Mother's Day

I love Mother's Day. Can you guess why?

Well there is one less than obvious reason for me at lease. However, this reason has become so important that it is a mandatory tradition now. The reason is bruschetta.

Thanks again dear hubby, it was superb!

Another wonderful part of mother's day are the little cards that the kids give me from their church classes. There are cute questions or fill-in-the-blanks that the teachers help them fill out. They are delightful little insights into how your child sees you, and I always get a good laugh! Here are Eva's responses:

Mom's Favorite Color is:  Green, Yellow, Blue, Pink

Mom's Favorite food is: Salad, Spinach, Soup

Mom's Favorite Game to Play: Hide n Seek

Mom is ___6 inches__ tall.

Mom's eyes are the color of: Brown

Mom's Favorite Vacation Spot is:  Hike

Mom's Favorite Thing To Do:  ride her fat bike

___Presents___ Make my mom happy.

We do eat a lot of salads. And since Pop-eye the Sailor Man is an idol of Graham's spinach is a highly desirable food. We have also done a fair bit of hiking during out recent trip up to Yellowstone. And I do have a very fat (seated) bike that the kids greatly admire!

Here are Graham's Responses!

My mom is __6__years old.

My mom weighs: 1/2 pounds

Her favorite color is: green and yellow

Her favorite food is: Pasta

My mom always says: I love you!

My mom cooks the best:  Soup with broccoli

My mom's job is:  Cleaning up

My mom laughs when:  I pinch her bum!

If my mom had time, she would love to:  Make me obey her.

My mom and I like to:  Read stories and play legos

My mom really loves:  ME and I love her.

I love my mom because: I want to sing songs to her.

It is so interesting to see how observant he is. My birthday is right after mothers day and he has been asking how old I am and how old I will be. Both he and Eva got it nearly right; I was 26;)

Other then that, I think Graham's nailed it right on! (well, maybe I little work to do in the weight department!)

Our New Home!!

Here (finally) is the video walk through I took of our new home in San Antonio! It has bee recently flipped so its all nice and new and ready for us. We are so excited.


And here is the garage and backyard. Trees!

We move the 28th!

Graduation: Class of 2012

 I can't believe we are DONE with our Bachelor's degree!! It still hasn't hit me yet. In fact, we've moved away from our beloved island home...but I'll talk more about that later. I haven't posted the pictures or talked about graduation yet, so I thought I'd better do so.

You can see his tiny head in the bottom right walking across the stage.

Curtis graduated Magna Cum Laude and I graduated Suma Cum Laude. Lots of hard work paid off for both of us!

Sister Dalton, the LDS Young Women's general president, spoke at graduation. She gave great advice about not fearing, but facing adversity. 

Curtis graduated with a degree in Business Management - Finance, and I graduated in Pre-Professional Biology. It was a long four years with some transfers in between. My first two years in Provo were awesome, but these last two years in Laie were life changing. I am so grateful I was able to go to school here!

Both of our parents were able to make it out for the celebration. We all stayed together in a condo at Turtle Bay and had lots of fun!

This is me with Tia Chrichton and Sui Fuimaono. Tia served in the Relief Society presidency with me as the president. I am so glad we got to know each other. When I left Hawaii, she gave me a beautiful Samoan lei, necklace, and a wrap-skirt thing. She is from the island of Samoa. Sui (right) is from New Zealand. She dances in the night show at the Polynesian Cultural Center and is just so so nice and beautiful.

The pregnant ladies! Cheka and I are both due at the same time (I'm Sept 5, she's Sept 1). We have been able to relate to each other as we are in the same major and pregnant. She graduates next April. I have had so much fun with her and it was sad to say goodbye, but we'll keep in touch for sure. She's from St. Augustine, FL. 

 Maye Wimmer and I were visiting teaching companions the whole time we lived in TVA. She's from California. They lived in the apartment right below us!

This is me with Danielle Hitz - she actually spoke at graduation and did a great job! I'm so proud of our ward, the past two graduation ceremonies the commencement student speaker has been from our ward. Woo!

Lavinia (Nia) = amazing. She is one of the best women that I know. She has been through more than I could ever imagine and is still one of the strongest, optimistic, happiest people I have ever met. I'm so glad I got to know her and spend time with her.

 

Carrie was one of the girls that I worked with. She is also from New Zealand and so cheerful all the time. She is due with her first baby boy any day now!!

There's not another place on earth like BYU-Hawaii. A student body of 2500 students made up of people from over 70 different countries. What a good experience!!

Hello from Duvall!!

Hey family! We wanted to share how we're doing, up here in Duval!! Conference was just wonderful, Lucy and Ruby REALLY watched all 4 sessions. They didn't miss a anything...eyes wide open!;)

 Don't they look sweet!?

You all know how into the NCAA games we are...right!? Well, Ruby and Tyler were exhausted after the championship game on Monday night...isn't that cute?! Ruby knew that the white team was Kentucky and the blue team was Kansas! She cheered and was all sorts of excited! Then she finally went to sleep...in her favorite spot!

 Monday it was sunshine and blue sky...we had to capture that on film! We headed to the park, Myles was shooting hoops...loving the warmth of "summer" (myles thought it was warm like summertime---but it was just barely above 60--think he is from Washington!?)..

And then there is Max, out scoring the climbing wall! He is an outside boy...through and through! He is into playing outside any time he can get someone to open the door for him! He stands at the sliding glass door, with his forehead pressed against the glass...just waiting for the words, "want to go play Max!?" Isn't he getting big!?

 I hope you are all doing well!! We love you all so much!! Take care, enjoy the sun and know that we love you!! Always remember that our door is always open!!

Freedom Learned

"Graham, go get your clothes back on, you can't run around naked!" "Well, I can." "No siree!" "Mom, I am just teaching you how to not get your cloths on!"

Headless?

If you haven't heard, it's because I don't have a mouth. It was cut off in a photograph.

I kid.

It's Thursday morning in Brooklyn. Sitting to start the day, I was thinking on the prospects of what is happening and thought it should almost seem like I'm walking around with my head cut off. If you haven't heard, my Dallas-winds are changing. In logical rites, I think I should be running around like that chicken lovingly handled by Aunt Gloria at the barn, just prior to execution; but in fact, I'm really quite calm.

How do you box up a life? Where does the stuff go? And not just scarves and wood spoons and old-ball socks — where does the emotion go when your home is split in two?

Do you know what is crazy amazing? Mom, Amy and Annabelle are coming to NY... today. Right in the midst of a whirlwind of change for Dallas. Call it divine, call it fate, call it too-cool-for-words, but I offered up several prayers of thanks for this little nod from Heaven.

If I'm offered and take the job in NY, it's with a communications firm (a modern day ad agency); if I don't get the offer, I'll still look into another offer in Boston being a Youth and Family Support Worker. That means, I'm not a licensed therapist, but I would be working with social workers and art therapists assisting individuals and families in need of help. My heart that loves causes and the betterment of the human condition is leaning heavily in that direction.

So, the next week will prove interesting, in any case. And not as bloody as one would think, especially having your head cut off while swinging on life's swings.

Just a little something...

I just wanted to share this silly photo of Max. He was helping me take things out of the washer, and put them in the dryer (ps, the key is to start them YOUNG!!) and he suddenly stopped handing me clothes. I looked over at him to see why he stopped and this is what I found. He had found a binky that went through the wash! It was still attached to his pjs from that morning. As you can see in the photo--if you look close--he has a binky attached to his shirt too!! Isn't that funny!? I laughed out loud...so funny!! Love you all, and I'm going to be better at using this blog..so I dare you to use it too!!!

Welcome Home Elder Graham

Welcome back to the blog, family! Just wanted to share the events of a very special day yesterday. We had the pleasure and opportunity of having many of our family and of Wendee's family here at our home to listen to a great report from Elder Garrett Graham! WOW! What a guy! First of all they arrived in time to attend sacrament meeting in our ward. Since it was fast Sunday, we had the great opportunity to hear Garrett bear his testimony right in our own ward! That was wonderful. I was so very excited to have some of my family there. After our meeting we hustled home to make some food preparations for hungry people and visit and have a good time. I fixed Amy's recipe of pinto beans and pork loin. . crock pot variety which was very good. Bo said, "it is just pork and beans" one of his favorite dishes. That is true it was dead pig and pinto beans. It did have other tasty items to improve the delicate and distinctive tastes. That with Lime-Rice, a wonderful big green salad and several options for dessert and we were set. I never did count noses, but there was a good crowd. The real highlight was hearing Garrett as he guided us on a tour (in spirit) of his mission. These missionaries don't get a very good chance to report their missions any more, so we felt it a great opportunity. We were all convinced that Garrett loved his mission and serving the Lord. He left a big footprint. It was truly wonderful and we missed all of you who would have loved to have been there in person. Sure glad we are a good "stopping in" place. Thanks to Elder Graham (Garrett) for honoring our family by his devoted service to the Lord. Now, I want to see some action on our blog! xoxxo Mom

Hi family! Just to let you know that our Littlest One - - Joni - - is running the Ragnar tomorrow and Saturday. Feel free to call and cheer her on! Her group begins at 4 p.m. on Friday. She runs at 6 p.m. on Friday, during the middle of the night, not sure of the next time, but she is the last runner. . . .crossing the finishe line Sat. afternoon. We are sad that we don't get to see it. The spectator thing is very limited this year! She will be in our hearts and prayers, right? Go Joni Go! You are awesome! Loves and kisses! xoxox Mom

Happy Mother's Day All!

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers! I hope your day was made very special. Mine was spent with both our families and made delightful by all involved. Lee's rotation is at a hospital were he gets food from the awesome cafeteria and he has been bringing me my favorite drinks all week! Then he took Graham to the store with him and they picked out a bouquet of white roses and yellow mum, so fresh and pretty on my table! On Thursday Graham brought home a bouquet of hand-painted tulips from egg cartons for my "mah-ders day!"

With the flowers came a note. This is what it said: 

This is to Certify that my mom is the greatest! 

Here's why:  "because she gives me lots of grapes and food. She gives me green beans, and I love those!"

Love, GA...a...m"

(He signed his own name!)

What a sweetie!

(notice the nice lip...he said the couch hit him.)

We spent church and a mother's day luncheon with the Graham Fam. Graham's Primary class facilitated a gift for me too; a rose and a note. Here are Graham's responses to the prompts on the note:

My mom's favorite color is: blue

She loves to eat: grapes

My mom smiles because: she has a little baby in her tummy

My mom wants me to:   eat bacon

I like it when my mom:   makes bacon soda

If I could give her anything I would:  give her fruit

When she grows up she want to:  be a girl

My mom loves me because:  she has lots of watermelon

(It seems Graham - of all people - has food on the brain!)

Luncheon with the Graham was super. It was phenomenal food, including a lime-ice drink, salmon smothered in lime n butter sauted onions, vegi kabobs, a beautiful salad and bruccetta for the 3rd year running! We were pretty stuffed by the time we got to the Ragsdales!

Grandpa Ragsdale is just a little boy in a big body and loves his grandkids! 

He comes up with the best activities!

 

"Here kids, try this!"

Doris Day Mom

Amy posted this on Facebook... and I'm completely in love! Was there ever a more lovely face? A more stylish swish? A more pure and happy lady?

This image (captured by whom?) is something I will always, ALWAYS love looking to remembering my darling, Doris Day Mother!

The White Stork Is Coming

The White Stork was sitting,

Up high in the tree

When the boy kissed the girl

And dropped to his knee.

"Will you?" he asked

With his chiseled, square face

"I will, you goat-lover!"

She answered in haste.

Wedding bells rang

And cheers climbed sky-high,

Dancing and singing,

And mile-deep pie.

The White Stork sat by

As the guests strolled away

And the couple made haste

To "roll in the hay."

Days turned to months

And leaves turned to snow

And the couple began to

Feel life-wheels go.

Groceries and books

And some thoughts of cars;

Spaghetti with meatballs

Was a favorite of thars.

The White Stork kept watch

In the high-time of day;

And he perched near their window

Each "roll in the hay."

You see:

His job is not easy,

This gentle, white bird

He determines all new life,

Just like you've heard.

It's not muscles or brains

That produces a child;

It's something much more

Than a call of the wild.

The White Stork keeps watch

Over each new-made pair;

He checks and he measures

Their level of care.

He helps with the life-math,

The addition of two,

And he watches intentions

To see if they're true.

Why?

Because his job is not easy,

When he places new life

In a small, cotton blankey

Between a man and his wife.

The child is WhiteSpecial

Because of it's soul

And Fathers and Mothers

Have a keen role.

For two that are new

To the burping and tears,

Need patience and love

To the stars and for years.

The White Stork can only

Let go and release

To hearts that are stitched

With forgiveness and peace.

So...

Celebrate and hip-ya!

The White Stork made a nest

That sits in the branches

of the greatest tree-best!

A baby is coming

Direct from the sky

With The White Stork's blessing

And his teary, glad eyes.

--

Love you all,

especially Austin and Cydnee!

Emma's Baptism

Emma and her proud Papa.
My littlest sister, Emma Jane Graham, was baptized a few weeks ago. She happily chose to take this important step to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and has started down the path that leads us all back to live with our Heavenly Father.
Way to go Emma! She looked so beautiful.

More from the Gardens...and Lee's awesome camera!

We had a great time seeing all the new life that spring has brought to Fort Worth. Our kids sure are cute too, but we are a little biased. I included some more photos from the butterfly exhibit, and the others were taken while strolling around the park.