Valentines Day:)

So Valentines day is to be about love. There are lots of things that I love. Some of those things are my FAMILY and my young women. To show my love... I started the day off with the famous heart shaped pancakes with sausage. (looks gross .)

Mandy reminded me of a year when I came to the kids school and brought them a little gift. She told me how awesome that was. I figured shoot this is Ashley's last year, I can do it again. I bought them things that they love to eat and a little balloon to embarras them. Ashley was at seminary. Her seminary principal took care of embarrasing her. Mandy was called up to the attendance office. Suzanne insisted that we take a picture so here is the only picture with my kids and their gifts. (Mandy of course got Oreos. Ash chocolate covered pretzels and swedish fish. Jase oreos, Ellie hershey bars, Brook got skittles) They loved it. I gave the kids' teachers, my ladies I visit teach and my counselors shovels with candy. It said, "I Dig YOU".
My young women got M & M's and a container with sweet hearts and some popcorn.

I spent the night with my young women decorating cookies and cutting out tons of hearts to heart attack the bishop and the girls who weren't there. They had so much fun decorating and then knocking and running to the get away car.
Of course I didn't forget about my man:) He got a bunch of goodies and a yummy cafe rio homemade dinner. Lame I know but that's our life around here. Hope everyone had a "LOVEly" valentines day!

Miracles Do Exist

I know it has been well over a year since my last words have been written. I had pretty much decided that I wouldn't ever be writing in this blog again. So why the change of mind..... Great question!!! I read Misti's blog which I try to do every week and then some others. I thought what the heck I'll read my last blog. There are so many things I had forgotten about my shoulder surgery. This made me think.... Wow if I hadn't written this down, I would have forgotten many things that occured at that time. So if anything, I should blog to keep a record of life since I do a poor job in my journal. So here is my attempt to blog again:) So forgive me those who truly blog well. I will be doing this more as a journal. Sorry I know it's lame. Since Christmas and a couple of trips to St. George, life is calming back down into a routine. Ellie and Jase are playing Jr. Jazz basketball. Mandy is starting club volleyball and preparing for softball tryouts. (sorry no pictures yet) I am still the young women's president so this keeps me going too:)In the next few weeks, I'll be redoing my bathroom and my office. I'm looking forward to some building. (mostly for my office.)

So I didn't get this posted but I am almost done with my bathroom. I'll add the before pictures now and when it's decorated I'll do the finishing touches. So here goes the bright bathroom. So I want to share some things that happened with redoing the bathroom. You will see that I went with a boring tan. It makes so I don't paint for a while. The mirror needed to be moved to be able to do the trim and change the lights. As Celeste and I were pulling, the mirror broke. Not good. So in order to have it done we ran to Tooele to find a mirror. Thank goodness Home Depot had a mirror that was 3X5. We finished putting the mirror up in time. Mike still doesn't know about the breakage. The next day we built the shelves. The one closest to my sink I wanted left open for easy access but I might be changing my mind. Now I need to touch some things up and decorate. But this is close. Not easy though:)

I am ALIVE! (barely)

Well, it has been 3 weeks and 4 days since my shoulder surgery. I'm finally feeling up to working on the computer and using both hands to type this. I'm not suppose to be out of my sling, but I figured that if I have started physical therapy, what better therapy could I have than computer work. I had shoulder surgery on October 21st. I ended going to the hospital later than I was suppose to, so I ended up spending the night at the hospital. When I finally came out of it, and got to my room, it was 8 at night. When Mike told me that they ended up doing my rota tor cuff, I almost bawled. Then when I found out that I had to share a room with someone else, I finally caved and started crying. Mike was sweet and asked what was hurting. I told him nothing, I just need to cry. I'm sure he left the hospital shaking his head. My instincts where correct about sharing a room with someone else. I had a long night, cuz the lady I shared it with, had problems with her IV. Also, during the night I moved and felt really sick. I grabbed the bucket just in time and threw up and threw up. That was the only time I was glad to have a roommate. She called the nurse who helped me feel better. It was a long night to say the least. I only got 2 hours of sleep. I called Mike early and told him to get to the hospital asap. He arrived around 10:30 and helped me get dress. Not an easy thing and still isn't, but getting easier. I started physical therapy last Friday and boy am I stiff. I figured I better try keeping out of the sling so it can loosen up. I have realized how grateful I am that I have 2 hands. You have no idea what you do everyday using both hands. I am also that I have a patient husband and children who for the most part have picked up the slack. Also, a wonderful friend who has picked up my house, washed and curled my hair, and has done my calling. She has made my life better. I plan on taking pictures of the suture areas, but Celeste has my camera. Those will come later. If this story is written crazy, blame it on the drugs!

Swimming like freakn fish

Okay, not a nice title, but I took it from Ellie's swimming teacher. The last two weeks, we have lived at Deseret Peak for swimming lessons. Brooke was in the beginners class, Ellie is level 3 and Jase level 5. Jase has spent the last 2 weeks swimming laps. I am amazed he passed. He was suppose to be in level 4 but the class was full so they bumped him to level 5. He can swim good, just not as fast with some of the strokes as the others that are in his class. Ellie according to her teacher can swim like a freakn fish. She can swim quite well. When it comes to diving, she has no fear. She can even do a back flip off of the diving board. (not that it is required in swimming lessons.) Then there is Brooke. Before swimming lessons, she practiced in the shower with me shooting the water at her face. She would blow the air out and not plug her nose. She worked on it at swimming lessons and was able to go under the water without plugging her nose. When we would stay after, she would walk around the water and dive under the water. It was hard keeping track of that girl. Most of the time I would spot her behind before her face cuz she was always under the water. I enjoy swimming lessons cuz it makes me get out in the sun and get some sun. I am as tan as Mandy. She can't believe it. She thinks I am more red than tan. We will see in a week or so.

This weekend has brought another softball game. Ellie's team played in the Riverton tournament. They are one of those teams that can beat all the bad teams but fall apart against the great teams. Some of those girls are bigger than Mandy. (and have boobs) Ellie especially struggles. When her team starts getting beat her emotions get the best of her and so does the pressure. The throws are off and when she screws up the tears come. I am glad that she is so competitive but she is to the extreme. I am sure that it doesn't help that she has to change how she throws in order to play third. Her arm is meant to be a short stop or second baseman. She has to release higher in order to make the throw. Hopefully she will learn to just have fun and not stress about the game so much. I just want her to do her best.

The summer keeps moving...Tell it to slow down!

Since I last blogged, so much has happened. Ellie was baptized on June 19th. She was a little bumbed that more cousins weren't there but she did have a few come. Tanner came and Morgan Wilson, Max and Macey. She was so funny when she was baptized. We went into the dressing room after being baptized and she giggled and giggled. I couldn't figure if it was because she was embarrassed cuz I was seeing her undress or because she was so happy to be baptized. We had a little luncheon afterwards and then we went and watched Mandy finish her softball tournament. She played pretty good and grandma and grandpa Turek were impressed that it was such good quality ball. Mandy's team ended up taking 3rd place. I think she was happy with that. The team who took first had been beaten by Mandy's team in pool play. They were some big girls. The next week I spent getting ready to go to the summer games. I went back to the orthopedic surgeon and had a cortisone shot. I was hoping to be able to survive the weekend without dying. I survived but my body was exhausted. We played on Friday and Saturday. I was able to watch Ellie's first game and then I had to leave for the summer games in Cedar. It was a lot of fun. I loved spending time with those girls and ladies. We ended up in the Gold bracket and took the bronze medal. The team who took us out of championship game gave us a run for our money. We were pretty well matched and they ended up beating us in 3. By The time we were finished, we were spent. We were lucky to beat the last team to take the bronze medal. The next couple of days I had the sorest muscles. I haven't hurt that bad since college days. On Monday I woke up not feeling so hot. I just got sicker and sicker. It took me the rest of the week to recover from puking and pooping. The next weekend was the Wilson reunion and the 4th of July weekend. I decided to help me recover, it was best to stay home. So Brooke and I stayed while the others went to Cedar. I was just glad that it wasn't me who had to host the reunion this year. Celeste took Brooke on Saturday to the parade and then kept her all day. I came over to their house that night for a BBQ and fireworks. It was a nice day to have peace and quiet. The family came home Sunday night so no more peace and quiet. They came home cuz Jase has been taking tennis lessons and the kids started swimming lessons. We have spent the week at the pool. Brooke has no fear which is good and bad. Jase is in level 5 so he spends it swimming laps. Ellie is just content to do whatever. Just don't get her giggling. I told Mike today that the next 5 weekends would be spent at the softball fields in various parts of Salt Lake and Davis and Provo county. He thinks that is crazy I say it is a lot of nervousness that this mom has to go through. So the summer keeps moving and it is not slowing down. Before I know it, school will be back in session.

The Last 5 weeks

Where has the time gone. I swear it hasn't been 5 weeks since I last blogged. Okay, maybe it has. Life has been crazy with preparing for field day. I am always glad when that is over with. With the end of school comes performances and field trips and of course softball games, and making up rained out softball games. Then before I know it the kids are saying goodbye to their teachers. We also spent the last week and a half taking Ashley to the school at 5:30 in the morning to do her student driving. She gets her licence tomorrow so it is now not safe to be outside. When you hear the loud music coming down the street, run in the house. Then June begins and it is Brooke's birthday and then Ashley's birthday and then tomorrow is Ellie's birthday. This really makes me crazy. It's hard to find out what they want and then taking the time to find it is a difficult task. For Brooke's birthday, I spent the day in Salt lake tracking down her gift and then ended up buying something different and cheaper. She got a battery operated motor scooter. She spent all evening at Celeste's house riding a motorized 4 wheeler on Memorial day, so I thought this was the perfect gift. It was close enough. Ashley didn't know for sure what she wanted. She did want a ctr ring and I got her that but she didn't know what else she wanted. So cash it was. She was away to youth conference on her birthday so I decided to send her some flowers and have a cake waiting when she arrived home. I don't think she liked them as much as I thought she would. Now Ellie wants a bat. I struggled trying to figure out what kind of bat she needed. So she won't get it on her birthday. Maybe I'll just have to take her clothes shopping. With birthdays also came a little puppy. Ashley begged that's all she wanted. So we have a new black lab added to our family. His name is Beau or BO or BoGus. He is confused at what is name really is. Wish me luck with this new adventure. Always after birthdays comes all stars. Ellie's team took 2nd this year and Ellie made the all- star team. She most likely will play third. She would rather play 2nd but you play where you are told. She has a strong arm, but not the strongest on the team. But she is accurate. The 2 girls who can throw harder than her don't have the accuracy. What makes me sad is I will miss her first tournament. I will be in Cedar playing at the summer games. Mandy also made the all-star team and plays in her first tournament this Friday and Saturday. She might have to miss a game if they play during Ellie's baptism. So our summers will be softball tournaments, scout camps, and girls camp and birthdays. At least it won't be occupied with volleyball except with Ashley. I turned in my resignation that I needed some time off to be with my family. So now you can understand my lack of blogging.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Today is mother's day! For me it is wonderful. I got breakfast in bed courtesy of Mike and Ellie. Ellie was more giggles than anything else. Ashley had to speak today and it had to be on her mother. She did a good job and she was willing to speak is what made me the most pleased. Jase, Ellie, and Brooke sang a lovely mother's day song too. Now, I get to blog while dinner is being fixed for me. What more could I ask for. Also, yesterday, I took my girls to Sparkle Tips and toes or something like that. Ashley and I got a manicure and Ellie and Brooke got sparkly fingernails and Mandy had her toes painted with poke dots put on. It was fun to spend some girly time with my girls. It was a first for me. I have never paid to have someone do my nails. Hopefully they thought it was fun too! But this blog is not meant to be about me but about my mother. I know that I won't make it through without crying so the positive thing is at least you can't see me bawl. Growing up we didn't have a lot of money and my parents made life good by being as I call it "tight wads." My mom made me many outfits and dresses growing up. She is a great seamstress. Too bad I didn't learn this from her. Hopefully she can pass this on to my girls. I loved that my mom was a stay at home mom. It was fun to come home for lunch and to be able to bring my friends with me. I especially loved when I had a game. I would come home and she would have potatoes and gravy or spaghetti. Wanting me to eat the best on game day. She probably never thought I appreciated it but I always thought that was a wonderful thing that she did and I have never forgotten . I also loved coming home to fresh hot bread or goodies. That is something I like to do for my kids. I know it wasn't easy raising 8 kids and having a husband who was the bishop or stake president. But she taught me by her example to not complain and gripe when your spouse is serving the Lord. She taught me to be a hard worker. She never sat idol. She was always busy. She still is. She makes me laugh when she comes to my house. She feels she needs to do jobs at my house. When I had Jase she came and washed all my windows. Scraping all the paint that was left on when they built my house. I know by her example that, that is the reason I keep busy cuz that's what I saw growing up. She's always a positive person and I can tell that people who have worked with her in the temple know she is so positive and fun to be around. I love having girls weekends with her. Probably the funniest was when we went to Vegas to find Tiffani a ring. The man in the jewelry store told us that he was once married to a "mormon" girl. My mom couldn't believe that a mormon girl would get divorced. That one will never be forgotten. I also loved when we stayed at Cheri's friends house and she and I were sharing a bed. I loved staying up all night with her laughing and talking til late into the night. I am glad she is my friend and I love calling and talking to her. There are so many more things to share but I can save them for another mother's day! I love her and I am glad that I was sent to her. What better example could I have. Happy mother's day to my mom, sisters and friends.

I know it is not easy being a mom but I hope that some day my kids love me as much as I love my mom! (tears)