Surprise date

Tuesday was our 8th anniversary. I had already planned for a babysitter on Saturday so we could go on a date but on Tuesday around 4 my dad shows up at my house. He tells me he is there to take the kids to his house for the rest of the day. So I get the kids ready and put them in my dad's truck and then go back in the house and enjoy the peace and quiet. Dave had been sending me sweet e-mails all day so I check my e-mail again and there is a message telling me to relax and enjoy the time home alone and not to cook dinner. Dave came home a few hours later with our favorite dinner from Outback (we used to get it all the time when we were first married) and flowers for me. We had a great time being home alone for a while. It's so nice to be in your very own house and enjoy time with your husband and no kids to worry about. And after 8 years Dave is still romantic and knows how to surprise me when I least expect it. I'm so happy to be married to Dave. He is the perfect match for me and we compliment one another so well. It's fun to look back and see how we've changed and I think we've both changed for the better because of one another's influence.

Writer's block

I have ten stories saved on my computer that I have started but not finished. They are all in different stages and sometimes I will be working on one when I'll get an idea for another. I have one that I have been working on for a while now and I am almost finished with it. For some reason, though, I can't bring myself to work on it anymore. I don't know if it's because I'm starting to hate what I once loved or if the thought of finishing it brings with it the next steps and I'm just scared. I've always wanted to be a writer. I majored in English in college so I could read and write. I took a creative writing class where my teacher always had good things to say about my writing, things I will read often when I am stuck and I feel like I'm no good. I'm not sure if I'm even writing the right things. I want to write something I would like to read, but there are times when I think about the stories I write and I wonder if they are interesting enough. Today I sat at the computer and looked at all of the stories I have and I realized that the books I love to read the most are not reflected at all in what I write. My favorite class in college was Young People's Lit. It was designed for those of us who were going to teach English or be librarians. My favorite books are Newberry winners, books written for kids or teenagers, picture books I read to my kids. I have read Jacob Have I Loved a million times and I never get tired of it. I tell people The Giver is the best book ever. I read Charlotte's Web in a few hours and the books I taught to my students are still some of my favorites. I will go to the library with my kids and check the Young Adult shelves for books for me to read and I have looked over the requirements for the Newberry award, just to have it in the back of my mind. I used to think I would write for the LDS market. I read a lot of those books and it just seemed like the direction I would take. But today, when I had writer's block with the book I have been working on, I thought I needed to start writing what I love to read the most. I thought about how great it would be if I wrote something my boys would like to read. One of these days I want to go to a book store and see my book on the shelf; I want to send my kids off to school and sit down at the computer and write knowing I have a deadline. One of these days I will finally finish a book, send it in to a publisher and see what happens.

Apricot picking

I heard from someone that the Gilcrease Orchard was opened so I called my mom and we took the boys Saturday morning. I had never been out there before and the boys were excited to see everything. We saw corn growing, squash, apple, pear, plum, peach and apricot trees. Logan loved picking the apricots from the trees (the unripe ones) and we all had fun looking for the best ones. Trevor said, "Grandma is the boss because she has a garden so she knows if the fruit is ripe." Afterwards we came home and everyone ate some fruit. It was so good. The boys had a really good time and it was fun showing them where some of our food comes from. Trevor has loved going to my mom's house to see what she has in her garden. He loves picking peas and eating them right then and there. He wants us to plant a garden in our backyard, so maybe one of these days, with the help of my mom, we'll try it out.

Swim lessons

The boys started swim lessons this week. I wanted more than anything for them to be comfortable in the water so we could take them swimming more often. They've done really well for their first week. Trevor and Colin have both had fun getting in the water, playing and learning some of the basics. While the boys swim, Logan likes to "jump" on the trampoline.

Trevor practicing his kicking

Colin loves being in the water. When it's time to leave he gets upset and says, "But Mom, I LOVE swimming!"

Last day of school

Tomorrow is supposed to be the last day of school but all we are going for is to pick up Trevor's report card and say good-bye to his teacher and friends. Today his teacher put together a fun little event. She had all of the parents come and as each child took a walk down the "runway" she told things about them from the school year. Here are some of the things she said about Trevor:

*Trevor is thankful for his family and friends
*If Trevor was a Christmas present he'd be a Hot Wheels set
*When Trevor grows up he wants to be a bug scientist
*Trevor's favorite thing to do at school is paint

*Trevor loves chocolate

*If Trevor had a wish it would be to eat 100 donuts and not get sick

*Now that Trevor has gone to kindergarten he can write

His teacher also put together a bag full of things they did this year, she made a memory book of their work and gave us his journal from the school year. In his journal it shows how his writing has improved. He's a smart boy and loved school this year but I think he's ready for a break. We'll have to keep busy over the summer so he does not forget all he learned. I'm so glad he had a good teacher and good friends to make this such a fun year.