Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Go Thunderbirds!


Devynne applied to and was accepted to Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah. We are very excited for her because this was the school she had her heart set on. Her plan is to become a 3rd grade teacher and we hear that SUU has a great teaching program and she really likes Cedar City (I can't blame her). Wow, I still can't believe I have a near college aged child. Crazy!!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Dakota is 13!!


Today is Dakota's birthday. I can't believe he is 13...where has the time gone? We celebrated his birthday this past weekend. He went to the skate park with his friend Brian and then came back home for pizza. We had a family dinner in honor of Dakota and Steve made his favorite food (orange chicken and home made egg rolls). We also made Dakota an ice cream cake (chocolate cake with oreo cookie ice cream) as per his request. I think he had a great weekend.

D-Darn funny
A-Actor (and very dramatic)
K-Kind
O-Obviously handsome
T-Totally smart
A-Affectionate and loving

Happy Birthday Dakota!! We love you so, so, so much. :)





Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Homecoming

This past Saturday was Homecoming for Eldorado H.S. Devynne went with Ryan and Dylan went with Patience. They both had a great time. Devynne's group went to dinner, the dance and then down to the strip and saw a movie. Dylan's group went to dinner, the dance and then to Ryan's (different from Devynne's Ryan) house for games and fun. We took a few pictures at home, then we were off to take pictures of Devynne's group and ended with taking pictures of Dylan's group. Here you go. :)














Thursday, October 15, 2009

Best Gift Ever




I bought both boys a rubics cube for Easter and they just love it. They work on their cubes constantly. Dylan mastered it several months ago and Dakota is close. I never know where I'll find one laying around each day. On this particular day I found one on the chair and one on the kitchen stool. It's a great little gift that they spend hours on at any given time or place. There you have it, one of my recomendations for a great little gift. :)

Friday, October 9, 2009

This Mother and Daughter

When I was a teenager I never thought about mother/daughter relationships and how complex they are. Now that I am a mother of a teenage daughter I am blown away with how complex this relationship is. It's unbelievable how loving someone can feel like such an emotional tug a war.

Devynne is smart and funny and strong and loving with dreams and goals and can frustrate me to tears. Not only can I be frustrated with her, I get frustrated with myself and how I react to her. There are times where I feel like I'm really doing a great job of being her mom and other times I feel like I'm terrible at it. There are times where I loosen the grip on the rope and let her be her own person and other times I feel I need to pull her back. I want her to do things the way I think she should and that's not right. She is her own person and has been given the gift of being able to make her own choices and mistakes. She also then gets to learn her own life lessons as I have and still do. She is an amazing person and has lots to learn and I need to let her learn for herself while still being in her corner with tons of support.

I also need to figure out the balance between when she wants and needs me and when she doesn't. There are times when I try to give my advice or ask questions and she doesn't want it whatsoever and I get "you're always lecturing me" or "you never let things go" or "stop being in my business" and then other times when I don't say anything she's upset that I'm not saying anything. Very complex, like I said. I sometimes feel like I don't say the right things or do the right things. It's kind of like we want the other one to be a certain way at a certain time and we don't always match up.

I also am now realizing more than ever that she values other people's opinions and thoughts more than mine (maybe not more but as much... or maybe more). She doesn't need or want me around as much anymore either. I need to be ok with that. My struggle will be not letting myself be hurt by it. She will value the opinion of others throughout her life and she will love many people throughout her life and she will need different people at different times and that is a good thing. It doesn't mean that she will value or love me less. I will always be her mother and I will always love her through good and bad and I know she knows that. For the most part we have a great relationship and I'm hopeful that we will continue to have one. She is my only daughter and she is very special to me. A wise sister once told me that you keep your children by letting them go, I'm now realizing it is time to start doing that and it's not easy for me. I know the kind of mother I want to be and I definitely have work to do. I just hope she's patient with me. :)

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Favorite Thing to Do....Not!



The first of October is the time the kids "get" to seed pomegranates. They do the seeding and Steve makes the jelly (with a little help from me). It is probably their least favorite thing to do ever, however, they do it every year (with the ever so counted upon amount of moaning and groaning). They are good little munchkins. Oh, and Haley helped this year. Thanks Haley, you're a good friend munchkin. Notice the happy expressions on their faces. :)



Friday, October 2, 2009

October



Some of the reasons why I love October:

Cooler weather
Having the windows open
Halloween
Dusk comes earlier
Smell of pumpkin and spice
Autumn colors (even though their inside my house)
The beginning of the holiday season
Hot chocolate is not too far away
There's an excitement in the air because the season is changing
Homemade soup

I love these things. The other day Steve even said that he is wanting to make pumpkin bread (yummy). I just love this time of year. The atmosphere just feels different when you walk outside. Halloween is upon us and crisp air is just around the corner. I had the windows open 2 days ago with a wonderful breeze blowing through the house and Dakota came home from school and said "Mom, I love the smell of October". I replied, "I know exactly what you mean". :)

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Boy Scout Fun

Last night was a Court of Honor for Dakota's scout troop. Dakota earned his "1st Class" rank advancement and 9 merit badges. We're very proud of him and the work he has put into scouting. Some of those merit badges were earned at scout camp in June. They went to Camp Fiesta in San Diego and had the "best time ever". Dakota's scout leader gave the boys a CD with a ton of pictures from that trip and I choose a few to share. :)

Last night receiving his awards from Br. Crist.




San Diego Temple


Camp Fiesta