Happy Mother's Day to My Mom

I just want to thank my mom for being my mom. My mom has so many skills that I can only dream about obtaining. My mom is terrific teacher, artist, gardener, and friend.

My mom once told me that she took some soup to a family who was going through some tough times and found that no one was home. So she put the pot of soup on the stove and noticed the sink was full of dishes and so she did them. And of course denied it after words when her friend questioned everyone she knew.

My mom loves to garden and you can tell by looking at her front yard. Her back yard lacks the space for a full garden of veggies, so she has made an art of growing food in buckets and planters. Amazing!

I often tell people who want me to join their preschool co-op or joy school, "I'm not a teacher, but my mom is." She has always had a love of learning and teaching others what she as learned. She went back to school to get her Teaching Degree at age 40 and then went on to receive her Masters. Incredible!

My mom is an amazing artist. She is incredibly creative. So is my Aunt Sandy. Thanks to my mom and her sister and, of course dad, my brothers and I have artistic blood in us.

I can honestly say that I understand my mother more and more as I raise my own children. Growing up with 5 brothers was mostly a lot of fun, but then again I wasn't the mom raising us either. And now that I have children, I wonder how my mom survived those early years of 4 children under the age of 5.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!

Wyatt makes me laugh!

Even when I get upset with him.

A few Saturdays ago, Shawn was gone camping with his scouts, so I thought it would be fun to take the kids to a Thomas the Tank Engine party at Toys R Us.

The party was basically an advertisement for Thomas toys. So they had conductor hats for the kids to color and some freebies. But as I was trying to keep an eye on Morgan (who didn't want to do the craft and was hoarding all the crayons) I realized that Wyatt didn't want any part in this party. He wanted to wonder the store and find toys to buy with money he didn't have. So I was very happy when it was time to leave.

When we got home, Wyatt asked if they were good at the store so they could go the park later. I said forget it because he kept disappearing on me while at Toys R Us. Of course this statement just broke his little heart and with tears in his eyes he said, "But mom, I wasn't doing any magic!"

Let's just say we ending up going the park later that day.

Belated Easter HIghlights

This year the boys both got brand new bikes for Easter.

It may not be the Cox Easter Hunt, but the Goings sure know how to seek out eggs too. Here is Grandpa Going give last minute instructions on how the hunt is suppose to go. I'm not sure too many of the grand kids were listening.

It was a little cold outside so we all went inside to go through the baskets full of loot.

Easter Sunday

Spring Break 2009

This year we thought it would be fun to do something different this Spring break. So we decided to take a family trip to Arizona to see Grandpa and Grandma Edgar. This would be the first time that they would meet Wyatt and Morgan. We also made time to see Chris and Erin and cousins and also a Dinosaur museum in Utah at Thanksgiving point. Here are some highlights...

On our 1st travel day, we stopped at Scipio, UT. This the childhood town of Shawn's mom. In the background is building with a green roof. It was the store owned by Shawn's mom's dad.

Kevan is sitting on a rock with a bunch of dinosaur footprints. We are at Moqui Cave just outside of Kanab, UT.

Wyatt - Moqui Cave

Morgan - Moqui Cave

Family picture - Moqui Cave

Sunday dinner with new cousins. Wyatt, Kevan, Mia, Rendon, and Emily in the front.

More family pictures with family we met for the first time.

Tuzigoot National Monument, just outside of Clarkdale, Az.

Tuzigoot - At the top

A dwelling built in wall overlooking Montezuma Well. Pretty Cool. This is near Verde Valley, Az.

Montezuma Well

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Montezuma Castle

Grandma, Morgan, Kevan, Wyatt, and Grandpa

Hoover Dam - The kids liked seeing the water through this "window".

High Climber statue at Hoover Dam.

Posing at the Las Vegas hotel.

We visited the Bass Pro Shop in Las Vegas. They had a real stuffed giraffe. This place was really fun to see.

Carousel ride at the Outlet Mall in Las Vegas.

Thanksgiving Point, Lehi, UT

What a handsome guy!!

Morgan's new sunglasses and more than ready to head home.

We had a great time, but now it is time to get back to life and our daily routine.

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

I hope you have a great day!

Belated Pictures of Kevan's Birthday

Back in March, Kevan turned 7 years old and had a fun party to celabrate the big day.

While we waited for all the guests to arrive, we made paper airplanes. These are their creations.

Then we played the classic game of trying to pop the balloon that is attached to someone's ankle, while protecting your own. These boys are pretty competive, so it was kind of a long game.

Next we played the mummy game with toilet paper. They had to start all over if the toilet paper broke. They did pretty good!

Next was pinata time.

Kevan asked for a Scooby Doo Mystery Machine Cake for his birthday. He insisted that the cake be chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. So this is my attempt.

I'm glad he liked it.

Just For Fun

Pretty funny! My relief socity president shared this with us on our ward blog.