End of school year activities

School ends tomorrow, oh woe is me. Logan actually wishes he could go to summer school. We've tried to tell that it's not really a privilege to go to summer school. Here he is with his teachers. They did kind of a team teaching thing. They were awesome.



Today he had a class program where they recited poems they had learned from the year and gave out awards. Logan recieve awards for writers workshop, reading, and good behavior. Every class has one Student of the Year who also get a t-shirt. Logan recieved this honor for his class. His teachers said that he was such a great kid to have in class, he was kind to all the kids, always listened, and a great helper. Awww, good job Logan!

Last weekend was my cousin Kelsey's wedding. Ethan shocked by the damage.

City girl marries sheep farmer. Cute couple.

Ethan at his kindergarten graduation. What a cutie. We had a bbq that night with our neighbors, who's daughter also graduated from kindergarten.


Sprinkler fun. First run through of the year. Many more to come.

Every year at the end of the year, each grade does a dance. Logan's class did a dance to a song from High School Musical 2. (He's in the middle of the picture.) He did an awesome air guitar at the free style dance part.

At the park one sunny Saturday. My cutie patootie. Oh and Jacksen too.

My king and princes peaking through the castle windows.

Need I say more?

The cutest thing to be born in '09. Hope you had a great school year, and have a wonderful, fun summer!!

Ready, Set, BLOW!

Thursday was the big Raingutter Regatta for Logan. He had lots of fun and even came in 3rd place. The secret is a catamaran (?). They're stable and the sail doesn't flop back and forth. I had 2 ladies come tell me that they think that Logan was letting people catch up, so the other boy wouldn't feel so bad when he won. He's so sweet and thoughtful of other people's feelings.

Logan against his best friend Aisea.

The secret is a great big blow to start!

It's a girl!!

But unfortunately not for me. My sister is expecting her first baby at the end of September and they found out that it was a girl!! (Which isn't fair because my sister hates girly things, she grew up loving horses and rock climbing and hiking. grrrr.) The first Simmons girl grandbaby. She better be tough to survive 5 older boy cousins. Hey, I survived 6 older boy cousins, but I had Stephanie that was soon born after me. All I can say is I've put in my dues, so.....Kass? I am so super excited for her, and I guess I can buy all the girly things and not have to put up with girly attitude-good luck Nicole!

Thoughts on motherhood

Happy belated Mother's Day to all you mommies. This past week has had me thinking on what motherhood is all about. I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful examples of great mothering around me, to help me to be a better mother. First and foremost, my own mother. I love her more than words can say. She has been such a wonderful influence on me on how I raise my kids. She most have done something right, because we've all turned out okay. If you've ever read the book, 5 Love Languages (highly recommened for everyone!!), I think my mom shows her love best by her service. I remember growing up watching her clean the house, cook wonderful meals, grow an awesome garden, help us with endless homework, and the list goes on. I've come to realize that this is my love language too. Seriously, what is hotter than watching your husband do the dishes, or fold laundry. As a mother now of 4 boys, I appreciate all that my mom has done for me as I grew up, even more than I ever have.

Another great example I have of great mothering is my mother-in-law. She herself raised 4 boys before having her girls. Even though she's still in "mom mode," she has taught me much about enduring to the end. I am seriously surprised she is alive after all that those 4 boys have put her through- Carl being the ringleader and probably paved the rocky road for the rest of the boys. Being a mother isn't always easy, sometimes it seldom is, and there are days I feel, is it even worth it? Oh I know, they are small, and they aren't even teenagers yet, and maybe it's only the tip of the iceburg that I've endured, but being a mom is hard! So much harder than I ever thought. But, I do have to admit that it's been more rewarding than I ever thought. I have 4 little faces that worship me and shower me with affection. Their little, "I love you's," mean the world to me. I just have to endure through the tantrums and teasing- which are getting better do to something new that I've been working on. Maybe more on that later. Thank you to you, Mom, for raising a wonderful son, who turned out alright at the end. He loves me more than I sometimes feel I deserve. He loves his sons and he loves his Lord.

I have 2 wonderful grandmothers who showed me the means of hard work. Both being the wife of a farmer, I know they always had lots to do on the farm. Thank you grandma Simmons for teaching me how to make bread and crochet and help me to be the mom I am today. Grandma Jones, I miss you so much and can't wait to see you again.

Thank you to all the women in my life who show me great examples of mothering. I am thankful for friends who are going through the same thing I am and have advice and help for me. We are all sisters and are trying to raise our Heavenly Father's children.

(I love LOVE this pouty face!) I've been analyzing myself, and asking if I am a good mother. I would say that there are things I'm doing right, but then there are sooooo many things I wish I was better at. I wish I let my kids be kids. Sometimes I have a hard time letting them learn by themselves. I need to let them do the dishes more, so what if water gets on the floor. I need to let them do more chores, so what if it's not how I do it. I need to play and read and be silly more.

I love spring and the new growth all around. Spring seems like a great time to refocus on what is important in my life and rededicate myself. I do love my boys-I just hope that I can be the best mom that I can be and the best mom they deserve.


Thanks for letting me ramble and pour out my soul. Now I'm off to change a diaper (fyi-Colton is now potty trained!!), take out my burning cookies, and give my boys a kiss.

Rain gutter regatta

Logan is getting ready for his rain gutter regata. Carl and he worked on this boat, the Black Pearl. Carl made a little Jack Sparrow out of clay. (This boat was mainly Carl's project. We're going to make another boat that Logan has a little more participation in. Some boys don't ever grow up!)

Big Jud's

Saturday night (before Easter), all the family went to Big Jud's. Out in the middle of nowhere is an awesome hamburger joint. After waiting for over an hour after we ordered our food, our dinner plate-sized hamburgers arrived. If you ever venture into Archer, Idaho, stop on in- it's worth the wait!


Waiting is sometimes hard.

But soooo worth the wait!!! They have a challenge to eat one of these burgers (1 lb.) by yourself. They also have 2, 3, and 4 pound burger challenge. There was only 1 name under the 4 pounder-gross!

Easter

Better late than never, but here are pictures from Easter. The boys had spring break the following week, so we went up to grandma's house. Saturday morning the boys had a great time coloring eggs and having an egg hunt.


It's the incredible Hulk! Colton had more fun coloring his hands then the eggs!


Jacksen, Grandpa, Cousin Noah, and Uncle Erick. The boys' first Easter. Noah is 2 months older than Jacksen.





I think they found enough eggs, that the Easter Bunny didn't even need to come!

Easter morning. We are so thankful for the Savior and his gift to us. Hope you all had a nice Easter too.