Every year for Memorial Day weekend we go camping up at Clints Well, AZ. This year we spent a long weekend up there with my Dad & Step-Mom, Mckean, my sister Becky, and 
Scott Roe and his kids Taylor, Gabi, and Billy. We had a great time as usual. But this year we also included a 3-D archery shoot to the normal camping fun. We left on Thursday, May 26, 2011 and got camp set up. Then on Friday we went down the road to a section in the forest called Kinder Springs. Lee and I used to camp here before the boys were born 
but have not been back for over 10 years due to forest closures. The Kinder Springs meadow was recently opened up to foot traffic only. In the meadow we found an old cattle feed trough, tire swing tied to a large oak tree, and a cattle water trough with running water. The boys had a great 
time running around in the meadow and taking turns on the tire swing. Mckean even took a turn on the tire swing. The water trough was cold clear water and Lee enjoyed splashing the boys a little with the cold water. Becky found several photographic opportunities in the meadow too. I am really glad that we were able to take my family down the road to see Kinder Springs.
Mother’s day was a bust for me this year, so for my birthday I was not going to take any chances. I went to a friends surprise birthday party last month and brought home a souvenir. It was a bright pink headband that said Happy Birthday. I wore that headband all day long yesterday. Our friend Scott had a BBQ planned for the same day, but not in celebration of my birthday. I even wore the headband to the BBQ. That way my friends remembered my birthday too. It was a nice day. So nice that I am considering looking for or making headbands that read Happy Mother’s Day, Happy Anniversary, Happy Valentine’s Day or any other special day that may be needed. That way I won’t have to rely on anyone’s memory, they will know what special occasion it is they are supposed to be celebrating!
Early this morning I woke up from a strange dream. In my dream there was a loud beeping sound that did not stop. As I lay in bed I realized that the beeping/chirping sound was not from my dream but in my bedroom. Our smoke detector battery had died and it was chirping a loud short beep about every 5 minutes. I looked at the clock and saw it was only 2:30 in the morning. There was no way that I was going to be able to go back to sleep with that nose, so I got up and went to see if we had any 9 volt batteries. Nope. Well, there was only one thing left to do. I ripped that sucker off the ceiling and went back to bed. Now that I “fixed” the noise problem, Lee has to fix the smoke detector.
Yesterday Lee promised the boys he would finally take them fishing on the boat. The boys have wanted to go for a couple of weeks and have not been able go due to several different reasons. They spent ½ hour getting fishing poles ready for the trip. Then they got their snacks ready and when outside to get the boat ready when Lee discovered that he had left his trolling motor on and the battery was dead. You can not go fishing on the boat without the trolling motor. This was devastating to the boys, especially Zander. Tears were running down faces when I as a mother did the only thing I could think of to make it all better. I told them that they could go fishing first thing in the morning (Mother’s Day). I would give up my Mother’s Day morning for them. I knew that there would not be any special breakfast, but my boys would be happy.
Today I got up to a quiet house and got ready for church. I listened to the primary children sing Mother’s Day songs to their moms, but my boys were not there to sing to me. I went to primary and helped all the children make Mother’s Day crafts for their moms, but my boys were not there to make crafts for me. But, I just knew that they would have something for me at home.
When I got home, the boys gave me the little crafts that they had made in school. I knew that Lee was planning on taking me out to dinner this coming week, but I asked if he had gotten me a card. No such luck. As I looked around I found that they had unloaded and cleaned up the fishing stuff. They had also fixed lunch and ate without me. Then as I fixed my lunch, they all left and went their separate ways and I sat in solitude and ate my lunch by myself. Then went to see where everyone had disappeared to in the house. Zander was playing the wii, Connor was playing on the computer, and Lee was watching a movie. The best offer I got was from Lee who asked if I wanted to watch his movie with him. No one asked what I wanted.
Dinner time rolled around and Lee did fix me dinner before he
had to go pick up his friend from the airport. I was left with the boys to get them cleaned and washed up after the day of fishing. By the time Lee got home again it was almost bed time for everyone. Lee knew I was a little disappointed with my Mother’s Day and had bought me my Mother’s Day card and some flowers while he was out. While it didn’t make it all better, it did show that he was sorry and wanted to make me happy. Let’s see if he learned a lesson does better for my birthday in 6 days.
Today while I was working on the computer and Connor was watching TV he jumped up and ran to the bathroom. Since he has been potty trained for quite some time now (2 years) I didn’t even question him. After a short time he came running out of the bathroom and said loudly, “Mom, I didn’t wiggle it, I didn’t wiggle it.” As I am trying to figure out what happened he holds up a baby tooth and shows me his teeth. Sure enough he has lost his first baby tooth. He is so excited to have the Tooth Fairy come tonight. When Daddy came home from work he showed him his missing tooth and told him that the Tooth Fairy was going to bring him money. When Lee asked how much money Connor replied, “Maybe one or twelve.” I am not sure if he thinks the Tooth Fairy is planning on leaving one or twelve pennies, nickels, dimes, quarter, or dollars, but the Tooth Fairy has been hit by this recession as well and only plans on leaving one dollar.
The prophet said to plant a garden, so that’s what we’ll do.
For God has given rich brown soil, the rain and sunshine too.
And if we plant the seeds just right and tend them carefully,
Before we know, good things will grow to feed our family.
This is a primary song that I remember from when I was a child. I know that we have been counseled from our prophets to have gardens for many years now, but I am slow to try new things. I have a little area next to the walkway to my house that was probably meant for flowers, but I am using it as a mini garden. I have zucchini, chives, green onions, tomatoes, yellow summer 
squash, and cucumbers all planted. Then in a pot on the front porch the boys have planted pumpkins. So far, everything has started to bloom and grow. I have chosen this spot for several reasons. 1) There is a drip system on a timer so I don’t forget to water my garden. 2) I walk past my garden several times a day and I can see when there are weeds that need to be pulled. 3) Being so close to the house with so much activity the birds should
stay away from my garden. I grew chives, green onions tomatoes last year, but I have never tried any of the other plants. The plants look beautiful, and I hope that they will produce the fruit and veggies for my family. Maybe if I can successfully grow this garden I will try to expand and grow more in my backyard next season.
Every year for Memorial Day weekend we go camping up at Clints Well, AZ. This year we spent a long weekend up there with my Dad & Step-Mom, Mckean, my sister Becky, and 
Scott Roe and his kids Taylor, Gabi, and Billy. We had a great time as usual. But this year we also included a 3-D archery shoot to the normal camping fun. We left on Thursday, May 26, 2011 and got camp set up. Then on Friday we went down the road to a section in the forest called Kinder Springs. Lee and I used to camp here before the boys were born 
but have not been back for over 10 years due to forest closures. The Kinder Springs meadow was recently opened up to foot traffic only. In the meadow we found an old cattle feed trough, tire swing tied to a large oak tree, and a cattle water trough with running water. The boys had a great 
time running around in the meadow and taking turns on the tire swing. Mckean even took a turn on the tire swing. The water trough was cold clear water and Lee enjoyed splashing the boys a little with the cold water. Becky found several photographic opportunities in the meadow too. I am really glad that we were able to take my family down the road to see Kinder Springs.
