Brothers

Kiersten's 5th Grade class along with the 4th grade class had a Poetry Reading on Thursday.

They were suppose to be dressed up so Kiersten wore an adorable dress. Kiersten was so excited for the Poetry Reading! Mrs. Percell was bringing refreshments and everything.

Kiersten wrote her poem about her Brothers.......it's just a sweet, wonderful poem!

I love all her little drawings to the side that represent what her poem talks about.

Both Mrs. Skinner and Mrs. Purcell mentioned to me that Kiersten's was their favorite poem..............all the kids did a wonderful job I was told!

Brothers

by

Kiersten Cluff

My brothers are very cool,

Even if they look like a fool.

When we play house we always make scrumptious homemade soup,

And sometimes we play in our fort,

Or on the basketball court.

We fight for fun and love to make mud pies,

That sometimes attract flies.

We add berries and put our initials on it.

We often do ninja moves on the trampoline.

We also scare our Logan Bear,

And he really thinks its not all that fair.

So we say we're sorry and go outside.

For a messy rainbow Popsicle,

After that we play as a cat or dog,

But often we play as wild Indians.

We get bored and make a craft,

We glue and paste,

My mom says, "what a waste!"

But we love to do it!

As you can see, even if they are a pest,

They certainly are the BEST!

Kiersten's Recognition Night

We received an invitation in the mail for a recognition night at the school.

It was for Kiersten's scores on the AIMS tests from last year 4th grade. The AIMS are taken at the end of each year starting in the 3rd grade.

Kiersten received her award for EXCEEDING THE STANDARDS IN ALL.....yes ALL AREAS OF THE AIMS! There was only one other person in the whole school that exceeded in ALL areas like Kiersten. We could not be prouder of her! These are all the kids that exceeded in at least one area of the AIMS. Kiersten is super smart and even more then that she applies herself 110% at everything! She is a wonderful example to us all! Great job Kiersten!!

Talk about a CRAPPY day

So let me tell you about my CRAPPY day on Friday! Just remember the sweet smile on the face of my fierce dragon!

Just as a little back ground so you'll understand where I was at emotionally I'll tell you about my day before the CRAPPY day............ the day before had been really bad. I won't go into full detail but let's just say there were tears, swats, apologizes and more tears. Oh and did I mention I somehow made the most harsh, sharp, drill Sargent of a teacher cry. I mean I had no idea the woman even had tear ducts..........she is just that stern..........no softness to her. And every other conversation I have had with her, she has cut me off every time I opened my mouth.....and I have never even had a real serious conversation with her. This time I just stood my ground and talked to her in the same tone she was talking to me.

I was totally prepared to get my butt chewed out, as usual with her, but I was so not prepared for the tears and I just felt horrible about that.........I even started crying because I was so shocked with the whole conversation.

I did send her flowers and an apology card later that day because I wasn't trying to upset her at all. I just wanted her to listen to me for once and then own her own behaviors. While reassuring her that I am here to support her and help Hunter behave for her because he behaves for every other teacher. It's an extra curricular subject teacher, not his core teacher, who Hunter had been being silly and disruptive in her class. None of which had I been informed of until she kicked him out of class for it on Wednesday. I told her I can't fix something I don't know about.

I tried to tell her how Hunter feels about her....that she doesn't like him and other stuff. Well she cut me off and harshly said, "That is not true....." I held my ground and continued to tell her I was not saying that it's "true or correct" by any means, but it is how he "feels" and you can't argue that. I told her I am helping Hunter to understand that she probably really does like him even if she yells but that I though it was important for her to know how he feels. I could tell me standing my ground and not letting her walk all over me wasn't something she was expecting nor enjoyed. She did finally say I was right about that and I felt like she actually heard me for once.

Hunter has never so much as "pulled his light" in school so this is all new to me. Hunter was in big trouble when I found out he has been disrupting her class and I am hoping he learned his lesson! He is a super smart boy so I am thinking he'll be a quick learner with this experience.

I won't go into full detail of everything that was discussed....that's just a fraction of it.

This teacher is known by everyone, staff and parents alike, for being mean and yelling at the kids. I brought that up and I just wanted her to own that behavior because she kept telling me Hunter was making that all up. Which I know isn't true because I hear it from so many people and it totally fits her demeanor..............her normal voice is half way a yell as it is!! I even told her that I was sure there was often good reason to yell. And that I have deep respect for teachers, especially her. I told her I could never be a teacher because I would probably yell. And I said I would probably even pull ears and flick kids in the forehead when they got out of line. I went on to say it's hard for me to believe that she doesn't yell when I have two kids telling me otherwise. But once I told her what Kiersten has told me about how she treats her class she started to cry. That was not my intention at all........at all!! I just wanted her to own her behavior because I knew it was true. I have never knowingly made or tried to make someone cry and would never mean to. I felt like such a mean person but strangely at the same time I was somewhat proud of myself for not getting walked all over for once.

So finally after two conversations with Mrs. Williams, the director of DPA, I felt much better and knew that other things must be going on with her for her to break down like that and it wasn't just me. I won't go into any more detail but I did feel like some good will come from this experience. I still feel bad that I upset her regardless and that day was so exhausting! Just as a side note I was also babysitting Carsyn Shupe all day on Thursday as well. Maybe they'll fire me from PTO President for this?

So now you know that I really needed the following day to be nice and easy.............. my Thursday was upsetting enough as it was.

The following day I knew would be busy with piano lessons for Kiersten and Hunter, violin lessons for Kiersten, Hunter and Logan, then riding lessons for just Kiersten, as Hunter had that opportunity taken away from him for his behavior in music class at school. Then Kiersten had a star party at the Discovery Park with her whole class and all 5th graders from the Valley. And I was going to see Twilight with Stacy, Tif and Amanda that night. So as you can see it was going to be a busy day!

Well I was still trying to recover from the day before....it was about 9:30 in the morning and we needed to leave in about 30 minutes for piano. My dad came by to look at our tractor. I was outside talking to him about the tractor that won't run. When all of the sudden Mr. Grant comes up to me and starts wiping something he has all over his hands and is getting it all over my shirt. I look down just in time to get a woof of it............oh it's CRAP! Yea he put his hands down his diaper got out some poop, smushed it in his hands and yea wiped it ALL OVER MY SHIRT!

My dad was so out of there once he saw what it was. I was making all kinds of gross sounds so Mr. Grant would understand how nasty that was. He started saying, "I sorry Mommy!" over and over again. It was sweet of him to say he was sorry............but kind of difficult to keep the perspective that he won't be a child for long because I am hoping that NEVER happens to me again. I mean I have gone 10 years as a mother and never experienced that and I could have gone a lifetime without it and been just fine!

So it was literally a CRAPPY DAY!

Can you believe my sweet little dragon did that?

The Sounds You Wake Up to...

Over the course of my years of being a Mother I have woken up to many different sounds.

Babies crying, kids whispering in my ear, Justin's alarm clock going off in the early morning hours, the sound of tiny feet running across the tile to get to my room..........to name a few.

Our kids are early risers so it's been a while since I regularly set an alarm clock. I guess last year for about 9 months I woke up at 4:40 a.m. to go walking/running with my friend Mac. But since about March of this year we haven't been doing that so no alarm clock for me.

For awhile I was woken up by the sound of Mr. Grant on the monitor either crying or saying, "I need Daddy!" Yes he is quite the Daddy's Boy!

But for about a month now he has been sleeping in past when Kiersten gets up. So I have had the rare occasion of being woke up by the sound of Kiersten either playing the piano or her playing her violin. It isn't super loud because she is always in the front office with the door closed.

So it's just a gentle whisper of music that awakens me and I have to say it is a fabulous way to wake up...........way, way better then any alarm clock.

Last week I started to think about what an amazing person Kiersten is. I have always known that, but sometimes her behavior stands out so much that you can not deny that she is amazing.

Every morning, well weekday morning, without any reminder or asking, Kiersten gets up and heads straight for the front office. She either plays the piano or violin first then follows up by playing the other one. She is only 10 years old...........in fact she just turned 10 in August. How many 10 year olds are that dedicated or responsible? She knows I will reminder her to practice every morning but I never have to, she does it all on her own and when no one else is even awake.

She never ceases to amaze me!

Thank you Kiersten for being YOU! Because YOU are simply AMAZING!!!

I genuinely love the light that Kiersten shares with our family!

I love waking up to Kiersten's music..........it really brightens my day and helps me get through the 2 hours of kids fighting, kids arguing about what morning chores the other kid didn't do, kids being mad because they don't like the breakfast, Mr. Grant being a grouch and everything else that goes on before the kids leave for school.

Yea, I didn't want you thinking it was all music and roses around here.

But I have to say, the sounds I have been waking up to the past month tops my list that is for sure!

Where is Mija?

This evening I had a photo shoot scheduled with this family. During that shoot Hunter came in my studio and asked if he could run down to the Pryor's and get Mija, their dog. I said sure.

Anyway, Mija came down, the kids all played with her in the backyard during my shoot. Then she ate the crumbs off my kitchen floor.......oh how I love a visit from Mija!

So after my photo shoot I noticed all the kids were inside but Mija wasn't. I asked Hunter where she was, he said in the house. We looked all over for her and couldn't find her. Justin had just left for a church meeting and I thought she might have got out when he left. So I told Hunter to run down to the Pryor's to see if Mija was there. Mija is like their child I might add!

Hunter started to cry as he left to run to their house. He said, "I really don't want to loose Mija!"

I told him just run down and see if she is there, everything will be just fine.

In a few minutes Hunter comes running, actually skipping in the front door.

He says, "I Am So Blessed!"

Heavenly Father answered his prayer he told me. As he was running to Mac's he asked Heavenly Father to help Mija to have made it home. And his prayer, and mine, was answered.

It is always a sweet reward to know and hear from my kids that they thought to pray when they needed help.

Thank you Hunter for your example!

Time Out...

Isn't always a bad thing! I went to Time Out For Women this weekend and had a fabulous time!

I think I need to send myself to "time out" way more often.....lol.

Me and my dear friend Tressie Smith traveled together..........we met up with Tifani, Amanda Woods, Kaely and her friend to do some shopping before the event Friday evening. It had been months since I have spent any time with Tressie so it was just a treat to get to visit with her over the weekend!

We also met up with my sweet mother-in-law, Kristen and Amy that night. They traveled up together. The next day we were lucky enough to have Aunt Carol with us. I always love any chance I get to see Aunt Carol!

Every speaker touched me or inspired me in some way. I have a huge iPhone notebook full of thoughts, quotes and inspirational messages from all the speakers. I loved them all, but if I have to name my favorite presenter it is an easy Hilary Weeks! I guess she wasn't really a presenter but she touched me just the same. She is my favorite LDS musician for sure and her music has gotten me through some very dark hours in my life. She was funny, up lifting and of course extremely talented in her art of music. I would love to go to a concert or presentation where it is just Hilary Weeks.

One major thing that really stood out to me was a comment that Hilary made about knowing your children. It will change my life forever.........for the better!

She said something to the affect that...

"You will know your children as adults for the majority of your life and theirs. Both on this earth and for eternity....BUT you only get to know them as children for a small moment of time!"

What a treat to get to know our children as children!

I had never looked at it that way before but it is so true. I wish someone would have pointed this fact out to me ten years ago when I first had Kiersten. Because it has changed my perspective tremendously!

I am determined to enjoy these childhood moments even more then I ever had before! I am not saying I am going to be perfect at enjoying the messes, the diapers, the fits, the arguments, teenage years. But I am determined to keep the perspective that this will be my ONLY chance to know my children as children. I will know them as adults for a lifetime, but this is my ONLY opportunity to know them as children.

Another presenter I can't remember which one it was, I am thinking it was Mary Ellen Edmonds, but I could be totally wrong. Any way they said....

"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become!"

Such an uplifting weekend! I am grateful I was able to have a "time out."

This was us gals at the Cheesecake Factory before the event on Friday. Yummy food, great conversation and wonderful company. Doesn't get much better!

So many great memories for sure!

Waiting during our lunch break Saturday at T.G.I. Fridays for an hour for our food and not getting it..........slightly annoying!

Having an hour of conversation with Aunt Carol, Tressie, Kristen, Amy and the rest of the girls..........PRICELESS!

So thanks to everyone for the fun filled weekend full of great memories!

This morning went I woke up and all the kids were awake I came home to some fun surprises.

Kiersten and Hunter had written a puppet show. They performed it for us this morning. It was fabulous. It has humorous and actually very well written. Kiersten is a great writer and I just love to see her creativity. When we built our house I loved this open arch way. I saw architecture, added detail and beauty...........my children saw the perfect puppet show stage. I like thier perspective a lot better then my own. I never saw a puppet show stage before they pointed it out to me. Many many puppet shows have been put on at our built in stage. Hunter and Kiersten did a great job on their puppet show! It was a real treat to come home to that! Thank you for being so wonderful! I also came home to a beautiful note from Kiersten.... You might have to double click on the pic to see it big enough to read it. It is the sweetest note ever. I for sure missed her as much as she missed me........maybe even a little more! And yes I came home to a two year old who had colored on himself. I am so glad this doesn't just happen when I am "incharge." I love that it happened yesterday and Justin took no thought to give him a bath to wash it off. My days of kids coloring on themselves is limited so it just made me smile. It truly would not have been as fun if Justin just told me about it...........seeing Mr. Grant colored up was much, much better!

Rodeo Fun Day

On the Saturday that I was in Phoenix for Time Out For Women, Kiersten and Hunter had their first rodeo. I was really sad to be missing such a fun day with them!

Justin is such a great dad and took all the kids to the rodeo. It was kind of a rodeo fun day...........there was goat dressing, a chicken chase, greased pig chase, rescue race, grocery race, and then some of the usual events sheep riding, roping, steer riding, barrels......Just all kinds of fun events.

Look at my little cowboy!

Hunter was beyond excited about getting to ride sheep for the first time. He really really wanted to win a belt buckle. He rode extremely well for his first time but didn't win the buckle. He got to ride three times because the first two times he stayed on the sheep and they just laid down. So he had to ride a third time. On the third time the sheep kind of tripped coming right out of the shoot and it threw Hunter's momentum off. He ended up scoring a 42, really good for his first time ever!

He had a great time and that's what really matters. Thank you Kelly for letting him borrow all your gear so he could ride!

Hunter and his friend Justice did the goat dressing and love it as well.

It was fun to get to see Hunter's rides on video. I was impressed........he has one hand in the air the whole time just like the real bull riders. I was so glad Justin video taped it for me to see. Thanks Sweetheart!

This is Kiersten before she ran the barrels. It was freezing cold! I believe it was like 40 degrees most of the morning and the wind was outrageous. In fact Justin ended up calling my mom and having her come get Mr. Grant because it was just too cold for him. Thanks mom for always being so willing to help us out! You're the best!

Kiersten has been taking lessons for only 3 Fridays before this rodeo but Kelly talked her in to competing in the barrels. Kiersten was really just trying it out to see if she even liked riding in a competitive setting. I am defiantly not pushing Kiersten to like it, but will support her (and Hunter) if they do. Kelly is really good at telling the kids that they don't have to do rodeos, they can always just take riding lessons and enjoy horses. This was a smaller rodeo and kind of a "play day" so it was the perfect time to try it out.

Kelly was up in the announcer booth. So she told the guy that this was only Kiersten 4th time doing the barrels. NOT her 4th rodeo no her 4th time ever running a barrel pattern. So the announcer did a great job and annouced all that......he really got the crowd cheering for Kiersten. Kiersten even made Snickers lope, which is the next speed after trotting. You go from walking to trotting to loping a horse. Kiersten was able to trot Snickers through her barrel pattern and on her run home Kiersten made Snickers lope.

Justin said Kiersten was smiles from ear to ear when she got done. Kelly was so proud of her and so are we!

Great job Hunter and Kiersten!

Just To Warn You

As I was tucking Hunter into bed he sure said a cute thing I thought.

Mom, "I love you Hunter........Sleep good little cowboy!"

Hunter said, "Hey mom before you go I have to warn you of something. If when you are doing the laundry you might just find a Five dollar bill, don't be scared............it could be mine!"

The funniest part was hearing the sincerity in his voice. He really did think it might scare me and I indeed needed to be warned!

So glad he warned me of that cause money in the washing machine or dryer can be quite scary!

It just made me smile..........thank you for the smile tonight Hunter. I went to bed happy because of YOU!

Trick-or-Treat.........Monster Feet

We loaded up in the Yukon and headed for Quail Ridge...our favorite place to trick-or-treat.

This was before the sugar high! Kiersten was so smart and thought to bring the wagon for Mr. Grant. It worked out nicely. But he really was a trooper and did a lot of walking. I just love traditional trick-or-treating. I love walking down the road with my kids, seeing their excitement as they approach each door and seeing all the other people in costumes. We met up with the Nelson family........Hunter was so excited about that! This is Justice as a rodeo clown, Hunter as Robin Hood, Jarrette as a bull rider and Logan as a knight. Once Mr. Grant figured out that each house gave him candy and all he had to do was say, "Tic-or-teat....a.k.a. Trick-or-treat" he was loving life to say the least!!! It was adorable to hear him say that phrase! Kiersten was such a great big sister and always helped Mr. Grant get to the door. Logan was very sweet to Mr. Grant as well. I have to say Logan was the only one to complain about his feet hurting.

Mr. Grant even took a turn pulling the wagon.

I love spending the night with my family!

Justice, Logan, Hunter, Mr. Grant and Kiersten loading up on the candy!

What a silly knight!

Mr. Grant just LOVED being with the big boys!

Jarrette and Logan

Logan can pretty much talk anyone in to anything. He just flashes his sweet smile and in his little Logan lisp ask for something............it is hard to resist.

Kelly easily gave in to his request for a ride on her shoulders.

Thanks Kelly........you are just too nice!

Hunter and his buddy Justice

These two are like two peas in a pod!

Good thing Kiersten is so wonderful!

Mr. Grant better only say nice things about his sister because he is spoiled by her for sure!

Every time Mr. Grant was in the wagon and we came to a new house I thought he might just stay in the wagon. Oh no, he would start to stand up and say, "Me Out!!" He really got this candy thing down!

We all enjoyed the houses that were decked out in the Halloween spirit.

Justin and his Fierce dragon

One of the reasons we always go all out for Halloween......dressing up as a family is to celebrate Uncle Doyle's birthday. He was a Halloween baby! We try to do things that we know Doyle would have loved.......seeing everyone in costumes, seeing us together as a family, his big brother Justin so happy and seeing his cute niece and nephews so excited. Doyle was such a fun guy and he would have been a terrific uncle that's for sure! We sure do miss him!

Dressing up together in a theme is a tradition I just love. It will be a sad day for me when the kids no longer want to do this.

It was fun because they already have started talking about what they think we should dress up as next year. I just love to hear their ideas and creativity!