Memorial Day

Memorial Day is always a special day. Besides the typical bbqs and swim parties that are so much fun, our family makes a trip to the cemetary. We clean up all of the head stones of our family members and decorate their graves. The kids really love it and it brings meaning to the holiday. It also helps us remember the ones we miss so dearly. People often tell stories about the person or mention things they are known for or sweet things they did. Many of the people I never knew, but feel a connection to them after 34 years of visiting their grave sites.

This is Matthew and his cousin, Tessa, cleaning up a head stone. The kids are so serious as they work. It is so cute!! Everybody helps.

Of course, the day is bitter sweet now. There are young family members that I do remember, love, and miss! B.J. was just a teenager when leukemia took him from us. He was my mom's cousin's son. And of course, our sweet Kamber was taken just two years ago!! She is my cousin's little angel! These sites are hard to visit, but so special to gather around. I'm sure as years pass, we will share sweet stories about them. But for now, a lot of tears are shed and silent nods that say, we are still grieving!!
We miss you!!!

Donuts, donuts, donuts!

For the first day of summer, I wanted to do something different. I asked Dalin if he wanted to go out to breakfast. He said, "Ya, let's go to Bashas and get donuts." Seriously? I was hoping for Village Inn. Oh well! Summer is about having fun with my boys. So if donuts is what they want, donuts is what they will get.

Nobody loved them as much as Matthew. Good grief!! He sure loves his chocolate!

School is out!

The school year is over. I expected Dalin to be ready to party!! I though he'd be excited to have a lot of fun over the summer!! Instead, I picked him up and he was teary eyed. He was sad to be leaving his friends! He sure is growing up.

He is so grown up that he wouldn't even let me come to his end of the year award ceremony. His teacher was having just a little party for the class and handing out a few awards. I sent a note asking his teacher if I could come to the party. When she said that I could but that there weren't other parents coming, Dalin quickly uninvited me. "Mom, I really don't want you to come." He broke my heart, but I understood. I let him have his party privately even though it broke my heart.

He wasn't too grown up though to let me snap a picture of him with his teacher. We chased her down at her afterschool duty. She was happy to get a picture with him!! We will miss you Miss Jones!

Time for a Jungle Gym

It's time to get things ready for preschool. In the fall, I have 16 other three and four-year-olds coming to our house so I can teach preschool. One of the big purchases we had to make for preschool to happen was a giant jungle gym. We shopped around with a friend, Breanna, and finally decided on the set from Costco. We were naive, and decided that we could buy it from them and put it together ourselves. How hard can it be? Boy were we mistaken. It was a long weekend as we undertook that project. Luckily the kids had fun while we worked. There were a little impatient but found ways to entertain themselves.

Matthe loved the tire that went to the tire swing.

Micah thought the tire was pretty fun, too.

Dalin helped a little. He loved to use the drill!! And so did the twins.

After an entire day's work, this is the wood that was left. Jeesh! We had a long way to go!

On day 2, the boys were super antsy to slide. So, Bryan rested the slide on the old swing set and they thought that was pretty cool.

Finally, after three days, it looks like a jungle gym and the boys can play. It still is not finished! It is going to take another entire weekend!! But, it's getting there. Our boys and the preschool kids will love it! I can't wait for them to see it.

On Monday, when Dalin went back to school and Bryan went back to work, the twins and I had some fun in the new jungle gym. We had a picnic up there!! To three-year-olds, that's pretty fun!!

The hard work was all worthwhile!! We will enjoy this jungle gym for years and years to come. Thanks Bryan for all your hard work! We love it!!!