Needs some extra cash??

Okay, so Lou is right this minute, on his way to Target.

To pick up Mac and friends.

Mac has been playing his guitar

in front of Target-

for money.

He earned 8 dollars in less then 30 minutes!

They are spending the 8 dollars on toilet paper.

Hmmm.....wonder what they have planned

next.

I am sitting here Laughing at the thought of this picture-

oh, how I would love to have a picture!

Did they have a cup or a hat for the money?

maybe no one recognized him.

I can only hope.

p.s. I think I should take a cut in the profits.

I pay for the guitar lessons.

p.p.s secretly, I think this sounds like way too much fun.

I've always told my kids I could have been a rock star...

but I chose to be a mom instead.

Spring comes to an end...

With Summer almost upon us...

our Spring sports have come to an end! Grandma and Grandpa Whiting with the

2009 Greco State Champion.

We felt so lucky to have Gram and pa Whiting

come and share this exciting weekend with us!

They were great cheerleaders and patient

with Mac's desire for "quiet" cheering...;)

Mac has never been a fan of being the center of attention.

However, he may just need to get used to it!

Soccer is such a fun sport to watch!

Timid children-- I do not have!

And watch out, their size may be deceiving.

They will take anyone head on--

no matter the size!

I know I'm their mom,

but I also happen to think I have the

cutest soccer players on the field.

Bring on SUMMER!

1, 2, 3, 4

When this song comes on the radio,

I turn it up-- the kids know it is a favorite.

Yesterday as it came on, this is the conversation I heard from the back.

Gracie: "Oh, I love this song!"

Justin: "Is this song about our dad?"

Gracie: "Yes Justin, it's for her honey."

As you read this...

I will be off spending

10 days, 24/7

with their dad,

and

MY

"honey"

"TRICK-OR-TREAT!!".....???????

Justin and Gracie on Saturday,

April 25th ...8:30 A.M.

This is what I saw as I drove down our street
coming home from my Saturday run.

Yes, they were ACTUALLY trick-or-treating
our neighbors.
On a Saturday @ 8:30 in the morning.

AND yes, they actually got candy.
When I asked why they were trick-or-treating in APRIL?
They replied,
"We were hungry and dad wouldn't feed us!"

Oh, so dad is to blame.

Poor kids- starving, what else could they do?
I went in and asked Lou if he had seen the kids?
"ya, they are playing dress up."

love it.

"Did you know....?"

Abraham Lincoln
It was quite amazing to see Abraham Lincoln in person!
(he is shorter, but much cuter then I had expected.)

Did you know that President Lincoln would walk

20 miles-
to borrow books to read?

He was a man of honor.
In his adult life he bought a store,
and although it failed-
he repaid the debt even though it took

17 years to do so!

It was fun to learn a few new things

about this great leader.

Thanks Mr. President for visiting the 3rd grade!

Chocolate Chip soup

My niece, who has had a particularly challenging last few months...
has said that children have helped to heal her heart.

Children give perspective.
Children give love.
Children want love.
Children are a gift.

It is no wonder our Savior has said,

"....Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3-4

Not a day goes by
that I don't feel gratitude for the opportunity to be a mother.
This is not to say it is easy! It is the hardest thing I have, and will ever do.
Which makes it such a blessing in my life.
As I often (jokingly, but.. with some truth!) tell my kids,
"What doesn't kill you--will make you stronger!"
Being a mother is making me stronger.
The daily lessons I learn from being a mother
are helping me to reach my full potential,
to become the person I am suppose to be.
It is a process, two steps forward, one step back.
Not perfection, but progress nonetheless.
And gratefully, kids are resilient and forgiving.
Justin has told me-

"mom, I will always love you,even when you are mad."

I guess, I am just wanting to express my gratitude for joy.
The small and precious, daily moments of joy
that help soften the days ups and downs.

They give you perspective,
help you stop for a moment,
And feel-- really feel, the treasure that life is,
and the joy that comes from loving.

One reason I have enjoyed blogging,
is it helps me recognize the moments that make life so meaningful.
Those small, usually simple everyday moments
that will one day make up a lifetime of happy memories.
Sometimes "life" can get so busy that we miss them!
And yet they are always there if we take the time to see them.
The pictures below show one such moment.
So glad I didn't miss it.

I was enjoying a long hot shower

when 2 very excited toddlers

came running into my bathroom.

"Mom, mom, we have a surprise for you.

You're not going to believe this...

WE made DINNER for you!"

I tried to hide my fear, remember-

I had taken a long shower.

" When is everyone getting home? We have the table all set!"

It is only 9 a.m.

I am terrified to enter the kitchen.

"Close your eyes!"

I am definitely closing my eyes.

Holding my hands they proudly guide me to the table,

and to their amazing creation of Chocolate Chip Soup!

They did have the table set for 7 and had already dished some up for me to taste.

I was both stunned and relieved.

Stunned at the amount of water and dishes

that covered the kitchen in their preparation of dinner,

but also relieved,

it could have,(and has been!) sooooo much worse!

Because we wanted to eat the soup "while it was good",

we decided not to wait for the rest of the family.

We enjoyed fun conversation over an early dinner

of Chocolate Chip Soup.

And then...

went and got dressed for the day.

Wanna RACE??!

Mitch and Dad...

the proud winners of the Pinewood Derby!!

The bottom picture in the collage is a friend of Mitchell's trying to carry him to the "cheers" of the crowd! His friends were so happy for him! Mckay later confessed he had seriously considered trading out the wheels on his old derby car (without Lou and Mitch knowing,) because he really wanted Mitch to win! Mac had won 2 years in a row with these speedy wheels! However, Lou and Mitch were following all the rules. This made the big win all the sweeter! I also had to post the video below, I loved seeing him run back to see his car race.

To be 9 again!!

Way to go MITCH!!

who knew I married the pinewood derby master?

i'm such a lucky girl.