The last year of elementary is a bitter sweet one for both mom and kids. This was not only Halle's last year of elementary, but ours as parents too. Halle being the youngest means we are completely done with elementary, no more recesses, no more school programs, no more class parties, no more simple life for Halle...which means our "baby" is growing up! Its crazy how fast the time flies when you have kids. The 6th graders always go on a big Lagoon trip at the
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nd of the year to celebrate their "Graduation from Elementary". I have been able to go with my 3 younger kids and its been so much fun. Its fun to just spend some one on one time with them and some of their friends, eat lunch at Lagoon and go on the rides 
the rides without getting too sick. We zoomed home and then quickly headed out of town as to not be late. I don't do Salt Lake driving at all!! I hate it, to say the least and don't know my way around...BUT, I can get to Lagoon, the airport and the Zoo...so I was sure that we would be okay. We arrived in Salt Lake when my cell phone rang. It was Halle wondering where we were and told me they were in MORGAN CANYON! I told her that we were in Salt Lake and would for sure beat them to Lagoon..the whole time wondering why in the world they would go that direction! Little did I know or realize that a rather large section of the freeway is closed up by North Salt Lake and they send you on a DETOUR (a dreaded, and much feared word when you have NO IDEA how to get from point A to point B by the way of point D...I much prefer getting from point A to point B, in that order!) which we reluctantly took. All of us driving in our cars seemed to look a little lost and confused, maybe even a little panicked... me especially...but my car companion and I decided that we were just going to "follow the crowd" and hoped that they would lead us in the right direction...surely the rest of the people on the detour had to get back onto I-15 at some point too. So off we drove, going on roads that I had never been on before, looking at scenery that was very unfamiliar...feeling a little lost and wondering where "the crowd" would take us, when we came upon a fork in the road. I didn't know what crowd to follow. Do we go left or do we go right? I ended up following a cement truck that looked like he knew his business. Luckily he took us right onto the freeway and we were back on track. We arrived at Lagoon only minutes before the bus. It was looking like it was going to be a super busy day as we watched bus after bus unload student after student. It was like watching ants that just kept coming and coming. I expected long lines and alot of waiting...but much to my surprise there were hardly any lines. The kids were able to get on a ride, then get off and get right back in line and
go again without any wait. Halle had a blast. I hadn't seen her laugh or smile so much in a long time. She just glowed and had the best time ever. 
nd of the year to celebrate their "Graduation from Elementary". I have been able to go with my 3 younger kids and its been so much fun. Its fun to just spend some one on one time with them and some of their friends, eat lunch at Lagoon and go on the rides with them. This past Thursday, the day
before school got out, was Halle's big field trip. She had been waiting all year for this day and so when her alarm rang at 5:00 am she jumped right up and started getting ready. We had to be at the school bright and early (6:45 am), load the kids onto the buses (I drove...don't do too well on the buses) and be out of town by 7:00, headed for Lagoon. We got out the door on time and got to the school just as I remembered that I forgot my Meclazine (motion sickness meds). One of Halle's friends mom was riding
out with me, so when
she got to the school we went back to get my medicine so that I could handle
the rides without getting too sick. We zoomed home and then quickly headed out of town as to not be late. I don't do Salt Lake driving at all!! I hate it, to say the least and don't know my way around...BUT, I can get to Lagoon, the airport and the Zoo...so I was sure that we would be okay. We arrived in Salt Lake when my cell phone rang. It was Halle wondering where we were and told me they were in MORGAN CANYON! I told her that we were in Salt Lake and would for sure beat them to Lagoon..the whole time wondering why in the world they would go that direction! Little did I know or realize that a rather large section of the freeway is closed up by North Salt Lake and they send you on a DETOUR (a dreaded, and much feared word when you have NO IDEA how to get from point A to point B by the way of point D...I much prefer getting from point A to point B, in that order!) which we reluctantly took. All of us driving in our cars seemed to look a little lost and confused, maybe even a little panicked... me especially...but my car companion and I decided that we were just going to "follow the crowd" and hoped that they would lead us in the right direction...surely the rest of the people on the detour had to get back onto I-15 at some point too. So off we drove, going on roads that I had never been on before, looking at scenery that was very unfamiliar...feeling a little lost and wondering where "the crowd" would take us, when we came upon a fork in the road. I didn't know what crowd to follow. Do we go left or do we go right? I ended up following a cement truck that looked like he knew his business. Luckily he took us right onto the freeway and we were back on track. We arrived at Lagoon only minutes before the bus. It was looking like it was going to be a super busy day as we watched bus after bus unload student after student. It was like watching ants that just kept coming and coming. I expected long lines and alot of waiting...but much to my surprise there were hardly any lines. The kids were able to get on a ride, then get off and get right back in line andgo again without any wait. Halle had a blast. I hadn't seen her laugh or smile so much in a long time. She just glowed and had the best time ever. Her and Jessica (her friend that she was with) went on some of the rides over and over and over again, laughing and giggling and having so much fun. It was neat to watch as she stretched her wings a little and showed her independence.
She chose where she wanted to get her lunch, which she chose Subway. She and Jessica decided what rides they wanted to go on and which ones they didn't. They loved the Swings, the Bat, the Tidal Wave, Rattlesnake Rapids and the Scrambler. After a long, hot, super fun day...we headed home. This time Halle and Jessica got to ride with us.
We headed home the same we came, detour and all, getting home at just a little after 6pm. Even though we had to deal with the traffic, the detour and a few beads of sweat, I was glad that I drove. Halle told me that when she went to school the next day, she found out that the bus had broke down and they didn't
get home until around 9:00 pm! That makes for a LONG day on a bus with a bunch of sweaty, hungry, sleep deprived kids! It was a fun trip and I am glad that I got to go. I will miss some things about having a child in Elementary School, but there is alot that I won't miss too. I guess I will just look forward to the next 6 years watching Halle develop and become a young lady...a Teenager and then a grown up. It happens right before your eyes and long before you expect it!
th my aunts and some of my family that was there. I have 3 aunts on my dad's side and one on my mom's side...so I don't have a LARGE extended family, which I think in turn, has made us all very close. I remember as a child, always anxious for the next family reunion to come along so that I could see my aunts and the few cousins that I had. None of us lived (or live) very close so we didn't get to see each other all that much. But we would write letters back and forth... BUT when they did come to see us-- they always made it extra special. When I was little my aunts would put hot rollers in my hair and fix me up all pretty. We wo
uld go to the Mall and window shop, buy ice cream cones and coloring books and crayons. They would come outside
and push me on the swings and play games with me. When I became a teenager they still kept the fun alive- they would talk to me like a grown up, asked about things in my life and how they were going. They took me out for a hamburger and when they spent the night we would stay up all night and laugh for hours about crazy stuff...I love these three wonderful ladies that the Lord has blessed me with, to be my aunts. I don't know what I would do without them!!!! They are getting older now (yep, so am I!) and having health problems...busy with their own lives, as well as me with mine...but I still look forward to seeing them, just like I did when I was little. Even though we don't see each other quite so often, we make the best of the times when we DO see each other. I love just sitting by their sides, visiting with them, hearing their stories, talking about whats happening in our lives now, going to dinner...playing with their dogs (they all have cute dogs), just being with them...doing whatever we are doing at the moment. I loved spending a few hours on Memorial Day with 2 of my special aunts (my other special aunt was still in Colorado and I miss seeing her!!!!). I don't know how much longer they will get to be here on this earth with me and so I cherish each and every moment that I get to spend with them. They hold very special places in my heart. Life is too short to not take the opportunities that we have and make the best of every one of them! My family is my life and I am so glad that I am close with all of them-my children, my siblings, 
to learn if she hadn't opened up her dance studio here in town. They had their Dance Recital last week and we all went to cheer Halle on. I hadn't really seen her dance before, other than a few times that she was practicing outside. I thought she did really well. 
er group. She has worked super hard and wants to keep taking classes. We are really proud of her and its been fun to see the progress that she has made since she first began taking classes. She has a lot of potential and hopes to be able to follow in her sister, Dayna's footsteps, and be on the drill team in a couple of years.
led and decided that I would get it planted. You know, it being Memorial Day Weekend and all, and that is when your supposed to get your garden planted around these parts, so I was just keeping up with the Jones'. I got the green beans planted, the beets planted and 2 zucchini plants in...and then it started to rain. And it rained and rained and rained. So I thought... Monday would be a great day to finish (still getting it in over the holiday, so I won't be behind everyone else) but it was so cool and rain threatened all day, so I didn't get it done UNTIL yesterday! But I finally got it all planted and I am excited to see it starting to grow. My peas have been up for a 
couple of weeks now, as well as the spinach and lettuce. We hope here in a week or 2 to have fresh salad from the garden. I think that growing things is therapeutic for me. Its a stress reliever as well as a relaxing thing for me to do. So...I spend as many hours, minutes and seconds that I can in my yard...puddering around the garden, the flowers, working the lawn and yes...even pulling the weeds (that is my 
come out. If I stay on top of them and keep them pulled, it seems to save me from having to stress when they get bigger and get away from me, causing all kinds of havoc. But for the time being, I am enjoying my time outside and away from the inside chores that bog me down all winter (they do that in the Summer too, I just have to ignore them a little bit more). We also have several fruit trees, a peach, apricot, 2 apple, a cherry and a plum. I went out and checked them the other day and was shocked as to how many little pieces of fruit that they have coming on this year. I guess if they produce like they are looking like they will, we will have ALOT of fruit...and I guess that also means...ALOT OF WORK! (I don't like that part either...gosh I am picky when it comes to FUN...huh?!) Its going to be a great summer, full of sunshine and rain, plants and weeds, the good and the bad, picnics and work...but whatever it is..I am just going to suck it all in, breathe up every last bit of it, because winter comes WAY TOO FAST for me, so I'm just going to enjoy it ALL while its lasts!!!!!!!
ing and Summer are a bit harder for ME to stay on top of things, BUT, the kids don't have that much to do. I am sick of clothes on the floors, un-made beds, "STUFF" in piles and in corners, under beds and on dressers...the clutter and mayhem is driving me up the wall! Cameron actually keeps his room a lot cleaner than the girls, which I don't understand...I thought girls were supposed to be the CLEANER of the 2 genders, but not with my kids. (I think that boys become messier when they get married and think they have someone who can & will now clean up after them) School is almost out and CHANGES ARE COMING...AND THE KIDS...WELL, all I have to say is...THEY better watch out!!!
