To the Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday Rees!

Last weekend we went to Dallas for Memorial Day and for Reesy's 4th birthday.  And since I am the sole Rees blogger, this post will go down in the Rees book for documentation sake.  

The birthday party was a hit!  No boys were allowed at the 4-year-old party (of course).  The little girls made tissue paper butterflies, beaded bracelets, got stickers on their nails and their own nail polish to take home.  

And what would a party be without a pinata?  Each girl took a few swings, but the strawberry pinata held strong.  Fortunately none of the little ladies was hit (someone always seemed to get hit at my parties growing up), and they were all excited with the swedish fish, smarties and other candy they scored.  

All this activity meant it was time for lunch.  Cue tea party.  

White little gloves with pink jewels awaited all of the girls when they got to the table.  Donning tea party dresses, they each had tea sandwiches, strawberry jam sandwiches, crudites, chocolate covered strawberries and other fruit.  And to drink?  Pink lemonade for "tea."  

Just before presents, we brought out the cupcakes, lit up the candles, and sang happy birthday.

Rees loved it.  The little girls had fun, and the parents, too.  Not too many meltdowns (4-year-olds can only handle so much).  And as always,  Kristin's perfect presentation stole the show.   

Projects

I'm a project kind of girl.  I sort of get fixated on a certain issue and can't get off it until it is completed.  Here are some of the recent projects I've been working on.  

Meet my attempt at organization. 

 I love organization, and it was driving me crazy to have receipts, calendar, pictures, notes all over the place.  Nothing fixes chaos like a cork board/white board combination, a calendar and some new magnets.  Love it!

Cue next project, Operation Green.  

I got a sewing machine for my birthday and my first project was to sew some grocery bags.  I think we have enough plastic grocery bags to last another few years.  I don't like waste, and I'm trying to do my part.  So the logical choice was to make some bags.  I've attempted a couple of different fabrics here.  The webbing handle is for sure the better alternative, as well.  These bags are not only great alternatives to plastic, they also helped me re-discover my ability to sew (I'm still working on the re-discovering part).  

The last project for today is my attempt at getting some things on the wall of our house so it looks more like we actually live here.   Growing up we always had the photo collage going down the stairs, so a friend of mine helped me put together a little photo collage in the living room. I've still got some work to do before completion, but it's one of my favorites projects yet.  

Mom

I love Mother's Day.  While I'm not so much into the commercial side of it all, I think Mother's Day is a much-needed day for every person to think about their mothers and the influences they've had in our lives.  

I love my mom.  She is the perfect, ideal mother for me.  She provides balance and perspective to me, which I find hard to find with anyone else.  Dave spoke today in sacrament and as we were brainstorming about his talk, he asked me if I had any story to share.  The story/experience which came immediately to my mind was just a few months ago when my mom dropped everything to be out here with me when I so desperately needed her.  Dave was so good to me at this difficult time, but I needed my mom.  I'm not sure there is or was anyone else in the world who could understand, empathize, and help me get my feet back on the ground than she did at this time.  Both Dave and I needed her, and she was there.

Elder Ballard said in his talk last conference:  "There is no one perfect way to be a good mother.  Each situation is unique.  Each mother has different challenges, different skills and ability, and certainly different children.  The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family.  What matters most is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."   

My mom put her family above all else -- ALL else.  I am forever grateful to her for that; for her love, patience, kindness, friendship, and choosing to be a mom when perhaps I (or my siblings) wasn't the easiest to parent.

Happy Mother's Day Mama Nancy.  Love and miss you!

A Wedding Celebration

One week and one day it's been since Crystalyn and Rob got married.  I loved seeing you two and so many friends.  The wedding festivities were beautiful, as was the bride, of course.

We're so happy for you -- congratulations!!

And I quote

What is more important, fame or integrity?

What is more valuable, money or happiness?

What is more dangerous, success or failure?

If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never be fulfilled.

If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy.

Be content with what you have and take joy in the way things are.

When you realize you have all you need, the world belongs to you.

--Tao