The Amazing Mrs. Stone!

I truly have never met another individual like Mrs. Stone (Jordyn's 2nd grade teacher) in my life. She is definitely one of a kind! I am SOOOO grateful she is Jordyn's teacher and hope Lexi gets her next year!

Jordyn had Open House last week at her school and it is a BIG deal in Mrs. Stone's class. In fact, parents are not allowed in her room for a few weeks before because there are so many surprises in store! I dropped off cookies and drinks for Jordyn's bday at the beginning of April and she had me knock on the door and hand them to her so I wouldn't see the room! This may sound offensive, but there is something about Mrs. Stone that makes it endearing. She devotes ridiculous hours to these kids.

So Open House took the full hour for us to tour the room, read every single word around the room and enjoy all of the surprises!


She is obsessed with Scottie Dogs and here is her large checkers table decorated with Scottie Dogs.

She made the kids these pillows (all 25 kids!). The one on the left, Jordyn got to decorate.


The kids all drew their mom's portraits and the parents had to guess which one was them. Jordyn was SOOOO mad that I guessed right on the first try. But there was only one drawing with red hair!!!

See the detail? This was a written up newspaper article by Mrs. Stone about each kid and what she loves about them, complete with their picture!

Teacher of the Year winner, Mrs. Stone. She is a character. If she asks me to bring something, she is very specific of what kind, what time, what size and where to set it. But she also demands excellence from anyone she is around!

The class has been taking a "trip around the world" and "visiting" a lot of countries. Their most recent country is China. So Mrs. Stone had a Chinese luncheon for the kids. She also had Chinese gifts for all of them. These cute little bags included Chinese necklaces, bracelets, money and a few other trinkets. She spends SO much money out of her own pocket on these kids. She also LOVES them so much! She can literally remember the birthday of a childhood friend of mine, Lon Sorensen (ha ha Katie) who she had in 2nd grade and he is MY age!!!!

Here is Mrs. Stone's right hand lady, and my friend, Rosa Lorang. Rosa has had a child in her class for three years now, so she gets utilized a LOT by Mrs. Stone!

The kids at their Chinese Luncheon!

Turning 33

Last week I had my 33rd birthday. Its so wierd how, as each year passes, I identify less and less with my age. I now understand more the saying "age is just a number". But for a person's initial 25 years, age is SUCH a part of your identity. SO it's strange to transition into it not mattering how old you are.

I am happy to be 33. I have experienced a lot, yet I know I have so much more to experience. I feel sad when I think of people who have not had the chance to live beyond a young age such as this. Tucker's mom, for example. I picture how it must have felt to be dying at the age of 40...leaving behind 5 small children. Feeling like there is SO much of life she had yet to experience! I don't doubt for a second that the peace and joy she experienced as she was welcomed back into the arms of our Savior...that she immediately understood the "whys" of it all. But as a mortal, I would feel sad to leave so much left "undone".

I look forward to years with my children. I look forward to teaching them, traveling with them and sharing the ups and downs with them. I look forward to defining my career path and finishing my Master's. I look forward to getting more in shape. I look forward to going on exotic vacations. I look forward to summer vacations. I look forward to learning new talents and getting to know myself better. I look forward to more memories with dear friends. I have so much to look forward to and I never want to stop feeling that way because it's what keeps you feeling young, I think.

For my birthday, I felt loved. I had a fun day. I requested lunch and a pedicure with my mom and sisters....and that's exactly what I got! It was a rare and enjoyable afternoon. I also got a night out with Tucker, thanks to my neighbor Jenn. Lots of calls, emails, and birthday wishes...and of course chocolate covered strawberries from Rocky Mountain. Thank you!!

Softball's Over

Jordyn and Lexi really LOVED their first softball experience this year! They both were really sad to see it come to an end.

About mid-season, Coach Ruben mentioned something to Jordyn about looking like she may become a good pitcher, and to keep working on it. Well, this set Jordyn on fire and she started walking around the house with a ball and a mitt constantly. Her interest had been set on fire by his one simple comment. (He is such a cool coach).

So guess what happened on her final game? Coach put her in to PITCH! It was so exciting! All of the sudden I heard "Jordyn's pitching" and was like, what?? She was so proud! Isn't this a cute picture of her in action? (the next photo is her with her friend Maddie, whose dad was also the coach).

Lexi also had her moment of fame when she hit a Home Run mid-season! She was soooo excited. Everyone was excited! It was a big deal! She got to sign the "home run board", got a special pin and got a free soda from the snack bar. She's the youngest player on her team and did a great job holding her own!





Jordyn with Olivia.........................Lexi signing Emma's shirt!





Girls showing off their medals!




Peyton was a fabulous little cheerleader ALL season long. She was also OBSESSED with coach and had to give him a high five every game. She is SO not shy.



Signing teammates shirts was so fun!

Fruits of my (non) Labor

I used to really care about my yard. I mean, I used to plant things and go to home depot all the time and check on them daily and....well...then...life just got busier and busier. And before I knew it, my yard was at the bottom of my priority list.

But there is something about this time of year that really sparks it again. And I'm feeling the desire flickering to give my yard some lovin'. So here are some pictures of what beautiful things my plants are doing all by themselves so far!

This is the view down the narrow side of my house, where I have lots of edible things growing.

I have a dwarf lemon tree and it has TONS and TONS of blossoms on it. Way more than ever. Looks like it'll be lemonade for us!

This is the beautiful little blossom for my blackberry vine. Which is also HUGE this year! I just wish they weren't so DANG pokey and thorny! I will be making some yummy blackberry jam!

Why do I think these baby apples are so cute? I have only one Fugi apple tree but it has hundreds of little apples on it!

And here is another view of the Fugi apple tree.

My dwarf lime tree is out of control and needs to be pruned!

Here's hoping I get the bug to plant all my colorful flowers. Tucker keeps begging me. Why do I suddenly feel like I'm 80 years old?

Cousins!

These kids hardly know the difference between cousins and siblings with how close they are! Life seems to have sped up and gotten busier so we don't get to have quite as much cousin time as we used to, even though we're a mile down the road!

Whether its been a day or a week, you'd think it was the reunion of a lifetime when these kids get together though! They hug and run and squeal with delight! It's so cute.


Paxton and Peyton are too funny together. They love each other SO much!




And this time of year is my absolute favorite! The flowers are growing, the weather is amazing, I can leave my doors open to a fresh breeze and the kids are re-discovering the backyard! And nothing makes it more fun than adding cousins to the mix!

Lexi Lou (showing off her softball medal)

Lyric swinging

A little (tiny) basketball

At 2 years old, Paxton makes every single shot, no joke!! This kid is amazing!

Seriously, I have never in my life met a kid more natural with a ball, more drawn to a ball and more skilled with a ball at SUCH a young age! And it's like that no matter what type of ball!

Jordyn is the "big sister" to everyone! Pax likes letting her play that role, too. Aren't they cute?

Peyton and Ava

I think one of the things I've loved most about being a mom is watching my kids develop friendships. Maybe because my own friends have mattered so deeply to my throughout my life?

This is one of Peyton's best buddies, Ava. She's lived next door for a few years, but they are finally getting old enough to do official play dates. And they want them ALL the time! I'm just waiting for the day Pey sneaks out to Ava's house! For now they usually resort to yelling each other's names over the back fence! Its so cute to watch them get into their imaginative play and just REALLY love each other. So cute!