Me & My Teddy Bear

Last night Emerson performed in her first dance recital and did a wonderful job.

About an hour or so before her performance she began to get dressed and made up. Cooper and Ainsley were here to watch her perform and they thought her hairdo was pretty funny looking. She wore one of those fake hair pieces so that it looked like she had a look of curly hair on top of her head. After hair was completed it was time to put her costume, tights and slippers on. When all of that was finished it was time for her favorite part....make-up. She wanted to wear eyelashes (mascara) even though she wasn't required to. Once we were all done getting ready she asked that everyone close their eyes so that she could make a grand entrance into the living room, allowing everyone to ooh and ahh!

Grandma and Grandpa Slopsema, the Ggs, Honey, John, Aunt Erica, Cooper & Ainsley all had come to support Emerson so all of us loaded the cars up to go meet up with Jason and Ed who went early to save seats. We all made it there and it was time for the show to begin.

Emerson did a great job in both of the numbers she was in. She loved being on stage for her numbers but didn't really enjoy having to stay in the band room while everyone else performed. In fact, a mother of another little girl in Emerson class came to get me during the performance because Emerson wanted to come and sit in the auditorium. At the very end of the performance all the dancer were to go back on stage and since we were unaware of this Emerson had already put her slippers on, and returned to the stage wearing her slippers. I thought it was adorable!

Prissy, we loved getting to watch you in your first dance recital and hope that there are many more in the future!

PS A few special people were unable to be there and we missed them...Grandpa David, Uncle Brian, Aunt Valeri, Uncle Morgan, Uncle Matt and Becks!

Mom Says I Can

I received a book this Mother's Day that sums up what I feel a mother is and what a mother gives to her children...it was about a little boy who was seeking the greatest treasure in the world and he searched high and low, but ended up finding the "greatest treasure" right in front of him...his mom. The book was entitled "Mom Says I Can", is this not what every mother strives to impress upon their children throughout their lives? Does a mother ever stop telling their child they can do whatever they set their minds too? I know without a shadow of a doubt that my mother to this day still believes that I can do whatever I set out to. Thank you, Mom for always seeing in me what I was unable to see on so many occasions. You have been, still are and forever will be my hero, role model and the person I have learned the most from.

When I think of the women who have shaped my life and have helped to make me the mother I am today I can't help but acknowledge my sisters. They allowed me to hone my mother skills on them throughout the years, enduring me as their second mother...a role I relish to this day. They are tremendous women who I love to be around and who I am unable to spend enough time with. I miss my Weedie and know that she will be an amazing mother when the opportunity comes. My Bon is already a fabulous mom and she will be missed greatly when the time comes for them to move. I love you two so much and thank you for allowing me to be your big sis!

As for Jason's mother, I admire the way that she loves me. She is a woman who has always treated me like her own daughter, and she even refers to me as her daughter. I love the way that she loves my father-in-law and so willingly gives service to those around her. She, too, has always told her boys that they can do whatever they set their minds to, and both have become wonderful men who love so deeply and willingly. I love the ways that she shows my children that they are adored in her eyes. I will forever be in her debt for allowing me the privilege of marrying her baby. Thanks Pat for all you do for my family and for loving me the way you do!



Happy Mother's Day - a day late!

Sleepover Date

Jason and Emerson planned a sleepover night where the two of them would drag the futon mattress out to the living room, watch a movie while partaking of popcorn and they would sleep all night out there. Right before Sawyer went to bed the two of them prepared the living room for the "sleepover date". After Sawyer was in bed, scriptures read and prayers said Jason and Emerson were ready for the "sleepover date" to begin. Emerson selected "Finding Nemo" as their sleepover date movie. I was allowed to hang out with them for a little bit, but both were ready for their time together to begin. I retired to my bedroom and worked on my blog book, and checked for random items on ebay.

Right before I went to bed I walked out to see the two of them sound asleep and snuggled up together. How sweet!

Splashing in the Puddles

The skies kept threatening rain and Priss being observant asked if later, when there were puddles, she could play in them. In a moment of weakness, I answered yes and her day was made.



After 2 hours of rain she put her rain boots on and grabbed herd Dora umbrella, and raced out into the sprinkling rain. She had so much fun running around and jumping in the puddles. A few minutes later, Swee woke up and wanted to join her. He didn't have rain boots so he just worn his snow boots. Swee also loved jumping in the puddles but he really loved holding the umbrella as he tried to climb up the ladder to the slide. He didn't make it and soon had ditched the umbrella so he could remove all the existing water off of the slide.



As I was watching the two of them completely enjoy their selves in the rain puddles I realized that moments like this are fleeting, and I need to take advantage of them more often.

As the country song says, "You're going to miss this, you're going to want this back, you're going to wish these days didn't go by so fast..." and I already feel that way about my children's childhoods.

Sawyer's TV Pose

Jason calls this pose Sawyer's TV watching pose. Sawyer still does not enjoy sitting still for any long period of time unless he is being read to. I will not complain about this at all. He does love to select dvds from the dvd collection but rarely watches an entire Blue's Clues episode. Blue's Clues seems to be his favorite or it is the only one that we understand him when he says it.

I am sure over the years Sawyer will decide that the TV is something to make note of but I doubt he will ever be allowed to watch it as much as he would like.

Kindergarten Interview

Emerson was interviewed for kindergarten here in Greensburg. Since her birthday falls after the Indiana required birthday cut off date she had to speak with a kindergarten teacher at Greensburg Elem., which is the school she should attend this fall.

After months of practicing her birth date, address, phone number, learning how to read 60+ words, learning simple addition skills and practicing countless other skills that I remember students needing to know when I was teaching kindergarten Emerson was ready for her educational performance. When we arrive in the parking lot I offered a quick word of prayer that she would be calm and would be able to display the skills that she had so dutifully practiced with me. We walked in and she just waited patiently for the kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Mulroney, to come for her. Mrs. Mulroney arrived and Emerson went with her to a conference room in the office as Sawyer and I waited for her to return. She was gone about 15 minutes, and returned with a huge smile on her face. She also had a picture that she had been asked to draw and tell a story about.

When we were walking out Mrs. Mulroney was walking out too. She said she thought that Emerson should be admitted but that the decision wasn't hers to make.

Emerson was excited to tell me what she had been asked to do and as she rattled off what she had to do/say, it wasn't hardly anything that we had practiced. She had to say her name, write her name, tell her birthday, and a few other minor things. What no reading, or math skills! I was shocked that she didn't have to rhyme or identify numbers over 10!

Now we will just wait and see what comes about. What ever it is I know it will be the Lord's will and that is the way that I want it!

College Roommates

This past Saturday my family and I went to Pataskala, Ohio to visit one of my college roommates. Stephanie and I have kept in contact through the years since we were roommates at Ricks in 1996 and both went to BYU-Hawaii in 1997. We have lived in neighboring states for probably 5 years or more but have only made the time to see each once before.

My family and I set out at about 7:30 Saturday morning to make the almost 3 hour drive to her house. I was so excited to see her, Kevin and their kids. I hadn't seen Kevin since they lived in Pocatello, Idaho in 2000, and we had both had babies (Steph had had Cole, and I had had Sawyer)since we saw each other last. Jason had never met Steph or Kevin before but had heard a lot about them.



When we got there it was like no time had pasted. The guys got along great and aside from one minor instance between Saydria and Emerson, all the kids got along wonderfully too. They made some killer homemade bar-b-que chicken pizza and a delicious homemade strawberry pie. Recipes for both were requested. Believe it or not but not many pictures were taken and we were there the entire day. It wasn't until we were getting ready to leave that cameras even made an appearance. We managed to get a picture of the girls together, but rounding up all the boys was nearly impossible.



Kids ages: Brayden 8
Saydria 6
Kai 4
Cole 1

Emerson 4
Sawyer 2

I can't wait for us to get together again. It was so nice to spend time with the Christensens, we only wish we lived closer!

Taking a Break from the Chaos of April

The past couple of days have been beautiful, and the kids and I have been taking advantage as best as we could. We gardened on Monday before the chaos of Ainsley getting hurt took place. On Tuesday we played outside practically the entire day and even squeezed in a visit to the local park. Yesterday we played outside and the kids rode their bikes up and down the driveway. I was amazed at how well they both did pedalling up and down our very sloped drive. We even had some surprise visitors, my Mom and Cooper stopped by on their way to my Mom's. Emerson and Cooper had so much fun playing in the backyard chasing each other around with some type of squirt gun. There was only one so they had to take turns being the chaser or the one being chased. I am so thankful that Cooper, Ainsley and Beckett live so close to us right now. I just wish they lived closer so that we could have more moments like yesterday's with Emerson and Cooper!

Today we again took advantage of the beautiful weather with a walk, a short bike ride and then a picnic lunch on our deck. I was able to snap a couple of cute pictures of them when they really were paying attention. Following lunch Emerson decided that it was too hot for her so she mostly stayed in the shade, when she wasn't trying to sneak back into the house. That being said most of the pictures are of Sawyer as he kept telling me, "NO cheese Mommy, No cheese!"

I am so thankful for moments like today where you are able to forget about all the other craziness in your life for just a couple of sweet, precious moments with your children. Thanks for making my day a wonderful one, Priss and Swee!

How Long is April Again?

This month seems to be so long and full of trials for my family. The highlight of the month has been Valeri and Morgan coming to Indiana for 5 days. We loved having them and are very grateful for their visit for it truly brightened a stress filled month.





The most recent trial occurred yesterday and it also was Cooper's 5th birthday. This was the first year that a party wasn't planned on his actual birthday, so we weren't planning a trip down there. However, a trip was made to Indy in lightening speed when Erica called saying that she needed me to come and get Beckett. I had already heard that Ainsley had been hit in the head by Cooper's newest birthday present....golf clubs (metal ones). Ainsley had bent down when Cooper was getting ready to do his back swing and he caught her in the forehead. Initially Erica and Matt were told that she needed stitches, then they were told that she had a skull fracture, followed by she needed to be rushed to Methodist via an ambulance and they were going to have to put her under to stitch her gaping wound closed. I rushed from my home in Greensburg to Indy, a little over an hour away, so that Erica could have peace of mind about little Becks. The power of the priesthood once again blessed our lives. Matt gave Ainsley one on their way to the first hospital and I truly believe that because of her blessing she was able to come home today, and game through receiving 3 layers of 20 stitches each with flying colors. Thank heavens for Ainsley's hard head.



What a fifth birthday for Cooper! He spent the majority of his birthday in hospitals with his little sister, who just wanted to go home. WE love our Coopie and it is so hard to believe that he is 5 years old already.



Happy Birthday Cooper Matthew!

Coaches vs. Cancer

Jason competed in an charity basketball game tonight to benefit the fight against cancer. It was sponsored by our local YMCA and four of the surrounding schools were asked to participate. Jason readily volunteered and was excited to be on the other end of the coaching tonight. He put on his shoes and he was off. At the end of the first quarter it was a pretty poor showing of basketball play but by the end of the game Jason had turned on the juice and lead Batesville to a victory.



This was our first experience with Coaches vs. Cancer and we really enjoyed being a part of it. For the break between the two games Coach Hoeppner's widow, he was the IU football coach who passed away from brain cancer, spoke about who he was and his legacy that he left behind. He truly was a tremendous man who lived each day with the goal to make someone else's life better. If only more people in this world would take on that attitude. Her message was very well received and it was wonderful to hear of how out of adversity she has been able to be an inspiration to others.

Back to Jason playing, I really appreciated the example he set for our children and his players that when we are given an opportunity to help others we really should embrace it & not shy away from it. Thanks Babe!