Mom-You Raise Me Up.

I think I have procrastinated on the blogging because I have not wanted to do this post.. 

but at the same time...

 I want to do it.  

We had the anniversary of my mom's passing this June. 

June 24th 2011 

We were attending the family reunion with the Measoms.

It was a day like any other, yet a day like no other.

My Dad sent us all a text saying he loved and appreciated us. 

He went on a long bike ride.

We took the kids swimming.

Mom was not there.

Yet... 

she was.

 One of the most precious gifts that I have ever been given.  

My mom's fingerprint and "MOM" sketched in everlasting silver.

Reminding  me of Everlasting life.

We all got a necklace.

Holly, Emma, Gregg,
Jessica, Allan,

Dad,

 and Grandma.

We wear them a lot.

 I can't help but feel like she is nearer when it is around my neck.

People say that the first year is the hardest.  

Our lives here go on fairly in the same manner as they did before.  

We laugh a lot.

We spend time together. 

We love each other.

But some things have changed...

I can no longer listen to You Raise Me Up," without tearing up, and the Hawaiian Ice shack brings back bittersweet memories.  But life goes on...

 as Mom would want it to

 us here on Earth with her close by watching and praying over us from Heaven. 

 I love you Mom. 

Measom Family Reunion

For our family reunion this year we were able to go to Lava Hot Springs in Idaho.

We stayed here-

Inn at Owl Hollow

 We had a great time playing and swimming and just relaxing.  I was about 8 1/2  months pregnant so besides not sleeping well anywhere, and not having a swim suit that fit, it was great little vacation.  Really the only one that the kids got all summer.  The house was fun. We were pretty much all able to stay in it--all including
Grandma and grandpa, Lorin and Sherry and Family, Julie and Mark and Family, and us.  Holly and Jared came for a couple nights and pitched a tent on the lawn--and my Dad took the quiet way out and rented his own hotel room.
We played games and watched movies and made s'mores around the campfire every night.
We swam at the pool a couple times and we had a great little walk around town.
We visited a little pioneer town and found some ancestors old houses.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for providing us with such a great time away. 

   

Magnificent View from our back patio.

Amazing colors 

 Caeden having a great time just being outside.

All the other fun stuff we did.

-High dive (courtlyne)

-Scary slide (carter)

-swimming

-wiffle ball games

-some other game played with wooden blocks

-visiting with Grandma Donna

Softball

To me softball equals stress.....
Courtlyne gets stressed
Ben gets stressed
I just plain hate softball.
Carter does not get stressed. She just gets mad if other kids are not playing up to her expectations.  And she is not afraid to let them know what the problem is.  Carter played her second year of coach pitch and she is being recruited to play on next years teams already. 


On the other hand, Courtlyne + softball + her Dad coaching + game situations =  STRESS
If you put her in the batting cage, or the back yard she will hit all day long, with perfect form.  Once she is on the field she gets a little intimidated----of her peers that she is playing against, and her Dad.  She is a great athlete and has a lot of natural talent--just a lot of STRESS on the field.  

On a positive note...

she is the fastest runner,  

and she stole the most bases, 

and she says she likes to play,

(sometimes)

so I guess we will see what happens next year.......I am sure I will be watching more softball and experiencing more STRESS.

Carter's Baptism

Carter's Baptism

June 4th 2011

 

I can't believe it, another daughter grown up and old enough to enter the waters of baptism. 

 I am so grateful for Carter and her choice to be baptized.  She is such a good girl, helpful and kind.  

 I am grateful to have her in my life-she always adds a little spice to everything she does. 

She was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by her Dad,

 on June 4th 2011.

He then was able to confirm her and give her the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Her friends Abigail Archibald  and Allie Tippets were baptized on the same day.   It seems like not long ago  when they were all turning 3 and having a birthday party together.  Now 5 years later they are all 8 and growing up fast. 

Carter asked her aunt Holly to give a talk on the Holy Ghost and she did such a marvelous job!  I hope Carter will remember the talk she gave and the spirit that was felt there. 

Courtlyne also sang a song (under duress) with the older sisters of the other kids.

 She did good too!

We had a great turn out of family and friends at her baptism and we followed it up with a yummy BBQ in the backyard.  Thank goodness for good weather that day! Such a blessing to be part of a wonderful family and to see my kids grow up!  I love every step of the way that we encounter together. I love you Carter and and I am so proud of you!

School's Out!

 The school year officially comes to an end. 

Cal had a marvelous time in Kindergarten.  Being able to spend everyday with his best friend Kyson, playing outside at recess and having Mrs. Price for a teacher made going to school easy!!! 

He is excited for next year when he can eat lunch in the lunchroom, have 2 recesses, and take computer class.

And I am excited that I do not have to take a trip to the school in the middle of the day.

YEA!!! For 1st grade!!

So we have a strange tradition at our house where we invite the kids teachers over for dinner at the end of the school year.  MY husband thinks this is REALLY weird--he is a teacher and he said he would never want to be invited over to dinner. However this tradition stops usually by the time they hit 5th grade or so... 

Carter's teacher Miss Amy Nelson came over  for a lovely time. 

 Dinner and kickball in the backyard. 

Thank you to all those teachers who make a difference in the lives of my kids. 

  

She's got some wheel's

Hersey Track Meet

May 2011

 This little girl of mine can FLY!!!  I mean really fly.  She ran the 100 meter and took 1st in her heat so she advanced to the semi-final race. Then she took 1st in that heat so she advanced to the finals. In the final race she placed 3rd allowing her to move on to the district meet in that event. But that is not the amazing part.  The amazing part came later in the 400 meter run.

                                      
                       Good starts                                                                             Excellent  form

400 meter run

 She is just a natural at this.  Look at her lose fingers, her great stride, her good arm action, and if you could have seen the photo finish--AMAZING!

This is what everyone was seeing as she ran about 10 yards in front of them ALL!

She took 1st in the 400 and qualified for the district meet. Yipee!

I could watch her run all day.  Problem is she doesn't want to run. WHY???

After a little cajoling and bribery Ben and I talked her into running in the district meet.  She really didn't want to.  She said she just doesn't like running.  How do you not like it when you WIN??? 

That we did not understand.  Anyway, we all went to watch her run at  the district meet.  Since the 100 was right before the 400 she opted out of that race to save her legs for the 400.  

Oh MAN I was so nervous......and so was she when she found out who she had to run against.  As the girls were called for the race to the starting line we saw the competition for the first time.  THREE extremely tall girls--all wearing their SF track club uniforms--all looking 12 or older---all at least a head taller than Courtlyne. 

Naturally I panicked... I know what it is like to run against people whose legs are  longer than you are

tall  

IT IS  HARD.... and  usually the short people do not win.

So I admit I was skeptical about her chances for success, let alone a win.  I told her just go out and do your best.  (To bad she heard all my thoughts out loud on the video that I took of  her race, OOPPS) I will share that to if I can figure out how to post it. 

BUT SHE KILLED IT!! 

I mean she  not only beat those tall, track runners, she came in first by at least 5-10 yards.  Yes, my little girl is a runner, a runner in denial.  She qualified for the regional meet and she would not go.  I mean would not.  All the  uncles and aunts and grandparents and parents could not talk her into running again, so I let it go...my  dream of her running. I wish she would embrace this talent of hers, because I love watching her run.  Maybe if I do not force it, and she keeps winning she will one day want to run. 

How can you not want to run when you WIN???

I still don't get it.

Mother's Day

 My Crew of Kiddos

1,2,3,4, and almost 5 of them.

They make me the Mom that I am.  

They make me smile.

They make me laugh.

They make me cry.

They make me worry.

They make me wonder.

They make me crazy.

They make me marvel at all that God gives us.

They make me the Mom that I am.

My dear Mom

Helped me become the mom that I am.

Taught me to love.

Taught me to serve.

Taught me patience.
Taught me to love God.

Taught me that nothing is greater than being a Mom.

Taught me to put my whole heart into it.
I LOVE YOU MOM.

Mother's Day was not the same without you here.