Blake at 6 weeks

I took these pictures last week when Blake turned 6 weeks. He is doing better--sleeping longer at night! That makes me a much happier mom! I feel tons better, too. I have a lot more energy and feel like I'm getting a little control over my life back. We are so happy to have little Blake in our family!

You CAN make a difference

For those of you who live near me...I don't know if you had noticed the weeds that were around the trees and in the cement cracks of the median of the street that enters our neighborhood off the main road. It would bother me so much every time I drove into and out of the neighborhood. Well, I emailed the city on Monday and by that afternoon they had people out there clearing out the weeds! After I submitted my complaint, I was given a number for my request so that I could go back on the website, enter the number and see what has been done about it. They said the weeds would be taken care of by today. And today I drove by there and the weeds are gone! Mike teased me that it wouldn't help to email them--well it totally did!

One busy girl!

The last part of April and all of May was a busy time for Gretchen! She performed in her Spring dance recital. She did her clogging to the song, "Life is a Highway". It was a cute routine and she did a great job!

Since Gretchen was in 3rd grade this year, she was old enough to participate in the school choir. She got up early every Tuesday and Thursday and got to school by 7:45 am to sing in choir for a half hour before school started. She sang with her mouth wide and she knew all the words to all the songs! Her favorite songs were, "The Impossible Dream", "School Days", "There's No Business Like Show Business".

Gretchen also had a tumbling performance where she showed off her cartwheel, round-off and back bend, and a back handspring with help from her teacher.

And finally, she had her Spring piano recital. She played the two pieces that she had memorized and performed in the Music Festival. Gretchen did a wonderful job! Her piano skills are getting better and better, despite having to practice on our little Yamaha keyboard.

Wonderful Mother's Day!

What a great day I had yesterday! We got up early and headed down to American Fork to hear our Brother-in-law speak in church. Mike's parents were there also. Then we went to back to Mike's sister's house for a wonderful brunch. The kids had fun playing outside and in the basement with their cousins. On the way home we all took a quick nap in the car (except for Mike of course). Then I got to open presents from my kiddos. Pictures below. I had some wonderful gifts they made themselves in school. And some gifts they bought with the help of their thoughtful Dad. I am very excited about my Cuisinart and what I can cook up with that! Then that night we went to my parent's house and enjoyed some chicken fajitas, chocolate bundt cake and playing outside in the lovely evening air! My parents also got me a nice card, a willow tree figure, and some Sees truffles. I'm so grateful for my four beautiful children! I feel so blessed to be a wife and mother and I am constantly thanking my Heavenly Father for that! I'm also so thankful for my wonderful mother and mother-in-law. These ladies bless my life so much.

Preschool program for Moms

I got to see my cute Dylan perform in a Mother's Day preschool program. Dylan did such a nice job. He did all the actions and was singing along so well. I left baby Blake with my sister, so I was able to give my full attention to the program. Some of the songs they sang were Itsy Bitsy Spider, Hickory Dickory Dock--clicking their tongues as the clock ticking, and the last song was darling, it said "I love you" over and over. Each time Dylan would point to me and look right at me as he said that part. It was a wonderful Mom Moment! Little Dylan has had a great year in preschool. He has learned some cute poems, lots of letters and letter sounds, and played with fun friends that he comes home and tells me about.