just an update

Not much to report. Things have gone better since Easter.  Grateful for that.  I still miss my mom daily, but it hasn't been as painful as that day.  Tender Mercy!

Kedzie is a bee at school today as they are pollinating their flowers!  Ethan scored three goals at his soccer game on Saturday!  Alex is almost three and is still a wonderful snuggler.  We remain busy with our kids and we love them dearly.

Travis and I are heading to Paris, Idaho....wait, Paris, France on Thursday to celebrate our 10th Anniversary!  We are so excited to get away and recuperate and return home stronger and happier!  It's going to be a great vacation.  Thanks in advance to the Ravsten's who are coming out to entertain and to be entertained for six days by our children!  We are blessed to have them.

We have a lot of things to do in the next few days, but we are up for it.  All is well in Thornton.  Just had to send out a quick update on our life!  Love to all.  Em:)

Oh Easter...

How glad I am that you are over, really, it was tough!

The fun was fun, but the rest was emotional!  The background info is this...a member of our ward passed away on Saturday morning leaving his wife, and his daughter and family who are in our ward as well.  Can you all see what's coming?!....PTSD!  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder!  I was doing really well with thinking about my mom passing until I realized that now my friend Jami is going through some of the same things I have gone through, and she just lived down the street from her dad.  So, I know it will be rough on her and it turned out to be rough on me as well.

I was making cinnamon rolls for Young Women on Sunday morning when I told Travis I just needed a minute and went to "write my mom!"  As I was writing, I got more and more and more emotional and wound up in my closet sobbing....sobbing because I missed my mom.  Sobbing because I couldn't call her and tell her how cute my kids were when they were finding eggs and candy all over the house.  Sobbing that I couldn't just hear her voice.  Sobbing that Jami was suffering. Sobbing that my Savior suffered for me.  Sobbing...I thought I was sobbing to myself but I forgot that Kedzie can hear through the wall of the closet to her room.  She immediately came to my rescue and told me to "breathe" and said "it will be okay."  All things that we've told her when she's been crying.  She even told me that I could call one of my Aunties if I wanted to or Karen and they would help me.  But, really it just felt GrEaT to cry!  I needed to cry and I did cry.

Then, I hiked up my dress and headed to church hoping that my heart was strong enough to make it through Easter Sunday.  It was and we made it through the day culminating in a visit to Jami and her mom and giving them big hugs and offering any support that they needed.  The funeral is Friday, I won't be attending just because I emotionally can't.  But, it's all good.

So, Easter was rough for me.  But, I made it through and I continue to make it through pretty well, each and every day.  My kids are clean and fed and educated and loved and my house remains lived in and Travis and I are still in love with one another, deeply.  Life is good.  I just miss my mom.

The joys of Easter had to do with my kids.  Here are some pictures of Egg coloring and Easter morning egg hunting and their cute Sunday clothes courtesy of Kathy Ravsten.  She's a good grandma.  Anyway, enjoy!  Love, EM

Grateful for friends

I'm grateful that my kids have friends.  I know that's a silly thing to say, but it's true.  They get so excited to play with their friends and their imaginations go wild with them.  Kedzie has three other friends on our street that are in the first grade, it's so fun to see when and if people can play!  

If you ever ask Alex what he wants to do, most of the time, he'll loudly state "Play with Matthew."  The two are wild and practically perfect together.  I love them both.  

Ethan has made some good friends in pre-school this year.  Here is a picture of Ethan with Memphis and Max at a bowling party.  Ethan loves these friends.  

Miss Kedzie and Miss Lindie have been friends since birth.  They love to play with each other and they know how to play with each other perfectly.  

We love all of our friends!  There are many others from school and soccer and church, but I just had to give a little shout out to all my kids friends.  Thank you for being a positive influence in their lives.  You are awesome!

Spring Break and other stuff

Spring Break was awesome this year. I had great motivation to have fun and I scheduled at least one fun activity per day.  

However, the Sunday evening before our fun week started, Karen Swank showed up on our door step. She said that she wasn't even sure she was coming here until she was half way through Wyoming, but she made it and boy was it a huge surprise.  I was thrilled!  When I saw her, I just started to cry, because it was as if she brought my mom with her to play!  I finally decided, after the fact she was here sunk into my brain, that my mom guided her here so that my mom's spirit could be with all six of us in one place at one time, rather than hoping from place to place!!!

On Monday, we went to the Firehouse Museum in Denver.  The kids really enjoyed playing on the firetruck the most.  It was fun.  

On Tuesday, Ethan woke up throwing up and slept the morning away.  In the meantime, Karen taught Kedzie and Alex how to fly kites!  Kedzie is hooked.  And, the afternoon Ethan was feeling back to normal, so he played Mario while Karen took the other two bowling.  It seems to be her lot in life to have to take my kids bowling on a regular basis!!!

Wednesday, we loaded up and headed to Chuck E Cheese's with the Holland's.  What a great time we had, even if there were three buses full of spring break kids.  Ethan earned over 300 tickets.  It was a record for him!  

Thursday, we went to the mall to have lunch with Dad and his co-workers.  It was fun and fast.  We then came home and just played with our toys and with "Aunt Karen." 

"Never say no to the Panda." (don't ask!)

Friday was a big day and without Karen, we wouldn't have attempted it.  We went to Skate City for $1.50 per person and left two hours later without any broken bones.  Maybe a bruise or two, but I consider the outing a huge success.  Ethan actually has some skating skills.  Muy impressivo!

Saturday morning was full of Ethan playing soccer and rocking it on the field.  What a week!  I'm tired!  Good thing I can rest today.  Thanks Aunt Karen for coming out and playing with us.  Tomorrow we are back on schedule with school and life!  It was a fun week off. 

Only 25 days until Travis and I head to Paris, France to celebrate our 10th Anniversary and less than two months until summer vacation.  Can't wait!