10 Things to Smile About This Month

It is the last Tuesday of the month which means it is time for 10 Things to Smile about.  This is when I look back and find 10 things that made me smile during the month.  I love doing this, especially on the hard months as it helps me keep an eternal perspective.

10 Things to Smile About in May

1. Being invited to a Cinco De Mayo party with friends

2. Watching Alex perform in her class play

3.  The Hope of America Performance

4. Mother's Day and how much my family spoiled me

5. Ryder turned 8!

6. Watching Ryder in karate

7. Utilizing the Movie Pass and going to lots of movies with Eric

8. Finally doing a photoshoot again.

9. A good spring season, and it ending and us having a couple week of break

10. May flowers (and thunderstorms!)

Friday Five: Cub Scouts, Screen Time and the Summer

Happy Friday everyone!  Hope you have some fun plans for Memorial Day weekend.  Here is my week recapped in 5 thoughts and 5 pictures.

5 Thoughts

1. One week!  My kids have one week of school left, well technically not even a full week since Monday is a holiday.  I cannot believe this school year is almost over.  Yesterday would have been their last day if we were still in California.  I have felt a little sad looking at all of the end of the year parties and 5th grade graduation pictures, I have felt sad for what Alex is missing out on.

2. This week Ryder had his first Pack Meeting for Cub Scouts.  I got the badges off of Lucas old uniform just in time, though it might still have this troop number from California.  He is actually really excited about Scouts.

3. This week I have been editing a lot of pictures, I almost have the newborn session finished that I took last week.  I definitely plan on finishing it today.   Then just to update my website and all of that fun stuff.

4. Alex had her last soccer game of the spring season last Saturday.  They lost, but she played amazing the last little bit when she was put in at keeper.  After we had at team party, it was fun and I think we will be good sticking with this team this fall.

5. We are going to be starting a new screen time policy this summer, otherwise I know some of my kids could waste away the entire summer if I let them.  They can have screen time in the morning while I am sleeping in, I love having older kids, and then after that there will be a checklist of things they have to do before having any more screen time for the day.  My SIL does this, and definitely taking some inspiration from her.


5 Pictures

Friday Five: Birthday's A Musical, Home

Happy Friday everyone!  Hope you have a fun weekend planned.


5 Thoughts

1.  Ryder managed to survive waiting one more day to celebrate his birthday (Mother's Day was hard for him).  He had a great birthday and we were able to open presents early, since Eric got home early, and then went out to dinner at Culvers.  I cannot believe he is 8 years old.

2. All this week Alex has been participating in her class play.  She did an awesome job and actually had three roles, including singing a solo.  She didn't want me to see her solo before, but I was at a dress rehearsal and so then was able to give her some tips on her movements while singing.  I don't think I would have been brave enough to do a solo at her age.

3. Alex also had a soccer game on Saturday, they ended up tying.   She had an amazing save at the end to persevere the tie.  She played a great game despite the rain for the second half.

4. This week has been a bit hard for me... for the first time since moving I have just really missed my friends back in California.  Alex's old class is doing a lot of end of the year stuff and getting ready for their 5th grade graduation.  She is doing great in her school year, but I am sad for her missing out on that with the kids she had gone to school with since kindergarten.

5. Lucas said he wants to get his Eagle Scout before the program ends next year.  I hope when it comes down to the work and things he needs to do he remembers he is the one that said he wants to do it.

5 Pictures

Friday Five: Hope of America, Cinco De Mayo, School

Happy Friday!  What are your Mother's Day plans?

5 Thoughts

1. Our school year is winding down and I cannot believe it, time really has gone so fast.  The kids all had a good school year and I think next year will be even a little better and easier for them since we won't be switching schools and moving halfway through the school year.

2. Ryder earned his first stripe on his white belt in karate.  Once he gets enough stripes he will advance to yellow belt.  Last time they broke boards, it was fun to watch.

3. On Saturday we went to some friends house for a Cinco De Mayo party, it was a lot of fun and Eric and I took 2nd place in the Cornhole contest, which we got so close to totally winning.

4. This was my last week of helping in my kids' classroom as the year is winding down.  It was great to be able to help though it did make make miss our old school and how much I knew the office staff, the teachers, just everyone.  But we have only been here half a year I just need to be patient.

5. Last night we went to BYU to watch Alex perform in the Hope of America performances, it was with other 5th graders from about 20 different schools.  It was an incredible performance that truly honored this country.

5 Pictures

Friday Five: Spring, Karate and the Titanic

May the 4th be with you!  Won't be watching any Star Wars movie tonight, finally going to see Infinity War.  What are your weekend plans?

5 Thoughts

1. Yard work.. that sums up this week pretty well.  Did so much of it yesterday.  Our yard is looking better and better but still feels like such a long way to go.  We are trying to fix it right and not just a quick fix as it will make life so much easier in the years to come.  It would help if I really knew anything about plants and what half of the stuff planted in our yard is!

2. Alex had a soccer game Monday night and they won 10-1.  We haven't had a lot of wins this season, so while I was begging to feel bad for the other team it was also pretty dang awesome.

3. Ryder got his Karate uniform this week.  He is loving it and last time even got bonus tickets for being the student to the day!  Glad he has found something he enjoys doing.

4. When I was checking out our book club book from the library, I also checked out two random books.  Not only was it until I finished one and began the second that I realized that both are historical fictions about the Titanic.  Kind of makes me want to watch the movie again.

5. Speaking of movies we are finally seeing Infinity War tonight!  Have been doing everything I can do avoid any spoilers!

5 Pictures

Friday Five: Doctors, Yard Work and a Lake

Happy Friday!  Here is my recap of this week in 5 thoughts and 5 pictures

5 Thoughts

1. My kids have only 25 school days left!  I cannot believe this school year is almost over.  It has been a crazy one, split between two different schools and two different states, but it all went so quickly.

2. On Sunday my brother and his kids came over for dinner.  It was great visiting with him and I am happy we live fairly close now.

3. This weekend was a lot of yard work.  Lucas mowed the lawn for the first time in his life. We had to buy a lawn mower when we moved here, in California we had a landscaper, so didn't have any yard tools.  Don't tell my mother, but there is something almost satisfying and fun about getting out and doing yard work... though we have a ton of it as the last owners of the house totally let the yard go, which we didn't realize since we bought the house in the middle of winter.

4. Today is my yearly checkup... though I must confess it has been more than a year since I have gone to the doctor.  So good about taking my kids, not always so good about taking care of myself.

5. I finally made it to the library and got a library card.  Already checked out and finished the book we are reading for Book club, now to read the other two books I checked out.. I do love reading!


5 Pictures

Friday Five: Spring Break, Temple, Cousins

Happy Friday everyone!  I am back with Friday 5!


5 Thoughts

1. I kind of fell off the grid there a bit, missed a week with spring break then last week just never got to the Friday 5.   It has been a fun and crazy couple of weeks.

2. We spent spring break with Eric's family as his little sister and her family were in town.  It was sort of like our yearly summer reunion just in the spring time.  The girls would have been perfectly happy and fine just hanging out together the entire time.  Each is the only girl in their family and so love spending time together.  We call them the Big Three.  The boys get along great too, but definitely need some more structured activities at times.

3. Alex had several soccer games, including the first one that she was not able to play in.  Utah needed one more form for her to be technically released from her California team (though she already had been), it was a big headache a lot of last minute calls and tears, but she was able to play in the second game.

4. Alex also had three bands concerts this week (one of which she missed because of soccer).  It was sort of surreal and really awesome seeing her up there playing the flute.  Many of my favorite memories from high school revolve around band.

5. Eric and I got the Movie Pass, where for $10 a month you can see up to one movie a day.  We love it and on the weekends after the kids go to bed usually go and see a movie.  We have seen way more movies than we otherwise would have.  Including the Quiet Place, the first scary movie I have seen in many years.  I really liked it.


5 Pictures 

Friday Five: Getting Older, Easter, Spring Break

Happy Good Friday everyone!  I hope you are ready for Easter and the wonderful hope and peace this season brings.  Here is my Friday 5.

5 Thoughts

1. This week I have discovered one huge benefit to a real winter... no yard work.  Now that spring is actually coming, there is so much yard work to do.  I think the previous owners let things go at the end, which we are discovering now that everything is coming back alive.

2. This week at school Alex went to the maturation program.  I have definite memories of mine in school.  Yes, it sometimes freaks me out that she is getting old enough for things like that.

3. I am so excited for this Easter weekend.  Not only is it Easter but it is my church's semi-annual general conference.  I always feel so much peace and hope while listening to the messages and talks this conference weekend. It truly helps me remember what this life is about and what I want for myself and my children.  You can watch it for free here-- LDS Conference--

4. Eric's little sister is coming into town for Spring break.  It will be like our yearly summer reunion just in the spring!  Looking forward to it.

5. The bathroom in the basement is done!  Eric and his Dad did such an awesome job!  It is so nice that the boys finally don't have to use our bathroom.


5 Pictures

Friday Five: Paint, American Idol, Zombies

Happy Friday everyone!  Spent the morning at the orthodontist with my son, so Friday 5 is finally making it live.


5 Thoughts

1. It is hard to pick out paint colors!  We are going to paint the outside of our house, and I thought I had colors I liked, but then I was using the Sherwin Williams site to see what the colors would look like on our house and now I am worried the colors are too dark. There is a house in our neighborhood that I like and I actually knocked on their door one day, to ask what their colors are but no one was home.

2. This week was a weird week, some days were so busy and other days there was hardly anything to do.  I actually turned on American Idol (on Hulu), as I was curious to see what it would be like.  Seems just the same as it used to be.  I thought they would maybe change some things up.

3. Lucas has no school today and we celebrated by him getting his bottom braces on!  We did actually go out to breakfast at iHop before so his day wouldn't be all miserable.  Though I do love his new orthodontist.

4. It is supposed to snow again this weekend.  Spring is pretending like it is going to come and then we get a surprise storm, but nothing like the east coast, so I won't complain.

5. Ryder did his "living book character" at school this week.  He was nervous about it the morning of, but he did awesome and realized there was nothing to be nervous about in the end.

5 Pictures