Seven on Saturday - My Mom

With Mother's Day on Sunday - I thought that I would share with everyone 7 reasons why I love my Mom.

1. Look at the picture above - this is always how I see and think of my Mom. She may not have the fanciest clothes, she may wear the same shirts, cut off shorts and sneakers forever. But she is doing what matters most. In this picture she was sledding with her grandkids. The boots she has on are my dad's and so is the sweatshirt.

2. KYMS - that was and is her motto today - Keep your mouth shut and if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. She always lives these two rules. I know that if I told her something - it stays locked in the vault and nothing would make it come out.

3. Whenever I need to talk to someone, she is there for me. We don't live in the same neighborhood, city or state and some times even country, but I know that she is there for me. When I used to work full time before I got married, I would call her everyday. Sometimes just to say Hi and other times to cry on the phone but I loved knowing that she would be there for me with a word or two of encouragement!

4. Service - where it was making cinnamin rolls for the ladies in the ward on their birthdays, going to girls camp for thousands of years, doing whatever was asked of her, she did it and always gave 100%. I also never heard her complain when my Dad's callings took him away lots of the time. When they were called to go to Africa and back to New York - I have never heard her complain about serving. I have learned from her example to give my life in service to those around me.

5, Kids - I learned from my mom that it is more important to spend time with my kids that it is to worry about having the cleanest house on the block. I learned from her that it is okay for my kids to be dirty, for dishes to stay in the sink so I can go and play with them.

6, My Dad - I have seen how my mom supports my dad in everything he does. I am grateful to her for that example. That has helped me support Bryant in all of his crazy schedules and it has helped made our marriage stronger.

7, Small and Simple things - my mom is all about the small and simple things. For birthdays, my kids get a punching balloon for her - they think that it is the best present ever. She perfers to be behind the scene - rather than out in front of the group. She always is herself too. No matter what the situtation is.


Happy Mother's Day Mom! I love you and am so glad that you are my mom!!!

Ten on Tuesday (A few hours late)

1. Madi's 4th Grade Project - For the past few weeks, Madi and Bryant have been working on part of her 4th grade history project. She decided to do it on the Saguaro Cactus. She wanted to make one. Here is what it looked like before the part, flower and spines went on it. She was so excited to turn it in yesterday and do her oral presentaton. She got 20/20. She did a great job!

2. Hair Cut - after pictures. I hope you can see the differences in the hair cuts. The biggest change was Maya and it looks SOOOOO much better!

3. This past weekend was father and sons campout and Max and Bryant left at 4:30 am to go fishing. They caught 51 fish in a few hours. This is one of the bigger ones that Max caught! They both look forward to this weekend all year long!

4, Bryant's Birhtday - Part 1 - for his birthday, Bryant wanted to go fishing and try out his new fishing hat. Here is the first fish that he caught that day. I went with him while the kids were in school and I even caught 2 fishes and 5 craydads. He had a great time and it was a great day to spend together!

5. Bryant's birthday - Part 2 - Maya was so proud of this hat she made for Bryant for his birthday that I had to post the picture. She had it double wrapped in 2 towels and thought that she was hilarious! He also got some new sandals, fishing stuff and new fishing hat!

6. On Monday was the Spring Sing for the kids school. They all did a great job and Maya even got to introduce one of the songs! Next up - Madi's orchestra concert on May 17th - you all are invited to come join us if you want too!

7. Microwave - 18 years ago, when Kindy moved to AZ, we got an apartment together and it needed a Microwave. We bought one and the thing that we liked most about it was that after it was done cooking, it said "Enjoy your meal" Well, it was laid to rest last night. The light no longer worked -it took over 4 minutes to pop a bag of popcorn and I think it might be the cause of Maya's 11th toe. We bought a new one and WOW it heats things up so quick and is so much lighter (even though it is bigger).

8. Shun the Sun - in October of 2010, I ran my first 1/2 marathon and loved it. So much that I just signed up to do it again! So, any one who wants to run with me - I would love the company! It is a very very flat easy course in Mesa and the finish line is at home plate at the Cubs Stadium!

9. Clothes - After watching so many pictures of Kate Middleton the past week or so, I decided that I truly hate all of my clothes. I was tempted to throw them all away and go buy new ones - but when my senses kicked in, I went shopping with Kim instead and we each bought a whole outfit (including accessories) from Old Navy. We had a great time but found it was a little hard to really spend money on clothes for ourselves and not at goodwill or any other second hand store.

10. The Restoration - in Primary this month - they are learning all about the Restoration. I am so glad that I am the one doing sharing time this month. I love the church and I am so grateful that it was restored to the earth and I had lived in NY for so many years!!

1. my 3 monkeys!!! Each one of them is truly the monkey that it shows. Maya - can't find/see anything to save her life. Max can't hear me ask him to do things and Madi has started saying things with eye rolling that I wish would stop. These kids are GREAT but some times their monkeyness comes out!

2. Shooting - Bryant has always wanted to get a junior 22 for the kids to use. Well - he got 2 of them and they have gone shooting twice. The kids love it. Maya has not quite figured out how to close one eye and shoot with the other but she tries hard. Max actually has a great shot and Madi loves it too. Their favorite thing to shoot is lemons - they explode when you it them.

3. Easter Egg Hunt - we went to the Wolfleys and joined up with the Rapiers and Rostenbergs for our annual easter egg hunt. Kindy always has games for us to play - hook up and tug o war. The kids got lots of eggs and then we all had a YUMMY brunch afterward with Bakes French toast - which was DELICIOUS!!!

4. Max at Day Camp - they got to make rockets and shoot them off. He loved every minute of it!

5. The before picture of the hair cut. Madi got about 3 inches cut off with long layers 0 which she thinks makes her look like a teenager. Maya's is up to her shoulders and layed too. They both look way dfferent and great!

6. 2 Date Nights in one week - Bryant and I actually went on 2 dates at night this week, The kids slept over at the Rapiers and after they left - I called him at work and told him that they had just left for the night and if he wanted to come home for a date. He was home in a hour. Then on Saturday night - he had it off since of the Easter Egg hunt and stuff. I loved spending each and every minute with him!!

7. Easter Sunday - In church on Sunday, Madison and Max sang in the choir for the Easter program. They did a great job and loved the treats that they got afterward. I think it was the only reason why Max sang.

8. Swim Team - last week I signed up the kids of swimteam this year again. I love spending all summer at the pool. I love watching them swim their best and get better each year.

9. Max - we hit a new milestone in our home on Saturday. Max mowed the lawn for the first time and wants to keep on doing it! He did a great job for his first time. He can't wait for the lawn to grow again and to mow it again. I am sure that it won't last too long - but I will take it while I can.

10 - Food Storage - Lately, we have been focusing on getting our year supply where it needs to be. I am so grateful for Bryant and he desire for us to have plenty of food incase something was to happen. It is amazing what piece of mind it brings!

Well - hopefully I did not bore you too much! See you next week - if anyone even reads this! It is more for me as a way to keep track of what has happened in our humdrum lives!

Ten on Tuesdays

1. I am so glad that April 18th is done. I work for 3 CPA's and I have been working 5 days a week since February. I have not done that since I had Max. Very grateful for the job but even more grateful that tax season is over!

2. Cub Scout Day Camp - this past Friday night and Satruday morning - I got to go with Max and 6 other boys from our ward for Cub scout day camp. It was a lot of fun and they all had a great time. It was lots of fun to be there with Max.

3. Hair Cuts - Madi and Maya both got their hair cut. Maya got about 5 inches cut off of hers, and Madi got 2 but got some long layers put in. I will post before and after later. Madi asked me if she looks like a teenager now - she is almost 10 but she is looking older with this hair cut.

4. Primary - it is still great working in primary. I am so grateful for Tori and Hali who make my life so much easier! It would be hard to be there without them.

5. Lost teeth - for the first time Madi has actually pulled out one of her own teeth. Most of the time there is a lot of crying, but this time it happened at school and she did it all by herself.

6. Running - I have not been running nearly enough lately and the scale shows it. I have recommitted myself to start running more than 3 miles a week now that I don't have to work so much.

7. Questions - why does it seem like all 5-6 year olds love to ask questions. Maya is always asking questions - non stop. I love to listen to them and then think what wis going on inside her little brain. She asks a lot but it keeps me and Bryant on our toes.

8. Our Trampoline - the mat is in the process of dying, but I think we have found a replacement. The kids LOVE jumping on it and we love it too.

9. No pictures - sorry this week's post is without pictures. I will do better next week - I promise.

10. General Conference - I love listening to each session and love the way that I feel after conference is done. I also love listening to it on my Ipod as I run, or are just doing things around the house. It is the lift that I need each and every time!

Ten on Tuesday - March 15

1. Water and hoses - it was warmer than it had been and the kids were getting a little restless so on Saturday, they got on their swimsuits and played on the trampoline with water from the hose. They were happy and loved being outside. Once they got done on the trampoline - they decided to water the orange and lemon trees in our backyard.

2. Best seat in the house - for Christmas, I got a hammack. It has been the best with the wonderful weather we are having. It is partially in the sun and in the shade. I love to read books there while the kids are playing out side. I came back from a meeting on Sunday and found 3 of my most favorite people outside enjoying the beautiful day!

3. Bryant's gravy - I was never really a big gravy fan until I married Bryant and I think the reason why has to do with me liking HIS gravy. It is amazing and any time he makes it, the dinner is so much better!

4. Field Trip - on Friday, Bryant went with Max on this field to the Southwest Museum in Mesa. Bryant has been able to go with all three kids on their field trips. They love having him there.

5. Running - it has been 2 weeks since Del Sol and I went running for the first time on Monday. I ran without my Garmin (which times me and tells me how far/fast I am going) and without my Ipod. I loved it. I decided that I am not going to use my Garmin until April when I start training again for NW Passage.

6. Spring Break - The kids have spring break this week and I love the fact that we get a break from the usual routine. They have stayed up late every night and have been able to watch the first 4 epoisodes of Star Wars. Max is really into it and has enjoyed watching them

7. Spring Break Part 2 - because the kids are on spring break - Bryant decided to be on Spring Break too. He worked Saturday but will not be back to work until the next Saturday. He is really enjoying spending time with the kids and them with him.

8. Tax Refund - we got a tax refund a few weeks ago and are still trying to decide what to do with it - here are the options - kids bathroom, Kitchen floor and cabinets, carpet in the rest of the house and walls painted. If only our return was big enough to do it all.

9. NetFlicks - we love watching netflicks. We are able to get it instantly through the Wii and our blue ray player. The best thing is that I can pick what my kids watch and NO commericals!!!!! They just added Phinneas and Ferb - we love it!

10. Beginning of March Madness - I love this time of year. I love doing the brackets with Greg - which I always do SO bad at and this year I am doing one at work too. I love rooting for the underdog and love watching the games.

Ten of Tuesdays

Well - Here I go again.

1. Could not post my ten last week due to my internet browser was not working. But I got a new one and I was amazed how much I use the internet in a 24 hour period.

2. Del Sol Ragnar - It was the best race that I have EVER run. My combined pace for my 3 legs was 30 seconds faster than I thought - planned on running a 11 minute pace and ended up with an average pace of 10:40. It was so much fun and we had the BEST van (more pictures to come on that). I had such a good time that I signed up to run with Kris in the NW passage one in July! Can't wait to run somewhere new.

3. Blue and Gold Dinner - Max got his Wolf Badge in Cub Scouts - he wanted to beat a boy in his troop who had been in cub scouts 4 months longer than him. I never would guess he would be that competitive! Way to go Max!!

4. Tax Season - I work for a CPA firm and things are really starting to get busy. I love the fact though that they still place my family over work. I have 3 of the greatest bosses in the world!

5. Max and Braces - on Thursday Max got braces on both top and bottom and it reminded me so much of when I got them. He is doing great with hardly any complaining! The one thing that he loves about the braces is that each time he goes he gets 2 tokens and when he has 42 saved he will get a DSi - he already has 22.

6. My family - last Wednesday night at dinner we sat around the table telling stories of things that Madi, Max and Maya did when they were little. They laughed and laughed and laughed. They wanted to do it the next night too - but we had other things going on. These three pictures are ones that I love!


7. Track and Field Day - Madi participated in her school's track and field day. Here is a picture of her going over the hurdles. It was good to see her out doing things that she normally would not do.


8. Bryant - he is a great example to me of learning to love the grind. My dad told me that it is important for your husband to learn to love it so that he could make it through the years of working that are ahead of them. Right now - things are not the greatest at work but he still goes each and every day because he has learned to love the grind.

9. Lehi Rodeo Days - on Saturday, we went to Lehi Rodeo days and had a great time. Maya wanted the Mutten (sp?) busting and can't wait to do it next year. They got to go for horse rides, pet goats, chickens, rabbits and a tortise and eat cotton candy.

10. Friends - I have been blessed with some of the most amazing friends. They help me in so many different ways. I sure hope that I can return the favor to them in some very small way. This also includes my sisters - each one of them are an example to me - maybe one day I can grow up to be like them!

Ten on Tuesday

1. Eating lunch with Madi and Max at School. It was great to see who their school friends are and spend time with them. They each were there for about 15 minutes. It was fun to spend time with them and see who some of their friends were - Madi came last and that is why her picture is on top.

Maya had lunch first with us but I forgot to take her picture while she was eating with us!

Max had lunch with us too.

2. Madi sleeping - I feel sorry for whoever she marries - she likes to sleep diagonal and with the covers wrapped all around her - her future husband has no chance at all!

3. Max living it up in his bedroom - Max's room is officially our guest room and he gets kicked out whenever people come for a visit. But there are benefits of it - for example - the flat screen TV that just got put up on the wall that Max can watch Qubo on when he asks. He loves being the king of the remote control.

4. Maya and her sense of style - If you look, she has jeans on, a jean jumper and she ended up wearing 2 different jackets to school as well. Bryant calls her our Punky Brewster when it comes to her style. She knows what she likes and does not like. Hopefully the laying look will either come back into style soon or her will change her mind. The one thing that she insists upon is being modest.

5, Running - on Saturday I did something that I have never done before - I actually ran with someone and talked with them the whole time. It was the first time and hopefully not the last. THanks Kim for being willing to go slower so that we could chat! It made the run that much better and quicker!

6. Something new - I canned chicken on saturday. I know that it does not sound exciting but our Relief Society is doing it each month and I was asked to go - it ended up being a lot of fun and the chicken does not taste too bad either!

7. Saturday Afternoon and evening - Bryant works Saturday afternoon and evening which makes our social life less that what it used to be. But Saturday afternoon - Tori and I went and got pedicures and after had dinner with the Jamesons and Robinsons. I was grateful that they were willing for a 5th wheel during dinner, the Saturday evening session of Stake Conference and at Bahama Bucks afterward. I love good friends!

8. Sunday's - we got done with Church at noon. It was a fantastic day - the Rapiers and Wolfley's came over for dinner and everyone had a great time! One of the best things was the way that the kids picked up the mess when the cousins left!

9. Tonight - Max is getting his Wolf Badge for Cub Scouts. He has worked hard for it since October and can't wait for the Blue and Gold Dinner to receive it! Way to go Max

10. Rain - it rained on SAturday and Sunday and it was GREAT!!! It was cold and the kids and I loved it. Bryant - not so much. He had to work in it which makes things a little chilly!

Hopefully these aren't too boring - but it is a way for me to keep track of the things in my life!