Dear Nicholas,
I have been trying to put my thoughts into words for weeks now about how much I love you. You just received an awesome gift for your 12th birthday. You were ordained a deacon and received the power of the Aaronic Priesthood. The bishop said that you now have more power than the President of the United States.
You are such an amazing young man. I have been very blessed, I realize this, that you are truly a good, good boy. You are extremely talented but humble about it, so kind to your brothers but also a huge tease at the same time, and one of the most repectful 12 year olds I have ever met. You will do what you are told when me or your dad asks you to do something, usually the first time. You are not always happy about it but you will do it.
You are responsible. I feel sometimes that you are even a little too responsible and I feel a bit guilty for that because I work so much and feel I ask a lot of you at times. You seem to take everything in stride but I sincerely hope that you will not look back on your early years with regret and I hope you have had a wonderful childhood with the promise of many more memories to come. I think you realize that I am doing the best I can and the hugs you give me give me such comfort because although I am not the perfect mother and could have taught you so much more or done more things with you, I know that you appreciate and love me for what I have done.
You have a wee bit of an OCD perfectionist complex which can be frustrating sometimes because you don't realize how wonderful you are because you think you need to be perfect.
I want the best for you and your brothers. I want the usual parent things like I want you to do well in school. I want you to go on a mission. But above all things, I want you to be happy and dream big. From your earliest days I’ve tried to teach you generosity and a constant awareness that everyone you meet is a fellow child of God. I ask that you become of great use to your fellow man. That you mourn with those who mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.
You are well on your way to doing this. The other day it warmed my heart to see you give a sincere apologetic hug to Andrew after you had hurt his feelings without being asked. You went and made sure your friend at your birthday party that was a little grumpy was included and having a good time.
I love you Nicholas Justin. I hate that you are growing up but I love it at the same time. You are turning into a funny, charismatic, and delightful young man and I am so happy that you are my son.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
what a deal!
Imagine wanting to show off your darling family to all of your friends to prove that you have the cutest family ever and not quite knowing how to do it.
I have a solution. Well, actually Shutterfly does. This year, Shutterfly is giving out 50 free holiday cards to bloggers.
I know...awesome.
I used Shutterfly.com last year for my cards and they were quite adorable.
There are SO many designs to choose from so you are sure to find the perfect card to show your personality. And to show off your kids. Christmas not your thing? They have just as many darling HOLIDAY card ideas to make your friends jealous. I mean, showcase your family.
The site is so user friendly and you can go through as many cards as you would like trying to find the perfect one. I like this one for this year.
Can't choose from just a few adorable pictures? They also have calendars or photo books to showcase a plethora of photos. Who wouldn't want a personalized book or calendar for a gift? I know my kids could look at pictures of themselves for hours so even if you do a mini scrapbook for your kids I am sure it would be a hit under the tree.
Go HERE to partake in Shutterfly's generosity.
I have a solution. Well, actually Shutterfly does. This year, Shutterfly is giving out 50 free holiday cards to bloggers.
I know...awesome.
I used Shutterfly.com last year for my cards and they were quite adorable.
Jolly Holiday Christmas
Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.
View the entire collection of cards.
There are SO many designs to choose from so you are sure to find the perfect card to show your personality. And to show off your kids. Christmas not your thing? They have just as many darling HOLIDAY card ideas to make your friends jealous. I mean, showcase your family.
The site is so user friendly and you can go through as many cards as you would like trying to find the perfect one. I like this one for this year.
Can't choose from just a few adorable pictures? They also have calendars or photo books to showcase a plethora of photos. Who wouldn't want a personalized book or calendar for a gift? I know my kids could look at pictures of themselves for hours so even if you do a mini scrapbook for your kids I am sure it would be a hit under the tree.
Go HERE to partake in Shutterfly's generosity.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
ptc round one
We just finished up parent teacher conferences for the first quarter last Friday.
All of their teachers are delightful. You can tell that they truly love their jobs and care about their students.
Each of them are doing well in their respective classes and the biggest complaint from their teachers is that they are just a bit too social. But I was floored when Luke's teacher told me he was such a good boy...so respectful and focused. I think my jaw dropped to the floor when she said that and I stared at her for a moment before I responded to make sure it wasn't a joke. Such a difference from last year at this time when I would receive emails at least once a week from his teacher telling me something that he had done and I once received two phone calls from the principal about Luke. In the same day.
I wanted to share some things that Nick and Luke wrote. To be fair to Andrew, his teacher loved his so much that she is keeping it. I will have to try to get a copy of it though just to have in my stash of school papers.
Nick's is a poem about WW1 called "The Worst."
Ask me what I saw.
Machine guns roaring,
Bodies soaring,
shells coming down.
Shell shocked people are all dazed,
about what we had to face.
Rats as big as cats
sleeping on your bed.
Your head is filled with dread
For the dead,
Imagine what their mothers think
when they do not come home.
Luke's class each wrote a persuasive letter to their parents. I absolutely love his.
I couldn't figure out our scanner to scan his cute little handwriting in but oh well.
Dear Parents,
I want a frog because it will eat the flies in our apartment. I will train him to stay in his cage. I will pay for everything that the frog needs. I'll get him food when he needs it. I wouldn't let it get lost in our apartment. I won't let Maisy eat the frog. I won't let it get fat like the dog. I won't let my freinds keep it. I won't let it be a class pet. And I will keep it in my room.
Love,
Luke
Although he makes several good points, I don't think he will be getting a frog.
Maybe if he said he would keep his room clean so we could find the frog if it got out. Then perhaps I would have considered it.
All of their teachers are delightful. You can tell that they truly love their jobs and care about their students.
Each of them are doing well in their respective classes and the biggest complaint from their teachers is that they are just a bit too social. But I was floored when Luke's teacher told me he was such a good boy...so respectful and focused. I think my jaw dropped to the floor when she said that and I stared at her for a moment before I responded to make sure it wasn't a joke. Such a difference from last year at this time when I would receive emails at least once a week from his teacher telling me something that he had done and I once received two phone calls from the principal about Luke. In the same day.
I wanted to share some things that Nick and Luke wrote. To be fair to Andrew, his teacher loved his so much that she is keeping it. I will have to try to get a copy of it though just to have in my stash of school papers.
Nick's is a poem about WW1 called "The Worst."
Ask me what I saw.
Machine guns roaring,
Bodies soaring,
shells coming down.
Shell shocked people are all dazed,
about what we had to face.
Rats as big as cats
sleeping on your bed.
Your head is filled with dread
For the dead,
Imagine what their mothers think
when they do not come home.
Luke's class each wrote a persuasive letter to their parents. I absolutely love his.
I couldn't figure out our scanner to scan his cute little handwriting in but oh well.
Dear Parents,
I want a frog because it will eat the flies in our apartment. I will train him to stay in his cage. I will pay for everything that the frog needs. I'll get him food when he needs it. I wouldn't let it get lost in our apartment. I won't let Maisy eat the frog. I won't let it get fat like the dog. I won't let my freinds keep it. I won't let it be a class pet. And I will keep it in my room.
Love,
Luke
Although he makes several good points, I don't think he will be getting a frog.
Maybe if he said he would keep his room clean so we could find the frog if it got out. Then perhaps I would have considered it.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
boys of fall
When I feel that chill and smell that fresh cut grass
I'm back in my helmet, cleats, and shoulder pads;
Standin in the huddle listenin' to the call
Fans going crazy for the boys of fall.
They didn't let just anybody in that club
Took every ounce of heart and sweat and blood;
To get to wear those game day jerseys down the hall
King of the school man, we're the boys of fall..
Well, it's turnin' to face the stars and stripes
It's fighting back them butterflies
It's call it in the air alright, yes sir we want the ball;
It's knockin' heads and talkin' trash
It's slinging mud and dirt and grass,
It's I got your number, I got your back
When your backs against the wall;
You mess with one man, you got us all
The boys of fall.
--Kenny Chesney, "The Boys of Fall"
On Saturday the Mustangs played a hard quarterfinal game but fell to the Alta Hawks 13-7. It is crazy to think that the activity that took up a huge chunk of our free time is over but I have to say that sleeping in on Saturday morning sounds quite nice.
I am so proud of Nick and how hard he played and how hard he worked. It was really fun to watch him and his team have fun together and come together as a team over the last 3 months.
Until next year.
I'm back in my helmet, cleats, and shoulder pads;
Standin in the huddle listenin' to the call
Fans going crazy for the boys of fall.
They didn't let just anybody in that club
Took every ounce of heart and sweat and blood;
To get to wear those game day jerseys down the hall
King of the school man, we're the boys of fall..
Well, it's turnin' to face the stars and stripes
It's fighting back them butterflies
It's call it in the air alright, yes sir we want the ball;
It's knockin' heads and talkin' trash
It's slinging mud and dirt and grass,
It's I got your number, I got your back
When your backs against the wall;
You mess with one man, you got us all
The boys of fall.
--Kenny Chesney, "The Boys of Fall"
On Saturday the Mustangs played a hard quarterfinal game but fell to the Alta Hawks 13-7. It is crazy to think that the activity that took up a huge chunk of our free time is over but I have to say that sleeping in on Saturday morning sounds quite nice.
I am so proud of Nick and how hard he played and how hard he worked. It was really fun to watch him and his team have fun together and come together as a team over the last 3 months.
Until next year.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
10 (almost)
Andrew celebrated his upcoming birthday with his friends on Friday night.
I asked him what he wanted to do a while ago and he told me that he wanted to see a movie. Perfect, I thought. We will just go to the dollar theater and it will be one of the cheapest birthday parties on the planet.
Unfortunately, he had other ideas which included seeing the Megamind movie. He also said that he wanted to see it on opening night. When he told me this I had no idea when the movie even opened but he must have been praying really hard that his idea would become a reality because it opened on a night when we didn't already have plans and I didn't have to work. And how do you say no when he is telling you that he has only been to the theater on opening night twice in his short lifetime?
So it was written, so it was done.
The boys met at our place for dinner and presents. They were not interested in cake and ice cream. They wanted to play hide and go seek. So I have a hugemungous cake that was begging to have it be eaten. So I obliged and had a little nibble. But seriously, what group of 10 year old boys does not want cake?
His friends know him well and he got a million Pokemon cards which included the coveted Sharzar...this discovery was met with squeals of glee by all in attendance.
Then off to the theater.
I am so glad I bought the seats ahead of time and I got the good ones in the front row of the second section so we could stretch our legs out. One boy commented that he had always wanted to sit there but they always sat further up. Score one for me.
I was also able to smuggle in 24 boxes of candy into the place in my purse. No one even batted an eye. Suckers. Every boy received a box of red vines and a box of sour patch kids. I think I heard the word awesome used in 11 different contexts and maybe even a different language and another boy said that I was the best ever. Score two for me and I think that even deserves a big pat on the back too.
After getting them all souped up on candy and popcorn we took them home. I was able to listen to burps and fake farting noises and silly little boy talk to my hearts content. I know that it was just code thanking me for taking them to the movie. They are a great group of boys and I am grateful that Andrew has such good friends.
It was a fabulous night. Very low key and perfect. And Andrew was able to say that he saw Megamind on opening night.
Success.
I asked him what he wanted to do a while ago and he told me that he wanted to see a movie. Perfect, I thought. We will just go to the dollar theater and it will be one of the cheapest birthday parties on the planet.
Unfortunately, he had other ideas which included seeing the Megamind movie. He also said that he wanted to see it on opening night. When he told me this I had no idea when the movie even opened but he must have been praying really hard that his idea would become a reality because it opened on a night when we didn't already have plans and I didn't have to work. And how do you say no when he is telling you that he has only been to the theater on opening night twice in his short lifetime?
So it was written, so it was done.
The boys met at our place for dinner and presents. They were not interested in cake and ice cream. They wanted to play hide and go seek. So I have a hugemungous cake that was begging to have it be eaten. So I obliged and had a little nibble. But seriously, what group of 10 year old boys does not want cake?
His friends know him well and he got a million Pokemon cards which included the coveted Sharzar...this discovery was met with squeals of glee by all in attendance.
Then off to the theater.
I am so glad I bought the seats ahead of time and I got the good ones in the front row of the second section so we could stretch our legs out. One boy commented that he had always wanted to sit there but they always sat further up. Score one for me.
I was also able to smuggle in 24 boxes of candy into the place in my purse. No one even batted an eye. Suckers. Every boy received a box of red vines and a box of sour patch kids. I think I heard the word awesome used in 11 different contexts and maybe even a different language and another boy said that I was the best ever. Score two for me and I think that even deserves a big pat on the back too.
After getting them all souped up on candy and popcorn we took them home. I was able to listen to burps and fake farting noises and silly little boy talk to my hearts content. I know that it was just code thanking me for taking them to the movie. They are a great group of boys and I am grateful that Andrew has such good friends.
It was a fabulous night. Very low key and perfect. And Andrew was able to say that he saw Megamind on opening night.
Success.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
happy birthday hubs
36 years ago on 11/03 this man arrived...
...and I am so glad he did.
He is goofy and uptight and romantic and sexy and the hardest worker you will ever meet all rolled up into a delicious bundle.
To celebrate he got some balloons (including a Spongebob one chosen by Liam), some ties, and a card that sings Happy Birthday. Then we went here to eat.
Jealous?
The moment you walk in the door you are greeted with the most heavenly aroma. Take a deep breath and smell that meat cooking. I wonder if they have an air freshener or a Scentsy block that could emulate it.
I think he is excited that he is here.
Here is a sampling of the fare that they serve. Hands down the best ribs ever.
Didn't get a close enough look?
For dessert we had pumpkin pie a la Costco and watched Ghost Hunters on t.v. to end the festivites.
Happy birthday love!
...and I am so glad he did.
He is goofy and uptight and romantic and sexy and the hardest worker you will ever meet all rolled up into a delicious bundle.
To celebrate he got some balloons (including a Spongebob one chosen by Liam), some ties, and a card that sings Happy Birthday. Then we went here to eat.
Jealous?
The moment you walk in the door you are greeted with the most heavenly aroma. Take a deep breath and smell that meat cooking. I wonder if they have an air freshener or a Scentsy block that could emulate it.
I think he is excited that he is here.
Here is a sampling of the fare that they serve. Hands down the best ribs ever.
Didn't get a close enough look?
For dessert we had pumpkin pie a la Costco and watched Ghost Hunters on t.v. to end the festivites.
Happy birthday love!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
happy all hollows eve eve
What a fabulous day.
It all began bright and early with Nick's last regular season football game against Riverton. And oh, what a game it was.
Since Herriman High opened taking much of the boundary of Riverton High, most of the kids playing against each other on Saturday played together last year on the same team. I think the kids were okay with it but it became very apparent that emotions were running high with some of the parents and the coaches on both teams. The officials were clearly against our team--penalties after almost every good play we would have, they called back a touchdown on our team, would throw flags and call a facemask but wouldn't know the number of the player they called it on, and they would snicker after the penalty was announced. By the third quarter it was becoming quite ridiculous and there were two unsportsman like conduct calls against the crowd. One of the Riverton players broke his collarbone on a play and the coach and his mom accused our coach of telling our player to purposefully hurt this young man.
Hello, they are 11. Why would that even be on their agenda to hurt another player like that when they are just out there to play the game and have fun? One thing that I love about our coach is that he is not out on the field just to win and doesn't teach the kids to play dirty. I am proud to say that we play a mean game of good, clean football.
And to top it off, a Riverton fan from a totally different field came over and started yelling at our players using quite colorful language for some reason. That led to a fistfight between him and a parent on our team and the police to get involved. Thankfully my hubby who can get quite hot headed was not involved but tried to break up the altercation.
Despite all of this, our boys played hard. They dug down deep and beat the Silverwolves and are now going to the playoffs as the second seed in the bracket.
After it was all over, I was exhausted.
When we got home we got down to business. I made doughnuts for the very first time and they were quite delicious. I was a bit intimidated by the deep fryer but it was not as scary as I thought it would be and a whole new world was opened up to me. My thighs won't know what hit them.
We enjoyed them while carving pumpkins.
Then we had our spooky dinner. Mummy wrappings, worms, crescent moons, and witches' brew. Perfect before hitting the streets to pillage and terrorize the neighborhood.
This year we had a cheerleader,
Indiana Jones,
Jack Sparrow one night for trunk or treat,
and Davy Jones for the night of all nights,
and a werewolf.
Nick didn't want to leave Maisy out of the fun so he bought her an angel costume at his school auction. I think she looks very thankful. She thanked him even more by chewing up the wings.
Happy halloween!
It all began bright and early with Nick's last regular season football game against Riverton. And oh, what a game it was.
Since Herriman High opened taking much of the boundary of Riverton High, most of the kids playing against each other on Saturday played together last year on the same team. I think the kids were okay with it but it became very apparent that emotions were running high with some of the parents and the coaches on both teams. The officials were clearly against our team--penalties after almost every good play we would have, they called back a touchdown on our team, would throw flags and call a facemask but wouldn't know the number of the player they called it on, and they would snicker after the penalty was announced. By the third quarter it was becoming quite ridiculous and there were two unsportsman like conduct calls against the crowd. One of the Riverton players broke his collarbone on a play and the coach and his mom accused our coach of telling our player to purposefully hurt this young man.
Hello, they are 11. Why would that even be on their agenda to hurt another player like that when they are just out there to play the game and have fun? One thing that I love about our coach is that he is not out on the field just to win and doesn't teach the kids to play dirty. I am proud to say that we play a mean game of good, clean football.
And to top it off, a Riverton fan from a totally different field came over and started yelling at our players using quite colorful language for some reason. That led to a fistfight between him and a parent on our team and the police to get involved. Thankfully my hubby who can get quite hot headed was not involved but tried to break up the altercation.
Despite all of this, our boys played hard. They dug down deep and beat the Silverwolves and are now going to the playoffs as the second seed in the bracket.
After it was all over, I was exhausted.
When we got home we got down to business. I made doughnuts for the very first time and they were quite delicious. I was a bit intimidated by the deep fryer but it was not as scary as I thought it would be and a whole new world was opened up to me. My thighs won't know what hit them.
We enjoyed them while carving pumpkins.
Then we had our spooky dinner. Mummy wrappings, worms, crescent moons, and witches' brew. Perfect before hitting the streets to pillage and terrorize the neighborhood.
This year we had a cheerleader,
Indiana Jones,
Jack Sparrow one night for trunk or treat,
and Davy Jones for the night of all nights,
and a werewolf.
Nick didn't want to leave Maisy out of the fun so he bought her an angel costume at his school auction. I think she looks very thankful. She thanked him even more by chewing up the wings.
Happy halloween!
Monday, November 1, 2010
scary face
I don't know what is more tempting. The gallon of syrup poured ever so carefully making it look like your breakfast of champions has a bloody nose or actually thinking that eating candy corns with your pancake is a good idea. After all of the work that Liam put into his masterpiece all that was eaten off this were the oreos. At least it was free.
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