Happenings....

 On Sunday after home church, we drove up to meet Shawn in Park City (he had just finished a bike ride).  We met at the Rail Trail and did a little family bike ride on the nice flat trail.  It was pretty chilly, but we dressed in layers.

 Monday, Memorial Day!  The girls and Shawn are working on making their own doll (mouse) house.  I think it is going to turn out great. Today the girls worked on painting the pieces of wood Shawn cut. I am trying to teach, especially Alegra, to take her time, it doesn't have to be finished immediate.  Some projects take time.  She is a lot like me though and just wants to finish it.

 Cruz and Shawn helped create a climber thing for the snap peas to climb up.  Shawn pulled this plastic piping from a garbage pile and figured out how to make it work.

 The girls, Shawn, and I went over to Brighton to work on soccer drills, run, and get fit.  It was a lot of fun.  Later in the afternoon 4:00ish, we met Kubi and Pablo (some friends) and their girls to go hike to this suspension bridge.  The crazy thing is this hike is pretty close to our home and we have never taken the kids on it.  It wasn't too crowded with people.

 Their big dog Rover - literally he was like a horse  Cruz was bottle feeding him, it was so funny!

 Yesterday I ran over to Shawn's work and he picked up some salads and we went and sat by this little pond by his work to eat.  It was nice to meet up and get a little break from the kids.  These geese and their babies walked right next to us. It was crazy how close they got to us.

Memorial Day flowers

Grammy ordered flowers for Grandpa Gary's grave for yesterday.  We stopped and picked up mums and then went to the graves.  We decided to go Friday because we thought it would be less busy at the cemetery.  

 Grandpa Gary

 Miles

 Hollis, Evelyn, Anina, and Sophia (Anina's mom) the one that was going to end their lives in Denmark and then the missionaries came.

Lexi watching her rap with her class

On Thursday Lexi's class all watched the different videos the kids submitted of their talents.  It was fun watching Lexi watch hers with her classmates.

Dirt Cake

Cruz requested 2 desserts for his birthday. Finally got around to making the second one he requested, dirt cake!  Basically chocolate pudding, oreos, whipping cream, and worms.

More on the rap

Lexi video'd her rap today. It was so cute!!! Tomorrow the 2nd grade will watch all the videos!

Lexi Lu's rap for her 2nd grade talent show!

Rap Title: I Miss You All

My name is Lexi Lu and I’m here to say 

this COVID 19 thing has really gotten in my way!
(I messed up soccer, my bears name is Fuzzy, I could be tall ya'll for basketball, but not today)super quick 

It started with germs and now it has cancelled school-

working from home -THIS THINK AIN’T COOL!

The biggest issue is something I bet you feel too-

This separation has got me MISSING ALL OF YOU!

Happenings this past week

 Cruz got some delayed birthday money from the Wilkens this past week - he was happy about it!!

 Challah and sourdough cinnamon rolls - both turned out really yummy!

 FLAT MS. WALKER - Lexi got a project from her teacher this weekend, to take Flat Ms. Walker around with her.  She had fun doing it!!

 Saturday projects!! Love getting out and working together as a family!!! Lexi was a real trooper yesterday, working hard!!

 Set up a new swing that the kids are LOVING!!!!

After home church on Sunday we had some down time and then made these cool bowls out of clay!!

 Bella came over to bring cookies for her birthday!  Didn't social distance for this picture, ugh!!! It's getting hard because people are kinda relaxing with the social distance thing but the virus is still out there. I don't want to be fearful, but I do want to be smart.

Early Mothers Day Celebration!

On Friday night we celebrated Mother's Day.  The kids had made nice notes for me and Shawn had bought a dutch oven and some workout clothes for me.  It was a nice evening.  We celebrated early because on Saturday morning Shawn took off with Tim and Matt for a week long motorcycle adventure.  They are down in New Mexico right now.  On Saturday afternoon we met Russ's family at Grammy's to work in her yard.  We worked together for 2.5 hours and got the beds wedded and the yard looking really good.  Grammy said it was the best Mother's Day gift she has ever got.  We were fairly tired Saturday night, so grammy came over to eat on the deck and I ran and got some IN and OUT burgers.  Yesterday was Mother's Day.  We had our own Sunday School and then Russ and Secario came over to bring us the Sacrament and we had a little meeting.  In the afternoon we picked Grammy up (that was her first time in my car in over 2 months) and we took a Sunday drive.  We drove up and over the mountain in Draper into Lehi and then Up American Fork Canyon. The gate was closed to get over to Sundance but it was still a pretty drive and Grammy was happy.  I love being a MOM SO MUCH.  I am so grateful I have children and I get to be their mom.  It is hard too. I want my kids to be good, productive, smart, kind, caring kids and trying to instill that in them is harder than I thought-so I am working on my patience and trying to figure out ways to connect with each of them that will help them want that for themselves because they feel loved and admired, because they are so much by me!!

 Love that Cruz will still write me love notes.

 Lexi made these "fighter jets" to go all the way up the stairs with nice notes on them. She can be so creative!!

 Cute Olive, that Lexi wrapped up in her blanky!

 Primary dropped off this little Mothers Day craft kit for the girls to make me.  That was super cute!!!

Alegra made Student Council for next year!!

 Alegra put together a video telling about herself and why she wants to be on student council.  She submitted it last Friday.  All the kids in fourth grade could apply by doing a video submission.  Today she found out she is on it.  She doesn't know who else made it yet, but she is super happy she was picked!!!!

Everyone is getting in on "the comfy", feelings, and parenting

 Dad trying it out....the girls keep fighting over it....but it hasn't left Cruz's body very much since getting it!

 Lexi is filling out some paper work for a second grade book and I thought this was the cutest answer:
"I feel safe when my Grammy hugs me!"


Another good parenting reminder for me.  One piece of advice that an expert says to remember out of everything there is out there is this:  WHEN MY CHILD ENTERS THE ROOM DOES MY FACE LIGHT UP?  It is that simple and really it is something I am going to try to do ALWAYS!!!!

CRUZ IS 13!!!!

I can't believe it!  We have a teenager.  Cruz is 13!! I love this kid so much!  He is smart, knowledgable, likes to share facts, great skier, loves xbox, and just a good person (when he wants to be :)).  Kids grow so fast. It really is amazing to me that he is 13.  I love that he is growing and learning and being independent, but I also really want to keep him little, darn it.  LOVE YOU CRUZ BEYOND ANYTHING I CAN SAY!!!!!

 Surprised him this morning by waking him up at 8:30 with streamers and a donut with candles!

 Alegra had such cute things planned for his birthday.  A treasure hunt for presents, a cute bracelet with a poem, and lots of notes!

 Love the coloring in the "C" that Lexi contributed!

 Lexi colored a "whacker"!  It is a small ruler that Cruz uses to hit the girls with, ugh!!  It was Lexi's little ruler but she colored it and put his name on it.  So cute!!!!

 Cruz got a couple pairs of new shorts (which he desperately needs), a couple shirts (a Kobe shirt), and a new pair of Hawaii sandals.

 And his favorite snack - seaweed!!!

 Lexi was taking some pictures and I found this one!!  Ha ha!!

 Cruz's favorite gift, this Comfy, huge blanket hoodie thing.  Also, we gave him some money!!

 Olive socks from Grandma Frye (which is funny because Shawn got me the same ones for Valentines day).

 Love my boy!!!!

 Now the girls both want a comfy :).

Grammy came over to hang out (social distance style) and eat birthday dinner with us.  It started out warm and nice to sit in the sun but as we waited for Shawn to bring Barbacoa (Cruz's request) home for dinner it got chilly.  So Cruz opened his card, we put some brookie in a tupperware for grammy and when Shawn got home grammy took her meal and left.  We haven't been eating inside with her, just to be careful, plus she hung out and talked with us for about an hour and a half waiting for Shawn to finish up work and get the food.  Shawn went into the office today, first time since March 14th.

 Yes, Cruz did wear his "comfy" all day.  And yes, we are hoping to cut his hair soon.  He wanted to wait for Fantastic Sams to open but I think he is going to let Shawn cut it.  Grammy got him this cute card and some money for his birthday!

 Finally, Barbacoa wrapped taco!  Yum!!!

 Cruz requested a Brookie for his cake!  

 Can't believe he is 13!!! Wiping away the tears!!!!