Flashback Friday-Rise and Shout

This is pretty random, but I have some catching up to do from the last year. We are missing football around here, so here's a blog to help us get through.

Last September our Cougars were less than 5 hours away in Tulsa, OK. We could not miss the chance to see them play! We arrived early in order for us to enjoy the pre game pep rally in a nearby park. The boys got their faces painted, we purchased more game day gear and stocked up on a few posters for the BYU room (I'll have to blog about that later). We managed to get a few pics with Cosmo. The game was exciting, but the Cougars took a hard loss that night. We plan to take a trip back to Texas to see the TCU game this fall. We're hoping for another great season. Go Cougs!

Vitamins

One of my fears about blogging is that one of my former English teachers, high school or college, will come across my blog. Writing was never my best subject and I feel as if I have each of them sitting on my shoulder every time I post.

Anywho . . . .here's a cute story about "vitamins."

Just before we walked out the door to drop the kids off at the neighbors and enjoy a nice dinner alone, Ethan and Gavin ran into the kitchen shouting, "Mom! You forgot to take your vitamin today!" In their hands was this month's packet of my "Pills." (as in the Pill, yes with a capital P) And sure enough on the column that was labeled Friday, there was still a pill in its place. I keep my packet right behind my bathroom sink faucet where I will see it every night. They instructed me that I needed to take it, right then and there. And so I did. I appreciate my sons making sure that I get all the nutrients that I need. Even better, Gavin asked if he could have one. He quickly dropped that idea when I informed him that these vitamins were only for girls and that he might turn into one. Later that night I joked with myself that they were little "reminders" on so many levels!

Joking aside, Mother's Day has recently come and gone, and what a celebration it is for me personally! It was a great day of reflection on the five most wonderful blessings I have been given in my life (my husband and 4 adorable kids). I celebrate the fact that I get to perform all of those job titles that fall under the ultimate title of "Mother."

My Mom ROCKS!!!

It is the Friday before Mother's Day, oh what do I blog about? I could blog about the fact that my husband is leaving town for the third Mother's Day out of the last four, but why go there? No big . . it's not the first time, and I know it won't be the last. I think I'll talk about my mom, of course, and why I think she should be "Mother of the Year" for the 32nd year running. I know Steph just blogged about her birthday, but it's Mother's Day (and mine is better--just kidding!).

Proving that once you're a mom, you're always a mom, she has bent over backwards (in some cases literally) to serve her family and put her kids first. Last Fall she took a quick and unexpected trip to New Jersey to help Kim when she broke her foot and wasn't supposed to go up and down stairs. Either right before or right after that (I've had a baby since then, so I've lost a few brain cells and can't remember) she surprised me and came to Arkansas for a week. It so happened that the night before her surprise, I had a HUGE meltdown. What better therapy than to have your mom come stay! She's taken several trips all over the nation to see all of us and three of those trips were to come help with new babies. FORTUNATELY, she came and stayed for three weeks when Austin was born. I still don't know if she knows what a major relief that was for Rob and I. You would think that would have exhausted her, but shortly after that she went to Utah for another TWO weeks to take care of her own mom recovering from back surgery.

My mom is my hero, she is my friend. She is my mentor and teacher, still. I still cannot decorate a room, get my haircut, buy clothes, or even raise my own kids without wondering, "What would mom do?" She has faced some challenges this year and I hope I can face the same ones with the grace and strength she has. I don't think she realizes this, but she has paid me several compliments lately (about my hair, kids, my home). Those compliments mean THE WORLD to me when it comes from my "hero-mentor-mother." Even though I can't walk in the door after school anymore to a batch of warm cookies and my room cleaned for me, my mom STILL manages to give me the same "warm fuzzies" as her grown-up (well?) daughter.

Love you Mom! Happy Mother's Day!

The Pillar Killer

Thanks for the tag Aunt Stephanie! Here are 7 things about Miss Lindsey Kate:

1. She has been nicknamed "Pillar Killer" recently because she loves to play with caterpillars or "pillars" which ultimately results in the poor insects' deaths.

2. We can get her to eat anything if we offer Ranch dressing or ketchup with it.

3. She has the most beautiful big GREEN eyes.

4. She sings ALL day. The other night she sang "Amen, amen, amen!" all throughout our family prayer.

5. She is the ONLY girl in her family, sandwiched between two older sports-a-holic brothers and a baby brother.

6. She LOVES her brothers dearly. She misses Ethan and Gavin while they are at school. She mothers little Austin as she makes sure he has his "mankey" (blankey) and his "pap-eye-er" (pacifier).

7. Inspite of the fact that she is surrounded by so much masculinity, she is 100% GIRL!

We tag Nana and anyone else who might read this post. How about Carson C. or Davis C.?

A Different Perspective

While I'm taking a quick break from laundry, I thought I would share what happens when the kids get a hold of the camera when your not looking. I just found these pics on my camera the other day.