Mother-Daughter Party

Last night was the activity girls mother-daughter party. The theme was flip flops. The leaders brought each girl a pair of flip flops and told them to decorate them for the fashion show. Of course, Emily wanted to decorate that very night! But being the procrastinating person I am, we waited until the day of...Poor Emily...all she wants is a mother with definate PLANS. unfortunatley, she ended up with me.

The party was a lot of fun, the moms painted their daughters toes to get ready for the fashion show. Then each girl got to strut her stuff and show her creative flip flops! We named Emily's "party in the USA"

Each girl got an award, Emily's was most patriotic!
After the show we had yummy treats; Emily especially loved the little umbrellas in the drinks! She brought them home to put in the "childhood memory box" she keeps under her bed. (Sometimes we argue over the stuff she gets to keep and the stuff I get to put in scrapbooks-I let her keep the umbrellas!)

We had a great time, it was nice just to spend time with just Emily. Sometimes being the oldest has a lot of responsibilty. I am glad we were able to have fun and not worry about other stuff.

Thanks to Erin for taking the pics and emailing them so quickly!

Clear light of day

So my husband read my 2 am rant and asked if I needed a Midol or st. johns wart for my "ladies day" (that's from the everybody loves raymond episode.) Let me first state that the blog I was refering to is not someone I know in my real life...it is also not anyone I knew in my younger life. It is a random blog I came across one day...and I was tired of this blogger showing food, crafts and clothes she made and then CHARGING for the pattern or recipe. I apologize for my ranting...again it WAS 2am...and I am totally blaming "ladies day".

PMS ranting

It's 2 am and I am wide awake. Usually I have insomnia during Aug-May, I call it "school induced insomnia". Since it is the end of June, I am blaming the fact that I am on blogger at 2 frickin am on PMS!?
I have been particularly grouchy this week...maybe I notice it more because I am not taking it out on high school students. Emily even told me I have been talking to myself an awful lot this week. Sorry, it's how I deal; I mean better yell at myself than her. I have been so bad, I am remembering that Everybody Loves Raymond episode about PMS. I am almost that bad.
I have decided my biggest problem with blogging (besides consistency) is that I lack a VISION. What exactly is my blog suppose to be about? I am not sure, and that is why I don't post a lot.
I keep up with several blogs. Many of them are foodie/recipe blogs. SEVERAL of them are various crafty blogs and many are just friends/family blogs.
Do I want this to be a foodie blog? If so, then you have to try the rib recipe I made for dinner on Tuesday! But I didn't come up with the recipe, I found it online 2 summers ago and have been using it since. So I shouldn't post it-it's not my recipe.
I have been sewing and crafting up a storm these first weeks of summer vacation. I made a new bag, Emily an outfit for church, Brinley a dress, and have been working on two quilts. I plan on finishing my menu board and making Brinley a fourth of July dress. Should I show all of this? Here's the thing...I create for ME. I don't need other people to tell me how good it looks or blah blah. I did it to create something, I feel the accomplishment and it makes me feel good. If I post pictures I feel like I am bragging and that is not what I am after. I do not want my little corner of cyberspace to be a way for me to prove to the world how many "mommy projects" I get done in a day or week. Blogs like that turn me off, I find them nauseating and a little sad. It's like they are trying to convince themselves how idylic their life is...and hey it's not...life is hard...life is great...life is funny...but a lot of the time it is hard and I am just trying to get through. When you only read about how perfect other peoples are, it seems desperate. like lindsey lohan desperate...
My favorite blogs are ones that keep it real. So maybe that is my vision. Keepin it real. So here is my REALITY based summer review:
It has taken the entire month of June to get our above ground pool up! it sank on one side last year so this year we decided to put bricks under each pole. this lead to a leak because (we think) it put to much pressure on the seams. We filled it about 2/3 and then drained the darn thing to find the leak...never did. So we refilled it only to have one of the bricks slip and poke a big hole in the bottom. brad basically had to snorkle to put the patch on...then we moved the bricks out. So far it has held...I REALLY do NOT want to see our water bill.
So the pool has been up and the kids swimming away and I develop some weird reaction to the sun and sunscreen and have this rash all over. For the next week, if I go out, I have to wear long sleeves and a hat. My Dr put me on steroids and Brad made a few jokes about "roid rage". See if i just posted pictures of kids in the pool, smiling and happy, that doesn't tell the story. The real story is that above ground pools are a pain and now we can't get the chemicals right.

On My Mind

I have all of these things that I wanted to post and share, but haven't been able to do it. I felt like it was wrong to post all of our summer plans, when I never posted about the death of my father. So like the true coward I am, I just kept putting off posting at all. But here it goes. My dad passed away May 19th. All of his immediate family was there as he left this mortal existence and returned to his Heavenly Father's presence...where I know he was welcomed with open arms.

A few nights after his death, I remembered an incident when I was a teenager. I had gone to Deseret Book for something and came home with this picture of Jesus hugging someone and the caption reads, How great shall be your joy. The expression on Jesus's face is one of pure love. I remember showing this to my dad, and he just broke down in tears. (this was not the first time I saw him break down. My dad did cry, but would try to hide it by doing a snuffling, choking, heavy breathing sound...it never fooled anyone!) For some reason, this memory brought me such peace. My father knew in life who his Savior is, just as I know the Savior knows him.

I will always remember my dad as one of the kindest men. He wanted to be friends with everyone. (As a teen, this was a constant source of embarassment) He never judged anyone and accepted people as they were. I hope someday to be more like him.

Until We Meet Again....I love you

His Legacy.

taken one month before his death

Here is his obituary:
Richard R. Thomas POCATELLO - Richard R. Thomas, 76, passed away on May 19, 2010, surrounded by his loving family.He was born on April 7, 1934, the son of W. Milton and Millee Lewis Thomas. He graduated from Pocatello High School in 1952.He married Claudia Adams in 1954. They were later divorced. He married Donna Wilson in August 1972. They had five children.The U.S. military was his career. He served in the U.S. Air Force in Japan during the Korean War. Later, he joined the U.S. Army, serving in Europe and Vietnam. He retired from the military in 1977. He worked at Defense Depot in Ogden until 1995. In his later years, he enjoyed the Greater Pocatello Senior Center. He enjoyed the dances, the fellowship and singing with the Silver Chords.Due to declining health, Richard has resided at Highland Hills Assisted Living Center for the last four months.He is survived by his wife, Donna; and five children, Michelle (Brad) Smith, Jacki (Keith) Moran, Stephanie (Jef) Hayes, Amber Thomas and Matthew Thomas; and 10 grandchildren, Alex, Jaydin, Madison, Bailey, Emily, Baylee, Kali, Gage, Ashlynne and Brinley. He was their Poppy. He was preceded in death by his parents and two grandchildren, Zachary and Kennedy Moran.A memorial service will be held Monday, May 24 at 11 a.m. at Downard Funeral Home, 241 North Garfield, with a visitation beginning at 10 a.m., also at the funeral home.The family would like to thank the staff and residents at Highland Hills for care and friendship given to him. Also, the PMC surgical floor for the care given to Richard and the compassionate support to his family on that sad day.
Published in Idaho State Journal on May 21, 2010