To-Do Thursday

Feeling quite lazy today. Just need a little time to refuel, although I have lots to do. A list of the things that I need to do and things coming up:
*Fold 6-7 baskets of laundry.
*Pay a few bills.
*Get new glasses.
*Grocery shopping for the missionaries to come tonight.
*Clean house.
*Send out some YW e-mails.
*Plan Alex's graduation "Party"--finally convinced him we were having one.
*Fix lunches for MC and SB and bring them to the school.
I'm sure there is more, just can't think of it now.

Alex's seminary graduation was last night in Orange. He has completed four years. I'm a little bummed that it has to be him finishing. He is the easiest of all our kids to wake up. It is down hill from here on that note. I am so grateful for seminary. I am so thankful that Alex has always been happy to go. He never complained about it. Even when it was tough. Now, I don't know that he was always awake during seminary, but I am happy that he knew it was important to go complete it. Seminary senioritis actually only set in the last week. One down, FIVE to go!! It will be interesting to see how Mary Catherine is next year.

Other news: my SIL is having a baby and we just found out yesterday that it is a GIRL!! Another one!! for the family I mean. This is their first child after 15 years of marriage. That makes 9 girls of my mother's 12 grandchildren. WOW, poor boys. It will be nice to have a baby around again for holiday's. And I will just get to hold and smell and squeeze!! Even better. When this baby is born, my youngest will be SIX. How did that happen? The youngest in the family will be four. Time passes way to quickly to waste any of it.

Ok, must get off the couch and get something done. I think I will pay bills, send emails, and fix lunches first. Then groceries, and off to playgroup at the Gardner's. Fun stuff.

Have a happy rainy day!!

Ok This one definitely does not work!!

You Are Cinderella!

Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dream will come true.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

The personality test we did at enrichnment was much more acurate, at least to me, than this one. I don't see myself this was in the least. Definitely not patient.

DANG!!

Here's what I wish I had said....."It's ok, drive safe, good luck on your test, I love you." Here's what I did......"Hurry, you didn't say anything to me about what time the test was, it is not MY fault"....and other general eye rolls and disappointed looks. Alex asked to sleep in this morning so he would be rested for the English AP test this morning. After the other kids got off to school, I yelled up the stairs to wake him up. I heard him get into the shower. Then the phone rang and it was one of his classmates. She asked for Alex and I told her he was in the shower. She said, "oh, he is LATE for the AP test!!!" Freak out....I yelled up to him as a reminder. He freaked out. I had the opportunity to support him and be a safe mom for him and I didn't do it. I'm disappointed in myself.......but, at least I see it now and I'm not still fuming. I want to motivate by encouragement, not nagging and putting down. He already felt stupid enough....I probably made him feel more so. I will do better next time!! So, good luck Alex, I love you. Forgive your mama.

Finally, Prom Pics

Handsome Man!!
















Alex has things a little mixed up!
















That's Better, goof balls!













Alex and friend, Wesley!!

I Love Lily

Wow, today, Lily threw the biggest fit I might have ever experienced as a mother. We went to Emma's class to watch the class for her teacher. On the way home, she just wanted to go home, but I had some errands. We met Zack and then headed to Care Help to drop off some clothes and things to donate. I was trying to divert her attention from the fact that we were not going home, so I told her what we were doing. I told her we were bringing somethings that we didn't need anymore. So, of course, she asks if anything was hers. I tried not to answer that question. I was doing pretty good until we got there and she saw her old bed railing. You know the one you slide between the matress to stop them from falling off the bed. Well, I assumed that since it had been under her bed for about 2 years and then in the hall for another 2-3 months, that she didn't care about it anymore. I couldn't have been more wrong. Apparantly, she can't live without this item. And furthermore, she wants to save it for her own children along with all the clothing that she can't wear anymore. She proceeded to ....um....explain.. this to me as we made our way home. She was yelling, screaming, kicking, hitting the window, anything else she could do to get my attention. When we got home, I offered to help her out of the car, but she proceeded to continue the above, so I just came in the house. She then honked the horn on the car for a couple of minutes. Poor Bubba across the street. She finally came inside and yelled, "Don't you know I don't like to walk across the driveway with Pippin" at which point I put myself in timeout in my room. Amazing.

For those of you who are marveling at my self restraint or thinking that I am an overly permissive mother.......I had been reading Christlike Parenting this morning and was trying out some of their techniques. I have to say that I was questioning the sanity of this several times along the way.....but, when she finally gave in and let me hold her and ended up falling asleep on me on the chaise, I was very happy with MY actions. I didn't feel at all guilty and I knew that she knew that I loved her. I told her this several times during the fit to which she responded..."if you love me, then go back and get it!!!" Probably my favorite line during the whole thing.

Lily and Brett during happier times!!

Go Mary Catherine

Mary Catherine has been trying out for the Sulphur High School Volleyball team for the past 2 days and we found out today that she MADE IT!!!!! She will be on the Junior Varsity team next year. It is hard to imagine her in high school. When we moved here she was just 2 and a half months old. I'm so glad that she will have a group and be part of something already in high school. She was really nervous about the tryouts, but that makes it even better. Her brothers took her to Casa Ole after mutual tonight to celebrate her victory. Of all the sports she and her sisters have played, volleyball is by far the most fun to watch. So, yeah for me too. I'm sure I will be spending lots of time in the next few years watching her. (yes, that is Lily in the background of the first pic!--so cute)

18 years

Today my baby turned 18. He is a legal adult. He could go to war. He can vote. Where did the time go? People kept asking me if I was going to cry. I don't feel sad. I feel pretty excited for him. He is excited. He has so much in front of him. He is excited to go to school. Tonight he went shopping with some friends and came home and actually tried on his purchases. He did a good job. This is the first time he has gone shopping without me. I feel a little insignificant. But, suprisingly, that is a pretty good feeling. He is growing up and doesn't need me as much. He is definitely more independent. I like watching him like this. He likes being independent. He is going to apply for a new job on Monday. He needs to make some money this summer to be ready for college.

I can remember becoming a mama 18 years ago. It was so exciting. We loved Alex so much. We would sit around our living room and just watch him. He was such a mama's boy. I would hold him for hours. I went back to school in 3 months and would read my text books to him. He loved for me to read to him. He would sit for an hour by the time he was a year. We thought he was the most amazing baby. I can remember coming home from church and Zack, my sister Angela, and I talking about the other babies in the ward and how they just weren't as cute as Alex. We actually felt sorry for them. Angela said one time that at least Alex showed emotion--meaning he cried, ALOT. She said the other babies just sat there stone faced. Not happy or sad. But, OUR baby was expressive!!!

And, now that boy is 18 and I still like to sit and watch him. I am still so proud of him. He still likes to read. And, he is still VERY expressive. Most of his expressions now are happy now. He loves to laugh and have fun. He is one of the only people I know who can sit in a room by himself and laugh out loud at something he is watching on TV or reading in a book. A deep belly laugh. I will miss him so much....our family will not seem complete when he is not here. But, I know that he will always be a part of us and we will be a part of him. And I WILL be excited for that...........even if it kills me.

Happy Birthday, Alex!!!