Break my heart why don't ya

In my nightly dinner prep routine, I turned on an itunes playlist and started getting things cookin. Ridge wandered into the kitchen and I picked him up and requested, "dance with me." As we swayed and turned around the kitchen, Ridge repeated, "this is not cool."

REALLY?!!! He's not even 3 yet and Mom's not cool!

Maybe too serious

I have figured something out. It is painful, it is enlightening, and it is another step in accepting. I have been so very anxious the last few days and the best that I could figure was the start of school and the start of bootcamp, and can I get up on time. Yesterday during lunch with Rob, I figured out why I feel so anxious. I have felt anxiety for Emma going back to school. It is like ripping off a band-aid; everything is fine, everything will be fine but, there is the wonder; did it heal, will it stick to the band-aid, did it leave a scar?

Emma did great going back and meeting all of her old friends and teachers. I learned that there were two new friends in Emma's class. The friends are third-graders which means Emma MAY get to stay at O'Roarke for another year! WONDERFUL!


Would these new friends take attention away from Emma's needs, would Emma defend herself if the need arose, would new friends be added during the year? I know that she will be fine however, last year was comfortable and we all know how nice the comfort zone is.

I hope that these feelings will dull with each passing school year. I don't know if it will as the schools change and we hit middle school and high school. The best I can do is remember: that which doesn't kill us, makes us stronger. Look out, Honey, I am getting buff!

Back to School

First day of school, 2009.

Ridge CANNOT wait for his turn to go to school.

Neither can Rob.

Sometimes it works out in "The E.N.D."

We were in St. George last weekend and Rob and I decided to buy the new Black Eyed Peas cd. We made sure there was no warning label on the disc and were ready to get our Boom Boom Pow rockin.

Not two minutes into the disc, we were hit with four swear words. I shut off the disc and decided our family won't have it. The next day, I went into Target to return the disc, knowing that the store policy is to only replace a cd, not to refund the price. I explained that there was no advisory label, and as luck would have it, the manager was near by and gave his approval for the return! It is great to know that when you stand up for what you think is right, you sometimes win the fight.

This is of course just three weeks after we were in St. George and Rob had purchased a George Lopez comedy cd, which did not have an advisory sticker (and it is WAY more offensive than the Black Eyed Peas disc). We did not return that disc. I was just not going to get jimmy-jacked twice!

St. George and Pine Valley

Last weekend we went to St. George to have one last getaway before school starts and to visit with Rob's grandma. We had a fun weekend. We ate at the Pizza Factory, we LOVE the breadsticks there.

Saturday we headed to Pine Valley for some family time and a dinner at the Pine Valley chapel. I believe that Rob's great great great grandfather had something to do with the building of the chapel. We did learn that this same Robert Gardner selected the trees in Pine Valley that were sent to Salt Lake and made into the organ in the Tabernacle.

We had a wonderful dinner, enjoyed visiting, and played in the perfect weather.

Before we left for home, we stopped at the temple, where the same Robert Gardner spent time building. We couldn't resist a few pictures on the temple grounds and a chance to talk about the importance of the temple in our lives. We also took the time to remind the children that just about 39 years ago, their grandparents were sealed in the temple they stood in front of, and that Rob's great grandfather performed the ordinance just as Archer's great grandfather performed our sealing ordinance.

Such a deal

I am all about a good deal these days but this was just too much, I had to take a picture. If anybody needs to stock up on crazy, I will let you know where the sale was!

"Sell crazy somewhere else, we're all stocked up here."

Pweeeze

"Can I get dat widdle mulk, momma?"

"What little milk, Ridge?"


"Dat one."




Yes, that is blue Tampico, but the package is so cute!

Wisdom

My favorite yogi of all time said, "Procrastinate tomorrow"

I LOVE THAT!

Happy Anniversary

This Sunday a friend passed around our engagement picture. Everybody got such a chuckle at the Gardners that were.

I am so glad that Rob and I can have a chuckle at the Gardners that are. I know that we have to be able to laugh with each other and find the joy in our journey. The 14 year road hasn't always been sunshine and rainbows, we have three children after all, but it has been wonderful to be holding hands with Rob the whole way. I am very grateful that just 14 years ago we were sealed together and are workin on stickin it out FOR-EV-EEEEEERRRRRRRRR!