Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all of the wonderful fathers out there!

To all fathers who take their role as a father seriously - Thank you for understanding how important you are to the successful rearing of the rising generation. Your steady influence and gentle guidance is of immeasurable value.

To my own Dad, and my wonderful father-in-law - Thanks for all you have done and continue to do for me and my little family. I'm so grateful for you and your love and support.

To the father of my children - Thanks, honey, for all you do for our family. Our kiddos love you and have a wonderful example in you of a person who knows how to work hard and loves what is right and good. Thank you for honoring the priesthood that you hold and exercising it in the guiding of our family.

And as Molly said this morning, "Thanks for getting money for us." Love you, babe.

Spring?

These are the tulips that bloomed in my front yard....

...in March.

I know I live in the Pacific NW, but really, the rain this year has been a little out of control. We had the 3rd wettest May in Oregon's recorded history....

I have always loved the rain here. It has never bothered me.

But this year?

Yeah... I'm ready for summer.

Oh Garbage

The other day I asked Jack if he had finished his corndog. He said yes. His plate was clear, but just moments before I had seen half of a corndog still on his plate....

"Jack, what did you do with the rest of your corndog?"

"I frowed it a duh gahbage"

"Really?"... I hadn't seen him leave the table...

On the counter next to his chair, I found his little toy garbage can, (that goes with his toy garbage truck)...


...and guess what was inside...

When it rains, it pours

Do you remember that 80's movie "Splash" with Tom Hanks and that blonde girl Darryl something - the mermaid? Do you remember that guy when he falls down the stairs and says, "What a WEEK I'm having!!" I could hear that exact line playing in my head today as I was driving home from taking Emma to the ER to get staples in her head.

I know there are SO many people out there with harder lives than mine, but this week has been a doozy in my book.

After a bout with the stomach flu followed by a day in the hospital getting rehydrated, (all while Dan was out of town,) this week has been a long road of recovery, topped with a trip to the ER.

Welcome weekend. Glad to see you.

Happy Birthday Emma!

Emma had a great 6th birthday today; complete with a field trip to the zoo with her Kindergarten class, a water fight in the backyard and a "Pinkalicious" birthday cake topped with M&Ms (at her request).

She is such a fun-loving girl who is full... no wait... FULL of energy. She is extremely smart and is great at creating her own fun. Her imagination runs wild and she runs with it. She is a surprise every day and it is so great to be her mom.

Love you, Emma Joan! I'm so glad you're mine!

Like Father Like Son

For some reason, Jack was wearing his hat last Sunday as we were getting ready for lunch after church. When we called him to the table, he took his hat off and hung it on his chair to get ready for prayer...

... just like he's seen Dan do a million times.

It warmed my heart and made me laugh. I hope he grows up to be just like his Dad.

Jack's posse

Jack has a little playgroup with three other 2-yr-old boys in our ward. We have it once a week for 2 hours and rotate houses. It has been a great social experiment and I think all the boys are loving it. They are just so cute I had to take a picture the last time it was at my house. They will all be turning 3 sometime between May and September. Cute boys.