The Mice from Outer Space

Yesterday was a banner day at our house. It was the Kindergarten production of "The Mice from Outer Space." For the last few weeks Emilie and Ada have been singing the songs from it around the house. And last week their lines were brought home to practice. And practice they did. They seemed very excited about it. I have to admit Jeff and I were skeptical that they would actually participate (given their track record). Thursday night Jeff talked with them again to make sure they were going to participate, because he wanted to make sure the hour drive home from work to see them would be worth it. Oh was it!

Even as I was driving over to the school I kept thinking "Will they really do it or will they walk in and see all the parents and back out and want to come sit with us (probably accompanied by a few tears)?" I didn't want to get my hopes up. Oh ME of little faith, but only because these are the children who have yet to really participate in a primary program (they have sat on the stand with me because I had to be up there). They will not give the prayer, talk or theme in primary. Just in the last year they have started participating in sharing time. Last year at their pre-school graduation (just in their classroom) they wouldn't sit up front with their class and sing the songs - they ended up standing with me and tears streaming down their faces. I could go on, but won't!

But, they did it! They got up on the stage and sang their little hearts out and they did their part (chasing the bad cat away). They were awesome! It was all I could do not to cry. I can't even explain how huge this was for them, and for us as mom and dad. I will admit I've been a little jealous of other parents getting to watch their kids participate in performances or recitals, hearing about what a great job they did and being so proud of them. I will also admit I was selfishly in 7th heaven yesterday because I got to be the parent that watched their kids particpate and perform and do a great job (just like I always knew they could!). I got to hear people say what a great job they did, instead of getting the words of sympathy about your kids being shy and not wanting to participate (I know people mean well) or just the sympathy smile as they walk by you and you know what is going on in their head (what a bummer for you or that poor mom). It was the best feeling ever to see them up there! I hope they felt the same way (I think they did based on some of the smiles I saw from them). The only downer was that Ada was put on the very back row and it was a little hard to see her at times, she's not the tallest person on the block! Truly between learning to ride their bikes without training wheels and participating in their class program, I couldn't ask for more from them right now (except maybe to chill on the fighting so much). Great job girls! We love you!

Thanks Aubrey and Braden for skipping class and Bret for coming to see Emilie and Ada. They really appreciated you being there!

Emilie - what a grin!

Ada peeking out from behind

Sarah loved watching her sisters perform!

Ada (her goofy smile) and Emilie

The cast party

I'm trying to figure out how to get the video from the camera to the computer - so stayed tuned - you won't want to miss it!

Words to live by.........

This is a quote from President Monsen in his talk given at Women's Conference in April. Truly words to live by.

"Send that note to the friend you've been neglecting; give your child a compliment and a hug; say 'I love you' more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It's so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they're gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of 'what if' and 'if only'...Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey and share our love with friends and family. One day, each of us will run out of tomorrows. Let us not put off what is most important."

"Our mortal life was never meant to be easy or consistently pleasant. Our Heavenly Father, who gives us so much to delight in, also knows that we learn and grow and become refined through hard challenges, heartbreaking sorrows, and difficult choices. Each one of us experiences dark days when our loved ones pass away, painful times when our health is lost, feelings of being forsaken when those we love seem to have abandoned us. These and other trials present us with the real test of our ability to endure. A fundamental question remains to be answered by each who runs the race of life: Shall I falter, or shall I finish? To finish life's race involves enduring through challenges and trials to the very end of life itself."

Happy Mother's Day

Why I love being the mom:

Getting hand made gifts with notes on the bag Finding notes like this And mostly because of THEM

Happy Mother's Day especially to my mom and to all the fabulous women in my life who are mom's that are such great examples to me.

This is for all the mom's out there. You may have already seen this one. If not, enjoy. For me it never gets old. Love this woman.
Happy Day!

Look Mom - No Training Wheels!

Last summer we tried to talk the girls into learning to ride their bikes without training wheels, but they refused. When the weather started getting warm and they wanted to ride their bikes, one look at their training wheels and we knew, we either had to get them new ones until they decided to try without or convince them to learn to ride without them. There was no convincing them - so I went and got them new wheels. That was 2 weeks ago, and what did they decide to do yesterday - learn to ride without them! Jeff and I laughed - of course once we got them new wheels they would decide to get rid of them!

Thanks to my friend Staci who lives across the street - she helped both Emilie and Ada. Emilie went first and she started out on their friend Bret's smaller bike. Emilie had it in about 5 minutes. So I took off the training wheels on her bike and off she went. Then it was Ada's turn. She did great - it took a little longer for her to pick it up - but she did it nonetheless and she is on her own bike now too.

I loved to see the huge smiles on their faces and how proud they were of their new accomplishment! So worth the wait. I have definitely learned that they will do things on their own time and when THEY are ready - not when I am ready for them to do it. Way to go girls! Mom and Dad are so proud of you!

Emilie

Emilie wanted to make sure I got a shot of her in full view without the training wheels

Ada

Ada on her bike

Sarah the spectator - she is very proud of her sisters too!

The girls were very excited to call the grandparents and tell them their news. They were very chatty with them and they even talked to my dad and to Richard (which they will never do!)