August brought a birthday and a new driver

Will was very excited to turn 15 but I think his dad was just as excited. It fell to me to take him to the drivers license bureau. I'd forgotten about having to take two test so I wasn't stressed until he'd gone off to take them...I knew he'd been studying the drivers handbook but Will and tests don't go that well together. Needless to say when they told him he'd passed we were both ready to do a happy dance!

All those years of mowing the lawn with the riding lawn mower have paid off....he was a good driver from the get go!

And now nearly two months later I've got to admit I like having a personal driver!

Whew...that was a much longer break than expected!

Life got crazy here for awhile.

We had so many wonderful experiences the end of April/first of May with the rededication activities for the Atlanta Temple. Our stake was assigned to work the last day of the open house. We waited for Mychel to come home so we could all go through the open house together. It was a day I will always treasure.

         
     After months of practice it was finally time for the cultural celebration the night before the re-dedication. After practicing for hours the day before and another long hot Georgia day of practicing, waiting and finally performing the day of....Will summed up the experience when he said, "I wish we could practice for just one more day!" The blessing of having all of the youth together was immeasurable and then add the opportunity to perform for the prophet. Will took the above picture with his iPod touch....he was that close!

Tornados had ripped through the south just before the re-dedication affecting many in our temple district. Just a day after the dedication we got word that we were needed go to the rescue and help in affected areas. It would be over Mother's day weekend. After having the spirit and blessings poured out so abundantly of course the answer was a quick and resounding YES! The devastation was unimaginable.

Then we had an end of the year band concert....











and a Court of Honor where I became the mom of two life scouts!

Then the arrival of  The Coates twins.

And that was all just the month of May....I didn't even mention the weekly knife making classes and track.

Then the boys first EFY, Youth Conference and LDS/BSA encampment kept us on the go this summer.

 

Before we knew it summer was over and school was starting. I'm so grateful they had a summer full of experiences that helped them put on their spiritual armor in preparation for HIGH SCHOOL! Holy cow...ready or not...here it comes!

Teenagers...the source of insanity

Let me set the scene. 

It's  about 4:15 pm on a beautiful,  almost spring in the south, afternoon.

My M-F  3 yr old side kick is riding his tricycle up and down our sidewalk. 

I'm sitting on the front porch watching him.

Fourteen yr old has just exited the school bus and is walking up the drive. 

He says and I quote:

"Don't tell me you're really sitting outside."

I reply in my oh so kind motherly voice:

"Cully wanted to ride his bike, so of course I'm out here with him."

Then he says...are you ready for this:

"You could have said that."

Is it any wonder parents of teenagers are all a little crazy?
Please tell me it's not just us!

Worth the risk

Mom's of teenage boys will understand, while they don't have the hormone up and down issues of girls they do have a code of silence that must be adhered to or you risk all communication being shut off for an indefinite length of time.So sharing the joy and gratitude I feel for my sons, is a risk, but hey every once in awhile you've got to walk on the wild side, right? but shhhh don't tell them about it if you see them. ok!

Last night my boys went to their first church dance. Big, Big Deal!

(total bonus: it was multi-stake!)

Both were nervous, but very excited.

Gary had to go as leader and ever so sweetly asked me to come too.

The boys were fine with that (thankfully)

We set the standard that they had to dance with 3 different girls they didn't know.

They were not thrilled with this, but we stood firm and they negotiated a no teasing zone in return.

Half way through the dance they both sought us out to tell us they'd danced with over 10 different girls.

Zac even won a candy prize for dancing with the most girls.

They were having the time of their lives.

On the way home they proudly let us know they danced with around 18 girls each.
Then...then.. they started telling us different things about the girls they'd danced with.

"A lot of them like to run", says Zac, our runner

"The girls were a lot like me", says Will. "They like the same things I like."

and it went on and on.

It was truly one of those moment where your heart is so full you could burst.

Where you look at these children who you love but sometimes make your head want to explode

and you think

I really, really like you!

You are the kind of person I want to be around!

and it makes everything

all the long nights

all the hard converations

all the tears and frustration

worth it

because these children are become amazing adult.

They are choosing to sons of a Heavenly Father who loves them.

You glimpse the missionaries they will become

and my heart cried out in a silent prayer of thanksgiving

to a loving Heavenly Father who loves them even more than we do!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

for letting us be their parents.

It is an honor and a privilege and I am humbled to my core.

Compliments Matter

I've reached a new high.
My middle son, of few words, asked for my help today
on a logic puzzle/game
I hate those.
I'd skip them on tests.
My brain goes in circles.
I happened to remember the solution to this one.
After I told him, he did it
and it worked he said
"You're pretty smart, actually"
Well thank you son!
Would you mind signing this paper and repeating that for the video camera?
I might need to remind you of this moment in the future.

January...let the fun begin

Where to begin...

So far this year I've had a shocking revelation -

This boy

and I have the same size feet!He's 13. I have a confession to make. Since we don't know anything about our boys genetics I used to worry that I could end up with short boys. Please don't hate me. Don't leave me rude comments.
My dad was tall, my brothers are tall...it's my world, ok.
Anyway, Zac's only a shoe size behind so I guess I can check that off my list.

****
While we're on Zac he finally discontinued the diet he'd had our chickens on...
you know "the teenage boy I don't want to do my chores so I'll just say I gave them food and water today" diet. Now they have the proper nutrition our chickens have finally come around. Today we got 8 eggs! We're getting there girls... 17 hens, 1 rooster.
It will be a real party when we get a dozen a day. Now if they can just start paying for their feed I'll be a happy mom.

It is really cool to have my boys, relatives, friends etc come in with an egg they've found.
The smiles are priceless. Gary's older brother Billy was the best.

****

I've been spoiled by Cully. He's sweet, easy, little (as in 2yrs and 23ish pounds), and his parents are the best. Today we entered a new phase...
about 2 and a half hours after he went down for a nap I turned around and found him standing behind me in the kitchen. He's known how to climb out of his pack and play for months, but never done it when he was with me (I told you...spoiled)
I guess all good things must come to an end.

****

Speaking of Cully...his dad, Stephen was able to come to sacrament meeting Sunday. At last count I think he'd lost 30 pounds since his surgery. He looks so fragile to me, but he's here and that's all that matters right now. He says he's feeling stronger everyday. He still can't take anything by mouth...can you imagine. We're getting close to a month since he's had anything to eat or drink besides taking some pain meds.
He says he dreams of fruit.

****

Since I brought food up...our freezer has a fresh supply of deer meat thanks to my super hunter, manly man husband who got a deer this week and processed it himself. Did I mention we're having record lows here?
It was a chilly experience for all involved. I was warm and toasty in the house. I did google, "How to tan a deer hide." so I did my part.I'm not even asking...I just relay the info. (PS this picture makes my heart smile...I hope my dad is smiling from heaven. I know my grandpa Hyde is...he taught Gary how to butcher a dear...many, many years ago. Another generation of hunters!)
Oh, don't even ask about the hat...I have no idea.

****
So how's 2010 goin' for ya'll so far?

Life lesson: Don't ride your little brother's bike

unless you want this to happen:
Friday night at the urgent care medical center....probably a chip is their diagnosis....referral for Monday



Monday afternoon: Nearly four hours later - Pretty sure he chipped a bone....cast for 3 weeks...green was the color of choice! Why doesn't the mom get any pain meds?