THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOYS AND GIRLS

I have had a lot of people ask if we can tell a difference between raising Kali and raising the boys. I usually tell them, except for making bracelets, putting bows in her hair and carefully planning her wardrobe each day, they are pretty much the same. Well today I learned the difference.

It was lunchtime and Kalia was being particularly fussy about what she wanted to eat. I had made her a peanut butter and honey sandwich - usually a favorite. She would just turn her head away when I offered it to her - and attempt to throw it on the floor when left on her plate. (the sandwich was just a big square with the crusts cut off - she hasn't wanted her food broken up in pieces lately). I decided she was big enough to enjoy her food cut up with a cookie cutter. The boys loved biting legs, arms and the head off of many different animals in their day.

I cut her sandwich into a dog, barked at her and tried to get her to take a bite. Again she turned her head away. I said, "Look Kali, it's a dog (barking noise)." Then I sat the dog down on her tray. She smiled and picked the dog up (I was feeling a victory was coming). She then proceeded to kiss the dog and try to feed her Cheetos him. Needless to say, she never did eat her peanut butter and honey sandwich today.

Grandma Place

My Grandmother's funeral is tomorrow and I thought I would take some time to think about her. Grandma has been very sick for the last three years and really we have just hoped that she would be able to return to her Father in heaven and her husband as soon has they were ready for her. I was quite surprised at the feelings that I felt when Dad called to tell me she had passed away. I hadn't been to see her recently. It was hard to visit because she didn't really talk to us anymore and she couldn't hear me and I felt awkward when I would visit. I had such a huge feeling of loss after Dad called. This was the only grandmother I really remember and I loved her and I know she loved me.

This is a picture of Grandma as I remember her.

The Grandmother I knew came to most of my performances growing up. She shared Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mother's Day, Sunday dinners and birthday's with us. She liked to complain and nag at her husband saying "Arthur" and calling him "Jerry" when she liked him. She complained about bean cans being smaller than they used to be, people being less friendly and she couldn't believe that anyone would wear clothing that looked like it was made out of an American flag. She wore high heels and pants every day. Nothing was made "the way it used to be."

When I was in 6th grade we played jacks all the time when she would come over on Sundays. She always had cookies for us at her house. We loved her bean salad and everyone but me loved her Christmas pudding cake. Grandma had a lot of energy and was seldom ever sick. She was scraping the ice off her car, driving her own car, and walking around in high heels the day before her stroke. Here she is sledding in high heels.

She would sometimes laugh hard, putting her head up to the sky. She went through a period of time when she would cover her face anytime Dad was taking pictures. That must have been when she was trying to reject old age. Eventually she gave in to the fact that she had to get older and stopped complaining too loud about getting a picture taken.

For her 90th birthday I put together a video of her life. My Dad had just run into a bunch of pictures and negatives and let me go through them. As I was putting the video together I got to thinking about how much I don't know my grandma. What was she like as a child. What were her dreams and hopes she was expecting from life. It is amazing to think of all the changes she has seen in the world in her lifetime.

I think sometimes I just saw her as a Grandma. I love these old pictures and the stories they might hold. I wish I had known more of her.

As I am getting older (34 now) I am realizing that I am still the same person inside that I have always been. I think of all the high school and growing up traumas and heartbreaks and they still exist inside of me. Life has been a lot different than I had envisioned it. I am in an extremely happy place right now, but that has come with realizing that things just aren't going to turn out the way I originally hoped, life is not like the movies and I am in charge of my own happiness. I love my husband and my four children and wouldn't want to be anywhere other than where I am right now in life.

I can't imagine what it would be like to be 90 years old, when most of the people who really knew me are no longer on this earth. Death does not scare me, but growing old certainly does. When everything I am is gone, what will I be? Hopefully Loren and I will be a very old couple sitting on the porch swing laughing over our memories - if we still remember them.

I hope Grandma was happy with her life. While I don't feel like I really knew who she was inside, I feel like I have a lot of her in me.

I love you Grandma!

I was looking through some pictures and found this one of the boys. I think I took it for one of Mike's projects at school. I just think it is a cute picture. I love this bunk bed.

Kalia's helping dad pull the weeds. A few weeks ago I babysat Hailey and Aubrey while Kristy and Ben went to Vegas for their anniversary. The girls were so well behaved and Bron got along with them for four days. It was pretty amazing. One of the days they were playing downstairs and when I went down this was the spot Hailey was in. I thought it was super funny and had to go grab my camera. She looked like such a grown-up girl.

Of course after I took the photo Aubrey had to have her turn to pose for a picture.

Another play day with my girlfriends.

Sarah has an awesome backyard. The kids had a great day playing in the sun and water. This was the first sunny day after a couple weeks of rain.

I thought this was a super cute picture of Hailey.

All the girls.

We also took the kids to the Sweets factory for a tour. This was really cool. The tour is free, you just have to schedule ahead of time. Here is the link.

http://sweetcandy.com/main/onlinetour/

This week for our field trip everyone went to the zoo. We have all purchased the Tracy Aviary Pass. With this pass you can get into several different places for "free." Free - but you have to buy the pass. We have purchased the pass for the last three years now. I think it's pretty cool.

(However, I didn't go to the zoo this week. It has been a crazy week that I hope to never repeat again.) The pass includes the following.

Ogden Eccles Dinosaur Park
Free Weekdays Only

Ogden Nature Center
Free 1st Thursday of each month

Utah's Hogle Zoo
Free 1st Thursday of each month

There are a few other places you can get into.

Summer Fun Schedule

Monday: Park Day
Tuesday: Free Movies
Wednesday: Water Day - in someone's yard
Thursday: Field Trip
Friday: School Worksheets

I'm lucky enough to live in the greatest neighborhood in the world. We have a group of eight or nine moms and their kids that get together every day in the summer. (of course we do miss some of these days). I look forward to the summer and the time with the kids and my friends. This last week we went to the International Peace Gardens. I had never been there. We were fortunate to hit the one hour break in the rain that day. I just love all these kids.

Matt is the oldest of the kids (does that mean I'm the oldest of the moms? - Wow, I hope not). His job was to take care of Kalia on the trip. Matt loves to help out with Kali. Here are some of the photos from our trip.


I can't believe how much Kali's face looks like Matt's in this picture.

Yes. . . here we are demonstrating the circle of "International Peace"

More Updates

Mike had a ukulele program at the end of the school year. It is one of my favorite parts of third grade. Mike played the drums for one of the songs. It's amazing how much these kids can learn in just a few months.

Kalia's getting bigger!

Kali's Beautiful Easter Dress

One of the neighbors gave me this dress at my shower. I love it.

YEAH!!! One week into June and the pool is FINALLY open!

Of course, after two beautiful sunny weeks in May - all the bad weather comes. . .

Remember Those Water Weenies?

Loren was at Ace Hardware the other day with Bron when he happened upon the tubing. He told Bron he could make him an awesome water gun. Loren then came home and attached the pen to the top. They then had the trouble of figuring out how to get the water into the tube. The boys were very impressed with the finished product!

KRISTY IS 30!

Kristy surprised me by taking a picture of herself when she got ahold of my camera - so I thought I would surprise her and post it on my blog. (Kristy, I would not have posted it if I didn't think you looked good in the picture)