Busy Summer--playing catch up...

Seems like I'm never as on top of this blogging thing as I'd like to be.  Here's what we've been up to lately--in no particular order because I can't keep track of what's coming up let alone what has already happened!

1. Headed to Idaho for my Grandmother's funeral --nice to be with family and celebrate a life well lived!

2. Jason & Ryan had their first session of Swim Lessons--EVER.  They loved it.  Ryan of course struggled with staying on task and following directions.  Jason is a total fish and can't wait for the next session in August.

3. Headed back to Idaho for my Ahlstrom Family Reunion--which was a BLAST.  Lots of golf, swimming, food, a bouncy house for the kiddos, an old west dinner & show, 4th of July parade and LOTS AND LOTS of family (I have 60 first cousins and there are 90+ Great Grand kids already--to put in in perspective)

4. Got a visit from our best friends from Kingman--who now live in Kansas so we LOVED having them stop over on their way from the Vegas airport to St. George where she is from.

5. We hit up our friend's cabin in BEAUTIFUL Duck Creek.  We go a couple times a year with 3 other families--besties from our old Fort Apache Ward!  It is a perfect place to get out doors, let the kids run around, eat TONS of good food and catch up on each other's lives.  If not for this group of friends, I couldn't have survived Vegas as long as I have!  They are the type where years could go by and I know we'd pick right up where we left off.  They are amazing friends--we'd do just about anything for each other!

6. We hiked Cathedral Rock with the kids (a scenic peak that's part of Mt. Charleston about 45 min from our house)  It was beautiful, not too hot, and great for teaching your kids to finish something tough!  I still can't believe that my 3 year old Ryan busted out that 2 mile hike (never once being carried) when some of Scott's Scouts quite less than half way up.  Nanner nanner to you big 12-18 year old sissies!

7.  Celebrated Collin's first birthday--we were at the cabin on his big day so we had a combined celebration with our friend's son Isaac who turned 8 and will be getting baptised next month.  So much fun!

 

I know there's stuff I've missed & pictures will follow (don't worry Grandparents, I'll get 'em posted!)  Now on to the Tidwell reunion, more swim lessons, karate class, gymnastics, birthdays and on and on...

...having been born of goodly grandparents...

Some would say I'm lucky, others sheltered, I say I'm blessed--undeservedly so.  I "happened" into an amazing family and my life is so much better for it!  My Grandmother Betty Ahlstrom--my Mom's Mom--passed away in June and I've had many opportunities to reflect on her life and how much my Grandparents (on both sides of my family) have molded and shaped the person I am.  I'll let them claim the good things and won't hold the terrible parts over their heads for too long :-)  Grandma had 10 kids--my mom was the 9th/10th (a twin no less)--and those 10 children resulted in 60 grandchildren.  I think I'm somewhere in the 30's.  So far, 3/4 of us are married and over 90 great-grandchildren have joined us.  It sounds like a lot, I know, but it is normal for me.  And we aren't just a bunch of strangers that see each other every 10 years.  I know my cousins well, I know their spouses, their children, and in a few short years, their children's children and I wouldn't have it any other way!  We would do just about anything for each other.  We each have had our struggles, some significantly more trying than others, but every single one of us is married in the temple, active in the church and are working hard to raise good families that will continue to do the same.

I've wondered what made my Grandparents so special--mine were story book Grandparents (always glad to have a house FULL of kids, Grandma always had homemade cookies ready and Grandpa would sneak us treats from his study.)  I think the bottom line is that they got IT--they understand that life is all about family and that as long as their family was around them, they were happy.  And they passed that sense of family unity on to my parents and now on to me and my children.  There is a lot I want out of life but it all boils down to doing what is best for my little family--both temporally and spiritually.  So thank you Grandma and Grandpa Ahlstrom, for setting such great examples, raising wonderful children and sacrificing so much for your family!                            

The 2 photos are their engagement picture in 1941 and Grandpa's Army photo (isn't he dreamy :-)

I Couldn't Be More Proud

While hitting up the Bath & Bodyworks semi-annual sale yesterday :-) and using Jason as my giant bag carrier while I pushed the other two creatures in the massive double stroller, Jason struck up a conversation with another poor male soul who got roped into being a bag holder for his own mother.  The conversation went like this: 
Jason: I got to see Kungfu Panda 2
Other Boy: Well I'm going to see Mr. Popper's Penguins
Jason: Ohhh that's so cool
O.B.: I'm 6 years old
Jason: I'm five
O.B.: I have a swimming pool at my house
Jason: I wish I had a swimming pool at my house
O.B.: I have a four wheeler I can drive on the road
Jason: Wow, I just have a bike.  But it's new, I got it for my birthday.
O.B.: I just got a BRAND NEW XBOX
Jason: Well I have my very own LIBRARY CARD!
O.B.: No way, my mom says I'm too little, AWESOME!

I could have jumped up and down and done the Rocky Balboa cheer---hands above my head and everything--right there in the middle of the store.  We had just finished at the library (ALWAYS a stressfull time trying to use our "inside" voices) and stopped by B&BW on the way home.  Nice to know something is working!  Chalk one up for momma, the library, and a house full of reading time not video time! 
Mom: 1
Mushy-Video-Game-Little-Boy-Brain: 0

Hello Santa, It's Me, Natalie

Dear Santa,
You may think this is a little premature considering it is only May or even strange since I am a 29 year old mother of three writing a letter to you.  However, I have exhausted all options. I really really really really (ok you get the picture) would like something but no one is listening to me and I am desperate and have nowhere else to turn. I'm writing early because my birthday is in August and I'm hoping that in order to make your holiday less stressful, you could just give me my gift for my birthday instead. I'm not asking for anything too tough; not world peace, not my "pre-baby" body back, not even kids who magically clean up after themselves and potty train themselves as well. I am asking for one teensy tiny, itty bitty, magic machine found at any JoAnne’s, Michael’s or even Ebay (soooo much less expensive on Ebay!) I would like a (drum roll please.....) CRICUT CAKE MACHINE! I have drooling over this thing for a year and a half; I have been a very good girl and promise to be a very good girl FOREVER if I could just have one for my birthday.

My husband says it is totally unnecessary and says "it'll never happen". But I thought his golf clubs, shoes, nice golf bag, golf clothes, constant golf outings with friends, lost balls/broken tees and buying replacements for all of the above seem UNNESSECARY and yet he still owns them, still plays, still replaces and does all of this generally unhindered and supported by yours truly! Now that I think about it, he went golfing Wednesday night and is going again for 5 hours Saturday morning! So if the world of golf can eat hundreds of dollars a year for my dear sweet supportive husband to have a relaxing, enjoyable, usually peaceful hobby which I totally support, I would think that I could have one little $150 Cricut Cake Machine that will make all my wildest dreams come true.  That's just five or six golf outings--certainly fair under the current circumstances right?  I promise to decorate cakes and cupcakes for the poor and needy—you can even stop by for your birthday and I’ll make a cake just for you!

Thank you for granting me this one small, insignificant birthday/early Christmas wish that will benefit those around me for years to come. And just in case you are REALLY busy and forget, I'll be sure to have all my friends and family remind you the closer it gets to my birthday...August 15th...I'll be 30...I'll be really good I promise......Thanks!