When I was One, I had just begun.

When I was Two, I was nearly new.

When I was Three, I was hardly me.

When I was Four, I was not much more.

When I was Five, I was just alive.

But now I am Six, I am clever as clever.

So I think I'll be Six now for ever and ever.

-A. A. Milne, Now we are six

Happy Birthday Bub!!

Mother's Day message and other things....

I had a wonderful Mother's Day so far, and it's just going to get better because the Survivor Finale is on tonight!

The kids surprised both Darin and I by bringing me breakfast in bed, complete with many cute notes and cards (even a book Byron and his friend Fielding had made).

I got to wear the cute picture corsage the kids had made in Primary.

Got a wonderful parenting tip in church (a woman who was dealing with a whinny child got a spray bottle and squirted him in the face).

The older 2 sang like little angels and pointed to me at the "I LOVE YOU" part.

Darin made a delicious dinner (fish tacos!!)

and we have brownies for dessert. 

A serene and peaceful Mother's Day and I felt loved.

I thought of the perfect message to share with my fellow women in the trenches of mother and grandmotherhood.  A message that had helped me to enjoy this day more than in the past. Ready for it?

It's not your fault. 

I think, as mother's we tend to take all of our children's problems or mistakes and turn the problem inward.  If only we had done more, done better, spent more_______ (whatever.... time, money, attention) our children wouldn't have this problem with their __________(whatever.... behavior, attitude, friendship issues, mental or physical problems ).  

All of the mothers I know are doing the best they possibly can with current knowledge, and resources available to us.  

That has to be enough. 

I LOVE Abe Linclon, love the man, I wrote a poem about him in 5th grade...one of my heros, but I don't like this quote: "All that I am, or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."  Don't get me wrong, it's the sweetest thing ever to say, and maybe in his case it's true.  For me, I am not going to claim everything good in my kids, just as I am not going to claim their mistakes and trials. 

and

It is not our job to create perfect children.  We just need (and this is me reminding myself) to create children who know they are loved. I think the best we can hope for is that we raise resilient children, because life is going to be hard. My Mom is my confidant, my cheerleader, my source for no-strings attached never ending love.  Sure she was a good example to me, and taught me wonderful things but she at times was a bad example and sometimes I wanted more than she could give.

But she is more than enough.

Also.....

Miriam had her dance recital on Saturday.

She did great, she is a cute little dancer.

Now its true...

The candle is blown, the wish has been made, he really truly is now 3 old years.

Soren is hilarious, he gets jokes and he can tease like a 5 year old.  When he makes a sad choice he bursts into tears and says "sorry mama! sorry mama!" over and over so it's hard to properly discipline him. Yeah, he pretty much works me over.  He jumps off of everything and loves everything.  He is especially inclined to music and sings a ton.  It helps that he loves his "music teacher" at church.

We all adore this kid.

Birthday wish#1: Spider-man cake (cupcakes)

CHECK (thanks to Miriam)

Birthday picnic with friends

CHECK (not actually requested but so very fun! )

We met at the park across from Miriam's school during her lunch hour so she could join us.  

The least I could do, she made the cupcakes after all.

Birthday Wish #2: Eat at "Stars"(Carl's Jr.)

CHECK
(how perfect that the cheap toy was Superman)

Birthday Wish #3:  Super Hero underwear

CHECK

Also...Spider-man underoos, and Spider-man Legos.

Birthday Tradition #1: Birthday Shirt (with cape for the super boy)

Birthday Tradition #2:

THE ZOO!!

(Our 1 year pass bought last year for Soren's birthday expires today.

We also told the kids we were expecting a baby who turned out to be Soren at the zoo.)

See? I was there! Here is photo proof.

It was lovely weather, we helped a little lost boy, the polar bear, river otter and seals were so fun, the legos were amazing, the leopard was making scary noises, we watched the gorilla eat her boogers.  Loved every minute of the zoo and had to be ushered out by bike security.

Once we got home it was another story.  

Soren, who didn't take a birthday nap was so over tired, Byron had growing pains and I suspect some jealousy pains as well, Miriam had a rough day at school and I think had expected to get an ice cream at the zoo which we didn't get.

They all went to bed in tears. I should have taken a picture.

Whoa! He's 3?!

Well, he's not actually.

Not until tomorrow, but he already received a birthday mail delivery from G'ma and G'pa Ray and we did some celebrating with G'ma and G'pa Rasmussen today.

Our Mr. S  is a super cute, photogenic, enthusiastic, shaggy-haired whirlwind.

Not just 1 bubble gun...not 2....but 3 bubble guns!

Grandma knows how to start a party!

The celebration is to be continued......

The Week...

The kids are outside flagging down cars to buy homemade suckers to help endangered animals. 

This is 100% all Miriam and her friend T'Anna's idea.

I love when Miriam gets these big ideas, I love that she is spending her time doing good, I love the sweet spirit that feels compassion towards "things that can't speak for themselves". 

But...wow it's exhausting, and that little girl can have a roller coaster of emotions. 

Crying over the animals, anxious about getting the suckers made, about to explode waiting for her friends to arrive, crying about the rain this morning.

Whew-eeee 

Last week we took a family trip to Brigham City for the Sense Of Wonder Day.

So fun, the kids would have held the amphibians and reptiles all day, but we also identified animals by their scat, made rock beavers, learned the life cycle of a frog, talked about water conservation and watched a documentary about ducks.

Then we drove up to Logan and raided G'pa and G'ma Ray's pantry.

For the first time ever, I trusted Miriam with my camera on a school field trip.  

She took some great pictures (as well as whole lot of blurry stuff).

The group shots were taken by their parent volunteer (thanks for going Becky!).

I got out my mom's sewing machine and hemmed 10 curtains, 3 pairs of jeans, made an apron and fixed one dress. It took 3 X the time I estimated it would take because I make so many many mistakes 

BUT I DID IT!! 

Darin helped me hang all the curtains today.  He was my handy-man..bless his guts.

He also gave Miriam a sewing lesson that she is still gushing about.  

He is a good man to have around.

Spring Break 2013

Monday:  We did chores and homework and Miriam said at least 3x "I haaate Spring Break!".  Then, a neighbor asked us to take care of their chickens for the week so the kids perked up when we went to gather eggs.

Tuesday: Chores but then I took the kids swimming at the rec center, everyone was happy. 

 I was exhausted. Checked on chickens.

Wednesday: Story time at Three Little Monkey's, Bub bought a make it yourself yo-yo with his gift certificate from the Lego competition.  Rode bikes/roller bladed/checked on chickens.

Thursday: Activity Days Spring Party! (checked on chickens) Then the zoo with cousins.

Miriam and Bub went home with them for a cousin sleep over.

Soooooo much fun! Thank you Aunt Cristin.

Friday: Picked up Darin from work early for a sushi date at Rice.

The power went out...luckily we were ordering sushi, we didn't need power.

We gave Soren his first taste of ginger...he gagged. Loved the ice cream.

Drove down to Price, stopping to pick up the kids on our way.

Saturday: Conference and playing in the dirt with cousins.

(Bub and Tatum wanted to pose by the "cat door" which is really the irrigation gate but a stray cat did come through it.

Had a birthday picnic to celebrate Uncle Erik's birthday.

That night was the flashlight hunt at Grandpa Young's house.

Tons of eggs....

a bonfire....

and s'mores!

Thank you Uncle Damon, Aunt Gwen and Grandpa....so much fun!

Sunday: Conference (kind of...) another family lunch, to finish off Erik's birthday cake.

Notable quotes from the weekend:  

Soren: "What the...what the Heeeck!" (he says this too much, we are trying to end it)

Claire: "I didn't come here to watch conference or to clean up, I came here to play"

Dad: "That is the ugliest rock I have ever seen" (inside joke)

Easter 2013

My favorite part about Easter this year was organizing the Activity Day girls to sing Hosanna (Children's Songbook pg. 66-67) in sacrament meeting.  I get really irritated when Easter isn't done with as much pomp and circumstance as Christmas so instead of possibly getting upset this year I took matters into my own hands.  The girls sang like little angels, and then I sang with the ward choir which added another celebratory element to my day. 

The kids found their baskets that morning and found all the boiled eggs around the house...it sounded like they had fun from our cozy bed where Darin and I stayed during the hunting.  

There are perks to having 1:00 church.

On Saturday I worked at a wedding reception in Draper, Darin and the kids took Trax down (waited an hour at the station while I finished up and drove around looking for the station) and then we kept going down to Provo.

For the Drewes Bunny Day Celebration!!

Here are the hunters.

 Aunt Cristin always provides fun activities...cookie decorating and egg dying.

The men hid over 300 eggs this year!

Bub found his very own golden egg!

We counted the loot.....

...and then Soren had a melt down so we left.

Thanks Drewes Family!

Makin' and Doin'

So...after being married for 13 years I think Darin and I need to renew our vows.  For a couple of reasons, first after hours and hours of watching TLC wedding shows I want to re-do our reception, and secondly I need another bridal shower.  Our dryer went out and our vacuum died last month. I have this fear that all our 13 year old appliances are going to die one by one....the tupperware didn't even last this long!  But...not all of our month was spent replacing things, we also went to Smithfield for a crafty/crafter/science/birthday weekend.

Grandma got an oyster with a real pearl in it, she patiently saved opening it until Bub could be there.  He has been waiting for months to go open it with her.

Miriam and her friend Mary made hats for Primary Children's Hospital.  She spend the weekend loom and finger crocheting.

Darin worked on a very cool toy idea he had been mulling around for awhile.  It turned out great, but he won't let me blog about it until it's completely done.

Regan and Vanessa were there to celebrate Regan's birthday with some Aggie basketball.

We invited ourselves to the party.