mother’s day gift idea.

so I totally have mother’s day covered this year.

I know, I am incredible!!

(but thanks really belongs to miss jessica sprague.)

you see, I was asked to test this mini class, as in, get to take it before anyone else did, to make sure it made sense and junk?  and it totally did.  and as was making my little family tree poster, a little idea entered my mind.

“you could so do these for mother’s day gifts…”

and guess what?

when I got my poster and saw it in all of it’s printed, physical glory, I was like, “yeah.  this would be pretty darn amazing.”

and since I enjoy evoking emotions, I planned on doing it.

then, my first-grader gasped when she saw it.

(it helps that we have been finding and reading stories about our ancestors.)

but she GASPED!!

so that pretty much did it.

(mom, you better not be looking/reading.  but whatever, yours isn’t on here.)

so here’s mine:

and obviously, it’s for my kiddos, only goes back to their great-grandparents.

(ash was trying to spot her 5th great-grandfather..  nope, doesn’t go back that far.)

my mother’s day gift version has been tweaked a bit.  it has parents at the base of the tree with the kids and grandchildren up in the branches.

it’s quite sweet.

and I really love this quote:

“looking at the faces of those who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future.”

-Gail Lumet Buckley

so, if you are at all interested, here’s the link to the class.

it seriously took me no time at all to plug in pics and names.  then it gets printed, and you frame it…  so easy.

and all the gasps and tears are totally worth it!

Mother’s Day.

Sunday, I was drawn out of sleep, not by breakfast in bed, but by the pointed corner of a homemade mother’s day card, sticking into my scalp.  When my eyes finally agreed to open, just a little, there stood Lynnie-lou.  Her hands were over her mouth hiding part of her smile.  She has been so anxious to give me the many mother’s day surprises she has been making for almost two weeks.  Whenever she would attempt to gift me one, I would tell her to save it, I love those surprises.

Peyton was awake soon after, and Merrill gave her the other gift they went together and got for me.  Ashley was close behind with the gift she had made at pre-school.

It was quite a take for the day, many homemade cards, a popsicle stick picture frame complete with a picture of Ashley and magnets on the back (because we all know I love magnets!), and See’s Truffles.

(I have been doing so well on the no sugar thing too…)

It was amazing that everyone was ready for church EARLY.  I walked over ahead of everyone else to get copies made for our upcoming RS meeting, and was able to relax and ponder for a while by myself before the block began.

Before sacrament meeting started, I was given more homemade cards, one by Peyton herself this time.

Sacrament meeting could have gone smoother.  All three girls were on something.  It was also helpful that Merrill repeatedly got calls from the person running the front desk that morning/afternoon, so he resorted to texting, to avoid leaving the chapel again, repeatedly.  That only added to the circus that was on our bench.

This was only the girls’ opening act, their shenanigans  while my heart was pounding, my body shaking because I felt the urge to bear my testimony.

Peyton kept announcing whenever she “tooted”, rather loudly at that, and that was the volume of her voice, not the “tooting” itself.  I would smile at her, and tell her to shush, but that didn’t satisfy her, I needed to show more enthusiasm.  I tried giving her a thumbs up, and saying “Good job!  Shhhhh!”  But that wasn’t enough either.  Her voice would only get louder with every announcement, so I resorted to the standard answer that suffices at home: “AWESOME!!!”   and she finally quieted down.

Right as Lynn started telling me all about the funny “saggy boob” moment in “Stardust”, a recently viewed family movie, I saw my opening to stand and walk the few steps to the pulpit.

What a note to leave on when I am going to bear my testimony.

As soon as I stood at the pulpit, Peyton started saying something loudly.  I tried to ignore, I was worried that she was making another loud announcement about her bodily functions.  I went on, Lynn flashing her “I love you” sign at me, and managed to get through.  When I sat down, the sister behind me told me that Peyton had been yelling, “I a-wuv you mommy!!”  Then I felt kind of bad that I ignored her. 

We managed to get through the next 10 minutes without threats of beating anyone.  Amazingly.

Lynn was reprimanded by Merrill, while he was texting mind you, for something she had drawn on the mini magna-doodle that was “inappropriate”.  That was all I heard Merrill say, as I was continually trying to keep Ashley from eating her dress like a goat , revealing her princess underwear to the bishopbric with every coming nibble.  Peyton was between the two girls, who were between Merrill and myself (we started out sitting together..) and she was up to her own antics.  I was trying to quiet her while keeping Ashley in check, but thankfully there was someone behind us to help with that.

I have never breathed a louder “AMEN..” at the end of that closing prayer.

The walk home proved to hold the day’s most exciting moment yet. 

I have told the girls repeatedly to WALK across the crosswalk, not to run, Peyton tries to keep up with them, thinks everything is a race.  Ashley decided that day to RUN across the first of two crosswalks we cross to get home.  Peyton, desiring a win, took off directly towards our house to steal the win.

Not on a crosswalk.

Alone.

You should have seen me running in my pencil skirt and heels.

I am sure it was quite a sight.

She got a talking to, as did Ashley, and we all went inside, so I could prepare mother’s day lunch.

Honestly, I wouldn’t have my mother’s day any other way.  There would be relatively little for me to post about,  and lunch would have been top ramen and koolaid if Merrill had made it.  Not the delicious chuck roast, carrots, mashed potatoes, rolls, and gravy from the drippings, that we did have.

That, and it was my fault, I had to open my big mouth about how good the girls were the previous week at stake conference.

This one is for the ladies.

I love this day.

To me, it is not only a day to recognize my moms, it is a day to recognize all women who have touched my life.

There are quite a few, and the number just keeps growing!

I am so thankful to know so many great examples of womanhood.  So many unselfish women, who are willing to share, to sacrifice, to teach, to offer what they have in order to help and to lift others around them.  Regardless of if they have ever borne a child of their own, they still mother the souls of those around us, sometimes our own. 

I am blessed to be one of those that are lifted and inspired quite frequently.

I have many to thank for making me the woman I am, and growing ever more to be..

So I will share my favorite quote about women, from Neal A. Maxwell.  (He’s a favorite of mine..)

“Women, more quickly than others, will understand the possible dangers when the word ‘self’ is militantly placed before other words like ‘fulfillment’.  You rock a sobbing child without wondering if today’s world is passing you by, because you know you hold tomorrow tightly in your arms.”

Happy mother’s day!!

something quick..

After PTA-ing all day (fun friends make the difference between a long day and a fun day...) I put this together quickly.. the font, my new treat from dafont.com (thanks Brooke!!)I also did these for our mom's (a.k.a. Grandmas) for Mother's Day.. had to wait for it to be over to post them ;)Some of the grandchildren, you will see, are on both.. I can explain: my brother married his wife, who happens to be my husband's sister.. the kiddos are double cousins! Now how fun is that?!

Just for Mother's Day.. I am sure..

We had a wonderful Mother's Day.. but due to the fact that I left my purse (camera inside) at my in-law's house, I did not manage to get any darling pics of me and my girls this year..
We did have quite the interesting weekend though, all of it culminating on the special day. :)
It all began on Friday night.
Friday's at our house are WooHoo!! nights. We let the girls sleep wherever they want. The place of choice usually ends-up being the family room in the basement. We inflate the air bed, let them stay up watching movies, and usually have a special treat for them to eat down there.
The one side effect of this night is that neither of them end up getting the benefit of a full night's sleep.
That takes us through one heck of a Saturday, the day before Mother's day, and all of it's preparation.
Fun.
Two tired sisters.
Super fun.
Saturday night we went to the school and threw around the ol' softball, and hit a few, just for some fun practice.. consequently wore out two of the three girls. There, I demonstrated my fine mothering skills.. they had been neglected of a nutritiously balanced lunch earlier in the day, and feasted instead on handi-snacks and rice crispie bars. Werther's served as both appetizer and dessert. So, to try to make up for my lack of feeding them, I fed them an even more nutritious Wendy's kids meals for dinner, which was at 8:30 pm.
But oh, it gets better..
Peyton had been running around all day in a summer romper. Very cute little ruffled bottom on it and no sleeves, it was perfect for the heat of the daytime, not so much the chill of an early May evening, outside.
"No problem," I think, "you still have her jacket in the bag from the last game."
As she shivers in the evening chill, lips quivering and all, while they turn a slight purple, I go to the bag..
Nope. No jacket.
I am a great mother, I think.
Even greater than that, we get the girls home, one of the three in bed, then I realize: we need milk. Not to mention a few other necessities for the Sabbath, if we are to keep it holy :)
So off Peyton and I go, to Wal-Mart, at 11 pm.
See.. aren't I a great mother?
At least she had her jacket on now. :)
We get home with our foodstuffs, and find Lynn, still awake, watching a movie that starts with the word "Jack" and ends with another, we'll say, "biblical term" for "donkey".. great choice in entertainment, Dad.
She now believes that grown men, dressed in Panda costumes, running around a downtown area in a country located somewhere on the Asian continent is acceptable and hilarious.
She isn't sleepy, as I am ready to pass out, and Merrill already has.
It is sometime after 1 am, so I let her lay in our bed and watch TV..
Body count in our bed: 3.
At another point in the early morning hours, Peyton wakes up, unhappy. Me, being the great mother I am :) and a very tired one at that, gets her out of her crib and brings her back to our bed to lay down.
Body count is now at 4.
Then, I am awakened to yet another female, crying.
It's Ashley.
Guess what she wants?
To snuggle with me.
I am trying to make up for my greatness from the previous day, so I let her in.
Body count is now up to 5 in our queen size bed..
Quickly, it is reduced by two bodies. Peyton and I go seek refuge in Ashley's bed.
The count takes yet another blow, when Merrill, who awakens with Lynnie-Lou's butt on his forehead, leaves for the couch.
Body count final: 2 little bodies.
Sunday morning starts off well. It's me, alone, getting ready, reflecting on the previous week. Thinking of how I can do better.
Soon I wake up the girls, feed, bathe, and get them ready for church.
There were many emotions exhibited by the miniature women who reside in my home that morning.. not many of them pretty. Fits were thrown about things ranging from shoes to the style of hair to who's church bag is who's. It was an interesting Sunday morning.
Peyton has a blow out.. the only thing that has been consistent between all three girls growing up. When they are teething, they not only have a faucet with a constant trickle in place of their nose, they have nasty, relentless diarrhea.
Lovely.
(I'll spare you further detail.)
Bathe her, get her dressed, again.
But I am still not ready. I need a skirt and shoes.. oh, and the diaper bag.
I usually have these things ready Saturday night.. yeah, this Saturday was not good for that "mothering area"..
Merrill leaves with #1 and #2 in the truck.
It's just me and #3.
As I step into my shoes, I smell an awful familiar smell.. acidy... stinky.. greaaaattt..
Yup, she did it again for me...
Round two.
I get to Relief Society to hear the last five minutes or so of the lesson. Made me wish I had heard the whole thing.
The rest of the day was fun and relaxed.. I enjoyed spending time with our family.
The events of the day left me to contemplate that no matter how crazy the day is, I am so blessed to be a mother.
Even when I get to clean up a blow-out.. or two. :)

Happy Mother's Day!!!

During much study and prayer these past couple of weeks on our sacred calling and role as women and mothers, I came across this talk from our beloved Prophet, President gordon B. Hinckley. I loved it and wanted to share it with you..
Happy Mother's Day!!

Someone has said: “Be kind to the women. They constitute half the population and are mothers to the other half.”

My dear sisters, you marvelous women who have chosen the better part, I stand in great admiration for all that you do. I see your hands in everything.

Many of you are mothers, and that is enough to occupy one’s full time.

You are companions—the very best friends your husbands have or ever will have.

You are housekeepers. That doesn’t sound like much, does it? But what a job it is to keep a house clean and tidy.

You are shoppers. Until I got older I never dreamed of what a demanding responsibility it is to keep food in the pantry, to keep clothing neat and presentable, to buy all that is needed to keep a home running.

You are nurses. With every illness that comes along, you are the first to be told about it and the first to respond with help. In cases of serious sickness, you are at the bedside day and night, comforting, encouraging, ministering, praying.

You are the family chauffeur. You are driving your children about on paper routes, taking them to athletic events, driving them on ward outings, hauling here, there, and everywhere as they pursue their busy lives.

And so I might go on. My children are now all grown. Some are in their 60s. But when they call and I answer the phone, they say, “How are you?” And before I can answer, they ask, “Is Mother there?”

She has been their strength all of their lives. Since they were babies they have looked to her, and she has always responded with affection, guidance, teaching, blessing their lives in every way.

Now we have granddaughters who are mothers. They visit us, and I marvel at their patience, at their capacity to calm their children, to stop them from crying, and it seems to me to do a thousand other things.

They drive cars, they run computers, they attend the activities of their children, they cook and sew, they teach classes, and they speak in church.

I see their husbands, and I feel like saying to them: “Wake up. Carry your share of the load. Do you really appreciate your wife? Do you know how much she does? Do you ever compliment her? Do you ever say thanks to her?”

Well, you dear women, I say thanks to you. Thank you for being the kind of people you are and doing the things you do. May the blessings of heaven rest upon you. May your prayers be answered and your hopes and dreams become realities.

You serve so well in the Church. You think it is so demanding. It is. But with every responsibility fulfilled, there comes a great reward.

Happy Divine Nature Day!!! a.k.a. Mother's Day...

So I am going to start a petition to call this day, "Divine Nature Day". I know that there are so many women, my mom, sisters-in-law (Promise, Jaclyn, Brookers, Randee, Kaitlyn, Mikell Meow!...), aunts, grandmas, and friends, some who are mothers, and others who have not been given that opportunity, who have influenced my life, and helped me to become the person that I am today. I want to celebrate all of womanhood, not necessarily "mothers"... there are so many awesome women out there that do good...
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

When I went to gather dirty clothes the other day, I saw that Lynn had a bright pink bag hidden in her closet next to the hamper. I was so excited, who else would it be for? She made me a gift and a card at pre-school.
She was so excited! And I love it... of course!
We've had a busy couple of days around here...
We celebrated Mother's Day with our Grandmas yesterday, and a little more today.
We had way too much fun at Mer's parents house last night. We didn't get home until nearly 10 pm. I got a way fun Mother's day gift from Darlene... Will come in use for Lake Powell...
Brooke made us darling headbands to match!
And because we love to be goofy... a picture shoot followed...
We went to church with mom and dad. She hosted a lunch, that was an awesome gift! Not cooking lunch for the fam... well, I kinda still did.
My older brother was asked to speak in his ward today about mothers. He spoke about mothers who have influenced his life, and I was flattered to hear that I was one of those three that he spoke about. I guess maybe I am doing some things that are right!
I am raising drama queens, not by example I must state... Ash dropped a chocolate flower that was on top of a frosted cupcake on her dress today. She had the dramatic "hands-to-the-face" cry going on. She had the dramatic, "I can-hardly-talk-because-I am-sobbing" cry going on a the same time...
"Mm... mmm... my... my... Bbbb... bbb... beautibul.... my beautibul dress! My beautibul dress is ruined!!!!"
And we got to talk to Clint today!!!
Can't wait to see you!!!
Grandma's headstone is in, Yeah!!! So we had a bonus when we stopped by to visit her too...