Today I read:

I ended up liking it. It’s typical Dan Brown; smart, sciencey, edgey.

I’ve been subbing at the high school and they’ve been end of year testing so I have a lot of quiet time. I actually take issue with how they test here. It wastes SO.MUCH.TIME. In Ca they took 3 days. Day one you would take your first period class test in the morning and 2nd in the afternoon. Day 2 3rd and 4th period. And so on. Here they test by subject. Day 1 everyone in English 1 goes to the testing room and takes the test while everyone else in the school goes to a “holding room”. Day 2 everyone in Agriculture 2 goes to the testing room and everyone else goes to holding. Repeat for the next 30 days. It is ridiculous. The kids in holding literally have nothing to do. 

Disney Springs

Today all the leaders who are going to go to girls

camp this year went to the temple together. I was almost late and am so glad I made it in! It was super nice. I

Always love to go to the temple. After we went to Yellow Dog for lunch. 

This evening we had an A-Z scavenger hunt for young women. We went to Disney Springs and had each bishopric member take a group of four girls to hunt. Then we went shopping:) 

Everyone had a fun time. It was a nice night out!


Grace was in a group with the Beehives. She did a good job being the older girl and they had fun with her. She is maturing into a very caring, kind girl.

Another good book

My friend Ramona read this and recommended it. We often like the same books so I got it and read it in two days! (I was subbing at the high school so I had time). It was really good! I loved the setting (Ireland) and the story and the romance and the history.

Also what am I going to do about this hair? The kids want me to grow it long. That was rhetorical (sigh)


Last night Grace gave Ziva a shower and a blow dry. She looks so pretty. 

Birthday boy

Today is Rob’s birthday. He is 49. Next year we have to do something big! This year it was cake and an off key rendition of the happy birthday song.

Can I think of 49 things to say about my beloved? Let’s see:

1. He loves to fish!
2. A lot. That’s definitely worth at least 2.
3. He loves his new truck.
4. He keeps up on the news and world events.
5. He likes to serve.
6. He’s a good leader at work.
7. He is smart and learns new things with hard work and good brains. 
8. He remembers lots of stuff.
9. He is a good friend.
10. He likes to sing.
11. He plays the trumpet well.
12. He loves to play games on his phone.
13. He goes to the temple usually once a week.
14. He is a night owl.
15. He has a sweet tooth. 
16. He’s a good Diet Coke buddy.
17. He likes “Christmas movies”, that’s what we call action films.
18. He isn’t that awesome at playing games because if he’s losing he thinks we are cheating and leaves 🤣
19. He is pretty athletic and likes sports.
20. He loves watching Ohio State football.
21. He likes bird watching with me.
22. He is tall.
23. He has a salt and pepper beard that makes him look wise;)
24. Actually I like the beard!
25. He isn’t afraid of flying or putting his head under water. 
26. He’s a great swimmer.
27. He’s a nice grandpa.
28. He speaks one language.
29. He likes to read but doesn’t read for fun that often. 
30. He likes romantic comedies.
31. He is a light sleeper, think princess and the pea.
32. He is an excellent throw up cleaner upper. 
33. He mows the lawn. 
34. He likes dogs.
35. He likes guns.
36. He is an only child.
37. He has a ham radio license, a drivers license, a motorcycle license and a concealed carry permit.
38. He likes to travel.
39. He’s messy and doesn’t pick up after himself.
40. He doesn’t get mad when I also don’t pick up (but I try to keep things neat anyway)
41. He is artistic and likes to try things.
42. He is diligent.
43. He is looking forward to getting scuba certified, taking his kayak out on the water more and being an empty nester.
44. He is a good son and talks to his parents often.
45. He likes to listen to talk radio.
46. He likes to spend time with his family and with me.
47. He likes to grill and smoke meat.
48. He is good in a crisis.
49. He is talkative and social.

Mother’s Day

Our guest room is my favorite. Grace and I got home from church an hour after the men because we stopped so she could practice her song. Rob had already started his birthday nap so I came in here to lay down, turns out I’m not sleepy. 

Mother’s Day Sunday has my favorite musical number of the year in it.  The primary children always sing something sweet and they look so cute! This week was no different. The talks are also always sweet and about how great moms are. I know it’s  a difficult week for many. My friend Wendi hid at home rather than going to see the kids and hear the talks when her own arms are empty. Other mom’s feel like they are failing or are overwhelmed . Some are lonely because their children live far away, others sit with out a husband and wonder how on earth they will do it. My heart reaches out to those dear sisters and I hope they find peace and comfort and courage. For me it’s always been a happy day. I had children early in life and never felt the sorrow of waiting and wondering. From the first moments I was a mom I loved it. Of course it has long nights, and lots of worries and lots of work. And of course there were too many days when I knew I could have done much much better BUT I always knew I couldn’t love them more, couldn’t want better for them, and I have always felt great joy and happiness in mothering. I think I am pretty easy going so lots of mishaps were taken in stride. I am a far better mother than I am wife, or daughter or sister or friend so for me it’s a nice day. 

Some mothering favorites: 

going to McD with the kids. Especially when my 3 older girls were small. We often went and met friends at the big play area. Mom would often bring Emily and Andrea and we’d have lunch while the girls played. We colllected the happy meal toys and all kids love french fries. It had AC (so important in the desert) and was a great meeting spot.

 

Reading out loud with my kids. I read many many stories and I enjoyed them as much as they did. I never got bored reading to or with my children. Books took us to magical places, places where satyr’s collected batteries, rat’s fought for freedom, fairies lived and pirates sailed and bears could

talk and teach life lessons. 

I loved going to museums and zoos and books stores and even to Target with them. We did have our fair share of grocery store melt downs and overtired tantrums but again the good with the bad:)

Watching soccer games, starting with Dani and going down the row, dance recitals, swim meets, plays, concerts, horseback riding lessons, mathletes and chess matches, Cub Scout and Girl Scout advancements and many other highlights. I didn’t enjoy baseball and some elementary school awards ceremonies felt a little long but you take the good with the bad.

 

I love talking in the car, standing in line at Disney, and brushing the sand out of so many places after a beach day. Baking cookies and watching movies and camping and playing games and swimming in the backyard are all favorites. 

It has been 81% joyful and only 19% hard and frustrating so I feel like I have been on a blessed journey. 

I am lucky!

Fishing

Rob went fishing today.  He caught lots.

Ethan and his friends went running this morning. 8 miles. Then swimming. 

Then he and dad did yard work. 

Tonight he is at his tennis banquet.

Band Field Trip

Today was the end of year band field trip to islands of adventure! Super fun!

I was a chaperone. We rode a lot of rides and had a lot

of fun.

Here’s a tip for you: if you ride the water rides first and get soaked!, which you will here, then it helps you stay cool for awhile. I didn’t feel too hot until 3-4. 

Hogwarts was my favorite but we also rode lots of other things and it was fun too. 

One thing I love is getting to know other people. My chaperone partner was a retired NYPD officer. He was on the force during 9/11. His wife was a paramedic and her partner was actually killed there.  That was a sad day. 

Now he works for a golf company. I didn’t really understand what he does but he likes it:)

The kids spent the last hour playing manhunt on the Jurassic park playground. 

I think everyone had a great day. We ate at the 3 Broomsticks. It was super hot so by the end of the day we were pretty sweaty and melty. All the kids were great. They were funny and excited to be there and to be together and they listened and were agreeable.


Also this cute witch is my hair spirit animal. When my hair is long it looks just like hers so I was excited to see this statue:)