Thoughts on Motherhood

I thought I had given up on this whole blogging thing but to my surprise I have something to say!  I'm sure I have zero readers left and that's okay, but for the last few weeks my mind has been flooded and I need a place to put it.  Here goes....

A few weeks ago some girlfriends invited me to Las Vegas for a Power of Mom's retreat.  Having never heard of it, I hit the web and instantly feel in love with their site and the mission they are on to help normal moms, like myself. I decided to take them up on their offer and a few days later we hit the highway headed for Las Vegas.

It's not my style to do things like a girls night out or things of that nature, let alone travel for six hours and stay in a hotel room with other people.  (I really need to broaden my horizons but more to come on that.)  The only reason I accepted the offer was because I knew I was "safe" with this group.  They are normal, they are honest, they don't gossip and they are easy to be with.

Our drive was very pleasant and I learned that I am very lucky to have grown up in the Richardson home.  It was very eye-opening as they talked about their parents.  I thought for the most part parents were pretty similar to mine.  Apparently not.  Two of them talked about their parents' lack of love and respect for one another.  Another said when she got married she didn't know how to do laundry or even clean a bathroom.  One said her dad taught her she could do nothing without a man.  I could not relate one bit.  And I am so thankful for that.  I told them how much I HAAATED it when my dad would send me to Jiffy Lube to get an oil change.  All alone.  In that 'man' place.  But today I am thankful for that.  I learned how to be bold and not fear men.

Thanks Dad.

Friday night was themed "Dream Night" and to be totally honest I was less than excited about it.  Turns out it was my favorite part of the whole retreat!  We talked about different dreams we wish we could accomplish, dreams we have put on hold, "pie-in-the-sky" type dreams and so on.  It was a huge wake up call for me.  I realized I am super boring.  I have no passions for myself.  I have things I want for my kids and my marriage but I really have nothing for myself.  This night changed me.  I found a desire to find something that I love and something that I look forward to doing every day, every week or as often as possible.

It was fun to hear the dreams of others and see how women went from feeling like they had no dreams to realizing they did have something.  One mom wants to be a Zumba instructor, one mom wants to be a weightlifter, another wants to be a writer.  The list and inspiration was endless.

I did come to the realization that there are some dreams, thought not big ones, that I am fulfilling right now.  One of the things that i have always wanted is for my girls to feel comfortable in their own skin and with the body they came to earth with.  I never let them hear me talk bad about myself because I don't want that to reflect on them.  I also try to tell them daily that they are beautiful and compliment them in positive ways.  It's something that has been important to me since Addie was born and although I didn't consider it a dream until the retreat I realized that it actually is and I am making it happen!

My second favorite part of the weekend was when we had opportunities to break into discussion groups and talk about certain topics.  I realized that the input and experience of good women is something I need more of.  There were about 40 women there and since we came on a mission to improve our mothering, we all instantly bonded.  I'll never see any of them again but I feel like I have a kindred connection to them.  There were moms of all shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds but that didn't matter because we were there with a common purpose.

Like I said, I need more good women in my life.  I'm a homebody and a recluse of sorts.  I don't put myself out there.  I like people to come to me rather.  That may be why many of my friends seem to be on the needy side.  I met a wonderful lady named Shannon who has been a true inspiration to me.  She lived in Oregon for many years before her husband accepted a job in the Las Vegas area and was sad to leave because she had so many great friends there.  When they made the move she realized how much she enjoyed having a good support group of friends so she has been working hard to make more.  At one point they had a panel of women come to the front and talk about scaling back their social experiences but she is the unique position of trying to grow hers.  She said she makes an effort right now to go to everything, Relief Society meetings, having Brownie Sundaes at her her and more.  I realized that if I want to enlarge my circle then I need to get out there and do some searching.  So I did something I never do.  I went to a Relief Society Meeting.  I never go to those things because I feel like that is exactly what they are, another meeting.  Plus I can be a tad on the not so social side.  But I went with Shannon in mind and not only did I learn how to make an apple pie but I got out of my comfort zone.

With that in mind I have taken the initiative to start a Learning Circle with girls around here.  I've gathered a really good group of ladies and we will have our first circle in a few weeks.  I need to be with people who are headed the same direction I am so those are the ones I am seeking and the rest are being filtered out.  Perhaps the reason I have because so reclusive, because I've done SO much filtering over the last few years.

Saturday was the actual "motherhood" part of the retreat and it was a little overwhelming.  It has taken me the last few weeks to process everything because it all came at me so fast but there were a few things I learned that always stand out immediately.

First off, I'm doing better than I give myself credit for.  No one said that, it's just the overall feeling I came away with.  And it's been a relief.

Do something scary everyday.  (Scary as in challenging.)  I've taken that to heart and have been working on that everyday.  Some days it's been reaching out and asking ladies I don't really know to join the Learning Circle.  To my surprise, everyone has accepted!  The other day it was to write an essay for the Power of Mom's website in hopes that it gets published.  I'm not a writer by any means but I decided I wanted to try it out.  I started a few different essays but nothing seemed to be right.  Then one day it dawned on me and I knew what I had to write.  Here it is-

My mother in law was diagnosed with ovarian cancer shortly before the birth of my first daughter in 2005.  I’ve heard cancer referred to as an “illness of love” and as someone who witnessed the experience first hand as it made it’s complete circle, from diagnosis to treatments to remission and eventually to death, I can honestly say it’s an accurate description.  She was put into remission three times but eventually in 2008 the cancer had spread to so much of her body she was given the “go home and enjoy what time you have left” news.  That time turned into about about four weeks, but four weeks that changed my life and the life of my extended family forever. 

Caring for her in her last few weeks brought me a new perspective on motherhood and the role I play in the life of my children.  One thing my mother in law had mastered was never ending a phone call or visit without a “love you.”  As her life drew to a close she made many requests for one of us to sit with her and hold her hand while she told us how much she loved us.  Her “love you’s” transformed into “I love you’s”.  I never doubted she loved me, my husband or our children but that small addition of an “I” brought the phrase to a whole new level.  It was no longer a “love you, talk to you soon”, it was an “I love you.  I truly do.”  

Shortly after this realization her health declined even more and one evening my sisters in law and myself found ourselves alone with her in a dim and quiet room.  My mother in law raised four children all by herself, one daughter and three sons.  It was difficult and she would admit to that, but we always saw her as a hero to them.  My sister in law took that quiet opportunity to ask my mother law what her secret was to being such a good mom.  She gave a little chuckle and said “oh, there’s no secret.  I just looked forward to the sunset each day.  I knew that if the sun was setting then God was keeping his promises and everything was as it should be.”  Although she was not a religious woman, it was a sign to her that He was there and that He was consistent, even when things in her life weren’t.  For her the sunset was especially meaningful because it happened at the dreaded dinner hour- often the most difficult time of the day.  In that quiet moment the thought came clearly to my mind “the secret is in the sunset.”  

There are many coping mechanisms in motherhood.  For some it’s a short jog, for others it’s taking a moment to sit down and play a game with the kids, forgetting the housework for a while.  For me it has now become the sunset.  A time of day when you realize you’ve made it one more day and that He is there helping you out, even when you feel you are doing this mothering thing alone because the kids are bickering, everyone is hungry and someone just remembered they have a project due in the morning.  Motherhood is a challenge.  We have difficult moments, even difficult days but are you looking for that sunset in your life? 

Within a few days she requested to be moved to a Hospice House.  The lessons we learned continued there.  One afternoon, a few days before she died, I was visiting her with her sons and daughter.  She was in a comatose state by now but responded well to touch.  As I sat on her bed with her and held her hands in mine, I examined them.  As I memorized each crack and each freckle my mind turned to the life of her hands.  I couldn’t help but become vocal and speak to her about the things she had done with her hands throughout her life.  “Think of all the babies you have held, all the rose bushes you have planted, all of the meals you have made, every tear you have wiped, every birthday card you have written to us, every phone number you have dialed to check on the kids.”  Her sons soon chimed in with their own memories of their mom like playing catch and things like that.  She had true mother hands.  

As a mother, what am I doing with my hands?  Am I using them as instruments of love?  Am I using them in a gentle way?  Am I giving my children the things they need that only my hands can offer?

Question:  What is your personal sunset?  How do you use your hands?

Challenge:  Look for the small things in your mothering that are a reminder that you are not doing this alone.  Use your hands as instruments of love.

Another take away that no one vocalized but I felt was important was the need to create bigger memories for our family.  I know people say it's the little things they'll remember but I think back on my childhood and the times my parents made sacrifices to take us places and do things with us that were bigger than normal and it makes me grateful that we had that time together.  For a long time Jared and I have been talking about taking the girls to Disneyland but felt like we didn't have the time or didn't want to spend the money.  Ironically, a few days before I left Jared said he thought we needed to do bigger things and that was solidified for me at the retreat.  In less than two weeks we're pulling them out of school for a few days at the beach and Disneyland.

What is the identity of my little family?  April Perry, a co-director of PofM's brought a banner her family had made and some t-shirts but that's not us.  I'll never make a banner and I'll never design matching t-shirts but we have to have something makes the Hatch's different.  I thought about growing up how we ate popcorn every Sunday night.  In the last decade it's changed to chips and salsa, but to me that identifies the Richardson's.  I'm on a mission to find our identity.

Another great suggestion came from a really awesome lady that for the life of me I can't remember her name.  She had read in a book about a Power Hour.  Each night write a list of ten things you would like to do the next morning then get up one hour before the rest of the house and work through them.  She said it changes day to day but she has seen her self change and it's been very rewarding.  When she started she listed 20 pushups.  She is now up to 50.  Ummm, yeah, I would say that's a change.  There have been spiritual changes as well.

Inevitably the topic of pyramid parties came up.  One of the trainers shared her experience with a rather expensive spatula she ended up with.  By pure coincidence I had a cousin's little boy come to my door selling candles for school the day after I returned home.  This family is a bit notorious for allowing their children to sell things.  Just a few weeks prior I was suckered into $12 worth of Girl Scout by this boy's sister that didn't I didn't need to eat, didn't want to buy and haven't even finished yet.  But I had to be nice, right?  Little Brighton had on his best salesman face and presented me with a catalog full of overpriced candles.  Out of courtesy I flipped through it and asked if he had sold any.  Suddenly his face fell and he said no.  For a quick second my heart wanted me to buy a candle to make him feel better.  Then the spatula story came to my mind and I realized I was not going to save him by buying a candle.  I kindly told him I wouldn't be buying anything and although it was obvious he was sad, I was thrilled with my ability to SAY NO!

So many ladies there talked about how awkward it gets after the presentation of the cooking ware, candles or whatever it is ends and they pass around the order form and you feel like all eyes are on you.  I was impressed with some of their strategies on how they avoid ending up with products they can't afford or don't need.  I'm a Scentsy fan like so many of you, but do I have to come to a party to buy?  My cousin Ashby sells but I love her approach.  It's so nonthreatening and she isn't hurt when you don't buy.  Why can't everyone be like that? 

Something that I have been working on since before the retreat but was so happy to have new ways to work on it now is accepting myself for the things that I do and the things that don't do.  So many moms, including myself, feel like you have to be the PTO mom, have a spotless house, make time to play games with your kids, make a gourmet meal and look gorgeous everyday or else you have failed in some way.   After so long those feelings wore me out.  I finally started telling myself "I do that (be it organizing, decorating or whatever) but I do other things instead."  I don't always wipe the fingerprints off of the fridge but I do have their favorite snacks inside for them to eat today.  I don't always have my furniture dusted but I do have a clean car today.  I don't always love reading to my kids but I do like to sit down with them and play a game or two.  I don't always have patience but I do always tell my kids I love them.  I'm not a super mom and after being with so many women at the retreat I have concluded that there is no such thing.  Even if you have have a spotless house and your kids hair is always combed perfectly, you still struggle with something.  And that's what makes this world go round.  People who are always trying their hardest and failing but trying again.   

There a whole gamut of other things I learned but the final one for today is that I need to lighten up.  There are days when I feel like I run my kids into the ground with things they need to do.  I've found myself giving Addie a list of ten things rambled off within a period of five minutes and without meaning to I place the expectation on her that she has them all done right now!  I have to stop that!  She is EIGHT and although she is quite responsible I need to let her be EIGHT!  Yesterday i felt like it was their turn to enjoy the day so I did all of their chores for them before I picked them up from school and tried to require nothing of them other than they have fun and enjoy their afternoon.  Not everyday can be this way, they need chores and they need to learn to work but they also need the chance to be kids.  Lately Kimber has gathering every pillow and about 20 blankets to make a car in her room using their little chairs.  Drives me crazy!  But I realized that she is a kid and needs to use her imagination.  It put things into perspective for me while I finished dinner with Jared the other night and could see them in their room in the "car" from my seat.  All three of them were so happy to be playing together and pretending they were headed somewhere fun.

I need to lighten up.  

Overall, I came home a new person.  I see all mom's in a new light and honor their individuality as they strive to make their home what it should be, for them.  I see my home in a new light.  One person at the retreat said "our homes are construction zones.  A masterpiece is being created but expect messes in the meantime."  Figurative and literal messes.  I see myself in a new light.  I'm trying to get this motherhood thing down but it's new for me and until I get it right, it looks like we'll all have our bumps and bruises along the way.  

In December

In early December Heather, Annie and I flew out to Wisconsin to surprise Bethany.  It is one of the newest highlights of my life.  The anticipation of it all just about did us in before we arrived.  When we got to her house and knocked on the front door little Ivy answered and had the most confused look on her face.  She let us in but we couldn't find Bethany anywhere.  You would have thought she was expecting us- her house was spotless with beds made, dishes done and laundry going.  Here's how we finally tracked her down-

Wisconsin 2012 from Kobie Hatch on Vimeo.

We had a great time loving on Sapphire, hanging out with the kids and enjoying time together as sisters.  I think I speak for us all when I say our stomachs hurt the whole time from laughing so much.  It was a great trip and one that probably will never happen again.  Things just worked out so well- we found roundtrip tickets for an unbelievable price, we were able to easily make arrangements for our kids at home and although we almost missed our flight home, it all went off without a hitch.

Before we new it, Christmas was upon us and it was time for School Programs.  Being the wonderful mom that I am, I took about one picture.  I guess it was Kimber's turn.

Kimber got to have a a group of girls over to decorate sugar cookies.  They all had a great time doing cookies, dressing up and making a mess everywhere they went.

I used to be a Scrooge of sorts and didn't enjoy the childlike part of Christmas but now that my kids are getting older I feel like I'm coming around.  We try to keep our focus on Christ before Christmas and on Christmas Eve but once our little Christmas Eve "program" is over, I let my kids get giddy and excited about Santa.

Once again Santa and Mrs. Claus came by for a visit Christmas Eve night and the girls were just as surprised as ever.

 I was able to get all of the wrapping done early so Christmas Eve came together nicely and we were all in bed early.

 Christmas Day was once again full of gifts, family and food.  After opening gifts at home we drove to the Valley to be with our extended family, a tradition I'm not sure we can keep up for too many more years.

Nearly Another 6 Months....

Has come and gone.  I just can't seem to stay on top of this whole blog thing.  I've thought about closing it down but then I think about all the hard work and time I've invested and realize I should try harder at keeping up with things.  In the last nearly six months, Lucy has {obviously} had her cast removed but had a noticeable bend in her arm {that is slowly straightening out}, had lots of company, celebrated Halloween with a girls night for my gals and their cousins, celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas and Jared's and my birthday and started the second half of the school year.

Two days before the cast we due to come off Lucy's arm protector got pulled down to the point where water could fill her cast.  This is the result.  Five weeks of dirt and summer fun.  Thankfully we were able to get in to the Doctor a day early to have her cast removed because it smelled worse than stinky feet!

The bend.  The Doctor promised us it should fix itself within a year and thankfully it's much better.  You can still feel the bend in her bone but it's hardly noticeable other than that anymore.  

We were lucky enough to have some awesome customers who have become good friends of ours.  They own Cerreta Candy Company in Glendale and have invited the girls many times to come to the factory and watch them make chocolate and tour the factory.  The girls were elated one day when Marisa invited them out to visit while they were up to make Halloween marshmallow pops.  Marisa had every type of candy and supply you could think of.  They made their pops into witches, cats, spiders and more and also made little bugs out of the mints, shown below.  I was more concerned with making sure the girls didn't make a mess of their place that this was the only picture we ended up with.

A few weeks later I took the Addie and Kimber to the Hale Theater to see Snow White.  Such a cute little play and of course the girls had a great time.

Just before Halloween the girls invited all their Hatch cousins up for a Halloween themed girls night.  I would love to say I snapped lots of pictures that night but it was busy busy busy with lots going on.  Everyone wore a costume, we ate lots of yummy food, made cute newsboy hats, played some really fun games and ran on little sleep.  I think it was about midnight before they all crashed and were up bright and early the next morning.

For Halloween the girls worked to earn their costumes.  We had a witch, a fairy and Dorothy from Wizard of Oz.  

Fast forward to Thanksgiving.  Out of the whole day I ended up with this-

My parents and youngest siblings spent the Holiday in Wisconsin with Bethany and her family, including their newest addition, Sapphire, so Heather hosted the family.

Lucy Lately

In Lucy's few short weeks of being two she has managed to keep us on our toes.  We did some intermittent potty training over the last few weeks but things were so chaotic and we so were here and there that it was almost impossible to make any progress.  I decided that the Monday after the girls started school we would hit it hard.  Monday came and we made some progress until we had one major set back I assumed would slow us down.

While having dinner with our company Lucy took a tumble off the kitchen chair and hit her head on the tile.  I quickly scooped her up and ran to my bedroom so her crying wouldn't interrupt the conversation.  She cried consistently hard for a long time and would not settle down so I knew something more serious had to be wrong.  I was worried about her head but she started pointing at her wrist.  I finally took a good look at her arm and realized it was looking bowed. Jared and I decided we needed to head to the walk in clinic to have it checked out.  We felt bad hurrying our company out the door but of course they understood.  

At the clinic the Doctor confirmed little Lucy had a broken arm.  Moving her hand around for x-rays was nothing compared to the pain of having her arm reset.  She screamed while Jared held her and I stood in the hall pacing the floor and feeling like I would trade places with her in an instant.  She was put in a temporary cast and given a sling to wear until Friday.  

On Friday she was put into her permanent cast that she will wear for the next four weeks.  We lucked out and the Dr. feels like since little bones heal so quickly she could have it removed at four weeks instead of six.

If I didn't know any better I would think that little gal has never known the joy of having  two fully functioning arms and hands.  Unfortunately the break is in her dominant arm (the right side) but she is adjusting wonderfully.  She absolutely refuses any help from us and gets along beautifully.  Eating was a challenge the first day but she's got that down pretty well now.  Now the real challenge is finding something to wear that will fit over that darn cast!  Around here we don't do sleeveless but have had to make an exception for Lucy.  It's sleeveless or it's shirtless.

With all of that excitement she managed to conquer potty training and I'm happy to say we are now diaper free in this house! 

In July

Well, we survived another summer break.  My goal was to have a television-free summer and we did it!  We spent many hours outside playing in the water, taking Ranger rides, doing science experiments, cooking up all kinds of fun things in the kitchen and lots more.

Including celebrating Grandma Hatch's birthday in July.

A few days later we celebrated Lucy's second birthday.  Her new Schwin trike was the hit of the night.  Her legs are still just a tiny bit too short to pedal but that doesn't stop her from scooting around the lawn.

 

So far two has proven to be quite exciting for Lucy.  She did quite a number on my leather couch with a seam ripper just a few days after turning two.  She put 11 lovely rips and tears in my loveseat.  The rest will follow in another post.

School Days

I really don't know what to say about the first day of school other than there were tears involved and they weren't shed by either of the two girls.  They came from the biggest girl in the house.  Lucy and I are learning to adjust to the quiet around here and look forward to 2:20 when we pick the girls up and we're all happily together again.

This year Addie is in second grade and has Mrs. Flake.  Her best friend Brooklin Austin is in her class again this year.  The other day Addie told me that every morning when her and Brooklin meet on the playground they say "it's hot out here because we're out here and we are hot!"  I told her she was banned from saying that anymore until she could tell me what it means.

Kimber is in afternoon Kindergarten and has the same teacher Addie had, Mrs. Davis.  Her friend Rylie Muder is in her class and they have quickly become best of friends.  Everyday I get the scoop on who did what and all the exciting news Kindergarten can produce.  The other day she said, "mom, guess what!?  Rylie Soloman can whistle like a WOMAN!"  

Remember this?  Well it's happened again.  For the first two weeks of school all Kindergarteners wear a lanyard stating whether they ride the bus or get picked up.  The other day I glanced at Kimber's lanyard and shook my head.  How many ways can I pick her up?

All I can say is Addie turned out okay and doesn't seem to have been affected by Mrs. Davis' lack of grammar skills. 

Summer is here!

Has it really been almost three months since my last post?  Yeesh!  It's been a very busy few months to say the very least but Heather told me I better post something or else.  I guess I better start in March....

Addie went to the funnest birthday party ever.  She came home looking like this-

That same weekend we had a girls day sans Lucy.  I took Addie and Kimber shopping to a few cute boutiques in Show Low then we had lunch at their favorite little Italian joint.  We followed that with a little more shopping.  It was a great day.

After our day of shopping we headed off to Addie's school to play on the playground.  When we showed up Addie refused to get out of the Ranger because she was afraid she was getting caught by the principal and it would mean major trouble.  I was eventually able to talk her into it and guarantee her she would not get in trouble.

Back in February and early March I gave my girls tickets to the Hale Theater in Gilbert to see Rapunzel.  They were so excited and I'm happy to say it was worth the wait.  We took my nephew Cooper and in place of Kennedy (who had the Chicken Pox) my niece Kayla came along.  We had a ball!  The play was so tastefully done and was good for kids as well as adults.  The kids loved talking with the characters after the play.

Onto April-
We randomly ran into Jordan and Nichole that same weekend and I had to snap a few pictures of their sweet baby Michelle.

Annie also went to one of her Prom's.

We got home and spring had sprung!

 A few weeks later the girls and I headed back to the Valley to be with my Grandma.  It's the strangest thing but she teeters on the verge of death and then bounces back for a few days.  I figured I better not waste any precious time with her so we spent a few days helping my mom take care of her.  The picture below was taken after Heather and I got her up and out of bed for the first time in days.  She wanted to go outside and loved soaking up the sunshine.  Heather and I decided to sneak some pictures with her.  Can you tell by her face that she had no idea she was getting her picture taken?

It was a huge suprise but while we were outside her brother, Dick, showed up.  They rarely get to see each other but since she wasn't going to last much longer (ha!  She has proved us wrong again and again) many people were gathering to see her.

Oddly enough just a few weeks after their visit Aunt Vera, Dick's wife, passed away.  It shocked me because I had just seen her and served her a plate of cottage cheese with peaches.  No one expected Grandma to outlive her!

I got a kick out of that lady.  I helped her out of the car and wheeled her to Grandma's porch and I'll tell you what, it was work.  That lady was solid.  I don't know how Uncle Dick managed to take care of her like he did.  I had a good talk with her about the hat she was wearing.  She gave it to Dick for Christmas many years ago and it got left in the back window of the car for a long period of time.  When they finally retrieved it it had shrunk and no longer fit him so she started wearing it and boasted to me about how many people have offered to buy it but she never would.  What a woman.

I am so grateful I got the chance to spend some good quality time with Grandma.  I have so many fond memories with her and this trip was no exception.  

Fast forward a few days.  For months and months the girls have been begging me to get my wedding dress out.  Finally one Sunday afternoon I let into their pleas and let them try it on.  I quickly grabbed my camera and figured I better snap some pictures of them for future use.

I'm seeing these in a wedding video someday-

In early May Lucy caught a nasty flu bug.  That poor baby was throwing up for a week.  It was so sad to watch her crash on the couch through out the day.  

Kimber was the only other one who caught it but she lucked out and hers only lasted 24 hours.

T-Ball and Little League started in early May and boy, it's been a doozy.  I don't know how parents can commit to so many extracurricular activities.  I have two kids to run to practice and they only have one game each per week.  I would be lying if I said I would be said when the season ends.  

Our cousin Lana snapped some pictures of Addie during one of her games and thank goodness because I spend all my time trying to save Lucy from falling off the bleachers or honking the horn and distracting the players. 

It's been really fun to watch the girls improve.  I have to give it to Addie's coach for pushing her and helping her grow.  Kimber has also improved.  She's gone hitting off the tee and  running all the bases until she got home to actually running after the ball when it comes close to her.

Now Lucy.  That girl.  She really keeps me on my toes.  This girl threw this fit-

 When Kimber caught her doing this-

See that cardboard on the ground?  Kimber was smart enough to quickly put it there to catch the drips.  And do you notice the condition of my coffee table?  That is the result of cleaning lots and lots of messes that little mischief makers has made.

At the end of May we took a much needed vacation to Colorado.  We spent a few days enjoying the weather, long rides on the Ranger, sleeping in and having no where to be but together.

On Saturday night we hit the Bar D Chuckwagon for dinner and a show.  Cowboy food is not my thing but the fact that they were so darn efficient made it easier to swallow- both the food and the pricetag- $64 to feed our family.  But it was all worth it as I watched the girls laugh and sing along.

As part of their show they had all the Vets stand and for the first time in my life I felt extra proud since my brother is now considered one of "them."  As we sang a few songs about the United States my heart was full was I was once again reminded that I am proud to be an American.

Kimber snapped about 101 pictures of the guys.  She loved the one that kept falling asleep and snoring as part of the act.

Once the show was over the girls had a ball running from shop to shop checking out the little town.  I'm so glad Jared got a few pictures.  He insisted I get in front of the camera for once.

 Look at this little face.  This can't be the same girl who rubbed craft paint all over the coffee table, can it?

We took a long ride on Sunday and stopped for a few pictures.

We were all sad to see Monday come since we knew it meant packing up and heading home.  But the girls wanted to eek every bit of fun they could out of the trip so they had Jared help them carve their names into a tree-

And played for hours in a fort Jared and his brother built when they were small-

We were all sad to leave and face the fact that we would have to get back to normal- work, chores, everyday responsibilities, getting up early.  But, all good things must come to an end, right?

We also had to get home because I'm a crazy lady who decided to do some summer classes for kids and classes were starting the next week and we had lots to do to get ready. 

Every Tuesday-Thursday throughout June we hold classes for kids Addie and Kimber's ages and it's been a blast.  Tuesday's are arts and crafts and Wednesday and Thursday are cooking.  We made a fun array of crafts and a variety of foods.  All the kids seem to have a great time and it's a little extra cash in my pocket, meaning the girls and I can do something extra this summer since they've worked hard too.

We've also had lots of visitors.  We started off with my nephew Cooper who stayed with us for a few days after we got home from Colorado.  He and the girls played to their little hearts content.  There was picnics, shaved ice, playing in the sandbox, getting wet on the trampoline, lots and lots of Ranger rides and late nights.  My girls don't get to stay the night at friend's or cousin's houses so when they get to have someone stay it's a huge treat and usually results in late nights and early mornings.

We've also made a two trips to the beauty school for some cheap pampering.  The first trip was for pedicures. 

 Once we got to the school I realized the waterproof mascara Kimber was wearing had run and there was nothing I could do.  Looks like she was really concerned, right?

 And this is how Lucy soaks her feet.  It's all about the bubbles.

Once the actual pedi started she was in heaven.  The girls at the school couldn't get over how cute she was and how good she was doing.  Best $2 ever!  The normal price is $5 but "since her toes were so small" they only charged me $2.  What a deal!

We went back a few days later so the girls could get their hair styled.  What a cheap way to have fun and escape the heat for a while.

Congratulations if you made it through the whole post.  It' been one heck of a summer already and there's lots more to come.