Running and Motherhood

So this morning I went running.  The air was cool and refreshing.  I have been really uptight the last couple of days and really struggling to have patience with my kids.  Which is sad.  My kids are good kids, so what is my deal.  Anyways, I started running up this hill and decided instead of suffering through it I was going to think of my mom.  I was going to try to figure out how she raised me and how I always felt so loved.  So here is what ran through my mind as I ran up a hill this morning.  My mom:  is awesome.  She loves M&M's and clean socks.  She  smells like Vanderbilt and Jergens lotion.  She always said that the best two features on her body are her ears and toes.  ( which always made me laugh)  She made breakfast for me everyday, I mean everyday,  K-12th grade.  I think of roast and mashed potatoes, hot fudge sundaes, toffee, chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, popcorn etc...etc..etc..  I think of late night talks while she was laying in bed half asleep and I was trying to figure out the world and my place in it.  I think  of her attending the temple weekly and absolutely loving it.  I think of her testimoney.  I think of how she said the two things that would break her heart was if me and my siblings didn't love each other and if we ever left the church.  I think of poetry, beautiful poetry.  I think of all of the many "hidden" talents she has.  She plays the piano and guitar.  She she draws and paints.  Sher writes poetry and plays and she has even started a couple of novels.  She is a fabulous cook.  (did I already mention that)  I think of the disappointment in her life.  I think of a stillborn baby and being so poor our power got shut off.  I think of a pair of wranger jeans that cost $40 dollars that she bought me.  When she herself had nothing and probably spent all her grocery money on me.  I think of the summers when she took a car load of kids to the beach.  I think of when she helped us with Young Womens projects.  I think of how she helped me draw a picture and enter it into the fair and I won a blue ribbon.  I think about the time I asked if I could have a few friends over after a basketball game one Friday night...  It turned out that about 40+ kids showed up and my mom just rolled with it.  She always made my friends feel welcome.  She made chili and hot chocolate after snowmobiling.  She stayed up and watched Saturday Night Live with us.  She let me be me.  She always encouraged me to go to Young Womens and made me dress appropriately.  She introduced me to the "Phantom of the Opera" and Patsy Cline.  I think of the day we pulled over to pick green apples off a tree and how she slid down a ravine, just to get a fresh green apple.  I think about her teaching me to find good bargains at DI.  I think about our red station wagon and road trips and Sunday drives.  I remember going to see her at work while I was on my lunch hour during high school.  I remember how her face lit up when she saw me and how she LOVED me.  She has always been so proud of me and has made me feel like I am such an amazing special person.  So, when I reached the top of the hill, tears were rolling down my cheeks and I realized how I want to mother. I want to spend time and share MY life with them.   I want to love unconditionally and to be fun and happy.  I want my kids to respect me and respect themselves.  I want to install self confidence and security in them. But most of all, I want them to know that I love them unconditionally and I am so so proud of who they are.... Just like my mom ALWAYS made me feel.

June

June was a crazy month for us.  I have fallen so behind with my blog I am going to do a quick catch up over the next couple of days.  June 15th was our 11th anniversary... Holy crap Batman... 11 years!   Last year for our 10 year he took me to Maui... this year we went to see the movie "Avengers."  Which is great!  I love movies and he hates them and we actually found one we both wanted to see.  We got crazy and went to dinner AND a movie.  His cute parents took our kids over night. We actually had a good 'ole date.  If anyone knows me, I really am thrilled to sit in a dark theatre with air conditioning and popcorn and a cute boy.. Enough said... So here are a couple of random shots of Chad and I over the last 11 years.  He makes me laugh and sometimes make me cry..  He is my friend and my partner.  He is the last one I see at night and the first I see in the morning... He makes my world go round!  I love you Chad!

First Grade Program~

Alex had his first grade program in May.  It was so cute.  The kids all wore their Sunday best and sang about 25 songs.  They did actions and danced.  Grandpa came with me to the program.  We were laughing cause we thought the program was long with 19 songs then we turned the program over and saw a few more.  We got the giggles.  Alex was so cute and animated.  He kept waving at me and blowing kisses to me.  I have cherished how sweet he is.  I love that he is still not too cool to show how much he loves me.  After the program, Grandpa took all of us and we went and got ice-cream. 

~Girls weekend~

So, me and the ladies (mom, Cathy, Cindy, & Courtney) got crazy and went to Provo for the weekend.   I know it sounds riveting, but we had a great time.  We went to dinner at Texas Road house and saw the show "What to expect when your expecting".  We shopped and went to the pool.  But most of all, we stayed up half the night in our jammies and laughed til we cried and then cried til we laughed.  I am so thankful for my sisters and mom.  They build me up and make me laugh.  They love me unconditionally.  They make me spunky and crazy.  They are the reason I am who I am. There isn't a day that I don't thank God for them....  I should have taken more pictures, but this is all I got!

Pre-school ~

This picture was taken before the fieldtrip to the zoo.  (L to R)  There is Shaun, Jessica, Melissa and Kaden)  He loves these big helpers!

Each senior got to talk about their little kid.  Here is Kaden and Melissa.

Zach got kind of shy.  I thought this was so sweet when he leaned on Kaden and Kaden gently re-assured him.  Like I said, this was a special group of seniors...

Zach and his buddy, Afton.  They have a love/hate relationship. 

The fabulous Ms. Erickson!

Zach and all of his big helpers!

Zach was lucky enough to go to Skyline pre-school this year!  The class was smaller so on any given day he had 2-4 big helpers.  They read stories and played games.  They sang songs and danced.  They even rode a bus to the zoo for their field trip.  Zach had a very special group of seniors this year who LOVED him and he LOVED them.  One of his big helpers, Kaden, got all choked up when he was talking about Zach at graduation.  It was so so sweet.  I just sat their and cried.  Zach had a crush on his big helper, Jessica, he always told me how beautiful she was.  She is the blonde one holding him.  His actual teacher was Ms. Erickson.  This was her last year to teach pre-school.  Which makes me so sad. He also loved Melissa and Shaun.  I am so thankful that he had the opportunity to go to preschool this year!!

Sami's first 5K....

I am sure that the month of May is way busier than December.  I would love to write up a little blurb about all the fun things that happened in May, but I am already behind so I think I will do a quick version. 

                                             Girls on the Run, 5K!

Megan, one of our running buddies and Sami and I at the end of the race!

I look like I am in a parade and doing a "royalty wave".  Sami looks like she is about to have a stroke, but she did great.  This was just a funny shot!

Wahoo, all done.  I am so proud of her...

Sami did a program through the school called "Girls on the Run."  After school two days a week they trained for a 5K.  Also, they talked about their bodies and eating healthy and being happy with who they are.  It was a fabulous program.  At the end of the program, we ran a 5K together.  It was at Sugarhouse park.  It was a really fun event.  There was music and booths and lots of people cheering us on.  Sami didn't walk at all and I think she loved her first 5K.  It was a great thing for her and I to do together....

Baseball

Tis the season for baseball....  And Alex LOVES it.  He has had a great season.  He usually plays third or shortstop. He is learning a lot and loves to bat.  I am thankful for such good men in Alex's life.  His coach is younger has a young family and still donates all this time and knowledge to these little boys.  Alex loves his coach.  He played a couple of weeks ago with another league and older boys and struck out while he was up to bat.  He felt so bad that he actually cried.  I went over and gave him a pep talk.  He told me that he didn't want to finish the game, but he did.  I was so proud of him for not giving up.  When he plays with the boys his age he is great and really enjoys it.  One of his favorite things about the baseball game is getting a ticket at the end for the snack shack!  We love to watch Alex and cheer for him.  I am so thankful for Alex and for his sweet personality.  He is so happy and willing to try new things.  Man, I love this little boy!