Heaven on Earth!

I have many weaknesses, but one of my biggest weakness is "CAFE RIO"!!! I love this place! I love their food and I haven't eaten anything there that I don't absolutely love! Its the best place (of course, in my opinion!) in the world to eat. My favorite is their "Grilled Chicken Salad w/their house dressing". Kim and I had to go out to Provo on Friday and decided that we wanted to have lunch with Dayna, but she only gets a 30 minute lunch. That didn't give her time to come and meet us at Cafe Rio and then get back to work before her lunch was over. So Kim and I went and got the food and met her at a park down by where she works. It was a beautiful day. The wind wasn't blowing and it was so warm, green and peaceful. Provo is a beautiful place anyway, but I thought it was extra pretty that day. We had a wonderful time eating our yummy food and visiting. It was good to see Dayna again. I wished we could do it every single day 

(both the visit and the food). If you have never been to Cafe Rio...you are missing out. Its a Mexican Restaurant... and Mexican food is my very favorite...actually I like all food...but Cafe Rio is MY LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN ON EARTH. I could go there every single day and not get tired of it. Although, my pocket book wouldn't permit that to ever happen, it would be nice! 

A peek into my week

For Mother's Day Deron and Cameron gave me a "Walk in Closet". Deron and I have been talking about doing one for years but that's all its ever been is...talk. Cameron's room is right next to ours and we decided that when we moved him upstairs we would turn his room into a closet (his room is pretty small)...but I never thought that it would really happen. Well, after they gave me a "certificate" verifying that they would really build it, I decided I better hurry and get the room upstairs ready for Cameron to move into. So first thing Monday morning I started cleaning out the spare room and getting it ready to paint. The "clean out" process was a little more time consuming than I had originally thought or planned on, it took a day and a half, but by Tuesday afternoon I was painting and had it completed by Wednesday afternoon. It turned out really nice and I was excited with the results. I am not one to paint my kids room with "plain colors", each of their rooms are done in bright and cheerful colors. That way the room becomes a happy place for them to be (my own theory). Cameron got to pick out his room colors (with a little help from me so as they all went well together) which were a really bright blue, grey, brown and black. They turned out great together! We got him all moved up, the otherroom cleaned out and hopefully soon I will get to blog about my new closet...I hope they are as quick at getting on to it as I was to getting onto Cameron's room...I can always hope can't I??! It was a lot of fun, but I am glad the project is finished. 

SeW FuN!

I decided to be a little crafty and "make" my Mother's Day gifts this year. I saw these cute, trendy aprons in the Mall selling for $49.00 and decided..."I can DO THaT~ and for CHeaPer Too!"...SO I did! I already had an apron pattern and just made some minor adjustments and 

changes to it to get the outcome that I wanted for "My Trendy Aprons". They were really easy, but took more time than I had anticipated, mainly because gathering a ruffle as long as this one, takes time and tons of patience. IF I were to make aprons for a living I would defiantly

 invest in a "ruffling" attachment for my sewing machine. After spending about 2-3 hours on each one (I made 5), I decided that $49.00 wasn't too crazy of a price to charge for an apron like that...after I considered the time it took and the cost of the fabric to make one. I am so glad that my Mom forced me to take sewing classes in High School so that I could learn to sew. Turned out that I really enjoy the "old fashioned hobby". I was really excited that I could sew my own "Trendy Apron" and have it look like I paid $49.00..(Actually mine probably didn't look like the really cool ones in the Mall...but I am going to pretend that they did~). They were alot of fun to make and when things in my life settle down a bit, I am going to make myself one...a little "late Mothers Day Gift" to me!

What a DaY!!!

Mothers Day....what an amazingly wonderful, fantastic, great day! All of the kids were here except for my favorite son-in-law Jack, who had to work.The kids brought and fixed dinner for me..."Grilled Chicken, Grilled Pinapple, Grilled Aspargras, Salad, Fruit, Hot rolls, Baked Potatoes and Fruit Pizza...you can't beat that! We had a wonderful time eating outside, laughing, visiting and enjoying the great day...we didn't even have any wind (the Lord was wishing all of us 

Mothers a Happy Mothers Day too).I couldn't have asked for more. I have the best hubby and kids in the world and I love them all!!!

An unrealistic "ImAge"...

It wasn't too many years ago that I would cringe with the thought of Mother's Day approaching or when I heard the words, "Happy Mothers Day". Only because of the "Image" that society portrays mothers to be, and what "their" Mother's Day was...the celebration of the "Perfect Mother, doing the Perfect things, and having the Perfect life, with the Perfect family...she does everything just right and lives in bliss 24/7". I wasn't this "Perfect Person", let alone this "Perfect Mother" nor would I ever become her. The image that society thought I should be always made me feel like a failure, it set me up for failure. I could never be everything that the world thought a mother should be. They make it sound like we have to be perfect to be a good mom. Therefore "I wasn't a good mom!" because I wasn't perfect. Sad enough to say...I fell for their ploy. I actually felt like I would be (sometimes I still feel that way) a failure if I didn't live up to all of the perfect things that they say a "good mom" should be.... "The Perfect Mother- Someone who wakes up in the morning with a smile, cooks a hot breakfast, sends the kids off to school cheerfully, greets them with joy and happiness as they walk through the door, happily takes them where they need to be, teaches them how to be contributing citizens in the society that they live in, brings them up to make correct choices all the time, takes them on expensive vacations at least 3 times a year (especially for Christmas and Spring Break...oh yes and usually once in the summer)- always smiling, never speaking a harsh word, reads them a book before putting them to bed each night and then waking up to start this "Perfect life" all over again the next day"...and so on and so on!!!  NOT THIS MOM---I have tried to be a good mom, BUT I am certainly not perfect by any means, I try to cook a good breakfast for my family..but sometimes they get to have cold cereal, and then again, sometimes its only a piece of toast (with Jam of course). I have tried to teach my children obedience and correct principles but most the time I didn't go about it like the "Perfect Mother would", my kids have gotten spanked, grounded, had privileges taken away, scolded, yelled at and even sometimes sent to bed without dinner. I have tried to help them with their homework...that is up until the 4th grade when they start learning more than I did as a senior in high school, so their dad has to take over (he is the smart one of the 2 of us). I have tried to spend time with them doing things that they like to do..in the worlds eyes I would be a failure there as well, because it probably didn't cost alot of money or intell long expensive trips on a monthly basis...but we've gone for walks by the river, picnics in the mountains, laid on the bed and talked and laughed for hours, talked one on one over the phone and sang goofy songs in the car driving to and from the orthodontist. After years of dreading the "Mother's Day Talks" at church, the Mothers Day hype on TV and in the stores, I came to the conclusion (with alot of help from family, friends and my children)...Mothers Day isn't about being the Perfect Mom, there is no such thing...Mothers Day is about loving your mom, appreciating her and being happy that you have a mom...I love my mom! I think I have the best mom in the world. She isn't perfect, but then who is?.. but she is a wonderful mom! She taught me so much and helped me become who I am. She gave me life and has nurtured and helped me from day one-- clear through to today...I think she is the best that there ever was. My kids don't have a Perfect Mom, not by a long shot...and I don't have perfect kids, but I think that I have the greatest kids around. I have a wonderful relationship with each one of them and can call them all my dear friends as well as my children. I cherish the moments that I have had with each of them. My boys aren't embarrassed or afraid to tell me that they love me (even in front of their "Buddy's") or even give me a hug. My girls aren't embarrassed to be seen with me and have even gone places with me when they could be spending time with their friends (who are much cooler than I am). My sons always open my door when I am with them, whether people are watching or not. All of my kids always say "Thank You" and how much they appreciate the meals I cook and the things that I do for them. I don't dread "Mothers Day" like I use to because I have changed the way I look at it. I will never be the "Perfect Mother" or the "Ideal Mother"...I have made mistakes along the way and I know that I will make a million more...BUT.. I have done some things right and have wonderful kids that prove that I am not SO bad and kids that I love more than anything in the world...they (each one of them) made me a "MOM" and each and every one of them makes me happy. I love spending any time that I can with them, I treasure it more than anything. Being a mom is hard work, its made me happier than I have ever been in my life...and its also made me shed more tears than I ever have in my life. It made me learn to like alot of things I didn't think that I could ever like, things like hand prints on the wall, noise, and loud laughter. Being a mom has made me appreciate the little things like... smiles, laughs, notes, hugs, phone calls, thank you's, flowers in a cup, dead spiders on my walls, crazy creatures in my house (Salamanders!), Christmas morning, Halloween night, clean clothes, mud on the back porch (instead of in the house)...the list goes on! Mother's Day isn't a day for perfect mom's...its a day to say "I love you MOM and I'm glad that you're mine. Thanks for all you do!"....So Mom.. I love you, I am truly glad that you are my  mom and appreciate each and everything that you do for me. Thanks for not being perfect and thanks for not expecting me to be perfect...I think your the greatest. To my kids...Thanks for letting me be your mom. Thanks for being who you are...I love you all. Thanks for excepting me as I am, my faults and all. Thanks for helping me become better and being my reason to live, you are my life and I couldn't do it without you all in it! Being YOUR MOM is the joy in my life! No one said that motherhood was going to be easy, no one said that it was going to be fun on a daily basis...but in the end...its all going to be worth it, it already is! 

Happy Mother's Day!!

Starting a new season in life...

It was 12 years ago this morning, at 6:18am, that our baby arrived... 2 months early. Halle Marie Wilkerson was due on July 10th, 1997, but came on May 9th, 1997...weighing in at 4 lbs 10 oz and measuring 18 inches long. She had dark hair and was so tiny. Her welcome into this world was a bit of a stressful time for everyone involved. Her pediatrician told us what to expect, and none of it was very good. Halle came out crying, which was such a welcomed sound, it meant that she was a fighter. She weighed alot more than they had anticipated (they expected a 2lb baby) which also worked to her advantage.  Not knowing how long we would get to keep her here on this earth with us or when Heavenly Father would see fit to take her home with him, made us appreciate ever single moment that we spent with her. The Life Flight team was waiting for her when she arrived. They stabilized her and took her immediately from our hospital to the airport where she was flown to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and hooked up to life saving equipment. 

Deron left me to be with her and spent the first 3 days of her life by her side, unable to do much but watch and wait. On Mother's Day (3 days after she was born) I left the hospital in Roosevelt and spent the next 2 weeks with her in the hospital, by her side. She was a miracle all the way around. The Dr.'s at Utah Valley told us that she would be in the hospital for at least 2 months...she left after 2 weeks. I know that Heavenly Father watched over her ever single minute. I saw miracle after miracle happen in her short little life. She was shocking and surprising the Dr's left and right, making progress that was not expected to happen so quickly. After bringing her home, her first year was a rocky one, but she continued to be a fighter and is now a strong, healthy, beautiful, 12 year old girl. She will be starting 7th grade in the fall where we will ALL start a new season in life, its the LAST child going to Jr. High...the LAST in Primary....and her first big DAY of being a "TEENAGER"...12 is a whole new chapter for her...Kids grow up WAY TOO FAST!!!

Some reasons that I love and appreciate this wonderful daughter of mine are-

Halle is a very spiritual girl and feels very close to her Heavenly Father. And she always tries to do whats right. 

She is usually very happy. She loves to make others happy with a sweet note or a hug or a smile. She loves to laugh and have fun with her friends. She is fun to be with and spend time with.

When she was younger she use to hum all the time. You could hear her playing in her room  and humming any tune that she could. She asked me one time why I thought that she hummed so much (because she wondered), I told her it was because she was always happy...she just smiled and kept humming....she has gotten older and doesn't do that as much, and I really miss it.  

Halle is very thoughtful. She is always concerned if someone is sick or hurt or just down. She is so sweet to do little extra things for them and do what she can to make them feel better. One time I was sick in bed and she was always bringing me drinks or cards or coming down and asking me if I was okay. She is really sweet that way.

When her older siblings come home for a visit she always hugs them and tells them that she loves them and misses them. She isn't afraid to let them know how much she thinks of them and that she loves them. She enjoys going places with them and being a part of their "grown up lives". She is a huggable, lovable girl. She loves to have her family around, to do things with them and to spend time goofing off, laughing and just having a great time.

Halle...you are such a blessing in our lives. 

We love you so much and are so grateful that you are here with us today. 

You are such a joy and make us remember the "important things" in life! 

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! We love you! 

The "NaSTy" Spring Fever

I love Spring and Summer! Who doesn't love these awesome months when its warm and pretty and we can go outside...they are the best! Although...it also makes me feel like shopping. I think "that" its actually a virus that we women get during these first few months of "warmth and sunshine", probably caused by being cooped up inside our houses for so many months during the winter...its called "SPRING FEVER". Theres NO CURE for it and its extremly contagious, most women are infected with it. It takes a few weeks to work through the system, then it usually goes into remission. BUT...the virus stays in your body and you can have flare ups at any time....boy its nasty stuff...*wink*!!! I had a flare up last weekend and bought a new purse, which I REALLY needed (NOT)...but it was fun to get a new one anyway. This particular flare up didn't last TOO long or cause too much damage. It went away quickly, but I am sure that another one is coming on soon! 

Anyway...I was out in the yard burning weeds this morning...(one of the draw backs of Spring and Summer)...but I was looking around the yard and I was so excited to see the blossoms on the trees and all the spring flowers coming out! (Not that we have very many blossoming trees) Our fruit trees are still young and haven't blossomed much, up until this year. The blossoms are just starting to come out and there are hords of them.

 I don't think they will all produce fruit because the trees are still small, but it was exciting to see anyway. Its just fun to see some color coming back into the world again and to have a few new little fun things to bring me a little happiness!

Yep...Ya Gotta love Spring and 

that "Nasty Virus" that comes around with it...EVERY SINGLE YEAR! 

(Its the only illness that I love!)