G-Man Stands Alone

Here in the great state of Utah, they do what is called Reflections...not sure how many other states do them but they didn't do it in Hawaii or Texas.  Anyway its a state wide art contest.  There are all kinds of different categories.  Bee did an amazing floral picture using dried flowers, she got a recognized award and stood among crowds of other young budding artist.  Though I am saying this not just because I am her mother, but her picture really rocked and I think the judges didn't know what they were doing. 

Well Eric took the kids a few weeks back for the awards night at their elementary school, and as I had stated Bee stood in a crowd of many, so it wasn't so obvious that her parents didn't bring a camera to capture the award ceremony night. 

When it came to the 3D art, guess who was the only one in the WHOLE school that submitted a 3D art??  Yeah G-Man....so he walked up to the stage as Eric chased down T-rex,  and when he noticed the silence, G-Man standing alone, and the principal asking if he had gotten a picture, Eric felt as a deer in headlights. Not only did he forget his camera, and his son was standing alone, and there was a large silence over the audience but he was chasing down a two year old.   

So tonight as he took the older three to the ceremony, I made sure he walked out with a camera, because what if G-Man is the only one in the district that did 3D art....can't have another one of those awkward bad parent moments again. 

BEAUTY is snow fallen on a castle.....or something like that was his title.

Roller Skater

This morning I was talking to my mom on the phone, and she mentioned that my brother was in town again. He came by the restaurant yesterday after going with some clients to get their new contracted house inspected. So I called him, well actually texted him because well I don't really like to talk on the phone much. Anyway, unfortunately he didn't drive his own car, he came up with his clients and was unable to visit us.

However to encourage my kids to clean up their mess I told them Uncle D was coming by this morning. (they did a little cleaning and well my parents ended up showing up...GREAT to see you! feel like we moved back to Texas or something....)

Bee has a tendency to all of a sudden need a nap or a drink when asked to help around. She hopped on my bed, yes I was dicating cleaning orders from under my sheets... looked at me and said "Is Uncle D still a roller skate gent?"

"I am sorry is he a what?"

"A roller skate gent...you know sells houses?"

"Oh yes he is a realtor."

It just made me laugh. Reminds me of my childhood and how I misunderstood sayings or rather said them wrong.

For example:

I always thought (and I am talking just figured it out not too long ago when I read it in a book) that the saying went "better than life spread" did not know it was "better than sliced bread"....I mean really there are a lot of better things than sliced bread like spreading life!? :)

And I'd say For Heaven Bids instead of Heaven Forbids .... I could go on but I might just embarrass myself...but anyway the Roller Skate Gent made me laugh!!

And by the way don't ask me to sing you a song because I mess up the words all the time because I hear something totally different. Or my mind turns the words around and something totally messed up comes out. I will read lyrics and think man how the heck did I miss that....well looks like I passed that great mental twisting on.

Uncle D,,,,keep skating on!

Relationships

As I was in the bathroom doing my morning business of showering, my kids were off doing who knows what. Rinsing my hair, I startled to a little hand opening up the curtain. Standing behind the beige plastic was T-Rex all covered from head to toe in water colors. It appeared he ate more than he painted.

He held up a paper with small markings and drawings at the very bottom, pointed to his work and said "Temple."

"Did you paint a temple?"

"yeshhh!" Pointing at his picture again he said "Temple."

"It is beautiful T, I love it." I do love it and am amazed that one of his favorite and new words is temple.

For those of you unfamiliar with my faith, we attend church meeting houses on Sunday, for our regular meetings and Sunday School and such. All are welcome to come and participate. Our temples are the more stunning and beautiful buildings you will see around. These buildings are sacred, and many wonderful ordinances are performed one of which is sealings, marriages that are sealed here on earth and extend through the eternities. Our marriage doesn't end at death. I am grateful for my eternal family and they truly are a blessing in my life.

I truly have been blessed not only with great parents and siblings but wonderful children. They make me laugh.

I normally don't use my children's names but my youngest daughter gets called all the time by her big sisters name. Always. I know this because when I call her by the wrong name she quickly looks at me and says "you mean Emily?"

"Yes I mean Emily" At least she knows her name.

Today at church I sat and pondered my life. And how lately I have been under a great deal of stress and depression. I get sad. I am happy. I laugh. I cry. I laugh some more. Those who know me in person, you could probably say my laugh is like a period at the end of all my statements. I'd like to consider myself a happy person.

I don't know why I am going through this depression, it has been hard. I truly know that all that is going on is for a reason, and sometime, hopefully soon, it will end like all life's trials, that are replaced by another one, hopefully one that I can handle better, and soon.

I use the word hope because I do have hope and Faith in my Heavenly Father, that this time in my life will be one I will look back on, and know I learned and grew a lot.

Days may be long but years are short. Life goes to0 fast. And I don't want to look back on this stage in my life as one where I spent too much time worrying. Kind of like how I spent my teen and young adult years worrying to0 much that I was fat, when in all reality I was not! What wasted years, because now its just killing me to get back to my "fat" days of youth. But I don't focus on it anymore, (well not as much) because it is a waste of time and energy.

Looking back on that, it sure has taught me to be happy with the moment. Enjoy life. It really is short. We are here to experience and learn and grow and to have joy.

I take the bitter to enjoy the sweet. I will take the tears to really enjoy the laughter.

My oldest daughter and I recently were sitting on the kitchen floor, I think it was ten o'clock at night, and we took out a gallon of Blue Bell Ice Cream and two spoons and sat and talked. We laughed. We ate. She looked up at me and said "Mom, when I am a mom like you, I am going to tell my daughter, how we sat on the floor at night and just talked and ate ice cream. She will think that is really great." I do hope she remembers that...and I think I need to do that more often.

And it is moments like that, that we live for. The quiet moments when we can sit with our loved ones, and not really worry about anything else and just enjoy life. Because what it all boils down to, is our relationships and those around us. I don't think they will remember how clean the house was growing up, though they remember more me yelling and getting frustrated when it wasn't clean. They aren't going to remember the outfits they wore (well other than looking in pictures) but will remember the trips to the lake, the zoo, or visiting family.

In the end, its people that matter the most. It is the relationships that we develop that help us become better people.

So in the mist of my struggles, who am I going to help? Because it boils down to that, who around us can we help?

April Showers bring May Flowers...

At least that is how the saying goes right? I really feel like that is true for my life, though it would have to go more like January and February storms and March and Aprils showers bring forth May Flowers...or something like that.

The last few months have been busy, hectic and a little tumultuous to say the least, with moving several times, several hospital incidents, job insecurity, financial instability, emotional down turns, yeah I'd say it was pretty stormy in my life lately. I know some have had it and have it worse than I do, and I am grateful for all that I have, but it still doesn't make the last few months easy on me.



However during these past few months, where I think I lay hidden in shelter from the storms, not even venturing out much to check email or blog, many wonderful flowers have sprung from my experiences, or rather during my experiences.


And because it is almost two in the morning I won't write much but will share some fun pictures that showcase the flowers of my new season of life....does that make sense?? I am tired so with out further adieu....ok not sure that is a correct phrase either......man I am tired...so my few months in photos!! About time!!
G-Man turned 8! What a major mile stone for him. He was baptized, and we are so proud of the boy he has become. He also started scouting and took second place in his first pinewood derby, and he made his car all by himself. Such a great kid!!!

Two, who I think just really needs a new nickname turned four!! I can't believe she is four years old. We love having her and she has the biggest smile that warms up any room she is in. She also today had a bad accident, milk that had been in the microwave for 2.37 minutes spilled all down the front of her. She has a few blisters and a red streak from chin to bottom of naval but is doing well for the most part, thank HEAVENS!!!



Bee our little Beauty has graduated from Kindergarten!!! It is so hard to believe that she will be going into first grade. Where does the time go?!!!


We moved!!! After living in,what has it been, four places since December, we are finally settled in a cute little bungalow close to the restaurant. It was like Christmas opening all our boxes and such that have been in storage for over a year!

T-Rex despite several hopsital stays and what turns out to be not so great lungs has lived to turn Two on Friday, I find that to just be an amazing blessing and miracle considering how active the little guy is...isn't he just the cutest?!


Eric and his Best Friend Greg are realizing their dream and opening up their own BBQ restaurant in Huntsville, Utah, come out and visit us! Starting tomorrow...umm today they will be open! We are so excited and nervous all at the same time.

Chinese Food Anyone?

Yesterday I went to the doctor...and in case you are wondering I had the lump checked about a month ago, and was scheduled for a sonogram to check it, however in the mean time I was able to pop it....guess it was a large cyst...good thing :) anyway so I went for a follow up and after which called home to see if we needed anything from the store while we I was out.

Eric said that Bee wanted Chinese food, and giggled.

I wasn't sure what was so funny about Chinese food so I asked him what the story was behind that.

While Eric, Bee and Two were sitting on the couch Bee told him "I want Chinese food for dinner."

Two looking extremely shocked, reached down, touched her bottom and said "Food for my china??"

And speaking of food, looks like we are going ahead with the restaurant, in Huntsville, Ut. Eric is up there testing the kitchen today, among other things. So if you are in Utah, either visiting or living, head up our way for some tasty Texas Style BBQ!!

We need to find a place to live, and well not sure how we are going to do it seeing we have only a few dollars to our name....oh well it will all work out!

Last night with our Chinese food we had fortune cookies and all our fortunes lead me to believe that the rocky road we have been traveling on will smooth out!

And T-Rex is doing much better thanks for asking, I mean according to his fortune he has a romantic encounter to soon happen :)

Beeisms!

Sweet Sweet Bee....

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Utah Valley but there used to be a factory called Geneva Steel. Anyway in its old place is still some kind of factory. My mom and Bee were driving to the store and she said "Look Nanny, there is one of those cloud making buildings."

Nanny says "Oh really?!"

"Yeah well that might not be an actual cloud making building and that could just be steam but there are cloud making buildings around."

Then the other morning before my dad had heart surgery, I began to fix her some lunch.

"How about some sausages (polish sausages/hot dogs) for lunch?" I asked.

Bee replied "are those the SAME sausages that made Papa sick?"

"Well yes but eat them."

Before Papa went to the hospital she asked him if she could see his scar after, he said no since it was going to be an upper thigh scar, originally. So later in the day she came up to me and asked "Well can I at least see Papa after he gets his clothes on?"

Now he is going to have a really cool scar to show her. She can't wait to see him back home. Neither can we.

And yesterday morning as I was getting the kids fed and ready for the day, I looked over and T-Rex was sitting in his high chair.

Puzzled I asked "Now how did you get in your high chair?"

Two looked over and said "It's Magic."

Oh Kids! I love their thinking

Yesterday I had the great opportunity to spend the afternoon with my sweet little Bee's Kindergarten class, even though she got emotionally upset and had a major meltdown because I was helping other students, enjoyable and entertaining it was.

Some of the things I over heard and saw:

"B (another b) has an orange in his pants."

Teacher just stops in the middle of her reading, almost with out a pause "put it in the trash, wash your hands." and goes on reading the story.


"S told L that she won't be her friend anymore."

Teacher "Well that isn't very nice now is it."


During a lesson on estimates, the teacher showed a paper with 10 coins on it. She asked the kids to guess or estimate how many are there. Several kids raised their hands. "10", "9" , "11" then she said "one more guess, L what do you think." Ummmm "how about 2"

"do you really think looking at this there are just two, this one we did before had five?"

L said "No but someone already guessed 9 which was my guess so I just threw two out there."



Then earlier that morning, Bee and I were up in my mom's bathroom getting ready for the day. I noticed that my mom had the same outfit out that she has worn all week. Well not the same clothes just the same kind of sweater and shirt just different colors. She said "do you think anyone will notice I have worn the same outfit this week?"

"I don't know, it is not like you are wearing the same thing just same style. Can you wear jeans?"

"No we can't wear jeans except on Friday."

Then Bee pipes in, I know cuz this conversation is so funny already, she says "I wish you and I were the same size, because I have the cutest brown pants with polka dots, that you could wear and that would look so cute with your sweater."

I just smiled. What a sweetie. Some days I wish I could put on her granamial pants and head out the door.

Happy Birthday BEE!

I can't believe my little girl is now SIX! where has the time gone? Before I know it she will be leaving off to college! At least I hope she goes to college...

Bee is so wonderful and truly a little blessing in our life. She was a breech baby, and the doctor made a comment..."you know what they say about breech babies...they are stubborn."

He pegged the nail on the head with that one.

But I wouldn't have her any other way. I love that she knows what she wants and she gets it. She is so observant as well, she can sit and stare for hours. Well maybe not hours, but she is watching and nothing gets passed this little girl.

She is also my little party planner. While we were in Hawaii, she and one of her friends sat on a boogy board on the sands, and planned her birthday party, yes about three months in advance, and unfortunately I didn't catch all the details because she quieted as soon as she noticed I was listening...but I caught something about no boys and makeup.

She is a girly girl and enjoys doing her hair, which I am so not a hair person...I have had the same hair dryer, or rather I had the same hair dryer since high school..until we sold our house when I used it to heat the linoleum to seal it down....anyway so I have a daughter that doesn't get her hair done much because it doesn't cross my mind, anyway not about me its about her.

Bee is emotional and sensitive, and some days her emotions run a little to high, but she truly cares and feels for people. The night before we left our Hawaiian condo to stay in a hotel, she woke up at three in the morning sobbing because she didn't get to say good bye that day to a friend. My heart broke for her. She loves people and even if she is quiet around most she really likes them.

Happy Birthday Bee!

We love you!

Side note: I spent the last hour answering my anniversary questions and the auto save failed and I lost half of it...and I am tired so I will have to try it again. I guess its the Internet Gods telling me to try again...or maybe just forget about it. Don't you just hate when your pictures don't flip the right way??

Please Leave us Alone

Yesterday the kids and I got on top of my in laws garage and swept the leaves off of it, actually we were finishing up the project that G-Man started a few days ago.

Just a little background, my in laws home is a town house situated between two other houses with big trees. We don't have any trees...see where this might be going?

Well Bee, my sweet sweet Bee, was up there sweeping and some of the leaves were given lift off and gently softly fluttered down into the neighbor's courtyard.

And by the way the neighbor came running out, you'd think the ten leaves or so, fell with a huge thud.

Out came the neighbor yelling well not quite yelling but at that moment I was inside and could hear him, telling her not to throw "your leaves" in "my" yard.

EXCUSE ME??

It made me want to hike to the top of the roof and just sweep his leaves into his yard..but I refrained and swept them into a pile and into the biodegradable green friendly bags.

BUT I was tempted. I mean really, he knows their not our leaves. And it wasn't like it was her fault...well she did help them off but really my goodness.

So want to see some cute pictures of my girls?

How could someone so cute do something that would cause the neighbor to get mad??

Keep the questions coming too!

Plastic Addiction Over

Our little Two has been addicted to sucking her Binky for three years now and for the last two weeks she hasn't used one. YEAHH, now our orthodontist bill won't be so outrageous. However we have a minor problem on our hands. No she hasn't started sucking her thumb. She found something else.

I was sleeping nice snug in my bed, when I woke up to someone stuck to my head.
Little sleeping Two was sucking my nose, I guess with out a Binky that is the way life goes.
I wiggled her off, tempting to do so in a quicky, luckily I didn't wake up with a nose hickie.
A one night mishap? No not a chance. For a few days later she tried it again.


And while you are laughing I think some did miss, the comment that Bee made about my chest.
She looked up at me and started to say, "Mom your boobies are sagging and baggy and look like mashed potatoes." Oh that was such a nice day! Now all I have running through my head is the wiggles singing a song about me. "Mashed Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Mashed potatoes, potatoes potatoes potatoes potatoes...ewww lalala ewww lalala...."

School Pics

The kids brought home their school pictures yesterday.

G-man pulled his out. As soon as I saw the envelope I knew what it was. Excited to seem them, I asked him to show them to me. As cute as he looked in the picture, I almost didn't recognize him.

Was it that he didn't have his glasses on? No.

Was it because we recently just cut off all his long hair? No, not totally

....what was it?.....

His smile, yeah that is not his smile. So I asked him: G-Man why didn't you smile?

"I guess I just wasn't happy that day!"

Then I picked up Bee from Hula and dug through her back pack to find her picture envelope. I commented to her as I was pulling them out "You got your pictures today. I can't wait to see how cute you look."

A panic stricken five year old, obviously repeating the sacred words of her teacher, screams out to me "Don't open them, you must keep them in the envelope and never take them out."

"It is really ok, I want to look at them."

"Ms. D said we must never take them out of the envelope."

Oh the trust of the five year old in the words of her beloved teacher. At least I know she listens in class.

The Prayer of all Prayers

Tonight Bee gave the family prayer of all prayers. I was giggling so hard at the end of her FIVE minute prayer, that G-man had to ask what was so funny.

So her prayer went like this more or less:

Thanks for the strength, the love and the giving that Dad gives us. For the strength, and love and giving Mom does for us. Bless us that tomorrow we can have strength to love and give to others. Thanks for others who have given us strength, and love and giving. And we give thanks for the strength and love we share and give. Please help us love to help strengthen our friends and help us give them love.

For about FIVE minutes. It cracked me up and just made me think of the Friends episode when Joey writes for the wedding.


Yeah it truly went something like this (starts around 2:00)




So remember its about having and sharing and loving and strengthening and giving.

Hula Bee!

Eric took the two the girls down town to Waikiki with her Hula Class. They rented a bus so no one had to worry about parking. She enjoyed another night of performing.

Two got to sit down with the gold man (there are men-street performers who paint themselves either gold or silver even one is in all newspapers and when you pay them they do a little performance and pose for a picture.)

While the girls were dancing the night away with their dad, the boys and I took a walk to get some ice cream and G-Man worked on writing a story.

A little Brown Girl in a little Grass Skirt...

So if you are reading this first, you are missing out on the fun filled day we had today. Well the last entry was only until 2 PM....and not to bore you with more details other than the fact that G_Man was so BORED!! He threw a fit I had never seen.

What is up?

Anyway on to a better note.





After all the fits were thrown, we headed to pick Eric up from work and go to Bee's first Hula Performance. WOO HOO! This was performed after just two classes. The first class she just stood and stared. The second class she smiled and tried to follow along. She did wonderful for just two lessons and doesn't she look so cute, hard to not love her. She smiled so much up on "stage". And for your viewing pleasure a little video.

It is kind of hard to see here but she is the second row in blue. And for some still life pictures cuz I know you want some, cuz she is just gosh darn cute here you go.