Too Busy.....

Seriously, this is the most chaotic week! There really is no time to blog or update, however, I do have to create a "to-do" list so I will just share it....

Tuesday

1. Sick stomach, lots of nausea, finally vomit...have to go to work, so much to do!
2. Work, after taking lots and lots of medicine to stop vomiting.
3. Take Hannah's forgotten "End of School Year Water Party" clothes to the school.
4. Track down the whereabouts of two teenage daughters who had an early out day from school.
5. Laundry, two loads.
6. Hannah - piano lessons.
7. Take Bowen to karate.
8. Cook dinner.
9. Buy graduation dinner supplies, i.e. napkins, plates, cups, forks, tablecloths, etc.
10.Print final copies of the Seminary Recognition program.
11.Order cake for graduation dinner.
12.Write cards to Courtney's friends who are graduating.
13.Caitin needs a ride to and a ride from work.

Wednesday
1. Work
2. Awards Assembly at school for Hannah.
3. Take Seminary Recognition program to printer to have 600 color copies made.
4. Pick up 100 dozen cookies and lemonade for Seminary graduation.
5. Find out what 16 year old is doing.
6. Courtney needs a ride to graduation practice at the Marriot Center at 4 PM.
7. Cook dinner.
8. Get everyone cleaned and dressed in nice clothes for seminary graduation.
9. Be at stake center early to help set up for seminary graduation.
10.Seminary graduation at 7 PM. Courtney is speaking, enjoy her talk and be the proud mother of a beautiful seminary graduate.
11.Clean up after seminary graduation program is complete.
12.Make an honest attempt to have Bowen and Hannah in bed before 10:30 PM.

Thursday

1. Work
2. Dance Festival for Bowen and Hannah.
3. Check Bowen and Hannah out of school after Dance Festival. Cheer loud for wonderful and talented first and sixth grader after performances.
4. Get Bowen and Hannah a treat and take them home.
5. Pretend you are concerned about the whereabouts of Caitlin.
6. Courtney needs the car to drive her friends to Seven Peaks for Senior Sluff Day.
7. Throw another load of laundry into the washer.
8. Back to work.
9. Look through yearbooks with much excitment. Find beautiful daughters in the yearbooks.
10.Cook dinner.
11.Clean house, people are coming to dinner tomorrow, must have clean bathrooms.
12.Caitlin needs transportation to and from work, again!
13.Get tables and chairs ready for tomorrow's dinner. Wrap graduation gift for daughter.
14.Please do two loads of laundry, otherwise there will be consequences.
15.Write "thank you" notes to teachers, especially Ms. Lish. She survived first grade with Bowen.
16.Try to sleep...feeling old because I have daughter graduating the next day and full of butterflies, a bit nervous about daughter's future and excited for her too!

Friday

1. Try to roll out of bed, not much sleep.
2. Work
3. Pick up Bowen and Hannah from school at 10:30!
4. Cheer, school's out for the summer....hurray!
5. Pick up Caitlin and take her home to help with graduation preparation.
6. Clean house...guests arriving soon.
7. Give Courtney graduation present.
8. Make food for graduation dinner.
9. Set up tables, canopy, chairs, hang poster, get balloons for graduation dinner, I love parties!
10.Pick up cake.
11.Pick up self.
12.Get family dressed again in nice and clean clothes (I hope I finished laundry, hence the consequences). Take lots of pictures of beautiful daughter and beautiful family in nice and clean clothes.
13.Hug mother, she is arriving from St. George for graduation.
14.Drive to Marriott Center.
15.Pick up leis at Marriott Center for Courtney and friends. Hug Courtney and her friends and give them their leis to wear for commencement.
16.Watch commencement and cry, cry, cry.
17.Speed home, guests are arriving, must have food out!
18.Eat, enjoy guests, watch daughter, so proud of her, cry some more.
19.Clean up dinner, bid farewell to family and friends.
20.Restrain 16 year old daughter from all activity, she has to babysit siblings.
21.Chaperone Senior "All Night Party" for a two hour shift.
22.Finally go to bed..try to sleep because next week is girl's camp!

Motherhood

The four blessings that call me MOM!










I am sending a Happy Mother's Day wish to all the mothers I know. I love you all and appreciate so much what you do everyday to shape, love, nurture and "mother" the children in your lives. Children are so precious and gifts from the heavens. Gratitude fills my heart during the Mother's Day holiday. Mothers are unselfish and kind-hearted. Some years, guilt has plagued me at this time of the year, mainly because I feel that I sometimes lack the skills of the typical "Mother of the Year." But this year my heart is full, full of the love I have for the four precious and beautiful children I have been blessed with. Full of gratitude for the stewardship of mother I have been blessed with and for the mothers that have blessed my life.

Here is what I know in my heart about mothers and motherhood:

There is NO one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has her own set of challenges, skills and abilities. Some mothers have a great sense of humor, some mothers are patient (a quality I have not yet obtained), some are silly, some are serious, some mothers organize and manage, while others live in a state of constant chaos. But, whomever the mother and whatever her talent, the important thing is that a mother loves her children deeply and prioritizes them along with her love for her husband and for her God above all else.

One of the most important things a mother can do is "live in the moment." At times I am in such a hurry to finish dinner, clean it up, finish homework, get everyone bathed and get on to the next thing that the moment is gone. Treasure the "doing" a little more and the "getting it done" a little less. Cherish each moment because they pass by so quickly.

A sense of humor is important for motherhood survival. I know this because there have been many times I have been puked on, the just cleaned windows have been kissed and touched, a portion of the brand new lawn has been dug up to make a mote for the princess castle, and the washer needed to be repaired AGAIN because of the pebbles jamming the motor. A lawn's beauty may only be temporary but a mother's humor and happiness last forever!

Love your children. Don't be afraid to express your love. Reach for your children, touch them, hold them, hug them and adorn them with kisses. Say the words, "I love you," and show them with your actions. Don't just rock your babies, but rock your twelve year olds too. Children need to feel loved and know that a mother's love is unconditional. So kiss your children even if they have peanut butter stained mouths. Hug them even when they are sticky and tell the teenagers you love them before they leave the house.

I have also learned about being a mom from my four children. This is what I have learned from them:

Courtney has taught me to play. She is great at playing. It is good to stop being all serious and play for a minute. She is creative, silly, and fun. She makes everyone around her feel loved and accepted because she takes the time to play with them. No one is ever excluded from Courtney's play time. She enjoys life because she knows how to live it. I need to be more like her and take the time to play.

Caitlin has taught me to be the best I can be. She works hard at everything she does and always achieves greatness. She is beautiful, intelligent, fun, and sweet. Everyone loves her. She knows no limits and always reaches for the stars. She is the best and will help everyone around her be their best. I need to remember that I can be great, just like Caitlin.

Hannah has taught me to appreciate the beauty that is around me. Hannah sees things that I have never seen. She appreciates the color of a red rose. She takes the time to smell it's sweet fragrance. She will stop and watch the sunset and notice the unique color it will paint the sky. She hears the birds singing and the water fall flowing. She understands the peacefulness of a star filled sky. She touches everyone with her affection and contagious laughter. I need to appreciate and love more like Hannah.

Bowen has taught me to ask questions. Don't accept the answer if you think it could be wrong. Seek, ponder and find the answers deep within your heart. Just because it is logical does not mean it is correct. He has reminded me that there may be more than ONE right answer and that learning never ends. He loves to learn and he never FORGETS! He has a sharp mind and loves to develop it. He reads, he asks, he ponders and he seeks. He seeks for truth and widsom. He will not accept things unless he feels them to be right, deep inside his heart. He loves and he learns and he smiles! I need to seek wisdom and truth like Bowen.


I am grateful to be a mom and for the moms in my life. I love my mother, my mother-in-law. I love my sister who is a great mother and my sisters-in-law. I love my grandmothers and my friends' mothers and my friends who are mothers. My life has been blessed because of you. I love those who "mother" and love and care for my children!

Happy Mother's Day!

Two Girls...One Prom

The Group Shot...everyone looks so great! The most beautiful kids in the valley!



Sisters...feel the love!



Courtney & Scott



Caitlin & Mike



The Beauties!



Courtney looking so glam!



Caitlin as a princess!



Two daughters, two dresses, two pairs of shoes, two clutch bags, lots of hairspray, shiny lipgloss, pearls, rhinestones, two pairs of fabulous earrings, some serious vanity time in front of the mirror, a zero checking account balance, a teary-eyed mom, and a million dollars worth of emotions...two girls smiling as they leave with their dates and friends to LHS Prom 2009...PRICELESS!

Courtney and Caitlin looked so beautiful and had the best time ever! Prom 2009 was a success!