June: Ethan's Food Coma

My sister Chelsea and I took probably 8 pics of Ethan passed out in various positions in the house. These are my favorites (although tonight he was face down in the sofa with his nose so scrunched that it might look like Ms Piggy's by tomorrow morning!

May: The Art of Discipline or Art in Bloom Piano Recital

Jill: "Lizzy and Sophie don't get wet. It's Sunday and we don't play in Nana's pool!"

Jill: "Ethan, you are too little to get the hamster out of the cage. Let mommy do it."

Jill: "Andrew, go practice."
Andrew: "Ok, mom"
(1/4=25% odds of my children doing what they are told). Not to good!

This is Andrew playing the keyboard at Lawrences downtown for the Art in Bloom Piano Recital. Lizzy played in it too but I was saving an expensive Lladro from being destroyed by Ethan when she was performing, maybe a picture of her next year.

May: Ranch Visit

I don't think pics of the kids at the ranch will ever get old. We went out there with our friends the Anderson's and went for horse rides and to feed the new cows some milk.


Bob & Bill & Bud...



Got milk?

Horse rides...

May: Pinewood Derby

We had our annual pinewood derby event. I was so proud of Andrew and Brian. Brian didn't micromanage Andrew while he built his car. He helped Andrew learn how to use a miter saw, drill press, and then let the boy sand the bejeebers out of his little car. Andrew loved every minute of the prep. Then they took the car out and painted it spiffy and Andrew added his favorite spider man stickers from his sticker collection.

Then the day of the event came. Andrew helped with the Flag Raising ceremony.

I love a boy in uniform!

Then the racing begun!
20 boys, 20 cars, 20 excited dads waiting to see if their.....er....I mean the boys cars did well.
Ethan was so envious of Andrew and his dad that Brian helped Ethan make his own car. It was modeled after the new 2009 Camero.
Andrew with his buddies Gavin and Kennon. Andrew's car was not so fast but it was pretty spiffy looking. He learned alot about where to put the weight on the car this year and it will be faster next year!

May: Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all women. Above are the gifts the kids and Brian showered me with to make me feel loved.


Brian did very good on the flowers. He also showered his mother and mother-in-law with flowers without even being prompted. I was very impressed this year. He woke me up mothers-day-morning and said, "I guess I should fix you breakfast or something.....but Jill, you know that just isn't me. Oh, and Ethan is crying." Then proceeded to turn on the TV and read his church lesson. Classic Brian! Love that boy!


Andrew made this beautiful flower display at scouts complete with the names of the flowers on the popsicle sticks!


Andrew's non-specific your the best mom in the whole world note.


Andrew also made me this cute cube at school complete with a decorated magnet inside.

Ethan made this for me in nursery. He was so excited and proudly said, "Happy modders day mom! I made this for you!" with a grin when I picked him up from nursery. My heart was so full and then crushed when the nursery leader informed me that Ethan refused to participate in the activity and another child's hand was used as a substitute for Ethan's due to his defiance in participating. Do you save that gift?



Lizzy & Sophie cards and pics of us together. Lizzy drew me larger than Sophie, but I am certainly darker in her pic!

Sophie and Lizzy painted pots in kindergarten and filled them with plants.



Lizzy also loves me because I buy her things.....children can be bought!


I am the luckiest gal in the world. I was raised by an amazing woman and I was lucky enough to marry into a family with the coolest mother-in-law. My mother-in-law had us for mother's day dinner. She brought out her flutes and gave each of us some Martinelli's sparkling cider and had us each go around the room and say something sweet about our mothers. Andrew couldn't think of anything and had to be skipped, Lizzy said I was beautiful, Sophie said she loved me, Andrew then piped in and said I was a good scrapbooker (which I interpreted as "She spends lots of time on the computer), and then Ethan said, "I have something to say, 'I love my dad!'" Thanks Ethan, it was never in doubt who was the favored parent but on Mother's day?

Well, I love my mother for the following reasons: Because growing up she was so much fun. She was the life and entertainment of the party. She was the storyteller. She was the fun aunt. She was the treat lady. She made everyone feel loved and accepted. She was the good listener. She was the charitable lady always serving other sisters. She loved her family. She worked all while I was growing up and truly felt mortified that I was a latch-key child complete with the key on a chain around my neck. But I never felt neglected or unloved. I would go home for lunch during school just to visit with her, not because she had top ramen, vienna sausages or mac n cheese waiting for me, but because she loved to hear what was going on and to be a part of my day.

I love my mother-in-law because she cares for everyone. She loves me unconditionally. She works hard to serve others. She drops everything at the drop of a dime to help a child/daughter-in-law in need. She is well versed in the gospel and shares her insights with me. She helps with my children. She is my personal shopper. She is stylish and keeps me and my children in fashion. She raised a good son. She understands her son. And she loves us both as her children.



I hope my children will one day be as happy they had me as a mom as I am of my own mother. I love them all so much and feel blessed to have 4 beautiful kids.




Even on days when Ethan refuses to conform!

May: Kindersoccer

I think that because Heavenly Father has a sense of humor he gave me two very girly girls. One who won't where pants, and another who is destined to be Hannah Montana (meaning, a secret life of clothing I don't know about). So when my friend Vicky asked me to co-coach the girls in kindersoccer I just kind of laughed and said, "If you don't mind that my girls will spend practices more devoted to how they look and what their friends are doing versus just kicking the ball!"
So, we started practices and I was quite surprised, Lizzy was a natural! She ended up being the 2nd leading scorer on the team and she really was talented at the sport. The only problem, she hated practices and refused to play if she were tired.

In a nutshell, it was all played on her terms! Sophie just enjoyed the ride and did look darling, despite the fact I refused to let her wear tank tops to practices!

The best part was that they got to play with their really good friends. That was more important than anything I taught (or didn't teach them).

Ethan was their honorary team chearleader (are tear leader depending on whether he wanted on the field or not).

At the end of the season we had a swim party which the girls loved and there was plenty of pink and giggling!

May: Spring Flowers

I love spring. I love the blossoms. I love the new growth. I love the color. I love the energy. I love the beauty that surrounds me. Here are some pics of spring in my yard.


I love the trees...
I love my little island I plant with Rozanne every spring and fall...






Pansies are one of my favorite flowers. So hardy!












My daisy's do wonders and I always think of my sister Dyana.

I have some Rhododendrons that are amazing.