RAZOR VS. RHINO

We had a fun Memorial Day with the cousins. My older sister and her family came to visit and brought some ATV's. We went out to my Grandpa's farm to ride them. My kids LOVED it! In the end and after much testing, I think they thought the Razor was the coolest.

A's first driving experience.

My nephew and sons after getting the Rhino stuck out in the field.

My niece giving P a ride in the Razor.

P and A in the tree at the farm.

SCANDINAVIAN FESTIVUS- OH, I MEAN FESTIVAL

Memorial Day weekend is a big deal at our house. Our cute little town has a Scandinavian Festival (since the first settlers in the area were predominately Danish, and all Scandinavian).

There is a parade in the morning to start things off and we meet at my sister's. She lives on Main Street and makes us all breakfast.

Here are my niece and I showing off our bottled water we got at the parade. There was also candy, frisbees, otter pops, toys, etc... handed out. Then we went to the festival and visited some of the booths, ate lots of good stuff and then came home and hosted a BBQ on our back porch for all the relatives that had come to visit (on my side). Such a great time!

Today we went to the cemetery in town and put flowers on the graves. We have lots of relatives (close and distant) that are buried here- my parents, both sets of grandparents, my husband's brother and grandparents, many of my great 'grands', etc...

This is the day my 3rd son got his annual mohawk as well. Nice tan lines, huh. After 3 years of this tradition, I am still not a fan, but it is a father/son bonding ritual, so who cares what Mom thinks.

MHS GRADUATION 2010

My oldest is a high school graduate! Strange, but true. I am not quite sure how this happened. I am way too young to have a daughter that old. Oh well.

An interesting side note, my husband graduated from the same high school exactly 23 years before- to the day.

Here she is being announced. What a beautiful girl!

The proud family.

Here she is with a friend. Very happy girls!

THE SCHOOL YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE

We are continuing our busy end-of-the-year time...

A spoke on 'the Past' at his Middle School graduation. He did a great job! They called all the mothers of the student body officers up and gave us flowers. I was a bit embarrassed because I'd been working in the yard all afternoon, but I guess that was a lesson I needed to learn.

Our elementary has a big program in May called May Day. All the grades do a dance and the 5th grade does the May Pole.

Here is P doing her kindergarten dance about the jungle.

Little C did his 3rd grade dance to disco music. He got into it and did a great job!

FORGERY

I don't remember a time when I didn't love art and I grew up playing this game.

I'm not sure which love fed off of which, but it was a vicious cycle. I still love playing the game (I bought one on ebay because they don't make it anymore) and seeing all the works of art that are familiar either because I have studied and taught about them or just because I remember them from the game...

In the game of Masterpiece you buy and sell art. Some of the paintings are worth in the millions and some are not, but worst of all are the FORGERIES! That means you bought a painting that is a FAKE!

Here is a forgery we have at our house. My 16 year old son was in art this year and painted his own version of Starry Night by Van Gogh. I love it and am so impressed with his work! Maybe someday he'll be making millions off his own paintings and not creating forgeries...

WHAT'S HAPPENING

I know I have complained about the weather a lot this spring, but really, I mean, come on...

I just took this photo 2 minutes ago and it doesn't really do the windy/blizzardishness of the whole thing justice. This is my kids' last week of school before SUMMER VACATION! What is up?

On a cuter note...

We just got two new kitties. They are boys and their names are Todd and Kevin. We are hoping that with two they will be better off and we'll be able to keep them around. They are also in the garage with a litter box this time, so I think that will help too. My youngest is in kitten heaven!

SPRING+END OF SCHOOL= BUSY

The end of the school year is so busy. Lots of concerts, graduations, awards nights, recognitions, field trips, etc... Here are just a few of the things we have done this week, and next week is the big stuff...

This is my oldest (far right) at Lagoon for Senior Sluff. They just got off a water ride if you couldn't tell.

This is A (right) and a friend at the Middle School Arts Night concert. They have an amazing guitar program and did very well!

My guys having a discussion about strategies at the Pinewood Derby last night.

Little C had a great time even though he didn't win. He was in the top 5 at least. I am glad he is able to enjoy without winning all the time. He's such a good kid!

WEEZER FAN

My kids have gotten me into the band Weezer. They are a fun, rockin' group. Try it, you'll like it!

This video has Monty Python tendencies. Can you see what I mean?

TOMATILLO SALAD DRESSING

Cafe Rio is one of my favorite places to eat (along with the rest of the world). I found a recipe for the green dressing online and made it. It turned out so fantastic I just had to share. The best thing about making your own dressing is that you can make it as low fat as you want. I used low fat mayo and it's got so much flavor it still tastes great!

TOMATILLO DRESSING:

1 pkg. ranch dressing (buttermilk)

3 tomatillos (remove papery skin), rough chop

1 cup mayo

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup or more cilantro, rough chop

3 cloves garlic, rough chop

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tsp green tabasco sauce

juice from one lime

I just put it all in a blender and pureed as I went. It is so yummy! I HIGHLY recommend it. The link also has the recipe for the pork, so I need to try that next...

BALLET PRINCESS

P had her ballet recital tonight. She did such a good job. She is really enjoying ballet and dancing in general.

Strike a pose- where's the smile?

During the 'Swan Dance.'

After the recital with all her dancing cousins. My sister-in-law teaches and does such a fantastic job!

14 YEARS AGO

My middle son was born 14 years ago today. He is an amazing boy and I am so glad he was sent to our home. He is our straight A student and loves to play the guitar and piano (he is very talented at both).

Here he is blowing out his candles (he earned his wish) on the green cake he requested.

Here is the cutest nephew in the world!

The cousins enjoying the cake, brownies and ice cream.

RAPPELLING WITH THE YOUNG WOMEN

My new calling in our church is on the Stake Girls Camp committee. I am over certification with a good buddy of mine. We have had a great time working together and are very in sync in our thoughts. We decided to take the 4th year girls on a High Adventure this year and are headed out in June to do a canyoneering experience. They needed to learn how to rappel before that, so we took them up and let them practice last night. They did great!

It takes LOTS of guts to go over the edge...

... but on your way down it is lots of fun!

Luckily we know quite a few men that are willing to share their expertise with us. It was a great experience. I can't wait for the slot canyon this summer!

ART SHOES

I asked for some white Converse All-Stars for Christmas and my mother-in-law gave them to me. The only probably is, I didn't like them. They definitely weren't me. I felt like I was trying to be a college student.

My younger sister owns about 10 or 11 pairs of Converse in all different varieties, so I tried to get her to buy them from me. She wouldn't. So I said, "What about if I paint them?" She said she would definitely buy them if I would paint them, so I did.

I made them into Roy Lichtenstein Converse!

They turned out fun and she loves them too. We both win!

FAMILY NIGHT- HIKING & S'MORES

We had combined Family Home Evening last night and it was a great time to try out my new camera, so here are some photos of the fun activities planned by my brother- and sister-in-law.

We hiked to the 'S' on the mountain. (S is for Snow College where I teach a class). On the way, there were thoughts and scriptures to read. The kids had a good time finding them.

Here we are at the 'S'. We made it! It is a STEEP climb and the little kids did such a great job. Even my other sister-in-law that is almost 7 months pregnant made it! This is most of my in-town family from my husband's side- I love that there are so many of us.

This is the view of our little valley that I love so much. Can you tell there's another storm coming in?

Then we went back down and roasted marshmallows at the park my son just renovated for his Eagle project (behind the Hydro plant). What a fun night (and fun photos with my new camera- can you tell I am so excited??)

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO ME

I finally ordered and received my birthday present! I am so excited! I fell on top of Notch Peak last year and scratched the lens of my other camera really bad, so I have been wanting a new one for a while. I have a good friend who teaches photography at the college and she recommended the Canon G11 to me.

I've only had it a day, but have loved it so far. It is smaller (more compact) than my old Sony and takes much better quality photos. It has the point-and -shoot option as well as all the settings a pro needs. I am THRILLED!

SUN OF THE SOUTH

We just spent 24 hours in St. George and it was a blast! We all agreed it was too short, but had to get home for church Sunday, so we took what we could. We had 86 f weather down there and we LOVED it! Here are some highlights...

My boys enjoying the pool at the motel.

P and little C had fun at the city water park next to the Tabernacle. There were live bands all afternoon and tons of people, but the kids loved it!

My 4 younger kids and I on the 'waterfall' at the water park. We were so thrilled to be outside in the sunshine!!

A good friend showed us the historic Judd's Store and bought the kids some ice cream. Everything was old-fashioned and so fun.

S and big C with our friend getting ready to run the gorge section of the Virgin River. They had fun too, but not as much fun as we did... We are all ready to go back this weekend, too bad it's not an option.

MOTHERS

“Motherhood …is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.” James R. Clark

This time of year is always bittersweet for me. I love Mother's Day and all the uplifting thoughts about motherhood that are shared, however, the anniversary of my mother's death was at the beginning of the week and so I am also reminded of someone I miss (terribly sometimes).

My mom and I at my wedding reception in 1991.

My mom was a remarkable woman. She grew up in a single-parent home, her father, having had a stroke when she was 5, was shipped off to a hospital in another state never to be seen again by his family who was too poor to make the journey. He passed away when she was 12. Her mother taught school and supported her 3 girls and taught them well. So well, in fact, that when my father was killed my senior year of high school, my mother stood up to the tremendous challenges that faced her with a quiet strength that will never cease to amaze me. She was the most caring, sympathetic, generous person I have ever met and was such a great example to me. Which brings me to my mother-in-law...

My husband and his mother around 1969-70.

I know some women do not get along with their mothers-in-law, but I am a great exception to that rule. I can truly say I have the best mother-in-law in the world. She even lives in the same small town I do and we get along. She is so helpful and willing to do anything I ask of her at a moment's notice, but has never once over-stepped any bounds into my personal 'mother' space. I never hear her say an unkind word about anyone and she is always there with words of wisdom when I ask for them, but never offers any unsolicited advice. What more could you ask for?

My youngest and I last summer.

I truly love being a mother. It is the greatest honor of my life and I will always be so grateful Heavenly Father was willing to send me 5 of the most amazing children ever to come to earth. He has entrusted me with their care and I take that responsibility very seriously.

I wish all the mothers and mothers-to-be out there a Happy Mother's Day and pray we can all remember the blessings we have been given and always have the desire to teach those 'blessings' the things they need to know to make this world a better place.

RELIEF SOCIETY ART GROUP

In my church our women's group is called Relief Society. We help each other when we are in need, teach each other, and learn from each other, all the while creating relationships that will last a lifetime. It is like having a built-in group of friends.

We just started an art group that I am in charge of. Some of the ladies have art background and some of them are just starting, but I am so thrilled to be sharing my love of art with them. Our first meeting was last night and we had a great time together. We are only meeting once a month, so I gave them lots of 'homework' to work on during the rest of the month. I hope they do it (me too)...

TESTIMONY OF THE BOOK OF MORMON

I add my testimony to Elder Holland's. I know this book is true and the teachings that are in it can bring us closer to God.

Want more information? Go to this link: www.mormon.org

GAME TIME

We had such a fun Sunday afternoon! We played board games inside with the whole family (that doesn't happen much anymore) since it was so cold outside (yes, it was snowing AGAIN!). These are two of our favorites. If you haven't played them, I highly recommend you do so soon!

This is such a classic. I grew up playing this with my 'Logan cousins.' It is so fun, and gets pretty wild! But that's the best part!

This is for a bit older group, but fun nevertheless. A great way to teach your kids about geography. There are also Africa, United States and Asia versions, but this is my favorite (probably because I've always wanted to go to Europe so bad).

Try 'em, you'll like 'em!