I will not eat Facon. It is dead to me.

Riley finished 6th grade on Wednesday. She wanted to go to Denny's to celebrate. Yum. And then on Thursday she got her braces on. When she got up, she looked like she was 14. Seriously, I felt like she grew up 3 years in 90 minutes. We got all the fancy instructions and accessories for said braces. I am not worried about her because she is so dang diligent.Also, I am not mad we are Denny's because it was her choice, I simply refuse to waste calories and fat on facon. My new question for all servers will be, "Do you fry your bacon or microwave it?" Problem solved.

Last day of 6th grade. What? When did that happen!?
She got some new sheets and a comforter for her super awesome grades all year.She is such a good girl and I am so proud to be her mother. She was a tiny bit sad about leaving her friends and we liked looking at her yearbook together. I am excited to see what the future holds for this girl!

Essential but Invisible

Frageelay. It's Italian.
Well, I won a major award. I mean, I won a major award!!
Yesterday, I attended the end of year assembly at Nate's school. The principal had asked me to come and I was expecting the usual, "Let's thank the PTA" kind of thing. Maren and I were sitting on the floor since we were late and I was entertaining her with things in my purse.
The principal started saying all these really nice things about some mom at school. I won't bore you with all of them, but my two faves were, "Phenomenal Mom" and "Our school's biggest fan". He went on a bit and then I could tell he was talking about me. Me. Oh. Crap. You see, I want to be essential, as in, everyone knows they can count on me and they need me, but I also want to be invisible, as in, please.do.not.make.me.walk.up.there.
So, he said my name and the teachers all stood and the kids were screaming like I was a rock star. And what did I do? Oh you know I did. I cried! I hugged the principal (shhh...don't tell Craig) and I met a famous Boise State football player who now plays for Detroit. It was awesome!
I got a plaque and Nathan has been looking for places to hang it. I asked him what he remembered about the speech and he said, "Well, he said you sub in the office". Okay. Craig asked Nathan if he knew why I was at school all the time. Nathan said it was because I love him. You bet buddy. When my kids are older and don't like me much, will you guilt them into being nice to me by pointing out my previous awesomeness? Do a sister a solid and hook me up!!
Sometimes the essential but invisible thing is kind of hard to pull off....but I like it this way. Also, I don't get blamed when things go wrong! Ha! Like at church, I am the perpetual 1st counselor. Like a worker bee, but never the queen bee and that is good enough for me. I think I've got a good thing going here.
Also, I hugged the BSU player.

And they're slipping away.....

Decorating eggs...not as fun as it looks!

Should save this picture for a separate post, but who can resist a man in uniform?

Today I took Riley to the urgent care to find out she has strep throat again. *sigh* Her last bout was on March 7th....so we're not doing too well over here. If she has it again, they'd like to take out her tonsils. Insert crying 11 year old here. While we were waiting, Maren downloaded some files, so we went to find a changing table.
While I was changing her, I was thinking I don't carry those diaper disposal bags anymore. That made me think I probably won't be carrying diapers anymore soon. And, of course, that made me boob it up in the bathroom. Today was not awesome, not bad, just regular, doing the regular stuff. I KNOW I will miss these days. I *know* it. And even as the days slip by, I cannot fully appreciate them. And that makes me despair. And you cannot "enjoy the journey" as they say, if you are despairing.
So, how do I enjoy it as it slips away? Even as I spend nearly every.waking.minute with them, I still know I will be sad at some future point as I look back on this very day. What? Who does that? Am I crazy? I don't know. Do I need counseling? Maybe. So, to sum up, I cannot enjoy the now because I know someday I will be sad about them being grown up. And then I am sad that I am sad.

21 years ago today...

So...21 years ago today I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. My super awesome family came to support my decision. At the time, I just expected their support. I assumed every family supported each other the way that my family supported each other. Aaaaannnnndd then I grew up (more) and realized that wasn't the case. And too bad too, because being loved and supported is a pretty dang awesome feeling.
I wasn't planning on posting today, and let's be honest, I never really plan to post. It is just that my life is so exciting, I have to share! But, I digress (again). My little buddy is going to be baptized on Saturday and dang it if I am not a wreck over it. I bought him a book about white shirts (shhh!) and I bawled like the boob I am right there in the store.
I still remember finding out he was going to be a boy and crying all the way home that in 19 years(!) he was going to go on a mission! Yep, that's me...so sappy. And I just don't care.
Nate is great and he's almost 8. Here are some reasons why he is awesome:
1. He wanted to wear a tie to his 2nd grade program. So he did.
2. He kisses me at school.
3. He makes check lists just like me.
4. He is a tender heart.
5. His laugh. Oh my! His laugh.
6. He thinks I am out of Justin Bieber's league. Lolz.
7. He has a super memory. Just like me. "Remember the time I wore feety pajamas and I woke up crying because I was too hot?" Yes. I remember.
8. He is my favorite son.
I won't complain that time goes by too fast. What is the point in that? There is just time and we make it go fast or slow by our choices. So, for me, I am going to make the next 8 years go by so slow.