A Beautiful concert

Jessica is a great girl. She dressed like Cindi loo Hoo for Dr. Suess day. Her hair made her so tall. She also did a great job performing in the choir on Tuesday night. I'm so proud of her. She is a beautiful girl inside and out and I'm glad to be her mom.

Holiday concerts

If anyone is looking for a fun free holiday choir concert. Westlake High School is having their Christmas concert tomorrow night at 7:00pm I have yet to be to one of the choir concerts that I haven't left impressed with. Also Vista Junior High is having their choir concert on Tuesday night and their last concert was sensational. Trust me I have sat through many concerts that I would NEVER promote but both of these directors are sensational it is amazing the things they get out of these kids. Not to mention that Darren and Jessica are performing.

Performances gallore

One thing I love and hate about December is the craziness it creates with performances. So these first few are of Darren's acapella and Madrigal group at Temple Square. My sister in law Liz and Anya came with us to see the lights and them sing.

This last week my elementary school had our choir and chimes concert. Most schools don't have the chance to have a 'chimes' choir but ours chooses 13 kids to perform and it is fantastic. Stephanie has had a great time doing this and their director is my dear friend and talented lady Janeal (From Preston, no less small world) so for the last 2 concerts we have done one number together with the chimes accompanying the choir. It is really cool.
I have been in charge of the choir for the last year and a half and I love it:) Kathryn has come and volunteered her time after school and is learning to be a great conductor. She hasn't taken choir the last 2 years because of dance company so at least this gives her a chance to be around the music. Since this is the first year that my girls have been at my school as you can see Rebecca is in choir with me and she even had to sing a small solo that the principal assigned her to.

Build a Bear Giveaway!!

My friend is offering a $25 give away to Build a Bear. Click on Utahmomslife.blogspot.com

It is a great Christmas surprise for some lucky kid:)

Choirs to perform at Temple Square

Tuesday on the November 30th some of the choirs from Westlake High School will be performing at Temple Square. I just thought if any of you were interested I'd post the times. I love to go to the square especially since the lights are on:) Darren's choir director is FANTASTIC. She is a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and has been putting on great concerts.
12 @ church office building
1 @ Joseph smith memorial building
5:30 @ Assembly hall
7 @ North visitor's center

I'm going to take Rebecca, Stephanie, and my sister in law Liz up in the late afternoon so we can watch.

Ronald McDonald House

I felt like I needed to post a separate post for this blessing... 16 years ago we spent Thanksgiving in the Ronald McDonald House. It had been a whirlwind month and we had found out the night before Thanksgiving that Darren was going to be finally moved from the peds intensive care unit in Primary Chidren's Hospital into rehabilitation. This was a very different year as we counted blessings one by one. A family came into the home and cooked a full meal for all of us families that were staying there. Ryan will still tell you it was the best tasting meal we have ever eaten. As we sat at the table with other families that were going through many of the same things we were we were amazed at the bountiful blessings we could name. After that experience we vowed that our three main charities would be the Church, Primarys, & Ronald Mcdonald homes. The weird thing is that this was 16 years ago and yet it still feels like yesterday. I could never repay the miracles that we were blessed with those many years ago. I hope that Heavenly Father feels like I have done by best when it comes to raising my children because I know I am not a perfect parent but I have tried to raise them in a home that values the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving 2010

I was sitting here reading some of the blogs that I have posted over the last few years...I can't believe how fast time has flown by and how much does (or doesn't) get accomplished in that amount of time.

My heart is so full of gratitude...First I have to say I'm so grateful for my immediate family, with that I'm grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ that with it I can be sealed to my family through eternity. Yesterday I took the opportunity to 'cuddle' and relax with some of my girls. Rebecca let me hold her like a baby for a long time and I was able to just relax and give her some good loving. I know it is hard on my kids for me to work and I wish I was able to stay home with them and always be here when they are here but that is not feasible right now. That being said I am thankful that I have a job. But that I also have a job that I get the same holidays that they do. I love having Rebecca and Stephanie at my school this year. On Tuesday as I was going inside for lunch Rebecca was playing basketball and she passed me the ball and I shot and made her a basket. It was a 30 second LOVELY moment.

I can't believe that my son is going to graduate from high school and go off to college this next year. He has become such a great young man and I love that he still comes in to talk to us and he says 'I love you' when he gets out of a car or calls me.

Kathryn is such a helpful daughter. I never could have gone back to school or teaching without her help. But she cuddled and read with me and helped me write grants yesterday. No she isn't a great help when it comes to cleaning but how much can you ask for as a 15 year old.

Jessica quietly goes about doing her thing. This year she has helped a lot with meals and picking up random things. She is so excited because she just made chamber choir and getting ready to audition for the dance team. I am really proud of her and the way she represents our family.

Stephanie has become a great help in my classroom. She helps me in the mornings get things ready for the day and is having an awesome time with the chimes choir. She is excited to turn 12 in January.

Ryan works so hard for our family. It never ceases to amaze me how loving and accepting of me that he is. When I look at me and all of my faults and imperfections he looks right through and reminds me of all of the good he sees. He is a fabulous dad. My kids love him so much and that is so important to me.

I'm thankful for my extended family...Yes I have lots of brothers and sisters and 'in laws' and nieces and nephews and I'm grateful for their examples and love. I'm excited to spend time with my family after Christmas.
But I'm also grateful for the house, heat, food, cars, electricity, INDOOR PLUMBING, etc.

Pirate Dance

Tonight Westlake is having a dance with a pirate theme. Darren and his friends Kati and Madison decided to go 'stag' together. They called our neighbors who just happened to dress up like pirates for Halloween and borrowed some gear. They looked really cool...Thanks Aaron and Catey. This group of kids have had fun in high school together, I'm grateful that Darren has had these girls to hang with. I can't believe that they are getting ready to graduate and go on to colleges.

Do they ever really grow up?

My kids are sitting around my living room playing with Rebecca's car track and entertaining my 2 year old neighbor. I love that even though they are teenagers they can still have fun.

We had a fun Halloween, Darren went to a party, Jessica and Stephanie went trick or treating with their different friends, Rebecca went with Ryan and the neighbors and Kathryn and I stayed home and partied. She decided to skip the party in Saratoga which worked out because I really went to bed at 8:15 that night. Rebecca came home to hand out candy because that is her favorite thing to do:) Happy Halloween!!

Our Stake's Youth Trek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELIa7f3QcaA

Tender Mercy

Today was an interesting day. But it ended up being fabulous... My neighbor called me while I was still at school to ask if she could crash our house with dinner. Apparently she had made too much pot roast and veggies and homemade rolls. Umm YES! Of course she could bring her kids and eat food at our house since she was bringing it for all of us too. So I called my girls to have them do a clean up job and we had delicious dinner... Thanks Jessica it was VERY thoughtful and definitely a tender mercy of our Heavenly Father. It was what I really needed:)

Halloween Party

So last night Ryan and I had the chance to dress up and play. Ryan made his Indian Costume 15 years ago and he has worn it for many different Halloweens but he had figured out he hadn't worn it out here yet. So we decided to be 'Cowboys and Indians'. After my dad met Ryan he told me that I was marrying a 'big kid'. Yes, I married a big kid! But let me tell you it is much more fun to be married to a kid that still likes to have fun after 18 years! I'm glad he is my best friend:))

Kathryn helped me make some chaps and she curled my hair and we played with our neighbor friends. Being a school teacher sometimes makes me dread Halloween but it was fun to dress up with adults and eat treats and not have 'kids' around.

And he did win one of the costume contests:) That makes his day.

Cutting me off at the knees...

Last week Darren casually mentioned to me that he was considering graduating early from high school. At first this was such a shock and something that I had never even thought of but then after we have spent a week praying and discussing it in many different aspects. I think that he is going to try to graduate a year early allowing him to go to college for a year before he leaves on his mission.
He has had fun in school but he seriously hasn't had a really good group of guy friends since we moved from Preston. He has various friends but most are either graduating, already in college or on missions. In thinking about it he would like to have the opportunity to go to school and be in a student ward that is focusing on sending missionaries out into the world. In thinking about my first 2 years at BYU the young men in our ward buoyed each other up as they prepared to go out to serve. This means that he does have to work hard this year but in reality he only has to earn 2 extra credits in order to graduate early. The weird thing to me is that he just chopped a whole year off of us. You tell yourself that you don't have worry because you have less than 2 years left before he leaves on a mission and then all of a sudden he decides to leave home a WHOLE year earlier.
When it comes down to it we are doing a lot of studying and praying and if this is what he is supposed to do it will continue to work out and he will be able to get into the school he needs to as well as get the financial help that he needs.

Lia Sophia

The girls' party is tonight. Come for treats!

Jessica

Yesterday Jessica was awarded her Young Womenhood Medallion. She will be 14 in March so yes, she is still a Beehive. When the church changed the program earlier this year she was nearly finished but she began the altered program which included reading the entire Book of Mormon. We are so proud of her. Jessica is my most shy child when it comes to grown ups and talking on the telephone. She is more than happy to play with any child or baby but ask her to speak to someone is like tightening the noose around her neck. She is also scared of heights and found herself nearly hyperventilating at the top of the repelling tower at Camp Williams. (I told her leaders she was scared of heights)

She is fun loving and silly much of the time but is also a straight A student and always has her homework done and is doing things for others. She has an infectious laugh and you can't help but like being around her. Did I say we are so proud of her? Great Job Jessica!
Love, mom and dad

PERFECTION!

Some days just turn out perfect... I know that is silly but I'll tell you last night our family had so much fun. Rebecca had saved some of her birthday budget so we could go to the BYU Women's soccer game and to cheap dinner.
So last night we drove over to Orem and went to Arctic Circle and the kids had $.60 hamburgers, corn dogs and/or french fries. (I've said it before we are cheap, no drinks, or anything else.) Darren paid $2 more so he could have extras but even including his the total it was $12 then I had won free yogurts on my friend Sharla's blog so we went there and dove right in. It was yummy but it would have been VERY expensive. They charge $.44 cents an ounce so the one that Rebecca and I had was .95 pounds about $5 but the one that Kathryn and Stephanie had would have cost over $12. Everyone elses fell between that range but like I said we had won them so we weren't worried and we loaded on nuts and expensive heavy items. YUM!
At that point the football game was just getting out so we drove up the street, got parking right in front and walked over to the Smith Field House Stadium. Now 20 years ago my roommate Ally was on the soccer team, so we went to all of the home games, she was the top scorer so it was really fun to watch, BUT since then they have built a stadium, put in real turf and it was so cool. Then to top it off BYU is ranked #9 in the NCAA. We had brought coats and blankets and we were donned in BYU blue. The place was packed! There were so many people there. And it was incredible to watch. Rebecca and Steph got to give Cosmo high fives and Rebecca was wearing her medal that she had gotten earlier at her last game so he was noticing that. Then after we won the fans line the fence and the players come and give high fives to the fans. The other great thing about it was that a family ticket was $15. That is just more than $2 a person for our family. Ryan kept saying this is so much more fun than I ever imagined. (for Ryan that is really good)
So except for gas, and including Darren's extra 2 we paid less than $30 for a family date night. Wahoo! Like I said it was near perfection...I love having teenagers. We joked and kidded all night. I love my family.

Darren

September was the month of DARREN... to begin with he had his Eagle Court of Honor.
It was such a neat night. I am so proud of the young man he has become. He had LOTS of people there to support him and not only did he have sugar treats we served Del Taco tacos and slurpees! What 17 year old doesn't love that? Kathryn even decorated a cake for the center piece.

Then his birthday was on the 19th. Some of his 'girl' friends gave him a hat, balloons and had a surprise party for him. It was really fun and I'm glad that he has these people in his life.

The next week was Homecoming and he went with Katie Wankier and doubled with Kenneth Stock and Jaden. They watched movies for their day date and then went to Texas Roadhouse and then the dance.
He has been working at my school as a sweeper which is helping him raise money for his choir trip to Seattle next April. I'm glad that he is driving and can help get people where they need to be.

Rebecca 2010

My baby Rebecca turned 10 yesterday. Wow! Since she was a scheduled c-section we didn't find out what we were having so we would have something to tell people about her birth. Funny thing was that it was the year 2000 and there were more babies born that week than there had ever been in the USA. The reasoning being was that most people stayed home over New Years for Y2K. Rebecca was actually due 2 weeks later so it made me laugh to sit in the hospital and watch Good Morning America while they interviewed parents who had just given birth.

The weekend before her birth I had been judging a Nutcracker audition and carrying Stephanie down the stairs from the stage and I fell and bruised my entire back. When we went into surgery the doctors and nurses all commented on my purple bruises that looked HORRIBLE. They spent nearly an hour cutting through scar tissue just to get to my uterus to deliver her and and then when they did finally cut it she kind of swam up. Neither doctor could get a hand on her and finally one of the OBs laid across my ribs (bruising those) and pushed really hard so that Dr. Noorda could get a grip on her. When they finally told us it was a girl they noticed they had cut her forehead a little bit (nothing that a little super glue couldn't fix).

Now I consider myself an expert on c-sections seeing as how I've had 5. But this recovery was nothing like the others. I wanted to believe that it was the same but the doctors had already told me that I had an infection, I lied and went home early, and sat at my house lying to myself, Ryan and my mom about how I felt. The Sunday after she was born my mom was scheduled to fly home and I woke up really early knowing that I needed to go back to the hospital. I woke her up and we woke up Ryan and we went to the ER. Anyway they got me feeling better and eventually I recovered. I know it was Heavenly Father saying "Yes, Kerri your body can't handle having any more babies, you need to be here to raise the ones you have!"

Rebecca was born singing and listening to music. She has sat through hundreds of piano and voice lessons. She would practice my opera with me as I would drive to my lessons in Logan. When she was four we went to the dollar store and she bought a sword. She came out and had me put her hair in a low pony tail. Then she told me she was Raoul from the Phantom and she was singing the songs that he sings at the cemetery.

She was in nearly all of the children's theater shows that I directed and she would help me choreograph them. Reminding me of things that I had done at home with her. In Peter Pan she couldn't decide whether she wanted to be a pirate or an Indian. She knew all of the material and had a place on stage for whichever part she came out on.
When she was 4/5 she played Gretl in Sound of Music. She was darling and took her part very seriously. Kathryn would go to rehearsals and the performances with her making sure she was ready for each of her entrances. Since I was playing the Barroness and I couldn't worry about whether she was in the right place at the right time.

She plays sports with anyone who will. Her favorite is soccer. She has boy cousins that she plays with faithfully. She is her Uncle Jeff's 'dream daughter' and we tease that she is Ryan's favorite Daughter and Son. She truly is the brother that Darren didn't get but don't let that kid you because she does like her hair curled and to wear dresses.

She has a strong testimony of the Gospel. When we found the bone tumor in her leg it was very scary. She asked her dad and uncle Jeff to give her a blessing so that she wouldn't be scared. It is still scary to know that she still has to have it taken care of but she knows that she will be okay. I love that she gets up to bear her testimony and she tells "stories" because it is more interesting when someone tells a story. (that is how she explained it to us later that day)
She loves learning especially science. She wants to play the drums when she's older. Anyway I just wanted to post a little bit about her since this is as close to a journal that I get.

Goodbye Summer

Yes... it is true the summer has come to an end.

I can't believe how much we crammed into our summer vacation.

Darren 9 weeks at Camp Maple Dell. He loved teaching canoeing, life saving and swimming... Hi-lights were the nights he spent in the canoe on the lake, diving into the lake to scrape his hips and chest on the rocks, and helping struggling swimmers. He loved going on trek and his personal favorite was getting to baptize Alex. His Eagle Court of Honor is Sat. Sept 4th anyone is welcome to join us celebrate our only son.

Kathryn, EFY in Orem was one of her favorites. She went with her friend Courtney and they stayed with Ricky and Amy and attended classes all day long at UVU. I have been talking about EFY their entire lives but it is something you have to experience to truly understand. SHE LOVED IT! She also had a great time at girls camp and on trek. She spent MANY, MANY, MANY hours babysitting this summer. If you ask what she has to show for it, she will say a laptop, school clothes and other fun items...

Jessica had a blast at girls camp. She was excited to climb the 5 foot wall. I know that doesn't sound impressive but she is so scared of heights that it kills her. She also went to Jeff's house during trek and enjoyed watching 'chick flicks' with him while he recovered from surgery.

Stephanie partied it up in Kaysville with Sam and Treva for a week. She got to see Sam finish the ragnar in Park City and ride a ski lift. She became an expert on phineas and ferb (?) and Sarah would ask her are you tired while she would fall asleep during episodes. She also went to Clear Creek with me for a week. She had a blast!

Rebecca spent trek with Jeff and her side kick cousins. She had various activities and is excited that soccer has started again.

I (yes that is me Kerri) took the 3 girls to the ward campout for 2 nights by myself. For all of you who know me that is BIG. I don't camp. I also worked at Clear Creek summer camp for 2 weeks, went on Trek, 4 days of district institute, 3 days of CORE academy, and 2 days of history Cohort.

We had Teresa and Eric and Rachel for the 4th of July, Visited with Denny and Heather and the boys in June, went to Richfield for a night to meet my mom and her family. And played with Kami (Ryan's sister from Ohio), Brent and Roberta and boys, and Deena and Tom for many evenings of dinners etc.

Usually my summer consists of cleaning out bedrooms and deep cleaning my house... yeah that didn't happen this summer. And I think we will live. My RS president years ago told us that when our kids leave home we will have plenty of time to clean our house but when they are home we need to play with them and build relationships... I totally agree. My kids are getting so old and I am grateful that they want to hang out with me and play. I love having teenagers that want their old, fat mom hanging around. We have had passes to the Legacy Ctr this summer so we've spent countless hours in the pool and at Zumba classes. And we've had movie days and shopping days.
Are we ready to go back to school? Is anyone EVER ready to go back to school? It is time...

Fun family games!

My friend is doing a fun game give away.. Go to Utahmomslife.blogspot Just linkover to it from mine to enter... On second thought don't enter because I really want one:)) Love, Kerri

Summer adventures

I know I haven't blogged forever~

I'll go backwards. Last week Ryan, Darren, Kathryn and I had the opportunity to go on a Stake Trek for Youth Conference. Ryan and I were on the activities committe so he spent one afternoon helping 200+ kids shoot black powder rifles, I helped them learn some dances for the hoe down, Ryan spent one day driving a 4 wheeler up and down the trails (he really hated that!), I trekked with the kids and did the women's pull, etc. etc. etc. Darren and Kathryn did awesome. They were strong and worked hard with their families. To finish it off Darren had the opportunity to baptize a young man into our ward.

We found some sod on KSL so our yard is almost completely sodded! YEs that was hard work the day before we went on trek.

Stephanie went to Sam and Trevas and helped with Lilly and Sarah. She had a blast.
Jessica and Rebecca went to Jeff's for the week. They had a terrific time and Kristin loved having some females around.

The week before I went to Clear Creek summer camp to be a counselor. We also paid for Stephanie to go also so it was fun to have her there with me.

Darren is back at Camp Mapledale for the summer. He is teaching Canoeing. Water front?! That is an envied spot.

Kathryn and Jessica go to Girls camp on the 19th of July and I go back to Clear Creek on the 26th then KAthryn has EFY the 1st week of August. I have a few trainings mixed in there in a couple of places also. Can you say BUSY vacation? But it is all good. I love having teenagers. They are really fun.

Teacher Appreciation Week

Growing up in California, I am sad to say but I don't ever remember participating in teacher appreciation as a student. In Preston they would have our kids write a thank you and the room moms would decorate the classroom doors. I always sent a year end gift to my kids' teachers and I am pretty sure that I took year end gifts to my teachers in elementary school.
Holy Cow Utah county does teacher appreciation! In the past I have recieved many fun gifts for me and for my classroom but it hasn't ever been anything I solicited. It usually embarrasses me because at the end of each day I always look back and think of the things that I didn't get to or get finished with. I don't feel like the world's Best teacher so I don't like to be looked at in that way.
When students bring gifts I have a box on my counter that way if kids bring something they can stick it inside because I don't want to open gifts in front of other students making them feel bad. Sometimes I have a student that brings me something and begs me to open it and I tell them I'll open it at lunch or after school, telling them that I don't want other kids to feel bad because they didn't bring something. When I chose to teach I knew that I wouldn't get paid a lot of money, (duh) that I would spend lots of my own money on books, classroom supplies and varies things for my classroom and I knew that I would be spending the day babysitting many kids. But I also knew that I have the ability to make a difference, to provide a safe environment (if only for 6 hours a day), and help students become good citizens, whether or not they know the materials for the year end tests.
When I was young I remember reading the book Everything I ever needed to learn I learned in Kindergarten. I honestly believe that so much more of education is the daily lessons we learn from each other and by others' examples. Our kids are going to follow role models, whether or not we want them too. I can't tell you what I learned in elementary school but I can name every teacher I had and whether I can tell you good and bad about all of them. None of it has to do with the curriculum.
What do teachers want for appreciation? A day of not having to discipline a student for doing the same dumb thing he does every day. A smile when I say it is time to do math not a groan. A finished homework assignment, not a lost one.
I have loved my class this year. They are a great group of kids. Whether or not they can all get a 4 on the CRTS is important to me but I would rather them look back on this school year and think of the type of person I am. One who stands for honesty, integrity, that doesn't use vulgar language, that doesn't degrade or put down people, one who loves to read and learn, and one who loves them.
I can promise I don't do it for the gift cards or the lotion...If I did I would work some where else.
The other thing that has been amazing this year is my parent volunteers. One of the things I asked a few parents to help me with was book clubs. In the past I've had about 7-8 clubs going on at a time and I've met with each of the groups every week. This year I asked some moms to come in about 20 minutes a week and read the novel along with their student and help facilitate a book club meeting. This has been incredible. The parents have loved the opportunity, the kids have enjoyed meeting with the parents and I haven't had to facilitate each of the meetings. At our school we don't have a rule against bringing a younger sibling so that hasn't been a problem either. With 5th grade we do many 'extra' activities including going to Clear Creek overnight and needing parent volunteers for that also. We also did an Ellis Island simulation day in which we invited parents to come run stations and help our 5th graders feel what it was like to be an immigrant. Can I teach without parent help? Yes, does it enhance lessons YES!

May Day...

We had such a great month of April that was finished off by the school choir concert on the 29th. Mr. Martin had asked for teachers to volunteer to lead the choir and nobody would. I finally said that I would help somebody do it, at the end of October he came to Leah and I and asked us to have a Christmas concert ready?! Yeah right! Anyway we put together a couple of songs and then Leah found out she was prego and sick and backed out. That left me and in January we started a full fledge choir. We had 90 kids sign up and pay to come on Thursday afternoons and I was in the thick of it. Luckily Kathryn volunteered to help me and boy was she awesome. She would ride the bus to my school and have everything set up and organized each week for practice.
We picked music from Broadway musicals (of course) and invited the chimes choir to accompany "Tender Shepard" from Peter Pan. It turned out beautiful. The kids did great. Children never cease to amaze me when push comes to shove. It has been 5-6 years since I directed my last musical. And it made me remember why I did it:)
We are pushing Mr. Martin into doing a kids show next spring and I have an army of teachers that have offered to help.
This week is Hope of America at BYU. It is designed for 5th graders and is an awesome opportunity for them to gain patriotism for our wonderful country. A lot of things happen in our government that aren't right but our students really are the future of America and it is important for them to gain a love for our country. I hope that everyone that has a 5th grader performing takes the opportunity to go it. You will never forget it.

It's done~

Darren is done!

I'm posting this for my mom in Cali. She is making pads to go in the bottoms of the beds.

A one of a kind...Kathryn Cherry

I am the luckiest person in the world. I have the opportunity of being the mom to Kathryn Cherry. Kathryn was a scheduled C-section for April 6th. I figured it would be a great birthday date to have while she was growing up. She was born exactly 3 weeks prior to my graduation from the BYU dance department. I don't think anyone else had or probably hasn't ever graduated from there with 2 kids. She was born on a Thursday and like clockwork I was checked out of the hospital on Sunday afternoon and went back to school on Monday morning because it was the last full week of classes. She was a tempermental readhead named after Ryan's mom who had died before I met Ryan. We had thought that she would go by Kathy but she is definitly a KATHRYN and has been ever since. She hated her car seat and would SCREAM anytime she was in a car or even put in her seat.

She was an orphan in Annie when she was 4 and when Meri came to help do her hair she said "NO, Were you in the play Annie, I didn't think so" My brother Jeff likes to repeat that line because she really did some funny things.

She is a PERFECTIONIST! Anyone who knows her knows this but Kathryn is one of the hardest workers I have ever known in my whole life. She puts 110% into everything she is doing.

When she was older she played Clara in the Nutcracker and was BEAUTIFUL. She danced with so much grace and her stage presence is divine and demanding. It is too bad that she doesn't care for the drama teacher at Westlake because Kathryn is a NATURAL.

She has a beautiful testimony. I can't believe that she is 15. She has been my biggest help since I went to work and had to go back to school. Last summer we had the chance to go to Cali with the other girls and Kathryn was so much fun to drive and visit with. I love to take her places with me and I love that she likes to be around me:) I can't imagine her not being around for me to play with. I have been so proud to be her mom. And we love her so much. Happy Birthday:)

The princess party she threw last summer for a few neighbor girls.

Darren Hacking is building 20 wood doll beds to be donated to the Eagle Mountain West Stake Hearts for the Holidays for his BSA Eagle Scout Project.

Donations would be appreciated:
Fabric/ or doll blankets, baby dolls, high gloss enamel paint (non-lead), cash that would be used to purchase plywood and building materials.

Anyone who would be willing to donate materials or time can contact Darren at our home or phone him by Saturday April 3rd.
He wants to be able to complete this by the end of spring break.

Jewelry Box from dad

Ryan has been playing with lots of wood lately and this is the jewelry box that he has made for Jessica. He hasn't stained it yet but you get the idea. It is beautiful.

Time keeps on ticking...ticking...into the future...

Tonight I am sitting on the couch listening to 13 year olds rattle on about jr. high teachers, cute boys, and daily things.... Jessica is officially a teenager. Don't get me wrong she has always had the hormones of a teenager but now she is really one.... I love Jessica she is the friendliest kid I know. She has always had a soft part in her heart for my sister Sarah and she is one of the wards most beloved babysitters.

I will entice you all about her entrance into the world. I had toxemia and had gained 30+ in the last 3 weeks. I went to the doctor on Monday and on Thursday I had gained 11 pounds... I am NOT exaggerating. We had decided not to 'find' out what we were having because when you have scheduled c-sections it is more exciting to have something to tell people so we didn't know whether she was going to be a Jessica or a Joshua (that is what I wanted to name another boy... we never had one). Anyway when they went to deliver her they allowed Ryan to go stand at the bottom of the bed so he could watch more closely and all of a sudden the ENTIRE operating room erupted in laughter. Not what you want to hear when you are having major surgery and you want to hear that your baby is healthy. Finally they stopped laughing long enough for Ryan to explain that while they were lifting her out of me she grabbed a scalpel off of the table and she wouldn't let go. My doctor retired later that year (letting you know he was a veteran doctor) told me that he had NEVER seen a baby do anything like that before in his life. Oh the joys of motherhood.

She has always been fun. When she was about 18 months I cut Darren, Ryan's and Kathryn's hair one afternoon and Jessica wanted me to cut hers. I combed it down and pretended to cut a little bit but didn't really cut any. The next day I was reading Kathryn a story and Darren and Jessica walked into the living room and her hair was cut ALL over her head. Darren had cut it for her because 'she was sad' that I hadn't cut hers at all the day before. Don't worry it was 3 weeks before my brother's wedding and I seriously thought about shaving her head so that she could start over. Needless to say I did cry.
Then about a year later her hair started falling out. It reminded me of a dog with mange. Many people thought she had just cut her hair again but it wasn't true. After that her hair grew back beautifully and she has gorgeous locks now...
When she was in first grade I got a call from the school that they thought she had broken her arm. We took her to the hospital to be sent to the ortho surgeon in Logan because she had broken her humorous. That is the Largest bone connecting your elbow to your shoulder. They couldn't cast it so it was so painful for days. I stayed up with her all night and we didn't even attempt to change her clothes for 3 days because she was wearing her brand new teeshirt from LONDON (that I had just brought back for her) Eventually they were able to splint it for 2 months but it made it very hard for her to feel stable in her power tumbling classes. She was so happy when it was finally better.
We are so happy that Jessica came to our family. I know that she is a squirrely beehive and is loud and giggly just the way you imagine all of them to be. I know that she drives Kathryn crazy especially when she is at young womens. I imagine that is how Teresa felt lots of times with Marguerite and some of us sisters. But that is okay because she is ours and I LOVE HER!!!

UPDATE!

Holy cow! I can't believe it is almost March. Today was the last day of the 2nd Trimester so officially we are on the last 1/3 of the school year. Update:

Rebecca and Stephanie were both student of the months for the end of January.

Stephanie turned 11 and had 15 girls over for facials/manicures. I was grateful it wasn't a slumber party and was also grateful to my sister in law Amy and Abby for helping.

We got through the science fair both at home and at school.

I made it through varies bouts of trainings.

We had lots of days off of school.

And we had Valentines day!
Darren has accepted a job to work at Camp Mapledale again this summer.

I'm glad because it was an awesome opportunity for him.
Anyway hopefully I'll write more later.

ps Darren had a great time at the dance that night. He danced lots and lots and his date said that he was so fun because he would twirl her and laugh. I'm glad that she had fun. It was her first date so that made it very fun for both of them.

My baby!

Can I be really old enough to have a son go to a formal dance? Shay Rasmussen (a girl in our ward) asked Darren at church on Sunday if he would go to her school's formal with her and another couple that they are friends with. We have spent the week getting him all ready. They just stopped by to let us take their pictures.

Funny things I don't ever want to forget...

On Monday when I got home from school Rebecca was so excited to show me that she had checked out a DVD at the city library about Martin Luther King. She proceded to tell me that they had talked about him at school and she had decided that she feels selfish and guilty because she is white and that the black people have had to suffer so much. She has such a tender heart. She said that she couldn't even imagine not being able to choose where to sit on the bus or be able to eat in certain restaurants.

Tonight as we were driving Darren to Mutual we were talking about memories and we were talking about the boys Rebecca has kissed or the ones that have kissed her. Jonathan Kunz in Preston was number one on that list... Hmm they were 4 when he kissed her and then Ben Jensen was in kindergarten when he kissed her and their teacher had to give him the 'talk' about how he couldn't kiss girls at school. She cracks us up. She has always had boys as her best friends. She doesn't do the girl drama. She had all kinds of funny memories of being babysat by Ben's mom and Teagan's mom during her kindergarten year. I couldn't have asked for a better babysitting situation.
Right now she is trying to read her book report book so she has posted a picture of a dragon on her door saying to "STAY AWAY"! We may have a read a thon on Friday night so she can read all night. She thought that would be a great idea. She'll be in bed by 10. That is what happens when we read scriptures at 5:30am. I know I'm a mean mom but that is the only time we are all home.

Happy New Years

Okay we will back up...
Thanksgiving~ Ryan's family came including, Kami from Ohio, Brent, Roberta, Kip and Nikolay from Whidbey Island and of course Deena's clan and Rick and Amy. Everyone was here because Rick and Amy got married on Saturday the 28th in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a wonderful weekend and we are so excited for Amy to join our family.

The Monday afterward I went to Clear Creek with all of the 5th graders for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It was really fun but crazy. The girls had a piano recital while I was gone and they did fantastic.

December brought concerts, concerts and more concerts... Stephanie played the ghost of Christmas present in A Christmas Carol. She was darling. Darren had a choir concert at the high school. He was really fun to watch on stage. Jessica had a choir concert at the Jr. High and Stephanie had a choir concert at the elementary school. They are my kids by the way. Oh yeah I took on our school choir in November so I also had to lead a choir song or two at Saratoga.

My older brother Denny came to Salt Lake for business and we went downtown to meet him with Jeff and the boys for dinner. It was very fun.

Needless to say that by the time school got out for Christmas vacation I was tired of having places to run every day. But our vacation time was AWESOME! I stayed home and watched movies, the snow fall and my kids play with everything under the sun. We had a beautiful Christmas season, we have been very blessed this year.

Jon and Melissa Graham came to dinner on Christmas eve. Ryan considers Jon his 'Godson' no we aren't Catholic but we might as well be when it comes to them.
Kathryn flew to Denver on the 27th to play Nanny for Teresa. She didn't take her IPOD out of her pocket so she set off the alarms at the airport:)) She had a blast. They went to movies, snow shoeing and out to eat for every meal. She flew back on the 1st and then we went to Kaysville to spend the night with Ryan's cousin Sam and Treva. We went there and hung out, ate good food and went to the movies. We love Sam. Ryan wishes he was a brother!
I took the kids sledding with Abby (Darren's girlfriend) and she came over on New Year's Eve and then they went to a party. Jessica went to a party and Ryan, Steph and Rebecca and I went to party at the Braby's.

As we started the new year we have set new goals and are striving to accomplish old ones. We were sad to find out that Ryan's work schedule changed and now he has to work Sundays again. We have been in the nursery at church and our cute kids all went to Primary this last Sunday. I am sad to lose my partner, this is the first calling that Ryan and I have had together and we have loved it:)
I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.