First Day in a New School

My alarm goes off really early, the sound familiar yet strange as I have not set this alarm for almost three weeks now.  Our move right after Christmas, the end of a semester, and today is finally the first day of school for my kids.

I have loved their long break, giving us time to unpack, mostly, and get a little more situated into our new home; but I am also ready for the routine.

Soon we are all up, reading scriptures together, saying family prayers and then it is time for Lucas to get ready for school.  His school begins more than an hour earlier than the grade school.

He refuses.

Laying on the couch, stating he is not going.  His anxiety in overdrive.  We try to find words of comfort, try to reassure him the best we can.  I believe a few threats were thrown in there as well.

Finally, he rolls off that spot on the couch and begins getting ready.

My stomach is in knots.  I try not to show my anxiety, my fear.  Try to be full of reassurances and positivity, when in reality I am dying a little inside.

I am praying with all my soul, that someone will reach out to him, someone will befriend him; someone will help him not feel lost or overwhelmed.

It is hard, as a parent, sending your kids off.  Knowing all too well that you will probably never fully know what is going on in their lives; just trying to trust that you did your best teaching them, empowering them, setting them up with tools to succeed.

We get in the car, ten minutes later than I wanted to leave.  He seems mostly calm now.  We quietly chat, mostly nonsense, and then arrive at his school.  "No, no" he mutters.

"You will be great.  I will be praying for you." I assure him.

He says a few extra byes as he gets out of the car and I drive away, not looking back.  I think if I did, I would have lost it.

Please let the kids be nice to him, please let his teachers help him adjust moving into a new school halfway through the year.

I arrive home to find Alex and Ryder both all ready, well before it is time to go.  If Alex is nervous she isn't showing it, mostly excited, which helps buoy her little brother.

When it is finally time to go, we talk to school together.  The crossing guard near the schools asks if we are new as he has never seen us before.

We go into the office to find out what rooms they are in, one of Alex's friends from church comes into the office and gives Alex a big hug and assures her that her teacher is awesome.

We find Ryder's classroom and then Alex's, on opposite ends of the school on different floors.  They both seem calm and excited.

I say my goodbye and this time can look back.

Now I am home and the house seems so quiet.  My kids constantly on my mind.

Please let the kids be nice to him, please let his teachers help him adjust moving into a new school halfway through the year.

First Days are hard.

A Week of Lasts

Today it hit me.. the reality of it all.  I think I have been living in denial a bit.  We are moving in less than a week.

This is a week of lasts.

My kids last day of school.

Our last time attending our local church ward.

Our last time enjoying the warm California Winter weather.

Our last time having the kids come down the stairs in this house Christmas morning.

This morning, it hit Lucas hard.  He is having a wonderful school year and has made some great friends this year.  Today being, the last day of school here is not easy.  Once it hit him, that is when my bubble burst and the reality of it all hit me too.

I truly do believe this move is the right thing for our family... but today, today it is just hard.  Today is going to be kind of a sad day.  As I tell my kids, it is okay to feel sad about the move, it is okay to be nervous about it, and even a little scared; but we must also never forget that we know it is what is right for our family, and while that doesn't take the sadness away, it can be that little glimmer of peace and hope.

Soon we will have a week of firsts.

Our first snowfall.

First days at new schools.

First time meeting new friends and neighbors.

First time starting new traditions in our new home.

And we will do it together as a family, as that is what we do.

To this week of lasts, you truly are so bittersweet- but we will endure, we will enjoy, we will cry a little and maybe a lot, but in the end we will come out strong and ready for new adventures.

A Big Announcement

Life can be funny.  Sometimes when you aren't looking for something, aren't seeking something- it can find you.  That is what happened to our family this year.

My husband was happy at work.  Got along great with his coworkers, wasn't working too far from home, things were good.  Then one phone call changed it all.  An old boss, friend and mentor- called Eric up and invited him to come work on a really big construction project with him.   Our first thought, was no- things are great and the timing is awful...but then we couldn't stop thinking about it.  It would be a great opportunity and it would mean living close to a lot of family.

We weighed the pros and cons, we did research, and we especially prayed about it.

So what is the big announcement?

At the end of the year, so yes in just a few weeks, we will be moving to Utah.

It has been a whirlwind since we made the decision.

Eric and I went to Utah one weekend and looked at 21 houses in one day (our realtor was a superstar)!   We looked at 5 of the them again a second time, narrowed it down to 2, and in the end it came down to the schools.  We put in offer in on one, and by the end of the day they had accepted.

We are currently under contract, and that is just so crazy for me to say and think.

It really is a bitter sweet move.  We have lived in our current home for 6 1/2 years.   For most of our married life, we had not lived in one place for longer than 2 1/2 years, so this felt like an eternity here- a good wonderful eternity.

Ryder had just turned 1-year-old when we moved here.

Ryder on the moving boxes from our last move 

Lucas started 1st grade here.

Alex has done all of her school, up to this point, here.

We will miss our friends, the weather, the beach.   We will be trading our boogie boards in for sleds; our flip flop and sandals for winter boots and gloves.

But we are excited, and know it is the right thing for our family.  Looking back, it truly is amazing to see all of the hundreds of little pieces that have lined up in order for this to work out.  I truly do believe that if we let God direct our lives, that He will guide us to what is right for us at the time.

I am excited for new adventures, I am excited to be close by family, and I am even excited to see my first snow fall in many years.

To all of my friends here in Southern California.  Thank you, thank you for making this a wonderful place to live, thank you for being there for me and my family.  You will be missed.

And to my Utah friends, especially so many who I know because of this blog-- let's plan a lunch date!

Giving The Shirt Off Your Back

This morning I gave the shirt off my back, literally, and it cost me.  It cost me a lot.

Let me back up.

Today is Halloween.  A day filled with parties, costumes and way too much candy.  It is all Orange and Black day at our elementary school.   Gone are the days of dressing up in your costume and the costume parades, instead they can wear orange and black Halloween shirts.

I have my one Halloween shirt with three cute little pumpkins that I wear once a year.

Alex had a shirt last year, Ryder did too... Ryder's shirt still fits him.  Alex's apparently did not as we got rid of it during our summer closet clean out.  Only I forgot that.

So this morning, when we went to look for her orange and black shirt she did not have one.  Orange isn't really a color red heads wear a lot, so not only did she not have her Halloween shirt, but no orange shirts at all.

I gave her the shirt off my back.  The one I was already wearing that morning.

Off she went to school as happy as can be.

I decided I would run to the store to buy a new orange and black shirt for myself so that I could be ready for the day and helping out in my kid's classroom parties this afternoon.

I went out to the car, phone in hand when somehow I bumped my arm and my phone went flying.  Landing hard on the concrete driveway.

I hurried and grabbed my phone, the damage was done, the screen was shattered.  Did I mention I am getting a new phone on FRIDAY!  Yes, just days away from a new phone.  I texted Eric in a panic, asking him if I should go to the Apple Store, as I am selling this phone to my sister-in-law.

He set the earliest appointment for me, on Thursday, but I went over to the store anyway hoping for a miracle.

Now as I sit here typing this, my screen is being replaced and will be done at 12:30, for the cost of $149.

This morning, when I gave the shirt off my back, well it ended up costing me dearly.  But I would gladly do it again, as I would sacrifice anything for my children.

Next time I'm just not going to drop my phone in the process.

Parenting A Teenager

This Sunday will mark a major milestone in both me and my son's life, he is going to officially be a teenager, and yes that does terrify me a bit.

I remember the teenage years, the anxiety about peers, about boys, some of the really stupid choices I made.  Every once in a while I will recall a specific memory and how I felt, which as awful as it is, I am so grateful for.

Grateful that I have those little glimpses back into my teenage brain that definitely did not process, or reason through things like I do now.  That teenage brain where the bad moments truly can feel like the end of the world and everything is so much bigger and more important than it probably really is.

I am grateful for these glimpses so when my son does things that just baffle me, I can remember, and I can have compassion.  I still need to be his parent and try my best to knock some sense into him, but in a way filled with love and understanding.

These are a few things I hope I remember along the way:

--To really listen--
    We all want to be listened to, want our voices heard, so I need to listen, even if he is droning on about video games or something I have no interest in.  It matters to him, and he matters to me, so I try to listen.  That way, when it comes to the big things, he will know I listen to him, so he will hopefully come talk with me.

--To have some fun--
    The teenager years, as dreaded as they were, were also a lot of fun.  I need to try and enjoy these years now as a parent.  My mother-in-law always says the teenage years were her favorite and she loves teenagers.  I think she truly does, but I think she truly does and did because she told herself that so much until she believed it and lived it.  If we go into it thinking it is going to be awful, well it will.

--To Parent--
   While we have that fun, I still have to remember I am the parent, and yes I do reason and think differently now and have a greater perspective than my son does.  So it means setting limits, saying no at times, and probably having days where he just doesn't really like me very much.  But if I can guide him and direct him to good and growth, then we will all be better off in the end.

--It will Pass--
   Just like the terrible two's, or three's they always seemed worse than two with my kids, it is a phase and will pass.  On those days where I know we will butt heads and he will try my patience; I just have to remember who he truly is and that this phase will pass.  I just need to be there to help, guide, and love unconditionally.

So to my son- I am going to try! Let's stick together and make these the best years possible.

Parents of teens, do you have any tips or advice? 

Tips For After School Routine

We all know that time, when the kids first get home from school, bags and papers everywhere, kids usually saying they are hungry, some wanting a break, some having activities to go to; it can become a chaotic time.  How can you make the after school time run more smoothly?   Here are my tips for making the after school routine a little more pleasant.

1. Get Your Own Stuff Done
   As a parent our lists are never done, but when our kids get home, wanting to tell us about their day- we need to be available to listen.  Taking even a few minutes to sit and talk to your kids when they first get home can make a huge difference.

2. Have a Place For School Work
  -Those pile of papers that the kids bring home, some which can be thrown away, some which need to be saved, some which have to be filled out and returned to school- what do you do with all of those papers?

-You should have a designated "In-box", a spot where all of those papers can be placed, that when you have a few minutes you can sit and go through.  The key is to go through this in-box nightly, or while your kid are having a break, and work through the papers until it is empty, otherwise things will get missed.

3. Break or No Break 
   Some kids truly need a break when they get home, a chance to unwind and decompress.  Others do  better if they get right to homework while still focused and then play.

My daughter often likes to get right to homework so she can then just have free time 

You are the best judge of your own child and what they need, the key is to be consistent.  If they have a break, a time limit needs to be established.  If they are going right to work, there should be a spot ready for them to start their homework.  The key is consistency.

4. Refuel Their Bodies
   Dinner can sometimes seem a long ways off after school, and after a day of hard work they often are truly hungry and thirsty.  The key is to give them healthy snacks, but not too many as you want them to still eat a good dinner.

I am so excited about Welch's BRAND NEW product, 100% Juice with Coconut Water.

This new juice has 30% less sugar with these other great benefits.

**30% Less Sugar
**Vitamin C
**2 Servings of Fruit
**USA Grown Grapes

My kids, especially my boys, aren't always the best fruit eaters, but a glass of Welch's Grape Juice is 2 servings of fruit, so I feel good knowing I am getting a little more fruit in them this way.  


Now I know I am refueling them, letting them have something they love and can feel good doing it.

I found the Brand New Welch's Grape Juice at my local Walmart.

*-*Make sure to check out Welch's website so you know where you can buy this new product.*-*

******************

Every afternoon is definitely not perfect, but with these tips things can run a lot more smoothly.  What is your best after school routine tip?

Some Days Are Like That... Even in Australia

It began at 6:30 A.M. when our doorbell rang.

We were expecting it, a nurse coming to draw some blood and a check-up for my husband for a life insurance policy.

My kids began waking up around this time, unsure what to do with this new person in our house.

When people come over my kids tend to go in one of two modes, 1- supper shy forgetting how to speak or 2- this person is their best friend and an audience they have to perform for.  Today was #1.

None of them would even tell me what they wanted for breakfast and come eat, so we flipped our morning routine around and got dressed first; any parent knows totally changing the morning routine is a recipe for disaster.  They went upstairs to get dressed away from this home invader.

Finally around 7:00 it was safe for my kids to go downstairs.  They all got started on their breakfasts, poptarts, Ego Waffles and bagels, yes breakfast of champions there, but this is when the real drama began.

You see, Alex's waffles got slightly over toasted, and when I say slightly I truly mean it- they looked like they would be perfectly fine.  She pouted, gave lots of evil looks to her brothers, because somehow it must have been their fault, and just decided at that point her morning was going to be miserable.

I talked about lemons and lemonade and urged her to at least try as I figured with enough syrup they would be just fine.

All the while, I am trying to read from the scriptures for our morning scripture study, let's just say not much was learned from the scriptures this morning.

Eventually I cave and just tell her to find something else while I take Ryder upstairs to brush his teeth.  By now my panic button is starting to kick in as we already passed our usual departure time.  After teeth brushing, I come down to see Alex spreading cream cheese on a bagel she had made for herself, strawberry cream cheese... strawberry cream cheese, which we bought a while ago, I flip over the container, it was expired.

"Miss, I am so sorry."-- at this point it is now full on sobbing tears.

I hurry to make her another bagel, this time with regular cream cheese, not expired, and tell the boys to go get their shoes on and get in the car.  Now it is getting to be-Lucas will be late to school time.

We hurry put Alex's breakfast on a plate and head to the car, where Lucas is standing there and declares that one of the sprinklers is broken. Sure enough at the end of our driveway, one of the sprinkler heads is shooting out more than the normal amount of water.

I hurry down to investigate and find one of the pieces on the ground, I bet I can just shove it back in, I think in desperation.... I push the piece back in.....

Gyser fountain!

Half of my body is now soaked.  I hurry and turn the sprinklers off.  Tell everyone to hurry and get it the car, hit the garage door button only for it not to go down.  A shoe is blocking the sensor.  I hurry move the shoe and the garage successfully closes.  We drive off the school and some how manage to get Lucas there before the gates are closed.

When then drive over to the elementary where I am more than happy to say goodbye and come home to the quiet.

Deep breath.

What a terrible horrible, no good very bad morning.  But some mornings are just like that, even in Australia.

Being Enough in Motherhood

I wake and the house is quiet.  A late night soccer game and an almost teenager who has finally learned to sleep in.  I soak in the quiet, enjoying the moment of peace, but then it feels lonely.  I have become more used to the quiet, with all three children halfway through their third week of school.  I fill those away hours with editing pictures, doing housework and hopefully one of these days getting back to my book.  Sometimes I resent when the clock hits that pickup time as there is always more to do, but now as I sit here in the quiet, realizing how quickly it is all going- I want it back.

The simpler days of play dates and preschool drop off, the simpler days of soccer games only being a few minutes away instead of in neighboring cities.  But yet, at the same time I don't miss those days at all.

The silence is broken, my baby comes down, just don't let him know I call him that.  At seven-years-old he will loudly proclaim that he is not a baby.  I scoop him up and place him on my lap for a morning cuddle.  I know he won't allow me to do this much longer, but for now I cherish it.

Life really is a whirlwind, rushing so fast forward in time that I just want it to stop, yet the days sometimes seem to click slowly by the same routine one day to the next.   The reality of time and that in just six short years my oldest will be graduating from high school and leaving to serve a mission, both thrills and frightens me.

Have I done enough as a mother?  Have I been enough?

I want to improve, I want to be present, I want to learn how to take the teenage attitude and changes in stride and in patience.  It is all so new for both me and my son.

I remember being twelve so excited to be an official teenager, I remember what it was like.  I remember things both good and bad that I never told my parents and that is what frightens me the most.  I know I can't solve every problem, I know I shouldn't, but the thought of the unknown hurts, the unknown pains he might be suffering just makes me yearn for the days when I was his entire world.

***

All is quiet again.  We made it through the morning rush and school drop-offs.  So for now I sit, sit trying to focus on what really matters most, try to hurry and get my things done so that when my kids are home I can really be there, really be present as I don't have all the answers, I don't always know what to do- but I know I can be there and some days that just might be enough.

What I Really Think About the Plexus Pink Drink

*this post contains affiliate links*

It took me five months, five months of a friend asking before I finally tried the "Pink Drink" or Plexus Slim.  Five months of saying no, five months of almost dreading when that friend sent me a message.  How did I get to where I am today, now an ambassador, sending out the e-mails trying to sell the pink drink?  Here is what I think about the Plexus Slim or the Pink Drink.

Day -15: I finally gave in, there was a Facebook event that I finally agreed to attend, and I won. I seem to have quite a bit of luck at winning small giveaways.  I won money for some Plexus product, I don't even remember what, but my friend who invited me said I could apply it to another product, so the "Pink Drink" it was.

Day -4: My prink drink arrived, I didn't take it... I began having major doubts about some factors of it and was ready to say forget it before even taking it.  But something just kept nagging me about it (and no not my friend trying to sell it to me).  I thought of the good personal friends who told me all of the changes it did for them, no more migraines, no more gut problems, more energy, sleeping better, no more restless leg, etc.etc.

Day 1: Okay, here I go.  Wait how much water do I have to mix it with? I can't drink that much water very first thing in the morning, what is the minimum? Okay I will do that.  I am having flash back to that awful orange drink you have to take when pregnant.

I mix it up, it is pink, hence the 'pink drink'.  Take my first sip, it's good!  Totally wasn't expecting that.   All of those health products seem to be nasty.  Kind of tastes like strawberry or maybe watermelon Kool-Aid.  All right, I did it, my first drink.

Day 6: I am sick, darn cold that my kids had I finally got, and oh look a coldsore too.  Seriously, haven't had one of those in a while.  This stupid drink doesn't seem to be doing anything.  I told my friend so, it isn't supposed to be a quick fix she assured me, it takes time to heal a gut.  Sounds like something someone selling it would just say I think to myself.

Day 15: All better now, my cold definitely didn't get as bad as my husband's, plus thankfully my cold sore went away quickly.  Still taking the pink drink.

Day 29: All right, I did my month, tried it now I can get my friend off my back, going to go cancel my order.   Dang, it say's it's processing.  I wonder if that means it's too late to cancel.  Maybe I will give it one more month, there is a 60-day back money guarantee after all.

Day 40: Got a text that put me in tears very first thing in the morning, upset angry-- things just aren't fair.  I want to eat, I want comfort food. Not going to wait the 30 minutes to eat breakfast, just not taking the pink drink today.

The rest of the day was much better, had a great day with the family, went to a movie had a lot of fun.. feeling so much better than I did in the morning.... oh no, what is that, holy cow I am gassy.  Man, it seems like something died inside of me.  This gas if awful this is just like the gas I would often get... before I took the pink drink....

My husband comments, wow you haven't been like this in a while now, plus we haven't had to hurry home after eating out.

It hit me, no more urgent trips to the bathroom, no more gas that seems like something died inside of me, no more daily afternoon naps as I was just too tired to make it through the day, and my weight which had been so stagnant and stuck at a number I didn't like,  my weight dipped a few pounds.

The pink drink was working!

I honestly half believed it still.  Was it all just my imagination, had I changed anything else in my life that was causing the good affects?

No-- it had to be the pink drink.

Here is where I admit, I still don't know as much about the pink drink or other Plexus products that I probably should, all I know is what it did for me, what it has done for my good personal friends and that I like the way I am feeling now.  I want to keep feeling good, I don't want to have regular trips hurrying to the bathroom as I just have to go.   I want to take a nap only because I want to, not because I just can't make it through the afternoon.  I want to finally lose some of that weight around my gut that just never quite goes away since having kids.  And this is why I am selling the Pink Drink.  This is why it has become something I believe in and support.

I would love for you to join me, in learning more about what the Plexus products can do for  you.

The Triplex, three of the most popular products of Plexus working together can:

--Support Weight Loss
--Support healthy glucose metabolism
--Promotes healthy gut flora
--Helps maintain a healthy immune system
--Helps remove harmful microbes and substances
--Helps nutrient digestibility
--Supports your body's natural detoxification process

If you would like to learn more or are ready to start getting a healthier more energized version of you, visit my Plexus site, message me or leave a comment here letting me know.  I would love to help you start feeling better and having more energy to do what you want to be able to do during your day; even if you just have questions ask away, if I don't know the answer I will try and find out for you.

So what do I really think of the Pink Drink?  I am sold, it works.

My Daughter is My Hero

I always wanted a boy first, something about having that big brother there to protect you.   When we found out our first was going to be a boy we were so happy.  Then a couple of years later and we found out we were having a girl and it couldn't seem more perfect.

After becoming a mom to a girl I soon discovered a few things, first I was horrible at doing hair.  My daughter would often come home from playdates with her hair in cute little ponytails, maybe my friends way of trying to give a subtle hint.  I also learned that sometimes my daughter would baffle me.

As a child I was more shy and timid, crying easily in new moments- she took on life boldly and fearlessly, yet could still be quiet and almost meek at times.

Our stubbornness and our differences would at times make us both dig in our heels and she definitely seemed to gravitate towards her adoring father, yet she was my girl.

Last week I worked out again for the first time in many years.  I don't know why I really stopped, I think the desire to sleep in during the summer and I just never made it back to workout when the next school year began.  After my workout out I felt like I could barely walk, barely move.  That night at Alex's soccer practice everyone asked if I was okay as I was walking with an obvious stiffness.  It took almost two entire days until I felt like I could walk normally again.

Wednesday night we were practicing on a small indoor field due to the rain.  They were doing a shooting drill with the strikers much closer than they usually would be and Alex ended up taking a direct hit to the face.

As she dropped to her knees holding her face, I was sure as I ran over there was going to be lots of blood.  Miraculously there was not, she came out, got a drink and tried to settle down, visibly shaken and upset.  But after a little bit she went back in, all the parents commenting how tough she was.

At this point in the practice they were doing a lot of running.  She joined her teammates running hard, but was still not quite feeling her best.  As she ran her eyes welled up with tears, I could almost see the internal battle going on in her head.  Her eyes became more red and a few sobs escaped her lips.  She continued to run.  She sometimes would look back at me almost seeming to say save me but that she would keep going if I told her to.

As a mother I felt conflicted... torn... wanting to protect and shield my child, but not wanting her to ever give up.  

She seemed to gag as if she was going to throw up, but still she ran.  Finally I waved her over, after I was almost certain she was going to lose it all over the floor.  Thankfully she did not.

The next day as I wobbled around the house, complaining about my sore legs I thought about my daughter the night before, determined to keep going, determined to finish strong.   Looking to me for what she should do, looking to me to know how much she needed to endure, what she needed to push through.

As a parent it is so easy to want to shelter our kids, to protect them-- and trust me there are many things that I do protect and shelter them from, but ultimately they have to learn to battle through, to push, to keep going even when things are really hard.

I try so hard to let my kids know that I will love them no matter what, that nothing can take away their worth, who they truly are... yet they have to work, they have to try for their best.

Things in life don't come free, we are not entitled to things.  We have to work, we have to push when times are hard, we have to keep going.  And I will always be there, never stop loving her, never give up on her, never stop pushing her to strive to be her best self-- but I will be there, to wave her over and comfort when she has had enough.  I couldn't take the pain, the fatigue from her but I can be there, I can always be there.

Tips To Getting Kids to School On-Time

Morning are hard, especially mornings before school.  Getting everyone up, eating breakfast, making lunches, making sure backpacks are ready... oh and don't forget the hair.

I have to confess, we have left the house a few times when I realized I did not fix my boys hair; my daughter's hair I seem to notice more as it is totally crazy if it is not done (heck sometimes it is crazy when done- the trouble with having half curly hair).

I remember pulling in front of my oldest son's school looking over as he was getting out of the car and thinking, oh crap, we didn't do his hair.  I didn't dare tell him, as it wasn't that bad and I didn't want him to be self conscious about it, as it was too late to do anything about it then.

How can I help my kids get ready faster in the morning?  Here are a few tips I am learning.

How to Get The Kids to School On Time

1. Let them Pick Out Clothes the Night Before
   -Yes, I said them, as not only would it be one less thing for me to do and teach them responsibility and all that good stuff, but my oldest is starting to get picky now.  Skinny jeans in his world are a no go; for a kid who is as tall as me but has the waist of a toothpick, skinny jean would look good on him, but try as I might he will have nothing to do with them.  It is so much easier if I let him pick out his clothes the night before.

2. Pack their bags the night before
  Nothing worse than scrambling in the morning looking for their missing homework or permission slips, get it all in the bag the night before! (Have a spot in your home for their homework papers-here is how I organize all those school papers and homework)

3. Make Lunches the Night Before
   I always do a little dance on the days the kids want to buy lunches, but on those days they don't-- if we would just make lunches the night before it might be a whole lot easier.  I even have two posts full of Easy School Lunch ideas!

3. Make Doing Their Hair a Breeze!
   When your boys wake up and their hair is sticking straight up, a product like GRIT is a life saver.  My boys both have more of the natural hair style, my youngest is totally the California surfer curly hair, so I don't want a product that is too heavy or mega hold.

We have recently started using GRIT Low Hold, Low Shine for my oldest.

This morning his hair looked good enough to me, but he asked if I could use the GRIT product as he said he likes how it helps his hair stay in place and look shiny (even with the low shine).

I'm telling you-- my son starting to care more how he looks is a bit of a new world for us-- welcome to the teenager years.

GRIT has a whole line of products for men and boys, available at Great Clips, even some that are strong hold and mega shine.

My husband used the Hair + Body and said he was surprised how thick it was, as often products like that are just too runny, he liked it.

**A little tip- if you are going to Great Clips to get your hair cut (where I take Alex to get her bangs trimmed as I cannot do it straight for the life of me)-- you MUST get their Great Clips App.

 It is free and you can use it find out wait times AND check in and reserve a spot.  If you just walk-in, everyone who reserved a spot will get in ahead of you, even if you were there first, I learned this this hard way one time, so definitely get the App!**

What tips do you have to make the mornings go more smoothly?

Make sure to check out the Great Clips Instagram Feed-- they currently have a Giveaway for a Playstation4 Pro happening!  Definitely something you will want to enter.

Praying Like a Child

We are in the final stretch, less than a week now until Christmas.  The presents are all bought, or mostly, the stockings are hung ready to be filled, ingredients for cookies are waiting for little hands to help make them....

It truly is a magical, wonderful time of year.  Today my parents fly in and we will begin a fun and very busy week of chorus concerts, BYU's bowl game, and of course our Christmas Eve traditions.

Yesterday my family gathered for morning prayer before Eric had to leave for his early morning church meetings, we asked Ryder to say the prayer.

Ryder says his own nighttime prayers every day, he also takes his occasional turn at meal time prayers, but the morning prayer- well this must have felt like something new to him.

"I don't know what to say." he stated.

"Of course you do." we reassured him, not totally unfamiliar with this routine, as this is what he would once say before his bedtime prayers.

He began, "Dear Heavenly Father", then with a slight pause, "See I told you I didn't know what to say."

After we finished laughing, Eric prompted him on things he could first thank Heavenly Father for and then ask him for.  His prayer was short and simple and I couldn't help but picture Heavenly Father having a little laugh himself about Ryder's prayer.

Later that day in Sunday school we were discussing our intent in our actions and why we do things,  if we do things sincerely or for the praise of man, or without even really thinking at all.

"Are your prayers deliberate 100% of the time?" the teacher asked, "How about 75%, or 50% or even 25%?"

It made me stop and reflect, how often are my prayers sincere?

Do I rush through the meal prayers, knowing everyone is hungry and ready to eat?  Do I say the same things in my bedtime prayers not really stopping to reflect but just saying the same things I do most nights?

Do I know what to say?

It was a bit of a wakeup call, one I am sure I will need again and again as I try and navigate my way through life.  It is my goal to stop and really think and ponder before I begin to pray, what do I really need to pray for, what am I thankful for that day.

If you aren't a praying type, do you have a time that you mediate or contemplate life?  It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle of life and get into our routines and go through life on auto pilot.

It is those times when I stop and reflect, when I truly feel and know that I need my Maker's help that I feel most at home, most at peace, most like things will be okay if I just continue to take it One Day At a Time.

How I Became a Photographer- Achieving Goals in Life

How have you imagined your life?  Is it what you thought it would be?   Most likely not, even if things are good it probably has taken different paths and plans than you expected.  What if there is something you really want?  How can you make your goals happen?  How can you own your tomorrow?

I have always loved taking pictures.  When I graduated from high school my parents bought me a camera for a graduation present.  My Dad asked if I wanted a nice little compact camera that I could easily carry or if I wanted a "real" camera.

I got my first real camera, a Canon-- film though, as this was pre-digital days.  I loved having that big camera, it just made me feel like I knew what I was doing, though I really didn't.

I remember the days of taking pictures, having to drop off the film and wait for the pictures to be finished until you could see what you ended up with.  Now with digital it is so much easier.  As I got busy in school and life, while I would still take pictures, it wasn't something I really pursued anymore.

At the time I was a mom with two little kids, living in yet another new area, this time Arizona.  We had a class at church about photography where a professional photographer came in and taught us some tips and tricks about lighting and getting good pictures.

It began, that little flicker, that little flame began to ignite again.  I had my two kids sit next to our sliding glass door, the light shining in just right and got a picture which I loved.   I still have it framed and displayed today as now it represents something big- that moment, that moment when I decided to really take a step.

I didn't immediately go out and start taking pictures, but I read, checking out books at the library, trying to learn about light and how my camera worked, trying to get out of auto mode and really take the picture myself.

A year or so later for Christmas, my husband bought me my first Canon digital DSLR, I was in love, taking pictures of everything and anything.  Always continuing to shoot,  learn and educate myself.

Me in action from a recent photoshoot

Finally, the time came where I was going to photograph someone else's family, as a job.  I began with family and friends, as I knew they would still like me even if I did a horrible job.

I remember one of my first shoots, so nervous and almost shaking.  I began the shoot by shooting in manual, but halfway through I was so worried that I maybe wasn't getting good pictures as the light was a bit tricky that I switched to auto.

I look back at those first pictures now, overly edited and processed, and it amazes me at how far I have come.

I still have so much to learn, there are so many photographers who I admire who know so much more than I do; but in life you can't always be comparing yourself to others or you will never be happy, but you should compare you to yourself. Are you growing? Are you improving?  Are you taking steps to better yourself, your situation, your life?

I still watch photography classes and tutorials, I still am trying to learn and improve everyday.

What are you going to do?  What are you going to do to own your tomorrow?

Definitely should check out this video, warning it might make you tear up a little, as we never know what is going to happen in life-- but we can always choose how we respond and react to life.

Dream big today, then do something about it!  Own Your Tomorrow!

Have you had a moment in life that changed the direction of your life?

See how others are owning their tomorrow-- here.

A Special Week for a Mother

This has truly been an incredible week.  There have definitely been some ups and downs, including some crazy stressful situations for both Eric and I with work and soccer, but overall the good of this week greatly out-weighs the bad.

On Saturday, Lucas turned 12.  Not only is he now a pre-teen, but in my faith, 12 is a huge milestone birthday.  When a boy turns 12 he is able to receive the Aaronic Priesthood.

On Saturday we celebrated his birthday with cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then he had to open his presents.  He got the one present he really wanted, a cell phone.  Eric and I had debated for a while as to when it would be the right time for him to have a phone, and after a lot of thought and consideration, he got one for his 12th birthday. (Next week I will share the contract we made him sign in order to have a phone).

Then we watched BYU beat Michigan State and went out for dinner that night at Mimi's Cafe,

followed by his birthday cake-- an Awesome Face Emjoi cake.

He loved his cake!

Sunday was a very special Sunday, Ryder gave a talk in Primary and Lucas received the Aaronic Priesthood.  At the beginning of sharing time, the young men from the ward came into Primary and sang a song and then took Lucas away to his new class.  He was beyond ready to leave Primary and start Young Mens.   We then went with Lucas where Eric ordained him to be a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood.  I could feel the spirit so strongly and have so much hope for the boy Lucas is and who he will become.  They asked Lucas to share his testimony and he said that he felt the spirit so strongly and it reminded him of how he felt when he was baptized.  They then asked me to share a few thoughts.  It truly was a wonderful a special day.


This day was even more special as it was also my Mother-in-laws birthday.  Lucas is their oldest grandchild so they had come to town for this special weekend, and so on Sunday we also celebrated her birthday.

On Tuesday, thanks to some last minute plan changes and great friends who were able to help with my youngest two, my in-laws, Eric, Lucas and I all went to the Temple, where Lucas performed baptisms for the dead.

Redlands, CA Temple

  It was awesome to be there in the temple with him for his first time.  Family's truly are meant to be forever and there is a plan of happiness which can bring you so much comfort and peace in life.

The rest of my in-laws visit was spent sewing with the kids

Alex made this skirt with the help of Mimi

going to soccer practices
and just enjoying our time together.

This truly was a wonderful week and one I will never forget.

Feeling Helpless as a Mother

My oldest is going to turn 12 this weekend.  I think life is trying to make his last few days as an 11-year-old way too memorable.

First on Monday, I lost him- wrote about that here.

Then yesterday... yesterday was even worse.

Yesterday my daughter was going on a 4th grade field trip to one of the California Missions.  As soon as I heard about it I sent a note into the teacher saying I would love to chaperone.  Growing up in Illinois, learning about the missions was never part of my school curriculum.

I got to the school only to realize I had left my cell phone in my car.  I hurried back up the hill where I was parked and got my phone before it was time to leave for the field trip.  I loaded on a bus with a whole group of fourth graders, sitting with one of the other chaperons as Alex was sitting with her best friend.   While on the bus I got a call, the number seemed familiar like it might be from the school.  I knew there was no way I would be able to hear the call, driving down the highway with windows down and a bus full of kids so I let it go to my voicemail.

A minute later there was a beep letting me know a voicemail (VM) had been left.  I tried to listen to it, couldn't hear a thing.  Thankfully the new iPhone software transcribes your VM, so I was able to read it.

The message was from the health care nurse, stating that Lucas was in an incident during PE but that  he's okay but she wanted to run everything by me so I was was aware of what was going on.

I began to worry of course, but felt like everything would be fine based on her message.  I forwarded the message to Eric, telling him I couldn't call back at the moment since I was on the bus but would call when I got off.  I figured Eric would not be able to call back at the time either as he was in an interview with his company bidding on a job and that is a time he is usually totally unreachable.

As soon as we made it to the mission and I was off the bus I gave her a call back.  She said they had been playing tag in PE and that a big group of them ran into each other.  She said the Lucas had a large bump over his eye and was complaining about not being able to see really well.  She said that he was really upset and lay in the health care office for about a half hour but was now back in class.  She said she told him if continued to not feel well to definitely to come back.

We began our tour of the mission, we were at the San Juan Capistrano mission, it is beautiful!

  We learned some history and the kids got to make their own little adobe bricks.
 About 45 minutes after I called the health office back I got another call.  Lucas was back in the office and was saying he felt nauseous and they thought it would be best if he went home and rested.

Now was where the major dilemma came in, I was a hour away from home on a field trip which I had rode on the bus to get to.  I had no way to get to the school.  Eric was in a meeting and unreachable until it ended.  I asked them to call my emergency contacts.  While the office was was calling one of my contacts I also texted her asking if she would be able to get Lucas and if he would be able to just come lay down at her house for a while.   I got a call back from the office saying they couldn't reach any of my contacts and they really felt like Lucas' needed to go home.  I called my emergency contact knowing she sometimes responds to texts more slowly.  She said she just got the call from the school but had let it go to VM.  She was just on her way into the grade school to help in her kids' class, but said she would let them know she couldn't come and then go get Lucas.

Thank goodness for good friends. I felt bad that this was messing up her plans and she would have to just watch Lucas. I called the school back letting them know that I had just reached my contact and she was on her way.   They told me that Lucas had now thrown up and that they were going to be calling 911 to have him transported to the ER.

Things went fast and crazy from here.  I called my contact letting her know what was happening, she said she would go with Lucas to the ER, I gave my approval for her to go with him to the ER.  I called Eric, thankfully he had just come out of his meeting and had been reading my texts and said he would head right over to the ER.  An ambulance showed up and Lucas was transported to the ER, my contact had to drive her car behind the ambulance.

All the while I was stuck on this field trip far from home.  I went through the motions trying to be a good chaperon and enjoy the trip as I knew there was nothing I could do.  My contact and Eric texted me updates.

In the end the doctor said he had a mild concussion at best and everything should be fine and he was discharged.  He and Eric ended up arriving home a few minutes before I got home after the school field trip.

He spent the rest of the day just laying around very worn out, even with a slight fever in the evening. He seems to be doing okay this morning but I am keeping him home from school just to be safe and doctor's orders anyway.

It was awful as a mom, feeling so helpless, not being able to be there for him.  I am so grateful for a wonderful friend that dropped everything and was able to be there with him until Eric was able to arrive.   They say that things come in three's- well Sunday night he accidentally cut his finger a little while chopping potatoes, so we are done right?  Let's just get him to his 12th birthday please!

I Lost My Son

It is every parents fear, losing a child.  The fear of some stranger grabbing them, the fear of them simply wandering off in the store.

One of my older brothers, I have three older brothers, had a propensity for wandering off.   He got lost at the zoo at least a couple of times, each time telling the Zookeeper he was Batman, a favorite Halloween costume becoming an obsession.  Somehow I made it through those toddler and young years without ever losing one of my kids (unless I blocked out some traumatic memory).

But yesterday I lost my son- my 11-year-old.

The middle school gets out 30 minutes before the grade school.  Usually Lucas, my oldest, will walk from the middle school over to the grade school where I will pick them all up.  Our grade school has early-out day every Monday.  The middle school only has early out day once a month;  yes, confusing schedules to keep track of.  Most Mondays I actually pick up the grade school kids first and then pick him up in front of his school.
   Last week for parent teacher conference it was early out day for both schools the entire week.  This morning as I dropped Lucas off he asked when their early out day was, I told him the 17th and so that today I would pick him up in front of his school.
  I got to the school and waited in the pick-up line, getting caught up in a long conversation on Facebook in blogging group I am part of.  The line began to move and finally I made it around the corner.  I looked and searched the crowd of kids and did not see Lucas.  The line seemed to stall for a bit and a few more kids wandered out of the gates.  I moved a little further up and still could not find him.  Maybe he was talking with some friends, maybe he wasn't paying attention.  I made it to the front of the line and there was no doubt he was not there.

I rolled down the window and asked the proctor if any of the classes were getting out late.  I told her I couldn't find my son and that usually he walks across the street to the grade school but not on Monday's.  She tried to radio up to the office but no one was answering.

If only he had a cell phone I thought.  I texted Eric telling him I couldn't find Lucas.  He immediately called wondering what was happening.  I quickly explained and then thought of his friend Steven. His friend Steven has a phone and always rides his bike home.  I search through my contact, I did not have Steven's number.  Why do I not have his number?  I have his mom's number though.  I texted his mom asking for Steven's number explaining that I couldn't find Lucas.  I was trying to remain calm but the anxiety and worry was definitely creeping up.  I guessed that he had walked across the street to the grade school.  Once he got over there he would probably see that there were no cars and would come back to the middle school, or maybe he wouldn't?  Should I go? I decided to make the loop around the grade school. There were cars there waiting to pick up afternoon kindergartners but definitely not the line like there usually would be, but also no Lucas.

I drove back to the middle school, through the pick-up line I had been in and there he was walking up having returned from the grade school after realizing his mistake. I had never been so grateful to see him, my lost son found!

So if you make it past the toddler and preschool years, be careful as you might still lose a child.

When Monday Is a Holiday

Do you like Monday holidays? Or do you prefer them on Friday?

I love Monday holidays as it makes the rest of the week seem to go so fast, always thinking it is one day behind what it really is.  Monday holidays alway throw me off too.  They kind of feel like we have a Saturday, Sunday then Saturday again; most of the day Monday I kept thinking we would be going to church the next day.

We took advantage of our three day weekend.

We first went to my friend (and cousin's) son's baptism.  It was a wonderful service followed by a nice lunch at the park after.  We had a great time catching up with family (Eric's family technically).

Then my family went off for a mini adventure, we had some time to burn before my beach photoshoot that evening.

We tried unsuccessfully to ride the giant orange hot air-balloon, it was too windy and so it was closed.  Instead we went to nearby mall and rode the Big Wheel, a big Ferris Wheel.


 That and the drive the rest of the way to the beach and dinner took the perfect amount of time.

I met my client, who was actually here on vacation from Canada, and we had a great beach shoot.  Her kids, despite being up since 3:00 AM to travel, were awesome.

I texted my family after the shoot to find out where they were and Eric said they were on the other side of the pier flying a giant kite- and sure enough they were.  They bought a kite from a guy on the pier and had a great time flying the kite while I did my shoot.

A photo posted by emmymom (@emmymom) on Sep 4, 2016 at 4:42pm PDT

We hurried home to watch BYU pull out an awesome last minute win, I love football season!

Sunday was a wonderful Sabbath day where I learned it is very good that life isn't fair (more about that tomorrow).

Then Monday Eric and I did some couch shopping, and ended up buying one.  After the last leg rest broke, and the seat I sit in is all busted, it was definitely time for a new couch.

We did make the day fun for the kids too with John's Incredible Pizza for lunch and ended by all watching Home Alone together.   We watched it on Vid Angel and it is a good thing as there are actually a lot of bad words in that movie!


It was a great weekend and now this Tuesday/Wednesday, when I am not quite sure what day it is, I am trying to get back into the swing of things.

What day do you prefer to have off?
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