Wishing you a . . .

Happy Memorial Day weekend.

From Brynlee's craft table to you.

Hope it's wonderful!

Sometimes I set goals

::sharing an umberella::

On Saturday we got together with some friends for a BBQ. It snowed. SNOWED!

Dear warm weather,
When can we expect your arrival? Please come soon. I'm anxiously awaiting you and all the fun things that you bring.
Can't wait until we're together again.
Kimberlee

In the meantime my little family will be wearing flip-flops with our winter coats and going on bike rides in our rain boots. And making summer to-do lists while dreaming of sun. And snow cones.

::a Sunday afternoon bike ride::

Speaking of to-do lists, here's a few of my 2010 summertime goals:

I know. Read a book, stay in a cabin and write some letters...I'm such an over-achiever. 

a (sixteenth) confession

Saturday after the kids and I got home from a day spent climbing/jumping/flipping/trampolining/tumbling and completely enjoying ourselves at a local tumbling gym, Spence told me he was going to start demolition on the master bathroom. I rolled my eyes and grunted because demolition has a way of making me do that. I didn't feel like ripping out walls in the master bathroom. And I especially didn't feel like cleaning up ripped out walls in the master bathroom.

So I put Jace down for a nap and in a successful effort to avoid the demolition I went in the other room to prepare my Young Women's lesson. Spencer started the destruction. And Brynlee, well Brynlee, spent the next few hours with stickers, stamps, coloring utensils and a white wall as a canvas.

Is it white trash to let your child draw on the wall?

It is white trash, isn't it?

Random Randomly Randomness: Pictures

Guess what, ya'll? I have a total of 255 pictures from the weekend.  Two hundred and fifty-five!

While I was flipping through pictures the other night Spencer observed over my shoulder and stated, "Remember when we used to say that we needed to take more pictures...um, I think you take plenty now!"

Why yes I do, thankyouverymuch. I've changed. I'm a changed woman. A changed woman with a digital camera and a blog.  And I give you, dear bloggy, all the obsessive picture taking credit.

So what I'm sayin' is that I've got a big ole' stack of pictures from the wedding.  255 of them to be exact.  And, I couldn't chose which ones to post.  So to keep with all the randomness, I present to you every 15^th picture in the folder titled Alan's wedding.

{Which still makes for a lot of pictures...consider yourself forewarned.}

**

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Random Randomly Randomness: Facts

::Jami's self taken portrait of me, Katie & her::

::Good thing she zoomed in a bit::

A list of random facts from the weekend:

• Jaelynn, Alan's beautiful wife, reminds me a lot of my sister, Jessica. And in some pictures she looks like my sister, Katie.
• Sometimes Katie wears hair extensions. They look really good on her which made us all a bit jealous. So she took then off and we passed them around. They turned Jami into a wannabe punk rocker. A sad, unemployed, wannabe punk rocker. I looked a bit skunk-ish, but they were about the same length of my hair so they were hard to see. But my mom, oh my goodness, my mom! They turned her into a mullet wearing, chain-smoking waitress at Denny's. You know the type, right?
• I took pictures and told my mom I was going to post them on the blog. She threatened me. Told me she would do away with me if I did such a thing. I told her I could out run her. She told me she could out smart me. And she can. Therefore, no pictures.
• If I didn't have two adorable, and completely dependent, children and a dear husband to take care of I would post those pictures. Oh, yes I would. My life would be a small price to pay.
• Kate and her friend, Jake, watched seven kids while we were in the temple. Bless them.
• We stayed up late, got up early, went to the temple, took pictures and then went to Alan & Jaelynn's wedding luncheon. And then Jace fell asleep leaning against his chair while using his dinner roll as a pillow. Exhaustion was the theme of the weekend.
• And speaking of exhaustion, Jace didn't take a nap {aside from the five minute dinner roll power nap, which doesn't count} from Thursday to Sunday. Guess what?! Jace needs naps. Period. And I need Jace to take naps. Exclamation point.
• I asked Jami if my shirt was too tight. She said, "Nope, it's not too tight at all. Just too small." Which is obviously way different.
• Jami gave Jaelynn the best advice at her wedding luncheon. She said, "If you don't want to get up early and make Alan breakfast before work twenty years from now, then make sure you DON'T START TOMORROW." Amen sista.
• My cousin Sarah lived with us my senior year of high school. We had a ball. I haven't seen her since 2001 and she had never met Spencer or my kids. She came to Alan's reception and it was so fun to see her.
• We reminisced old times. Jami, Sarah & I would have serenaded the reception guests with a little, "Goodbye Earl" by the Dixie Chicks, but we couldn't remember the words. {Your welcome, Alan & Jaelynn} I'm old, forgetful AND I've outgrown all my shirts. Lovely.
• Jessica was pregnant at my wedding, had barely had a baby at Jami's wedding, and was pregnant again at Alan's wedding. Dang her bad pregnancy luck.
• Note to self: Next trip to Ikea leave the two little things that call you mom at the hotel.
• We went to McDonalds in Draper, Utah. They don't have a play land. Instead they have three computer screens to be used for the children's entertainment. I don't know about you, but I go to McDonalds for the playland.  My kids need to run around while eating!  How else am I supposed to sneak all their fries?
• And then we went to Kangaroo Zoo with the M. side of the family. And then it was fun. And then Jace threw-up all over me. And then it was disgusting.
• Brynlee thinks her "biggest cousin EVER", Gavin, hung the moon. I agree.
• My in-laws moved to a new {old} house. The yard is fantastic. There are trees, flowers, vines and ground cover everywhere. It's park like. My mother-in-law loves an old house. I love an old, established yard.
• My brother-in-law, Aaron, sounds EXACTLY like my brother-in-law, Heinrich. Sometimes I have to look twice when Aaron starts talking. But Aaron wears suspenders and Heinder's in Hawaii, so it's easy to tell them apart.
• Come back later for some "Random Randomly Randomness: Pictures" from the weekend.
• The end.

P.S. Brynlee's lined the kitchen with a roll of packaging bubble wrap. She has on a pair of my high heels and has brought me a pair. She's requesting a little "party music" for all the poppin'. We're about to have a good ole' time. The sliding glass doors open if you care to join us.

::Brynlee at the temple::

This weekend we celebrated.

::Cousins {and aunt}::

::Olivia, Marie, Maddie, Brynlee & Brooke::

Bryn and Jace have 35 cousins and counting.
This weekend we got to see 25 of them.
Including our newest {precious, red-headed} cousin, Sam.

::Baby Sam on his blessing day with his sister Lillie and Mom and Dad, Anna & Mike::

And this weekend, my brother kissed his wife.
And I became one sister richer.

::the original five with our newest member::

I love cousins.
I love sisters.
I love a wedding's love story.
I love family time.
I love the weekend.

::When Jami took this picture she sighed and said, "Kim, you ruin ever single picture I take!"  Touché, my dear, touché.:: 

More weekend, wedding, and celebrating updates to come.
But today we were too busy enjoying the sun. And the bloom.

::The tree in my backyard.  It smells even prettier than it looks::

So, maybe tomorrow.
Maybe.

Attention All: We went on a field trip.

It was around 2:00 on a Tuesday afternoon. I was reading over Brynlee's monthly preschool calendar while eating a late lunch. The calendar reminded me that I'd forgotten to tell Miss Jenni, Brynlee's preschool teacher that I was available to attend the upcoming field trip. So I grabbed my phone, scrolled down to Jenni and between bites pushed send.

{phone ringing}
Jenni: Hello.
Me: {In my best phone voice. What! I bet you have one too.} Hey Jenni. This is Kim [insert last name here]. I just wanted to let you know I'm available to attend the field trip to McKee's next week if you need me.
{silence on the other line}
Me: {After a brief pause, explaining again. Slower this time.} This is Kim, Brynlee's mom. Do you need any more volunteers for the upcoming filed trip? If so, I'm available.
{more silence}
{debate hanging up}
Jenni: {also confused, and rightfully so} Um, Kim. I think you've got the wrong Jenni. This is Jenni [insert maiden name] [insert last name]. 

This Jenni. Jenni that lives in New York, thousand of miles away. Jenni that just had a baby, and doesn't need bothered with my awkwardness. Jenni that doesn't know what McKee's is. Jenni that has absolutely no clue why I would be calling her to inform her of my availability for the preschool field trip. That Jenni. Bless her.

We laughed. I apologized and then spent the remainder of the conversation trying to regain composure. It never happened. I congratulated her on her beautiful Amelia, who shares my birthday by the way. We talked about recent happenings and then we hung up.

I tell you what; I'm a work of art. And abstract, mismatched and completely confused work of art.

****

Dear Jenni,

Sorry about the phone call mess-up last week. I'm a dork. So sorry.

In case you're wondering {and why wouldn't you be} I did end up going with Brynlee's preschool class on their field trip. We went to McKee's pet shop and petting zoo. Jace got to come along too. The kids were great. Well, ya know, for a group of 4 year olds. Sometimes I think I would enjoy doing a preschool. Then I remember that some preschool kids are in fact boys and I quickly change my mind.

Brynlee and Jace loved all the animals. One of the preschooler's mom gave each of the kids a quarter to buy feeding food at the petting zoo. Brynlee wasn't interested in letting a goat eat out of her hand. She instead asked if she could use her quarter to buy a cat. I told her no. She decided that she would settle on a dog. I told her no. However, both Brynlee and Jace pretended that they were cats for the rest of the day. So it was kind of like we got to bring a cat home after all. Or not. But kind of.

It was raining pretty hard on the day of the field trip so we didn't spend much time outside. I've never been to McKee's before, but it's kind of a little hidden gem. There's a playground, playhouse, theater area, petting zoo and all sorts of animal-ish things to look at. And there a monkey. A real live monkey.

The kids were a bit jipped because of the rain, but I promised Brynlee and Jace that we would go back again another day. When it's not raining. If it ever stops raining.

I'll be sure to call and let you know when we decide to go {wink}.

Hope you and your adorable little family is well. Sorry again.

Kim

*****

Jace at Brynlee's field trip to McKee

And since I didn't actually take a picture of Brynlee while on her field trip. 

{Work of art, people! Work. Of. Art.}

Here's a picture from last weekend.

Oh Brother.

This little guy.

He's a crack up.

Funny I tell you.

He makes me smile.

He makes me laugh.

I love him. A lot!  So glad he's mine.

With the weekend came. . .

car rides    the logan temple    alan & jaelynn    artic circle    laughter    c o u s i n s    mom&dad    a sleepover at the wahlens'    staying up to late    family pictures by this talented lady    a saturday get-together with the Francis'    conversation    enjoyment    friendship    c o o k i e s     family time    mothers day    belgium waffles    a picnic        white orchids    crayola made mothers day cards    phone calls    the park    sun    happiness    mid-day naps

I love the weekend, don't you?

::mothers day flowers in the window seal::

A favor, returned.

mom with her girls

June 2006

I never went to a girls camp without my mom. Never.

When I went to my very first girls camp, at age 12, mom was a leader. When I went at 13, mom was a leader. She was the leader the year that we decorated with sunflowers made of green grenade balloons and yellow construction paper. She was there the year we did the skit about Mathew 25: 34-40. And when Bishop Sutherland taught us how to sing "McGregor is Dead," and "Three Sharptooth Buzzards". Every year I went, she went.

Mom would spend endless amounts of time prepping for the camp. She'd worry about are camp theme and song. How we were going to decorate the cabin. How to divide up secret sisters. What to eat. And what to do for the camp crafts.

This particular year was no different. Jami and I were Young Women doing the girls camp thing; my mom, just like the year before, was our mom doing the camp leader thing. It was a ward camp this year and Stanley, Idaho was our destination.

After arrival we set up camp, ate Brother Johnston's Dutch oven dinner and tried to get some sleep for tomorrow we would venture out on that years girls camp hike.

At the beginning of the hike mom realized her shoes weren't made for hiking. They rubbed and irritated her feet. It was a bit of a joke at first, "Way to go, Mom", "That's what you get for not being prepared" we'd joke. But then the hike got longer. And harder. We were hiking in the mountains, weaving between trees and sagebrush. And trying to navigate our way on a path made of jagged rocks and untamed sticks and tree roots. Mom's joints are bad. Her knees were aching, and her ankles weak. The shoes had already rubbed visible blisters. She was in pain.

Around the hike's halfway mark we were all exhausted and ready to be done. It was then that we came to a small creek. To cross the creek a log had to be used as a bridge. Holding our arms out for balance and taking small steps, one-by-one we wobbled to the other side. When it was mom's turn, she lost her footing. Slipped. And landed into the creeks cold water. Her already uncomfortable feet were now soaking wet.

We had come too far for mom to turn around. Plus, she wouldn't be able to find her way back to camp without our hike leader. So she kept walking. Forward. Her body ached. Her feet were blistered. And with every step her wet Levis, rubbed. And her wet shoes, squeaked. I could feel her pain.

We came to a point in the hike that was at a steep incline. Most of the hikers were having a hard time making it up the mountain side. Mom especially. She was wet. Blistered. Throbbing. She was defeated. And she told me and Jami so.  There was no way she could finish the hike, she argued.

So I took mom's left hand and Jami took her right.  And we kept walking. Pulling mom, and her pained, wet body behind us.  That hike was hard.  All of our faces were red with exhaustion. We were sore, tired and uncomfortable. But, we were not defeated. We were going to finish that hike. The three of us. Together!

Later that night, when we were safe back at camp, my Young Women's leader put her arm around me telling me how proud she was of Jami and me. I smiled and accepted the complement. But, it was a complement that didn't need given. Praise that was undeserved.

Because so many times before, and so many times since, I've been the pained hiker with wet shoes and burning knees. And my mom the rescuer, grabbing my hand and pulling me up the mountain side.

This small act was my teenage way of giving back; a way to say thank you.
Thank you for loving me.
Thank you for never missing a volleyball game or a dance performance or a speech competition.
Thank you for lecturing when I needed lectured.
Thank you for laughing when I needed to laugh.
Thank you for dancing with me.
Thank you for praying for me.
Thank you for asking a million questions.
Thank you for being patient.
Thank you for having a sense of humor.
Thank you for always being there to pull me up the mountain.

But most of all,
Thank you, mom, for being my mother.

I loved you then. And I love you now.
Happy Mother's Day, Mom.

Mothers and Muffins

Dear Brynlee-

Thanks for inviting me to attend Mothers and Muffins with your preschool class today. It was the highlight of my day. I love you. I love the way your nose wrinkles when you smile. And the way you say definitely. I love to listen to you tell stories, and to hear you sing primary songs. And, I love the flower that you planted for me and how proud you were to give it to me. And, I love that you told your preschool class that you loved your mommy because, "she lets me cook with her."

I'm so lucky to be your mother.
Love you.
Mom

a (fifteenth) confession

Today the “Days since Last Injury While Giving a Haircut” sign had to been changed back to zero. I managed to snip the bottom part of my left pointer finger while cutting Spence’s hair. It hurt. It hurts. It has its very own pulse.

I charged him double for the haircut. And rightfully so.

The last time I suffered major injury while giving a haircut was seven years ago. I was angle cutting Jami’s hair to frame her face. I clipped the lower back section of my middle left finger. It hurt then too. It scarred. And now it turns a lovely shade of blue when my hands get cold.

But on a less painful note, on this lovely Wednesday evening, a beautiful bouquet of yellow spring flowers to you. From Brynlee.

The "Look at Me" Projects: Nightstand.

We've done a bazillion* projects lately.

House projects. Yard projects. All sorts of other projects.

I've posted about a grand total of ZERO of them.

Which means absolutely nothing.

Except for,

directly related to my lack of posting...

I've taken a grand total of ZERO before pictures.

And a grand total of ZERO after pictures.

I say we remedy that.

Wouldn't you agree?

I'll start posting a few of them on the blog.

We will make it into a series.

We'll title it "look at me, look at me".**

For obvious reasons.

And I'll start today.

*This number is an estimate. I have a tendency to round up.

**The me in "look at me, look at me" refers to the Spencer and me, me.

Not me, by myself, me.

Because are you kidding!

Like I could do a bazillion projects by myself.

*****

I bought this nightstand at the Goodwill.
For $6.00.

It's solid, and heavy.

And had good structure.

But it was ugly.

No before picture.
Because I didn't take any.
But you already knew that.

And we already talked about it.

I'm remedy-ing it.

But here's the after picture.
Primed, painted and antiqued the thing.
I like the end result.
Do you?

I got those chairs at the thrift store too.

Painted and reupholstered them.

They were $5.00 each.

The end.

In which I realize I’m getting old. And lame(er)!

Me, Breah and Amaris

And our girls: Brynlee, Reagen & Mya

at Reagen's baby blessing

Breah texted me yesterday.

Breah: I saw Clint {last name is being omitted to protect the innocent} at church today in passing, so crazy! I wonder if he lives here now or was visiting someone.
Me: My mind went blank 4 a bit. I had 2 ask Spence who Clint was. Did he recognize u?
Breah: Did he marry that one girl from our appts? He smiled but I am not sure he recognized me. It took me a minute for it to click when I saw him.
Me: Nope. He married a girl he met in Boise. Did he have any kids?
Breah: Not with him...but he was going into sunday school when I came out of sacrament for a min. Small world!

{5-10 minute break between texts. Giving Spence and I plenty of time for a good discussion.}

Me: I didn't date Clint, did I? Spence is insisting that I did.
Breah: No you didn't date him that I knew of {HA! Told ya Spence. And just for the record, Breah's always right about EVERYTHING} but maybe what happened at Perkins stayed at Perkins lol! {Clint and I were co-workers. Along with Spencer. And a good portion of my other college friends.}
Me: Haha...good ole Perkins. I went on a few dates with him. But I never "dated" him. Spence says that counts as dating. SO DOESN'T!!
Breah: That's funny! Tell Spence you didn't date him cuz you never had a DTR and really cuz you were waiting for him to come along :) {no way am I telling Spence that...it would go straight to his head}
Me: Don't think any less of me if I had to google what a DTR was. I'm 28 now, ya know...I'm so not hip anymore! 

{The term anymore is used loosely. As in, I was never really that hip at 27. Or at 25. Or during my college years (when I wasn't dating Clint!) Or pretty much EVER!}

{Although one time, in sixth grade, my mom let me buy this little tightly fitting bodysuit beauty. Oh, she was fabulous. When I wore that...I FELT HIP.}

{I got it from Shop-ko! So again, NOT hip!}

I'm happy to report that even at the ripe old age of 28 I still know how to "google"! And to text.  And to blog.

And to gossip. Obviously.

P.S. I NEVER "dated" Clint!

P.S.S. Thank you, thank you for all your birthday wishes.

I really like you guys.

P.S.S.S.S.  Happy Birthday to you Gretta. 
Welcome to the hi,were28andlame club. 
Did you know what a DTR was?  Love ya.