I've got a sweet sister...

A sweet post--love this girl.

Hamburg Bound

My baby bro, Russ got his mission call tonight. Love this kid and so proud of him...

The Pelo Post

Oh, I've been dreading this day for a while now. In all reality, I've been ignoring it like the plague itself and trying my hardest to pretend it wasn't going to happen. And no, it's not that school is out and I'm responsible for four kids to have a great, productive yet still lazy-enough summer. I'm actually looking forward to having them around...

It's what will be missing from that summer.

Me, Cami Russon & Mychael-Ann Pelo 2004

& this...

Ash & Gwen 7/06

just to name a few. We'll miss the entire Pelo family! It's hard to see such a good family leave, but even harder when they've BECOME family. Seven years worth of good memories to remind me of how blessed we've been to have them be such a tangible part of our life. When they left Virginia for Salt Lake, Heather, Cami, MA and I had a last hoorah with a night out at an ice cream shoppe. I remember coming home, snuggling up to Casey and starting to sob because the Pelo's and Dudley's had become so dear to me.

Heather, Me, Cami & MA 7/04

And to think--I've done it to myself AGAIN! I started writing this a few days ago, but it made me too sad. So, MA when you read this--know how much you mean to me. I'm a better mother, wife and friend because of your example & have been changed for good. Lucky Virginia to get you!! I think I'll go eat some ice cream...:)

The best kind of pet-ownership...

is babysitting (or chicken-sitting) for a weekend! The kids loved watching the Peterson's chicken a few weekends ago. Ash washed the cage each day and they all helped feed it and give it water and adored it. I think the Peterson's came home just about when the wonder of it all was wearing off, so I think 4 or so days is just the right amount of time to own a pet around our house! Thanks Peterson's!

Ash getting her nose pecked at!

And just because... this is a cute little mug and Tink is trying so hard to figure out how to be a big sister and loving her baby sis (maybe a little TOO much), and I need a reminder that she is still just as important and needing maybe a LOT more TLC since life is topsy-turvy for her right now. I love this little face!!!

She's Here!

The Sibs

So really, I have awesome brothers and sisters. I totally hit the jackpot with Casey's siblings too. And each time one of these siblings has gotten married, they've scored some really fun, amazing people that I love just like they've always been a part of the fam. So today, I'm doing a shout-out to a few that have accomplished some pretty big things. The others will just need to be a post for another day, because I could dedicate an entire blog to each and every one of them!

It's Ricky, the Brother!

Ricky "playing" with Ash 12/01
So proud of my little bro, Ricky. He survived 4 years of Med School in Wisconsin, and it's impossible to congratulate him without major props to his awesome wife, Katie as well. They did it TOGETHER--moved, supported her parents as mission presidents in Argentina, chose to leave their cush ward to serve in the Inner City Branch as YM President and Primary President, had my darling niece right before finals of 2nd year & Step I of Boards, followed just recently by my adorable nephew less than a month ago (doesn't Katie look so great!!). All while living the med student life!

Ricky & Katie @ graduation dinner 5/08

But I could never have explained to them how this experience would change them. How there's nothing in the world like being in the same boat with people that become FAMILY. How relying so heavily on each other would be "marriage glue". How they'd look back on this crazy rollercoaster-time of life with so much fondness and never wish one moment away from it, no matter how many hours of studying, then board prep, then time spent training (& sometimes being just a shadow of the docs), or how poor they felt. Because the good stuff always beat out the tough stuff, 1000%. I couldn't be more proud or happier for them.

Irion Fam 5/08

I love you Ricky--I could say a million great things about your work ethic, how smart you are and how easy it is to just be around you. But the greatest compliment I can give you is how impressed I am with how tender, nurturing and loving you are towards your wife and kids. Your priorities are spot on and I look up to you in every way. Way to go Doc!

Lindsay & Russell

Russ & Linds 9/06

Doodles & Russcabus are graduating from High School & Seminary. I remember thinking that it really wasn't that big of an accomplishment when I was graduating. I mean, really, you just wake up and go to school every day, get decent grades and next thing you know, your throwing your cap in the air.

Russ snuggling with Ty-guy 10/03

But it's more than that. It's watching them grow up into REALLY great people. People that I admire immensely. People who I used to tend all the time, change diapers for, feed rice cereal to. Who loved me for me--even during the ugly phase of 8th grade;) Suddenly I turn around and they are--gulp--adults. Preparing for a mission this summer and for BYU. That love my kids & my family whole-heartedly which makes me love them even more. Even though they have been best friends from the beginning, I always felt that I had a special bond with each of them, only to find that each of my siblings feel that way about them! We're ALL dreading them leaving the nest like it was our own kids growing up because we'll genuinely MISS them! They are rock solid in the gospel, athletic, kind-hearted, hard-working, selfless, and cute to boot! They are so different from each other but somehow each is the total package.

Tink & Lindsay 4/07

Seriously--could there be any better capstone to our family than the twins?!? Look out world--you won't know what's hit you and you'll never be the same. I for one am changed for good because they bless my life so immensely. Love you guys!!!!

And then I stepped in poop...

"Seriously?!? Did I really just step in poop? FOR THE LOVE!!!"

This was the end to what we'll chalk up as "One of those days." The sad thing was, it wasn't in the backyard where the neighbor's dog occasionally relieves himself. It was in my FRONT ROOM and somehow from my 1 1/2 year-olds diaper. YUCK!!!! This after a lovely late afternoon where I had seriously lost it--Mommy Dearest lost it!

Not sure if it was the fact that I'd gained 3 1/2 pounds since my last doctor's appointment (ummm yes, that was only a week ago, thank you very much! All baby, all baby, all baby--right?), or a 4 1/2 year old son turned destructo-boy that tipped the scales, but I was just GRUMPY! So to get out of the funk, I took the kids to the library. We only stayed 15 minutes because someone did something that apparently was a tragedy in my glass-is-half-empty state. So, I thought "Maybe if we go to the park with the handful of books we managed to grab, I'll be able to sit and peruse through my book (ironically "Piggy-back Rides & Slippery Slides", a book about being a fun mom)." The fun lasted for all of 12.7 minutes. The rest of the evening was spent rather enjoyably by my barking Drill Sargent orders of eat dinner, pajama's, potty and don't you dare get out of bed.

Once everyone was down, I started picking up the remnants of the toys that prove that kids do indeed live here when I stepped in the present that escaped from the sides of my lovely daughters diaper.

Want to know the sad thing? While relaxing in the tub to unwind and obviously clean myself off, the guilt that always rears it's ugly head rushed in--"Wow, what a fun mom you are! This is awesome timing--days before Mother's Day. You're kids will have some LOVELY things to say about their dear, sweet mother! Dear Mom-- You have the loudest voice, and are so good at using it. Love, Ty". I kept having the image of building blocks being gently placed one on top of the other--proudly making them into a tower that grows taller and taller, and me coming in with one fell swoop and undoing in seconds what took months to build.

It's a good thing to have these quiet moments after a storm to realize how childish I was acting. I knew that motherhood would be both the most rewarding and hardest thing all rolled up into one messy, sticky, beautiful ball! Or more appropriately 3 lovely little faces. We just never know HOW hard and HOW wonderful and HOW quickly one emotion could change into the other. Thankfully the next day was 100x's better than the one before, I've apologized (again) for the way I acted and the kids surprisingly still love me with their perfect, forgiving spirits.

Maybe sometimes I need to step in poop every once in a while to appreciate the blessings that the everyday moments bring. My kids are my greatest teachers and I need to work harder & take better notes when I fail the quizzes so that I'll hopefully be stronger, better and wiser. Sounds like the kids are up--time to go pick up some blocks and start re-building!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you! Hope you're thoroughly spoiled!

Women's Conference

Don't we girls just need to get away with our girlfriends every once in a while? To buoy each other up, encourage each other on each of our own paths and to take a little time out to assess where we're at and figure out how to be a little bit better?

Women's Conference was just the shot in the arm I needed. Let me get my geeky part of the post out of the way. If you asked Casey who I get the most "star-struck" about, no, it wouldn't be Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, or Oprah Winfrey. I am a little embarrassed to admit, only because I know she's just a regular person like you and me, who just happens to be pretty extraordinary...

Seriously. I love listening to Sheri Dew. I've been fortunate enough to meet her several times as my grandfather married her dear friend, and I'm just as star-struck every time. She has such a gift of telling it like it is, but still convincing me that the task at hand is do-able and I'm so very capable and able to take on anything. She was the opening speaker and gave a great message. I loved it! Oh, but I'm not done.

I got to sit next to her at the next session and we got to just talk about this and that, she even suggested Sheri be thrown into the pot of possible baby names. I haven't told Case that I've added it to the list! I came home and told Casey how I got to sit next to her, and he just sort of shook his head and laughed a little at my groupie-like glow on my face. Seriously--I am a major nerd! Honestly, I just admire her immensely and enjoy how she always makes me want to be a better person after hearing each of her speeches. Moving right along...


Two of my aunts presented WONDERFUL talks on Drawing Nearer to the Savior by focusing on what really matters and the other spoke about how good music can influence our homes in so many positive ways. Aside from being a really proud niece, I went away with so many ideas and ways to tweak my every day life.

My mother came from a home of 9 sisters and 1 brother who all have great musical talents. It seemed there were always events or occasions where we got to hear them all singing together--farewells, wedding breakfasts, each year at our extended family reunion. It seems like those opportunities have been far and few between as the years have gone on, so I was really honored when they asked me to accompany them at each of my aunts presentations.

I realize I'm a full grown adult now, but listening to them sing together brings back great comforting feelings from my childhood--second only to the influences of my mom's or grandmother's (and even grandma's "mock") lullabies. Some people consider homemade macaroni and cheese their comfort food--mine would hands down be listening to them sing. Over and over again as we practiced and then finally got to perform, I was reminded of how blessed I am to have these magnificent women as such great examples, cheerleaders, and anchors.

I really hate myself for saying that last title outloud...

Dare I say it out loud--Spring is really here?!?

First off--thanks for all the nice comments. Holy moley--if I were even half the person that you all made me out to be, I'd be ecstatic! I know where to turn to if I'm ever feeling down. I really do have the best family and friends a gal could ask for!

The Owens & Olsen clan spent an IDYLLIC weekend in Midway, eating tin foil dinners, 'mellow-roasting and S'more feasting, playing outside if there was daylight to be found, setting up the Tee Pee, visiting the cows and riding the Surrey bike. We even got a bonus visit from the favored aunt Lindsay and her friend Sam! Lucky us! Midway is my slice of Heaven. So many great memories growing up and it's so fun to watch my kids fall in love and create their own memories up there.

For FHE, Ash decided that our activity should be a lemonade stand. This has replaced her financial plan of loosing teeth to earn an income, which is good because she was running out of teeth.

Lemonade anyone?

My thoughts (today) on pregnancy

I am awake. Mostly due to the fact that I had to use the restroom and also physically wake up so I could heft my belly from one side to the other to get comfortable, and this is no easy task now-a-days! As I was trying to get back to sleep, my mind kept going through the millions of thoughts about this pregnancy. Alone and with my own thoughts is a rare place to be in this household, and even much less likely in a month or so! An hour and a half later, I'm still awake, so I'm putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard as the case may be. It's all such a jumbled mess, I'm hoping my thoughts make sense!

Each night once the kids are down, Casey and I unwind in the basement family room. Without fail or asking, Casey will take my aching right leg and give it a great rub. As silly as it sounds, it's one of those little things that reminds me that he loves me and that he appreciates what bringing each child into our family has done to my body. I commented to him the other night as I made funny sighing noises that just came out as I was trying to "gracefully" get up off of the carpet that now that I'm thirty, pregnancy is NOT for wimps! My leg looks like it's been through a war zone due to pressure on those veins, along with the exhaustion, stretch marks, pudgy body and belly. I'm at the point in my pregnancy where it takes real courage to just leave the house & face every day knowing I don't look exactly how I'd like to!!! Oh the vanity of it all. I'm embarrassed to say that I can get caught up in it.

Then random things gently remind me of the MIRACLE of it all. I was sitting next to my visiting teacher in church on Sunday. She's an awesome lady whose kids are growing up and starting to leave the nest. I had my elbow resting on my belly and was holding the hymnbook along with her when this little girl gave a great big kick. Susannah looked at me and said "Even I felt that!" We started giggling, looked at each other as I mentioned what a great feeling it was and started tearing up. She whispered how she missed and had forgotten what it was like and I was relishing the moment of THAT FEELING. It's true that you can't explain in words until you've been lucky enough to be pregnant. The great and wonderful things really do far outweigh the hard stuff. There truly is something beautiful about it. It's just that the traditional definition and characteristics that define beauty are tweaked & put into a new perspective.

So, I will take the aches and pains, as I know so many dear friends who have far more difficult aches and pains from struggling to bring children into their own families. The exhaustion and sleep-less nights are a sign that I've had a healthy pregnancy and am nearing the end, where so many have been robbed of that miracle. And with each new child has brought a new stretch mark or two, and a new "ailment" that will most likely leave a permanent mark on my physical body that will be my reminder that I am a mother, and I will try to treat them as a badge of honor, rather than an imperfection. For the next few weeks in particular, I'll try to remember that the miracle of it all trumps any woes, every time.

April General Conference

Love so many things about General Conference weekend, and am really looking forward to sustaining President Monson, a new apostle, listenening to the choir (shout out to mom!) and especially learning from our General Authorities and the spirit.

My awesome aunt Brit found this GREAT general conference packet for the kids and was nice enough to share it with me. I thought I'd pay it forward and send it along to any who might be interested. Here's the link.

Happy Conference weekend!

April Fools gone a-fowl...

As long as I can remember, I have always LOVED April Fool's Day. I could get into some seriously pathetic pranks I've tried to pull off, but will settle for the time that I put saran wrap on the toilet, which is actually not a bad trick. But I was the brilliant one that left a note on the tank that stated:

Go ahead, use this toilet.

There's nothing wrong with it,

just some small repairs.

Signed, The plumber

Right--I'm sure the unsuspecting victim would then think..."Oh, well if it's just MINOR repairs, I'll go ahead and use it then." And my mother always made me feel like I was smart. As I look back, I'm not so sure...

Today was no exception. It started off great with green omelets, a maze that is impossible to finish and a "new job chart" that had the kids cutting the front lawn with fingernail clippers, hand washing their clothes and having to stand outside holding them up in the air so they could air dry and setting alarms at 12 am so they could make midnight snacks for everyone in the family. The kids were totally shocked and surprised when I hollered "April Fool's!" and thought it was hilarious and got right into the spirit of it all.

Ty combed his hair all by himself in a funky 'do and both kids wore mish-mashed shoes to school, thinking they were hil-ar-ious!

I told the kids after swimming lessons that since it was April Fool's Day, we'd have dessert for dinner first. Here are the lovely cupcakes...

Of course, they weren't cupcakes, but really meatloaf with colored mashed potatoes on top. This was the reaction I got from Ty...

Then this by Ash...Followed by this...

In case you can't tell, it's Ash running off in tears saying she HATES April Fool's Day. Apparently I didn't learn in parenting 101 that if you tell your kids that they are going to get dessert first, and it really turns out to be something as unexciting as meatloaf and mashed potatoes (even though I felt they WERE cleverly disguised, thank you very much!), then you'd better be prepared for meltdown of the century!

So, thankfully I had a "dinner" to redeem the holiday and myself as a mother. Chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes w/ gravy and toast with jam, as seen here...

Oh, surprisingly a much better response when it really turns out to be coconut covered marshmallows, ice cream w/caramel sauce and sponge cake with pureed strawberries. So, if any of you decide to try a shenanigan like this next year, make sure to serve the "dinner" FIRST and not the stupid "cupcakes"!

Most of the ideas came from familyfun.go.com. I think I will send the counseling bill to them for the damage that was surely inflicted on Ashlyn;) I thought it was fun anway!

Nerd Alert!

99 words

Speedtest

Try it out--kind of fun, you know, in a geeky sort of way...

My little getaway...

Since Casey got to take Ty to the Jazz game and Ash to Disney on Ice, I figured I was due for a little fun myself...A weekend retreat! Imagine enjoying a relaxing hobby, say oh, I don't know.... scrapbooking. Tables set up so you can leave the mess out the entire time without kids "helping out" or having to clean-up after getting all of the above said junk set up after only accomplishing one or two layouts. Let's add in 12 other fun girls, and big comfortable beds whenever you decide to hit the hay all in the beautiful Heber Valley. Sounds great, right? It get's better...
Meet Marcie, your personal chef, concierge and cleaning lady! Waking up to a breakfast that you didn't have to think up, buy groceries for, bake and then clean up. And you get 3 great meals that appear when a little bell rings to let you know that your next meal is waiting for you, along with plenty of snacks, drinks, dessert. You name it, she thought of it. She rocked. Everything was WONDERFUL!

A HUGE thanks to my sister, Liz, for inviting me. I love you and especially loved getting to spend time with YOU. I was one pampered girl, got a lot of creative juices flowing and even got some scrapbooking done to boot! Who's in next time?

And on a related note...

What could be better as a kid than having your dad all to yourselves for a whole weekend? How about adding in dad also doing the grocery shopping. Is this a weekend of eating in heaven for a kid or what?

Pizza? Check

Pringles? Check

Swedish Fish? Check

Hostess cupcakes? Check

Movies? Check

Oh, and I guess we'd better throw in milk and yogurt for good measure.

What a fun dad! Probably a good thing we don't eat like this every day though!

Daddy/Daughter Date

Case & Ash had a fun little date last week. Ash reported that dad opened every door for her and even let her sit up front by him--she felt so big and special. The biggest decision of the night for Ash was where to eat--oh the debating between some of her favorites...Panda Express, Chuck-a-Rama, Sizz...How is a girl to chose? The steak won out and Sizzler was the destination for a night of fine dining;).
Casey kept the next part of the date a surprise, and boy was she ever! They ended up at the Disney Princesses on Ice and can we say, she loved it?!? She's loved dressing up since she was two, so it was great to see that 4 years later she still could enjoy it (and I'm so relieved that she can still be excited about it and doesn't think she's too old for it!). She called me on the way home because she couldn't wait to tell me all about it. I LOVE this age, and even more, I LOVE this girl and her daddy.

Dedicated to Phil, the Hamster 2007-2008

So, this was a new situation as a mother that I had last week...

Ty was playing with one of his closest buddies who happens to also be my cousin last week. They get along so well and just love any minute they can spend together--love these boys!

But this playdate took a tragic turn! They happened to be at another cousins house and decided to go into 11-year old Spencer's room to play with his toys and his hamster, Phil. Shall I preface this right now with the fact that Spencer ADORES this hamster? As in, he insisted on holding his beloved pet in the family Christmas Card photo because he loves it so much, not to mention that he happens to be one tender, sweet 11-year old boy!

Well, somehow the little boys got Phil caught between two objects and couldn't figure out how to get him out on their own. My little cousin ran up to get his mom, but it was too late, and Phil had passed on... Oh Dear!

We feel SOOOO bad for poor Spencer! How do you make restitution for something like that? And what are we going to do if the law passes that makes cruelty to animals more than a misdemeanor?!? Okay, this is not an appropriate time for humor...

Well, we made a treat and Tyler hand wrote a letter:

We hope the relationship will be preserved!