High School Musical

Tonight Trav and I watched “High School Musical 3” for the first time. I’ll be honest with you, I cried. Which is a little strange to me, because if you had asked me a week ago I probably would have told you that high school was some of the worst time of my life. All I have allowed myself to remember are the heartaches, the betrayals, the petty comments that were a part of my high school career.
But tonight my heart was opened to the sweet memories of high school as well. Yes, I am glad to be who I am today and would certainly not trade places with a high school senior if I were given the chance, but tonight nostalgia is wrapping me up like a warm blanket and taking me for a sweet little ride back in time.
If high school were a photograph in my mind, it would be this: driving in my Jeep with the windows rolled down and sunlight streaming in. My best friend beside me, singing along to Dixie Chicks on the radio. Feeling like I owned the world.
I remember football games with a chill in the fall air and friends surrounding me on every side. I had no idea what was going on down on the field, but I definitely knew the “Lancer Pride” cheer and when to count push-ups for the cheerleaders.
I remember dances, dates, and night games. I remember road trips, field trips, and trips to Europe. I remember goofing off in concert choir and living in fear of ever having to sing a solo. I remember turning the cafeteria into a romantic ballroom with the help of dark curtains and Christmas lights. I remember running out of gas while trying to make it to class and how my pals had to push my car to the gas station. I remember tennis matches where I giggled more than I scored. I remember Modern Dance class and how, at seventeen years old, I had to be taught how to skip. I remember the exhaustion, frustration, and pride of yearbook. And the simplicity of being merely a photographer. I remember the stress of studying for AP tests, and the hysterical feeling of “I have no idea what I just wrote and essay about” when it was over.
I remember true friends, the ones that didn’t come and go when the love triangles of high school reshuffled. How simple it was to just hang out: nowhere to go, nowhere to be. Just being together.
The morning after Senior Sunrise, a few friends and I went up to the Capitol to take in the first sunrise of our post high school lives. It was beautiful. The golden light warmed the trees and sang to me of the promise of our future. I remember feeling like the world was mine for the taking; that somehow, I was going to make a difference out there. That we all were.
So the ten year reunion is coming up in a few weeks and part of me thrills at the idea of seeing these old friends again. And part of me hesitates, because I know that it just won’t be the same. I’m not the same, they’re not the same; heck, even the world is not the same place it was ten years ago. But maybe that’s why do these reunions—so that we can all come together and remember.

Can I get a woot-woot?

Last weekend was Trav's marathon. He did it! Ran all 26.2 miles, in spite of the fact that it was a downpour for the first hour or so. I'm so proud of him and all the hard work he put into this. It's been months of practice runs and the unhappy aftereffects. It's all over now and he's feeling great!

So, they called out Trav's name about 10 minutes before he actually crossed the finish line. We waited and waited to see him, but finally gave up. Just as I was packing up my stuff for us to meet him in the athlete area, he came running by. So, I didn't get a photo of him myself, as my camera was already put away. Luckily one of his buddies happened to be there and took this with his phone.

Goodbye Training Wheels

Being a mother brings out the whole spectrum of emotions. Joy, fear, hope, sorrow, frustration.... it's all there, plus some emotions that are too deeply felt to even have a name.

Well, today I got a little dose of emotion right there with Anna. She has been struggling to learn to ride her bike without training wheels for over a month now. I was frustrated with trying with her, and she was frustrated with the repeated failures. A few days ago my mom was over and practiced with her and she was able to go a few feet on her own. I sat and watched jealously. I am missing it, I told myself, I am her mother and I missing the chance to teach her to ride that bike because I have been too impatient.

It was like revelation. Since then we've worked hard (her at riding and me at being a little more patient), and today, she did it! All the way down the street all by herself! I was jumping up and down and shouting like she'd just scored the winning touchdown in the SuperBowl. I was so happy/proud/excited/relieved that she had figured it out. I doubt I was even that happy when I learned to ride my own bike. What a super star!

There's 104 Days of Summer Vacation....

Outside with our neighbors.Ahhh, to be a child in the summertime. Swimsuits everyday. Water everyday. Friends everyday.

The girls and I sat down to make a list of all the fun things we want to do this summer. Going to the park, on hikes, for snocones, movies, Chuck E Cheese, library story times, Dinosaur Museum, swimming, picnics, etc. are all on the list.

Summer is awesome. I love the freedom you feel from it; I don't know whether it's the sunshine or the lack of schedule, but summer is definitely the funnest time of the year.

I will say, however, that I am trying to have a bit of a schedule this summer so that we don't sit around in our pj's all day. I've told the girls that I will plan a Fun Thing each day (going to the park, watching a movie, playing with friends, etc.). The catch is that they have to get dressed, brush teeth, do hair, and do their Daily Job by 10 AM in order to be able to participate in the Fun Thing. So far it's worked! I love getting boring stuff out of the way early in the day so that the remainder of the day is open for playing!

Trip to Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. Who knows why I forgot to take out my camera till we were past all the dinosaurs.... Evie loved the dinosaurs. We'd come around the corner and see a new skeleton and she would shriek in delight. So funny what gets her going.

Anna and her little buddy Gwen. They're only 4 days apart, and her mom is my best friend. Sometimes when we're all together, people mistake Eve for Gwen's sister because they both have the darker skin and eyes. Really, when we're all together it's just a mess of six kids and two crazy mommies!

Memorial Day weekend was mostly spent painting for Trav and I. We did take the chance on Sunday to visit the cemetary where T's grandpa is buried. Don't think it's weird, but the lighting was beautiful and I had to get some photos.

Anna with Grandma Nancy.

Kate's not quite ready to be a professional photographer. Yet.

Zoo Field Trip

For our finale of Kate's preschool this year, we went to the zoo. Here are Allie, Tyson, Kate, Anna, and Lindsay(Tyson's sister and one of Anna's favorite friends). We have been so blessed to have such a fun preschool group and such cute little kids in our lives this year!

In typical fashion, the highlight of the zoo was the playground at the end. They loved this little teeter totter.

Kate's got a lot of joy in her life. Teeter totters help to bring it out.

Something funny that happened while we were there was that my friend Kelli said she likes looking at pictures of the funny faces Eve makes on my blog. How appropriate that I caught this expression two minutes later!

Eve's First Haircut

Eve needed a haircut desperately; she was sporting a girl mullet. Not awesome.
I decided I couldn't take it anymore and cut it while Trav was at work. I gave Eve some shaving creme to play with and gave Anna and Kate the camera to document the event. All in all, it worked out pretty well, and her little bob is so cute!

Preschool Graduation

Considering that Anna is often someone that drives me crazy, I sure do love her. She graduated from preschool at the end of May and it about did me in. I started crying when the kids were counting to twenty. I was overcome with.... what? pride, sadness, amazement. All of it. She is suddenly a BIG girl. When did that happen? So, I pretty much cried through the whole thing, it's a good thing I wasn't in charge of the video.

Anna was awarded "Most Artistic" in her class. She's really taken that label to heart, and has increased her efforts at drawing, coloring, and painting (this is saying something because she was already pretty intense about these things). I'm so proud of my girlfriend!

Moab in May

A few weeks ago the girls and I had a quick getaway to Moab with my parents. Trav was camping with the Scouts. We had a great time, starting with roasting hot dogs and making Smores. In the past, Anna and Kate have not enjoyed Smores much, but they loved them this time. Eve didn't like them, as she couldn't get over being sticky.

We went for 2 hikes with all three kids-- one to Landscape Arch and one to Sandstone Arch. The girls were pretty good about hiking, but the thing they loved best was playing in the sand.

Sandstone Arch was so fun. It was a short hike to a small arch and a HUGE sandpile. We rolled down it like you would roll down a grassy hill. We made sand angels, buried our feet, and tried making a sand castle (which is hard without water).

My dad took Kate and Anna on little expeditions into these tiny canyons. It made them feel so adventurous!

What Heaven Looks Like to a One Year Old

Eve found her happy place today.

It involved water.

And splashing.

And making a grand mess of the kitchen.