Scrappin

I recently learned how to use photoshop. (Thank you very much Tiffany) Bill has been trying to get me to scrapbook with photoshop for years and I just kept blowing him off. However, once I learned what I was doing I was totally hooked. I still enjoy scrapbooking the old fashion way and I will when I can go with friends, but for now I am having a blast digital scrapbooking. Because of this new little obession my house and laundry have totally been ignored. I have tried not to ignore the kids. They just want to play with friends so it hasn't been to bad. Eventhough I have not been on top of my motherly duties I am preserving our family history so that counts right? Here are just a few pages that I have done. I am not the super Carrie Carroll type scrapbooker, but my layouts work for me. You would think that Jake is the oldest child with all of the pages I have done for him. I guess I just learned after four other kids to take lots of photos.

Less Is More

Today Sadie and Kate were at our house playing with Hailey. They played with the dress ups and with Hailey's makeup. Each girl carefully chose the special dress that she wanted to wear. For some reason Hailey's dress up of choice lately is her Easter dress. I don't really get that one, at least I am getting my moneys worth with that dress. If you look closely you can see the care with which the make up was applied. Kate is sporting a purple nose. She was very proud of it and later proceeded to put lipstick all over her face. Sadie and Hailey have some lovely red stuff on their cheeks and forheads. All of these beauties have lovingly put sparkles in their hair as well as a finish coat of sparkles on their face. I hope that their make up techniques do not come from watching their mothers apply their own make up. They were all about the photo shoot, they have definately been working on their posing. I hope they learn less is more before they are teenagers. They were just too cute!

Dance Festival

The end of the year always brings the dance festival. This is one of my favorite traditions at the kids school. Megan did the Virginia Reel, she had to wear pioneer clothes. They learned about Utah History this year, very fittting. Parker's dance was I'll Be Nice, he had to wear African clothing. Hailey did the Hukilau (sp?), and of course she wore Hawiian clothes. They all did a great job and we were lucky that the weather cooperated. Way to go kids!!!

SMILE

Yay, Jake has learned how to smile. He actually first smiled at me on Mother's Day. What a wonderful gift for him to give his mom. He is such a sweet and content baby. He loves to smile especially at his family and his toys. He is almost 11 weeks. I can't believe how fast he is growing and changing. He can't fit any of his 0 to 3 month clothes. He has worked very hard at eating and has the biggest stomach ever, too cute. That is the saddest thing for me when I have to clean out his small clothes from his drawers. We are just having a ball with our cute little Buddha Boy!! We love you Jake!

Liberty Land

Our neighbors are creating a "Boondocks" type place called Liberty Land. They are making a mosaic wall where the bumper boats will be. Laura Lee came by and asked if we wanted to come and help make the mosaic. Bill took Parker and Megan and they had a blast. Parker was ready to move to Liberty Land and he has decided that he wants to go there for his birthday. They have been three times which has been so fun for all of them. They love to see the progress and they have such pride in the work that they are doing. We are so grateful for great neighbors that help provide our children with great opportunities.

Piano Recital

Friday May 23, 2008, both Megan and Parker had their piano recital. Megan played Irish Dance and Parker played Ode to Joy. It was Parker's first recital. He just started lessons last August. He was very nervous for the reictal. Before we left for the recital he practiced his song but he didn't come out of the piano room for awhile. I knew that he was very worried about his song so I asked him if he wanted us to pray before we left the house. He said that he had just said a prayer by himself and that he would be alright. I was very proud of him for turning to his Heavenly Father for help we he needed it. It is moments like that when you think maybe the children are actually listening during FHE, primary, etc. They both did a great job and worked hard to learn their songs.

Memorial for Rylee

This past Sunday we went to Primary Childrens Hospital to a memorial for all of the children that had died over the past year. I was amazed at how many children there were. I would say that there was close to 200 children that died. The program started with a child reading a poem about a leaf on the ground. Then the CEO Joe Mott spoke. He did a great job and was very sincere. There were serveral musical numbers played by a little orchestra. Then there was a memorial video with pictures of the children that had passed away. It was very well done. Our little Rylee's picture was so cute. After the video there was a song and a prayer by the chaplin at PCMC. After the prayer the bagpipe player played a song and we all followed him down the hall to an outside area. We each got a ribbon and wrote on it a letter to Rylee. We then tied them to a fence outside. Then we had refreshments inside. It was such a special program. It was nice to think of Rylee and celebrate her life again. It is so sad that so many people have had to go through losing a child. There are no words to discribe the loss that is felt. I know that Rylee struggled while here on the earth, but I just miss her so much. Life was better when she was in it. Eventhough her life wasn't easy and our life was challenging with her I would love to have her back to deal with all of her issues to just have her with us. Rylee had such a special spirit about her and I think the people that really tried to get to know and love her for who she was, were able to feel that strong spirit in that little frail body. We have been so blessed as a family to have her be with us. I am grateful that families are forever and I can be with my little Ry again. We love you Dolly!!!

The kids tying their ribbons on the memorial wall.