Father's Day

Our Daddy Steve

We love our dads! After spending 5 days with girls and women at Girl's Camp, it made me think about how truly I love the men in our lives and am grateful for everything that they do for us.

Family - our families would not be complete without dads, father in laws, brothers, brother in laws, & uncles to call our own. They truly are the head of the family and set the tone for us.
Authority - The Fathers in our family all hold the Priesthood and we are forever grateful for the worthy men who are able to act in God's name to bless the members of our family.
Teacher - Dads have so many opportunities to demonstrate by example and work side by side with each of us - teaching along the way and imparting of their wisdom to all of us.
Husband - I am forever grateful for my husband and for the husbands to the women in our family. Husbands are our best friends, our eternal companions, our favorite date!
Eternal - Our forever families require a mother and father as the head of the family unit and am so blessed to know that our immediate as well as extended families can be together forever.
Reverence - With the role of father comes great responsibility. I appreciate how much my favorite men honor and respect their roll as father as a role ordained of God.

We love you Dad's...Grandpa Bill, Grandpa Mike and Steve!! And all the assorted Uncles...Joe, Brad, Scott, John, Andy, and Carson.

Other Daddies in the family...

We hope Steve had a great father's day! We love him so much. The girls and I made one of his favorites, Peanut Butter Pie to have as dessert with a steak and shrimp dinner. Yum! The girls decided they wanted to get Daddy real GUY stuff and since he has season tickets to ASU football now, we hooked him up with some Sun Devil's gear!

We love you!!!

Found

Yesterday afternoon Steve got a call from a neighbor around the corner who said she was driving home at 11:30pm and had seen a tent on the sidewalk and thought that was strange. (Of course.) She then said this morning on her way out of the neighborhood she saw what may have been a tent behind a fence at a house about 8 houses down, around the corner, and across the street from us.

Can't see it?
.
.
.
.
.
.
Look now.

Sure enough...

The rain fly is a little beaten up (when looking at it in a pile in my newly clean garage) so we will need to set it up to see how the rest of it survived. We may have got it back but we may still need a new one...

In other tent news...

We had a Girl's Camp Shake Down Sleepover and set up a few tents and cooked some delicious food - all in the name of camp certification. How does homemade pizza and chocolate cake inside a hollowed out orange peel sound and Parmesan and cinnamon bread sticks wrapped around a stick?? We love our camp director - no foil dinners, hot dogs, or dutch oven cobbler for us! I love these girls and love the leaders I have the pleasure of serving with in the YW presidency. You ladies rock!

Lost

1 Camping Tent.

Took flight from our backyard during Tuesday night’s storm.

Green, Maroon and Grey

Call Steve
480.703.2187

(because I am not putting my name and number...think of all the weirdos that could call me!)

I heard a little wind and rain and went to check out the backyard to make sure everything was where it should be...when these desert storms pick up we like to make sure everything is pulled under the patio cover and reasonably well secured. Since a tent is not a normal part of my backyard "stuff" I didn't think to check on it earlier! Well, when I checked the back yard after hearing some noise, said tent was GONE! Poof! As in "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore" gone! We sure have enjoyed backyard camp-outs and play time in the shade...)

Hope it turns up. We were going to use this one at Girl's Camp as our food stash tent. Buying a new one wasn't exactly in my plan...

Adventures of a 1 year old

Bedtime snuggles

I need to write some of these crazy things down before I forget 20 years later that in one day I found Kate doing all of the following:

Slurping a bottle of shampoo
Grabbing a steak knife out of the dishwasher
Sucking on a bottle of lotion
Eating a marble magnet

That crazy little critter! I just don't think there is any hope for a poor 3rd child when there are 4 people to remember to close doors AND 4 people to forget to close doors. And 4 people to load and run the dishwasher AND 4 people to get distracted part way though and leave it open. Lindsay has started calling Kate the vacuum cleaner. No doubt it is the truth! Not walking...cruising and crawling faster than we can keep up with though!

A year ago we had this:

newborn Kate - 9 lb 9 oz - our biggest baby - oh, she was so rolie polie!


And now this:
Meredith and Kate at her 1st birthday party

So my plump newborn baby who has struggled to gain weight all year long tipped the scales at her 1 year check up at 17 lb 14 oz. Aren't babies supposed to double their birth weight by 6 months? At this rate, I don't know when she will reach that bench mark. But at least she is on the charts and made it from the 3rd percentile to 5th percentile. Way to go Kate!

Her feet - we were able to get her much awaited a follow-up the same time Lindsay's arm was seen by the ortho doc. Great news! Kate only has to wear her braces on her legs at night and naptime...when I remember! LOL. The PA was thrilled with how well she has done. Honestly, she said, she thought we were heading to at least one leg needing a cast. A cast would have been a straight leg cast from toes to hip. In the summer. For several months. Yuck. So, hopefully the overnight splinting is enough to maintain her foot correction. if not, well, then we will cross that bridge in 5 months.

The big girls planned a birthday celebration for Kate. We went to a fun dinner out at Johnny Rocket's Diner and had burgers, fries, onion rings and milkshakes. Kate loved it and the staff even brought over a sundae and sang to her - the big girls LOVED that!! They wrote little notes inviting Kate to Build A Bear to pick out her own new guy.

She ended up "choosing" between a pink lamb and a brown bunny. Kate chose the bunny and the doting big sisters loved helping her build it and chose Hello Kitty jammies. The bunny was called cinnamon swirl so she was named Cinaminnie Minnie. really, she is cute.

That's my little critter. Love our little monster! Now if I could just get that monster face documented so I can blog about it...

Need to blog about other stuff...my camera and computer are not getting along - I keep trying to empty my card onto my computer and there is a hang up somewhere. I guess this may be why I have not had much to blog about...but so much has happened like end of preschool and 2nd grade festivities, the beginning of summer break and "campouts" in the back yard and Memorial Day BBQ's and play dates and swimming lessons and my wishing I owned stock in any number of Popsicle companies! Getting ready for Girl's Camp next week is keeping my mind busy. I am already tired of all the neighborhood kids! But really, if dealing with piles of wet towels from happy playing kids and making bug collection jars (and helping to host a funeral for a fly) and stocking a freezer with Popsicles is all it takes to keep the kids happy, then I guess it is OK.

A story of faith and sports and Sunday Play

I am linking a story HERE about our nephew Everett, aka Bobby. He is a talented athlete and was recently presented with the dilemma of moving up to All-Star Baseball (apply the lesson to club soccer, or whatever your sports dilemma is) and Sunday play came up as a BIG issue. It just goes to show what sticking up for what you know is right will do for many.

Bravo Everett! That's a CTR, Faith, Prayer, and Commitment Grand Slam to us!

Lovely Mother's Day(s)

I just love these little critters of mine! Being their mom is the best job in the world and I couldn't ask for a better gig!

On Saturday I loved attending the preschool Mother's Day Brunch (for mom's only!) and eat yummy food and then watch the cutest DVD of the kids singing a song and then saying what the love about their mom. Caroline said that I take care of her when she is sick. I also got a small custom painted pot with a Vinca flower in it. Thanks Caroline - and awesome job on writing and drawing your own card!

Lindsay made me a heart book several pages of love notes, all in her best newly learned cursive. "You cuddle me. You love me. You read with me. You help me clean my room. You do my hair. You help me do my homework. You help me when I am sad. You let me go to my friend's house. You take care of me. You take me to the store." I love you too Lindsay - thanks for all the sweet notes!

I was asked to sing with a group of six women with the primary children. If you know me, you know I am not a singer but I could do it with these ladies...I hope it wasn't too bad! The part I sang...

"Child, I am here. Can you feel that heaven is near?
Sleep, sleep, a love watch I'll keep to protect you through the night."

I was kind of misty near the end as I listened and watched my girls sing their part and we then sang the parts combined. Really, my favorite part was walking up to the pulpit area with a big girl at each hand and then giving them each a hug after we were done and walking back to sit down with Kate and Daddy.

Breakfast for lunch in bed...we always do french toast for special occasions and since we have church sooooo early at 9am they decided to make lunch and we all piled on my bed to eat together.

We all agreed that french toast is our first favorite breakfast food. YUM! The girls made up a little song and dance about Mother's Day - it was adorable. Kate was asleep...it was after church, afterall!

I LOVE THESE GIRLS!

I love watching Lindsay's creativity blossom - this was when she was leading a neighborhood expedition - map in hand.

I loved helping Caroline learn to ride her two-wheeler this week. Such a big accomplishment! Off came the training wheels and off went Caroline!

I love giving this one baths and trying to dress her. OK, I don't love trying to dress her right now. She is kind of a monkey. But I do love her soft skin so I guess it is a win win when she won't get dressed...

And I love my new BlendTec Total Blender. Not only does it make smoothies (a favorite after school snack) but also will make soups (creates its own heat) ice cream frozen treats, and grinds wheat. (This is the part that made Steve say "so, is this what you want for Mother's Day?") A want...and a need (we have lots of wheat, no grinder) all in one awesome gift!

And, I love Steve who even when we got the BlendTec didn't complain when I went shopping Friday and bought a few new tops. I love you Steve. More than the BlendTec. I promise.

In honor of ALL our Mothers!

To honor all the moms in our lives, I asked members of my family about each of the special women below and what they loved about them, something they have learned, a favorite memory, or something that reminds us of the time we get to spend together. Here are some pictures and the responses from the family.

Grandma Nadene (Meredith's Grandma)

• She gives good hugs
• She always makes "the" ice cream when asked, whether a special occasion or not.
  
• She worked so hard to make her backyard beautiful for our wedding
• We totally appreciate that she seems to enjoy finishes the dishes (but sometimes we can get her to sit down.)
• Does everything she can to visit for special occasions like baby blessings
• Always attended events when I was a kid like soccer games and recitals
• Is very thoughtful and sends meaningful cards to everyone for holidays and birthdays
• Looks great in curlers
• If you gave her one of those "what's your real age" tests, she would be about 39.
• Always game for more games!

Grandma Nadene, we love and adore you with all our heart!! Thanks for making us always feel so special with the kind things you do for our entire family.

Grandma Shirley (Steve's Mom)

• Really nice
• Always has time to listen and share her thoughts on important subjects
• An excellent example of Christ-like service
• Plans fun activities when we come to visit
• Makes sure that Grandpa buys good treats for the kids
• helped us have fun vacations to cabins in the mountains
  
• Very thoughtful with sending lovely cards and notes for special occasions
• She is so loving to her grandchildren
• Her smile and laugh are so adorable and fantastic
• She always helps us to come on trips to visit
  

The example you set for us in word and deed is truly Christ-like. Thank you for loving and supporting our family in all the ways you do. We love you!

Aunt Shelly (Meredith's aunt, her mom's sister)

• She lets us walk up her legs (well, maybe some of us are too big now.)
• Makes an effort to visit for special occasions and "just because"
• Always brings fun treats like gummy worms
• Sends fun cards in the mail for birthdays
• Filling a lot of the role that my mom can't since she passed away
  
• Works hard so she can play hard
• She is a great help when a difficult decision needs to be made
  
• Calls daily or almost daily to "check in" and see how life is going with everyone
• She is funny
• She made a playroom for kids and built a pool in her Arizona vacation house.
  

Thank you, thank you, Aunt Shelly for always being there, for being one of the first people we want to call with news, good or bad, and for always making life more fun! We love you so much!

Clockwise from top left: Lori, Meghan, Molly, Dawn, Jeannie, and Barbara

And not to leave out some other very special aunts (and sister in laws), Aunt Lori, Aunt Molly, Aunt Meghan, Aunt Jeannie, Aunt Barbara, and Aunt Dawn!! We love every minute we get to spend with you and thank you for your guiding influence in our lives, whether we see you every week or once per year, you compassion and love for all of us is truly a great blessing.

As President Hinckley said in the quote on motherhood at the top of my sidebar,
"...no other can adequately take your place."
We love you and honor each of you this day.
Thank you for being our mother, grandmother, aunts, and sister in laws!!

And of course, our thoughts always turn to my mom, Sue, when we celebrate motherhood. We miss her and the experiences we are missing out on sharing with her but are thankful for her kind and loving example of motherhood, sisterhood, and friendship.