Only for a season

I was driving (because that is just about all I do every afternoon--I think I am secretly in a competition to see how many times I can get into and out of the car in one day) when I heard a familiar song on the radio...not one of those songs that are on multiple times a day, but a familiar song from years past.  That song brought me back to a time long ago.  A time of college classes and crazy roommates.  A time of late nights studying and early morning walks to campus.  A time of heart break and new opportunities.  A time of new friends and demanding teachers.  A time that is almost magical in my memory.  It's amazing how one song can bring back so many memories. 

That one song got me thinking about all the people who have come in and out of my life over the years.  There are so many fabulous people I have known.  Some I haven't talked to or maybe even thought about for over ten years and some I catch a glimpse of on facebook once in a while.  Then there are those who I just know if I saw again, we would just pick up where we left off with fits of endless laughter.  It's interesting to me that these amazing people came into my life for a season and now they are gone.  They helped me through some personal struggles, they made life infinitely more fun, and they helped make me who I am today.  Now we live separate lives possibly on other sides of the world--who knows.  But I have a piece of them inside me.  I am grateful to have met them.  I am grateful that they made my life better, that they made me who I am today.  I hope they carry a piece of me as I carry a piece of them.  Even more, I hope that one day our paths may cross again and we can be friends once more

Me back in my Rick's College (BYU-I) days

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Pinewood Derby

Before the big event (which I couldn't actually attend, since Kya had a softball game), I was very against the Pinewood Derby.  I mean, isn't it really just for the dads?!  The boys couldn't do much of the actual making of the car--except for decorating it, and some boys didn't have dads that knew anything about wood working.  

But when Tyson came home, he was so excited and had so much fun.  I think the leaders did a great job of making all the boys feel good about their cars and have a fun night.  Tyson's car came in 6th out of about 18, so he felt pretty good about that (although only the top 3 got trophies, which he was disappointed not to get), but he got to win quite a few races. 

I think I may have changed my attitude a little....maybe we won't boycot it next year after all:)

So much baby:)

I honestly never thought I would be pregnant again! 

 Every day I feel so blessed to have this chance to bring another little baby into this world.  

This weekend I had the chance to celebrate with some of my new WA friends. 

My friend Kay was so sweet to throw me a baby shower!!

 So much yummy food!

So many great ladies!!

 So many adorable gifts!

 And so much belly:)

My Absent-Minded Professor...I mean husband.

You know those characters in movies that are brilliant, yet chronically absent-minded?  Well that is my husband...and we never let him forget it.  He has a mind full of smarts, which doesn't always leave room for those every day things that he seems to always forget.  This weekend, he had not just one, but TWO absent-minded moments...so I have to share:)

We had to pick up some furniture, so Mike rented a pick up truck on Saturday.  I drove him to pick it up, and he said "don't leave until I've done all the paper work."  I then said, "just make sure to come tell me before you leave."  He chuckled and said "wouldn't that be funny?"  So I waited, for what seemed like forever.  I sent a text "are you almost done?" and got no response.  I waited longer, still not done.  Finally I called him, and guess what?  Yeah, he already left and was on his way home!!  Seriously?!  I JUST reminded him. 

Next one was even better!!

Sunday morning, Mike had an early meeting, so he had to drive himself to church an hour before the rest of us.  So, I drove the kids and we enjoyed our three hour block of meetings.  After church was over, I looked all over for Mike and couldn't find him.  I knew some friends were coming over straight from church so I thought, I would just take the kids home and Mike could drive himself home as soon as he was done.  Well, apparently he saw us driving away and while wondering why we left without him, scrambled to find a ride home.  When he got home, we reminded him that he had his own car at the church...parked right in front of the door--how did he not see it?!  So, he had to get a ride back to the church to pick up his car:(

While sometimes, it's annoying when Mike forgets those day to day things, sometimes it is just plain FUNNY:)

Seriously Mom?

I remember the first day I dropped my oldest off at Kindergarten.   But more than the drop off, I remember picking her up.  I was so excited to hear everything she had done in the SIX hours she spent away from me....after all, I was used to knowing, seeing and experiencing just about every minute of every day with her since the day she was born.

First Day of Kindergarten

 

I found out, as a lot of other moms have found, that there is a huge gap between what you want to hear, and what they actually tell you!  I wanted to hear a play-by-play of the entire day.  What did you do first?  Then what?  What friends did you meet?  What were their names?  What was your teacher like?  What art project did you do?  How did you feel?  Were you home sick?  Did you eat your lunch?  Did you get lost?  Was anyone mean to you?  I wanted to hear it all.  But what I got from my little normally-talkative 5 year old was more like this "It was so much fun!"  The end.  That's it!!  Nothing else!  Now, when she was five, I could ask a lot of questions to get to the bottom of things.  I could ask her just about any of the questions I had and she would usually answer, unless she was busy playing or just plain tired.

Playing at the big-kid playground

So, fast forward 8 years and we get my now 7th grade, 13 year old daughter.  And, guess what?  I still have all those same questions...and then some.  Only now, my response from my teenager about how her day was is usually "fine."  The end.  That's it!!  She will usually humor me with answering a few questions, but it only takes about 2 or 3 and she's rolling her eyes asking me why I am asking a million questions.  Gosh.  Don't get me wrong, there are some times she comes home just bursting with information and I LOVE it.  But sometimes, I just want to know more.  I guess I am just nosey:)  I just want to know every detail of her life, but I can't.  The older they get, the more time they spend without me.  I just need her to fill in the gaps.  Good thing we still have five more years before she graduates and leaves for college.  Wait....ONLY FIVE MORE YEARS?!  How am I going to do this?

7th Grade, and so grown up!!

The Future Careers of Mr. Tyson

Tyson:  "Mom, there are some things I like about being a boy and some things I don't"

Mom:  "What are some of the things you don't like?"

Tyson:  "I don't like that I will have to go on a mission for two whole years, or pass the sacrament at church, or work all day and not get to see my kids"

I'm not sure why, but that last thought of Tyson's has been on his mind lately.  Here are some of the careers Tyson has wanted...lately:

Lawyer--until we told him that he'd have to read and write a lot in law school:)

Doctor--this one comes and goes (because he knows doctors make a lot of money).  But he only wants to be a doctor of something "not gross" like shoulders or knees...definitely not a doctor that delivers babies or works with the stomach or intestines:)

Bookstore Owner--last summer I listed to Tyson and his cousin Ben talk about building a store (in Ben's back yard) and selling all their old books....a few problems with this plan:)

Coffee Stand Owner--since moving to WA, Tyson has seen a lot of drive-thru coffee stands.  He thinks he would like to build one of his own, be his own boss, and make a lot of money selling coffee, because everyone drinks coffee (strange, since we don't drink coffee)!

Farmer--just recently Tyson told me that he wanted to own a farm, so he could grow all his own food, kill all his own animals for meat, and not have to buy anything from the store.  Although, today on the way home from school he said "I really want to have a farm, but I don't want to do all that work"

Work at Microsoft--of course, Tyson wants to be like his dad.  He wants to make video games...and play them all day:)

I wonder what my little boy will actually choose to be when the time comes.  Whatever it is, I'm sure he'll be fabulous at it!!

Here he is with the cake he made for the Blue and Gold Cub Scout activity.  It was supposed to be a wolf print, but it turned out more like a Blue's Clues print:)

These days, it doesn't take much

Before I had kids, I was not really a crier...at least as far as I remember:)  But since kids, I have been guilty of crying at commercials, movies, songs...and the list goes on and on.  Lately I have noticed that my crying trigger has become even MORE sensitive.  Here's some evidence:

I cried while watching the series finale of iCarly...iCarly...seriously.

I cried reading over an old talk I gave while preparing for my RS lesson.

I cried when I heard U2s "Where the Streets Have no Name" in the car today (ah, the memories).

I cried when I dropped Kya off on her 3-day camp out (and I just about cry every morning when I drop the kids off at school and watch them walk away...no lie)

I cried while telling my sister that I cried during her little baby's blessing.

I think I'm a little overly sensitive these days!  I think it might have something to do with the fact that I am going to be a mommy again.  At least I still am not breaking down in tears in public...although I still have a couple months of pregnancy to go;)

Awkward/Amateur Selfie

(How can that belly get 2 months bigger?!)

Softball in WA

I can't even tell you have happy Kya was when she put on her new softball uniform. 
She has missed it!! 
I think she may request to play fall ball this year as well as spring--yikes!

Her second practice was today...in the pouring rain. 
She didn't mind one bit. 
So happy to see her doing what she loves:)