Happy Pappy Day * 60 is good!

Ode to my Dad on his 60th birthday...

There was really no way he could refuse our request. It was, after all, his only daughter and three dearest grandchildren with eyelashes batting and sweet voices calling, "Come on Pappy, JUMP!"

True to his character and zest for life he passed the threshold between the soft cushion of the grass and the squeaking and unsteady bars of the trampoline.

It was intense and quick, but never have the kids (or Pappy for that matter) had such big smiles while vaulting into the air.

However, in an effort to avoid crushing his granddaughter, Pappy sacrificed himself, his leather jacket, and his newly washed jeans landing hard on the grass to the side of the trampoline.

It wasn't until right now I realize this is the first time our newly sunken trampoline has served it's protective purpose. (Just ignore the new and rehabilitating sod - we are hoping to pump life back into it over the next couple weeks.) I digress.

After the adventure on the trampoline, we headed over to the park near our house and enjoyed some lemon cake and ice cream, and 1st grade soccer practice. What a way to ring in a 60th birthday!

Happy Birthday Pappy! We love you!

Now Open...Lemonade, 25 cents!

We are planning to go to Disney Land in August for Brooklyn and Ian's birthdays. However, we need some major cash flow to make it happen. So the kids and I have started a business. Any day that the sun is shinning, it's over 70 degrees, and we are home, we will be out front having a Lemonade Stand. And to offer our customers variety, we have expanded our menu with two sizes to chose from in pink or yellow Lemonade. Also, we are offering "Otter Pops" as a refreshing frozen treat.

Brooklyn was out front on advertising duty, while Ian manned the megaphone attracting customers. Lucas spent most of his time on tasting duty.

How could anyone pass up this beautiful sales lady?!

So stop by next time you are in need of a refreshing treat on a hot day in the North End.

Easter 2009

This is my big payoff for being a parent. The picture of my kids running up the stairs to see what the easter bunny left and hunt for eggs is priceless.

Ian loved this megaphone, which has a variety of settings to modify voices. He preferred alien robot. Then he realized that one of the settings serves as an amplifier and decided it will be perfect to attract customers to our lemonade stands this summer.

I tried once again to get a great family picture. Well, at least we got a picture. Maybe I should have Aaron photoshop a picture of Lucas in so he isn't snarling like a wolf. But it is his classic four year old camera smile. I love it.

Too sunny, but cute none the less.

Here is the shot I was waiting for- pure happiness on our beautiful new stairs.


HAPPY EASTER and HAPPY SPRING!!!

Adventure in our own backyard

Quick update as to what we are up to this week-
A MESS!! And we LOVE IT! We are having our backyard redone and it is so fun to watch the process. Can you imagine anything better than being a kid and having THIS in your own backyard. Not only is it full of huge machines and tools, but it's been raining so it's pure mud!

Pavers will provide lots of space for BBQs and warm weather fun. So if you're in the neighborhood, stop by!

Spring Break Staycation

Due to the fantastic blessing that Aaron has work to tend to this week, we decided to stay in Boise for Spring Break. We explained to the kids that we are going on a "staycation". (Going no where, but having fun anyway.) So Friday night we officially started with a campfire in the back yard, roasting weenies and marshmallows.

Brooklyn wasn't feeling well, and tried as best she could to enjoy the staycation festivities. However, this photo shows her enthusiasm. By 3:00 am she had a fever of 102.7! We spent Saturday at the clinic to make sure it wasn't strep throat again. We got a clear test and were told it is a virus and should be gone within 5-7 days. Just in time to go back to school.

But the fun couldn't be squelched. Aaron pitched a tent in the basement family room and the boys have been sleeping in it every night. I am considering removing their beds from their room and using the tent as a permanent sleeping arrangement. They love getting in their tent beds and have been falling asleep better than ever! And their are no beds to make in the morning!

Unfortunately, it hasn't been all fun and games. We are now watching the "sick bugs" cycle through the house. So far, everyone has felt illness to some degree. Aaron seems to be the next one to get hit. Not exactly what we planned.

Ian woke up Wednesday morning with a fever. Maybe we should just look at this staycation as one involving tropical temperatures. So far our average temperature over the weekend has ranged from 101.2-102.8! 

It is hotter here than we had anticipated.

But we are determined, we will have fun this week! Can't you tell by the look on Ian's face?

My Mom : by Brooklyn, Ian and Lucas

I took a moment this week to interview each of my kids, asking questions about “their mom”. The following are their answers.

1. What is something mom always says to you? Brooklyn- Time for school. Ian- Stop playing video games. Lucas- Don't play wii when I tell you to.

2. What makes mom happy? Brooklyn- Her kids giggling. Ian- Chocolate. Lucas- Doing jobs for her.

3. What makes mom sad? Brooklyn- Whining. Ian- When I don’t listen to her. Lucas- Not doing jobs for Mommy.

4. How does your mom make you laugh? Brooklyn- She tickles me. Ian- By saying funny things. Lucas- When you push me way high.

5. What was your mom like as a child? Brooklyn- I don’t know that answer. Ian- I don’t know, I wasn’t there. Why should I know. Lucas- I don't know. I never saw you being a kid. That's not my message.

6. How old is your mom? Brooklyn- 34. Ian- Isn’t it 24, isn’t it? No, I meant to say 34, isn’t it. Yeah, it’s 34. Lucas- 6.

7. How tall is your mom? Brooklyn- 5 ummmm, five would be like 5 feet right. Ian- 23 feet. Lucas- Let me see. (Stretches his arms) Quite a bit.

8. What is your mom's favorite thing to do? Brooklyn- When she’s healthy, right? Have plenty of space. Ian- Eat chocolate and make her kids happy, I believe. Lucas- Do laundry.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Brooklyn- Work and watch Heroes. Ian- Do work. Lucas- Work.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Brooklyn- Being nice to kids. Ian- Probably singing. Lucas- Being nice.

11. What is your mom really good at? Brooklyn- Making me happy. Ian- Singing. Lucas- Laundry!

12. What is your mom not very good at? Brooklyn- No offense, but Chess. Ian-Video games. Lucas- No carrying heavy backpacks. Then you would fall down and break your head apart.

13. What does your mom do for a job? Brooklyn- She is a Spanish teacher at Foothills. Ian- Spanish teacher. Lucas- Work on the computer.

14.What is your mom's favorite food? Brooklyn- Chocolate. Ian- Chocolate. Lucas- Chicken.

15.What makes you proud of your mom? Brooklyn- She’s funny and nice. Ian- She’s very very very nice. Lucas- Helping us.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Brooklyn- I don’t know. I have no idea. Ian- Ronald McDonald because you’re funny and very nice and Ronald McDonald is very nice. Lucas- Wonder Red (from Super Why).

17. What do you and your mom do together? Brooklyn- Have fun spending time together. Ian- Play and hike. Lucas- Fold laundry.

18. How are you and your mom the same? Brooklyn- We both have brown hair. Ian- We used to have the same color of hair. Lucas- Let me see your hands…Hands and heads.

19. How are you and your mom different? Brooklyn- She has green eyes, I have brown. Ian- She’s much much much much much taller. That’s 5 muches. Can you do 5 muches? Lucas- We have different clothing.

20. How do you know your mom loves you? Brooklyn- ‘Cuz she does. Ian- Because she’s nice to me. Lucas- Because you help me by playing wii Indiana Jones if we are on a hard game.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad? Brooklyn- He’s cool. Ian- That daddy sometimes gives her chocolate, maybe. Lucas- Kissing him.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Brooklyn- A lot of places. Ian- Fanci Freeze. Lucas- California. (I haven't been to CA since 1994. But we have plans to go in August.)

It's Lent

 Wikipedia says: Lent, in Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. Conventionally it is described as being forty days long, though different denominations calculate the forty days differently. In many denominations it is observed as a period of fasting and prayer, and this practice was virtually universal in Christendom until the Reformation^[1]. The forty days represent the time that, according to theBible, Jesus spent in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation bySatan.^[2].

The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgivingand self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of theResurrection of Jesus Christ.

Lent in 2009 started on Wednesday, the 25th of February and will continue for 46 days until Saturday, the 11th of April.

As I'm sure many of you know, I am a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The LDS church doesn't observe the tradition of Lent. However, I was raised Catholic and went to the Church with my mom and brother almost every week for the 1st 14 years of my life. At the ripe old age of 14 I decided that I would like to begin to learn about other churches and I began attending the Methodist church (because they invited me to sing in their touring choir). I sang at their Sunday services for the following 4 years.

My intention here, isn't to write my conversion story. That was just a little background information. 

Growing up, I loved the season of Lent. Christmas and Easter were on an even playing field in my opinion. I loved the build up Lent provided to Easter Sunday. Each week, adding another candle. My favorite was Palm Sunday, when we each would receive a reed upon entering the Cathedral. I would spend the hour of mass imagining myself in Jerusalem when Jesus rode through on his donkey.

I remember my mom's teachings about the Easter Story. I remember the excitement of Easter morning. I still feel it.

This year I have decided to observe Lent again. Not because my church tells me to; on the contrary. I am recommitting myself to something that brought self-awareness throughout my childhood. In retrospect, I see the lessons learned, and character developed through this tradition. I learned that I believe in God and can feel connection in prayer.  I have will power. I can sacrifice. I can commit. I can improve.

Regardless of denomination, the truths I learned growing up built my foundation in Christianity and there I have always stood firm. Thanks Mom.