ode to my mom

I recognize I may be a little over zealous in my list making.  I find it's a way to get my feelings across concisely...kind of neccessity with three littles at my feet.

my mom

thoughtful
articulate
wise
lifelong learner
mary poppins...practically perfect in every way
could find a rhyme to anything
baker of "crisp" cookies
teacher to all
teacher by example
selfless
caregiver to many generations
well read
seeker of truth, light, and goodness
best editor, and typist around
refined without being stuffy
thrifty without being cheap
beautiful
(I've always longed for your tiny ankles, long neck, defined cheekbones, and olive skin tone
but I am grateful to share some of your same sensibilities.)
encouraging, and supportive for what ever we went for (starlite..um cheerleading..teach in tonga)
keeper to confidences
welcoming to strangers
giver of time
show'r of respect
can back up as well as she can drive forward
can drive anything...has driven more vehicles then most should ever have to
quick wit
builder of testimonies
makes raising six children look like fun
makes me want to be a better mom
magically instilled in me this desire to be good, without a bunch of rules
fierce snap, I'm working on my own
memory maker
storyteller
mentor
friend
my marme
 

She is one in a million

Laura has always told me I could put something in the blog if I ever wanted to - so this Mothers Day morning I'm using that privilege to say a little something nice about her.

Laurakate isa wonderful mother and I have to say that as long as I've known her I knew she would be.  For whatever reason we've been blessed with three of the most beautiful, thoughtful, funny, and at times...(ok maybe most of the time) challenging children in the whole entire world.  The beautiful, thoughtful and funnypart make the challenging times for me bearable (but I get to escape to the office for 8-10 hours a day)  To take on the all day (and currently all night) responsibility that she does is to me super-human. 

She is truly one in million and I'm grateful to have someone as amazing as her teach, care for, and guide our little ones.

to those who see bare branches and know they hold the buds of spring

I have had to cling to those words from an old song I sang in high school as my patience for a lingering winter lapses.  Here are a few shots of the first of over 200 tulips we planted in the fall start to bloom.  They are mostly all out now, unfortunately, covered with snow at this moment in time.

Little Row is 2 months now, I can't believe it.

new recruit

easter 2010

The year of the hunts...one night hunt with our friends the Maudsleys (SO FUN!), Draper City (starts at 9am if your a minute late you've missed it), inside at Aunt Lissy's house after Saturday conference, on Easter day at Grammy Pat's (all grandkids were together for the first time with Kai and Rowan...hope to add a picture of that soon).

birds nest craft (choco chips, chinese noodles, and yogurt covered raisins)

Clara and Noah were in seperate areas this year.  I took clara and Josh had Noah and Beck kept an eye on Rowan and snapped shots.  They announced to parents to stay behind and just let the kids go at the 4-6yr old spot. When the firetruck blew his horn Noah ran out and then became terrified, not seeing Dad, and only to managed to get one egg before they were gone.  (Luckily that one egg had a ticket so he came home with matchbox cars)

(Rowan was there but never left the comfort or warmth of her carseat.)

It was cold day, and no church because of conference, but I still dressed them in their Easter outfits just for a picture, and this is the best shot I could get, I should know better...maybe next year.

blessing day

Beautiful blessing, beautiful girl, beautiful day. We were so grateful to have family and friends near and far share it with us.

Rowan's sweet dress was made by Sister Dydiw.

Stika, Party of Five

Rowan shared her day with big sister Clara's B-day celebration.

She slept for the blessing, what a miracle.

Rowan has first cousins born 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after (and even more second cousins in between),

what a joy to have Noelle and Kai as her buddies for life.

Aunt Beck played cousin wrangler outside.

A few of the lovely Sanders ladies

Friends and family visiting and playing everywhere, it's nice to have a house full!

thirty never looked so good

Today is Josh's 30th birthday.  Last year I thought I would be sweeping him off to some adventurous, fun weekend and instead we made dinner at home, returned books to the library, and had family home evening. (The adventure vacation is coming in May with a brother surf trip to Panama).  I want him to feel special today. I have always been amazed what he has accomplished in is (young) life.  Here are just 30 of your amazing accomplishments (in no particular order...silly/serious all thrown together).
1.  Noah
2.  Clara
3.  Rowan
4.  Won two bikes for running 300+ miles is grade school
5.  Learned to Surf (even got a nickname Utah in the waters of Santa Cruz)
6.  Served a fultime mission to Italy
7.  Can speak Italian
8.  Bought/owned some beautiful cars and 5 beautiful homes that you worked hard on and for
9.  Owner of a successful business
10. Successfully switched door openings on the washer and dryer
11. Finished a triatholon (Oops, duathalon for the scouts in santa cruz)
12. First in family to graduate HS
13. Climbed the Great Wall of China
14. Learned to make amazing salsa, and the best creamy white sauce
15. Built your own guitar
16. Performed live in California and Utah
17. Wrote your own music
18. Took three of your family members back to Italy
19. Married in the Temple FOREVER to your laura kate
20. Passed all levels of that ridiculous war game on your phone
21. Taught yourself to swim at a somewhat advanced age
22. Supported your brother on his mission
23. Inducted into Pearl Jam superfandome (kind of made up but you would be if there was one)
24. Reads more books in a year that most (at least me) in a lifetime
25. Can tidy a house in 15 minutes
26. Successfully grew ringlets
27. Mastered the art of grilling steaks
28. Can eat an entire box of Sandies cookies and only have a six pack to show for it. (grrrr!)
29. Won a nationwide essay contest for a soda company ($7000 prize)
30.  Is able to be happy where he is at while still driven in his future goals.

i love you. can't wait to be there for the next 30.