More Fun in Scottsdale

One of my very favorite things to do with my family is to have a little get-away.  Every once in a while we go to Scottsdale for a few days and swim, and eat, and do puzzles, and watch movies, and laugh, and swim some more, and love each other.  It's a great way to spend quality time as a family.

 

 Grannie and Pops celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary while we were there.

 I love the happy look on his face!

This last picture makes me laugh.  It looks like we abuse our poor child.  In reality, Hyrum had a red face due to an allergy(?)/sun sensitivity(?).  The "bruised" shoulder is thanks to his new swim outfit.  The blue bled onto his skin every time we went swimming.

Report on Graduation

Hooray for this handsome guy!  He officially graduated!

Graduation was great [at least what I saw of it].  Hyrum made it through the first few speeches and I think through most of the last-name-beginning-with-B's before he and I had to step out.  That was terrible.  He didn't want me to hold him...he didn't even want to run around like a crazy person.  He was intent on climbing the stairs.  Those nasty, thousands of feet have stepped on me, stairs.  I wasn't about to let him, especially because it wouldn't be fun to plummet down those steep, cement stairs.  And so he wailed.  And wailed.  And WAILED.  I was lucky to be able to stick my head in and hear "Bryton Dane Shinkle" announced.

He could have cared less about posing for pictures, too.  He wanted to be free!  He wanted to run and get all those little boy wiggles out.

Speaking of future graduations, we were all getting a little weirded out when we started calculating how old we will be when Hayden graduates from high school.  I'll be 34...weird.  Hyrum will be 14...He'll be starting high school himself!

Graduation Speech

Today we're driving to Wells Fargo Arena to celebrate with the Desert Ridge High School Class of 2012!

It's got me reminiscing about that day --a long while ago-- when I was graduating, when I was the one in the cap and gown, when I was the one giving the big speech.  

 

Here we are at graduation,

This is our time for celebration,

First to our teachers, our fam’lies, our friends,

Whose love and support, t’wards us never ends.

Thanks for the smiles, the laughter, the tears.

Thanks for helping us conquer our fears.

When, in ourselves, we didn’t believe

Our greatest ambitions you helped us achieve.

And now, aside from our relations,

To the seniors, Congratulations!

Surviving high school ain’t easy—we know!

And now we’ve got other places to go.

We’ve made it this far, now what do we do?

That’s something, I’m sure, we all wish we knew.

I know some of you may think it uncool

That pretty soon I’ll be right back at school.

Others too, whether in-state or out,

Know college is something they won’t go without.

For others, college is just not their thing.

For them, maybe trade school or traveling.

Armed forces, new jobs, there’s so much out there.

You can be great, if only you dare.

To some the next step may not be clear.

You’re not sure of the path you should pioneer.

But you know what you want, deep down inside,

Reach for the stars. Let your heart be your guide.

And wherever you go, whatever you do,

Remember that only you can be you.

Today we celebrate the lives we’ve led

And look forward to the journey ahead.

Don’t be surprised, though you probably will,

To find life’s a mountain, instead of a hill.

Don’t let it scare you. Don’t worry. Don’t stop.

Nothing can keep you from reaching the top.

Don’t hurry. Don’t rush. This life’s not a race.

There are mem’ries you’ll miss that you cannot replace.

It doesn’t matter how much money you make,

Cars in the drive or boats on the lake.

What matters instead are the friendships you’ve formed

The service you’ve given, the hearts that you’ve warmed.

The values you choose and work to defend

Will define who you are in the very end.

Though some may lie in wait to deceive,

Don’t let go of what you believe.

When adversity stands in your way

Don’t be the one that is easy to sway.

Always, always to yourself be true.

Even when skies are more grey than blue.

At times life will fall apart at the seams,

But that’s okay, hold on to your dreams.

Making each day the best it can be

Is all that is asked of you and of me.

Sometimes it’s hard, yeah, sometimes it’s rough.

It’s times like these, you have to be tough.

Just when you think you can’t make it through

The sun will come out, though much overdue.

Good times or bad times, great courage it takes

To proceed with great fervor, despite our mistakes.

Of a few mistakes, don’t be afraid.

That’s how some of the greatest inventions were made.

In yourself you should not doubt

You’re made of good stuff, inside and out.

“What am I to this world?” many may say,

“What am I worth at the end of the day?”

You’re a head and two feet. You’re somebody’s friend.

You’ll stick with them to the very end.

You’re the hope of the future, a smiling face.

You’re someone that no one else can replace.

You’re a kid with ambition. You’ll do something great.

If only you knew the things that await.

Believe in yourself. You’re worth more than you know.

You can’t comprehend the places you’ll go.

You’ll meet people who tell you, “It cannot be done”

But if it can, you’re prob’ly the one.

Just give it a shot. Just give it a try.

Ask “Why not?” instead of “Why?”

Doing the impossible ain’t easy, I agree,

But anything can happen. Anything can be.

A little taller, we must stand today.

The world around us is in disarray.

Some don’t know what’s right and what’s wrong.

This is the season we must be strong.

Reach out with kindness. Be decent. Be good.

Doubt not. Fear not. Do what you should.

In the future, what will we say

When we stop and think back on this day?

Will you remember this speech that I gave?

Will you remember forgetting to shave?

You may remember the excitement inside.

You may remember the way your mom cried.

You may remember how happy you were,

Or, looking back, it may be a blur.

No matter how we remember the past,

No doubt, we’ll think it flew by too fast.

Well, I’m afraid I’ve used up all my time

And so I must end this silly rhyme.

I guess the last thing I wanted to say,

And maybe it is a little cliché,

But all you need is faith, love, and laughter,

To make your own happily ever after.

Hooded Towel How-To

I was asked recently to make a few hooded baby towels for expecting mothers in our ward.  I was surprised at how inexpensive, quick, and easy this little sewing project was.  Whether you're an expectant mother in need of a simple "nesting" project or you need a quick and easy baby shower gift, this is a great DIY project.

Cost:
Small Bath Towel from Walmart: $1.50
Small Washcloth from Walmart: $0.50
Total: $2.00

First take your small washcloth and fold in half.  Sew one end together.  I recommend that you fold the other end over [see below].  It will add a little more character to your finished towel.

Next, put right sides together and pin the washcloth (where your two corners met and were sewn together) to the middle of the longest edge of your small bath towel.

Continue to pin, the edges of the washcloth and towel together. [Don't forget to keep the opposite end of your washcloth folded over.]

The last step is to sew!  The best part is that you're sewing a straight line.

If you'd like you can add ribbon, ric-rac, or other embellishments.  It would be darling to embroider the baby's name on it as well!

 Now all you need is a cute little baby to snuggle in your DIY hooded towel!

New Job

Husband starts training for his new job today.  Don't get your hopes up...it's just another part time gig to add on top of Home Depot.  He'll be working as a TSA officer at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. 

We were really surprised when we got the call.  He only applied for the job about two years ago.  We've heard from them every now and again.  "You've made it through this step, now if you'd kindly fill out this ridiculous background check."  "Thanks for completing your background check.  Unfortunately we've changed our systems and would like you to re-do it on the new system."  And so on...

It was a hard decision to make.  Do we do it instead of Home Depot?  In addition to Home Depot?  Do we even do it?  It certainly isn't the direction we envisioned ourselves going, but in the end we decided we would try doing both.  Husband doesn't want to look like a perpetual job hopper and figured that anyone looking at his resume could at least say he worked his butt off the last few years that we've been without a "real job."  We may be completely crazy.  For the first 8 weeks he'll being doing 40 hours of training every week for the TSA.  Add Home Depot on top of that and you're talking 60-70 hours a week.  For example, today he has training from 7:30am - 4pm and then goes to Home Depot from 5:15pm - 10:45pm. 

Husband will probably think the hardest part is finding enough time to sleep.  I personally think the biggest challenge is going to be figuring out how to feed him when he's away from home for 16 hours.  Hyrum is going to think he doesn't even have a Dad anymore...

It's going to be a challenge, but if there's one thing we know, it's that the Lord has a plan.  We're going to follow that plan.

Mothering Moment

Yesterday I had what I would like to call a mothering moment-- one of those times where you just feel overwhelmed with joy because you have been blessed to be a mother...

I had warmed up some corn, peas, carrots, and green beans for Little Boy's dinner.  He wasn't interested, though.  He decided it was much more fun to throw the vegetables.  I decided to try to warm them a bit more (maybe they were still too cold?).  I then put the bowl back on his tray and leaned over to blow on them.  Hyrum decided that this meant I wanted some, so he grabbed a handful of veggies and stuffed them in my mouth.  I know it's kinda silly, but I just loved him so much, right then as we both giggled together.

 Notice the carrots and corn he's sitting on?  

That's his trick.  He makes Momma think he's eating his dinner like a good boy 

and I give him more and more and more and then when I get him out of the high chair

 I realize he's actually eaten very little... 

Come to find out, he just wasn't interested in dinner at all.  He didn't want pears, graham crackers, or french fries either.

I'm so lucky to be the Momma of this blue eyed baby.  There are moments when I wish I could just let him run free while I take a nap because he's run me completely out of energy, but then I have a mothering moment-- a moment of deep satisfaction and love.  These moments are enough to boost me up and pull me through.

The Manti Temple

Part of our trip to Utah included a side trip to visit the Manti Temple.  The Manti Temple was the third operating temple in the church.  It was dedicated in 1888 by the Prophet, Lorenzo Snow (the only temple he dedicated).  The murals in the Creation Room, the Garden Room, and the World Room are magnificent.

This was the fourteenth temple Husband and I have visited together.  We are so grateful that we were able to make this little trip.  Husband also wanted to make note that Manti was also the first temple we ever ate at together.  We went down to the little cafeteria and had sweet 'n' sour chicken, pork chops, broccoli cheese soup in a bread bowl, and a chocolate muffin.  It was delicious!