our routine

It has been her routine almost every school day this year-
wake up between 9 or 10...
eat breakfast...
take a bath...
get dressed...
head out the door for afternoon kindergarten.

We have loved our mornings together!
There were days when I would wake her up with the rest of the family so that we could get more done...
but most mornings I let her sleep.
When will she be able to have leisure mornings on a regular basis...?

This morning was a special morning...
she was preparing for kindergarten graduation!
She tried on a few different shoes---to make sure they wouldn't fall off while she danced with the program.
Her teacher, at one point in the graduation program, cried when she described how much she loved the students---I cried too.
She has been the VERY BEST kindergarten teacher.
I will miss these mornings with my littlest girl---

• listening to the water fill the bathtub while I clean up breakfast.
• waking her up by kissing her cheeks
• lifting her out of bed with her arms wrapped around my neck
• finding her cheerful every single solitary morning

Happy graduation sweet Sophie!

erica

I think of all of the families I have photographed...Erica's has been in front of my camera the most!

I can't believe she is ALREADY a senior...and headed for college!

She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside!

 

40 years

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR VERY FAVORITE GUY!!!

to celebrate 40 years

italian sausage + mushroom lasagna

grilled asparagus

banana cake with salted caramel butter cream

(this recipe is amazing!)

salted caramel gelato

a mother's day letter

To our daughters,

What I hope you know and always remember:

• my heart overflows with love for you
• when I tell dad about my favorite moments with you---a smile spreads over his face and he says "they're so cute"
• we wouldn't change one.single.solitary.thing about you
• the Mother's day gifts I received are special to me---but nothing makes me happier than the notes and card you have given me all week
• treasures you make with your hands are worth more than diamonds to me
• being cuddled on the couch, reading a book together---the five of us, is like heaven on earth to me
• you are each unique and special in your own ways and we love that you are so different from each other
• when you all want to sit beside me at the very same time---and I have two on each side and Sophie on my lap---I feel like I am doing something right as a mom
• I absolutely LOVE being your mother

How did I get SO lucky!?

xoxo

Mom

Sophie,

On Friday as I was doing your hair for school you mentioned that it was "mom show and tell" that day.  You weren't sure of any details and I had never heard anything about it from your teacher...so it went in one ear and out the other (does that ever happen to you?).  When I arrived at the school to pick you up at the end of your school day---tears were streaming down your face.  "You didn't come" was all that I could understand of the words you tried to get out through your sobs.  I was heart sick.  At the end of the school day your teacher invited the moms to come so that they could be your show and tell that day.    (How did I not get this invitation from your teacher?)  You wanted me there...and had I known that you were watching the door, waiting for me to come through, I would have been there.  I felt so sorry for not listening to you.  Thank you for wanting me there...and for telling me the "special thing about your mom" that you wanted to share with the class as we sat on the couch together after school.  (I am glad you like my chocolate chip cookies.)  Thank you for forgiving me...I love you with all my heart!

Mom

The important thing about mom is she's kind

she's pretty,

comforting,

and quiet,

She takes care of me,

she loves me,

she helps me play cello,

she gives me fun activities,

she teaches me things I need to know,

she's neat and orderly.

But the important thing about mom is she's kind.

From,

Kate

Sweet Kate---thank you for writing this poem for me.  I loved the hearts that you drew next to your poem.  I hope I can live up to these nice things you have said about me.  I know all of those nice things remind me of you- pretty, comforting, quiet, full of love and fun...and most of all kind!  I love you sweetheart

Dear Ellie,

Thank you for the sweet cards you wrote me...and for your enthusiasm for showering me with gifts on mother's day morning.  You were so excited and it brightened my day!  You make being a mom easy!  You are so good to me---helpful, hardworking and full of love.  You were the very first to make me a mom over 11 years ago!  I love you!

xo

babysitting

...she even shared her baby blanket with him!

I think she likes him

xo

love, truth, virtue and beauty

“What is man’s ultimate direction in life? 
It is to look for love, truth, virtue, and beauty”

Shinichi Suzuki

Kate is performing her Suzuki book one cello recital this weekend.  She will perform all of the music she has learned in cello by memory.   It feels like we have reached a bridge, one that had been far in the distance.  As she crosses it there are exciting opportunities and learning for all of us on the other side.  I have been one of her biggest cheer leaders...but sometimes I feel like her greatest handicap.  As we sit in lessons together I am reminded over and over again how limited I am in being her guide through this learning.  There are so many aspects to pay attention to---position, bowing, rhythm, fingering...the smallest adjustment can make such a big difference.  I often imagine what it would be like for her if I knew what I was doing.  But through this process we are learning together---seeking improvement, enjoying the work, developing a love for the music and appreciating the opportunity.  Learning those things side by side, as mother and daughter, might be even more important than the music itself- because through this our love for each other, life and music deepens.

flying kites for Conference

There is a General Conference held twice a year for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.  They really are two of my favorite weekends of the year.  The messages from church leaders are like food for the soul to me.  And having the opportunity to attend church anywhere that the radio/internet can be found is an added bonus!

We decided to enjoy conference at Antelope Island.  It is one of my favorite locations in this beautiful state.  And it is within an hour of our home!  It really has an oceanic feeling to me---even though this salty water is not crashing on the shore.  In fact it is quite stagnate and filled with brine shrimp. 

One of the lessons that stood out strongest for me amidst the flood of wisdom from the conference was regarding the gift of childhood.  

 A young father recently learned of the passing of his extraordinary second-grade teacher. In memory of her, he wrote: “Of all the feelings and experiences I remember, the feeling most prevalent in my mind is ‘comfort.’ She may have taught me spelling, grammar, and math, but far more importantly she taught me to love being a child. In her classroom, it was OK to spell a word wrong here and there; ‘We’ll work on it,’ she’d say. It was OK to spill or tear or smudge; ‘We’ll fix it and we’ll clean it up,’ she would respond. It was OK to try, OK to stretch, OK to dream, and OK to enjoy those pleasures that come from the insignificant things that only children find exciting.”

One of the greatest influences a person can have in this world is to influence a child. Children’s beliefs and self-worth are shaped early in their lives. Everyone within the sound of my voice has the power to increase a child’s confidence in himself or herself and to increase a child’s faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through the words they speak.  The Words We Speak by Rosemary M. Wixom

Sometimes I feel like it is my job to notice and address wherever we (my family and I) are falling short- as if that is helpful, encouraging or inspiring.  The lines of what is important and worth correcting are sometimes blurred for me.  I am sorry to say---after listening to this wonderful talk---I realized that I spend too much time, worry and concern over made beds, homework and music practice.  I also went away feeling like I want to improve on encouraging words, more time at the foot of our daughters beds-tucking them in at night and more evening walks as a family holding Danny's hand.  If I take the lead on being helpful and encouraging instead of turning mistakes into teaching moments the love will increase in our home...and in our hearts.

I love what Elder Holland shared in the same meeting-

  So be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is not in the divinity of the work. As one gifted writer has suggested, when the infinite fulness is poured forth, it is not the oil’s fault if there is some loss because finite vessels can’t quite contain it all. Those finite vessels include you and me, so be patient and kind and forgiving. Lord I Believe by Elder Jeffrey R Holland

It is important to be kind and gentle to our loved ones, friends and neighbors...but also to ourselves-focusing on the goodness in ourselves and others; spend time together enjoying one another's company...without agenda or judgement.  

This particular Sunday we enjoyed Antelope Island.  We had sunshine on our backs and joyful children at our feet.  I noticed the neglected kites we own, stacked in a corner of the garage, and decided to throw them in the trunk before we left.  The girls were thrilled to carry them out to the sandy beach.  The wind was gentle and I wasn't sure that they would fly that day.  Their enthusiasm was contagious and we began assembling.  We discussed string length and wind direction.  We held the kite in the air as they took off running into the lazy breeze.  As they ran the kite lifted!  They ran and ran and ran and ran.  As the kites soared and their smiles grew my soul was fed once again.  It was just one more reminder of the gift it is to know and love a child- filled with joy, easy to love and beautiful people to emulate.

other Conference thoughts here and here.

lil' Finn

...a blessing straight from heaven...

our sweet nephew Finneus was born

on February 27th