March Wrap Up...

This post is for the record.

March madness???...karch's braces off...high school volleyball began...tourneys every weekend...spring soccer started...spring break for greg's kids...greg enjoying a week off of work to spend with kids...full house...cuw luncheon...eagle board of review...steve's school musical...YM activities; snowboarding, camp outs, bb ym vs. leaders...sandon talk in church...anniversary...practices...games...taxes...

The beginning of Fridays at home or wherever I choose...

Mckay with his awesome leaders at his Eagle Board of review.

A Perfect Day

A 1st Anniversary!

One year ago today Greg and I were married.

I have had perfect moments in my life but never a whole perfect day...exactly one year ago I had that perfect day.

To be honest I had previously imagined celebrating a 21st wedding anniversary in 2009 not a 1st wedding anniversary. But things don't always work out the way you think they will. And when they don't you find yourself in a position to have something you never expected you would get, something or someone really wonderful. Basically it comes down to choices.

But back to that perfect day...the one thing that first comes to mind was how happy we felt the whole day...it was a feeling that surpassed any other feeling. The second memory was walking out of the temple and being surrounded by our children, family and friends. We felt so loved.

We wanted to keep our sealing/marriage simple. We really did not feel the need to go big. We had been there done that. Our daughters can have that privilege far down the road. But a wedding would not be a wedding without a great bouquet and some fun shoes.

I wanted a simple short dress. I did not want to spend a lot of money. I was thrilled when I found one that felt right. I then found some very impractical shoes that I loved. But it was when I was handed my bouquet as we exited out of the temple that I actually felt like a bride.

I also remembered that every time I looked at either Greg's kids or my own I felt a strong feeling of love for all of them. Greg and I continue to say how lucky we feel that all of our children get along.

I will always be grateful for the choices that we made, to put us in a place, which gave us the opportunity to have that perfect day.

As Greg and I celebrate being 1 year old in this marriage, I am amazed at the strength that I feel from Greg. I feel the joy of knowing that he loves me despite all of my quirks. I marvel at how you can really love children a lot that you did not create biologically. I feel a great sense of peace watching my own children adapt to a new "father like" figure in the home.

But I really want Greg to know is how much I love him. Happy Anniversary!

Happy Patty's Day

Can't believe it is already the 17th of March.

Today's notes:
Thought about getting green bagels for breakfast...did not happen.
At least 4 kids made it out the door in green. Mom did not.
Drove Karch to seminary 6:10am. (one of my favorite times to be with my kids)
Get all that have school out of house by 8am.
Drove middle school carpool.
Greg taking off work.
Work day for Michelle.
Andy in town for spring break. (Natalie & Steve arrive late Wed.)
Minimum day for McKay & Karch.
McKay asked to sign him out even earlier from school so he could spend it at beach.
Orchestrating pick ups and drop offs for kids from work. Answering texts from kids from work. (their preferred way of communicating)
Kenya no work or school, can pick up Karch from school. yeah!
Greg & Andy spend day hitting pure record stores looking for records. (Heaven for Andy)
Karch volleyball practice at 4-6.
After work making "Marlboro Man's" favorite sandwich and homemade onion rings from "Pioneer Woman" for dinner. Not very Irish but fills everyone up.
Homework Karch, Sandon and Kendall. ( for some reason McKay never has homework)
Smiling that Kendall does not have any practices today.
Thinking I should have a green dessert for St. Patricks day...key word is thinking.
Sandon's YM activity was cancelled.
McKay volleyball practice at 6-9.
Karch YM 7pm: leaders versus teachers & priests in basketball...there are already complaints from ym that it will be unfair without McKay
Kenya Lakers game: court side tickets with good friend Gina from Gina's father. Very fun.
Watch last nights 24 episode.
Try and do a load of laundry, clean up after dinner, finish cleaning laundry room (started 2 weeks ago), a walk, etc...the key word here is try.
Realize you are half way through your work week. Just 2 more days until Friday. Friday being the best day ever with not having to go into work.

***this is for my own record...wanted to note a semi-typical day give or take a few soccer, bb, vb practices...

Braces off!

One happy kid...

Before...

After...

Battle scar?

Kendall had her first soccer game of the spring season...

She took a souvenir of the game home with her...unfortunately it is on her face...

During the last quarter of the game she went to challenge the ball and her opponent kicked the heck out of the ball and it went directly into Kendall's face...it was one of those moments were everyone on the sideline became silent for a moment...because when the ball hammered Kendall it did so with a loud noise, her head went flying back and she dropped to the floor...

But to the surprise of everyone...after 5 seconds curled up on the ground, Kendall literally with silent tears popped up and played out the final 2 minutes of the game...

Her brothers would have been so proud...basically Kendall you rock...

If you look closely you can see the imprint from the soccer ball (it looks like a Y) and a few scratches...this morning (Monday) 2 days later, she is still wearing the mark from the ball...