Summer Tenting

This humble little yellow dome is where my four boys and I slept for several weeks this summer. I love tenting, the cool damp air, the sounds of yelping coyotes in the field, no phone call in the early morning and no alarm clock. We had fun visiting into the night, and telling ghostly stories and of course giggling, lots and lots of giggling. Poor Russ had to leave for work early so he didn't have the pleasure of waking up with a sore back or rushing indoors in the middle of the night for a potty break. He didn't seem to mind either.

Tenting brings back some fun childhood memories for me. Some of the same things actually (giggling, potty breaks, ghost stories) but we added bags full of fresh cherries and listening to the sounds of fighter jets and small engine planes land in our nearby airport. Ahhhh!!! it makes me smile now just thinking about it. Hopefully my boys are making some tenting memories that will someday bring a smile to their faces.

I did do something this summer and this wedding cake proves it. Actually I did a lot of things, more posts to come regarding all my summer successes. This however, is one thing I had the pleasure of creating. This lovely cake was for a very lovely young bride named Stephanie. Can't wait to move on to the next cake project in just a few weeks.

Today was the Day

Lately , several mothers of young children have either told me directly or written some of the following comments. " You're so lucky." " It won't happen for me in at least 6 years." " You must be so relieved." " What will you do with all your time?" " Finally, peace and quiet, I never have peace and quiet." Well, I don't share their sentiments. Today was the day. My four boys, some of them full fledged young men, climbed on the school bus this morning. Bridger is in the first grade, everyday all day. Coleson is in third, Caleb in 6th and can you believe it, Mckay is in 8th grade starting highschool. I am the sort of mother who likes spending time with her boys. We like working together, playing together, reading books together and just being together. It's noisy here, I like it. It's dirty here and sometimes I don't mind that either. I am blessed to have my boys, I wish I had more because peace and quiet is a little sad to me. I think we should all be a lot more grateful for little toddlers, they don't stay little for long. I am glad that I tried to enjoy little messes, little cries, little dirty diapers, little soiled clothes and little boys cause they are not so little anymore.

So, yes I am lucky. I am lucky they were happy to go to school this morning. I am relieved they were excited to meet new teachers. And what will I do with my time? Oh, maybe write a few children's books, maybe I will teach school again or get the nursing degree I always wanted to earn. But the peace and quiet, I am glad, isn't permanent.

Today was the day things changed for me, good things are coming and there are things I will miss, like 4 little boys.

I like this quote, often quoted by the Prophet of the world,

President Thomas S. Monson

" Your home is the most important school your child will ever attend,

and you are his greatest teacher."

Glad to be my sons' Mom

Jana