Spring Break

I cannot believe how wonderful the weather has been this week.  We have been in the 80's the last couple days and it is absolutely beautiful.  Shortly after the kids wake up in the morning they head outside.  I try to make sure they are at least dressed for the day!  I have to convince them to stop for lunch and they appease me if I allow them to eat lunch outside!  Then I have to drag the younger ones in for naps and remind the older ones to play a little quieter outside at least until the younger ones are asleep.  As soon as naps are over they head back outside.  I have not cooked dinner in the house since last week and we are loving it!  We drag them in for much needed baths and showers before they crash at night.  Well, Thomas and Spring have been staying up a little later at night enjoying time to relax and play games.  Today Thomas, Spring, Sammy, and Kaiden rode bikes all afternoon.  They went on a 45 minute bike ride around the neighborhood.  They informed me that the only reason they came home when they did was Kaiden crashed into the curb and scratched his leg up pretty bad.  I have loved this week.  I feel so rejuvenated at night.  It's a strange feeling because I find myself thinking they are on summer vacation.  Then reality hits me and I remember I have to send them back to school next week! That will be a harsh reality for all of us.  I'm not going to think about that right now though...maybe if I push it out of my mind it won't come so quickly!  Weeks like this remind me how much I love being a mom and seeing our children love and enjoy the simplicity of life.

Grandma's Visit

My mom came to visit us for a week and it was absolutely wonderful.  We decided not to tell the kids that she was coming.  I was going to be picking her up at the airport when Thomas and Spring got home from school so we arranged for them to take the bus to the MacPherson's after school.  I took the younger 4 with me.  They kept asking me where we were going and I finally told them I had a surprise for them.  As soon as we got on the Turnpike Sammy said, "I know where we are going.  We are going to the airport to watch planes."  As we pulled into the airport Sammy told the others what windows to look out to see the planes.  Then I asked them to look around and see if they saw anyone they knew.  All of a sudden Joshie called out, "GRANDMA!"  They were so excited that Grandma came to surprise them.  When we got back to town my mom went to the door of the MacPherson's and Spring answered the door.  She was completely speechless which is a rare occurrence for Spring.  She just had this confused expression on her face as she stared at my mom for quite some time.  Then Thomas came around the corner and called out, "Grandma!"  and ran into her arms to give her a hug.  I love surprises and this one was awesome!

Despite everyone getting the stomach flu except Sammy, me, and my mom (she got sick on her flight home) it was a wonderful week together.  We just did our normal things and it was so great to have my mom's help.  She went to band practice one morning with Thomas, had lunch at school with Spring on Grandparent's Day, helped in Spring's classroom one day, took Sammy shopping one day, and other fun one-on-one time with all of them.  She also taught Thomas and Spring how to make sock monkeys and some other sewing projects.  We played games and just enjoyed our time together.

It is always hard when it is time for her to leave, however.  Joshie was so upset that she was leaving that he tried to hide her Kindle thinking if she couldn't find it then she wouldn't leave.  He cried when it was time to take her to the airport and kept saying, "Never Leave!"  We've all been having withdrawals since she went home.  How grateful I am for the help she gives me when she comes and for the love and attention she gives our children.  Thanks for coming, Mom.  We miss you!

Family Fun Night

Joel and I wanted to have a movie night with the kids last night.  I was able to get the movie, "Dolphin Tail" from Redbox.  Then I found a fun recipe for Pretzel Bites from our favorite cooking blog, "Jamie Cooks It Up."  Sammy and I made the dough during the day and then after dinner we all worked together to make the pretzel bites.  It was so much fun having everyone in the kitchen working together.  This was the perfect thing for all of us to do because there were so many different steps that could be done simultaneously so all could be busy helping.  There was lots of chatter, laughter, and excitement...I like to call this controlled chaos...in the kitchen.  And there were smiles...lots of them!  We made salted pretzel bites with a cheese sauce for dipping & cinnamon/sugar pretzel bites with frosting for dipping.  Then we enjoyed them while watching the movie together. We all liked the cinnamon/sugar pretzels the best, although, I think Joshie and Mary just liked them because it was an excuse to eat frosting!  We had to remind then they needed to dip their pretzel bite in the frosting...not just their fingers!

We all loved the movie.  My Mom had told me when she saw the movie she thought of Spring and knew Spring would love it.  Spring was in her glory and so envious of the kids that were able to swim with the dolphin!  It has inspired her to learn more about what it would take to be a marine biologist.  Sammy kept telling me, "Mom, I'm learning so much about dolphins that I never knew before!"  At one point Joel and I were sitting on the couch with Sammy, Mary, & Joshie curled up with us and I looked over at Thomas & Spring (Gideon was already in bed asleep) and I was overcome with gratitude for the blessing each of these little, and not-so-little anymore, spirits are to me.  It was one of those moments that I wish I could have bottled up to save forever.

Ice Cream!

 I found a fun recipe for homemade ice cream on this wonderful blog yesterday. You don't even need an ice cream maker for it so we decided to try it out. We doubled the recipe so we could make 2 different kinds. We made peanut butter cup ice cream and cookies & cream. Sammy was SUPER excited for the peanut butter cup ice cream because he "just loves peanut butter cups!" We had a great time making the ice cream and of course the kids loved licking the bowls and spoons. The only bad thing was we started it at 5:00 last night and it has to be in the freezer for 6 hours so we couldn't test it out last night.

So, what's a good, responsible, healthy mom do? She makes her kids wait until the next afternoon to try out their ice cream. Well, fortunately for our kids, I'm not that kind of Mom! About 8:00 this morning I asked the kids, "Hey, who wants some ice cream?" What kid wouldn't love that idea! Some of them hadn't even had breakfast yet but, hey the memory and me being able to eat the ice cream this morning (without sneaking it) was well worth it! They were so excited they could hardly contain themselves. Let me tell you, this is some amazing ice cream. We will definately be doing this again soon! Next time I think I am going to get lots of different fun mix ins and let them all make thier own individual concoction! The kids had all sorts of ideas this morning of what they would put in their "perfect" ice cream! It was a wonderful morning. Notice all the kids wearing jackets and long pants? Well, they think it is cold here in the mornings now because our lows at night are finally getting into the 60's! We keep all the windows open at night to help bring in the wonderful crisp air! The kids think it is freezing but I am loving it!

Good, Better, Best

Joshie was in heaven being outside today.  All afternoon I would hear the water on and look out the window to see him with the hose running.  I would, out of habit, call out to him to turn off the water and he'd say, "OK Mom." and turn it off.  Then a few minutes later it would be on again and I would call out to turn off the water and he'd reply, "OK Mom" and this cycle repeated over and over for about 15 minutes.  Finally I was so frustrated that I stopped getting dinner ready and went outside to 'settle it once and for all'.  I told him he needed to turn off the water and keep it off.  He said, "OK", turned it off, then looked up at me with pleading eyes and held up his pointer finger and said, "Just one more time, Mom?  Peeeese!"  I realized how silly I was for taking away such a simple pleasure.  He softened my heart and I said, "Sure Joshie, go ahead.  Have fun!"  to which he replied, "Thanks Mom. I love you!"  Then I stayed outside with him and enjoyed watching him having so much fun with a hose and the trampoline.  His pure joy rubbed off on me as we laughed and giggled.  He kept asking me to go under the trampoline in the "shower" he was making with the hose.  I'm so grateful he helped me remember what is truly important in my day.  Dinner can wait and we can be a few minutes late eating dinner but these moments can't wait.  He won't always be asking me, "Just one more time, Mommy?"  I hope to remember this afternoon and the pure fun and joy my Joshie and I had together the next time I have a choice in how to spend my time.  "Good, Better, Best...right?"  Best was enjoying the running water with Joshie this afternoon and I'm so grateful he kept turning the hose back on this afternoon or I would have missed out on a wonderful memory. 

My Memories of Grandma Spring

I have been wanting to record some of my memories of Grandma since she passed away and it just seems like life has been going so fast that it takes all I have to just barely keep up. I am grateful for the time to now record some of my precious memories of my wonderful grandma.

1. Visiting her in the summer and walking to the store to buy "penny" candy and bringing a bag full back to her house. She would sit with us and look through all our goodies.

2. Driving to her house on the weekends while I was at BYU. I loved the weekends with them. For some reason I always slept so much better at Grandma's house...maybe it was the special down comforter that I always used!

3. Going with her and Grandpa early in the morning when they would visit us in CA.

4. She was always up early making breakfast for everyone.

5. Visiting her at work at the cheese factory.

6. She would always send me home with frozen homemade meals when I would visit while I was at BYU.

7. The way she said "Hello" whenever she answered the phone.

8. Sitting outside in their yard in the afternoon and evening just relaxing and talking with each other. She always had time to talk and she always made everyone feel so at ease.

9. Her amazing strength and courage as she fought and won her battle with cancer.

10. Her smile, hugs, and kisses.

11. Having to tell her I left earlier than I did to drive up to visit her and then waiting about an hour after I got back home before I called her to tell her I had arrived home safely! She always thought it took longer than it did to make that drive!

12. Going to Utah one summer when I was a young all by myself and spending a whole week with her and grandpa. We went on drives up the canyon and to Bear Lake.

13. Playing card games in the evening with her.

14. Her homemade bread and jam. I still think of her when I make bread.

15. Her constant service to everyone around her.

16. Watching her love and spend time with my children. She always wanted to know how they were doing and what they liked. Our children loved to talk to her and send her letters.

17. Her amazing spirit. She is incredible. She is my hero and my example of strength, courage, and unconditional love.

It is still hard to realize she is gone but her legacy will continue on forever. I am so grateful my children were able to know her and to share in her radiant life. I hope Mary and Spring always remember they share a name with an amazing and incredible woman. I look forward to the day when we will see each other again and I will hear her say "Hello" and give me a hug and kiss again.