Mormon Bloggers

Aloe, Key Chain (Teach) and Squeeg I have some pretty amazing kids! Did I tell you that before? See that cute girl in the middle? That’s Teach and the other two are her very best friends. They have been close since elementary school and even though they are all attending different universities, they still find time to do stuff together. Squeeg and Aloe both have blogs of their own. I love  Read More →

From the movie Up Every year in Utah they have a Parade of Homes. It’s really expensive and we never go. And I’m OK with that…most of the time. But this year they had an amazing house that all of us were just dying to see. Our neighbor and his crew had designed and built an awesome replica of the UP house. UP is a Disney movie that came out a couple of years ago about a guy and his wife.  Read More →

Today was our last mostly free Saturday until after pee-wee football season ends. Sport went in early this morning for weigh-ins, although why they didn’t just X him (make him a lineman) I have no idea. He would have had to lose at least 20 pounds to keep him off the line. So my sweetie dropped him off at the park and then headed over to work for a few hours of overtime while I tried to make up  Read More →

Drama Queen and Teach I’m pretty sure I mentioned already that we are almost done with summer vacation. Sadly, my three elementary-aged kids go back to school tomorrow. Well, actually, Scout is starting Kindergarten, so she only has orientation tomorrow and doesn’t officially start school until next week. But Crafty and Scout head back tomorrow. Gym Rat, Drama Queen, and Bossy Year-round  Read More →

We need to let our children have a childhood.  Don’t let them grow up too fast! http://memoriesoncloverlane.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-about-our-girls-childhood-cut.html  Read More →

The 2011 Mutual theme is the 13th Article of Faith. “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men.  Indeed we may say we follow the admonition of Paul – We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.  If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” Are we seeking after these things?  Or are we lowering our standards? Are we setting a good example for our children?  Read More →

It is devastating to any parent to discover that their child isn’t “normal.”  And by “normal” I mean meeting all the milestones when they are supposed to “normal.”  Admitting your child is anything but perfect and seeking help is only the first hard step to take.  After that, life is challenging every single day to give your child everything they need and lots of attention to help them grow and develop in every way they can.  When they are small, it’s hard… potty training, speech skills, and motor skills all come a little slowly for children with special needs.  Behavioral problems are always tough because there is a lot of frustration on both sides trying to understand the other and to be understood.  Every day is long… And then they reach kindergarten age, and life gains a whole new level of trials. The kids that used to play with Sam are ready to go to school and Sam missed... Read the rest of this entry »

As some of you know, Ben and I took the boys down to Southern Utah this weekend for an awesome family reunion!  We had a blast getting to see the family again and playing around in the sun.  It was a nice change in weather status, and we took advantage of every minute! Since my side of the family is rather large (although, not as big as Ben’s) most of us were staying at a hotel.  Which was super awesome because we had a pool and spa just down the stairs from our room.  We hadn’t taken the boys swimming in over 2 years, and even then Nephi was just a baby and can’t remember anyway — so we thought it would be great to reintroduce the little guys to the joys of swimming. I remembered to pack all the swimming suits, but we stopped at Target and bought the boys some “water wings” or “arm floaties” (whichever term you prefer), so they would have a little confidence in the water, we didn’t have to spend a fortune on a life... Read the rest of this entry »

Lost what, you ask? I lost my cool. Not kidding. I know, I am usually pretty calm about things, take everything in a cool matter.  Make assessments.  Mark my position, and know in an instant where the boys and I stand. But for some reason, yesterday, I had had enough, and I cried.  And I cried.  And even a little bit more… Now, I do NOT want any pity.  I had just had one of those days where life builds up until it feels overwhelming! But a good cry… ahhh…. felt really good.  When it was over, I felt better and I was able to push on. Sam had his pre-preschool graduation.  You may remember his pre-pre-preschool graduation last year.  He still has one more year there until kindergarten, but they let him participate anyway.  Like all moms, I have this anxiety for my little guy.  It hurts me beyond anything to see him on the playground with “normal” kids and they either pick on him (see this post), just ignore him,... Read the rest of this entry »

. If I had words to wrap around those mommy days and mother years, I’d hold them in my hands and say that nothing ever disappears. But I can’t seem to feel the page, and all this stuff just moves so fast–– in bits and pictures, fading memories of an ever-fading past. . My life is turning over now; it’s tumbling down a hill of time and every stone unearthed rolls on… No looking back, no saving climb can make tomorrow yesterday, can soften chin and jaw and cheek; my smile is no more universe; my eyes, though warm, they do not seek. . A river runs and so it should; I would not have it change its course, but as it rushes to the sea, it also leaves behind the Source. ©1999 by Susan Noyes Anderson Motherhood has been at once the most satisfying and challenging experience of my life, and being a mom is pretty much where I live. This poem came my way over a decade ago, when I was feeling the pain of transitioning from center hub of my children’s wheels to one of the outer... Read the rest of this entry »

When we finally got pregnant with baby #4, we both knew that we were done.  It didn’t matter if it was a boy or a girl, we were done.  We waited until she was born to make sure I was thinking clearly, but it didn’t change…we were done.  So The Doctor got the big “V.” But that wasn’t the monumental moment.  After she was born and I knew for certain that she was a girl (ultrasounds can be tricky!), I gave away all my boy clothes and toys.  Can you imagine how much room that saved me in my storage?  And then, as The Princess grew up and out of each stage, because we were done having children, I was able to get rid of the bassinet, the swing, the car seat, the baby clothes, the crib, the baby toys, etc.  No more storing them.  But that wasn’t the monumental moment. The moment came the day that I was able to go around the house and remove the outlet covers.  No more pulling them out just to plug something in.  They were empty... Read the rest of this entry »

Back in the early 90′s when the first Toy Story came out, my mom thought it would be fun and a bit silly to buy my dad the Buzz and Woody dolls that came out because he loved the show so much. My dad, being the guy he is, refused to take them out of the box claiming that one day they will be worth something. Years go by… and Buzz and Woody sit in their boxes tucked in the back of my dad’s closet. Once in a while when I was in there looking for something, I would see them in there gathering dust, looking like a cross between Prospector Pete (still in the box) and little, dusty Squeakers on the shelf. I would find myself thinking, “What a shame… Buzz and Woody would never want a life like that…” Fast forward 12 or so years… Ever since Sam’s eyes opened, he has LOVED Toy Story. This little guy could watch it all day if I let him. Some of his first words were “Buzz” and “Woody” — except “Buzz Lightyear”... Read the rest of this entry »