Anakin

I just love this kid! Here he is running back to the playground to rescue my keys I left on the picnic table. He loves to help out. He has perfect form when he runs, so I think we might have a track star on our hands. It's so fun to watch them grow!

He and his Daddy planted a tree in our front yard. It's our only tree in the yard--we might actually have to use a rake in a few years.

He had a great time buying the tree, planting the tree, looking at the tree.

We are at the mall play place, and he is hanging upside down. He likes to do many activities upside down!

I just love this boy! He is quite determined, exacting, little kid--as long as that determination and exactness go in the right direction--I have nothing to worry about! What a kid!

One year closer to the magical age. . . .

I had a great birthday yesterday. . . .

Anakin gave me 38 hugs!

I could give Luke 38 hugs!

Gypsy Girl and I danced the day away!

I took the kids out to eat for two meals (Mike was on the last day of his trip, and I wasn't about to cook on my birthday.) We went to the McDonald's Mall for the first meal, where my neighbor, who is also the manager, paid for our meal! Yeah for good neighbors! (She didn't even know it was my birthday.) Then I had to bribe my six year old to go to Chili's for dinner. Yummmm! The best part about going out to eat: NO DISHES!

My grade came in for my class--A--outstanding! (I got nearly a perfect grade on the final--so close to 100% yet so far away.)

I asked Luke and Anakin what they would give me if they had all the money in the world.

Anakin: I wind up robot. (I'd just bought $1.00 robots at Target, so I'm not so impressed.)

Me: I life size robot that would clean the kitchen for me?

Anakin: YES!

Luke: 537 Slinkys so you could put them together to make a robot to do all your work for you.

Aren't those the most thoughtful gifts ever! I'm really wanting that wind up robot right now--I've got dishes to do.

Mike came home at 9:30 with flowers in his hands--I was conked out on the couch by then, but I will enjoy the flowers for the rest of the week!

Stress Relief

with final exams just around the corner....

it was time for some stress relief . . .

we turned the sprinkler on to water the garden . . .

stress turned into . . .

pure joy!

Thanks kids for making finals week fun!

I took my final exam this morning--I think I did fine (which means and A, but not 100%). I still need to grade PowerPoint presentations. Then only summer, fall, winter, and summer school to go until I am a Master Teacher!

I've only been at this for three years--so I see the light at the end of a tunnel, and the next tunnel starting!

Prairie Walk

Mike, Gypsy Girl and Luke on top of the hill while Anakin and I went exploring through the tall grass.

Anakin and I went through the tall grass!

Gypsy Girl really wanted to walk in the grass, but she was just the wrong height. The grasses kept hitting her right in the face.

Part of keeping a prairie nature preserve, is setting the prairie on fire. The prairie would often burn from lightning strikes. The Native Americans would set the prairies on fire to hunt and capture American Bison. The prairie would grow back because of the deep root system of the grasses. The ash from the fires would become fertilizer. This is how the prairie got its wonderful fertile soil. Above is the new growth after the fire.

Isn't nature wonderful!

A rare thing: a picture of me with my children!
(The picture is rare, but I am often with my kids!)

Thankful Thursday

1. 

2. Legos have been in Time Out for the entire week. I haven't stepped on a lego, picked up a lego, vacuumed up a lego all week. (Is there anyway I can keep the legos in timeout?)

3. A simple "Happy Mother's Day" from the grocery store attendant. That was so sweet!

4. Dancing with Gypsy Girl--it has been so much fun!

5. Mom and me time with the boys--I like it more than they do. That's how I plan to spend my Mother's Day!

6. Just in: Mike is coming home tonight instead of tomorrow morning! The best news of all!

Ode to My Mother

When I was 12 or 13, we had an evening with our mothers at the church. We (the girls) were to come prepared to talk about a woman who we admired. I started to research one of my favorite women: Mary Fielding Smith. She was married to Hyrum Smith, went through the agonies and exodus of Missouri, lost her husband to a mob, crossed the plains by herself, and raised a prophet. I studied, wrote up my talk, and was prepared to talk about this great woman.

As we walk into the room, my friends are there with their moms, but no one has a piece of paper in their hands. The program begins--then the time comes for the girls to speak about the women they admire. Diane gets up, completely unprepared, and she talks about how wonderful her mom is. (Good save Diane! I'm sooooo glad I am prepared.) Cindy gets up--again, unprepared, again she talks about her mom. Girl after girl stands up (unprepared) and talk about how their mom is their hero. Finally, it's my turn. What to do? Submit to peer pressure--say something nice about my mom, or go with my prepared speech about Mary Fielding's faith and endurance. I mean she prayed for her oxen to be healed--can't get better than that!

Well, I think I will leave you hanging. But in a way to makeup for that fateful night, I really do admire my mother. Here is my list:

1. She raised seven beautiful children. I realize the huge amount of work it takes just to keep up with laudry, food, house. She did it! Amazing! Thanks for giving me six of my best friends!
   
2. She is always helping others: whether it's her children, people in her Branch, or her friends--she is always there for others!
   
3. She's alot of fun to do things with. Before my mission, we went to New York City three times together! We had a great time going to plays, eating out, walking through Central Park, seeing a wonderful Matisse Exhibit. That was amazing!
4. The best lunch date--can we please go out to lunch soon!
5. She is dedicated to the gospel, her family, and her friends. (Not a heirarchy)
6. Loves the arts: all types!
7. Loves NPR--thanks for helping me become a fan.
8. Dedicated to the community. (She served on the School Board for many years, and was the President when I graduated from High School. My mom actually gave me my high school diploma--can't beat that!)
   
9. Loves to travel! Is a great traveller! Loves adventure!
   
10. A wonderful grandmother--she is hosting an overnight birthday party for her six year old granddaughter. (She is driving to New York City, picking up her granddaughter and friends, then celebrating together. You can't be any cooler than that!)

So Mom, if I ever have the priveledge of meeting Mary Fielding Smith, I will have to say sorry, there is no way that you are cooler than my mom, even if you did pray oxen back to life.

Love you Mom!

I hope you get a chance to read this before Mother's Day!

Art Show!

Luke's flowers in the vase!

Luke's monkey: that he made using the pointillism technique. I've got to take him to Chicago, so he can see pointillism in real life. They have George Seurat's, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte at the Art Institute. Last year, Mike and I went for my birthday!

It took us forever to find Luke's paintings up and down the hall we went!
When we finally found them . . . .
He wouldn't stand next to them :(

I did get a picture of him standing next to the wall. The boys wanted to wear their new batman pajamas for the art show. Who am I to argue with their artistic expression!

Anakin (also expressing himself artistically) made the spider and wrote the word spider! His class made a beautiful flower garden!
Gyspy Girl had to stay in the stroller for the entire experience! Thankfully, she doesn't know how to get out of the stroller when she is all strapped in!

We also went to the book fair. Anakin has been wanting to buy The Very Hungry Caterpillar Pop-Up for a very long time. We got it--the boys love it. I think Anakin has looked at it about 20 times.

Do you have a favorite art museum or children's book?