, but I just wish that some people could have more respect for certain places. 
Callie and I have had to get used to be alone this week.  We had lots of play time.  One day we built this fun zoo.  Normally with the other kids we separate animals by kind, but before I could recommend that Callie had started separating them into colors.  I love that she is growing up and learning all sorts of things.  She will be 3 in just a few weeks, crazy!

General Conference Weekend

 Every April and October my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints holds a conference for all 14 million members, and anyone else who wants to tune in.  Growing up we would have to go to our Church buildings to watch via satellite the conference, but now we can watch it in the comfort of our own home.  On Saturday we watch 2 sessions and then all the Priesthood brothers (12 and up) got to a session.  In between the sessions the kids helped Greg and I double our garden space.  We dug out the grass to put the rail road ties in and hopefully this coming weekend we will get rid of the rest of the grass and get some dirt to fill it up.  I am not sure how excited I am for a bigger garden.  This year we will use the extra space for pumpkins since my kids ALWAYS want to plant pumpkins and we haven't had any extra room.  Greg always goes to the Priesthood session with his dad and a brother or two.  (Back in the day when he had 6 brothers living around here it was quite the party).  We realized that in just 1 year Nathan will be able to join the big boys.  So exciting.
Sunday morning we decided to just hang out at home and not rush.  We watched conference and after lunch headed down to Greg's grandma's and then his moms.  Our kids love going down there.  They love seeing their great-grandparents (and I know it is more than just for the treats) and they love seeing their grandma, cousins and aunts and uncles.  We watched the final session together and then ate and played.  Luckily the rain wasn't too bad and the kids could go outside and play a little.  Greg's siblings were going through some old belongings that they were storing at Pam's and kept finding "treasures" that they passed on to my children and their cousins.  We came home with so many "treasures."  Nathan is excited to use 2 of his at his first camp out this weekend.
I love watching/listening to General Conference.  For Family Home Evening last night I brought up the 3 things that I felt were talked about the most, or at least the 3 things that stuck out to me the most.  First, our homes need to be the happiest place and the safest place.  We need to have the spirit in our homes to bless us, our children, and those that come over that may not have as happy a home.
Second, I heard the word peace over and over.  I am looking forward to going back and learning how I can achieve more peace in our life, not that everything will be perfect, but finding peace amidst the crazy life that we lead.  And third, Obedience.  The Prophet Thomas S. Monson told us that obedience is the one thing we all need to focus on.  Obedience in the home, obedience in life and obedience to God.  He promised blessings if we are more obedient.  I love hearing the words of the prophet and his apostles.  I know they are teaching us what our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ want us to hear and to know.   I can't wait to re read the talks in the next Ensign magazine that our church puts out.  What a blessing to live in such a time where a prophet speaks to us and we can hear and read his words.

 

 

 

Spring Break

 MONDAY:
April Fool's Day has always been a fun holiday around our home.  I usually do some funny food and we all try to "get" each other throughout the day.  Having it fall on a Monday, and the Monday after Easter, made me not have anything planned.  I was at the gym in the morning and so as I was kicking and punching (it's turbo kick that morning) I was thinking about what I could pull together last minute.  I decided that I would tell the kids that I had decided to drive to CA to be with my parents over Spring Break and then once we were all in the car we would drive out to breakfast in stead.  Well, I wasn't prepared enough.  When I told the boys to get their swim stuff packed, since I had gotten everything else packed and in the car, they knew instantly that I was lying.  They knew what day it was and they called me on it right away.  Ryan even ran out to the car to check on my packing skills (I should have thrown some duffel bags in the back) and promptly came back to tell me it was empty.  Annabelle and Callie on the other hand were SO excited and totally believed me.  It got to the point where Annie was so excited that I couldn't keep it up.  I told her it was April Fool's and she started to cry.  Next year we will go back to the candy eggs and bacon or mashed potatoes cupcakes.  We did have a very yummy breakfast at IHOP and then Greg headed to work and I took the kids swimming.  I love that the 3 older ones can all stand up and pretty much take care of themselves.  Callie clings to me still and this time it was a bit painful with my sunburn.  We had lots of fun though and headed home to play all day without needing to go anywhere.  I did manage to trick to of the kids friends.  One I told he couldn't use our bathroom, but would have to go home.  He promptly turned around until I told him April Fools'.  I don't know that friends very well yet, so he probably thinks I am pretty odd.  Another boy tried to doorbell ditch us as an April Fool's joke but I caught them and while I was talking to him and his friends I suddenly yelled out, "There's a lizard on your back!"  He totally bought it for a second and spun around to get a better look.  Ahh, April Fool's Day.  Goof thing it is only once a year.

 TUESDAY:
Today we just relaxed and played and made some yummy muffins.  I LOVE that I don't have anywhere I need to be and I don't have to drive kids back and forth to school or sports or other extra-curriculars.  It was a good day and I even got to go out to dinner with a few friends and chat while Greg fed the kids and put them to bed.  He showed the boys "Napoleon Dynamite".  I remember not loving that movie years ago, but the boys seemed to enjoy it when I talked to them the next day.

 WEDNESDAY:
Greg took this day off from work and wanted to take us all to the zoo.  I realized that he hadn't been to the zoo with us since Annabelle was 1-2!  I am glad he came and everyone did so well and we had smiles all day long.  Are my kids the only kids that love looking at the maps?  I remember doing that same thing as a child.  I liked to know where I was going.  Even Callie has taken up the love of maps.

 After the zoo we decided to go and see "The Art of the Brick" at a museum in Park City.  I was planning to do that later in the week, but we were already so close to park city and we had a lot of day left that we decided to check it out.  I am so glad we did because while it was cool, it was VERY small and it would have been disappointing to have driven up there just for the display.  The girls' favorites were the kitty and the castle.  Everything was made out of LEGOS.  It was pretty cool and I am glad we made it up there.

 We decided to drive the other way home, through Heber and Provo Canyon.  We stopped off at the Dairy Keen for ice cream and french fries.  The girls LOVED the trains and the train tables.  The boys got large ice cream cones so that took up the WHOLE time for them. 

 Driving through the canyon we were going to stop at Bridal Veil Falls but somehow we passed it without realizing it.  I think Greg probably saw it and didn't tell me, but either way, we missed it and we didn't want to turn around and back track.  We will make it up there later in the year.
Greg decided that day still wasn't over though and took us to Provo Beach Resort.  He took the boys on the ropes course and I took the girls into the fun house.   Callie is still pretty scared of places like this but I was determined to help her.  I was allowed to go up into the craziness and thankfully it was a lot bigger than say McDonald's so I was able to fit through everything.  At first she was scared.  You can see her head poking out from the slide picture.  I had to climb up the slide and help her go down.  But, by the end she was doing it by herself.  I got her not afraid of climbing on the rope nets by saying it was a giant spider web and we were spiders.  We sand "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" as we climbed. 

 The boys enjoyed the rope course, but admitted it was a little scary.  I loved watching them do something a little more extreme, with their dad.  I LOVE that he took this day off and that we were able to have a fun family day in the middle of the week. 

 

 When we got home we pretty much crashed the rest of the day.  I kept having to tell myself that is was Wednesday and not Saturday (the usual family fun day).  The kids all went to bed without complaint after such a fun day.
THURSDAY:
Another lazy day at home.  I am loving it.  A friend called today to chat and asked how I was holding up and is I was ready for school to start.  The question caught me off guard because usually I would say yes, but not this time.  I am loving that we have no where to go and no deadlines or expectations.  The kids cleaned the bathrooms.  Then forts were built, books read, boys have wrestled, girls have done crafts and toys were played with.  Friends have come and gone and movies have been watched.  We walked around the loop and chatted through lunch.  I have had lots of extra time to try new recipes like these yummy monkey rolls.  I love days like this.  I wish we could have more of them.  I think I will be sad on Monday when I have to get the kids up and off to school and then run errands and piano and baseball will inevitably start and scouts, ballet and gymnastics will resume and life will pick up the pace again.  For now, I am loving spring break!

 

 

 

 

 

FRIDAY
The plan had been to ride Frontrunner up to Salt Lake and go to the Discovery Gateway museum, the kids had been looking forward to it all week.  When we woke up Friday morning it was POURING!  I tried to talk them out of the whole thing, but they were undeterred.  Despite the rain in the morning and me forgetting my camera we had a wonderful day.  My camera phone just doesn't do these cute kids justice.

 We had to hop on Trax for two stops (luckily in the free zone) to get to the museum.

 My kids all called this the "ball pit" but to me a ball pit is a McDonald's playground I grew up with where you could jump into a big pit of balls.  This was Callie's favorite part, at least sometimes when you asked her.  The kids got to put balls through all sorts of tubing and other fun gizmos.

 

 All 5 of us played a couple songs using the paddles.  It sounded much better than the banging I heard most of the day.

 The next area was filled with miniature things.  A mini house where the girls played with dolls, played the piano and answered the phone.  The boys build a mini skyscraper.  There was a mini kitchen and a mini farm where they went grocery shopping and planted veggies.

 

 The water area was lots of fun and my kids could have stayed there a long time.  Filling, dumping and doing it again and again.

 We went and had lunch at the mall.  The sky was completely clear at this point and since we all had coats, we were a little hot.  We had some pizza and then headed back to see some more things.  The girls LOVED to dress up at the little theater.  Callie loved being a bear, a fairy, and a butterfly.  Annabelle was a mermaid, a frog, and the butterfly.  During the girls' dress-up time the boys were passing notes across the room to each other on a fun contraption. 

 

 

 

 Next was an area with lots of building toys.  Lots of magnets building things and blocks and tinker-toys and so many other things.  Ryan loved the paper airplane building station where you could make an airplane and then send it up in a wind tunnel.  We went outside and saw a big helicopter and waited FOREVER for a chance to sit in the front seat.  A little boy sat there for way too long.  Sometimes those kind of things annoy me.  The kids loved these giant tinker toys and had fun building creations.

 

 The boys saw this tornado tunnel thing that cost $2 and since I had cash on me (I almost never do) I decided to let them try it.  Callie demanded that she be allowed to try it also, even with Annabelle telling her how much she wouldn't like it.  And, yes, she cried and didn't like it one bit.  It was pretty short for $2 but I guess I know now not to do it again.

 I had seen a Dairy Queen at the food court and decided that since we were all sweaty we could get dilly bars.  I remember as a little girl that sometimes we could get a dilly bar after swim lessons or a swim meet.  I remember that they were 50 cents.  I had $11 for 5 of them.  2$ a pop!  I wasn't too happy, but my kids were so I learned another lesson about what not to buy.  The ride home went just as smoothly as the ride there.  I let the kids take 10 minutes each to play on my phone and we were home in no time.  Callie didn't get that much time but she'll never know, at least not until she is old enough to read this and then I am in trouble.

 I absolutely LOVED Spring break.  I loved how carefree we were and how I didn't get up every day to go to the gym so I got to sleep in.  I love how the kids didn't have time limits on playing with friends and I didn't have to nag about homework.  These next 2 months are going to be really tough with all the end of the school year excitement, ballet recitals, baseball for both boys and our Hawaii trip just around the corner.  I needed the week to relax and recoup.  I am now really looking forward to summer and a more relaxing time.