Responsible Parenting...

Dear Kids:

When it is 9:50 p.m. and we ask what you want for dinner, Maggie Moo's is not an acceptable answer.  Neither is ice cream with chocolate sauce and bananas, though we do appreciate your nod to the fruit group.

Love, 

Mom and Dad

Sixth Grade Graduation...

was a great finale to the end of the year.  The kids are ready to move on to bigger and better, and the teachers and administrators gave them a final farewell.  The kids sang "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion, hoping to get the parents to shed some serious tears.  I was a rock.  Those around me were not.  Taylor let herself get talked into a bun for the event, and I must say she was beautiful.  One of the Grandpa's of a boy on our team told her, "You look pretty for a first baseman."

Afterwards, the sixth graders walked to the park for a farewell barbeque.  Reed and I were in charge of the food, and one of us took that job a little more seriously than the other.  The one that didn't spent a lot of time on the water slide.  There was competition to be had, and he found himself right in the middle of it.  It was  a good thing he was there because there was a major face injury that required treatment, along with another possible concussion.  I think it is safe to say that the kids had a great time, and Reed and I loved being there with her.
I am not quite sure how I feel about one of my babies moving on to Junior High, but I guess I have 104 days to get used to the idea.  

Dance Festival....

The dance festival was today and once again the kids have outdone themselves.  At our school the dance festival takes a lot of advanced preparation from the parents.  Not so much in the dancing department, though Reed and I have been working with Taylor on her shimmy, but more in the getting of a good seat.  Reed went over and laid out blankets last night, and then replaced them early this morning, so we could get front row seats.  THANK YOU DARLING!  But wouldn't you know it, when I arrived, our blankets had been scooted back, and replaced with some others.  I love people.  The perpetrator of this then had the nerve to show up, give me that look when I stared at her, and sat down directly in front of me.  Because I have absolutely no luck, she also happened to be tall, and rather husky.  People continually shock me.  Anyway, not withstanding a lesson in human nature, the dance festival was a raging success.  The kids did great and had a blast doing it.  This was Taylor's last one and the sixth grade did it up right, though I think Torey's dance had more cardio in it!  Until next year...

Memorial Day Part 2...

After we played around in the middle of nowhere, we decided to go home and try again another day.  On the way we saw a road sign which read, "Cascade Springs 7 miles," so we tried again.  This time we were winners.  Outings at Cascade Springs were a tradition when I was a girl.  We used to drive the loop, stop at "Timp Freeze," and then wander around Cascade Springs.

It is a beautiful place with a lot of wildlife.  It would be the perfect place to do a leaf collection, if you could, which you can't, because it is very wrong to remove anything from the forest.  But if you could - it would be perfect - because everything is very handily labeled.
We found this bridge that was perfect for  a family picture.  We took Niki and Jeff's, and then they took ours.  These gentlemen saw us, and for some reason, really wanted to be in our picture.  I can't blame them.  They had very relaxed poses, which we tend to like in our portraits.
And then Jeff taught me how to use the timer on my camera, which I did not even know existed.  I repel technology.  It only took two buttons to unlock a new realm of photographic possibilities.  Not only that, but running to fit into the picture before the timer went off was an adventure in and of itself!
After a day full of adventure we still managed to visit our loved ones resting in various cemeteries throughout the county.  Grandpa Duane's looks great due to my very talented Aunt Alyson.  He was a WWII veteran, a farmer, an electrician, and sometimes a rodeo clown.  Not really on the rodeo clown thing, Jammie just thought that was his career.  She was very disappointed when she found out otherwise.
We hope that you had a great weekend as well.  This looks to be a busy week with it being the last week of school.  We'll keep you posted!

Memorial Day Part 1...

Memorial Day found us waking at 5:00 a.m.  You read it right.  The kids woke me up and demanded that we get ready so we could be to the Fire Department Breakfast by 6:00.  We made it by 6:25.  We mingled with 1100 and something of our closest friends as Reed scrambled eggs, the kids bussed tables, and I held up the wall, or the sink, or flipped pancakes.  Jake was so good he received a tip, and Reed and I were instructed in the finer details of child labor laws.  It was all good.  Not nearly as awkward as I thought it would be, due to the fact we are no longer members of the department.  

Afterwards, Niki and Jeff invited us on an outing.  Our first stop was Heber City, where we dined on delicious milkshakes and fine burgers, at Granny's. 

Reed enjoyed his shake thoroughly.  Lick those lips, baby...
We then set out to find Cascade Springs.  We knew where it was, the only problem was that "The Loop" was closed, and we had to take an alternate route in.  Two roads converged in Midway, and we took the road less traveled.  We traveled along, eventually hitting a dirt road, and still we traveled.  The mountains were beautiful - and snow covered.  It looks to be a good water year.
The road wound higher and higher into the mountains, until we were almost at the summit.  Did you know that Utah means "top of the mountains?" and that is where we found ourselves when we got stuck, and could go no further.  Lucky for us, Jeff was there, and was able to pull us out.  The snow is still rather deep in some places, making those obscure roads nigh impossible to navigate.
We backed down the hill into a clearing where we learned several life lessons, the first of which was that Cascade Springs was 11 miles away from where we were.  The kids learned that fun can be had in the most unexpected places.  Taylor learned to relieve herself in the woods, after many failed attempts, due to stage fright, teasing, or the fear of critters.  Torey learned, or rather we did, that she is very nervous in the truck when making steep climbs.  She did however manage to catch Jaycie when she was running out of control down the hill.  Jake learned that no matter how far you are away from home, there are still "lunars" (aluminum cans) to be recycled, and that they can still find their way into the back of the truck to be brought home.
Stay tuned for Memorial Day Part 2.... Finding Cascade Springs.

What Fools These Mortals Be...

 Tonight we enjoyed the sixth grade class as they presented "A Midsummer's Night Dream."  Taylor did a great job as one of the narrators, and she looked fantastic.  Even wore her hair in a bun.  I would post a picture but I didn't take one with the regular camera.  Which reminds me...

Dear Reed, 

Today I went to the store and purchased a video camera.  

Love, 

Nat

So, I was recording the entire play and completely forgot that I should also take a picture.  This documenting life events for posterity can sometimes be a bit overwhelming.  I mean who can remember to take a regular picture, while at the same time recording the event in live action.  You would need more arms, or at the very least, a lovely assistant to do both jobs respectively.  I don't have either.  The dance festival is coming up and I can't even imagine the horror of trying to do both.  The pressure is about to make me crack.  Alisa, if you are reading this, can I sit by you?  Caroline, are you there? Anyone....

Loving Spring....

Now that it has finally arrived, I am loving spring.  It looks like we will only get it for a week though , because next week promises to be in the nineties.  I know this because the family weather man, Jake, felt the need to knock on the bedroom door and report the next few days temps whilst I was otherwise engaged.  Has this ever happened to anyone else?  Baseball is well underway, Jake's team is getting better and better.  The garden is coming along nicely, looks like we might get some peas this year.  Two years ago we planted peas and got a pea (singular).  Out of the whole row, we only got one.  This year hopes to be better.  School is screeching to a halt soon, but the teachers are trying to cram as much in as possible.  Loving those teachers!  We hope everyone has a great weekend.  We have got family game night which always brings plenty of entertainment!

Happy Mother's Day...

To Mom,

I love you so much.  Thank you for always being there for me and for my family.  You spent your life teaching me how to be the person I am, and I thank you for it.  You are an example of selfless service, as well as patience and long-suffering.  It couldn't have been easy raising four teenage daughters, but you survived it! Happy Mother's Day!

To Debra,

Thank you for raising a wonderful son.  I love you and appreciate all that you do for our family.  Thank you for the Sunday dinners, attending our baseball games and other events, and always being willing to help when we need you.  You are the best mother-in-law a girl could hope for.  
P.S. We hope that you have a Happy Birthday as well!

Pardon the Goofy Face, but...

Guess Who Pitched Tonight!

She did just fine.  Dad was supportive, the team was great, and Mom has just had fifteen years taken off her life.  The sudden change in speed had the poor Giants swinging five minutes before the ball arrived.  Nothing beats a little change-up to keep the game interesting.  We are also proud to announce that she ripped a shot into center field, thus ending her temporary "I am afraid of the ball" slump, due to the aforementioned double hit to the upper arm.  Today, Taylor had  a good day.

In other news, Jake hit a sweet little grounder to right field, but was otherwise devastated that their team lost.  They are a young team, and very small, but they are catching on quickly.

Torey was delighted to learn that she will be working at the candy shack this Saturday, and the timing couldn't have been better, as she is flat broke.  She has also learned that running after the foul balls for the bubblegum is not such a great idea.  This is the second time she has fallen and came up damaged due to her overzealous pursuit of sugary substances.  Torey - it is time to cut your losses.

Dear Reed - 

Next time you remove our jackets from the truck would you please tell us you did so.  I am not sure if you are aware of this, but in Utah the weather can change quickly.  This is why we keep our jackets in the truck - so we can be prepared.  This is what the Prophet teaches us, oh, and the Boy Scouts.  I am sure that you just thought you were helping, but in reality you made me waste a lot of gas because I had to drive home and get them.  Maybe next time could you just resist the urge to clean up after me?  Thanks.

Love, Nat

(Photos courtesy of The Fun Bus Photography - Documenting family events since July 2008.)

Happy Birthday Jammie!

Happy Birthday Jammie!  It seems like only yesterday you were picking up on my boyfriend.  Turns out it was only yesterday.  Although you did not win Reed, you continually win us over.  We think you are pretty great.  You're not a bad hair stylist either!  We hope you have a fantastic day and remember that WE LOVE YOU!

On a side note our family would like to welcome little baby Marielle to our family.  She was born at 12:53 a.m. on May 6, weighing in at 8 lbs. 3 oz, and 21" long.   She is a beautiful baby.  Congratulations Clint and Charisse!

And this my friends...

is why May is such a fantastic month.  I am only sad because it is on the side of my house and no one can see it.  It is spectacular. I'm wondering if I should set up a tour to the side of my yard and charge people a quarter to see it.  It could be a lucrative business venture.