Pomp and Circumstance

With great anticipation, as of today at 9 a.m., Kyler is a kindergarten graduate.  In true Aysen fashion I say, "Yessssssssssssssss."

We made it!  He made it!

Kindergarten was a challenge for this little boy.  He is not Taylei nor Keanna.  Another moment in life that taught me he is his own person.

At our first parent teacher conference his scores were TERRIBLE.  40%.  I almost fell out of my chair with shock.  I didn't expect him to be the brain surgeon of the class but . . .

Things progressed, homework was given, learning occurred and we ended the year with an almost perfect report card.

I will testify the greatest help to accomplishing this, a little thing called the Book of Mormon.  Our family scripture study isn't perfect but I believe in the promise that reading this book together as a family will teach a child to read.  This helped this little boy.

As part of graduation, Kyler was asked to make a poster.  His assigned topic, "flowers grow in the ground."  I was super excited about the assignment.  The creative juices were flowing.  We had an extremely busy week and I kept delaying Kyler and his desires to work on his poster.

I came home the day before it was due and found he had taken matters into his own hands with clouds, dirt and a sun.  I was hit with an internal brick.  This wasn't my project.  This was my son's project.  It wasn't about how creative I am.  It would be much more impressive to see what his beautiful mind would create.

I let go and let him take control.

He chose out the paper and I used the Cricut to cut the flowers for him.  He arranged and adhered them.  I cut leaves and stems.  He once again glued them in place.  I loved doing this with him.  He has so much talent bottled up within his head, I'm glad he had the opportunity to use it.

The results were magnificent.

Mrs. Larsen was an amazing teacher.  Kyler had 28 kids in the class.  Wow!

I helped in his class on Friday's and I would usually leave shaking my head, completely bewildered.  She let them do projects I wouldn't want to try with just one child, example - paper mache.  They learned how different cultures from around the world celebrate Christmas.  The list of going above and beyond goes on and on and on.

Mrs. Larsen did all this and NEVER raised her voice.  She didn't need to.  The students listened and responded to her gentle command.  I need to take some parenting lessons from her.

Her discipline system involved colored dots.  Each day a calendar came home with a dot colored for the day.  Green = good, Blue = warned but didn't correct behavior, Red = serious trouble.

I'm proud to report Kyler had one blue and all the rest green.  The blue dot was on the very first day the system was used.  We talked about respecting our teacher and following directions.  I'm glad Kyler adapted to the importance of this very quickly!

We once again enjoyed amazing support from our family as they came and watched him graduate.

(Why we had to have his popsicle in every picture I can not understand, why kindergarteners were given popsicles while in their Sunday best is a mystery as well.  I'm guessing this is another learning moment for me, something like seize the moment and don't fret about things a washer can solve).

With the recent change of address for Grandma Williams we also got to enjoy her presence.

I must take a moment to add how amazing she is and how much help she has been in our home.  I believe my children are praying against them having a timely completion of the remodel next door.  They love having her live with us, Grandpa and Jason are o.k. too.

Graduation pictures seem to be a great way to show growth.  I predict in the next graduation picture I will take the role of the shortest participant.  I'm not trying to wish any days away but these two boys are growing so fast, sooner or later they will pass me by.

The kindergarten class created self-portraits which were hanging on the walls for decoration.  I was in the classroom the day they worked on these and the personalities were shining through.  (I ended up loving all of the kids as well, each so different, each a spirit sent from heaven).  Uncle Jason was nice enough to agree to Kyler's request to attend and photographed the event for me.

I've always thought Kyler was a spitting image of my brothers but maybe he looks like his Uncle Jason as well -- they seem to have an uncanny resemblance.

Aysen spent a ton of time in Kyler's classroom.  He thought he was just as big as the students in the class.  He participated in stations, art projects and he even ran the Mona mile which is a pretty big loop around the playground.  Mrs. Wohlforth, the principal gave the students a flag.  Aysen was determined it was really his and by the time we made it outside we found Aysen had used his persuasion skills and convinced his father the kite needed to be flown sooner not later.

My little boys aren't so little anymore.  I'm so glad they are growing and learning but a few blinks and one year has past and then two and three.

As the words of the song so elequently express:  Time flies on wings of lightning; We cannot call it back;...life is quick in passing. 'Tis as a single day. ("Improve the Shining Moments," Hymns, no. 226).


And in the beautiful words of our holy prophet: Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It's so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they're gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of 'what if' and 'if only.' 

If I could only learn to live by those words.

Event occurred May 25, 2012

Thoughts in my Brain . . .

Today is the Sabbath.  My coveted, favorite day of the week.  I love the fact that most of the activities my family is usually involved in are not activities for this holy day.

I always have giant expectations for myself for a perfect Sabbath day.

Top of the list:  Blog.

With the amount of blogging on this site lately.  I profess failure.

I hate failing.

As of late I have spent a significant amount of time wondering about myself and my failures.

The list also includes: exercise, housework, meals, family time and even laundry.

Speaking of laundry, you should see the stack of darks in my closet, Andy was getting ready for church and wanted to know if we had any darks (washed, waiting in a laundry basket to be put away).  He was out of his 'preferred' black socks.  Two things about this struck me as funny.  One - I now know he has summer socks, winter socks and 'preferred' church socks.  Two - socks were the first clothing item he ran out of.  Maybe I should turn it into an experiment and see what he comes up short in next.

My deal with Lisa seems to be broken.  I check my blog daily.  I have great anticipation for updated reading material.  Plus, I have to check to see if she has blogged.  When nothing is posted I feel relief and sorrow.  No pressure for me to find a spare minute to write something but nothing to read either.  Bittersweet might be the correct word.

Today I was going to overcome the giant hurdle and get 20 posts finished.  Today I re-heated Taco Soup for lunch.  Easy.  Today I was Andy's home teaching companion.  Today I downloaded 600+ pictures from my memory card.  Today I felt literal stomach pain as I sat in my self-proclaimed spot on the sofa and checked the news and family web sites instead of diving into my blog, then glancing at the clock and seeing it was 7 pm.

I need to be grounded.

What is wrong with me?

I need to take control of my life instead of letting life control me.  Direction, purpose, drive but still willing to adapt to life's circumstances.

I told my children tonight we were going to, as a family, create some rules for the summer.  Scripture study, chores and rewards for success etc.

Keanna keeps begging for a workbook to complete during the summer.  She has chosen to do her first report on Australia.  Taylei will stay busy enough, maybe she should be required to do a book report each month, reading is not on her hobby list.  Kyler is hoping to have his dad help him build the chicken coop he designed tomorrow.  Aysen will have to be grounded from Curious George, the little monkey might need to be off limits for summer vacation.

Me - I still have my barn flower bed to plant.  Sod to finish preparing for.  Blogging.  Book reading.  Bill paying.  Laundry.  Classes to take in CS5 and maybe if I won't fall over dead I think I might try some form of exercise.

One day at a time . . . that is truly what I need to remember.

Tender Mercies

Today I must share my testimony:  I know my Heavenly Father loves me and my family.  

Yesterday afternoon I went to Juab Title.  I needed to work on monthly reports and reconciliations.  Aysen loves to be there with me, or loves the ice cream and has even realized the fridge is usually stocked with soda.  Soda.  I don't drink soda.  I don't like the taste.  The carbonation is terrible and I would rather spend the calories on so many better options.

He found a root beer and left it on my desk.  While he was sleeping for hours on my lap, I became thirsty and decided a sip would help satisfy my needs.  Wrong!

One swallow was all it took.  The headache began.  My migraines usually start with a dull pain and develop into something nasty over a few hours.  I ignored the ache, went home, toured the improvements at the house next door, and headed to the park to watch Keanna and Kyler play softball and baseball. By the time I arrived back at home my head was on fire.  The nausea had set in.  Death seemed easy.

Not good.

When this happens I go to bed.  Force myself to sleep and ignore all responsibilities.  I wake up the next morning with a hangover but usually cured.

Tonight I had a daughter who was relying on me.  This was not an option, she needed help her with campaign posters.  The posters were due today.

Not good at all.

After two hours in bed, I gathered myself together and prayed for a miracle.

When I made it upright I found the headache was functionable.

Let the work begin.

Taylei and I had only found one poster idea online.  The other inspiration was coming from the cute owls on my blog header.

I finished Poster Number 1 at 11 pm.  I asked Taylei if one might be enough.  Negative.  Even though she loved the final result she wanted two -- I would have wanted the same.

Taylei needed to go to bed, it was way past her bed time.  She approved my paper choice, left me a note of what she wanted the poster to say and she fell asleep with great hopes that when she woke up in the morning two posters would be ready for display.

I crawled into bed at 2 am.  My head not awesome but not terrible.  I finished Poster Number 2.  I hadn't let Taylei down.  This was important to me.  I want her to know she is loved by her mom and I'm willing to help her with any righteous desire.

I know she was praying for me.  I know Andy was praying for me.  I was praying for me.  Heavenly Father answers prayers.

This morning I'm left with the famous migraine hangover.  I'm planning to take a nap with Aysen and sleep the rest of it off.  I'm truly blessed.

About the election:  I don't know if Taylei will win, but I do know she will do an awesome job if she is given the opportunity to be a student body officer.  She is amazing, astounding, awesome, adorable and these are just a few of the "A" adjectives that describe her.

The Month of April

For some curious reason, I failed to blog in the month of April.  Utter and complete failure mind you.  April was an awesome and amazing month.  I met Senator Orrin Hatch while serving as a delegate at our county convention.  My littlest broskey Paul married Arianne in the Manti Temple (I made super cool edible center-pieces for the luncheon).  Kyler got a baby chick as a prize from an Easter egg hunt, the chick's name is Hatch.  I took dead last in my parents Easter egg hunt.  Andy accepted a call to be the new stake executive secretary.  Aysen has began to speak in 3-4 word sentences -- his first sentence, "Help, Stuck, Hand," when he couldn't get it out of the dishwasher.  Taylei and Keanna began taking crochet lessons and love learning from their 90 year old instructor.  Spring break.  We spent a few nights at my sister Mary Dawn's home and loved being pampered MD style.  Keanna played her first game as a Dirt Devil and loved the coach and team.  Aysen has advanced from just wanting to "feel" my hair in his hands, he now tries to tickle it on his belly.  Made a deal with my sister, Diane, to avoid candy, first one to crack owes dinner to the other party at an expensive restaurant.  Kyler began practice for the two different coach pitch teams for which he is a player (his dad coach's one).  Steelers 12u played in St. George and for the first time in their history went 0-4 -- only played Vegas teams.  Taylei was called to be the Beehive Class President.  Andy's parents sold their home in St. George and are now living with us while they remodel their home next door.  Our home was hooked into Mona's sewer system which added to our yard mess.  Keanna tried out for the Candy Shop Wars 2 "book trailer" and was chosen to advance to the video screening.  I conducted in Relief Society and gave a lesson with a focus on "Looking Up."  The month was amazing, I hope to add more details soon but plan on repenting once again and work on promptness in blogging for the month of May.