40 - much more than I expected!

In the weeks preceding my dreaded 40th birthday I have been up and down. I really wanted to take a trip or do something big for my big "4" "0", but knowing Scott can't really take vacation, and having a pretty tight budget I didn't think that was possible. I didn't feel right about asking for a trip without him so I just figured we would stay here and do something. The closer my birthday got the more I kept hoping Scott would say something like, "let's do ____for your birthday." He never filled in that blank, and as far as I knew he had no plans. Finally, my friend Trittica suggested getting a few friends together to go to Star Trek (which I really wanted to see). That sounded great. Scott still didn't seem like he was on board to even get that going. The weekend of my birthday was the father/son camp out. Scott left on Friday night with Sean and I stayed home with the girls to put a garage sale together for Saturday. Six o'clock in the morning I got Megan up and we got started for the day. We got the garage sale going, baked some cinnamon rolls, sold, sold, sold, and then cleaned up. We got lunch, and then started cleaning the house. We cleaned all day, and as the day wore on I expected to see Scott home. At 4:30 pm I finally got a hold of him, and he was about 15 minutes away. By then I was hot tired and grumpy. Why wasn't he home helping me? Didn't he know it was my birthday tomorrow? How could he and Sean just go and play all day when we had so much work to do? Blah, blah, blah . . . I grouched at him, made him stop and get pizza and went to drop off the garage sale unsold items at the Idaho Youth Ranch. When I got home I was bossy, and whinny and not very nice. Scott was patient and kind. We got ready for the movie and stopped to pick up the Nielsons and then went to pick up our other friends the Andersons. As we went in I was thinking, "Come on . . .we're going to be late for the movie." Then, "Surprise!". I had no idea. Scott and Trittica had put a great party together for me. There was food and friends and laughing and presents and it was awesome. The time that he and my friends put in to get the party together was great, but I still didn't know the half of it. The next day, my actual birthday, they were really sweet and I had card and songs all day. We went to Nielsons for dinner and then opened presents. My first present was a book that Megan had picked out at a garage sale, the second was a cookie press (which is a story all it's own that I will add to the end of the blog), the third was a space heater (from Megan - another story!), and the fourth was a beautiful handmade locket from Scott. It was a beautiful birthday, and I felt so loved and cherished (and guilty for being grumpy). I have the best family and the best friends. They treat me so well, and I am so grateful for their love and support.

Now, the cookie press story:

Once upon a time my mother gave me a cookie press. It was a fine cookie press, that I put on the shelf in my pantry and didn't use. A year or two later I found a cookie press at a garage sale that I thought would be a great tool to have. I purchased it, brought it home, and opened my pantry to put beside the exact same cookie press that I already had. Fast forward to my garage sale. Finally, an opportunity to get rid on one of the cookie presses (neither of which I have used yet). My neighbor Marit buys the cookie press from me. I tell her how grateful I am because I already have the exact same one. Later that night at the party she gives it back to me for my birthday. I laugh and give it back to her because she indicates that she really might want it. Once again I am relieved to be down to one cookie press that I will probably never use. My birthday . . . I again receive the cookie press as a gift. AHHHHHh! I can't wait for the next white elephant gift exchange!

My Mother's Day

Early on in our marriage I held high expectations for Mother's day: flowers, a present, breakfast in bed . . ., but unfortunately those expectations were not always met. In the past Mother's Day has coincided with the father/son camp out. Several years the boys would get back, get busy with Saturday plans, and it would be 8 pm at night and Scott would say - "Oh, I'd better go out and get you something."(while he's thinking, "I hope she tells me not to go.") I of course would reply, "No honey, it's OK - it's too late to go out."(while thinking, "He's better go out and get me something.")

As time went on, Mother's day seemed like an aggravation. I felt under appreciated, and Scott felt like it was a hastle. Last year I asked for something new. I asked for a day off. A day where I wouldn't have to do anything. I wouldn't have to cook, dress the kids, go anywhere, or do anything. Scott didn't buy into that based on previous experiences, but I kept pushing for my day. He came through like a hero. He may have given me a present - I don't remember, but what he and the kids did for me was amazing and wonderful. They pampered me like a queen: breakfast in bed, lunch and dinner made, dishes done, and things picked up. Most of all they gave me time. I had time to read, write, play with the kids, and all of it guilt-free. I didn't feel like I had to do the dishes or make the bed or play with the kids, but I wanted to - because I didn't have to. I knew that if I didn't do it, then it would still get done. WOW!

This year I asked for the same thing. Scott jokingly (or not) pleaded with me to just let him get me a present, but I firmly replied that I just wanted my free-day. It has been just as wonderful as last year. Eggs, toast, bacon and orange juice for breakfast (in bed of course), with presents and cards from the kids and flowers from Scott (thank you Scott). I only did two girls hair, I got to go to Relief Society, we got chocolate from the men in the ward, Scott made lunch and dinner and the kids helped with dishes, I laid outside in the sun on the swing and read a book - heaven!

My perception of Mother's day has drastically changed, and now it is one of my favorite days of the year. I hope all mothers can realize how important and valuable they are, and that they too get a "free-day" at least once a year.

Grandma Huchens

In honoring women I cannot forget my sweet grandmother who has always been a wonderful mother figure to me. She taught me to sew, to make do, to be frugal, to serve diligently, and to endure through many different trials. I love to hear about her life. She has done so many things, and has gone so many places, but she has always made time to serve the Lord through her many missions and to serve her family. My children call her the "hotel grandma" because she lives in an apartment, but quite honestly I'm sure she often feels like she runs a hotel with as many people that come and visit. She has shown love to those she doesn't even know, and has never been afraid to reach out and talk to those around her in planes, buses, stores, or where ever she may be. She has been willing to share her home with different room mates and any and all of her family. I am so grateful that my children have gotten to know her, and that she has come and stayed in our home many times, and has spent many holidays with us.

I have so many wonderful memories with her, but one of my favorites is our trip to Disney world. She was so great keeping up with us, taking us different places, and treating us to a wonderful vacation.

Thanks Grandma for all that you have done, and continue to do for your family.

We love you!

About Our Mothers

Scott and I are very fortunate to both have wonderful mothers. Irene has always been very welcoming and gracious to me in all circumstances, and my mother has always been very appreciative and praising of Scott. They are both very talented and competent at whatever they do. In many respects they are similar. Both have held various demanding ward and stake callings. Both are artistic and talented in many different art forms, and they share their talents with those around them freely. Both are loving and kind and concerned about their families and their well being. Both are generous with their time, their love, their means, and their help. Both have supported their children through their various trials of school, moving, unemployment, and raising children. They have given unfailingly good advice as well as a perfect example to follow. The gospel has always been a priority and focus in their lives and they have shared their testimonies with their children and grandchildren through their devotion to their callings and the Lord. They taught us to work, to seek for knowledge, to keep trying, and to not give up. They both share their hugs and kisses freely with their grandchildren, and are much more patient then I ever am. I love to watch my children enjoying a craft or playing a game with their grandmothers.

Just a couple of stories:

My brothers liked to pull pranks occasionally and one day they put a rubber band around the sprayer in the kitchen sink. Mom turned the water on, and got soaked. She was such a good sport and we all had a good laugh. When my oldest daughter, Megan, did the same thing to me - I did my best to have fun with it. I turned the water on, and as I was getting hit with a steady stream of water right in the middle of my shirt, I was in shock and couldn't figure out what was going on (my reaction time seems to be slowing down as I get older). I finally grabbed the faucet and whipped it around on Megan and anyone else I could hit. (Of course I made them clean up the mess, but I helped).

Scott recounts a similar story where he was "helping" his mother with the dishes and she took a cup of dirty dish water and dumped it on him. I asked him what he did to deserve that, but he said, "he didn't think he has done anything to deserve it." Whether he deserved it or not, I think it is important that mothers do unexpected things like that just to "keep it real!"

I know it sounds like I am putting our mothers on a pedestal, but honestly - they've earned. I'm sure that Scott and I have had our disagreements with our mothers, and I'm positive they have not always appreciated some of the choices that we have made, but thank goodness for love and the cracks of imperfection that it fills in.

We love our mothers - they are the best!

Happy Mother's Day

The kids wanted to wish their grandmothers a Happy Mother's day. So here is a little video from them to you.