WANTED

Someone hardworking
dependable
Patient
Understanding
Motivated
Loving
Willing to work on call 24/7
Must love kids
Confident
Courageous
Faithful
Handyman
Provider
Teacher
Leader
Good Listener
Affectionate
Cheerful Disposition
Kind Heart
Sense of humor
Willing to do service
Work on various projects for school at the last minute
Sit through countless performances organized or not smile through it and act like it was the greatest show on earth
Grant solitude to those in need (ie: Watch grandkids anytime)
and anything else that comes up along the way because this job is never ending.
Dad, thanks for being all these things and more. I only wish I could express myself with a written note as well as you can. I still have every letter you wrote to me and I cherish them all. I love you Dad

Girls Camp

June 11-14
One of the perks of being a mia maid advisor is that I had to opportunity to go to girls camp. I felt a little out of place first because I had a really hard time leaving my family, when I left in the morning I still had no idea where my kids were going to be by noon because the sitter I had lined up (my wonderful sister) ended up with jury duty and I called my neighbor (superwoman Liz) to see if she could take them until noon because the last time my sister had jury duty she was released by noon we thought it would be about the same. Second I was still feeling a little new to be going with the girls almost that I didn't belong. In spite of being away from my kids not knowing what was going on with their care and out of cell phone range I was able to relax and have a great time. The girls were all so accepting and loving I almost felt like a teenager again ALMOST. It was so COLD we all had on at least two sweatshirts a coat and three pair of socks. with all the cold there was a lot less complaining than I thought there would be they must have kept warm with all the singing, dancing and uncontrollable laughter.
The first day was all about set up and certification I had forgotten how much they really make them do at girls camp but we did luck out on our chores because we had the bathrooms to clean on the first day and they were still clean. Day two started early for me, Susan(another leader)and the one and only third year girl we had a sunrise hike that started at 4:30am I didn't really need a wake up call because I never got to sleep IT WAS WAY TOO COLD. The hike was the best thing I could have done at that point because getting up and moving helped me to get warm infact it was the only time up that my toes were not cold when we were at camp it must have been the spirit.
It was a beautiful sight and it was nice to sit alone on the hillside in nature and just think. The rest of the day was packed with activites which inculded the zip line.
Now I am not a big whimp watching everyone go looked like a lot of fun and climbing up the tower was not a problem I just wished that I could have kept climbing because I don't like jumping. It might not have been a problem for me but the platform was really small and the board on the very edge was a little wobbly so I didn't jump off forward I couldn't watch I ended up pushing off backward and that might not have been a problem but I think I pushed a little hard and I ended up riding the zipline upside down the whole way down. It was fun and I didn't die. That night was our skit we did a spin off of the bacholer and the ten virgins I was hillarious. The girls came together so well and made sure everyone was included it was great to watch and be a part of. Later that night was the stargazing hike with the fourth year girls, I took my cell phone because it was the one place to get reception on the mountain. I knew how much I missed Tyler and the kids so I thought I was going to cry but I didn't and it made me feel much better because I found out that Liz had my kids for two days (they love her little girl) because my sister managed to get her self on the jury. It is really nice to know that I have such great friends that really come through when it really counts. Thanks so much Liz, when I found that out that was the only time I cried it helped me sleep alittle better at night too. Day three was a free day
and the girl wanted to try archery and the zipline again (oh joy!) the line for the zipline was so long because everyone wanted to do that again we made icecream in plastic bags while we were wating.
Yes I did it again the second time was not as hard but I still managed to get upside down, it must take more cordination to stay upright. That night at the fire was the testiomony sharing time the spirit was so strong that before we had even started the Bishop asked me to say the closing prayer and I just started to cry. I was honered that he would think I was worthy enough to do something so special as to close that meeting but part of me was crying because I knew I would be crying so hard at the end that no one would be able to understand me. Great now on top of bearing my testimony I have to try to keep it together until the end. Well it didn't happen but everyone said amen so at least they heared that part. I was so impressed with all the girls so willing to share their thoughts and feelings. Our leaders would have to start calling on people to say something or we would of had complete silence for a long time when I was in Young Womans but these girls were so excited about this experience that some of them even went twice (it was my mia maids by the way, so proud).
It was a great experience and I am so glad that I have a wonderful family and awesome friends that made this possible.

little chef's

Lately Ben has been in the mood to help with everything he is very curious and sometimes I cannot keep up with him and his thirst for knowledge. I keep saying I don't know what I am going to do with a child that is going to be smarter than me by the time he is five. Now I know, I will just teach him everything that I can and then put him to work and let him figure out the rest. He and Kendall helped me make dinner, really all I did was cut stuff up and crack the eggs they did all the rolling, measuring and scooping. They knew what the end product was suppose to look like because it is one of their favorites Pizza rolls. I don't know why I didn't let them try that sooner they did such a great job and I wasn't trying to keep track of them when I was making dinner.

The Princess is two

Kendall turned two on Memorial Day weekend but we have been putting off her birthday party so we could have it outside (darn cold weather) we just decided to do it because if we waited any longer summer might be over and she could not even use her presents. We had a little Luau with some pulled pork and lots of fruit...yummy pineapple! I got her the cuttest little lei with a headband and bracletts to match she could not stop smiling when I put them on her. .
It was nice to see all the grandparents and cousins together. We didn't do it outside because of the rain in the morning but by the time lunch was over and the kids were full of cake the sun came out so we opened the back door and let them loose She got a soccer goal and ball and a basketball hoop for her birthday who knew such a girly girl could be such a tomboy at the same time? Playing basketball with her new purse...

GOOooaal!!!!

My kids have been attending a soccer clinic for the past six weeks and it has been so much fun. Kendall has done really well and Ben has gone because it was something that Kendall really liked and I had nothing else to do with him. Oh the joys of having kids so close! He learned to like it and by the end he was always two steps behind the coach until today. Today was the last day and we invited Dad to come watch. The kids went wild, I think they were trying to show off for him but it was like someone gave them a crazy pill. Running away, rolling around on the floor and standing on their heads were just a few funny things I was putting up with for the first twenty minutes when I finally promised them a treat if they would listen to the coach things went at little better. They still had to show off for Dad. At least there is no question if they were excited to see him or not, right?! We will definatly be signing up for soccer again in the fall.

Daddy's little helpers

Mowing the lawn takes a long time at our house it is a job better suited for after the kids go to bed but it would be hard to see and it would not be so cute to watch.

zoo

My sister called early this morning to see what I was doing, normally when she calls she is asking for a sitter but I didn't have anything that needed to get done so I took the bait and told her nothing really and she asked if we wanted to go to the zoo. It was her second oldest sons last day of preschool and they were taking a field trip. So I packed up lunches and the kids 40 minutes later she came to pick us up. What a blast I had with my kids. They were having so much fun looking at all the animals Kendall really liked the Elephants and the porcupines
(go figure) Ben really liked the Zebras (Mom Z starts with Zebra) the turtles and the flamingos. When we were all done seeing the animals and getting ready to eat lunch Ben was ready to go back for round two. We stopped and played on the playground before we left. My sister had her little baby and he really needed to get home to take a nap but I am sure that my kids could have stayed all day. We will have to go back and ride the train next time.

Day out with Thomas

Yesterday our family went to Heber to ride on Thomas the train. It was a prize for Ben because he is a big boy now. I made him a countdown potty chart and he finally made it we had to give him some prizes in the middle because Thomas was so far away and we didn't want him to give up. In the end it was all worth it. bye bye diapers. yeah!!!! Thomas was a fun family trip and Ben was excited to see the big Thomas "pulling" the train but when it came time to climb aboard all he wanted to do was play with the toy trains that were out on the train tables.
If we would have known that we would have just bought him some new trains and save some money. Oh well he liked it enough that he is still talking about it