Spring in Texas

Many of you have heard of our spring storms. It has been a bit crazy, but we are getting used to it. The kids get a little nervous, but I love the big thunderstorms. However, there was a tornado 4 miles away. That got my attention.

Besides the storms, we get lots of sunny warm days. The kids loved flying kites at Grandpa's house. Audrey was quite the pro! The kids are all getting involved with baseball/softball, so we stay pretty busy. We enjoyed a fun Rangers game on Monday night for FHE. The Rangers lost, but it was fun to be at the ballpark all together.

Anyway, hope you enjoy some of our springtime pictures!!!!

I've been tagged

My sister, Jayne, tagged me, so here goes.

Where were you 10 years ago?
I was 24, and living my last days at BYU. I was a Head Resident in Heritage Halls. My hubby, was finishing up his JD/MBA, so we were preparing to move to Michigan for his first career job at DaimlerChrysler. I was very pregnant with our second child, Brandon. Whitney was a year and a half old. She was the light of my life, and went with me everywhere except for work meetings. I didn't think I would ever look back and miss those days. However, Trace Adkins sings, probably from experience: "You're gonna miss this. You're gonna want this back. You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast. These are some good times. So take a good look around. You may not know it now, but you're gonna' miss this." I really do wish it hadn't gone by so fast.

5 things on my to do list today:
1. Work out
2. Exchange a sweatshirt for Whitney
3. Take Maddie to pre-school
4. Take kids to piano
5. Take Brandon to baseball practice (unless the storms rage)
Basically, I am a taxi driver!

3 Bad Habits
1. I clean too much
2. I am a perfectionist
3. I like to use exclamation points everywhere!!!!

4 places I have lived
1. Sanger, TX
2. Provo, UT
3. Mexico City, Mexico
4. Rochester Hills, MI

5 jobs I have had
1. Chick-Fil-A
2. Resident Assistant at BYU
3. Head Resident at BYU
4. Laundry worker at BYU
5. Mom to 4 kids (the hardest job by far!)

5 things people don't know about me
1. I love country music. That is probably not a surprise to some of you.
2. I wish I could have a horse, and ride it all the time. I had one growing up. She was a big part of my childhood, and some of my best memories are because of her.
3. I loved living in another country, and would love that opportunity again. For sure, my husband and I will serve a mission after retirement. That may not be to a foreign country, but you never know.
4. I started working on my masters degree a few years ago. I would like to finish it someday. Somehow, mom jobs took over my time for now.
5. I enjoy cooking. I want our home to be filled with wonderful smells. I love to have family dinner although it is usually crazy around our table. I guess it is the thought of a nice family dinner most nights that I like. I have definately made some flops, but hopefully that can be forgiven. My favorite recipes are: whole wheat bread, meatballs with mango chutney sauce, Honey chipotle pork chops, asian pork loin, and some Thai cuisine. I think it would be fun to take a cooking class and learn lots of new things.

I now tag my friends: Marissa Hatch, Jennifer Chiara, and Sarah Paxton!

School daze!

Last week, I went to kindergarten round up for Madison, my baby. I can't believe that after almost twelve years of babies in the home, my littlest one is off to school. To make matters worse, our school district only provides all day kindergarten. I feel like a year was stolen from me. However, Madison is really ready to go to school with her brother and sisters. I will miss her terribly.

Last week, I also took Whitney to the middle school for Band Instrument selection (she chose clarinet). Another mommy milestone all in one week. I can't believe we have a child going to middle school in a few months. She is also very excited for the chance to make some decisions in her education. She will be in the honors math program as well. She was also selected to do a summer gifted program at the middle school. Surprisingly, she really wants to go. I am proud of her, and am missing our calmer baby years.

I love the quote I read today, "You don't have to look far to find a miracle. What could be more supernatural than a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, an egg yolk into a chicken, an acorn into a mighty oak." I would like to add to that. What could be more miraculous than a little baby growing up and leading independant lives separate from me. I love watching my children grow, and just hope that I have given them all the tools they need to be happy and succesful individuals.