Bear Lake

     Two weekends ago we spent the weekend in Bear Lake.  It wasn't warm enough to swim, but we stayed in a nice cabin and did some hiking and enjoyed spending time with my family.  The first night we were there we went to pizza.  My Dad ordered with the help of my brother Adam and we ended up with one large (cheese, for the kids) and an "Old Ephraim."  Little did we know that the large was about as big as two regular pizza-shop larges and the Old Ephraim was about four feet in diameter.  WOW!  I'm so sad I didn't have my camera to document the occasion.  Needless to say, we had pizza for dinner both nights in Bear Lake. 
     I started out Saturday morning with a run with my Dad and brother Adam.  It was really fun to run with them and see the beauty of that lake. Next we went to Minnetonka Cave.  It's a small walk to the cave and then 400+ stairs inside the cave. It's full of cool formations, stalagmites and stalactites, etc.  It was very fun and amazing to think of all of the beautiful things in this earth we don't normally see.

Amazing Runners!

      At the end of the school year Draper Elementary does a fun run 5k.  This is their annual fund raiser and I love it!  I love that my kids don't have to try to sell overpriced/junky items to people who feel obligated to buy.  They just ask Grandmas and Grandpas for a donation, we donate and then we run.  It's awesome.  I was so impressed with my boys this year.  Keaton has been training with his class all year and is quite the firecracker anyhow so I knew he'd do great.  We saw him for a second at the beginning, and then he was gone.  McKay wanted to run with Tate and I (and the babies in the running stroller).  I let him know I was going to stay with Tate and it might be a little slow but he didn't care.  And so we ran, and the boys did awesome.  Tate ran a good majority of the race with Mac and I taking only a few rides on the stroller for breaks.  Up until the very last part when he had a good fall and we walked the rest.  McKay stayed with us about 2/3 of the run and then decided to go on ahead.  When we met up with Keaton at the finish he looked slightly green.  He stayed that way all day and seriously took a few days to get back to himself again, he ran that hard.  I'm so proud of them for doing so good.  Great job boys!!!  I love your guts!

Principals Pride

(Marci, this one's for you babe!!) 

      We had a great end of the school year.  I always look forward to the lazy days of summer.  It seems to me that everyone is done by the end of the year.  To boot, Mac got "Principals Pride."   Every month they choose a character trait and a child is chosen by their teacher to be highlighted for exemplifying that quality.  Perseverance was Mac's quality trait.  He has had such a wonderful teacher this year who really helped McKay with some things he was struggling with and also helped put me at ease.  Thank you Mrs. Johnson.  Great teachers truly are a gift! 

PreSchool End of Year

       What a magical time of life!  I love pre-school.  Part of this is due to the fact that I have an amazing friend who teaches it, Christina Hampton.  She was McKay's kindergarden teacher and I've told her many times that she ruined all teachers for me because she's so amazing. 
        The end of the year began with a field trip to the zoo.  It was a bit chilly, but it didn't stop the fun!  
        

 

          While we were there I made sure to take a picture of the cougar country sign.  Corey teases me about being cautious of the cougars that live in our beloved Corner Canyon that he frequents on his bike.  So now I'm totally justified....at least in my own eyes, Corey just rolled his. 

 Graduation was a hoot!  The kids did all sorts of songs with actions.  It was great.   Here is a video if you care to watch.  Awesome job Tate!  We're so proud of you! 

The Artist

    





         For the last few months McKay has been in an art class.  For any of you who know Mac he's quite creative and loves to draw and create.  It was so fun to go to his art show and see all that he'd been working on.  This is his eagle, his favorite animal. Below are a few others including his pencil sketch and a horizon picture.  Great work Mac! 

Doesn't Get Better Than This....

Seriously!!  Does it get better than babies in Cowboy (or Cowgirl) boots??  I think not.  These particular pair are a bit too big, but they'll do for romping around the house and making the mama smile.  Scottie, this one's for you little brother!! 

Avery licked my pancake this morning...

     What a wonderful Mothers Day I've had, and I'm not being facetious  for any of you who already know what I did this weekend.  Breck had been coughing for a few nights and Saturday morning he was lethargic.  So at lunch time Corey dropped Breck and I off at the doctors office on his way to Classic Skating where Keaton had a birthday party.  Breck's oxygen wasn't good so they put him on oxygen and did a breathing treatment and got a chest x-ray.  The x-ray showed that he had pneumonia.  His breathing looked alright so we left with instructions to come back that night for a check and more treatments. 

     Well, the check didn't go over well and they sent us to Primary Children's.  "Sorry to send you for Mother's Day"  they said, but I couldn't help but think "it's okay, I'm being a Mom and right now, and when Breck is sick enough to go to the hospital there is nowhere else I'd rather be."  So I spent Sunday and Monday holding and cuddling Breck while he got better.  Despite the worry that comes with illness it was great to spend time just me and him.  I held him almost the whole time and enjoyed him. 

     Corey came up with his Dad on Sunday to give Brecken a blessing.  He also brought a mothers day gift which included the book "I am a Mother" by Jane Clayson Johnson.  It's a wonderfully powerful book about her decisions about motherhood and other inspirational thoughts on the importance of motherhood.  I'd highly recommend it.  For me it's easy to know in my head that what I'm doing is important and worthwhile, but to feel of that importance is harder and quite honestly I haven't felt it for a while. 

     The combination of my weekend and this wonderful book and moments of quiet contemplation helped me feel the immense value of what I'm doing as a mother.  The best part is that I've realized it's the tedious day to day things that are so important.  You think "anyone can scrub a toilet and vacuum," but it's you who actually does, and not once or twice but day after day after day....it's enduring love expressed in housework along with every other thing you do, cook, play, listen and spend time.  

     When we got home my Mom came and we had a great "Mothers Day"  visit. She brought me a book as well called "Bedtime and Naptime and Bedtime and Naptime" by Hilary Weeks.  This was another one I'd recommend.  It's absolutely hilarious but also ties in the deeply spiritual importance of motherhood. 
     I hope you all felt it last weekend, and if you didn't I hope you will.  I really believe that when we truly realize and feel the value in what we're doing as mothers is when we'll be the mothers our children need us to be, the mothers our Heavenly Father knows we can be. 
     So to my Mom: thanks Mom for cleaning and cooking and bringing me saltines and sprite when I was sick.  Thank you for teaching me that motherhood is important and valuable work.  For teaching me that the most important place I could be is home with my kids, and for Mothering me still as a friend, confidant and cheerleader.  I love you. 
     To all my other Mother friends and family I hope you'll find the joy and feel of the importance in your mothering, just like I did this morning when Avery licked the syrup off of my pancake.