A Little Birdhouse For My Soul

Jackson has been working really hard to finish up his Wolf requirements before the end of the school year. He only has about 5 requirements left and they are all scheduled to be completed this month. One section of the Wolf requires the boys to learn about various tools, practicing hammering a nail and tightening a screw etc. The final requirement is to put all the new knowledge of tools to work and actually build something. Jacks made this fabulous birdhouse that will find it's home in my flower garden. Thanks Jacks! I love it!!

Donut Falls

We love hiking and it's that time of year once again. Over Memorial Day weekend we loaded up the kids and headed for the hills. About 9 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon is Donut Falls. It's a GREAT, EASY family friendly day hike. We had a fabulous time enjoying the smells of the mountains, the roar of the very full river and the whines of our city kids who really need to stomp around in the dirt more often.





So,our girl who won't let us near her with a clip, a bow, a ribbon, a headband OR a hat apparently doesn't have any issues with a bandana!!

Even Tough Guys Love Their Sisters

The bond Jackson and Mia have is truly something magical to behold. Simply put, it's mutual adoration at it's finest! Time and time again Jackson gets Mia out of her crib, holds her hand as she tries to be a big girl and walk down the stairs, makes her a bottle, turns on her favorite show and holds her while she drifts off into the land of Elmo. Just yesterday I picked up Jackson and his friend Marcus from scouts where they had received a little treat of a couple pieces of licorice. Mia, of course, wanted some but she was in a dress and we were on our way to a wedding, so I asked Jackson not to share. The entire ride home Mia kept looking at Jackson and saying, "peez, peez" (please, please.) As he hopped out of the car, he carefully (so Marcus wouldn't see) placed his last piece of licorice on the front seat and said, "Mom, give this to Mia when the wedding is over." It made me have a tear in my throat. Mia's a lucky little sister if you ask me!!



When Mia was about 1 month old.


Watching Elmo in the extraordinary film "Dinosaurs."


Easter Morning 2009

A Rainy Day Buddy

We've had true Spring time in the desert weather this week. Rain-sun-cold-snow-rain-snow-cold yuck!! The older kids are at school all day and they have plenty of afterschool activities and friends that get keep them from getting bored, but Maxwell has been climbing the walls with boredom. We've done laundry, sorted and organized all of Kacie's hair junk, visited the library, read a thousand books, played the Wii, gone to Grandma Cinny's, and fed the little ducks that have visited our backyard everyday. I think, however, the highlight for both of us was our cookie making party. I let Maxwell do all the "scooping" and "dumping" and we made the entire recipe with only a 1/4 cup measuring cup and a 1/4 tsp. measuring spoon. (That way there was more opportunity to "dump" and "scoop.")

I'm going to miss my little buddy when he starts pre-school in fall, but for now I'm savoring every bored moment!

It's Always the Bishop's Kids

Sundays are usually interesting...to say the least. Every parent out there, whose ever had to get the kids ready for church by 9:00 AM, knows the "battle" that can ensue on Sunday mornings. Ours are no different. By the time we sit down for sacrament meeting I'm usually sweating and tired and mentally blank. Then come the longest 70 minutes of my life. Even before we have a chance to sing the opening hymn Mia is screaming (and yes I do mean screaming) for her "DADA", who tries really hard not to bust into a full blown laugh attack on the stand. Maxwell is crying because, "he doesn't like church and he really doesn't like being quiet and he just wants to go home anyway." Kacie generally bonks her tall, gangly self on something and is digging through the diaper bag for a band aid and Jackson is told, once again, that no he can't sit by me because I need the little ones close at hand. These are the just the first five minutes of church. With the help of MANY great ward members we make it through sacrament meeting and I breathe a serious sigh of relief when it's time for primary. GOD BLESS THE PRIMARY TEACHERS OF THE WORLD!!

Max goes to primary just fine, but he only stays in primary because Sister Ferguson is the most amazing Sunbeam teacher to walk the planet! Max seems to always have something to say that makes her chuckle. Here's what happened a couple of weeks ago. The primary chorister was teaching the kids a new song. She had pictures and word posters and all the "stuff" that makes learning a new song fun. Apparently there were several verses and they all referenced God in someway. After what seemed hours to Maxwell, he leaned his head back and yelled, "I'm so tired of God!" Yes, it seems we have an irreverent 3 year old - guess we should work on that! All I know is the church certainly must be true! It wouldn't be worth it if it weren't!!

Random Pics

I have far too many items on my to-do list this week to properly update our family blog with lengthy posts. Please forgive me for the lack of detail and enjoy some fun and sometimes funny pics from the last couple of months.

Award of Merit

Last night Kevin and I attended our scouting district's recognition dinner where he and 9 others received scouting's Award of Merit. We ate prime rib, eavesdropped on some truly bizarre conversations, poked fun at some scouters and oohed and ahhed at a gorgeous LDS meetinghouse originally dedicated in 1905 by Joseph Fielding Smith.

I'm so blessed to have married Kevin. He is so dedicated to the youth, both in our ward and in our community, and truly wants to help them to realize their divine potential. I always knew he was a great guy that would accomplish many things, but I NEVER in a million years imagined scouting to be among them. I'm proud of you hon...even if scouters are a breed of their own!!! :)