The Making of the Gigantic Shave Ice

Our kids don't live on a farm, but we have a farm project that involves the entire family.  It began a while ago with mostly Tom and I pulling the weight as we worked out (and are still working out) the business end of things.  But this past holiday weekend, the kids really got their "hands dirty!"  

 It took most of the day to get this far-----so now all we have to do it paint it!  Actually, it was a lot of fun---doing something none of us have ever done before . . . and doing it TOGETHER!

Last Day of School Swim Parties!

I LOVE throwing swim parties on the last day of school.  It's a celebration, right?  So, why not!!!!

 The first party was for Spencer and Hailey's friends.  We had about 20 kids and moms there and it was SO much fun!  We had pizza and a yummy drink that I made up---Cherry Mint Limeade.  SO good!

 Since Hailey didn't have to go to school on the last day (kindergartners had already graduated!) she helped me decorate!

 We hosed down the patio furniture and got everything cleaned up.

 We got out all of the toys and made sure all of the water guns worked!

 Our waterfall and slide were just re-finished this last April so now the slide is SUPER fast!!!

 My sweet friend, Caree Anderson, came over with Grayson and Sam.  Grayson has been Spencer's friend for a long time.  This is a photo of Caree and Sam - he is Hailey's age.

 There is Grayson, in the green swimshorts--along with Conner Prusse and his mom, Heather, and Zach Everton on the left.

 Man, did these kids have a GREAT time!!!

Then, after the little kids left, we cleaned up and got ready for the "teenagers" party.  Kelsey invited some friends over for dinner and a night swim party.  It was so fun to see her laughing with her darling friends.  She has a really good group of girlfriends this year and that makes us so happy!  It turned out to be a super fun day!!!

LET THE SUMMER BEGIN!

The Last Kindergarten Graduation

This week began a long list of "the lasts" . . .  It was the Last Kindergarten Graduation for me and with it came a lot of emotion and memories.  I thought back to Kohler's kindergarten days.  I could have sworn that he had a kindergarten graduation but as I looked back through old photos (before the age of digital cameras) I noticed that the one who graduated that year was Tom from his Orthodontic Residency!  I must have been thinking about his preschool graduation pictures.  Kohler didn't have a kindergarten graduation.  I guess that is something they didn't do in our school district in Oregon.   Kohler attended Templeton Elementary.  

But he sure was an adorable kindergartner!

Kelsey was our first kindergarten graduation and it happened our first year here in Arizona.  Kelsey attended Power Ranch Elementary.  I can't believe that this week was Kelsey's "last" day of Jr. High.  Where has the time gone??

I miss the innocence of those days.  Actually . . . in many ways, Kelsey is still like the little girl in this picture.  She still loves her Unicorn, "Uni", and is sweet and innocent towards life.  

Spencer's graduation came next and he was our first kinder to go to Quartz Hill Elementary.  

I can still picture those beautiful blue eyes staring up at me.  He has that same look in his eyes---even though he is 10 years old now.  

But our little Hailey is our very LAST kindergartner.  She goes to Quartz Hill Elementary and has loved every minute of school.  She is a very bright little girl and went to 1st grade for reading and math which was great to keep her interested in school work, but took some adjusting when she noticed that she was missing an extra kindergartner recess to go to 1st grade for that time. (not much gets passed her! ha ha)

Here is Hailey with her awesome teacher, Mrs. Silveira.  I am so glad that she has loved kindergarten.  

As I look back on these years with my kids, I am so glad that I have very little regrets.  I did the best I could to go to their classrooms and help with reading groups or class holiday parties.  I went on every field trip I could and tried to support their activities to the best of my ability.  So, at the graduation, I did get teary-eyed, but they were tears of gratitude.  I am so grateful that I have been able to be alive and healthy enough to take part in the lives of my children like I have.  So many other mothers struggle with other issues in their lives and I admire them for the tremendous burdens that are placed on their shoulders ----and then, for rising above them the best they can.  This life is a journey and looking back, has it been perfect thus far?  Heck no----but I have learned a lot, cried a lot, laughed a lot, and prayed a lot.  Graduations are wonderful milestones in life to reflect not only our achievements, but our blessings-----and I have four of them that I completely adore!

Crazy, Busy Weekend!

This was a crazy, busy weekend!  Saturday morning, Hailey and I woke up early and planted a bunch of flowers and plants in our backyard all before 7:30 a.m.  (it gets way too hot by then!)  Afterwards, we cleaned up and headed over to her "Let's Play Music" Recital.  

 Hailey is really coming along with her piano and I was super proud of her!  She LOVED getting a trophy!!

Tom couldn't make it to the recital because we are in the throws of our stake pioneer trek preparation.  Tom spent over 7 hours recording kids on Saturday.  He recorded piano accompaniments, voice narrations, guitar, and vocals.  We want everything pre-recorded so the sound will be nice and clear up in the mountains during the trek.  It will also be fun for the youth to be able to download their friends songs.  

 On a side note----one of the best things that happened last week was my new little niece was born!  She is beautiful!  Her name is "Noel Goldie Davis."  Isn't that the cutest name?  Golden is a family name but to make it more feminine they added the "ie" to make it Goldie.  I also love the name Noel!  Suzanne said the delivery was amazingly easy compared to other deliveries and they are both doing so well!

 After Hailey's recital, we headed up to Scottsdale for my other niece, Rylie's, 9th Birthday Party.  I  love this little girl so much.  She has a special place in my heart because she is one of the sweetest, kindest, and most thoughtful people I have ever met.  But I also feel especially close to her because her little face reminds me of my sister, Melanie (Rylie's mom).  When Rylie is swimming and her little head pokes up out of the water, she is the spitting image of my little sister, Melanie when she was that age.  I immediately am taken back to my childhood and the days that Melanie and I would swim and play together.  It's almost surreal when I look at her---as if I'm looking at my little sister . . . only with much darker hair!

After the party and trek recordings, Tom headed right over to the Stake Priesthood leadership meeting from 4-6, then I had a rehearsal with a family who was singing in stake conference right at 6:00.  I came up with a pretty arrangement of "Teach Me To Walk in the Light" for them to sing.  They have 11 children and many of them are married.  All three generations were there to sing which was really cool!  Then, from 7-8:30 Tom and I went to the adult session of conference which was AMAZING.  I learned so much, especially from the mission president's wife of the Arizona Tempe Mission.  She gave some great advice on preparing our boys for missions.  By 8:30, Tom and I were starving!  So, we headed over to Pita Jungle for our favorite salmon, mango, strawberry salad.  We hadn't seen each other all day so we had a lot to talk about.  We took the "long" way home so we could continue our conversation.  I love just being with him and talking . . . those are some of the best times for me.  


Then, the next day was Stake Conference.  I had an early morning rehearsal with the family who sang the special musical number, then a choir rehearsal with our stake youth choir for our upcoming trek.  I arranged and wrote two pieces that our choir is going to sing and I was really nervous that nobody would show up because everyone is super busy.  OVER 60 KIDS CAME!  I couldn't believe it!  They sounded so good and my heart was filled with gratitude at their sacrifice to stay after conference for an extra hour, just to be in the choir. 


We came home and had an great dinner and played games with our kids.  It was a great way to end such a crazy, busy weekend!!!

Caught in the act

I have told my kids countless times that there really isn't much in this world that thrills me more than to see my children being nice to each other.  I caught Kohler helping little Hailey before church on Sunday and just had to capture the moment in a picture.  

These moments make my heart sing as a mother!

Utah . . . we love thee!

My Grandpa Aldon Tall was such a funny man.    He was a brilliant doctor with the greatest sense of humor.  He would say the funniest things to make us all laugh. 

I really miss my grandparents.

 I remember him singing a song that I didn't quite understand until my mom explained further. . . "Utah (then he would blow a raspberry!) . . . we love thee!"  Everyone would laugh but I didn't get it as a kid.  My mom then told me that Grandpa Tall is a true Idahoan through and through and that he would make fun of the Utah State Song by blowing a raspberry after he said, "Utah."  Well, around here, we love both Idaho and Utah but we especially have a fond spot in our heart for Utah because that's where we have spent many summer days and winter holidays with family.  Spencer was able to choose Utah for his state report.  

 He had to type out a five paragraph essay on Utah and make a tri-fold poster for the "state fair" that was held on Tuesday morning.  Did you notice that BYU got 3 photos and the U of U only one tiny one?  hee hee  We are pretty big BYU fans over here!

Hailey's class was just leaving the state fair as I walked in so we were able to get a quick picture!

The State Fair is where all of the fourth graders put their tri-folds up for display and all of the other kids can walk around and ask the kids questions about their state.  I asked Spencer if parents were allowed to come and he said NO.  Well, I have already raised two other fourth graders and I knew parents were allowed to come so I decided to surprise him and show up!

 I walked right up to him and his back was turned to me.  I said in a loud voice, "Excuse me, can you tell me about the great state of Utah?"  His little face lighted up and he thanked me for coming!  (actually, the first words out of his mouth were, "I'm so sorry Mom"--because we had a little tiff earlier that morning and Spencer was really irritable.)  He is such a kind-hearted little boy.  

 I was so glad that I didn't miss that opportunity to go and visit him. There were a lot of other moms there and I knew he would be happy if I came.  I only have one more fourth-grader coming up so I wasn't about to miss this one.  

Here is Spencer with one of his good friends, Tanner Day, and some other kid in a red shirt.  (yes, Spencer is in dire need of a haircut---that is soon to come.  His oral presentation of his report is tomorrow so that haircut better be today!)


Also - to my friend Nancy B. -  Nancy - I have tried and tried to respond to your sweet comments----but this is the only way I can communicate with you---  We lost your card with your email address and when I try to reply to your comments or get on your button factory blog, it says it is only open to invited guests.  I would love to read about your family and keep in touch.  Can you help me be able to view it? 

Thanks for all the nice things you write---we miss ya and hope life is treating you well out there in your new home!