Girls night out and Fathers and sons

After the reception we hurried over to the Hampton by the Gilbert Temple because the Benson High School Track Team was in town for a triathlon. Yep, that meant the unofficial chaperone/coaches wife was in town, looking for someone to entertain her!

Yes, the #1 Debbie in my life was here! I brought the girls with me since it was girls night out, after all, and I can't forget them!

 A quick take out from Panda Express (Mackenzie's choice) and we met up with my sisters at the hotel. We ate, visited, and then went swimming.

 Or, should I say Mackenzie swam and we watched, wading our feet in the water. Later we headed to the hot tub. Mackenzie made a few friends, as usual. It was a great night! I love it when my little sister is in town! She is so much fun and I love being with her! And my girls were right there with me too, except my two older ones, who were missed!

(funny how they grow up. In a few years it will just be Mackenzie!)

 

 

Meanwhile many hours later and a few miles past Payson the boys were enjoying fathers and sons!

I would tell you more but I know nothing. I find it is better now to know.

 

 

Thanks to Bro Ray for the pics. And thanks for leaving the ones out that I know I don't want to see! 

Debi Farr

Every now and again a friend comes along who is priceless! Someone who loves you regardless of .... well, you!  Someone who can move away for a long period of time and the minute you meet again, things pick up as if no time has passed. Well, for me this is the epitome of Debi Farr.  She is always there for me, even if physically she is in Montana. She is amazing, wonderful, a hoot to be around, and genuine through and through! We have stayed up laughing and giggling until late in the evening and cried together when things are not going our way!

She is one in a million.

Her son Cameron was married on Friday to a Courtney, no less! She has waited for him for a few years while he was serving overseas. They were never standing together so I wasn't able to get a picture. I am hoping to snag one on facebook.

 

 

It was great seeing Debi again and she will be heading back sometime in August and maybe, just maybe we might run into each other again. For now, there is always the phone. Thank goodness for texting!!!

Setting up For Swing Dance

Decorating for the Swing dance is always an adventure! Britt and Kadon hung the stars. Ashley usually does that and she was missed!~

 

 

 

Afterwards, the two were sent to get tablecloths and also brought back a coconut bra. Britt always wanted one.

 

 

Looks like we need to have one of those modesty talks again!

 

 

My mothers day missionary night!

Had a great time talking with Ashley tonight. Wish it could have been longer! I love her so much and am so proud of the person she is becoming! Thank you for being my daughter!!!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mothers day to my sweet mom! I am so grateful for all she as done for me and for the friendship we have!

 

 

And I can't forget my two grandmas who were taken way too soon from us! Their influence is still felt so many years after their passing!!!

 

 Melba Wall

 

LaVerne Shaw

 

These women have blessed me and made me the person I am! I would be lost without them and will always be grateful to each one for all they have done for me!

Britt's busy weekend

This year Brittany was in the Euporia concert. And she did an awesome job! Danni also performed with her elite fitness group and they also a super job too! It makes me breathless just watching them... mostly because I would get so breathless if I did what they were doing!

 

 Brittany and Miranda. They have been in dance before! Only at Taylor! Look at how much they have changed!!!

 

 Gracie Crockett. When she was born she reminded me a lot of Brittany. What do you think?

 

 My silly girls!

 

 

 

And she is off again to another Mormon Prom! I am so glad this girl is going tonight! I know she will have fun with a good friend! And that is just what she needs!

 

 

 

 

  She went with Trenton Peterson. For those who know the Petersons in our ward, he is Bro Peterson's brother and he is such a nice kid! They met on a double date when they went with Trenton's older brother and Tennille Heywood,

(Another older brother who is on a mission right now. Had to make that clear, just in case:) )

How cool he remembered how much fun they had and he asked her again!

 And I got a call from Ashley's companion this morning. Almost scared me until I realized they were just confirming tomorrow's time to visit with my darlin' girl! And then she told me I needed to answer my cell phone, which I left in the car because...Well, I would think of a great excuse but when it comes down to it  I am a complete lost cause. And I heard her laugh! ... Ash, not Sis Archuleta! It sounded so wonderful! Can't wait till tomorrow! And I now have Idaho's area code memorized.

Again,  a lost cause!!!

What a week! Joey received his tenderfoot! Yep, he is working his way on being a great little boy scout. I am really proud of him! And in two months he can officially start working on his camping merit badge! I am so excited for him but not sure about his leaders! Oh, well. They will learn to enjoy him!

On Tuesday he had his Franklin band concert. He did a pretty good job considering half the time he didn't even go! But next year is a new school year and hopefully I will figure out how to channel Joey's energy so he will be successful! That is what I truly want for my little man.

But that is harder than I think. Even now as I type this it seems like one of the hardest tasks I will have to perform but I need to do it because he really is such a sweetie. The attention span of a gnat but a real sweetie!

 He is hidden in the back. And being the shortest one in the band you can't see him but he is there! Luke, on the other hand, had a solo with his oboe! Awesome kid!

 

Mackenzie makes me laugh! Once a week she sets up some kind of shrine in one of the rooms.

(She gets mad at us when we call it that but I am not sure what else to call it!)
She uses the stools for the kitchen table. And there is always a picture involved.

 Last week it was Ashley in the front room. I have a gut feeling it will be me on Sunday. Oh well, the little sweetie loves to show off what she is proud of!

Franklin Firebird Band

Joey is in the band at Franklin...sometimes. He has had some bullying problems and doesn't go as much as he should. Next year, though, I am making him go! He will get so much better if he continues to work on it. And next year he will be back to one instrument!

He is in the front row trying to hold both the trumpet and the drum sticks! That's my boy!!! Gotta love him!!!

Broken Hearts

How do you comfort a child who has a broken heart because a guy does not want her anymore? I have been very bad at this in the past.

Crying helps, throwing things does too as long as it is in a productive way. And being there while they work through it.

My heart breaks right along with them. I think this is one of the worst things about being a mom.

 I will be supportive, loving, and offer my shoulder to cry on when needed and pray this experience will not be repeated for a long time in the future.

And repeat until the sting is not as bad.

And she will live through this.

Joey too, lol!

Happenings!

Mothers day is coming up and things are getting kind of weird around here. First of all, everyone is getting really excited to talk to Ashley! My computer is still being difficult so it looks like we will be going to Grandmas but that is okay! Joey is counting down, not for mothers day, but to see Ashley again. I think he is a lot homesick for his big sister, which makes me laugh because he was always driving her crazy and vice versa! Mackenzie is locked up in her room cutting and pasting, a mother's day project in the works I am guessing. And Zach is at his friend's house. ... Yep, he has a friend.
Joey is finished with his mother's day gift for me. He already told me about it. He made a picture of a sun flower and then wrote some things on the back of it. But he was overwhelmed because he didn't know what to write. He didn't want to insult me. ... Not sure what to think about that! ...No, I take that back. I CAN'T wait to read it!

Britt was asked to Mormon prom tonight. No, not for Mesa High but for the Mountain View stakes. So we need to find another dress! Yep, gonna be another fun week! We are headed back to the same place to find a dress that will work. She kind of already has one picked out! We have to put another deposit down because the other dress is not dry cleaned yet but that is okay.

The roundtable mini pow wow was a great success! I was very happy with it! I sang many solos, made a fool of myself, and showed how to make a horn out of a straw! And my knowledge of band stuff came in handy when I explained how it worked!  Very happy with the evening! And after the District Pinewood Derby tomorrow I get three months off from scouts! YIPEE!!!!

Which reminds me of something. The 2nd counselor in the Kimball stake primary was released and said she will miss scouts most of all. I wonder if that will happen to me. It is getting better than it was last year and I am so pleased when things turn out like they are supposed to. And I love seeing how this program changes young men. Of course you don't really see it until they are older but it is amazing how much it prepares them and makes them nice, responsible young men. That is the real benefit of the program. So, to answer the question I just asked myself, yes, I have changed my views. And maybe I like it more than I let on.