Agreeing with Sharon~ and more memories

I just wanted to blog quickly about Sharon's blog about mommy! I think that she summed up everything that we all feel and then because I was feeling emotional It started me down my own memory lane.

I have always thought that I had a fun childhood, full of wonderful activities especially in the summer- going to Scera swimming, eating those candy dipping sticks and watching movies. Walking with mommy, pushing Sharon and Diana in their stroller to McDonalds for ice Cream cones and my favorite: apple pies. But oh, the shopping, Grand Central, the mall! boy did we do alot of Shopping! Sometimes we would come home from shopping for school clothes and feel as if we were celebrating Christmas early, but the thing that I loved the most was watching a movie on Saturday and coloring with all the girls before dinner was served! And as sharon said, we were waited on hand and foot.

I, unfortunetly am not that kind of mother, I don't wait on my kids the way that mom waited on us, nor do I make home cooked dinners as often as I would really like since we are always coming and going so much. So, as a striving to be more like my mom, I am going to slow down- cook the homemade meals (more than just 2 times a week, but after September is over and Music Man rehearsals turn into performances which only will be 2x a week on Tues and Thurs, starting Oct 5th,)

I also realize that my mom had such an awesome responsibility raising 5 kids all within the ranging ages of 18 down to newborn and being so young herself, which I think is why we (I) had so much fun! I loved being asked if my mom was my older sister (like Devin gets now,) it made me feel special that my mom would go to school (or church)activities like the camping trip (Field trip- "Every day is a Field Trip,") we took in 5th or 6th grade and everyone knew how much fun we were going to have because she was there!!! Like finding Snipes, and the elf sprites? Do you remember that mom?

I am thankful for my mom for the example that she has been to us girls, And I also thank Sharon for reminding us (who sometimes take our parents for granted,) of how special a mom we have!!!!

I love you mom!!

HIgh School and all that goes with it! OR Where does the time go?!

Wow!? Am I old enough to have a child in High School (I know that Devin was in 9th grade last year- actually considered high school, but not really,)?

Because, I feel as if I am too young for this masterful moment in time, (or just because I miss my little "D,") I have been putting all of Devin's 1st grade school papers into a binder for him so that he will have them to look at later on in life. It is so hard to weed through what we should keep and what needs to be thrown away. How do you get rid of such fun artwork like Devin's since he was a great artist even at the age of seven? I still have too many papers and Devin says he wants to keep it all, so I guess with Matt's help it will tapered down a little more...

The first week of High School for Devin has been amazing,
("so much better than Middle School").

• He lockers under a really "hot" girl (as he puts it,) who asks for hugs ever morning before they head off for class. The classes are really cool, except for Biology (it's always the teachers for that sophmore biology- that ruins the class--remember Mrs. Blumel?)

• He got to drop Guitar (teacher didn't really want beginners,) and ended up taking Ceramics...

• He and his friends get to go to Ethan's for lunch every day ( Ethan's mom is a great cook- they are from Hawaii,) which is great for me too, I pay $10 a week, and He gets nutricious food for lunch.

• BUT THE BEST THING OF ALL: Homecoming Week is this week! All the activities are way too fun for him to miss out on, but alas, he is not old enough to go to the Homecoming dance since he is not 16 years old yet. In his naive way, he gets asked to homecoming but is not really sure if he really was asked or not; "Aren't the boys suppose to ask the girls, mom?" In my day that would be correct, but who is to know in these "modern" times... But he told the girl that he wasn't 16 yet and couldn't go...

Today he asked me if he could just go and drive the explorer- no drivers license (only holds a permit,)- no driving without a parent oops, sorry Dev, no can do...
But all the fun leading up to the Dance is just awesome- today it was feast and famine- (food and fun,) tomorrow the Power Puff football game (what boy doesn't like watching girls play football?), the next day it is the Homecoming parade and then Friday is the Homecoming game and bonfire!

But as a conselation prize for missing the dance, he will be playing baseball in Lehi on Friday for the Labor Day tourney and most of his baseball buddies will be with him, so he really insn't missing anything anyway!

I have realized that there are so many things that I did that were fun in High School and then there are things that I missed out on, which for the life of me I wouldn't have thought of as missing, but as I watch Devin I realize that it would have been good for me to do, for instance not worrying about what my friends thought about me so much and just do what I wanted to do, this is something Devin is not worried about at all- he is very sure of himself (so is mckenna,) and that is a great thing when dealing with new experiences....

This year- I am excited for Devin, but, I am also sad since I am not needed in his school anymore and so I miss out on those really fun inside views of his life (hall way chatter, lunch visits and knowing that he is doing great!) I want to be able to be that fly on the wall and seeing the interaction he is having and the growth that he is achieving in a way that is not always self evident when they come home. But I guess that is what it means to grow-up, move on and become more individualistic so that you can let them go when it is time...


On a side note- Do you know that each of my kids will be turning a momentous age and one that I remember so clearly like they were yesterday. Mckenna- 10, Kyler 13 and Devin 16! I will touch on those in another blog!

San Antonio Texas

In a week from Sunday, Matt and I will be going to San Antonio for Matt's Conference. I am so excited!!! I haven't ever been to San Anton ( as the Duke puts it,) and from what Devin described from his Violin tour a few years ago it is really neat...

I am looking forward to the River Walk, The Alamo and Texas food (which I hear is great!!)
Has anyone been to San Antonio?

It has been a really crazy planning feat since Kyler is doing football, Mckenna has a ton of dance and Music Man rehearsals. If Devin had his drivers license we would just leave everyone with him since I am only going to be gone for 3 days, but alas, we are 2 months or so ahead of ourselves. Kyler is staying with a friend that he plays football with, Kenna is staying with a friend who takes dance with her but goes to a different school (Andrea is having a baby sometime the week we are gone, so I didn't dare ask her to have mckenna stay with her and Kyleigh, so Maddie is the only choice,) and so Lisa will be driving Kenna to school in the mornings and then picking her up afterwards on Monday and Tuesday. Devin is staying of course with Eric and Mark like always.

The real reason that I am excited to go is because Matt and I haven't gone anywhere together since Kyler was 2 years old and the Crabbs watched the boys when we lived in Florida. So this is going to be a real treat AND we don't pay for anything except food because it is payed for by the City!!! ( I am waiting for a comment on that one dad!)

Matt will be gone to San Fransico the week before, fly in to Las Vegas on Saturday so that he and I can leave together and then on Wednesday we both fly into Vegas, I go home and he changes airplanes to fly to Salt Lake. Matt will have traveled more this month that he will have been home. He was gone Sunday night and came home late tonight because His staff and the Mayor went to a leadership convention and were able to listen to some really good speakers; Rudoulph Guiliani (Matt predicts that Guiliani will be the Republican ticket candidate for President,) John Stockton, Steve Forbes & Zig Ziggler to name a few. They all tried to get tickets to the American Legion to listen to Condeleza Rice and Donald Rumsfeld, but all the seating was gone. The Mayor got to stay in Salt Lake to meet President Bush and hear him speak tommorow.... (waiting her too, dad.)

Well, I guess that when I come home from Texas I will have some great stories, a few pictures and most of all had a fun time with Matt.

love to everyone!!
~S~