I've changed my mind

Remember how I said that Luke and I were going to get the show "Roots" from the library and watch it together?  Well, I've changed my mind.  We got it from the library and started with the bonus features of interviews and documentaries.  I kept asking Luke if he was ready to watch the actual show and he kept saying no, he wanted to go read first, or do this or that first.  So today Reggie has taken him and some friends out and I've decided to go ahead without him; I think maybe he really doesn't want to watch it after all.  Now that I am into the first episode I am realizing that it would have been too much/too hard for him to watch.  It is very hard for me as well, and I am realizing that I never saw this first part - the capturing, the ship, etc.  I am forcing myself to not fast forward it.    

And she's off!

Samantha is on a well-deserved vacation for the next week, visiting her sisters (and brother-in-law!) in Utah.  The picture doesn't show it, but she was smiling from ear to ear as she got on the plane.  From what I understand the plan for after she lands is Temple Square, dinner at The Lion House, etc.  Have a great time Samantha!

Because he's the one that stays

I rented "Parental Guidance" recently.  It was a mediocre movie but one thing struck me.  The adult daughter says to her mother, (referring to the Dad) "You always take his side!"  The Mom says "yes, and you know why?  Because he's the one that stays."  And then something about the children grow up and leave but your spouse stays with you forever.  I like that.  And I like this song; I have for almost 30 years now.  Love you Reggie!

(pause the playlist first!)

Tornado season

Well Julia, Lester & Addy are experiencing something we never have - tornado season.  They have endured a lot so far as some of the tornadoes have come within 3 miles of where they live, and Lester's job is keeping him in the thick of things.  But so far they are safe and sound. 

Now I see why sharks mistake surfers for seals (or sea lions)

Today was gorgeous weather, which is not supposed to last long, so we decided to have family night and a Taco Bell dinner on the beach.  At one point, as Luke and I were hunting for sand crabs I looked to the right and saw a huge Sea Lion sitting on the beach staring at the group of people surrounding it.  Everyone was being very respectful and keeping their distance.  At first I thought it must be hurt, but it was fine and healthy, just looking like he was posing for a picture. Then he started barking and waddling towards this teenager in a wet suit.  The teenager hadn't done anything to provoke the sea lion, and he didn't panic - just looked at him like "why are you focusing on me?".  Then the sea lion waddled back to the waves, hopped in, swam among and blended in with the surfers and then swam out to sea.   It was the coolest thing ever.  I just wish I had my camera!

Look what happens when you make your child go grocery shopping with you!

 

It was $5 Friday at Safeway and Luke noticed that they were selling this $14.99 cake for $5.  It is not often that we get store-bought cakes around here, but for that price, who could resist?  I just couldn't believe we didn't have an occasion to go with it - I mean, nobody's birthday that we know of, no chocolate fest to donate it to like last weekend, not even a house full of people like we are planning on this summer.  I guess we'll have to eat it JUST BECAUSE!

Greek Fest

 

Luke's school had a Greek Festival in which all 6th graders - boys and girls - had to wear togas and participate in Olympic games.  Lucky for us Luke was on a team of boys whose mother's were very involved and organized.  All I had to do was provide a batch of cookies for one of the work days.  Luke's team one first place for their togas! 

 

 

 

Chow Mein

This morning I woke at 6:20 to the sound of Reggie and Samantha making Chow Mein for Samantha's final class project. She has to do a cooking demonstration today and they were getting everything ready.  I have had strep throat since Monday and have checked out of reality.  I'm so glad Reggie was able to step in and take over these past few days.  And the icing on the cake is he then thanks me for all that I do for the family.  What would I do without him.

My Mother's Day gifts

Today I got to watch my chick flicks, take a nap and wake up to a wonderful dinner and presents.  Samantha picked out a Bath & Body Works gift card which I can't wait to spend.  Luke picked a gift out that surprised me because the thought behind it was wonderful.  He got me the DVD of the miniseries ROOTS.  He says that he saw it in the store and remembered that I had told him all about it as we were driving to school.  I tell Luke lots of stories as we are driving to school, hanging out at home, or whatever.  Usually they are stories that I think have a point/ something to learn from.  The fact that he was actually listening and remembers my stories is the true gift. 

I don't think I will be keeping the DVD set, however, because it is very hard to watch.  It is one of those shows that I think is very important to see, but I can only handle it once, or twice, or three times in my life.  It's story of survival and family will stay in my head forever.  But, since Luke is willing to watch it I will be checking it out from the library and see it for about the third time in my life: once, when it originally came on, the second time with Hillary, and now the third time with Luke.  Hillary is the only other child of mine that felt she could handle the content, and now Luke.  It's okay that Julia, Mariah and Samantha have chosen not to see it.  I'm glad they know themselves and know what they can handle. And I am happy to think that the other stories I have told Luke - the ones about our Pioneer ancestors, the ones about my childhood, etc. are being heard.

A Happy Mothers Day it has been. 

Mother's Day Cards

Reggie and the kids are off to deliver flowers to our Moms and I am going to take a good long nap.  But I hope my Mother, Ruth and my Mother-In-Law, Albertine know how much I love them too.  Instead of getting cards from the store I want to send them cards from me, through the blog:

To my Mom:

                      "Life doesn't come with an instruction manual.  It comes with a Mother".

Thank you Mom for seeing me through every stage of my life so far.  The way you live your life and navigate through it's circumstances - the good and the bad - give me an example to aspire to.  You have shown patience, perseverance, love and joy in all you do and endure.  I am so happy that we are still able to spend time together.  I'm afraid you are going to have to live forever, though, because I don't think I can do without you.  But when the day does come (YEARS from now!) that Dad has finished building your retirement dream house in Heaven and calls you to join him I will try to be as brave and selfless as you were in saying goodbye and carrying on. 

Love, Nancy




To my Mother-In-Law:


                       "Your not just gaining a husband, your gaining a whole new family".

Maybe that's not exactly how the saying goes, but it is true, and I lucked out when I got you.  When Reggie and I were teenagers and just started dating he kept urging me to come over to his house to meet his Mom.  It took me a while because I was just so shy.  I don't know what you thought of that nervous little girl, or if you had any idea then that you were never getting rid of her, but I remember thinking how nice you were.  And like everyone else that entered your house, I soon felt comfortable and kept coming over and over and over, even when Reggie was gone for two years.  I thank you for all of the fun, acceptance and love you've shown me all these years. When the time came for me to be a "Mother-In-Law" I was very excited, probably because that name has always meant happiness in my life.

Love, Nancy

A Special Day

Today our class participated in the county wide Special Olympics.  It was a lot of fun.  There were elementary school kids up through high school kids, all trying their best.  It was inspiring to watch and cheer and get so excited for them and their accomplishments.  It was also a fun atmosphere with the D.J. getting people to dance out on the field.  But my favorite part was seeing some high school kids that I first met years ago when I was an elementary school librarian.  I enjoyed reading stories to them and interacting with them back then.  Then, when I moved on to Campus Supervisor at a Jr. High these kids were there too.  They were the highlight of my days, because even though I knew that I was not well liked by most of the kids (which is understandable because it was my job to hand out the detentions) these kids always greeted me with a smile and a hug.  By the time they were moving on to high school I was applying for my current job as a Special Education Aide.  They were the reason I knew that I would love a job like this.  So today I saw them again.  I cheered for them by name and was so flattered - almost to tears - when a couple of them recognized me.  They couldn't quite get the words out but said "Hey, you . . ." and I finished their sentence by reminding them how we knew each other.  I couldn't be more proud to be known by someone than if the richest movie star in the world knew my name.  I will always be grateful for how these kids touched and changed my life.  I am ending this post with a picture I found online representing The Special Olympics.  It is not my picture/ it's not from our event, but the smiles on their faces are exactly like the smiles we saw on our tracks today.

My side of the weekend wrap-up

This is always one of my favorite weekends of the year - the Father-Son campout.  Usually I scrapbook and watch movies with my girls.  This year Samantha and I had some quality time together, even though there was no time for scrapbooking.  I will have to make up for that in the summer.  It had been beautiful weather all week and so after our Target trip that I blogged about earlier Samantha and I sat on the cliffs and watched the sunset.  It was beautiful and priceless to have that peaceful moment together.  We then got a Round Table Pizza and watched our chick-flick.

Saturday was my Dad's birthday; he would have been 94 years old.  In honor of this we went to my Mom's with a chocolate pie and watched the newest Lincoln movie.  He always loved history.  It was really nice to spend that time with my Mom.

Sunday Samantha had to cook a 3 course meal for her Foods and Nutrition class.  It took a while -  Mini Tostada Salad, Herb Roasted Chicken and Garlic Mashed Potatoes - but she did a really good job.  We topped the weekend off with a fun, loud visit from my brother and family.

Samantha and her cousins who are "fellow Directioners" as she calls them, meaning that they are fans of the band "One Direction".

 

Luke and cousin who are NOT "Directioners" as they will proudly tell you.

 

 And the campout? They had a good time, as always.

my blondest moment ever

Even though I have reached the point in life of starting to dye away the gray, I learned tonight that there is still a lot of blonde in me.  Samantha and I were at Target and I left the shopping cart at the front of an aisle for a minute.  When I came back it was gone and there was somebody elses cart there instead.  I was so mad.  I knew we could shop for our stuff again, but my list/my notebook/my lifeline was in that cart, not to mention our cute Disney shopping bags.  I figured if someone had taken it by mistake they had to see that stuff eventually.  Or, maybe they took it on purpose!  So we went to customer service and a very nice security guard walked around the store looking for it.  In the meantime I took another cart and starting filling it with the stuff we needed to buy.  At one point, on the other side of the store, I found our cart.  Again, boy was I mad at whoever took it!  And I thought it was quite a coincidence that the person had abandoned it at a spot where I had been shopping earlier.  Thankfully my list was still in it but the Disney bags were gone.  I indigently walked to the cash register and met Samantha.  By the time we got to the car the wheels had been turning in my mind.  Maybe it was more than a coincidence.  Yes, it turned out that I had left my shopping cart by accident and had taken someone elses and abandoned it on the other side of the store. (Sorry!)  And the Disney bags?  We had forgotten them in the car.