Allen Ever After

I guess this means we're here to stay since we took the plunge and decided to remodel. In the meantime we're finding things to do outside of the house preferably with some AC. Our AC is off so the dust won't circulate. Also, the only room that's safe to hang out in is the master bedroom. It was fun for about 3 hours today- it probably won't be so much by the end of next week. I did look really good though, I had plenty of time to get ready, I actually kept finding things to do to take up more time.
One bright note was my solution to the kids piano practice since our piano isn't available. We headed to the church ( I'm lucky to have a key) and put the three kids all in separate rooms with their piano books. 30ish minutes later, everyone was done-it could be life changing!!! We even took a bball and played around in the gym for a little. Most importantly, the building had AC:-).
Now to figure out how to get three square meals in everyone, everyday for the next 2 weeks without a kitchen.

The Great Beach Vacation of 2012

Destin 2012

On Tuesday May 15, we said goodbye to school, alarm clocks, routines, commitments, work, callings, bills, chores, homework, music practice, cleaning and escaped for 6 days to the beach.  This much needed vacation took so long to get here.  Our family needed it for a while.  Chris couldn't escape from work during spring break and we couldn't wait until summer - I'm so glad we squeezed it in when we did.  We got home last night and put all the pictures onto our computer.  I'm happy we have lots of memories captured on pictures but it was a little sad at the same time just because we all wish we were still there:(.

A short list of favorite memories:

• white sugary sand
• crab hunting at night
• the sunrise and sunset
• falling asleep to crashing waves
• board games on the balcony
• the waves
• watching the kids in the waves
• the pool and Charlotte teaching Mallory to swim
• feeding the alligators
• seeing dolphins cruise with our boat
• watching Mason try to catch fish
• Seaside
• yummy treats

Watching the dolphins

This is typically how things go when we try for a picture

feeding the crocodiles

We were the first ones on the beach and the last to leave on day 1.

catching some waves

Plenty of play time in the white sugar

We all got used to salt water down our throats

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captain Mason driving the boat

Last night when we got home we asked the kids to each name their very favorite part, everyone said the waves except Roz who said seeing the dolphins.  Two favorite quotes from the week came from Mason who after getting beat down time and time again by the crashing waves looked at me and said "Mom, this may kill me, but I LOVE IT."  Another one was from Charlotte who said during our long long road trip "Look how messy our car is, I love it!  I love the claustrophobic feeling." 

I love having my family all to myself and spending quality time together.  Vacations probably wouldn't be as great if you got to do them all the time.  We better appreciate the time we have together when we finally get to get away and just be by ourselves.  

Hello Summer!

 Hello Summer!!!

 We celebrated Mallory's last day of school with a beach party.  I was in charge of it and as timing would have it, it was the day before we left for the beach.  Believe me when I say I was more then ready to get to the "real thing."  This party wouldn't have happened without the help of my cute older girls and cricut:-).  I wish I had pictures of them in action making it happen.  The "Hello Summer"  banner, party favors, paper plates, and blowing up 12 beach balls all thanks to Lottie and Roz.  They really wanted out of school to come to the party but since I was already pulling them out for the real beach they had to settle for pictures.

    

Ms. Jill and Ms. Lori - I teared up just knowing that we're leaving these two behind.  I wish we could have them every year:-(

 

                                       

Last Day

First Day

My baby is growing up fast!!!!

Home:-)

After Ironman weekend it was time to head back home to my sweet family.  I loved my time away but as soon as Sunday hit I was ready to get back.  I got a little lost driving back to Las Vegas from St. George.  I was running so late and got held up twice at security.  The first time because they had to search my braid.  The second time for my luggage.  My newly purchased hourglass for Chris was a real security threat.  No one seemed to care that I was going to miss my flight or that I was crying:( or that I lost my boarding pass.  I think Chris must have prayed a delay to come my way after the texts he received from me.  Luckily there really was a 30 minute delay.  Phew!  I was finally en route to TX.  I always miss my kids when I'm away but know that I'm leaving them in the best hands.  I love the moment when we spot each other in the airport and without any restraint they run up to me and throw their little arms around me.  I even got hugs and "I love you's" out of Mason.  I also got this precious note from Rozlyn.  It will be at the top of my pile of things to keep forever.   

While I loved all of it so much,  two favorite parts had to be.  1.  I'm glad you shower every day and 2.  You are Rainie, our mom.  You have a family, us, your children.  Love, love, love!

Ironman's sister

Last summer Amy told me Derek was doing the Ironman in St. George.  I made the mental note right then that I would be there when he did.  Among the long list of things that stink about living far from family are all the events you miss out on.  Derek has raced a lot but I've never seen him do it.  I have to log in with a bib number or text to find out how he's doing.  For the full ironman..............I wasn't going to miss it.  

I flew into Vegas and snuck in some fun with my mom and my sister who flew down from SLC before the race.  

 Saw this show and did exactly what the sign indicated I would do.  Amazing!!

 Enjoyed plenty of this.

Checked out another of Guy Fieri's Diner, Drive Inn and Dive locations.  My sister and I try to hit one wherever we find ourselves together.   

IRONMAN TIME

And then it was race day.  I got to see Derek the night before.  He looked awesome, happy, positive and ready to go.   

We got to see Derek before he entered the water.  He looked so official, so much like an ironman.  My heart swelled up and emotions took over.  It hit me at that moment how grateful I was to be there for the experience.  We also got to see him in the water which was a miracle since they all look exactly the same. Then the sound of a gunshot and the race was on. 

 Here is "Team DK" ready to cheer our hearts out.  Amy got these shirts, all throughout the day people would ask me how Derek was doing - so fun. 

 

Derek at the swim to bike transition 

 Fresh off a 112 hilly bike ride.  Here he looked at us and said "I'm starting the death march."

 I wonder if the participants got angry when they would see us camped out in our comfy chars, in the shade, eating and chatting away.

An Ironman is a long day, still going strong after the sun had gone down. 

IRONMAN FINISHER!!!!!  I love this picture of Derek of Amy. 

Derek's arm was holding me so tight - I wondered how it was possible that he would have any strength left at all.   

DK's fellow Meridian crew with finisher shirts and medals all cleaned up.  

So being the sister of an Ironman is not quite as accomplished as actually being an Ironman, but it's still pretty awesome.  For the rest of Derek's life he'll be an Ironman.    I don't know if there was a participant out there whose race was more deserving of the title Ironman.  It was amazing to witness his strength and determination despite horrible conditions and circumstances that he had to over come.    I'm so thankful Chris took over the house and allowed me to be there.  It's a memory with my brother that I'll never forget.  

Authors Among Us

Presenting the first authors of the Graham family: Mason and Rozlyn GrahamThe kids school has a new program where the kids can write and publish a book.  Mason's book happened by chance.  He spends many hours writing and illustrating books at home.  He took one of his stories to his teacher who told us that he should publish his book.  Since the program was new we didn't much about it.  What I knew was that Mason's book was thrown together in about 20 minutes.  Had we known that his story was going to be published Chris or I might have looked at it ahead of time, proof-read it, had him taken more time on his pictures, etc.  The editor at school asked Mason if he wanted to fix or correct anything and she got a big NO, so Mason's book is as raw and original and unique as he is.  I'm glad now that it stayed the same - that's almost what makes it so awesome.  There were only 3 kindergarten kids with published books.  

 Mason holding his pen ready to sign his first copy of "Dingo Trouble.."

All of the AIM students in 3rd grade published a book that had to do with Greek mythology.  Rozlyn's told the awesome tale of "How the Ocean Came to Be." 

Here is Mason's dedication - he is very proud of it! "This book is dedicated to:  My dad who tells the funniest stories.  Like the one where he went to recess in his new pants and forgot to take out the staples."

 

The book signing was at 7am.  I thought church at 9 was hard, 6 of us dressed and ready at 7 is even harder.  Chris reading the kids books.  It was the first time we'd seen Rozlyn's since it was all done at school.   

Rozzie dedicated her book to her AIM teacher who is so great.   

The signed books will stay in the school until the kids graduate from elementary school.  That means "Dingo Trouble" is going to be on the shelves for the next 6 years!  We got to purchase additional copies. They just happen to be my two new favorite books on my shelf.  

2028!

Watch out 2028 games! These two are headed there.

Watch Dogs and Laryngitis

Chris has joined an elite club, he's a proud member of the Watch Dog club and today was his first assignment on the job.  Dogs stand for "Dads of Great Students"  He was given a very specific schedule and rules.  The watch dog shirt can only ever be worn at the school.  His schedule started with "Muffins for Moms" and ended with Charlotte's recess.  He bounced around from hallway monitor, to checking locked doors, to attending specials with the kids and visiting their classrooms and cafeteria. 

He's been anticipating the day for awhile now.  The kids were so excited to go to school with him.
Today might have been the safest day to be at Green.  This guy wasn't going to let any of kind of ruckus go down.
Here he is cooperatively posing for his first day of school photo.

He got to go on morning announcements with the kids.  He had to give the kids advice.  He'd debated about whether to go down the hygeine route (shower, comb your hair, brush your teeth, wipe, etc.) or character route (try your hardest, be honest, golden rule, etc.) He joked with the kids that he was going to pull out a big scroll that un-rolled and start with "now where should I begin."  He settled with, be nice to everyone and smile and say hi in the halls, or something like that.
I kept wanting to get the run down of how the day was going but he took the rule of not playing on your cell phone very seriously.  The only response I could get out of him was when I asked if I could bring in lunch to which he replied "No, I'm having the western burger today."  His childhood dreams of eating hot lunch were once again fulfilled at age 35.  He could have had it three times since he had three kids.
He told me that the kids ask lots of questions, but the number  1 question is if they can have a sticker.  The watch dog is given 10 stickers and he's not allowed to give them out if a student asks.  Talk about pressure.

Sick continued - while Chris was away on duty I was at the Dr. again for my ongoing sickness this week. The diagnosis was laryngitis.  I sound horrible trying to make sounds, worse then that old lady on NPR.  I forget her name.  I finally got a prescrption for some steroids, yahoo!!!  I was also given strict orders not to talk or my vocal chords won't get better.  I felt like Ariel dropping off my medicine.  There was a lot of smiling and nodding but not much else.  I took my voice for granted.  I really like it and need it, I have so many things to say. Chris gave me a pen and paper but it's more frustrating.
It looks like charades might be the entertainment for our Friday night.

Rozzie's Day

Lucky me and anyone else who's got to associate with this girl for 9 years!!!!

As Mallory would say, she's on the awesome list. Anyone who knows our family knows that Rozlyn is the best behaved. She always makes us proud. She's smart, kind, a great friend, helpful, creative and just easy to be around.
It was an off year for a party so I had to get creative in making her day awesome and her feel special. We invited a few friends over for a surprise breakfast. I promise it was not a party, just a breakfast. The day started early because she had to be all ready to go at 7:00am. She couldn't sleep the night before because she was so excited!! While I was curling her hair, she had this horrible look on her face, she looked so sad. I asked her what was the matter and she very honestly told me that she was going to throw up. Ahhhhh! This happens to her every once in awhile but still, it was not in the plans, not on her birthday. She had friends coming over, she wanted to go to school and be on the announcements and wear her birthday headband. I had her go lay down while the rest of us did scriptures. Calm Chris assured me that all would be well and we'd just have breakfast with her friends without Roz if she was sick. 10 minutes later Rozlyn came down and was A OK. Charlotte's job was to get the friends outside and sneak them in to the kitchen table. When Rozlyn walked in it was a great surprise!! I made her assure me a million times during breakfast that she was good to go.

I got to eat lunch with these cute girls.

Sadly Mason's lunch doesn't overlap so he missed the 12noon party. Don't feel to bad for him though, he had plenty of donuts and sugar cereal for breakfast and was going to have cake and ice cream for dinner. Not a bad life.

A sweet Rozlyn story: because she's thoughtful and kind, last year for Mother's Day she surprised me with this book!!! (I think we'd looked at it together at a book store once and I must have said it was cute, she stored it in her memory.) When she saw it at her school's book fair she took all of her own money and bought it for me. None of my kids ever buy me anything so it was very thoughtful and secretive and fun!

The book just sat on the shelf until Rozlyn asked me to make her birthday cake from it. Scary. How could I say no, I had to use her book that she bought me with her very own money. She picked out the design she wanted and I gasped. Here is what we came up with. It only resembles the picture, like you could tell I tried.
                                     
She appreciated it and it tasted great, so win win! I also was very sick, very very sick, so super sick her whole birthday week. I felt like supermom trying to pull this birthday off when all I wanted to do was crawl in bed and sleep. Chris is an awesome dad and husband but mom is the one who makes the birthdays happen around here. Rozlyn was 100% worth the effort.