Vineyard Heritage Celebration

How many people can say they've met a UNICORN?!

 Ok, maybe no one can but Ruger got pretty close today at the Vineyard Heritage Celebration.

 He also got to feed a cow.

 And tried to feed a tortoise!

 He got to ride a "train."

 And rode a pony.

 But he spent the most time in the simplest of things.  In a pile of corn!

And the best part of all of this was that it was free.  I was so grateful that I could entertain Ruger with something that was free and truly was fun for him.  He just had so much fun going from one place to the next (there was also bounce houses and old time games) over and over again.  I feel bad sometimes that we don't have a lot to keep our very active 4 year old busy, but today felt like a success!

Hyrum's 6th grade graduation

Hyrum came home with pictures of him in a cap and gown a few days ago and I immediately started crying.  We fought so hard for him to graduate.  Those pictures represented a big deal.

 I look at this picture and I see a boy who had to leave his closest friends in Washington Terrace, went to a school in Oklahoma were he was miserable, soon after began homeschooling, had no friends, went on and off ADD medication (because I was trying to figure out just what was best for him), and went back to public school when we moved back to Utah just to find out that he was very behind.  Emotionally and academically he was not ready for 6 grade...and it was close to the end of the school year.  And then he got on the right medication, worked really hard and proved everyone that he really was ready.  I look at this picture and see a little boy that just needed the right tools combined with hard work.

 Now maybe someone could see why I got so emotional at seeing those pictures.

This morning was Hyrum's 6th grade graduation and I was crying all over again just as it started.  I was just so proud of him!

 (Hyrum wanted a picture of him with his brothers that had already graduated from elementary school)

 (Hyrum with his friend, Ethan)

I'll end it with my favorite picture of the day...doesn't Hyrum look like he's plotting something?!

Squaw Peak

On Sunday, right after church, we went to the Provo Cemetery where David used to work while we were dating.  We went there to do our Memorial Day weekend tradition of finding graves of soldiers or children, who didn't have flowers.  We each placed our own flowers, went home and had lunch and then headed to Squaw Peak.  

 We didn't get very far on our hike because as we got towards the top it was very muddy and when you are climbing steep trails, that just isn't safe.  It has been raining here for weeks so I wasn't too surprised.

But it was still fun taking the boys to where David proposed to me over 17 years ago.  It was fun telling the boys about our memories of that day.  

Our life isn't anything like we expected it to be at this stage of our marriage.  There are things that I wish I could go back to because they were so very good.  There are things I wish I could relive so that I could change because it hurt so bad.  But I'm so grateful that I got to go through both scenarios with David.  He has continuously made me a better person by pulling me through the hard times and laughing with me through the good.   

Remembering Those That Have Passed

David and I went to the Provo Tabernacle Temple on Saturday while the older boys watched Ruger.  This was mine and David's first time at this temple, which was special enough as we had both been in the tabernacle before it was a temple.  But it was extra special because we were able to do the baptismal and confirmation for my Grandma Beck and two of my Aunts, Grandma's children.

 The Spirit was incredibly strong just before I got in the water and as their names were being said.  I truly felt the Spirit.  I kept thinking of Grandma as we were heading to the temple but it was interesting to me that it was Aunt Brenda that I kept thinking of while there.  Everyone one deserves a second chance and I really felt like it had to have felt something amazing to be washed clean.

This is the weekend of Memorial Day.  I couldn't think of a more fitting weekend to be even more eternally tied to my family.

Laughter

David and I had Levi take a picture of us before we went to a wedding on Thursday night.  He had us laughing so you can hardly see my eyes and David looks like he trying to stifle a laugh.  You know, I hope its things like that that I remember about pictures.  The moments.  Something as simple as Levi making us laugh.

Mother's Day and Rock Canyon

Before it gets too hot this coming summer, we will be going on a hike every Sunday after church.  So today we decided to head up to Rock Canyon.  When we got there, we saw the Bonneville Shoreline trail and was all over that!  Well, Mom was all over that!  I love the Bonneville Shoreline because it is sooooooooooooo much easier than almost every trail in this area.  I love hiking but it is hard because if it is near the mountains, it involves going uphill a lot.  But not on the Bonneville Shoreline!  Because it is the "shoreline" of the ancient lake Bonneville, it is pretty flat and you get a great view of the valley below. 

 But that doesn't mean that the boys don't like to go off on little pathways that they find that go up the mountains here and there...

...or little caves that they find...

...or climb rocks that freak Mom out! 

And when you go up a mountain, you need a walking stick, right?  Levi ended up breaking it in half and actually using it for a while as a supposed walking stick.  That boy!

I wanted to share something that happened at church today.  The 2 speakers during Sacrament meeting spoke of the usual Mother's Day stuff.  You know, "You are doing great as a mother" kind of stuff.  I was really struggling with the messages but didn't cry.  At the end of the second talk, Brigham leans over and puts his arm around me.  He told me, "I hope you were listening to those talks."  And then I lost it.  I mean, I thought I was going to have to get up and leave kind of lost it.

I beat myself up over so much as a mother.  And here lately, I have been doing it more than usual. I hate that I'm doing it.  But I do.  But hearing him say that to me meant the world to me.  It was better than any physical gift because he was listening!  He wasn't just telling me that he thought I was a good Mom.  He was listening to the talks.  I have worried a lot about my children lately and if they "hear" the Spirit.  If he "hears" our nightly scripture reading.  If he "hears" family home evening.  And if he isn't "hearing" any of it, will he be prepared to leave our home when the time comes.  Will he be protected with the teachings of his youth in this world that can be so distracting with electronics and instant gratifications?  Oh, I can't describe that feeling that I had when I realized he is listening.  That right there really was my Mother's Day gift.

Battle Creek Falls

After church and naps, we went to Pleasant Grove and went on a hike to Battle Creek Falls.  When I looked this hike up on the internet, it said it was "easy."  The person who labeled it "easy" certainly does not have Myositis!  But at least it wasn't super long (about a mile and a half) so that the uphill climb was manageable.  

The best part for me was the cold mist coming off the waterfall but I'm pretty sure that for everyone else it was the rock sliding off the side of the mountain.  Daddy is such bad example telling the boys how much fun it was doing that growing up!  Before I knew it, all the boys and Daddy were climbing up and sliding/hopping down the side of the mountain.  There are a lot of times that when we go hiking, I get nervous at some of the choices of "trails" or adventures that they take.  At first, this was one of them but before I knew it I was taking pictures!

Hiking Up A Mountain

A few weekends ago we went up a mountain that I forgot to post about.  It was our first hike since being back in Utah.  It was so nice to be able to just go walking up a mountain...though to be honest, it didn't feel so great at first.  My Myositis really makes it hard for uphill hiking.  But it was worth it, even if I had to stop at times, to watch the boys find something joyful in the simple things.  Like throwing rocks off a mountain.