School's OUT! Now What?

School is FINALLY out! Why do the last 3 weeks seem to drag on? I had a darling class, and I will miss them. But I am ready for summer.

Warm weather,
picnics,
painting,
swimming,
family time,
an Arizona trip,
visitors,
my garden,
preparing for 6th grade (aahhh!),
and
sleeping in!

What are you doing this summer?

The Intruder(s)

Tonight, Dawn and I sat down to a delicious dinner of chicken and pasta, when I noticed how stinking HOT it was! 90 degree weather, where did you come from? It's only May! Thinking there might be a nice breeze outside (NOT true!), I opened the back door. Much to our dismay a little bee friend swooped in. Okay, one bee is not going to hurt anyone, right?! Well, he brought another bee friend with him. Dawn and I did our best to ignore these pesky little creatures, but to no avail. We were cleaning up after dinner, when Dawn turned her back and one of the bees DROPPED into the oblivion behind her. Neither of us do well with the insect or arachnid sort. So Dawn immediately ran toward me and turned around and screamed "IS THE BEE ON ME?" I didn't even want to look because I knew that bee was there somewhere and I knew that it was all my fault. And what if something happened to poor Dawn, my dear cousin and roommate. I didn't know if it would sting her. What if she was allergic? I looked at her back and there wasn't anything there, but then my eyes were drawn to her hair--and that is where I found the culprit! I whispered "yes, there is a bee in your hair" (okay, not so much of a whisper) and Dawn started jumping around asking where it was. When I wacked the bee with the magazine I had in my hand, the bee fell to the floor and snuck up on Dawn's sock. Dawn walked around yelling and I was worried about the darn thing stinging her. I couldn't watch and just yelled that it was "by your sock, not that foot, the other foot!" Dawn yanked off her sock and threw it. Come to find out, the poor bee was a bit dazed. (Imagine that, after all that craziness!). It couldn't move and Dawn calmly said we needed a shoe. I was a bit nervous about who was going to kill the bee. I just couldn't do it. To calm myself, I went a found the biggest, best bee-killer-shoe in the entire world...my knee high winter boot! I ran it downstairs and asked who was going to kill it. Well Dawn, that good roommate of mine, told me she would. She proceeded to put the boot on and then psyched herself up for the bee killing. She counted to 3 and smooshed it! Only, it wasn't quiet at all! It made the loudest crunching noise I have ever heard from a bug killing! Well, everything is good now, although we came home from an errand and found the bee still moving. So I told Dawn to talk really loudly and I finished killing the bee and sent it to its final resting place--the trash! Oh, and we can't find the other bee. Ahhh, the joys of spring...and pansy girls!

Congratulations Tera!

Tera's definitely not one to "toot her own horn" so we're doing it for her.
She recently won two awards for her outstanding teaching at her school and we thought that we should share her success with all of you. Tera might hate us for this...but it's a good thing I have such a good memory and remember her password (love you Tera)!

Award #1...TEACHER OF THE YEAR--chosen by peers
Award #2...GOLDEN APPLE AWARD --chosen by the parents and is presented to one teacher from each school in the Provo school district for their positive influence and contributions to the other teachers, students, and school.
We love you Tera and we're so proud of you!

The 6th

I will never forget the 6th. It is one of those days that will forever be engraved upon my memory. On Wednesday, Kevin will have been gone for 9 months. It hit me once again this week, the grief. I was driving around southeast Provo and drove by our old apartment. I drove around the block and to the park where we would take walks when we were dating. A rush of memories flooded over me: holding hands, first kiss, playing red rover, blanket walks, long conversations, wedding plans, cancer, break up, the proposal, friends, and I had to get away. It was so strange. I guess this week has been a challenge just because so much is going on that I want to share with him...

spring,
a garden,
a bike ride,
accomplishments in my own life,
bad news,
something I learned,
personal challenges,
a rainstorm,
birthdays,
love,
coming home.

Someday I will get that chance again. Until then...

Easter

I know Easter was a week ago, but I had an experience this week related to Easter that I wanted to record...even if it is a week late.

Throughout the day on Wednesday I was overwhelmed. For some reason I let myself feel an emotion that I hadn't allowed myself to feel. Maybe I was scared of that feeling, or maybe I hadn't felt it to a big extent. That feeling (hard to explain now) was a complete and total loss. When Kevin died I was wrapped up in SO many emotions...I didn't let myself feel anything for too long. Well, this week I thought about all I lost when I lost Kevin. Stability--emotional, mental, spiritual, financial--amazing how losing one person can completely eradicate all stability from life. But stability is what I thrive on. Not only that, but I lost my best friend in the whole world. I lost the person that was my constant companion. Someone to go to the store with when no one else would go. Someone to go for a walk with when no one else would go. The person that I woke up every morning with and went to sleep every night with. The person that was part of my daily routine. The person that would listen to me, dream with me, read with me, eat with me. Really, after only almost 5 years of marriage, Kevin was my life. All of these thoughts came to me on Wednesday. After allowing this feeling and these thoughts to overwhelm me, I started thinking a little more. How have I gone on in my life without Kevin? How have I allowed myself to get up in the morning? How have I taught school? How have I participated in family events? Why haven't I cried myself to sleep for the past couple of months?

And then I remembered. I remembered the overwhelming peace that the Savior brought to me after Kevin died, and that He still brings. Knowing all that He suffered, all the pains and infirmities that He understands. He is the one that is my life. He is the one that has made all of this doable. He is the reason that I am able to look to the future...because I know that everything will work out. I don't know how. My mind can't comprehend it all right now, but I know that families are eternal because of the atonement. I know that I can find that peace and comfort that I desire because of the atonement. I can experience mortality because I know that I am not in this alone. I know that, as imperfect as I am, I can repent and become clean. I can handle death because I know that my Savior overcame death and was resurrected. The resurrection, and the joy of knowing that it will happen, has become much more meaningful to me.

Last Sunday I was reminded of Elder Holland's talk from April conference found here. The things he said in his powerful talk put things into perspective. How grateful I am for all that my Savior has done for me which I was reminded of this week.

Vacation @ the Beach House in Newport (Part 3)

Here is the final installment of our fun vacation. On Tuesday and Wednesday we played at the beach. A great time was had by all...I think!

Mom played with the kids a lot. The little girls woke up from their nap and played a game in the warm sunshine.

Dad doing what he does best-playing in the water with the kids. He loves to spray them down.

Dad, Jon and Troy went and ate at a fish restaurant and the rest of us went and ate at The Old Spaghetti Factory. It was so kind of the boys to send all the kids with us! They were actually really good. We had a little talk about good manners at restaurants.

Kim and I went for a ride on the beach cruisers, but she ran away before we could get a picture. So here I am with two little cuties.

We spent Wednesday morning on the beach, trying to soak it all in before we had to leave. This is a picture of Dad with Jackson and Katelyn.

We had a great time and can't wait to go back!

Vacation @ the Beach House in Newport (Part 2)

On Monday we headed to Disneyland. It was SO busy, but it was SO much fun. Disneyland twice in 3 months isn't bad, right?!

Here we are on the Jungle Cruise. It was the first ride of the day. At least we didn't have to wait too long for this one!

The girls really wanted to see all the princesses, but the wait was so long. So we settled with those characters we could find throughout the day. Sadly, they didn't get to see ANY princesses. But here is a cute picture of us with Sulley.

Another character we found. It is hard to pose 4 kids for a picture.

Katelyn was SO excited about the teacups. I don't think any of the adults were though. It was fun to see the kids so excited!

This picture and the next two are on the steamboat. It was getting late and we were tired. But it was a day well spent in Disneyland!

Keegan and Ellie

Mom and Jackson. Jackson is saying "cheese."