Grandma and Grandpa Atkinson

We had so much fun playing around this weekend with Grandpa and and Grandma Atkinson. They brought the girls loads of goodies and Grandma A stayed up until midnight on Friday playing 'girly' games with Sadee and Ava. They loved the little worry dolls they brought them from Cabo. It was so sweet to watch them play. We took them over to Reed's Dairy and the Crackleberry Boutique on Saturday and found the yummiest Idaho Cherry Soy Candles (Thanks Grandma!) and played Lightening at the middle school I will be working in this fall. We have been looking forward to them coming so the girls had so much fun! Thanks you guys. Let's do it again soon.

WILL YOU HELP??

I am asking for your help. While preparing for what I think (I hope) will be the funnest job around (7th grade PE) I realized I don't think I enjoyed 7th grade PE myself! Why? Didn't like playing the same game over and over and hated dressing down in public.

So, while I can't fix the dressing down issue (we are stronger from those junior high experiences right?), I can plan for a fun/active experience in PE.

Here is where you come in. Tell me what you LOVED and what you didn't love about JH PE.

THANKS A MILLION!!!

Memories

Since I have completed this for EVERY OTHER blog it seems, I would love to have you share with me!!

On the comment page post a memory you have with me. You know the drill> :)

Inspirational

So I began the day with a quote that I found to be inspiring...

I struggle with able-bodied people who are paralyzed by fear.

- Christopher Reeves

I never would have guessed how it fit the day. As I was getting ready to teach my class at the gym this morning, a man walked in with dark glasses and a stick. He was blind. Not only did he complete the ENTIRE workout, he completed it with almost all audio clues. When talking with him after class he told me he went blind at the age of thirty (is now 50), competes in triathlons (tandum bike with his wife), is a bishop in a ward in IF, and teaches English to ELL kids who are also visually impaired. I was inspired by this man. What a great example he was conquering obstacles in our life.

Cheers to Bruce!!

Dark Knight

This movie is worth your money.. and 2 1/2 hours of your time(it is intense the whole time).Dave and I REALLY liked it and thought the late Heath Ledger was OUTSTANDING in dipicting a creepy, sadistical psycho-freak joker... totally stole the show for us. We also liked the deep humanistic themes that are all throughout the movie. 5 stars on this one!! As a funny afterthought, the orignial Batman was on TV last night and we laughed at how FAR movies have come in twenty years. Jake Nicholas just wasn't cutting it anymore... :)

A Day on the Farm

So I couldn't pass up a play date with friends from the ward to visit a real diary farm. My kids have a hard time picking up toys for "chores" let alone holding up a farm! And no, they didn't comprehend the work thing while there(bummer) but they did get to pet some cows, hold a kitten, pinic with friends and smell manure!! I logged some the girls comments while there. Enjoy!

Sadee- Mom, those cows have lots of hangey things on them. :)

Ava- These cows need bathes mom.

Ava- I scared of those spots momma.

Sadee- Does our chocolate milk come these cows? I don't think so because they are white.

Ava- Do you have a tissue for the baby cow. He has a runny nose (even better is that he really did!!!)

Family Summer Photos

So I just wanted to spotlight my friend Gina Larsen who took these beautiful pictures of our family this week! She doesn't even realize how talented she is. Thanks Gina!

Sister going to school

Today was the first day that we really talked, us girls, about Sadee going to Kindergarten this fall and Ava going somewhere different. Being the second child in my family, much like Ava, I empathisized with her on this one. The conversations went much like...

Sadee- I am so big now. I am going to school all day and am going to do everything all day with just me. I am five you know.

Mom- That is true. Five year-olds do go to school.

Ava- Mom, I am not two anymore.

Mom- How old are you then?

Ava- Five. You just didn't see me be other numbers cause you slept in today.


Ava would follow Sadee ANYWHERE. Any advice for making this transition better??? I am kind of worried.

The Birthday Prince

Happy 35th birthday Dave!! How many of you realized this kid was really 35? The girls and I spent Friday putting up banners and balloon, making cake, and shopping for gifts to suprise Dave when he got home from Colorado that night! And yes, has the picture depicts he was the birthday prince. We made him wear it all night!! The girls loved it.

sisters for sure

I couldn't believe the resemblence in these pictures! Everytime Ava snuggles up in bed it reminds me SO much of Sadee back then.

Reflection as a mother

Have you ever had one of those days where you seem to be more "in the moment" as a mother? Not super mom days where you feel like you accomplished EVERYTHING you needed to that day like laundry, practices, reading, errands, exercise, dishes, etc. but real mommy days. I had one of those yesterday, and it has renewed my spirit of raising kids and has made me so much more committed to having more "in the moment" kind of days. Here were the highlights:
When asked what she loves in life Sadee replied, "I love when you come and snuggle with me in bed before Ava wakes up. I love your smile mommy. I love drawing our family and laughing."
Ava saw me putting on my GPS for my morning run and asked, "Mom, is that your running costume? Does it make you go fast?"
Watching Sadee sit for 90min straight and draw
Watching Sadee help Ava put a bandaid on

I am positive this goes on everyday but I am usually too busy to notice. I was a more fulfilled mother by taking the time to observe.

4th of July

My girls have talked about the fireworks from last night all day today. It took me 2 hours to get them to bed tonight because they can hear the fireworks outside still. Sadee said it was the best day of her whole life, though everyday is the best to Sadee. (sidenote- can you imagine being that positive about life?? I have a lot to learn.) Ava had her hands over her ears the whole time but still asked when the next show would be. I don't think she quite understood that it will be an entire year before she'll see that again! Happy 4th! Missed you Lis!

Ava's Earrings

Sadee has been WAY to freaked out to pierce her ears but not Ava. She asked for days and when we finally stopped off at the mall to show her all about it, she climbed right up into that chair and proudly said "I'm ready mama!"
She was calm and smiley the whole time. Even when they pierced them she scowled for about 10 seconds and said, "Let's get outta here!" That is so typical Ava. It only took about 30 seconds for her to smile and tell everyone all the way to the car that she has earrings now.

Sadee's reaction... "I can't watch, I can't watch!" She hid out in the corner of the store with her ears plugged. She said she'll do it when she's a mama. To each their own I say.

Aren't children so different???

Purple People Eaters

Sadee's team has officially not eaten any team for lunch all season but she has quit throwing the bat and I have had a great time watching four and five year-olds play baseball. A win-win right??

And then there were three

The new picture of the "Atkinson" family is a tribute to Dave this week. He is constantly complaining that the other picture makes him appear old and overweight, two things which he isn't of course. But, nonetheless I told him I would post a picture that assured others of his young buffness :). The real family picture will be back shortly. To you Dave!