Appreciation

I have been so grateful for the teachers my children have had this year. All three of them have been lucky enough to come away from this year with more knowledge of academics, the world, and most of all, that there are people who care about them.

In a world of constant bad news from the education system, we have really had a positive experience overall. But this year we really were at peace with the classes our children were in. We do feel that particularly in Wally's case, we were led through answers to our prayers to the spot he spent second grade. I start praying that my kids will be placed in classes that will help them thrive, in about November. I am thinking ahead to the next school year, even then.

We had some big decisions to make when it came to Wally's education this time last year.

We prayed, and then still not feeling completely at ease, moved forward with what we thought was right for him, keeping in mind that Heavenly Father would let us know through the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, if what we were doing was in fact not right.

And boy, did I learn a lesson. We were halted in our plan, two days before the school year started. I felt sick, ill. We knew that the decision we had thought may work, was not the best thing for Wally at all.

We had an understanding principal on our side, and Wally ended up in Mrs. Pawelko's class. She welcomed him, even at the eleventh hour, with open arms. And in her classroom he has thrived. She saw him for who he is. I will admit, that when it comes to academics, she even saw him more clearly than I did. I don't know if she will ever see this post, but... Thank you so much Mrs. Pawelko!

I understand that this life will never be perfect. And some school years, that may mean teachers, classes, or circumstances beyond our control, will make school less than ideal. But I was able to breath a sigh of relief so often this past school year, in not only Wally's case, but Will and Georgia's too, that I want to celebrate that. And be grateful.

Thank you Ms. Tillman, Mrs. Holme, and Mrs. Vepely, for all you have done!

So we sent a token of our appreciation to our teachers. I mixed it up all over the place this year, and sent different things to almost all the teachers.  We did lotions, notebooks, cookies, stationary, and jams.

I want to start planning now for next year's teacher gifting occasions.

So I want to know, what have you done in the past, or this year, to show your teachers love? What are your ABC's and 123's  of gifting?

All That Jazz

When it gets close to the end of the school year, it becomes school concert season. Will and Georiga both had school programs. They danced, they sang, they wowed the crowd!!! You can check it all out on my very amateur video below. Please ignore the wobbly recording, I had Walker in my lap, and the back of the balding gentleman's head, and the lack of zoom. Our flip video is not very high tech. I should have pulled out Del's iphone.

Georgia doing her marching dance, instead of looking at the camera.

Georiga and Walker could not be bothered for a picture during snack. But we did our best.

Dad and the kiddos.

Here is Will on the stage with his class. He is in the second row back, short sleeved white shirt, with the orange apron on.

Doin' The Mama Thing

I have been busy doing what moms do. The busy stuff that is hard to define. It does not make for fascinating blog reading. But it is what makes my life full, and sometimes dull, but mostly fulfilling.

I have noticed that this Spring has brought the wildlife in our area out in full force. In the past six weeks I have hit a cat, a bird, and stopped my car for a turtle and a huge wild turkey to cross the street. I little animal craziness.


Who rocks the yard sale like we rock the yard sale?
My friend Jessica and I pulled our junk together and put on my very first ever yard sale!

 It was actually a lot of fun! And a lot of work.
 And I made a surprising chunk of change, considering how far off the beaten path my house is situated! Everything we did not sell is now headed to Jessica's so she can participate in her neighborhood garage sale. So we just might even make more money!

While Jessica and I supervised the sale, our husbands supervised the children. Eight in all. They also grilled us up and great BBQ lunch!

Later that evening Del and I attended a wedding reception for a girl in our ward. In our church the time and location you go to church are determined by boundaries lines drawn through your area. You see, and work with the same people every week. It provides unity and a sense of family, and gives structure to the worship, and learning of the Gospel.
It was SO much fun! The reception included dinner and dancing. A rarity among Mormon weddings where I come from. We danced the night away. With the Relief Society President, Young Womens President, the Bishop's wife, and all the other amazing women in my ward. (okay I danced the night away until 9:15, but that is pushing my bedtime.)
I had a blast digging out my old "Thriller" and "YMCA" moves with the women in my ward while our husbands supportively watched, and dutifully showed up for the slow songs. Yes, many men had fun dancing too, but not so much Del. My moves are not what they used to be, and I have no desire to do it every weekend anymore. But it was a good thing to dust off every decade or so! I have a picture around here somewhere, but not readily available at the moment. We all kind of kept looking around at each other wondering, "Are we still fun, or what?"
When is the last time you pulled out your dancing shoes?

THIS little monster turned eighteen months on Sunday. That is a big stinkin' deal in the land of the Latter Day Saint, as eighteen months marks a baby's entrance into the church Nursery class. This means that Mom and Dad no longer have to spend the last two hours of church chasing an adventurous toddler through the hallway. Mom and Dad go to class, and baby goes to Nursery to play with toys, have a snack, and enjoy an age appropriate lesson centered on Jesus Christ, and other Gospel topics.

Speaking of adventurous toddlers. I can't turn my back for one second without this boy plugging something dangerous in to an outlet. I need to get serious about my baby proofing.

Proof of that?
When I found a hot iron, face down on my kitchen floor. Yup, Walker went into my bathroom, pulled it off the shelf. YIKES!! carried it downstairs, and plugged it in, without, (wonder of wonders,) having it hit him on the head, or getting burned! And that is just the beginning of his mischief!

But his cuteness and spunk make up for the naughtys. Love, love him and his individuality! He did pretty well joining in the play in Nursery. I only had to sit in there with him for about 20 minutes. Can't complain for the first time attending.
What are the mile-stone ages that you look forward to?

Give Me A Sign

A sign of Spring, please!

I have been given a couple over the past week. The first was when we found a little nest with four beautiful blue robbin's eggs in a tree in our backyard. This spot is a favorite with the birds, and we can count on them almost every year. The tree is right next to the gate of our backyard fence. So we come and go, past the nest constantly. Every year, the mother bird has a panic attack after every passing. Flying and flapping, and chirping her heart out. But then after a week or so, she gets a little more used to us, and last year the mother bird didn't even fly around when we lifted the kids up for peeks at the nest. She just stood on the fence next to the tree, and waited.  Del told me last night as I drove home late from a church youth activity, that the eggs had hatched! Pretty exciting around here!

Another sign is that a small plant like specimen is sent home to mom with love, from each of my children's school and recreational classes. I have gathered quit the "glass dish garden" in my window sill. It is a lovely sight.

I am loving the smell of Spring. It comes and goes daily here. Not quit able to put down roots just yet, as Winter keeps sticking it's foot back in the door. But the warm days are getting warmer, and the birds are singing. And all I know is that I have waited seven long months for this. So I am not complaining!

I am also in love with my new kitchen faucet! Thanks to my dad, she is up and running. After giving him some fits that is. And forcing him to rebuild the sprayer with parts from a cheaper hardware store version. Eye, yai, yai!  Thanks dad! The new faucet is right at home here!

And, Del is having a fancy new storage system built in our garage for me! Yay! Organization here we come!
Spring is good.
Has it found you yet? Give it my address if it has!

I love Costco flowers!

I will keep you updated on the new born baby birds as soon as I figure out a way to deal with the nervous mama during pictures.

Girly

Girl, Girly, Lady, Sissy, Sis, Miss, and sometimes, Sassy. That is what we call her, and that is what she is. Georgia is four years old today. And we use the nickname "Girl" with all the love, and joy, and sometimes, disbelief, that through all the boyish events and things that take over our home and lives, we have a baby girl in the middle of it.
And we got one strong little lady. Georgie does not mind the "boy" aspects of life. She is right in there digging for worms, climbling trees, bossing, even using a cuss word at times, and then some more bossing. She will stand up for herself, but shrink with shyness at a new experience or person. She is armed with a plastic gun in the backyard battle, but wants to watch the Royal Wedding over, and over. She is best friend to the boys, but Daddy's little girl.
She does not seek the lime light. On Sunday the Primary at church had her come to the front, and sang Happy Birthday to her. Georgia stood with her hands over her ears the entire time.
Having Georgia in my life has taught me so much about myself. And the mom I want to be. I realize that with her in my home, I need to show her what to try to become. But better. Because in  so many ways, Georgia is so much better than me. It is also a great happiness for me to see Del with our little girl. I don't think he could love anything more than his spunky, but loving red-head. I could go on and on. Because that is what it would take to cover all the aspects of who Georgia is. And she is only four. She has many sides, and levels to her personality. We are blessed to be able to watch them develop, because she is our daughter.

 And we love her so!!! Happy Birthday, Girl!