Mothers Rejoice!

It's because of these two that I get the honor of celebrating Mother's Day
I LOVE to be their mother ... they make me smile, laugh, cry and sing everyday!
I have enjoyed watching their beautiful spirits grow and develop. I'm so lucky to be married to a wonderful man who works hard so I can stay home and spend so much time taking care of our families needs. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a mother in our wonderful eternal family!Happy Mother's Day!

My retirement

Last night at the school's talent show, I introduced the new 2009/2010 PTA board, and guess what.... I wasn't on it!!
I've been heavily involved in all aspects of PTA since Miranda started Kindergarten 10 years ago.(wow that seems like a long time)

I have enjoyed every minute of every event, open house, fundraiser, newsletter, luncheon, and 3 school dedications I've been involved with. Tiring, yes, but so rewarding too. I've loved being so involved with my kids elementary days. Hopefully they haven't minded having me around the school all the time. I've not only been on the PTA board, but also helped out in their classrooms every year.

I'm normally one who is perfectly content to stay behind the scenes but this past year, as my final encore, I accepted the position of President. I don't know what kind of drug I was on at the time, but after the heart palpitations and knocking knees ended, I was somehow able to fulfill my new role.

So now I just have 19 school days and 5 more PTA events before my reign as President is officially complete.
I know there is parent groups in Middle and High School, but I think I'll take a little time off and enjoy my retirement from PTA for a while. (Ryan is showing a bit of relief as well)
Hummm, what shall I do with all the free time I'll have now?.... scrapbook, or keep the house clean, or read a book, or do more baking, or go shopping, or hang with the family, or cook dinner or.......... oh yeah, 19 days and counting!

Appreciate your Teachers

Did you thank a teacher this week??

It was Teacher Appreciation Week and as a PTA we like to provide a lunch and little gift to show how much we appreciate our teachers and staff.
This year we joined with Principal Smallwood in giving them T-shirts...
I had the job of wrapping and creating tags for them so we could present them on Tuesday.They all loved the shirts and Ms. Smallwood let them have a jeans day and wear their new shirts today. It was sooo fun to see all of them united in bright lime green shirts walking around the school!

The PTA put on our annual luncheon today as well. This year I decided to call in the forces and have dutch oven potatoes & BBQ hamburgers. My dad was willing and more than qualified to fill the roll of head grill master and dutch oven king!Soon the entire school was filled with the unique dutch oven and BBQ aroma. Many of the teachers had never tried dutch oven cooking, but after seeing and tasting the delicious potatoes they instantly became fans! All the PTA board pitched in to provide desserts and salads to complete the feast. What a Spread!

There was PLENTY of food and everyone left full and happy - and probably ready for a nap!
We also gave them a gift of salsa that I put together yesterday with the help from my PTA buddies. Everyone was super excited to get their own jar of my homemade salsa. I received many recipe requests and suggestions that I should sell it... (hummmm maybe I'll start taking orders).

I love to do these little things for the teachers to let them know how much we appreciate everything they do for our kids. I will miss being involved with events like this next year. They are tiring, but so rewarding!

A Small Part of the World

Tonight was Parker's final choir concert. He's been involved with choir all of 4th and 5th grade. Parker is an excellent singer and is very serious about his performance. Here's a little snippet of their finale'.

They also did a number that enlisted the help of a bunch of teachers and the Principal and Vice Principal to help with percussion. It was based on Blue Man Group and all the children played tubes with different sounds. I uploaded it to my computer but then deleted it from the camera before editing it down to a presentable video. I'll try to post it on YouTube so you can be amazed just like I was.

Mrs. Loser is the music teacher and always does a fantastic job of teaching the children to love music. Both Parker and Miranda had the privilege of taking music and choir from her.
Ever since the school opened and they had their first choir concert I have helped design the program cover. Tonight after the performance Mrs. Loser asked me to come on stage as she presented me and Nicki, who also played the piano for the choir, with a bouquet of flowers to thank us for all we've done for her and the choir throughout the past 5 years. I seriously was about to cry.

So now...Parker's finished with choir and is moving onto middle school band next year!

Cinco De Mayo

Viva Cinco De Mayo!!!... I hope you had a wonderful FIESTA today to celebrate!
I really just love today, not really because of what the holiday represents ( I think the Mexican's defeated the French or something) but because it's an official day to eat Mexican Food...which I LOOOVE!
Taco's, quesadilla's, flautas, Chips & Salsa... the whole Enchalada! ( He He...I'm so clever)
So in honor of today's celebration I decided it was a perfect excuse for me to have my favorite salad from Cafe Rio, (Have a little Siesta afterwards) and have tacos for dinner.
So what did I eat??


Lunch - China Inn buffet with my parents
Dinner - Panda Express with family (school fundraiser night)

Ah well, who needs a holiday to enjoy Mexican Fare?
I think we'll have tacos tonight! Ole!

In the Strength of the Lord

I was able to attend Women's Conference this year thanks to a couple good friends inviting me along. There were over 20,000 women in attendance... wow what a sight! Nicki, Julie and I had a fabulous time, laughing, crying, talking, learning, eating, walking, and feasting on wonderful inspirational talks.
I was able to relax and enjoy myself knowing Ryan had everything under control at home.
I truly enjoyed every moment and I can't wait to go again next year!

Time, energy and a Life

That's what is required to be a successful blogger and lately I haven't had any of those things.
Sure, I have good intentions. Everyday I'm on the lookout for something exciting to post about. Or a cute photo to share. (I know everyone is tired of Sophie photo's) But I'm afraid I've fallen into the "same ol' same ol'" routine.
PTA, church, office, running kids, eat, sleep ... repeat.
No where in there is any free blogging time.
And when your kids are teens/preteens and allergic to the camera it makes it tough to get any good dirt on them too.

So I'm taking off for a couple days to go to BYU Women's Conference thanks to a good friend who felt sad for me that I wasn't going. Every year I swear (in a LDS sort of way) that I'm going to go, but always forget to register.
I hope to come back renewed and refreshed and ready to grab life by the horns and ride it HARD!!
(wow, how was that for a metaphor?)

Unfortunately, my schedule isn't going to get any better for May. Lots of things to cross off my To-Do list this month.
One day/week at a time, that's how I'll make it through til' summer.
(Ahhhh, just thinking about lounging poolside makes me smile!)