Happy Mother's Day!

Just a little shout out to all the Mother's out there! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. I'm writing this post while Ryan and the kids prepare dinner/lunch. (That includes carrot cake for dessert!)Yes, that is the tomato and cucumbers from our garden!

Ahhhh....Calgon...take me away!
I have grand plans today of taking a nap and ...well,... taking a nap.
No plans for me today! Just spending time at home with the one's I love...my family!

Thankfully my family is still speaking to me after what I did to them this morning.
I set my alarm for 7:30 this morning to get up and going for church. (trust me the time frame is important to the story)
After I showered and dressed, I went to wake Miranda (around 7:50). I continued getting ready while Miranda showered. Then about 8:15 I woke Parker to get him going and in the shower.
So, Miranda, Parker and I were ready to go by 8:45.
So I'm pacing in the kitchen wondering why Ryan hasn't come out of the casita to get dressed and ready to go. (he knows how I am about being late).
I resisted as long as I could, but finally I went to the casita to see what he was doing.
He tells me I gave him a very crusty look as I asked why he wasn't ready to go.
He innocently replied...."because it's only 7:45".
Uggghhh.......I can't believe I missed out on an hour of sleep because I somehow messed up the time on my clock.
Parker said..."No wonder I'm so tired". Miranda just laughed and asked what I wanted for breakfast. (what a sweetie)

I'm so grateful that I can be a mother to such wonderful children. I know I brag on them a ton, but isn't that what being a mom is all about? They bring me so much happiness. I can't imagine my life without them in it. They are growing up so fast. I know I always say that, but it's so true.

I appreciate all the things my own mother has taught me. She is patient, kind, forgiving, and charitable to the extreme! All the things I hope to be and to teach to my own children. I was looking earlier for a picture of her and I together to post, but I couldn't find one. How sad is that? I found this picture of all my family taken a couple years ago. Flash forward...... I saved my post in draft so I could eat a wonderful meal and enjoy the afternoon with my family. We ate outside and enjoyed the beautiful spring day. We stayed out there just hanging out for over an hour. Now after a nap, reading "the Host" and watching a movie with the kids I'm ready to finish. (yes, Miranda agreed to let me borrow her book as long as I don't take it out of the house and I don't eat while reading)
Miranda gave me her gift tonight and it was well worth the wait. She designed a mini album for me. It is so neat. She printed photo's off the computer to use and decorated each page. She had to work on it upstairs in secret so I wouldn't see it. What a sweetheart. Parker gave me a coupon book complete with a 10 minute back rub....can't wait to collect on that one.
I love Miranda and Parker sooooo much. I'm so proud to be their mother. I told them at Easter that I was going to make them take more family photo's today, but they changed into their pj's right after church and I just forgot until later. Don't worry....I'll get 'em tomorrow!
Happy Mother's Day!

How long can I last?

That is the question I ask myself each spring as the temperature begins to rise outside AND inside! Anyone who lives in Vegas knows what I'm talking about. You open the windows and doors at night to hopefully cool things down enough to sleep. You know you want to....but just can't bring yourself to turn on the AC just yet. Nevada Power will just have to wait a little longer to collect my life savings.
I am, however, almost to my breaking point. All the ceiling fans are going full speed and I'm drinking lots of ice water to keep my body temp cool. I know...as much as I despise the cold you would think I'd be in heaven. Luckily the kids aren't complaining (too badly), and Ryan is on board with me in playing the waiting game.
At first my goal was to make it to May (did that). Now maybe I'll try for June.....YEAH RIGHT!

Fruits of My Labor

I feel so behind when I don't blog for a couple days. So much to tell and so little energy (he he) Actually I'm feeling much more in control than I was before. (I knew I'd survive) Guess I'd better back track to get up to date.....
I wanted to update with the fruits of my labors....
The first fruit is actually a vegetable and a fruit (he he)
I was able to pick the first tomato and cucumber from our garden.... I can't believe I actually have a garden again! The zucchini and squash aren't too far away from being ready. I used some of the cilantro in my salsa I made for the luncheon. And the lizard is quite enjoying the basil and cilantro as well. No I have to confess...I haven't eaten these yet, BUT I will very soon.Another fruit of my labor is actually from my labor and delivery.... (he he)
Wednesday night was Parker's Choir concert. The theme for the concert was "Music from Around The World" Each of the kids got to wear a costume representing different countries. Parker was soooo excited that he got the costume he wanted.....French. He got to wear a beret and everything!Parker took his role in the choir VERY seriously. I tried to get him to smile, but he was all business. I think he managed a couple smirks in between songs. Miranda was able to help out with the CD player that night...she did so well! I'm so glad that both kids have a love of music. I think at least a bit of that has come from me. Since the Stake Broadway Play, they have been singing songs all week. It's so fun to hear them harmonize and sing together. Parker is even going to do a solo song at his Choir concert next Saturday.... (Santa Fe from Newsies). Miranda decided not to sing solo because she already had enough to sing. He and Miranda are both involved in a choir directed by a lady that used to be in our ward. Just a little side job for the two of them....(and one more place to run them to ;0P

Moving on to the third fruit of my labor.....Thursday was the Teacher Luncheon.
After a few days of intensive labor...it's finally done.
It went very well...all the teachers ranted and raved about all the delicious food and the decor. Even today when I went in to help in Parker's class, the teachers stopped me to thank me. The Chocolate and Caramel fountains were a hit...(thanks Stacie for letting me borrow your twin fountain). I don't get mine out too often, but I love to use it! I forgot to get pictures of my centerpieces. I found little tea roses and put them in decorative tins with pink, green and yellow "grass" pouffing out. The tablecloths were pink, green and yellow to coordinate with the stripe on the food tables. We also had raffle prizes for each of the teachers. Nicki and I spent the last couple days collecting and wrapping the gifts.
However, my day didn't end there.... I attended my first Stake Girls Camp meeting(gotta start getting geared up for that) as well as the cast party for the Stake Play (Parker was set on going).
I was EXTREMELY exhausted at the end of the day and was in bed before 10pm. (Shocker...I know). My legs are still aching from all the use.
Now I'm all up to date to today. This morning I actually had a bit of time to put my downstairs back in order. It needed it desperately.
Tonight, I actually sat down and relaxed while Miranda and I watched 27 dresses. Very cute movie, and yes...I cried at the end. Hey, it was a wedding, what do you expect!
Now I'm looking forward to a relaxing Mother's day weekend.

Breathe in....Breathe out....

I find I need to remind myself to do simple things (like breathing) lately or I might forget something. I've resorted to my daily to do list which only happens when I'm super super busy.
If only there were just a couple more hours in the day (and I didn't waste them).
Sorry to bore everyone with my craziness......moving on...

Today was the release of a new novel from Stephenie Meyer called The Host.
(sorry about the ginormous picture of the cover)
Miranda has been anxiously awaiting this book. She wanted us to take her to the store before school so she could take it with her. So to surprise her, I went to Walmart at midnight last night to pick it up for her. Unfortunately they didn't have it out yet. So, on a whim, I stopped at Smith's to see if they happened to have one. Lucky me....they did. I tied a bow around it and put it on Miranda's nightstand so she would find it when she turned off her alarm. She's been reading non-stop and shushes us when we interrupt her precious reading time.

The 4th book in the Twilight Series comes out August 2nd....she's planning on attending a midnight release party with a couple of her friends when that comes out.

Parker got a new game for the Wii Yesterday.(note to self...don't send Parker with Dad to go to Best Buy) I think it's called Mario Kart. He worked out a deal with Ryan to pay for the game over the next few weeks. Parker is quite the negotiator. (Either that or Ryan and I are just pushovers. Nah!)

Today I was able to go shopping for groceries and the luncheon, make salsa and turtle brownie bites for the Teacher Luncheon on Thursday. I Took Miranda to voice and also managed a few loads of laundry...oops, forgot to put the clean sheets back on the bed (Ryan must be cussing me right now... he he)
Tomorrow I'll hardly be at home until evening between the office, PTA and classes. Parker has his first Choir Concert for school tomorrow night. He's pretty excited.
Like I said before.....breathe in....breathe out.....

Back to Normal?

Well, it's over. The stake play is officially finished. It's been a crazy but enjoyable week I had a wonderful time and I was glad to have my entire family there involved with me. All the performances went great! And I must say the back stage crew was the BOMB!!!
I mean just look at us! (don't let Miranda's smirk fool you...she had fun)We all worked together like a well oiled machine! Parker had a great time hanging out with all his song buddies too.... The little guy in the long johns stole the show!The clean-up didn't take too long...we were out of there before 10pm. Amazing how fast things like this come down when everyone pitches in!
Today was nice and relaxing.....I actually cut out a project for all the teachers I was planning to do because I just don't have the time to get it finished this week. (So unlike me) It's Teacher appreciation week and I'm going to be busy getting ready for the luncheon on Thursday.
I'm going to do a chocolate and caramel fountain with all the dippers, homemade salsa, and turtle brownies. Bills need to go out this week at the office and believe it or not...my house has felt a little neglected this past week so I need to focus a bit on that.
The kids are ready to get back to a bit of normalcy too. (whatever that means ;)
Looking at the weeks and months ahead things aren't going to slow down too much for a while. I've just been called into the Stake YW Girls Camp committee, so Miranda will have to put up with me at Girls Camp.

Opening Night

Tonight was our official opening night for the Stake Play. It went sooooo well!
Last night was family night and there were still a couple glitches, but tonight was awesome!
The cast and set crew were right on the money with everything!
We had over 300 people attend tonight and about that many to attend both performances tomorrow.
Seriously that's all our family has been doing this week so I don't have a lot more to post about.
Parker is doing a great job with his part. It may be small but he doesn't mind. He just dances around with some other kids while the song from Oklahoma "Can't Say No" (My theme song) is being sung. It's pretty cute.



















Miranda is just excited to be involved in any way she can. They only allowed kids 14 and older to be in it and she was extremely depressed about that. She is my set prop girl backstage. She does a great job and I think has fun doing it.


Ryan is being such a good sport about helping with the set. He likes to complain, but secretly I think he enjoys it. Hopefully our family will get lots of blessings with all the service hours we're putting in (he he).
I personally love this kind of thing. I like to be busy and involved in things. Just my nature I suppose.

Broadway Baby

What a crazy week this has been so far. And It is only going to get more crazy. Our Stake is putting on a play. It's a Broadway review and has different songs from many Broadway plays. My friend Nicki is producing it and I've jumped in to help her out.
I'm doing the curtain and managing the backstage set changes, Parker is in one of the numbers, Miranda would love to be in it, but it's for 14 and older, so she is helping me backstage, Ryan is also helping with the set changes backstage so as you see our entire family is involved. We spent all of last Saturday at rehearsal, as well as every night this week. Tonight is the Family show and Friday and Saturday night are the big performances as well as a matinee on Saturday.
Here's a link for information for our Stake Play in case anyone would like to come. You do need a ticket, but they are free. Actually, Miranda and I are ticket takers as well, so if someone doesn't have a ticket we'll still let you in. It's going to be a fabulous show! Nicki has done a great job with it.
Needless to say every night this week has been and will be spent at the church. I hope Ryan is still speaking to me after this is over. I'm not sure he's as excited as I am to be helping out. I think it's fun to have our entire family helping out and involved.
I've taken my camera every night but have been too caught up in things to remember to get any shots. I'll try tonight to get some of Parker and the set.