I'm an Icelander!

...at least 1/4th of me is.

Last time we were in Spanish Fork my mom took us on a little family history tour. She is working on my dad's scrapbooks and is immersed in his childhood right now. It is really neat for me to hear the stories about the people I barely knew. My dad's dad died when my dad was 10 so we never met him. My grandma died when I was young and I have few memories of her, so it's nice to see the pictures and hear the funny stories of her life.

We took the kids to see the Icelandic monument that my great grandpa helped to build. In 2005, Gordon B. Hinkley was there to dedicate the monument and a new memorial with the names of the 410 people who immigrated to Spanish Fork. My great grandparents names are on that memorial on one side and my dad's name is on the other because of the work he did to get the new monument made. Pretty neat history.

We went to the cemetery after and showed the kids the graves of all those people who made us who we are today. I think that is what I like the most about Memorial Day and the times we go to visit the graves. I know that the cemetery is only a resting place for their bodies. I don't really go there to be close to my loved ones. I go there to talk about them. To learn about my history. I go to remind myself of their lives. I'm so glad that I can teach my kids about the rich heritage I come from.

It makes me smile to remember the way my dad was about his Icelandic heritage. He told everyone he met that he was an Icelander. I swear, how do you work that into a sentence? He'd find a way. Anyway, at my wedding reception, he was telling everyone who came through the line that I was of Icelandic descent (why?). He talked about how the Vikings of Iceland would take all the best and most beautiful women from all around and that created the "perfect" people of Iceland. I was never convinced of the supposed Icelandic "beauty". I looked at the picture of great grandma Vilborg (how's that for a name) on the wall and wanted to cry when dad told me I had the same profile...ugh. Sorry, but Vilborg didn't look very beautiful in that picture. Maybe it's because it was impossible to capture a smile by camera those days. Anyway, back to the wedding where my dad was proclaiming that he was sad that I wasn't marrying another Icelander...by the end of the evening, Mike's dad had heard enough. He threw in a comment about being German and of the "master race". Now we joke that our kids will be superior because they come from the master race and the supposed genetic perfection of Iceland.

How's that for a pointless side story?

My girl brings me flowers

It's dandelion season and that can't make anyone happier than Allie. She loves to pick flowers and that is the one flower I give her free reign on. It's so fun to open the door to this...

I also have to laugh that sometimes she puts flower picking ahead of clothes on the priority list.

She said she got these flowers at our neighbor's house. That means they had a little half naked visitor in the early hours of the morning...what they must think of me.

Mike is a lawn guy and I have seen him out there terminating the dandelions. I almost think it's sad because Allie loves them so much, but what do you do? Invite Allie over if you have a dandelion problem. Rain or shine, clothes or no clothes, she'll pick your dandelions.

Her daddy picked a bouquet of Spring flowers for her after her dance revue. First she cussed him for picking the "no no picky flowers", then she thanked him. After that, it has been harder to convince her not to pick the tulips.

Mike told me I was silly not to let her pick them every once in a while. The weather has been so crappy that I haven't been out looking at them very often, so I decided that he was right. We picked a bunch and brought them inside. I love looking at them. Allie wanted some in her room and I think it's great. I'm pretty lucky to have such a sweet girl.

I am so glad I am a mom. This is a little late for a mother's day post, but I was a slacker for a little while. I have quite a few posts scheduled to come though, so I hope that makes up for the slacker weeks...

Mother's Day was great. I got to snuggle two of my sweet kids all day. Each one of my kids have taught me so much and helped me to become who I am today. Sometimes they bring out the worst in me, (sorry kids, but sometimes I just run out of patience) but mostly they bring out the best in me. They have taught me love beyond what I ever thought I would have the capacity to feel.

I also thought a lot about my own mom on Mother's Day. My dad used to wish everyone he saw a happy Mother's Day, but as far as doing anything special for my mom on Mother's Day, he would say "she's not my mom"...oh dad. Well, she is my mom and I thought about her on Mother's Day even if I didn't do anything special for her.

I am very blessed to have such an amazing momma. Last year at this time she was in Jerusalem. Sam's 20 week ultrasound brought us heartache and I didn't have my mom here to talk to. I always knew I relied on her, but I was surprised at just how much I needed her. She is the perfect mom for me and I can only hope that I can be as much for my kids. The sacrifices she has made for me are endless. Until I had kids of my own, I don't think I could have understood that. I would do anything for my kids (and I have). I make sacrifices for them and because I love them so much, they don't always feel like sacrifices. I love them all with all my heart. (I have always thought it an amazing gift to be able to love so many people with so much of my heart). I have been blessed. I'm so glad I'm a mom!

Conversation in the car

Jake: "Mom, can we go to Old McDonalds?"

Me: "No, we have already had lunch"

Jake: "Can we just go there to play?"

Me: "No. Sorry"

Allie: "If you let us go, I will give you some coins!"

Me: "No. Sorry."

....more begging and pleading as we approach McDonalds...

Jake: "If you don't take us, we are going to ground your ipod."

Allie: "Yeah, it will be mine" (wonder where they have heard that before?)

Me: "Nope, sorry."

Jake: "If you don't take us, I'll take away all your money"

Allie: "Yeah, and we'll put it all in our piggy banks"

Me: "No, that's not going to happen. And we aren't going to McDonalds either"

....more begging and pleading as we pass McDonalds on our way home...



Jake: (knowing he's been beat for now) "Can we go after naps?"

Allie: "Yeah, there's too many people there now. Can we go when they leave?"

Me: Sigh...

I guess this conversation makes it obvious that they have heard way too many threats accompanying the things I ask them to do for me.

Another future job for Allie

We were in the car again when Allie decided to talk about her future profession.

Allie: "When I grow up, can I be a cooker?"
Me: "Sure"
Mike: (looking at me incredulously) "Where has she even heard that word?"

He thought she said hooker...


On a somewhat related note, the other day Allie was going on and on about a dream she had. In the dream she went "to a peep show". It took me a little while to translate that the peep show was just a show about the peeps she ate at Easter.

Moab

My mom held our family reunion in Moab this year. It was so much fun!

My little family loves Moab. We have been there enough that the kids remember the fun times and ask to go again and again. We stayed in cute little cabins. The kids love the bunk beds and the fact that there is a pool close. I love that we were right across from a playground and the bathrooms. That makes life with kids a lot easier.

It was great to see all the cousins and be with all my siblings. We are getting to be a pretty big group. People's schedules are crazy but I'm glad everyone could be there.

Not only did we have fun, but my mom even threw in some genealogy while we were out there. The kids learned to recite "I am Jake, son of Sue, who is the daughter of Robert, who is the son of William, who is the son of John B. Johnson who came from Iceland."

The movie "How to Train Your Dragon" made it all the more cool to know that they have Viking blood.

One if the nights, the grand kids donned Viking hats and shields to break apart the dragon pinata.

My favorites were Arches National Park and the day we spent out on the trails in Jeeps.

Mike let the kids steer while we were at the less scary parts and they got a kick out of that.

We spent a little time riding 4-wheelers and the motorcycle.

The kids loved that we remembered our swimming suits and it was warm enough to swim.

It was a great trip and we loved every minute of it.

Even now as I am typing this Jake is looking over my shoulder and saying that he wants to go back to Moab and swim in the hot tub. He also looked at the picture and said "did you know that the bubbles come from pee? Daddy told me that."

Gross...

Anyway, it was a great trip!

Cute fuzzy creatures that make us all smile

We went to baby animal days with my friend's playgroup again this year. It's so much nicer to go with a little group and avoid the chaotic crowds.

The kids loved it once again. I was surprised at how timid they both were around the bigger animals (a pony and a calf). They were in their element with the baby chicks and ducks though. Jake's favorite were the chicks. Allie loved the bunnies. I thought the whole day was nice.

you can pick your nose

My dad used to say "you can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose. But you can't pick your friend's nose."
I caught Allie in a pick the other day and the words just popped out of my mouth. I smiled and thought of my dad. I know it's a gross memory, but I do remember picking my nose once and not knowing what to do with the resulting stuff on my finger. I was in the car with my dad and he told me to wipe it on his jeans. GROSS! I love my kids, but I don't think I'll ever let them do something like that. I'll find a tissue.
Anyway, today Allie was sitting on my lap and she turned to me with a booger on her finger and said "I picked my nose, but I won't pick my friend's nose". With that one rhyme, I un-did all the times I have told her not to pick her nose. I have essentially given her permission to pick her nose as long as she doesn't pick her friend's nose. Thanks for the rhyme dad...

On another note, she had a cold a little while ago. I was helping her blow her nose and she said "hey, that turned my ear on!" You know how your ears can get muffled when you are congested? I guess that's a great way to explain what happens when they pop. They just get turned back on.

Super human racing skills

Allie: (as I was putting on her shoes to go outside and play) "Mom, do humans have super powers?"
Me : "No" (as I wondered if I was crushing her imaginary hopes with my short and honest answer)
Allie: (disappointed) "but I wanted to have super running skills...I think I have super running skills and I am just a super fast runner human...see, I'll show you. Well, I'll show you when you finish putting on my shoes"
Me: (smiling because I didn't have a second to reply to any of her statements)
Allie: the shoes were on and she ran the length of the tile (3 feet) and said "see how fast?!?!"
Me: "Pretty fast."
Allie was already out the door and racing down the steps when she remembered to come and tell me that she loved me. My legs got a fierce hug and she was off again. "Bye mom! I love you and I will be so careful and have so much fun!" She stopped at the curb shook her head a few times (I guess that's her way of looking both ways) then she was off at super human speeds to play with Lily.
She may not have super powers for real, but she is super cute!

Easter eggs

We had all sorts of fun doing a Saturday Easter egg hunt. I guess it's pretty obvious that I spend most of my energy trying to instill the whole message behind Easter because Allie said "mom, I think you are the Easter bunny." She must have noticed that I was filling all the eggs with the candy that we bought together...

Anyway, we still had a great time with our little egg hunt (indoors because of all the nasty snow) and dying eggs. Mike helped them out and found ways to make cute colors look gross. Then he tried to trick me and colored a few raw eggs. He forgot that he married a smart woman and that I would notice when the 12 eggs that I boiled turned into 14 and wouldn't all fit in the egg carton.

Jake dyed the eggs and that was the end of it. He enjoyed the fun of it, but he won't eat a hard boiled egg. Allie loved it all. She made a pet out of one of the eggs and carried it around until I told her it had to be refrigerated. We have eaten all the other eggs but have left Tweety alone. One of these days she will have to become lunch and that will be sad I'm sure.

We also met up with the Schwab cousins and had a little Easter egg hunt at Grandma Bonnie's on Saturday afternoon. Out of 20 frames of pictures, this was the one with the most kids looking...

Actually, these were the only kids that ever looked. I guess the candy was much cooler than me with a camera.