Memorial Day Weekend

We used this weekend to move the rest of Jake's stuff from Moab.  Two weeks ago he got a job offer in Idaho Falls that was really good.  Only one problem, they needed him to start the next Monday.  Besides giving his job now very little notice it also didn't give us time to get him moved.  Well his last shift at EnergySolutions was last Saturday and he started at his new job last Monday so he didn't have time to bring home all his stuff.  We went the long way to Moab (through Mayfield so we could visit Grandpa Christiansen's grave) and spent most of Saturday either in my dad's truck or cleaning out the trailer in Moab.






We did go on a little side trip to a place called Gemini Bridges which was fun, Abbie said the road was too bumpy and she was afraid that we were going to crash some of the time cause it was a dirt road.

This is the view from the top of the road that we took.  That is arches in the distance.  

Ashton Preschool Graduation

Today was the final day of Preschool (Joy School) for Ashton.  We had a fun day at the park and Charly made little hats and graduation certificate for them.  We had lunch and cupcakes after they played for a while.  It has been a lot of fun the last two years doing a neighborhood co-op preschool/joyschool.  Last year we had a lot more kids involved but we  have had just as much fun this year, and it has been extra fun for Ashton because his cousin Josh got to be part of the group.  They have learned their letters, numbers, colors and such while also learning values and other important concepts.  Ashton is signed up for traditional preschool this fall and can't wait to start.  It was really windy so they are all holding onto their hats so they don't blow away.


















 Even Abbie had a good time because she got to swing most of the time.

Book Worm

I saw this idea a long time ago when Lexie was about Ashton's age and we tried to  do it then, but I made it too hard.  I recently saw something about it again and wanted to try it again.  For every book that you read whether together or alone you write the title and author on a body part and add it to the book worm.  The kids can't wait to see how long we can get him.

Snow In May???

We woke up this morning to a winter wonderland, only one problem, it is spring!!!!!  I decided to dig out some winter stuff that had long since been put away and let Ashton and Abbie (Lexie was at school) go out and play in it since HOPEFULLY it will be the last snow of the season and we won't see anymore until at least October.  I tried to get some good pictures but the kids wouldn't cooperate, my feet were freezing (I had on flip flops) and then the battery died on my camera so this is all I got.  I couldn't find any glove that would fit poor Abbie's hands so she was a popsicle when we came back inside.  And then as usual for a spring storm it was all gone by afternoon.

Early Riser??

NOT ME!!! But I've been reading this parenting book (The Ultimate Career, by Daryl Hoole) and one of the chapters in the book is on organization and time management.  One of the ideas they give comes from one of the authors daughters, she says "The closer to 6:00 am I get up, the more successful is my day."When I first read this I thought "yah right, never gonna happen at my house."  I am just not an early riser I don't like getting out of bed, once I'm up I'm usually fine, but its the getting out of bed that is the problem..  Growing up we called it being "stuck to the sheets".  I'm glad that Lexie doesn't have the same problem or she would never make it to school on time :)  But the more I've thought about what I've been learning from the book I have decided to start getting up earlier and see if it helps me keep the peace in our house.   I'm not shooting for 6 right now (I know that would be a lost cause) but I am going to get up a little earlier each week until 6 is an obtainable goal.  Hopefully it will work, and things will seem easier even if they aren't.

Lots to catch up on!!

I have been so very, very busy lately that I haven't had a chance to keep up here so today I will try.  Look down through old posts cause I add some in farther down, cause I found a great little button that lets you go back and change the date that you add an entry to your blog.  First up, baseball...  Ashton is playing in the "Rookie" league this year, which means that they hit off a pitching machine (well they get 3 tries then they get to hit off a tee.)  He is playing with kids a lot older than he is this year, and sometimes you can tell, but he holds his own.  And he surprised me by almost always being able to hit the balls pitched by the machine.  

Second, birthdays....  We have had a busy end of April first of May with birthdays. Lexie had a friend party the Friday after her birthday and then the Sunday after Abbie's we had a family party with my family and included Natalie since her birthday was just a few days before Lexie's.  Fun, fun, fun.

Third, my new calling has me busy, busy, busy.  Hence, the lack of new posts.  I'm loving it, how can you not love working with little kids.  We used the video I posted below in a leadership meeting and it was great fun putting it together.

Go Mudcats!!!

Rookie league baseball is a whole different experience for me.  Much easier than T-ball, but Ashton is younger than everyone else on his team, and sometimes he has a hard time staying focused on the game.  He is improving a lot and having a good time and that's what counts.

Waiting for his turn to bat.  We did have a mixup with their uniforms at the first of the year.  The league had the wrong ones printed so for a few games they were they Mudcat/muckdogs (that's why the sudden uniform change from red to black)

So close.  I love his face in this picture.  

Getting a little batting advise from Grandpa.  I love that my dad loves to help Ashton learn how to play baseball.  He is there every game, patient and soft spoken, helping Ashton to do his best.  

Running the bases.  Love the kid in the background balancing his mitt on his shoulder.  

Happy Mother's Day

Tears of a Woman

“Mom, why are you crying?” he asked his mom.

“Because I’m a woman” she told him.

“I don’t understand,” he said.

His mom just hugged him and said, “and you never will.” Later the little boy asked his father, “Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?”

“All women cry for no reason” was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to GOD. When GOD got on the phone the man said, “GOD, why do women cry so easily?”

GOD said:

“When I made women she had to be special. I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world; yet, gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly. This same sensitivity helps her to make a child’s boo-boo feel better and shares in her teenagers anxieties and fears.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

I gave her a tear to shed, it’s hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed. It’s her only weakness; it’s a tear for mankind.”

— Author Unknown —

Love you mom.

Primary Video

Happy Birthday Abbie

My baby is two!!!! Holy Cow times is going so fast. Although she has the attitude of a two-year-old to remind me, I can't believe that she is so old. She is my adventurous one, always trying to see if she can do something new. Right now she is in to quantifying things: big, huge, giant. Good, yummy, delicious. It is so funny. And she surprised me the other day with announcing that her cup was pink, which is was. She knows pink, purple, green, and blue, oh and chocolate(she told me that she had chocolate balloons on her birthday.)  Her sweet little smile melts anyones heart and she definetely know how to use her dimples to her advantage.  I love you Abbie, thanks for helping me see that although I am a mother I still have a lot to learn.  Love you baby girl!!!!!!!