memorial day

For memorial day we decided to throw one last party at our house. It was literally thrown together, but it was good to get together with friends. We had your typical BBQ and Scott had a great idea of doing our "greatest hits" The best activities we did at our past parties. So I got everything ready including foam jousting, Nerf war, donuts on a string, board and card games, and bubbles. Unfortunately we didn't really get to things the way I had planned on doing them but everyone still had a good time.
One thing I will miss is getting together with friends. Growing up in a big family I never really had to make friends they were built into the family, or I grew up with them and kept them as my friends for ever. So although I was out of my comfort zone I did make friends. I hope I have grown enough that making friends will be easier for me, but now I can get together with family and yes I can even make new friends. It sounds funny that I am an adult and I still get nervous about making friends. But I am pretty amazing, who wouldn't want to be my friend j/k

moving

Well it is 98.9% official we are moving. We can't say 100% because Scott hasn't met with the IDA (Intermountain Dental Board) yet. They still have to "approve" him and he has to go visit the practice and make sure it is what they said it was. We are excited but quite stressed. We need to be in Utah by July 1st and that means we need a renter for July 1st. The problem is that there are so many houses to rent right now that it is hard to compete with the prices. We lowered our asking price but it still seems to be a little high for most people. We are already going to have to shell out some extra cash each month to keep this place a float so we really can't afford to go any lower. I keep telling myself that all we need it 1. 1 person to want the house, so we are praying for a miracle. I have faith, it'll happen right? All I know is that the Lord has not let me down yet so as long as I am doing my part it should happen.

Here is where the stress comes in. Scott needs to make enough EXTRA money in a month to cover moving expenses, 1st month rent plus deposit for a new place, AND the extra for our current house. On top of that we planned a vacation for the 3rd week in June and as soon as we get back we need to move the house. Hopefully I can get a lot of the work done before we go on vacation. I know I could cancel the vacation but we need it.

All craziness aside I am still optimistic even if I am a little run down. So Utah ready or not here we come

moving

It is 98.9% official we are moving and oh what stress it is. trying to get everything packed cleaned and ready. Not to mention trying to keep the house clean so I can show it to everyone and their dog who wants to come see it right now. I will be in the middle of taking apart a room when I get a knock at the door. Its someone who wants to see the house. (by the way when I was packing I was not entertaining my kids so they destroyed the other parts of the house.) Needless to say my house is in constant disarray, I'm stressed out, and my kids are feeling neglected and board.
Why are we moving again?

one last Disneyland

I decided to let the kids skip school and head of to Disneyland for one last time before we move. Just me and the kids. I went on a Thurday so they only missed half a day. When we got their it was a little croweded but not unbearable so I let the kids dictate how our day was going to go. There was no plan on which "land" we should start in or what rides we had to go on, we just went and played it by ear. If the kids wanted to stand in line to see a character I didn't dissuade them. If something shiney caught their eye I let them look at it. If they wanted to go from one land across to another and back again so be it. I really wanted it to be a carefree memorable day for them.

Some of our favorite rides are Buzz Lightyear, Pirates of the Carribean, The jungle cruise. Soarin over California, and one of the kids favorite is the tea cups. They also love the rockets in tomorrowland. Favorite non rides are the innovators building, and the mark twain river boat.

Father's and Sons campout

Scott and William went to fathers and sons this year at Castaic lake

They had a lot of fun just doing guy stuff. Mostly playing with fire, eating, and football. When then boys were packing Brennen and Peter really wanted to go, so they got their own suitcases and sleeping bags, packed them with the necessities; clothes, trucks, guns, swords, and of course flashlights. Then they loaded them in the car.

William was really not on board with it. He stomped his feet and threw a fit because this was HIS time with dad. Scott was really torn. He hadn't planned on taking little boys. I was up for whatever Scott decided. In the end he distracted them with their favorite computer game and kissed them goodbye.

Scott gave an ancestry story as the program for the evening. After that they at cobbler and played in the fire.

They had a great time just hanging out with the guys. Maybe next year the little ones will get to go

Mothers day

For Mothers day this year Ellie painted this beautiful card for me and gave me a night of free babysitting.

William made this jewelry box for me with a note about how he loves me and that I weigh 400 lbs and am 70 inches tall. It was one of those fill in the blanks.

Brennen and Peter gave me loves, kisses, and laughter.

I am not really a fan of mothers day. It is always a reminder to me of the things that I should be doing better. That and there is at least one of my kids that doesn't get the memo that its mothers day. This year it was William he was being such a spoiled stinker today. It didn't matter how many chores I gave him he just wasn't gonna clean up his act. So at times like this I think that mothers day is a day for me to celebrate my mother not for me to be celebrated.

I remember the worst mother day I had was before I was a mother myself. It was shortly after my rock climbing accident and I had graduated to a walker. I was trying to get dinner ready for my mom but I was having a hard time getting around the kitchen with my back brace and broken legs. My mother seeing my struggle said "Oh Jane, just get out of the kitchen and let me do it." I know it didn't really bother her to help fix her own mothers day dinner but I felt awful. It was the first time I was mad about being an invalid, because I couldn't do for my mom what she definitely deserved. Now thanks to her I am well and doing all kinds of things I feel like I just can't do enough to repay her for what she has done for me. I love you mom. Happy Mothers Day.

Busy

My creative juices have been tapped out this week. I feel like I have been rushing, rushing, rushing. Here is what I 've been up to. My friend just bought a new house and asked me to do some paintings for her bedroom. She was doing the room in toile and asked me to paint something that went with the tolie fabric she had. Here is what I came up with. There is actually a third piece that goes on the other side of the couple picture but I forgot to take a picture of that one.


I first started out with some buildings, but for some reason it was not turning out the way I wanted it to. So I gave up on that and went with more organic forms. These were much easier to do. It just feels better for me to do natural things because of the flow. I think my problem with architecture is that you should use math to get the forced perspective just right and I would rather just let the paint brush do its thing.

Next item on my list this week was Mothers Day. I was just wracking my brain trying to come up with what to get my mom. After much stressing this is what I came up with. . . I sent her this poem

For Mothers Day I want to give you

something that I know You'll love

It includes sand from pristine beaches

and warm sunshine from up above

A fresh fruit smoothie in your hand

while sun tanned toes

play in the sand

and on your face the breeze will blow

but sadly my account is low

So, for the greatest mom on earth

this things I'd like to give you

will have to be in mini form

until the lottery comes through

One gift I can give you for sure

the greatest thing I've done

My everlasting joy in life

my daughter and my sons

Because of you, I made a choice

its one I hope you'll like

You taught me how to be a mom

and how to ride a bike

Now I can teach my children

the things that you taught me

that motherhood is more than joy

its love absolutely!!!

With this poem I sent her a "Beach in a box" I put beach sand in a jar with a label that said insert toes here. A personal fan that said "ocean breeze". Some heat patches for the "warm sun". A gift certificate for jamba juice, and a picture of my kids labeled everlasting joy.

I also had her favorite flowers sent to her school with a note that said "thanks for teaching a lefty the Wright way to do things." 'cause its always fun to get stuff at work.

After I got that all sent off It was time to work on Brennen's birthday party. And this was on top of all the other things I had to do this week. I need a nap.

Bubble birthday party

For Brennen's birthday we went with a bubble theme. Perfect for 3 and 4 year olds. Because they were young I didn't have a lot of organized activities planned. One thing I did have planned was bubble paintings. Basically you stir washable paint (I used tempra paint) in bubble solution. It took me a little experimenting to get the right paint to bubble ratio. Take a straw and just blow as many bubbles from the solutions as you want. the more the better. Then take a thick paper like card stock or construction paper, lay it on top of the bubbles and voila fun bubble picture.

The one game we had was a bubble cloud. Birthday boy stands in the middle and everyone blows as many bubbles as they can at him. After the birthday boy each kid gets a turn.

The rest of the stuff was just fun. I filled the trampoline with 150 balloons so the kids could jump in the "bubbles". A bubble machine was spurting out tons of bubbles, and a kiddie pool was also filled with bubble solution so the kids could use their imagination with all different kinds of bubble wands. We also rolled the kids around in the giant bubble we got for Easter and Ellie the bubble fairy was popping around helping the kids.

One of the favorite things was the bubble dance floor. I taped bubble wrap to the ground at the entrance of the party and the main patio. Even the grownups couldn't help but walk all over to pop away.

After the party we started cleaning up when Brennen comes up to me in all seriousness and asks. "Mom, do you think those kids had fun?"

I asked "well did YOU have fun?"

after thinking it over he said. "Ya, ya I did."

"Well buddy I bet they had fun too then."

"Oh, okay . . Good."