Have you lost your mind?

Tonight I told the kids to get their shoes on because we were going to a friends house for a minute. Immediately Emma throws up her hands and says to me "MOM...have you lost your mind???? It's the SABBATH!" She is so used to not being able to go to a friends house on the sabbath day that she was appalled! Recently we had a Family Home Evening lesson on keeping the sabbath day holy and I told them of a time that I didn't keep the sabbath day holy and I went to a dance convention and felt terrible afterward. So tonight after the whole have you lost your mind bit she then says "Remember the day you went to dance?" I love it when you realize your children really are listening when you teach them :)

Luke's Award Ceremony

I know in one of my last posts I complained that I don't have a camera, but luckily I have great friends who had my back :) Here are some pictures from Luke's awards ceremony...

Grant Johansen, Ethan Sanantonio, Luke

Luke's buddies... in the back: Luke, Logan, Dalton, C.J., Chandler, Edgar; in the front: Ethan, Grant, Austin, and David.




Luke and Austin Stella

I have LOVED Luke's teacher this year and was sad as the year started to come to a close that we would have to move on to a different teacher next year. BUT we were lucky enough to find out that she is "Looping" this class, meaning next year she is moving up to 2nd grade and so we had the option of keeping her and keeping Luke's class together for another year!!!!! YEA! So we are very excited. Mrs. Lipsit goes the extra mile for Luke's class. You can tell that she loves them and they love her. Her awards ceremony she did made me cry! She gave each of the kids a "Can-do" kid award because that was her theme this year, then she gave them their young authors award, but then she went the extra mile and gave each kid a character award and picked out something special about each of them. Some kids got awards for their art abilities, math abilities, some for always being positive, some for always being so stylish....just really cute awards that fit each kid. I almost cried because she gave Luke such a cute award....
She had mentioned in our parent/teacher conference that he is such a joy and everyone gets along with him and that he is such a talented reader but very humble about it. I was so pleased! Then she had put together a dvd of pictures through out the year and she gave each of us one! What a great teacher, what a great kid I have, and what a fun day!

Sad, sad, sad...a broken camera

Last week my dance girls danced in a competition and during all the excitement I DROPPED my beloved camera!!!! YIKES! Very bad timing too because there are TONS of things going on...we just went to the beach for Memorial Day, there is a dance recital next weekend, Luke's young authors and awards ceremony today, Emma's school party tomorrow, Emma's graduation Monday, Luke's school party Tuesday, friends beach day, YOU GET THE PICTURE! Oh and last night Matt and the kids caught a turtle in our yard. Emma is on a BIG TIME pet kick and is DYING for a pet of ANY kind. She has been catching tons of bugs and keeping them as pets but as you can guess the life span of a bug is not very big when kept in a Tupperware container or dollar store kit. Let's see she caught Molly the moth, Drake the dragonfly, Benny the beetle, and Lacy the ladybug to name a few. So when they caught this turtle they thought it was fate for sure and that the Rose family now had a pet...until Matt read on the Internet that it is illegal to keep wild box turtles. The kids were very big about it and helped Matt take it to the swampy area to let it loose without any major tantrums. They then proceeded to beg for a pet and used their hour worth of care they provided for Tony the turtle as proof that they have mastered responsibility and therefore plead their case that they NEED a pet. Can you see now why I am sooooo sad that I have no camera!? Plenty of things to blog about and yet no picture! We took the camera in and it is being fixed under our warranty (THAT NEVER HAPPENS) and so it is going to be a couple of weeks! I hope I can survive!

Welcome to the family Max Morgan Garrett!

Congrats to my sister Kim and her husband Morgan and their girls Savannah and Maggie for the arrival of their beautiful baby boy Max. It is killing me that I am not there helping her! Can't wait to see him in July! 7 lb. 13 oz.

Swine Flu

Right now all you hear about in the news is the Swine Flu. I know it is scary and we need to take it seriously but I had to giggle at this email my brother-in-law sent me....The subject was entitled "Celebrity Swine Flu Fatality" At the end of the email it said "And we all know who gave it to him". FUNNY STUFF!

My Mom....

What can I say??? I've realized that I don't express my feelings very often, and so therefore it is very hard for me to put them into words. I LOVE to read people's blogs where they so eloquently express their love and gratitude for their role as a mother, or their gratitude for their mother and I give a little silent cheer or even shed a tear (wait did that just rhyme???? Maybe I'm a poet and I don't even know it...he he he) Anyway I have REALLY been thinking of my mom lately. Yes it could be because it was Mother's Day yesterday, but I know it started before that. I think it was all the times lately that I have raised my voice at my children and had to stop and think "WAIT I don't remember my mom losing her temper THAT bad...how did she control herself!?" Or the times that I have asked my little family of 3 small children if they think I am their maid. I now know what my mom meant when she said this. HOW I ask, HOW can someone spill something and then simply WALK away and know it is going to be cleaned up???? I know I have done this to my mother - SORRY MOM! Motherhood is amazingly difficult yet rewarding. I really thought I was a somewhat patient person until I became a mother and now realize I have NO patience. I really didn't start to write this to go off on all my flaws or the hardships of motherhood. I really just want to THANK my mom for being the most amazing mom ever! I wanted to write some of the wonderful things I am grateful for that my mom has done...of course my little sis beat me to it on her blog and she is MUCH better at remembering moments and expressing them and so I am going to put her list here on my post and then add to it. (Kim please take this as a compliment and not as plagiarism. lol) Every single one made me nod my head and laugh and cry so I agree with them all Kim!

1. She is the world's greatest listener
2. Every time I travel with my girls somewhere, she packs little goody bags to help the girls stay happy and preoccupied en route
3. When I was in high school, my mom used to fall asleep in my bed while I was on a date. Then I would have to wake her up when I got home by climbing in bed with her. This allowed her to make sure I was home by curfew, and for her to hear all about my date. :) (Isn't that a great idea?)
4. My mom is so thoughtful. She often sends little surprises in the mail to our kids.
5. My mom used to take us toilet papering. I think she figured that she would rather be in on the kid's mischief rather than hear about it from someone else. Way to channel that mom... and keep us out of REAL danger.
6. My mom was a 6th grade teacher to many of my peers. I went to junior high and high school with many of her old students. She had such a positive influence on so many kids, that I think she won me many of my friends. Thanks mom. When I run into them, they all STILL ask about her.
7. For Family Home Evening growing up, I remember having dance offs with my parents and siblings. We loved watching my parents do the jitter bug and cha cha together. We had a lot of fun. FHE is where I first learned how to shimmy.
8. I love it when my mom giggles. She is the best late at night. When you get her laughing, it makes you feel like you are hitting the jackpot!
9. My mom is the greatest cheerleader. She has always encouraged her kids to reach for the stars. Her kids are her whole world. She was always at every assembly, dance performance, and encouraged us to do our best.
10. My mom is one of the most nurturing women I know. She loves and serves so many. She has had a positive influence on the many lives with her gifts and charity.

Thanks Kim for putting into words some of my favorites too! Now here are some of my own...

1. The picture above perfectly describes one of the qualities that I love the best about my mom....my mom and dad have ALWAYS taken all my friends under their wing and treated them with such love. Ever since I was little I would bring home "strays", ok that doesn't sound like a nice word for my dear friends that I have brought home. But I have brought people into my parents home and they have bent over backward for them and made them feel right at home. Actually now that I think about it I am not the only one of my siblings that have done this...I remember when my brother Scott had a COMPLETE stranger he met at college come and live with us for a while. And he really WAS a stray and took advantage of my parents...but that is another blog post in and of itself! he he he....This picture above is of the son of one of my companion's from my mission. Saturday my companion Irina had a birthday party for her twins who were turning one and my parents went to the party!!!! How cute is that. Irina introduced my parents as her American parents (she is from Lithuania - but recently became an American citizen...CONGRATS IRINA!!!!) She came to the U.S. shortly after returning from her mission. My mom hooked her up with pots and pans, bedding, etc. when she moved into her first apartment. My mom even gave she and her husband some of her old furniture...sometimes I really wish I lived closer to get these perks :) I think Irina has been to more family parties and holidays with my family then I have in the last 10 years since we've been home from our missions. Anyway I loved this picture on her blog and hope she doesn't mind me stealing from her, there are my cute parents in the background sitting on the couch visiting! They are always the quiet cheerleaders in the background supporting all of our loved ones.
   
   My other friend Brandon stays with them while he is passing through Salt Lake from Idaho, and old friends of mine pop in from time to time to see them. My mom and dad have seen more of my friends from high school then I have in the last 14 years...yes I know that is my own fault living so many miles away, but part of that is because people love to run into them and see them because of the love and welcoming arms my parents extend!
2. Another thing I have always LOVED about my mom is her amazing way to make me feel calm in any situation. Somehow she made the most stressful of situations seem doable. She has this way of calming me down and helping me to clear my head so I can think straight. I remember countless times in high school that I would be up all hours of the night not knowing how I could finish projects and she would help me prioritize, and sometimes we would divide and conquer projects. Other times I would almost have anxiety attacks when I had scheduling conflicts and didn't know how I was going to be in 2 places at once and somehow she would help me work through it and find the best possible solutions. It didn't matter what the problem, boy/relationship stress, school stress, etc. I just knew if I had a problem she could help me work it out. There was just peace when she was there, and she always was.
3. I always know my mom has my back. She was always there to stick up for me. If she saw one of her kids hurt she was right there ready to protect us. It was always the joke that she would "write a letter" to whomever she needed to if things were not right. When I didn't make the dance team my second year of college, she was ready to write that letter to the lady who cut me. She hated to see me down and hurt and suffering.
4. When I had a crazy skin condition starting my junior year of high school my mom was nurturing me and making sure I had the best help possible. She was always trying to make me feel comfortable even if it meant constantly changing my bandages so I wouldn't itch.
5. My FAVORITE times with my mom is when I would fall asleep at night in her bed. We would lay there for hours talking and finally fall asleep and then my poor dad would come upstairs from watching t.v. and would have to go sleep in my bed because he HATED to wake me (yes I was pretty much an ornery bear when awoken - my poor kids have inherited this terrible trait from me).
6. That leads to another thing my mom would do for me....many times I would wake to breakfast in bed! It sounds like she was spoiling and pampering me but I think she did it to get me moving and also because I would wake up so much nicer this way :)
7. I love my moms notes and letters. I remember ALWAYS looking forward to a colored envelope that would come in the mail weekly without fail, a letter from my mom! Her letters always uplifted me and made me feel like a little girl wrapped in her arms instead of a young women miles away from home. They were constant and reassuring.
8. My mom has come out to Florida when each of my babies were just infants and helped me with the overwhelming, yet so touching time of having a newborn. I loved the way she would teach me how to bathe my new baby, soothe my new baby, and enjoy my new baby. She would remind me to cherish the moments that would run away from me so fast as they grew. She reminded me to enjoy each stage of their infancy and toddler hood and not wish it away. I find myself often laughing inside when my kids do something cute and thinking that my mom would have found that adorable too.
9. Some how my mom made each of her 5 children feel that they are the favorite child. She has so much love in her heart and was able to make us all feel special.
10. My mom has always been so in tuned with the Spirit. There are times when she was prompted and has kept us from danger. Other times I disobeyed and put myself in some not so good situations. Like the time she told me not to go toilet papering with my dance friends and the night/early morning ended with me, a fifteen year old without a license, being pulled over. If I JUST WOULD HAVE LISTENED! She has always been in tune and listened to the small promptings that have started conversations that I know we needed to have.

Thanks mom for being my inspiration, my best friend, my cheerleader, my teacher, and my sounding board. I LOVE you so much and it is hard to be so many miles away, but it is comforting knowing you are just a phone call away and that you will always listen!

Mother's Day = wonderful day - trip to walk in clinic

This was my hand made gift from Luke - there is nothing better then a handwritten note from your son! :) The little tea cup had a tea bag in it...nothing you would get from a Utah school :) lol.

Today was a wonderful Mother's Day! It started out with sleeping in (aaaahhhhh), next a WONDERFUL breakfast in bed consisting of crapes with strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries (mmmmm), a nap (ahhhhhh), next Matt getting ALL the kids ready for church (yeeeeaaa!), he gave me a new dress to wear to church (yeeeeaaa!) then great church meetings, then a DELICIOUS dinner of steak, veges, and rolls made by Matt (again mmmmmm - and we even had our friend Barbara over)......all great things until about 8:00 when the kids got wrestling too much and Gavin fell and hit his head on a wooden box full of toys and needed stitches! Luckily Barbara was here so she stayed with Luke and Emma and we went to a walk-in clinic for Gavin. He was such a great sport! The worst part for him was when they wrapped him up tight so he couldn't move his arms. Instead of the stitches they used the super glue stuff and hopefully that will do the trick. The doctor gave us the option of 3 stitches or the glue and we thought the glue would be quicker and easier. So there you go, a perfect day with a not so perfect ending :) It was still a wonderful Mother's Day!

Emma's new best friend...

This last week our friend Joseph Harrison, who Matt and I taught seminary to about 7 years ago, was back for a visit. It was so great to see him. The kids thought he was the best and hung all over him! He came to our ward Sunday and then came over for dinner, came over Monday for FHE, and then he stayed the night Friday before he left to drive back to Virginia on Saturday. Emma was GLUED to his side the whole time. He played puzzles with her, gave her a ride on his shoulders, and played bouncy ball with her. He was a great sport :) Fun time to catch up with an old friend!

Mother's Day Tea

Emma's school had a Mother's Day Tea where they served muffins, banana bread, lemonade, iced tea and orange juice. It was fun to spend time in the classroom with her. The kids had worked so hard on their gifts and were so proud to present them to us. SOOOOOOOOOOOO cute! Emma was right on, even the weight (he he he) :)

Crazy Squirrel

There was a squirrel stuck to our porch screen! Well actually I think he was pulling our leg. I don't think he was stuck. Matt grabbed the camera and took some footage....

Time for a visit to the dentist? :)

Do you think my kids need a visit to the dentist??? he he he

Birthday boys!

Last year Luke had a party for his birthday, and so this year we let him pick a friend one night to go to dinner and then the next night to have a sleepover. So we went out with Carver and his family to the Mellow Mushroom, a new pizza place. And then we went to the movie Monsters vs. Aliens on Saturday night with Nicholas and Brooke and then Nicholas slept over. It was nice not to have to worry about my house getting destroyed with a party :) I can't believe my little boy is 7 and that next year he will be getting baptized!!!! Man how time flies!

Grandma & Grandpa Rose gave him the books "The Diary of a Whimpy Kid"....Luke has already read one of them and so he was so excited to get the rest of the set. He can't put them down :)

Emma got him a new mit. I guess the little one I got him last year is to "whimpy" for his father :)

THEN HIS BIG GIFT.... It has always been pretty funny ... Luke has never had a Nintendo DS or a PSP or a Game Boy. He has always wanted one and would even draw pictures of them and pretend he had one :) Well his dream came true! He got a Nintendo DSI. He was so excited!

Here's his old DS...

And here is the new :)

After he opened it he was so excited but there were no games. I was teasing him and told him that he would have to start saving so he could get a game to play in it. He teared up, here is this new toy that he was so excited to have and couldn't use :) he he he. I thought I was funny until I saw the tears. Luckily Grandma and Grandpa Gillespie came to the rescue and bought him a game :) Thanks Grandma and Grandpa! ;)

Then it was Matt's birthday a few days later....he had to travel to Pittsburgh but I don't think he felt too bad...he got to eat at a restaurant he has always wanted...Primanti Brothers. I feel so bad because this week was an insanely busy week and so he had to settle for dinner after Luke's last soccer game and I only had time for cupcakes instead of a cake! My poor neglected husband. He did get a new stereo for his car and while he was out of town the kids and I went and had it installed for him (we just walked around for 2 hours while we waited, it was actually fun to have time to just hang out).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS! I love you both!