Happy Birthday, Emery

I can't believe that this little guy ...

who looked like this when he was one ...

and this when he was two ...

and this when he was three ...

and this when he was six ...

and this when he was eight ...

and this when he was ten ...

turns thirteen today!  Thirteen.

I really can't believe we've had 13 years with this kid.  I'm so grateful to be his mom!  So, in honor of this momentous day, here they are ... thirteen reasons why I love Em.

1.  Emery can accomplish anything he sets his mind to.  I've never met anyone who can set a goal and attain it like Emery can.

2.  He has an amazing memory.  Yep, Emery has a great memory.  (Get it?  It rhymes!)  It's true.  He remembers everything.

3.  He's getting really good at playing the piano.  He has learned some awesome songs because of this combined with reason #1.

4.  He read the entire Book of Mormon.

5.  He's determined to always do his best.  This applies to everything ... school, sports, whatever.  Sometimes this is a little frustrating, because it drives him crazy if he's not as good at something as he wants to be.  But I love that he expects nothing but the best from himself.

6.  Emery loves healthy foods.  His favorite foods are steak and cucumbers.

7.  He's sooooo fun to tickle.  And I think he secretly likes it when I give him the tickle torture.

8.  His entire life, he's always had this talent that if he's going to throw up, he can hold it in until he makes it to the bathroom.  As his mom, and the "throw-up-cleaner-upper," I really love and appreciate this about him.

9.  He's a real smarty-pants and he gets excellent grades.

10.  He makes a mean batch of chocolate chip cookies.  Mmmm.

11.  Emery has the perfect golf swing.  Grandpa Ralph beams and gloats about Emery's golf swing.

12.  He is becoming fabulous at mowing the lawn.

13.  He adores our dog, Jimmy.

Okay, just one more ...  Emery's smile.  That smile combined with his sparkling blue eyes completely melts my heart.

Happy Birthday, Em!!  We love you tons!

renters

It's official.  We're renters.  Two weeks ago we signed the papers and officially sold our home.  I wondered what I would feel like.  I wondered if I'd cry.  I didn't.  I guess just signing a few papers didn't translate in my brain into the fact that we no longer own this wonderful house.  I guess things don't feel any different since we're renting it back until our new home is finished and we don't have to actually move yet.  But every time I vacuum I think to myself ... "I wonder how many more times I'll vacuum this house."  Every time I clean the bathrooms I think ... "I wonder how many more times I'll clean these bathrooms."  Our new home is scheduled to be finished around the end of June.  Five weeks.  I wonder what I will feel like when we move.  I wonder if I'll cry.

The truth is, we have loved living in this house.  Good things, no, great things have happened here.  My boys were so little when we moved in.  Emery was five, Sam was two, and Luke was just two weeks old.  Now they're practically half grown!  Emery is twelve, Sam is ten, and Luke is seven.  And (for the most part) they're great boys and I love seeing who they're becoming.  I know that living in this neighborhood, in this ward, in this home have all played a huge role in helping to raise my boys.  We've been really happy here.

Emery, Sam & Luke in front of our house

2002

Ben and I have grown in many ways, as well. This was our first real home, and after moving ten times in five years, we were happy to finally settle in and put down some roots. During our time here, we have been blessed. We've experienced a job loss and a job change (definitely for the better), served in many ward callings that have helped us learn and grow spiritually, and loved the opportunity to associate with and live among amazing families.

2010

I just keep reminding myself that the wonderful friendships we've made over the last seven years won't end just because we're moving a few miles away.

unfortunate

An unfortunate accident occurred yesterday.  Luke's letter to the tooth fairy explains ...

There was a great debate between Sam and Luke over whether to write "look at the left side of my mouth" (meaning Luke's left) or "look at your right side of my mouth" (meaning the tooth fairy's right).  Too funny.

I also love the line, "I accidentally bit him."

It appears the tooth fairy found the note to be sufficient since Luke woke up and found $2 under his pillow even though there was no tooth.

dear spring ...

Dear Spring,

I've been thinking about you lately, and I just want you to know that I miss you.  Lots.  I miss your sunny skies and gentle breezes.  I miss your warm days and cool nights.  I miss that happy, carefree feeling I get when you're around.  Quite frankly, I'm getting tired of wearing coats and sweaters and boots, and I long to wear my favorite things in the world ... flip flops.  Yes, I'm aware that all this "moisture" is good, but the truth is ... you're a whole lot more fun to be with.  So, I hope you come back real soon.

Sincerely,
me

mother's day

First of all, Happy Mother's Day to two of the best moms on earth.

Mom and Margie, we love you!  (What cute moms we have!)

Second, thanks to my kids for showering me with hand-made gifts today ... an apron, a hot pad, a bracelet, and a necklace.  I love knowing that while I was at home thinking of my boys and taking care of my "mom" duties, my kids were in school making mother's day gifts and thinking of me. 

Mother's day is special, but it's not the gifts or the extra attention that make it special.  It's special because there aren't that many things we do in our lives that actually define who we are.  Many roles come and go, but there are only a handful that are everlasting and that truly make us who we are.  The role of "mother" is one of those everlasting (thankfully) and defining roles.  What would I be, and what would I do, if I weren't a mom?  Don't get me wrong, motherhood is hard.  Really hard.  And there are days when I feel like I'm failing ... like when all my boys are fighting, the house is a mess, it's 6 pm and I don't have anything to make for dinner, I just realized that one of my boys is 30 minutes late for a lesson or a practice or a game, and I totally forgot about scouts for the third week in a row.  But even though being a mom is the hardest thing I've ever done, it is also the most worthwhile and rewarding thing I've ever done. 

I'm so grateful to not only be a mom, but to be the mom of these incredible boys.  I'm also grateful to have the world's best husband who makes me feel extra special every day, not just on mother's day.