Remember growing up? Remember how Jr. high could be rough sometimes? Friends in particular, were tough. I remember feeling very well-liked at times and very lonely the next. Pictures like this make me happy.





This is Ali with probably her best guy friend, Corbin. (She's wearing lipstick, because they were partners in a dance at halftime of a game.) He is part of a group of boys Ali calls the Brotherhood, which of course hang with her friends, the Sisterhood. I think he's one of the coolest kids in the 8th grade. He talks to adults. I always like kids who have the guts and courtesy to actually say hello to the parentals.

I am a little sad to tear Ali away from the Sisterhood and the Brotherhood. Will there be a Sisterhood in Southern California? Will there be a Brotherhood who just want to hang out? Will she find new friends at that angsty age of 13? I will continue to be grateful for friends like this good kid.

When we go to California to high school and house hunt, I am going to pray that there are kids there who may be looking for a friend, maybe a friend named Ali. Knowing Ali, she will be just fine. Well, knowing Ali there may be lots of meltdowns involved, but IN THE END, she will be just fine! That's what a mom is for right?

Maddie's sketches yesterday:

Hey! You have a great day. I know I will. After my nap, I'm going to help my mum paint. I'm such a huge help to her. The two of us, we're super tight during the day until the teens come home and take me from her. Even though I'm not American, I couldn't help but cheer on your Shaun White and the two super beautiful downhill skiers Lindsey and Julia. America is rockin it in the Olympics!

I get to see my pops later tonight and I'll probably go watch my big brother play basketball. My mum wants to go see Elton John and Billy Joel, but she's torn between seeing them alone, trying to buy a ticket there, and watching my brother. My brother will probably win out. That's my bet.

I've got to run and help mum clean the house again to show it tomorrow. I'm a huge help to her when she does that too. Have a lovely one. Kate

Millcreek Jr. High Girls' Basketball team made it to the Region Championship Game. That has never happened before in the school's history. I know it is because Ali cheers them on so well. I know it. Go Mustangs!

COLLEGE BOUND!!!!

I feel inspired today. I love to write. I love writing this blog. It began with my dad asking me to write a blog so he could keep up on my life and also by my desire to write down my thoughts somewhere. At the time, and currently still, my kids really don't care what their mom thinks. That's as it should be. I don't expect them to. They are at the stage of deciding what they think about life. The cool thing is that I am writing my blog just for me. I like the process of writing. It makes me happy.

Spencer got accepted to BYU today. I kind of knew he would, but to really read the words was a cool moment. Brett was on speaker phone early this morning with all of us so he could be included. Spence is officially headed to college. Wow. Time flies. I remember taking him to Brett's work when he was 18-months old and showing him off to all of the workers there. I remember making him go to a french preschool and a nature preschool while we lived in Boston. I remember him calling the blue crayon, bleu. I thought, "am I messing this poor kid up?" His teacher never spoke to them in English. Then that was it. A few months of French and then off to the preschool in the woods. Thoreau would have been proud of him, studying sap, animal tracks and such.

I remember how hard it was for me to have him go to all-day Texas kindergarten with his teacher who looked like Snow White. I remember how happy I was that he got into the Spectrum program when we moved here. For some reason, I thought that meant his future was oh so bright. Spectrum in 3rd grade= spectacular adult. Somewhere along the way, in Jr. high or perhaps his sophomore year, Spencer decided that his parents were making him do stuff he did not want to do. He did not want to be Sterling Scholar. Why were hard classes that infringed on a good social life the way to go? He began to tell me what classes he wanted to take and politely thanking me for my "advice"--he would take it under consideration.

Now, he is a teacher's assistant one period, home release one period, choir one period, seminary one period, adult roles one period. I don't think I have seen him do homework yet this last half of his senior year. BUT no worries! I guess colleges don't really look at the senior year. Yeah! He's college bound. Now the next hurdle is mission bound. By this time next year, he'll be gone, along with all of my other adopted sons.

By then, I'll probably have Kate in a yoga/beach meditation or surfing preschool. :)

Most Awesome Valentines Day Ever

Disclaimer: Today's post is NOT a Keepin it Real segment. This one is a "THIS IS SO NOT KEEPIN IT REAL!!!" segment.

Yesterday was the day before Valentines. Brett flew in from Cali and took the kids skiing. I, of course, have a little babes and couldn't go. I had planned to go up to Park City anyway and get Brett's Valentines present there. He needed new clothes since he has lost a bunch of weight and has none that fit him. This was going to be my day's job. However, our contractor friend, Trent, only had yesterday to come over and fix a bunch of stuff at our house. He would come upstairs and say, "Ok. That job's done. Now what do you want me to do?" It was super sweet to have someone like Trent at my disposal all day long. That, combined with my frantic attempts at preparing to play for a wedding last night took up my whole day. Oh yeah, and I have a baby. So--those 3 things prevented me from even leaving the house once to get Brett my super-incredible-I'm-sure Valentines Day gifts.

I was pretty bummed out by about 10:30 (after my gig) that I wasn't going to have anything for him to open. (In my defense, every single day this week was filled with simply cleaning and showing this house. ) I called him and said, "I'm done playing. I'm heading to the store to get the stuff for the big breakfast in the morning, ok?" I was secretly hoping that Smith's would still be open and I could grab him something, even though lame. He said, "No, don't go to the store. I already got everything! Just come home! Seriously."
"But, but, did you get little candies for the kids' plates and a little family gift?"
"Yes. I have it taken care of! I'm doing it this year. Just come home."
"But, but I need to get something for you, because I didn't go to Park City and I don't want to be all lame!"
"Erin, I don't care. I promise. You are selling this house for me. I'm FINE. We'll go together tomorrow."

When I drove up to the house I saw this:





When I walked in the back door, I saw this:





And this:


THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT TOO!!!

This morning, he woke me up at 6:30a.m. and said, "Erin, will you get the kids up? I have breakfast ready." I rubbed my eyes...Huh? At 6:30? You made breakfast? The kids are going to kill me if I go down there and try to get them up, but really you made breakfast? It smells so good.

Apparently, he had given them all a heads up last night that he wanted to have breakfast together before he left at 7a.m. for his bishopric meeting at the church. They all woke up tiredly, but happily and we filed in the kitchen. Since I saw the table last night, there was now an envelope on each plate. Each said, "I love you! Dad" Brett insisted I open mine first. It was all mushy. I think him being away from us every week is making him mushy. Anyway, at the bottom it said, "My Valentines gift to you is WE ARE TAKING THE WHOLE FAMILY TO HAWAII IN 3 WEEKS!!!!!!!"

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHMMMMMYYYYYYYYGGGGGGGOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAARRRRRREEEEEEEEYYYYYYYOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUKKKKKIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDDDDIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGMMMMEEEEE??????!!!!!!!!

In each envelope was a ticket to Hawaii. Everyone was in shock. I knew he had a work trip there the 2nd week of March and that I could go with him, but I would have to take the baby (which I was planning on doing.) As excited as I was, I knew it would be tricky to do any of the activities with a 7-month old and wondered if it was worth it for his company to have me come. But NOW I have 4 babysitters, nannies if you will, at my command, coming to play with Kate whenever I need them to! It will be paradise. I can't believe I'm going to have all of my kids, my son who is soon to leave the nest, all with me under the bright Hawaiian sun.

This is what Brett got for his efforts before he left for his meeting. I will never forget this morning.

Sydney- You are beautiful. I'm going to take you to California with me.