Grateful for Friends

I've been grateful for a good friend this week.  On Tuesday we had to take our truck into the dealership for some warranty work and to get the oil changed.  So at 3:00 p.m. when the boys came home from school I walked to the bus stop to pick them up.  Unfortunately - it was raining!  Murphy's Law!!  Anyway it wasn't bad the boys enjoyed the walk. 

I had been feeling a little under the weather that day.  Not sure exactly, just kind of nauseous and a headache.  By about 3:30 p.m. that day I was sooooo sick!  Full on stomach flu.  I quickly cancelled my music students for the evening (which I hate to do) and took up residence on the couch.  Later that evening we got a call from the dealership that our truck wouldn't be ready until Wednesday.

I got thinking about having to walk the boys to the bus stop in the morning when I was feeling so horrible.  So I called a friend whose daughter goes to the same bus stop and asked if she'd mind picking up Ashton.  She was happy to do it.  She then surprised me by saying she would come at 11:30 a.m. to pick up Bowen to take him to the bus stop as well.  She doesn't have a child in kindergarten, but was so willing to help me out.  Then she picked them up at 3:00 p.m. and brought them home.

It turns out our truck won't be ready until later today, so Laura drove the boys again today.  Even Bowen at the later time.  Laura sure got me out of a bad situation this week.  I sure appreciate having such a wonderful friend in my life.

One of the Reasons We Bought Our Home

There are many reasons we bought our home, but the back yard definitely was one of them.

I love these trees!

I wish you could smell them - as soon as you step outside there is such a wonderful perfume in the air!  I just wish the blossoms lasted longer!

Lots of yard work needs to be done.  Weeding, pruning and planting annuals.  I hope we have a gorgeous summer so we can enjoy our backyard this year!

Really - We Do More Than Eat!!

We had a great long weekend.  The kids were off school Friday and Monday, and Jason had Monday off.  I love being able to spend time with my family.  Friday night started off with a run to Costco.  A friend of mine has Zumba for the Wii and she had picked it up at Costco and I wanted to buy a copy.  I plan to try it out today!  We also grabbed steaks for dinner on Saturday and a couple of other things.

No costco run is complete without eating.  So we opted to have a really "healthy" costco dinner.

I can't believe Bowen ate the whole thing!

Saturday was just a relaxing day.  We were babysitting Dane so the boys spent alot of time playing outside.

Dinner was awesome.  Steak, salad and twice baked potatoes!  With french crepes, strawberries and whipped (or whupped as Bowen calls it) cream - delicious!!

Sunday was a busy day (see previous post), but I did manage to have an afternoon nap.

Monday started off great with sleeping in - heaven!  Then Ashton made us breakfast.  He did it all himself with a little supervision.

We spent the rest of the day doing a few jobs around the house and Jason and the boys got all the bikes ready for summer.  They then enjoyed a bike ride before supper.

I don't have a picture of supper, but we had hawaiian haystacks and it was delicious.  When Ashton was saying the prayer for dinner he thanked Heavenly Father that "mom didn't have any students tonight and we could have dinner together" - broke my heart a little.  I need to make sure that I have at least 1/2 hour breaks next year so I can always have dinner with my children.  Love that family of mine!

Tap, Tap, Tap

Today was a pretty busy day for me at church.  It started with choir at 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.  Then ward council at 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.  Then church at 11 a.m.  Our choir was performing in sacrament meeting so we were doing some prelude music and I was also subbing for our ward organist so I played the congregational hymns.  In addition one speaker had fallen through so the Bishop had asked me to come up and speak for 5 minutes about primary.

So needless to say the boys were kind of on their own.  They had been really good during choir and ward council and were behaving so far during sacrament meeting.  I left them alone again to go up on the stage to accompany the ward choir.  Part way through the number I feel a tap, tap, tap on my shoulder.  I glance quickly to the side while trying to pay attention to my music.  I see Bowen standing beside me holding his bag of goldfish asking if he could have them.  I quickly told him yes and to get back to his seat.  Good grief! He is quite the boy!!

Book Review - "Heaven Is Here"

Jason bought me Stephanie Nielson's book "Heaven is Here" for Mother's Day!

If you don't know Stephanie's story she is a blogging stay at home mom who was in a plane crash with her husband in 2008 and was severly burned over 80% of her body.  I've been following her blog for a couple of years and have been inspired by her positive attitude and how she has overcome alot of the struggles that have come from her injuries.

When I heard she was writing a book I knew that I would want to read it.  I was worried that it wouldn't contain much I hadn't read already from her blog.  I was pleased that her book contained alot of details that she had never blogged about and I devoured it in two days.

If you are looking for a inspiring, spiritual and sweet love story you'll want to pick up this book.  Just be sure to have a box of tissues handy!

Friday Weigh In

It`s Friday again!  The weeks go by so quickly.  I weighed first thing this morning and I have lost ...

1 lb

For a total of 3 pounds down.  Only 22 pounds to go to get to my goal for August 3rd.  I could have done better this week.  I only worked out once and I didn`t track my food everyday.  I`m also not drinking as much water as I should.  I`m going to work harder on these goals this week.  I should get lots of exercise today as my house is a complete disaster.  If I wasn`t so embarassed I`d post pictures of just how messy my house is.  I hope to get alot accomplished today so that we can enjoy our long weekend without having to worry about housework.  Hopefully less of me will be back next Friday to check in again!

Ashton's New Appliance

Ashton got his retainer appliance today.  One of his front teeth is coming in very crooked and the bottom tooth even sits in front of it which is going to make a multitude of problems if we don't correct it.  So this morning we went to the orthodontist.  Ashton had an appointment a couple of weeks ago and an impression done and after selecting the colour blue they made him his retainer.

He needs to wear it all the time - I mean ALL THE TIME!  Poor kid - when he eats, sleeps, plays sports, school.  The only time he is allowed to take it out is to brush his teeth and clean the appliance. 

He was so excited to go this morning.  I don't think he realized what a major pain this is going to be.  I admire his positive spirit about it though.

He is really good at taking it in and out.  Although I've threatened him about taking it out to show friends at school.  I don't want to replace this thing - it's expensive!

He'll need to wear it for about the next 6 months.  If the tooth moves well, he may be able to wear it only at night after a couple of months.

Every other day we have a key to turn and it will gradually push that front tooth back into place.  I'm excited to see his smile once it is straight.

He talks funny, has way too much saliva, and is pretty sore tonight.  I gave him some tylenol at bedtime, hopefully he has a good sleep.  Dr. K. says it should only take a few days for him to get used to it.  So Phase 1 has started in his Phase 3 dental plan to have beautiful straight teeth.

My One Day Off A Year

I love being a mom!  Of course, (as Bowen would say) yesterday was Mother's Day.  It was a lovely day, but was sorry I didn't spend it with my wonderful mom.  I did see her the day before but had forgotten her card at home, and she already had the DVD we bought her - oops!

My mom has been an amazing example to me.  She is very talented, loving, generous and full of energy.  She handles challenges with faith, determination and grace.  I am honoured to be her daughter and enjoy so much the time we spend together.  I look forward to our daily telephone conversations and if I need a pep talk I know where to turn.

I found this photo of my mom while going through my photo albums this morning.  Bowen asked me "Is that Grandma?", I replied "yes", his response "oh, she's just younger!"  I think you look exactly the same.  I love you mom!

So back to my mother's day.  I have been struck down by yet another cold (I think my music room has become an incubator for germs - maybe I should spray the piano students down with lysol before they are allowed in) so I was feeling pretty miserable.  But I made it through church with the help of great counsellors and Jason who always comes to my rescue.  After church I was instructed that I was to do nothing all day - done!  I was quite happy with that plan.  I put on some comfy clothes and assumed the position on my favorite spot on the couch.

The boys had little surprises for me they had made at school and primary (the ones they made at primary weren't exactly a surprise since I helped them make them), but they were so sweet all day.  Bowen kept bringing me drinks of water and reading his card to me.  I got lots of hugs and kisses.  Jason had bought me Stephanie Nielson's new book "Heaven is Here" and I enjoyed spending the afternoon reading it while he and the boys made supper.  As I laid on the couch I heard the ding of the steamer and then seconds later the timer from the stove.  My hubby exclaimed "how's that for timing? - you heard that - tell people!"  It was pretty amazing!

They made a delicious supper (I just wish I could have tasted it better - stupid cold!).  They had made ham, scalloped potatoes and asparagas with hollandaise sauce - yum!  Bowen set the table and Ashton even made place cards.

During dinner Bowen asked me to get him something.  His father explained I couldn't get it because it was "mom's day off - her one day off a year".  It sounds a bit depressing when you say it like that.  I love my family.  They are so good to me and I actually get spoiled quite often - not just on Mother's Day.  Since Saturday we went to Champion for cousin Emry's baptism we were able to go to the cemetery and visit Kenny's grave.  We took some flowers (thank you Amber) and we all had a little cry. 

I am so grateful I have the opportunity to be a mom.  What a blessing these sweet little boys are in my life.

Looove Bowen's cheesy grin!  They are a handsome pair!

ps.  Bowen has just informed me that today - May 14th is Bowen's Day - cheeky!