Mother's Day 2011

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

To My Mrs...

It must have been 5 years ago someon asked Robyn what her profession was. She proudfully said "I create wonderful/amazing people... I'm a mother." Those who know Robyn would not be surprised by her answer and I echo her statement. Yes Mrs. you do create wonderful people. Where ever you go you have away of bringing out the best in any situation in life. I blessed to be yours.

Happy Mothers Day. With love Mr.

Not an Ordinary Saturday

Mariah began her first season of softball, and the season officially began with a parade and opening ceremonies.

Mariah's team was selected to parade in style atop engine 175...... how cool is that??

Here she is driving by and tossing candy. She later told me that she was pretty nervous to be up so high. A teammate even peed her pants!

Here's the parade rats collecting their loot. We chose a spot right at the beginning of the route and we couldn't keep up with all the candy. In the end we walked away with about 20 lbs of sugary treats -most of which has been donated to the bishop's candy jar.

The huddle before the first game of the year.

You see these big guys hanging with Logan? After the parade and a church clean up, we headed to our local grocery store for a bite to eat (if you haven't eaten breakfast at Hy-vee, you are missing out!). They happened to be celebrating their 5th anniversay and had all sorts of free food and activities going on. Logan spotted a basketball hoop set up in the parking lot amongst other carnival-type activities. To his excitement, the Barnstormers (an arena football team) were manning the stations. Since there were no other kids there yet, the football team were all shooting hoops and trash talking with each other. Observing that they were 3 times his height and with legs the size of his entire body, I figured Logan would be too intimidated to approach them. I began talking to myself- trying to get the courage to get somebody's attention so I could ask if my boy could have a turn.

Before I could pull myself together, I see Logan walk right in the middle of these massive guys, pick up a ball and say to one of them, "so, you wanna go, huh?". From there he started dribbling between his legs, and goes up for a fancy lay up (I actually caught him twisting in the air here!) and sunk it. The 300 lb. Barstorm players erupted with cheers and "oh YE-EAH's, and the game was on. Tyler and I stood there stunned. I couldn't believe he had the courage to do that! Tyler stood off to the side with the hugest smile on his face and watched his boy challenged the whole team to a game of knockout (a.k.a tornado or lighting). And wouldn't you know it, he won.

Logan walked away with an autographed tee-shirt and a smile that lasted the entire day.

Harrison opted to leave the gargantuan players alone and headed straight to the firetruck. Once again, there were no other kiddies there, so he had the fireman's full attention and made great use out of it. How great is that??

Singing Proud, Flying High

Mariah did a great job at her first grade chorus performance. I realized that day, that one of my favorite moments as a parent is when you walk in to a crowded place to watch your child, and you see them looking so hard to find you to make sure you are there. And then that special moment comes when they spot you in the crowd - your eyes meet and big waves (from me) and even bigger smiles are exchanged. You see the tension/anxiety instantly vanish from their faces. Because they know with you there, everything is okay.



Logan rocked his kite this week. He took Yoda to a whole new level and was literally screaming with excitement (at 8 in the morning on a Saturday - apologies to my neighbors) that he single handedly got his kite lifted off and soaring into the clear blue sky.




His joy at that moment was as high as the kite.


Until it tangled in the tree. It was amazing while it lasted!

Easter

I had 2 simple goals for Easter this year:

1. Less "fluff"
2. More spiritual

It was a simple, spiritual week that ended with a beautiful Easter day.

The reason for this season brings me such hope and peace. Jesus Christ died for us so that we can return to our Heavenly Father. We celebrate His victory over death and live with the peace that He lives! I am thankful for this simple,powerful knowledge.

Spring Break Hotel 2011

Since spring break fell during St. Patrick's Day, it was clear that we had no choice but to go INTERNATIONAL!



Guests checked in with suitcases in tow to our melting- pot of a lobby. Each set of streamers above the table were colors of the flags from countries we'd be traveling to. Any guesses?

... Black/White/Red = Egypt...... Blue/Green/Yellow = Brazil..... Red/Blue/White = Australia...
and Green/Orange/White = Ireland



Upon arrival, guests were assigned rooms according to their country and were given corresponding room keys.



It is no surprise the Mons' (and Chloe) had the Brazilian room.

The Murdoch's checked into the green Irish room. The Isaaks (room not pictured) headed down under to the Australian suite.

And the Giles scored with the presidential suite in Egypt.

At check in, guests filled out their requests for pre-departure snacks during meet and mingle time. Popular choices were chocolate dipped strawberries and pretzels.

Guests got out their pre-travel jitters while discussing important topics such as Justin Bieber and arm farts.

The time finally came to board the aircraft. Since we were going international, our guests each had a passport.

It was critical that they made all of their stops and received their stamps. The only way to enter the final party was to show a complete passport. Only the sophisticated and well traveled would qualify for such an event.

With flight snacks on hand and seatbelts securely fastened, we safely landed at our first destination: The Jungles of Brazil. (click on collages to enlarge)

Once we became one with the monkeys, it was time to say good-bye and head across the ocean to...... Australia!!

In Australia (a local art store), we were greeted by a professional who specialized in Aboriginal art.

He gave us an informative, brief education on the Aboriginal dotted-art technique and let our guests loose to create their own masterpieces..... and they turned out to be very impressive!

After such intense effort and concentration, our travelers were ready to deal with security once again and stamp their passports to.... Egypt!

There was no rest for the weary in Egypt. Our tourists found themselves in the middle of the Nile and had to work to get out.

In order to cross the Nile, they had to walk like Egyptians while carrying Egyptian cotton towels on their heads.

Once the Nile was behind them, they were faced with views of sand as far as the eye could see. The next challenge was a relay: Run to the pile of sand, pick up a huge handful, run back to your team and dump the sand you were carrying in a bucket and tag your teamate. I'm afraid our guests may still be washing sand out of their hair.

A few of our guests chose to have souvenir pictures taken in front of the Great Pyramids (thanks Giles!).

You can imagine that such traveling would work up quiet the appetite. We knew exactly where to go to feed such hungry bellies. A stamp to Ireland was in order!

The streets of Ireland were alive in celebration of St. Patty's Day, and green food was in abundance. Among the favorites: Lucky Charms, and Mint Oreo Cookies.

With an impressive day of travel and culture, our guests were ready to hand in their full passports in exchange for currency. Each received a purse (or for gents, a pouch) with money to spend for good eats and entertainment.

Patrons were dismissed to their rooms to change in to more appropriate party attire... pajamas!

They viewed a foreign film (Free Willy) and every purse/pouch was emptied- which meant that bellies were satisfied.

Vacation can't last forever, and alas, it was time to say good-bye. Our travelers bid each other farewell with promises to stay in touch and with memories that they will never forget.