good times with the grandparents

My daughter came in all buzzed tonight--
you could tell she had a good time.
"Guess what i ate?" She asked in her bubbly life is good attitude.
Knowing that she had been at her grandparents
i knew it must have been something yummy--
"Meatballs?" i said
"NOOOOO"she responded with indignation
--personally I thought it had been a good guess
"How about popcorn" (grandpa is known for mastering the proper amounts of real butter and salt to make a wonderful bowl of greasy goodness)
"NOPE--mom you are not very good at this guessing game"
Child, give me a break--the options are endless as to what you could have eaten--
she did take pity on me and gave me a clue
"It is something that you shouldn't eat because it might cause you to have a heart attack and since you already have a bad heart....."
"Could it have been Heart attack french toast?"
"YEP--and it was really good"
they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach--
they failed to mention that it works for grand kids as well....
Where will my children go when they need a snack this summer--
or someone to spoil them?
--it will be a long three months with the grandparents gone....

the bench

We are such creatures of habit--
I like the familiar the routine...
I do things the same way because it just "feels right"
When it comes to church on Sunday
I like to drive the same way--
park in the same area
enter in the same set of doors
and after many years we now have a bench.
We have found that in our building we do not fit on the side benches--
just too many of us and the butts are too big for all of us to fit on the side so we are relegated to the middle benches.
Somehow we have one that we have marked as "ours"
I don't know when it happened...it just did
Today when i came it my husband was already sitting down
and we were just one row back from our normal bench--
it felt weird--
first of all we were displacing the family that normally sat behind us
(at the time i did not know that they were not there today)
it had a different view--
just strange that's all....

As i was reflecting on my bench situation i realized that sooner than later we would be able to fit on a side bench. Our days of my whole family attending church together is limited--
my bench will be thinning out in the years to come.
I hadn't really thought about the fact as my children graduate that they also move onto another ward--a ward without their family sitting with them.
I remember other families with full benches not too long ago--
and now i see them sitting as empty Nester's...
Is this what i have to look forward to?
It won't be too many years before we can fit on the side bench again--
just another change...
another adjustment--
that i will be making before i know it.

bitter sweet transition

today was a day of transitions--
this was a day that i felt was far away
and now it is here.
Where did the time go--
did i blink? like the song says--
and years pass before i even realized it?
My middle child is now a high school freshman

just as i have one leaving another one starts-- and so the circle continues for the next few years--
in two years the next punk will be graduating and hopefully leaving on a mission shortly there after. and then the next two in tow...
moving all too quickly for my liking.
Was it only four short years ago i was discussing this day with my son just after i had dropped the oldest off for her first day of high school--I remember getting teary eyed at the idea of how quickly this time would fly and now here it is?!
Bittersweet transition....
something that we have been working towards...
I made the mistake and blinked
and now it leaves me with tears in my eyes and an ache in my heart--

rain or shine it's graduation time

this week has been a blur--
one HOT blur--
until today that is.
We had eighth grade promotion this morning--

it was a lovely albeit cool morning--
a pleasant surprise given the last week or so of 100+ degree days
I was hoping that the cloud cover would stay around

so when it came time for graduation it would not be ridiculously hot--
MY WISH WAS GRANTED
the only problem was--
with that wish of cloud cover

came some side effects--
like in the form of RAIN--

When was the last time it actually rained in Arizona--
HMMMM--don't know and can't remember
it has been awhile....
We have had a dry spring
and because of the lack of rain

we haven't had alot blooming which i am thankful for.
It had been drizzling lightly

and then ten minutes before it was due to start

the heavens opened up and the rain came pouring down

and here came the graduates--i actually was able to pick out my daughter and her semi wavy hair (it had been curled but rain has the effect of straightening it) She was able to pick us out of the crowd and gave us a cute wave acknowledging the fact we were sitting in the rain
and then the graduation ceremony continued on--as if rain was an everyday occurrence.
Notice how wet the track is...Did the principal cut her talk short--UMMMM--NOOOO. She had to acknowledge all the important people by name that were sitting in the rain with the rest of us--at that point--WHO CARED?--Let's just get on with it already Finally the moment came of the actual diplomas being given came. There were teachers there to help the girls up the ramp
and teachers to help them down--lest they take a spill. Her anatomy/physiology teacher was there to help her down and gave her a bad time about wearing heels in the rain and she still managed to make it back to her seat in one piece-no worse for the wear just a tad bit wet as the case maybe. Maybe they should have been wearing rain panchos instead of gowns.

It is a good thing that with swimming for all those years she has practiced the wet look--and has it down--even looks cute....

her aunt and uncle braved the weather with us--they are half way done with their graduations-
last year their sons was moved inside because of the weather--who would think two years in a row that this would be an issue

and then come rain of shine grandma is always there for her grand kids

and finally both of us got in a picture together with our first born
--our first graduate.
Even without the rain--
this will soon be an evening that will NOT be forgotten

eighth grade promotion

This is an Arizona tradition I have never understood,
but i just go along with it.
I don't understand how or why it was ever started,
but for some reason they feel the need to continue on with this tradition.
I guess it had gotten out of hand many years ago with limos and expensive dresses and people making such a big deal out of it that they have tried to scale it down--
and scale it down they have....
right back into the classroom.
My other two that have "promoted" atleast they did it in the cafeteria--
and there was a stage and speeches....
about 30 minutes worth of a program...
This child got a speech read from the principal

and a very nice talk from her teacher on how to succeed in high school,
and it was said that the reason they were going to the small classroom situation was so they could give more personal attention to the students...
somehow we failed to see any of that actually transpire--
names were read and certificates were given with no mention of additional awards--like those given for grades
photo op's were limited...


we did manage to have her poise with each of us--just to let her know how proud we are of her.
Call us crazy but we expect our kids to go onto high school--we have never felt that a celebration was called for just because you completed 8th grade---
but we don't want to be the loser parents who don't show up when everyone else is there--but is it really worth taking work off for such an uneventful thing--for 15 minutes of being crammed into a hot classroom? I say "just do away with the whole thing"...but that is just my opinion...Although if they had done away with it, I would not have gotten this picture of her

Meet the newest McClintock freshman...doesn't look like an 8th grader anymore--
goodbye uniforms hello regular cute clothes....

Seminary graduation--just another excuse for a new dress

We went looking for a new dress for High School graduation....
and we found a basic black one and then this one in less than 30 minutes...
imagine our surprise when we found this cute number for cheap...
and the shoes to go with it for cheap also...
(sometimes i just love Ross)

The sweater she already had--it went perfect
The necklace was new--that was her graduation present...
My mother in law asked if it was real--as in diamonds....
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
I love this child and all and am proud of her--
but she will have to find a sugar daddy
to buy her diamonds like that...

she liked how tall the shoes made her

she liked the fact that she was as tall as her dad
(which isn't that hard to do)

and i liked the fact that she could actually walk in them

for a child not always known for her grace--she has come a long way...
I love her air of confidence and sassy-ness...
and i love the fact that as i held my breath when she got her award
--that she did not trip with those tall shoes....
she continues to make me proud...

Seminary graduation

Another milestone moment of this week.
We had the opportunity to see my daughter receive acknowledgement for the four years of seminary attendance that she participated in.
What a blessing those four years have been.
I have seen her knowledge of the scriptures increase
and her testimony of the savior grow.
She has a good foundation of why she is here...
and her purpose on earth.
She has been taught the things that will bring her everlasting happiness--
she chose to graduate.
We did encourage her to fit seminary in her schedule--
but ultimately attending was her choice.
I know it gave her balance to her crazy high school days
and i am grateful for the time she spent out of the "world"
--even it was for only an hour a day.
I am grateful for her encouragement of daily scripture reading.
I know the things that she was taught will help her as she goes out in the world--
and that in times of trouble she will be able to reflect back on them,
and they will help her in making life's choices.
I am grateful and proud that she stuck it out--
saw it through
and chose to finish....

End of the year dread

Sometimes i feel a bit dense.
In my mind i know that something is going to occur--
and yet it doesn't seem real--
I know that this is the last week of school and yet i think i am in denial--
until today and for some reason it just hit me--
that it really IS the last week of school.
Not even the last week, we are actually down to just days...
It is not that i don't love having my kids home for summer vacation--
i totally enjoy the relaxed pace that summer brings--
i don't dig the heat that the summer brings but we have learned to adjust.
I think i dread the last week of school because all the routine we have know all year is over--
we have to re-adjust...
I think i dread the last week of school because that means another school year is over
which means my kids are advancing another year
they are getting older
they are moving on
and sometimes i just want time to stand still...
so i guess that is where my denial comes in--
if you don't acknowledge it--it doesn't happen...
Right?
Well maybe not--
at least in my mind it does slow down the process just a bit....

cat in the backyard

There are CAT people and there are DOG people
and a few can manage to love them both in harmony.
We are dog people...
cats are not even an option in our home.
I do not like cats that come into my yard--
or cats that creep along the top of my fence just to antagonize my dogs.
And i really DO NOT like the cats that choose to squeeze into my attic and have cat fights in the middle of the night--OHH...the screams....
and I really do not like the fact that a cat chose my attic to die in right before we went on vacation--leaving us a awful stench to come home to
(thank you dear hubby for taking care of the body removal)
With all that being said---when a cat decided to have kittens in our shed and abandon them--
i did bottle feed them and found them homes...
No animal deserves to be born just to starve to death--not even a cat.
If they would stay kittens i might consider liking them--
but they don't....
and some cats have just liked to terrorize me
But i am here to say that i was thrilled at this CAT in my yard

I think it is a TOM-CAT and he is welcome anytime he wants to make improvements

girlfriend time

I call it work--
and it is--

REALLY it is....

I promise that it is NOT all fun and games...

but fun and games are had when you are with the your girlfriend.

I love this part of my job--
the girlfriend time--

even though miles separate us normally
all is forgotten when we are together...
we just enjoy the moments for what they are
FLEETING

new bracelet

If you know me
you know i am not about the "bling".
When it comes to my jewelry i am a pretty simple girl
i like my bracelets--
jangling,fun bracelets.
While at the show this weekend a woman had some bracelets that she had made from old typewriter keys--very fun novel idea.
i found myself pulled to this one....

I loved the message
LIFE IS GOOD
I do believe that
especially that night---after i had lost my wallet with my ID and credit cards, cash, room key--my life essentially--I was in a panic--how was i going to get onto the plane? About the time when i was really stressed i found out that it had been turned into the hotel front desk--with everything still intact--cash and all.
LIFE WAS GOOD--i believe that more know than ever, and am so grateful that i now have something to remind me of that fact
Then upon closer examination i had to laugh
for the typewriter key that was chosen before the word good

i guess on some days life IS only 1/4 good--but that is still good, and then those days it can be 1/2 good---I guess they don't make a 100% key and that is not very realistic anyway--i will take this bracelet and cherish it and the memories that surround it--

LIFE IS GOOD--just one more thing to remind me of the fact

I think the next bracelet will say SO BLESSED....

Oh funny story--after i got the bracelet i was showing it to my girlfriend and she made the comment that you could tell the keys came from different typewriters since some of them were shaped different than others--like the two "O's" for instance--in which i reminded her that they would have to be from different typewriters since no typewriter had two O keys--we laughed at this blond moment...maybe you had to be there....maybe you had to be sleep deprived...but we were cracking up.....

veklempt

i don't know if i spelled my title right or not and since it is a Yiddish word i believe-trying to find it proved interesting. It is amazing the things you find when you Google words


My oldest called me this afternoon--just a normal day i thought
I was working at the convention when i got the call....
"Mom, I am done with school"
this was not an unusual statement--
often she would call me to tell me she was home and done for the day...
but today it was different....
the meaning was different...
"I am done with High school" she said.
All of a sudden--standing among many woman i got teary eyed
VEKLEMPT--
i could barely speak.
It had hit me like a ton of bricks
memories came flooding through my mind
and i realized she had grown up
She was done--she was moving on to bigger and better things
This milestone had come and gone
a door had been shut
and there i stood looking at it with tears in my eyes....

Manchester time difference

Does my butt look smaller? Wait....you can't see it--(because after the last picture that i posted of it....I am not going there again.) I am going to say "yes it does!"--why you ask--well i worked it off today. I am tired--It is actually after 11pm here--but my Arizona clock says 8pm--still too early for me to actually fall asleep....although i need to try since the morning will come three hours earlier than i am used to also--like i will be getting up at 4am my time--I NEVER get up at 4am....i just love the time difference.

Mothers day

Mothers day...the day for all children to be perfect and honor their perfect mothers--
and somehow the rest of us horn in on this holiday. In fact for most of us, mothers day is a day where we feel inadequate, inferior and just bad at this job of mothering. But with that being said you can't have mothers day and not write something about it.

I have been blessed with a wonderful mother--she also hated/disliked mothers day. Maybe i get some of my dislike for the day from her--maybe it is a genetic thing--I remember her crying on many a mothers day, and feeling less than "perfect"--what she didn't realize at the time--we were also less than "perfect"--but she was the PERFECT mom for us. None of us is perfect--we just do the best job we can with what we have been given. She was there after school to chat and she fed us well--and we all have a love of food, different food from different countries. She taught us to be honest and not play games--was she perfect NO--but once again neither were we. She taught many a lifes lessons to us--and while dating she was always spot on in her evaluations of the guys i brought home--plus she did help in choosing my hubby for me...

Then can i spend a moment talking about my mother in law? I realize i am in the minority here in saying that i genuinely love and adore this woman. She is amazing. I know without a doubt that the man i married is a direct reflection of the job she did--with very little help from his father. He is the man before me because of her. She is soooo supportive of her grand kids and sets such a great example for them of the importance of family...

My kids love their grandmas--these pictures are just from this week

After the orchestra concert with the middle child Seeing the oldest off to another prom--my mom was there helping stitch on the zebra trim and hubbies mom was entertaining the date while he was waiting. And how can you not love the fact that the grandma's were color coordinated

The also saw the oldest son off to prom as well--but we missed the photo op with them

This boy however loves to get his picture taken--and he loves his grandma's

we went out to dinner and he had to hold both of their hands as we were walking in--he is an equal opportunity love bug

And since i am a mother i need to mention my day--yummy breakfast before church-- and a great nap after church, only to wake up and have the wonderful smells of dinner wafting down to me. And while all of this was great--i couldn't help but look down the bench at church and reflect on how my kids are growing up--how my mothering of some of them is getting less and less. How i can no longer just hug or kiss a wound away. With the exception of my youngest the rest don't snuggle with me much anymore. They are all so independent--and that is a good thing-but it is also nice to feel needed. My middle child was off to Disneyland this weekend for school and got back at 6am this morning. She was tired and asked if she had to go to church--(that was a no brain-er answer) and normally i don't like them to sleep through services--but how could i resist when she asked if she could rest her head on my shoulder--she needed me. I sat there with my arm around her--with my daughter snuggled in the crook of shoulder. It has been years since she snuggled up with me--that my friends was the highlight of my day--i was needed--even if was only for a shoulder to lean on--AHHH what a wonderful mothers day memory....

It kills you to see them grow up.

But I guess it would kill you quicker

if they didn't.

~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

bad blogger apology

last May i posted 43 times--
Somehow with it being the 9th day in May, and this being my second post of the month--
I don't think i am on pace to tie that amount this year.
I have been a bad blogger--
not that i don't have MANY things to write about--
for heavens sake--
it is MAY
the time of year for all things busy with kids
and to boot i even have one graduating--
LOTS and lots of things to write about--
but i haven't.
I am sorry....
I will try to be better--
maybe even catch up
but...
NO promises that it will actually happen...

Airport irritations

i am ready to be home--
I am tired...
slept across the bed which is something i love to do--
ALL BY MYSELF---
no snoring to be heard...
and yet i still was waking up
and beating my alarm up--
i am wiped right now...
not feeling the most patient---
too many people in a small area...
and i am not even on the plane yet--
still in the terminal--
but it is hot...
and crowded....
and smelly....
and noisy....

I got to the airport early and could have jumped on an earlier flight
it was already at the gate--
seats were open
but they wanted to charge me extra....
SERIOUSLY???
Wouldn't you want to fill seats?
It doesn't cost you anymore to fill that available seat
and that would have left another seat open to try and sell for another hour....
Oh well--
so here i sit....blogging and checking facebook and e-mail
thank goodness for free wireless...

It is funny how the TSA is supposed to be the same airport to airport
but its not.--Not by any stretch....
Efficiency is not consistent by any means
today i made the cardinal mistake and reached in at the end of the conveyor belt to grab my bag--it was almost out--but almost doesn't count--
I practically got my hand slapped and the bag was put back with all the contents spilling out--
and then she made me wait......
while she checked the guys bag behind me
just letting my bag sit there....
heaven forbid you get irritated...
they control your destiny....
I asked if she could move my bag up
since they guy was behind me....
So much for suggestions....
again the proverbial hand slap
so i waited and tried not to be ticked
I know i am tired--stuff always bothers you more when you are tired...
although the TSA bothers me even when i am not tired....
just a sign of the times
and i better get used to it.....