Memorial Day Weekend ... Very Memorable

We had a great Memorial Day Weekend this year (yes I realize it was over 6 weeks ago but better late than never.)

Lots of food, lots of cousins, Cameron's first time at golf, an intense volleyball tournament, Shrek 3 and lots of fun... but the best part had to be Katie and Rachel accidentally starting the tractor and then freaking out when it started to roll, and then promptly jumping off screaming at the top of their lungs.

Fortunately, Rob was at the cabin (everyone had gone on a walk) and he came running down and stopped it. Just glad it was the 15 and 19 year old that made it roll, not the 12 and 14 year old (yes Lauren and Jana that is you who started the whole thing but were just lucky that it didn't actually start when you tried it!)

Last Day of School -- I Wish Time Would SLOOOOOOW Down!

Sweetest Sister and Friend Ever.... And amazing kid!!!

Ok... so knowing my sisters they both think this is about them... and they are really are the sweetest sisters ever. But this post is not about them.

I was at Farmington Pool today with the kids and watched the sweetest sister and friend. There was a boy (probably 10-12) who had no arms and no legs. His cute sister and her friend (probably 14 or 15) were helping him float around the pool, flipping him over so he could practice face down and face up and lifting him on and off the edge.

While all of the other teenagers were flirting/playing and just being teenagers, these two cute girls took such good care of him. I didn't want to stare, but I just watched in amazement as the 3 of them played in the pool. Amazing kids... all 3 of them!

How Can You Tell Lauren Just Got Back from Space Camp

I love my kids' creativity. The play Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and Hunger Games (ok... not so sure I loved that one... but it was creative). They are really good about making their own fun.

Last night a few neighbor's came over for homemade icecream (Lauren's suggested recipe for Rocky Road icecream and it was really good). Throughout the night chairs, blankets, posters, coats and pretty much everything from the house was dragged out to create... Shuttle Mission.

There was a mission control board, walkie/talkies, medical units, etc. But my favorite part was looking over and seeing Luke and Cam walking around in "Space Suits" on the moon fixing a broken rover or something. I didn't end up getting great pictures because their space commander Lauren was giving them directions on what they were supposed to be doing.

.... Highly Recommend It!

Lauren giving us a tour... one of several Mission Simulation Rooms

The Newton Chair

Lauren's cute friend Mandy -- Got the Outstanding Camp Award

I design my own future. All that I want to become is available to me through:

• Determination

• Goal Setting

• Good Studying Habits

• Pride in My Accomplishments

• And Service to Others

Space Camp ended and was everything Lauren hoped it would be and more. Although Lauren loved the scuba diving, the 7-8 space missions they got to go on, the Newton chair, piloting the shuttle rescuing shuttles, building rovers, having massive group sleepovers (15 cots per room)... I think I was most impressed by the "Mission Statement" they would recite each day (listed above.)

Not only did they challenge the kids physically and intellectually, they were teaching them amazing principles. The director and all of the counselors knew everyone's names, they were positive, the kids were polite, they were busy literally 7am - 11 pm every day (she was a bit tired), and the food wasn't nearly as bad as she thought. (They didn't get snacks though and it about killed her.)

Couple of thoughts.

Picking up Lauren was so funny. They had a "graduation" and after they gave awards the kids came back to say hi to parents. Her friend gave her dad and brother a big hug, her dad kissed her, etc, etc.

Lauren on the other hand gave me a 1/2 arm hug and looked and Kenzi and Cameron and smiled. Hmm... either too cool or didn't really miss us.

On the way home I asked her why she had such a different greeting than Mandy did. Did she just want to be cool? Did she not miss us or ??

Her response. "Mom, you just dropped me off on Tuesday, it isn't like I could really get home sick!" Good for you Lolo!!!

Lauren wants to go back (and now Cam and Kenzi want to go to) and I would highly recommend this to anyone whose kids LOVE Space.

Monopoly Deal, Bike Ride to Hannah Holbrook or Tennis Anyone?

Does your family ever get on obsessed with anything? Well, so far this has been the summer of 3 things:

1. Monopoly Deal. Great game, fast, way better than playing Candy Land and geared for 8+ in age so we all love playing it. I can honestly say I bet we've played 50-100 games in the last several weeks. We've even gotten Dave to play a few times. Cam and I played at 10:00 pm last night and again at 8:30 am this morning.

2. Bike Ride to Hannah Holbrook. My kids have discovered the joy of taking off on their bikes and they love to ride up to Hannah Holbrook. Sometimes Dave and I go with them, but mostly they love to go on their own.

3. Tennis. All 3 of the kids have decided they love tennis. Cam and I "played" for an hour last night and he would have kept playing but I was tired. Kenzi always wants to take the rackets with us when we go to the park. The girls and I did a "girls late night" under the lights at 5 points ... that was great. Like skiing, I've definitely regressed over the years, but if anyone is interested we are always up for some company!

Lolo's 1st Time Away.... SPACE CAMP!!!

For as long as I can remember, Lauren has wanted to be the first person to Mars and wanted to start it out by going to Space Camp with Mrs. Trease. The cost and sending her off on an airplane to Atlanta when she is 12 seemed a little overwhelming to me.

When she was little if she tried to have a cousin sleepover she'd always end up coming home in the middle of the night caused she'd miss "her mommy" too much. I always worried she'd never make it to girl's camp or anywhere on her own.

Long story short... yesterday she headed off to a Space Camp in Ogden. It is Tuesday - Friday, they stay in cots (10-20 per room), have cute nerdy/space camp counselors, do flight simulations, go scuba diving, try gravity chairs, go to HAFB, hear from an astronaut and generally just have a lot of fun.

She let me know on Monday night as she was packing (and I offered to help) that "mom if I'm old enough to go away by myself for a week I'm old enough to pack myself." Smart woman...I love/hate that she is so independent!

This is her friend Mandy from soccer who introduced us to the Space Camp. I'm not sure Lauren would have really gone if she hadn't known someone.

She called last night and is having a fabulous time. Said everyone is nice, they had Pizza Hut for dinner and they were busy every second of the day.

Go Lolo!

Tara & Gavin Wedding -- Great Wedding... not your typical wedding weekend

Tara & Gavin... great wedding weekend.
In April we all enjoyed one of the funnest wedding weekends I've had. It started on Friday with a huge Mexican fiesta -- Mariachi band and all! Rico's fabulous catering and Jenn's friends made an incredible dinner. The Cottle siblings A-Z gifts were amazing (I've got to get the list) and who knew pinatas at a wedding dinner would be go great!

The wedding was beautiful... and of course Tara and I had the most tears. My favorite part was watching Lauren all day. She followed Tara and Gavin and took pictures, helped hold her dress and even went to Idaho to the open house. (I think she would have gone on the honeymoon if she could have! Which led to a very good mom/daughter chat.)

After the reception they had a dance... everyone loved the dancing including Grandpa. He got so carried away he actually fell. Jenn got it on video -- it was very funny and he handled the fall very well.

I am so grateful to have such a great niece that my kids look up to (and Gavin is now Cameron's favorite new person)! You two are great examples to all of us!


Cameron got Tara's garter and this girl caught the bouquet... he was so proud!

Lauren followed Tara and Gavin around all day. She held her dress, she took pictures, she even went to Idaho for their open house. If she had her way she would have gone on the honeymoon with them too! But there are not two better people for Lauren to idolize and following a cousin around the temple is a great place to follow.Awesome cupcake/cake.

Lauren and Jana

Cam & Kenzi had a great time dancing... everyone did for over 1/2 hour. Grandpa got into things and even took a tumble!!! But he was ok.Ok, so I wasn't the only one crying here.
The girls were mesmorized by Gavin & Tara's first dance.
What a cheesy family! Cam loved the fake mustache. Cottle, Hess and Stout Girls Cam and Gavin -- Cam's favorite new family member. About time we get some more boys! Everyone loves Tara. Beautiful Cottle Women! Aunt Sharron and Aunt Maureen -- the only two left f Fiesta the night before was so much fun! The bride and groom got their own pinata and the kids thought it was the best wedding dinner ever. The Cottle siblings did a great A-Z wedding gift. How Adam can be so spiritual and so trashy at the same time cracks me up. Everyone loved the Mariachi band... especially Rachel and the cute teenager guy.

6th Grade Graduation... My Favorite Part

Lauren my little baby (sniff, sniff) had her official 6th grade graduation today. Can I tell you how much I love, love, love her teacher?! Mrs. Higley is fabulous and Lauren had a great year.

They did a fun program, teary sentimental songs, and it was so funny to watch some of the girls burst into tears and fight back tears (and moms) and some of the boys rolling their eyes at the whole event.

Time to brag (or be a proud parent) for just a few minutes. Forgive me... but I was very proud of Lauren and need to document this.

• Lauren's Proudest Moment: They gave an award for the fastest mile run in 6th grade. They started by announcing the 3rd place winner -- Sam Perry. 2nd place winner -- Gavin Nadauld. You could just see the smile on the teacher's face and she announced the fastest 6th grade mile winner -- Lauren Hess. Lauren has been Gavin's and Sam's biggest rival for 3 years and you should have seen the look on her face when she got the award. I must say Dave and I were pretty proud too! It was cute because as the 3 of them stood on the front of the stage together a lady from the back yelled "Go Girl!"

• What should have been Lauren's proudest moment. Lauren receive all 3 of the possible certificates. The "grads" could receive a certificate of completion, 100% A/R and the Presidential Academics certificate. (The look at your grades, test scores and work for 4th, 5th, 6th grade and if you meet a certain level for all 3 years you get a Presidential Academics certificate.) Just a handful of the kids from the other 6th grade class got the Presidential Academics and not everyone from her class got it. (Which was a bit of pressure because most of the kids did in her class.)

I also loved the songs, the looks on their faces, You Raise Me Up (with violins and cellos) and the kids doing sign language.

Love you Lolo... wish I could have been a student like you at that age... and be 1/2 of the athlete you are. You are such a great example to your brother and sister.

Things don't always goes as planned... but this year it doesn't get better than this!

On Sunday I was thinking back over lots Mother's Days. I remember being about 14 and having to speak about mom's on Mother's Day. Well if you know me and my mom at all, I think I pretty much cried through it all.

I remember Mother's Day when I was at BYU Hawaii -- calling home and listening to all of the partying in the background thinking... for just this one day I wish I was home.

The first Mother's Day after my mom died was probably the saddest and funniest. Prior to that time, Mother's Day didn't depress me even though we hadn't been able to have kids. While my mom was alive I looked at it as a way to celebrate my love for my mom, even though I wasn't a mom. But after she died I decided as Mother's Day got closer I didn't have a Mother and I wasn't a Mother so I was feeling a little blue. I decided the best way to overcome the blues is to serve others. So I bought a potted flower and on the way up to my dad's for Sunday dinner Dave and I stopped by a Care Center to "brighten some mother's day."

Well... let's just say sometimes things don't got as planned.

We pulled in and Dave waited in the car. (He liked my idea, but thought it was a little nutty to just randomly go find some 'mom' and give her flowers and visit her so he offered to let this be own service/touching moment.)

I guess in my mind I pictured some beautiful old woman, lying in bed, tearing up when she realized someone remembered her on Mother's Day. Either she had outlived all of her children, or they were out of state and she was so hoping for a visit and flowers that day. She and I would have this "instant bonding" and I'd know that my thoughts and efforts were an answer to someone's prayers.

When I walked in I discovered I had probably picked the dirtiest, oldest, ickiest care center in SLC. (I had just looked up an address that was on the way to Bountiful.) I cheerfully walked up to the front desk with my flowers and sweetly asked the receptionist if there was a patient that didn't get any visitors from her kids today and would like a flower and a visit. "No." was the response I was given in a cranky, irritated voice. "But you can leave them here and if I think of someone I'll give them to them."

No "Oh, how thoughtful." "You are wonderful and you are going to make so and so's day!"

Just a "No."

I left the flowers and dejectedly walked back to the car. I'm sure my face said it all as I explained that not even in this dumpy care center was I wanted on Mother's Day.

I'm not sure what Dave said, but I do think by the time we got to Bountiful I was laughing and realized that I could feel sorry for myself if I wanted to, but why would I want to.

I can honestly say I think that is the only time in my life I haven't liked Mother's Day. This year was definitely high on the list of great Mother's Days.

• A gorgeous yellow and gold necklace, with a beautiful gold heart! (With the perfect pattern Cameron so carefully designed. The blue plastic chain added to the beauty.)

• A money flower card made from dollar bills, quarters and a gold dollar. (Lauren is so clever and LOVES to give gifts.)
  

• A beautiful picture and yummy cookies in a jar. (Kenz was so proud of her work.)
  

And.... lots of homemade cards from the kids. Can it get any better?!