Memorial Day

To all those brave men and women who have served our country, who have made it their life mission to protect our rights, and who have sacrificed so much, including their life, thank you!

To all those brave family members who have said good-bye to loved ones, May God bless and comfort you! We pray for you.


We have not forgotten. 

American Idol

Did you watch American Idol this season?

We did! My boys were rooting for Hailey from the beginning. I was a big fan of Lauren from her audition! I picked her to win, and I must admit, I was a bit sad that she was the runner up. Scotty is a good singer. But Lauren...she is a star in the making! Even without the title, I think she will make it big in the country world!

It was fun to share the season with my boys, to educate them on music, and famous musicians and to see them learn their own personal preferences!

Maybe we'll be lucky enough to snag some tickets to see the American Idols when they come to town this summer. We'll see!

A Sneak Peak of Summer

In early May, Whitney Halling graduated with her Masters from The U! She came back from CA for the graduation and the Barneys came down from Idaho, and we had a party to celebrate the Big Event! Congratulations to Whitney!

My niece,Whitney and Todd Halling. Whitney has her Master's from the Uof U. We went up Provo Canyon for a BBQ to celebrate her graduation! Way to go Whit!

Seth enjoying the outdoor meal

Noah loves to play ladder golf



Suzanne, Gretchen, and Kari

Kari and Gretch being silly by the beautiful Provo River

The Chief and Seth hanging out at the Park

My nephew, Quin, climbed the tree to retrieve a stuck ladder golf ball. He always was a monkey!

The boys working together to retrieve the ball

Half the fun was retrievin' that ball. Of course, the little ones thought it was so fun, they threw another one up there five minutes later.

If you want a beautiful place to go to enjoy some solitary time or some family time...take a drive up Provo Canyon. It is such a wonderful place. I remember taking countless bike rides up there when I was in college. And going up there with groups of friends, to play games, or have s'mores, or just sing around the campfire. This May evening, we got lucky and the rain had stopped for a day or two, so we were able to enjoy a perfect evening. I was sad to see the sun go down. I look forward to many more evenings up Provo Canyon, even though it is somewhat out of the way for us now. Its worth the drive though!

Preschool Graduation for my Baby



Julie, Seth, and Jessica - the Best Preschool Teachers and pseudo moms this mom could ask for!



Mom, Seth, and Dad



Seth trying to keep his grad cap on while sitting down



My baby in his self decorated T-shirt



Seth with his friends during the darling program they put on for all us parents

How do you not love his "square hat" he was so excited to wear for graduation!

It is hard for me to believe that my baby is officially finished with preschool and will be starting kindergarden this fall. He is really close to reading. And he is counting well. I think he is going to miss his preschool friends a great deal. He has been going to this preschool/daycare since he was 10 months old. They are definitely extended family to us!

For working parents, the hardest thing is finding not just adequate care for your children, but loving, reliable, safe care. The preschool playhouse has been so perfect for my children, and for me and the Chief. They have never called and said "sorry, can't tend him today." or "We're going on vacay, so you'll need for find someone else this week." They have been there for us, and not only that, they have loved my children. They have taught them manners, they have taught them to share. They have taught him to clean up after himself. And they have enabled him to be his own little self. Seth won the Mr. Jokester Award. It fits him perfectly. Rather than be annoyed by his little antics, they have encouraged him and applauded him. Jessica and Julie have been such a blessing to us, and I will never forgot what they have given to my family. We love you both! Thanks for everything!

Quiet on the homefront

I've been quiet on the bloggin' homefront. There has been some changes around our neck of the woods, and I haven't felt like writing much. I also haven't had much extra time to blog. I don't feel like I have a lot to say either, so that's why May has been quiet on the blog.

As soon as I upload some photos, I will give an update. I have some fun photos from a few outings and events. In meantime, enjoy all the rain that Mother Nature is spilling down on much of the country.

My mother's hands

Recently, I've become more observant of my hands. About two months ago, I decided I was going to work on not biting my fingernails, which has been a life long habit of mine. In all my 41 years, I've never gone and had a manicure, because I haven't ever had nails to manicure! So, I painted my fingernails in an effort to dissuade myself from biting them, and guess what? It has worked! I have been successful in getting them to grow, and I haven't bitten any of the ten! Yeah, proud Gretchen moment!

And then this past week, I was outside with the boys, and I was trying to help McKay to move the lawnmower wheels up, as the grass is a jungle with all the recent rain we've had and it kept clogging on the level it was at. So, I was being impatient and not waiting for the Chief to get home, and suddenly the lever ripped off and ripped open my finger. Man, it hurt! And it bled! Scared the boys somewhat. They are not used to mom being the one bleeding! But my finger seemed to cause a great deal of pain, and therefore had my attention. And as I was noticing my hands, I started to realize that the older I get, the more that my hands look like my mother's hands. They are starting to get a little "veiny" but they remain clear of any other age spots. My hands also are strong, and able to do so many things. As a child, I would watch as my mom's hands would roll out dozens of cookies. And as they would brush out my sisters' hair. I would watch as my mom's hands would wash the dishes, and push the grocery cart, and hand my hand.

A woman's hands are so strong. They are busy, and active, soft and tender. I hope my hands offer the comfort and the joy that I have always watched my mother give with her hands.

Happy Mother's Day to the best mother I could ever have asked for!