What's Not to Love About Her....

You gotta love Kenzi... but here are my two reasons why today:

1. Just just got braces on and is so cute. They were fun (for about the 1st hour until they started hurting) and now she is just tolerating them. It will be fun to see how they work their magic.

2. I've always thought she was one of the most resourceful, creative kids I've ever met. The following scenario just reinforced that fact:

5:00 pm: Kenzi is out in front playing with the kitty... comes in and says how bad she feels for him now that the dog has kind of taken over. Takes him a bowl of milk.

5:10 pm: Disappears in her room for 1/2 hour.

5:40 pm: Comes downstairs with a note that reads "Please come to my room at 6:15 pm sharp!" Gives an identical note to Dave when he gets home from work.

6:15 pm: We go to her room, knock on the door and are greeted by a blanket tent draped over her loft bed.

Kenzi: "Hello. Please no questions until the end. I have been worried about the cat now that the dog has taken over. So I have a proposal. I think we should let the cat sleep in my room at night."

(Side note... I'm allergic to cats and Cam seems to be as well... not gonna happen in my house.)

She pulls out a notebook and proceeds to show us a drawing of how she would like to add a cat door to her window and will build a little deck outside her window. She explains the drawing and then pulls out a clay 3D reproduction of how it will all work.

"Ok... outside my door is a voting box (and it was handmade lovely voting box). You have one hour to put a note in the box that says yes or no. Thank you for your time."

Holy smokes, if we ever come up with a business proposal she is the one I am going to do the "sales pitch." Obviously the answer has to be no, but Dave and I were both broken-hearted to have to tell her that.

Her kind heart was breaking for her kitty, and her creative, "take charge" mind came up with a solution.

I'm still trying to come up with some great way to reward her for her ingenuity... any ideas?!

I Can't Believe she is Adopted...

I was just over at the Jr. High volunteering this morning and heard once again... "I can't believe she is adopted -- you look just like each other!"

The first time that really came up was when Lauren was in Kindergarten and I was pregnant with Cameron. Her teacher said she needed to talk to me and proceeded to tell me that she was a little worried about Lauren because she was going around telling everyone she was adopted.

"She was" I said, "and she is very proud of that."

Her teacher couldn't believe it and she looked at my fat belly and said she looks like you and acts like you.

I'd love to say that Lauren gets her athletic ability from me (which she is quick to point out that I run so funny and hates it if she sees me run... she was so embarrased at soccer once because I had to run across the field and she said please mom don't try to run) or that Kenzi got her musical ability from me (but we know that isn't true... especially if you have ever sat by me in R.S. trying to sing an opening song).

But it is ironic/interesting/not surprising that Lauren and I look alike and Lauren looks just like Rob's girls. Kenzi and Cameron have pictures when Cameron was about 2 and Kenzi 6 and their faces in a little cut out and I can't tell which one is which.

They say that married couples begin to look alike -- and I do think that you pick up mannerisms and dress from those you are around.

A friend of mine who is adopted was once told by his mom that after they were sealed she wouldn't be surprised if they did a DNA test and it came back that they had the same DNA.

Either way -- I am just so grateful that the 3 little miracle Hess kids somehow ended up togther whether we are "biologically related" and if we do or don't look like one another!

All About "Cameron"

Quotes from Cameron "King of the Week" poster for school:

• I am 6 OOPS 7 YEARS OLD.


• My favorite color is TURQOUISE.


• My favorite animal is a LEOPARD.


• My favorite food is PIZZA.


• This is what I look like (see above).


• DISNEYLAND is my favorite place.


• When I grow up I want to be AN INVENTOR.


• My favorite thing to do is SPEND TIME WITH MY FAMILY.


• If I had one wish, I would wish for NO HOMEWORK.

Have fun being the king this week... kind of guessing Addie Baker will be chosen to be his queen.

Great Ending Lauren, Jana and Millcreek

After the torrential rainstorm grand finale -- track is over.

Jana took 1st in District in the 100m and 200m -- Lauren did great and finished 8th in the mile and was the only 7th grader who qualified for the 1600. Their 4/400 team took 3rd (not sure what happened there -- they killed everyone at South End) and Millcreek girls took 2nd overall.

I don't think I've ever been so wet in my life... without jumping into a pool fully clothed. It rained and rained and poured and rained. The weather, along with the pressure of District, kind of wigged Lauren out and she begged me to stay on the field with her... and I did... for about an hour before her mile. So my great chair and shelter I brought just got wet along with me. It was very strange to watch kids run a race with their eyes shut so they could actually see!

Lauren loved track -- the competition and the social part both. Jr. High track really is quite the social event. Lauren even had some fans who weren't related try to endure a little bit of the meet -- I guess a crush can only stand the rain for only so long.

It is a lot of fun to watch her do so well in track and soccer. I guess part of my fascination is that I can't do either of those sports. Give me some skis or a volleyball -- maybe even a basketball, but anything with running and endurance is so very hard for me.

Before the 1600 she and the other Millcreek girls were sooo nervous. They were shivering and wet and just really wanted to quit -- and almost in tears. But it was great to watch her and Jana and the rest of them push past her fears and the cold and do what inside they knew they could do. I love that she is learning she can "Do Hard Things" and after the fact (after the long shower and hot dinner) she can look back and smile!

It's the Summer of ...

It seems like every year there is some kind of "theme" to our summer.

A couple of years ago it was a soccer, choir and biking summer (I think Lauren did 6 tournaments, Kenzi sang a ton and we did our Provo Canyon trip several times.)

Last year was the summer of Monopoly Deal -- we played at least 5-6 rounds every day for the entire summer. Every time Dave came home it seems like we were playing Monopoly Deal.

Not sure what this summer will be, but it just may be the summer of Lagoon.

After much hesitation, Santa brought us Lagoon Season passes. (4 of us... not Dave of course) Since then several of our friends have gotten passes so I'm kind of thinking we'll have some fun playdates and pass around the kids days to Lagoon.

We did our first 4 hour little trip to Lagoon and I have to say -- I enjoyed it. There is something to be said for not feeling like I have to stay for 12 hours to get my money's worth, for the kids feeling like they have to ride every ride at least once and their favorite at least 2x. We stayed about 3 1/2 hours, freaked out Cameron only a little, had a great time people watching (wow is all I can say -- I forget how sheltered my little Bountiful world is).

I'm not sure I'll feel the same way after a 100 degree day at Lagoon, but so far I'm ok with Lagoon being one of our Summer 2011 memories.

Good Job Lolo.. 5:43

• The South End track meet was Friday and Millcreek did great... as did Jana our super cute, ultra fast niece!!


• Jana took 1st (I think) in the 100m and 200m -- her relay team did well too. I'll be really surprised if she doesn't finish 1st or 2nd in the District Finals in both of those events.


• Lolo qualified to go to District Finals in the mile and beat the Millcreek 7th grade mile record. She was in a really fast heat (the girl that won was amazing!!) which pushed her and everyone else. Her goal is to cut off a few seconds from that record at District.


• Their 4/400 relay team dominated... didn't wait to see the final time ... but all 4 of them were amazing. She runs the 400 better in the team event than the individual and I think the 4 of them just push each other to go even faster.


• It is fun (and hard as a mom) to watch her push herself so hard. She did the mile, had a bit of a break then did the 400m. The 800 was the next race and she felt like she was going to barf so she and her coach decided to have her skip the 800m so they had a better chance at the 4/400. (I'm probably not the best one for her to see as she is finishing a race and wants to barf... didn't mean to be near the finish line at that moment.)


• With half of Lauren's soccer team, Jana and the Fergusons (Jana you can have him until Lauren is in college) there it was a lot of fun to cheer on someone in pretty much every race. Grandpa even stayed for the whole meet and Cameron would run down to the track to yell if he knew someone.


• Camille Johnson brought over these great pictures... love the intensity (and sick look on the mile ones) and Lauren as I said -- when you are 40 and have 5 kids I sure hope you still have those legs... if not just enjoy them now.


• Good luck Wednesday Lo...

Note to self next time I take a child someplace with a camera...

...always do your hair really nice and put on your make-up lovely ... oh well... too late!

Today Kenzi had a chance to film a Public Service Announcement/commercial about Music Education in school with 4 other kids.

I'm not sure the organization that put it out, but Kurt Bestor was the spokesman and the 5 kids sat around a piano with him singing and talking.

Kenzi had a lot of fun filming it and it was pretty low key. She knew one of the other little girls from "Power in His Touch" 3 years ago and the other kids and director and Kurt Bestor were all very nice. I love watching Kenzi do fake smiles and real smiles and just have fun with what she is doing.

So what does this have to do with me? Well, no one told the parents that they were going to be in the commercial too. (Side note... up until 2:30 pm today I was in my workout clothes and baseball hat. I took a quick shower, ran over to check Kenzi out of school and got her ready. I quickly did my hair (kind of) and put a tiny bit of make-up.)

They asked if would go in a classroom with Makenzie and pretend like I was a teacher and was reading with her. Not too bad, my head was down and I was just sitting there listening to her read.

If that wasn't bad enough they asked all of the parents to come on the stage during the last part and walk in while Kurt was singing to them and we would all look at each other and "have a moment." Of course Kenzi was standing next to him which put me right next to him too. And then since it was raining and they couldn't do the track scene they were going to do, they had the parents do this little basketball pass off thing.

Two of the other moms had no idea they were going to be on camera and the one said "at least you wore nice clothes." She was in a similar workout outfit I had been in a few hours before so I guess I had to feel more sorry for her than I had for me -- I did wear my favorite GAP pants that help me ok even when I have PMS.

That is the sacrifice of a mom... I spent all my time helping Kenzi look cute for the commercial ... as for me... oh well.

(And this wouldn't be so bad if whenever my family watches DOPEY from the Bishopric a few years ago they all tell me I am the worst actor in the whole thing -- but I'm pretty sure by the time they edit everything out for a 30 second commercial it will pretty much be the kids and Kurt Bestor.)

I love that I'm a good creation!

Ok... what a great Mother's Day morning.

Cameron has been following me around the house, rubbing my back, giving me foot massages and hugging me over and over.

Dave and the kids made me a feast-in-bed -- an omelete, fruit-n-yogurt parfait, pancakes, bananas, apples and pineapple.

The greatest cards and handmade "I will do for you" pictures, lovely jewelry from Lauren and gorgeous flower baskets from Dave.

I feel like royalty.

To top it all off this was part of Cameron's prayer this morning "and thank you for all of your beautiful creations and that you could make a mom as good as this."

Life doesn't get any better than this!!

I love Kerri!!

Ok... seriously Kerri... you are the best. You are profound, and kind, and deep, and spiritual, and fun, and beautiful, and smart, and sensitive and every day amaze me more and more. We are so blessed to have you in our family -- (I'm sure Grandma brags a lot about you in heaven!!!)

I love you Kerri!!!

(And for any other of my nieces that read this I love you too and could write a whole list of qualities you have too...)

Happy Late Birthday Cam!

Cameron turned a big 7 last week... how can this be possible? Just wanted to share a few things I love so much about you buddy!

• I love to listen to you pray. From being grateful for the prophet, to always blessing me that I'll have a good day at home and then always adding something new based on who is with us or how his day was, etc. You pray from the heart.



• You are so full of hugs and kisses and tenderness -- and you are becoming a great back massager.



• I love that even though you are a big softy, you love being tough too. As I tried to get you to take a sweatshirt to baseball the other night you told me in no uncertain terms "I'm not a girl, I'm a tough kid and I don't need a jacket." And you were so good to tough it out at school when you had a tooth infection and could have come home.
  


• I love how you tell me at breakfast while trying quiche for the 1st time "No mom, I really like it, I'm just really full this morning, this is great." (This is after pushing it around his plate for 15 minutes and only taking a couple of bites.



• I love how excited you are to learn .... math, baseball, wizard computer games, teaching the dog new tricks... anything.



• I love that you always try so hard to be good, choose good and do what you should.



• I love, love, love that 95% of the time you have no night terrors!!!



• And I even love how melodramatic you are in the morning when you can't wake up. Aunt Jenn would laugh at you... and be treated to a walk down bad memory lane... if she could see you.

Run Lolo Run...

When Lauren was in nursery another mom "affectionately" (or maybe not so affectionately some days) called her the Bionic Baby. At first I was offended, but then I decided having a lot of energy and zest for life was good. From the time she was baby when she was excited her hands would shake, everything was fun for her and she was always up to trying something new.

Hyperactive isn't how I would explain it -- she can definitely tone it down when she needs to and is very focused in school. I think metabolism has a lot to do with it as well -- that chick eats and eats and eats and is as little as a toothpick.

As she has grown up this hasn't changed. When she was younger in the winter I would make her go outside and play in the snow at least 1/2 hour a day because she would go nutty if she didn't expend at least a certain amount of energy each day. She has boundless energy, she can stay up until 11 or 12 and still get up for school or soccer in the morning (she is always begging me to play a game or watch Psych with her late at night).

She started track this year and she is doing fabulous!! As I was watching her run the mile, the 800, the 400 and 400 medley (all within about 1 1/2 hours) and never seeming to tire I remembered the "bionic baby" comment and decided it all makes sense. Our weaknesses really can be our strengths.

As a 7th grader she is finishing between 2nd and 5th in all of her races (expect high jump where she came in dead last and much to her relief her coach no longer makes her do). Their 4x400 team absolutely decimated the other teams and she was the only 7th grader on that team.

Another mom (who is also a teacher at the school and Lauren has been to their house several times) was talking to me at the track meet and was saying how fun it is to watch her because she makes it look so easy. (Although Lauren said she wants to throw up during the 2nd lap of the mile... then by the 3rd lap her energy kicks back in and came and told us before the 4x400m she just couldn't run any more -- so she popped a twix, ate some crackers and gatorade and then ran probably her fasted 400). She said one of the things she loves so much about Lauren is her energy and excitement for life!

I have to agree!!! How great if she can keep her energy and excitement for life as a student, a mom, a snow shoveling neighbor, maybe a missionary and everything else she will be doing in her life.

(Like other moms I just wish I could bottle up that energy and take just a little sip each day.)

His Sacred Name - An Easter Declaration

A New Hess Member... just not sure of her name yet

• Ok... so after an 8 year hiatus, Dave and I finally gave in and got a new 4 month old Bulldog/Pug. After Pugsley died and we were over the sadness, we found it kind of nice to not scoop poop, have dog hair on us and go out of town without worrying about "the dog."


• But every time we see the kids with someone else's dog I feel guilty that I am not giving them the memories, experiences and responsibilities of a dog. (Not that we don't love Max the cat... for a cat he is pretty ok... what other cat shares his room with all of the other cats and neighborhood racoons.)


• Some of my best memories growing up are of our dogs and I was feeling a bit selfish that I haven't been willing to let my kids have those memories too.


• Dave and the kids have been looking on KSL for months and have thought a 100 times that we had found our dog. Part of the problem has been agreeing on a dog. Long story short -- Dave found a bulldog yesterday (exactly what we wanted) and we all went to see her. Within 2 minutes of playing with her I knew I was outnumbered and Dave had already decided we were going to get her.


• After 2 ATM fiascoes (I had just about decided that meant we weren't supposed to get her) we loaded her up and took her home.


• So far -- she is great. She has gone potty (both kinds) outside in the same spot every time. She slept in her kennel all night long. She hasn't whined and I've only heard her bark once. We are only letting her be in the family room and downstairs and after Kenzi and Cam spending a few hours with her not letting her up the stairs into the kitchen she has been staying in the family room or basement. She doesn't jump on us either.


• The people who had her had 4 other dogs and it is pretty obvious they were pretty strict and trained her well. (Which is good cause I'm such a softy with puppies and would have a hard time being super strict).


• I'm sure we will have some chewed shoes, wet carpets, fighting kids, driving around in the car looking for her after the gate was left opened, and on and on and on... but for now we love Roxy, Luna, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Marley... or whatever we are going to call her.


• Her previous owners named her Lola... but since we already had a Lolo our first difficult challenge will be agreeing on a name!

Bi-Polar Weather Spring Break

After a perfect conference weekend, we spent a few more days at the cabin. Sunday night of games and Monday morning with the Wall girls (and yes Terri and I discovered we could never open a mechanic shop together).

Dave took work off Monday and we spent the afternoon at the Carl Bloch exhibit (Dave, Kenzi and Cam loved it... Lolo not so much) and buying some BYU "stuff" at the bookstore.

After a quick trip home for soccer and taking care of some parakeets, we headed back up for a few days with the girls' friends.

Tuesday was gorgeous and we did the "Multiple of 12 minutes at the Parks" in Midway and Heber. Several hours and an icecream trip later we spent the night playing games, enjoying the Kinect and hanging out in the snow at the cabin.

Wednesday afternoon was the best zoo trip ever with a psychotic monkey, magazine reading giraffe, very angry leopard and spending 1 hour in the giraffes/getting to watch the zookeeper feed them by hand.

Some swimming, two days of looking for dogs, cleaning for Grandpa, lots of movies/games, and a fun late night of snowman and fort building made for a fun spring break.

And who could forget dying Lauren's hair a little orange... note to self ... don't try to fix her sun-in next time!