Happenings

This week Grace had her last choir concert of the year.  I'll try to post a little video for the grandmas later.

With her best friend, also named Grace.

Liam's class had a very special Mothers Day Tea, which was so much fun.  He insisted on "looking handsome" that day and wore his white shirt and tie.  He knew it was a special day and he looked so cute!

The first graders presented a program, with readers theaters and songs, and gave the moms the gifts they had made.  Then we had refreshments.  

Liam and his teacher, Mrs. Grasher.

We also spent some time at ball games.  I am really glad Liam loves baseball because I do, too!  I love going to his games and watching him play.  He is a great little athlete and a great teammate.  When the other boys are goofing around, Liam yells encouragement to his team and cheers them on.  There are not many things in this world cuter than 6 year old boys playing baseball!

On Saturday we planted our garden.  We got a spot in the community garden this year because our yard is no where near ready for one.  (Our "soil" is pretty much clay, so next year I'm hoping to put in some raised beds.)   We have never really had a full size garden before, just a few tomato plants here and there, so it will be a learning experience for us.  We had lots of fun deciding what to plant and digging in the dirt.  The kids loved it and we are looking forward to watching it grow.

I had a great Mothers Day yesterday.  I was very spoiled with a big breakfast and presents and hugs and a day with no dishes.  Garreth and Grace made me a movie and the kids picked out two shirts and some yummy smelling lotions. 

Grace and Liam both made Mom books at school that are so cute.  Grace's said: "My mom is good at keeping my family safe and healthy and is also the best cook in the world. (that's my opinion)  My mom is great because she is always very understanding and pleasurable and also very fun to play with when we get bored.  My mom likes it when me and my three brothers don't fight with each other and also when we don't disobey her.  I love it when my mom says 'yes' to dessert after a light meal and when her reply is 'yes' to my askings."

And Liam's: "Mommy can be funny because she has funny jokes.  Mommy is a good cook.  Mommy plays with me on the tramp.  Mommy is the best mom in the world because she is good at playing.  She helps my brothers be nice to me and my family.  And the best of all she loves me."

I love being a mother. 

I feel so blessed to have such great kids and a wonderful husband.  

They are my whole life.

Our Birth Mothers

This week I have been thinking a lot about some other mothers in my life.

It is really hard to explain the depth of feelings of an adoptive mother towards a birth mother.   

I love these women.  

How could I not love the women who gave my sons life?

Happy Mother's Day...

...to the best moms we could ever ask for!

WE LOVE YOU!

Garreth and Flo, circa 1974

Kris and Erin, circa 1979

Last Day in California

On Saturday we got to go to the San Diego temple to see Bailey and Jamie and their boys get sealed.  It was an awesome experience in one of the most beautiful temples I've ever been inside.

We had to wait much longer than expected for the sealing and poor Quincy and Tracy had all nine kids in the RV for about two hours.   Needless to say, they all went a little crazy when we finally came out.

Declan was knackered after a long morning...

...and stayed asleep for a long time!

We stayed at a really cool hotel with a courtyard pool - this picture was taken from our room.  The kids loved swimming!

My sister Madi's mission call came while we were there and she had her roommate fax it to the hotel so she could read it to all of us.  Almost everyone was gathered at the pool and hot tub, so the rest of us met there to hear her read it.  There was a teenage girl and an older man in the hot tub as all 25 of us started to gather around.  I probably would have left if I were them, but they stayed with the group - in fact, the man got out and sat down next to Madi.  I still can't get over the memory of all of us gathered around Madi and her mission call, sitting in a pool chair beside a middle-aged man with a Heineken.  Cait and I got the giggles pretty hard!  But the important part of this story is that Madi leaves August 5 to serve in Porto, Portugal!  Congratulations, Madi!  We are so excited for you!

Saturday evening we took a trip down to (appropriately named!) Mission Beach.  It was cold and windy and starting to rain, but of course Garreth could not resist the allure of the sea.

The kids were amazed that this beach had so much sand and no rocks... unlike our beaches at home!  They loved playing in the waves, something else we don't have a lot of, since we live in a bay.  They got nearly as wet as Garreth and it was a cold, sandy ride back to the hotel, but the fun they had made it worth the mess!

And in case you haven't seen enough of shirtless Garreth lately:

And a random picture of Declan and Trip at the hotel!

We flew out of LA Sunday afternoon after a really perfect vacation.  Thanks so much, Mom and Dad!  You guys are the best!  We love you!

Sea World

On Friday we all loaded into the RV and headed to San Diego for a great day at Sea World.

We went to four shows and loved every one - Shamu, the dolphins, the pet show, and the sea lions.  The big kids loved sitting in the "splash zone,"  but Declan... not so much.  We tried it at the dolphin show, thinking that dolphins couldn't possibly spray as much as the orcas had.  Then they brought out some other huge whale to splash the crowd with salt water.  Declan, Tegan, and Halle freaked out crying and Nana just got up and left for higher ground!

I love Sea World and I LOVE San Diego!  I'm already planning a future family vacation back there!