Kindergarten Spirit

The boys have really enjoyed Kindergarten this year, mostly due to the fact that there were 6 other Kindergarteners in our neighborhood to enjoy the experience with. The only other Kindergarten boy on our street went to a charter school, so my two boys were lucky enough to walk (or ride) to and from school every day with 5 adorable girls… Lana (red shirt), Ally (with the glasses), Tarin (green stripes), Megan and Abby (not pictured). These girls have been my boys best friends this year and have done a excellent job keeping Jonathan and Jeffrey in line. These girls are bossy, proper, and don’t put up with much. That’s proven to be a very good thing for our boys. They’ve had to play nice…or else.

With five other moms taking Kindergarten kids to school, the carpool was perfect, each of us taking turns picking up. It was… interesting…driving a van filled with 7 rowdy Kindergarteners. It was incredibly loud (mostly due to Jonathan and Jeffrey) but, these girls weren’t exactly quiet either. I preferred the sunny days when the kids could ride bikes or scooters in the open air and I could trail along behind them and listen to their hilarious conversations without the need for ear plugs.

As school is winding up this week, kindergarten is coming to an end. To celebrate, the kiddos made up a cheer for their Best Friends Club. They included in this cheer, a little something for everyone.

(Please try to ignore Jeffrey holding his ‘you know what.’ Seriously…boys and their ‘you know whats!’)

If you couldn’t understand the words, it goes like this…Star Wars, Mario, Collections, Dragons, Hello Kittty!

For Mom and Dad

Yesterday was my niece Emily’s birthday party. We had a splendid time at her carnival. Laurie truly knows how to throw a decent party. My camera was busy all afternoon capturing faces. I thought I’d post a few of my favorite (faces and photos) for Mom and Dad to enjoy in New Zealand since they couldn’t attended the festivities.

So, Mom and Dad…for your viewing pleasure…

The birthday girl/birthday cheetah

Master at the grill (you’ll notice he has many hot dogs to grill) Ever single one was eaten

the three, complete with ketchup smiles post hot dog consumption

Momma and her boy

Mary Kate loves baby Sam

Twins

He wanted to paint his face like a character from Mario Brothers

Carnivals are exhausting!

It was a grand party, but we missed you Mom and Dad!

Larson Love

I’ve been on a very long trip down memory lane this week and it’s been quite a ride.

In preparation for this post I’ve spent hours searching through many a photo (digital and otherwise) looking for any pictures that included members of the Larson family, our across-the-street neighbors and dear friends for over 11 years. My search revealed dozens and dozens of photos that included various members of the Larson family, proving to me undeniably and concretely that the Larson's have been a significant, vibrant, positive, and influential part of our lives for many years. I know that when they move to their new home next week (an hour and a half south of us) the Dickey family will experience some major heartache. Our lives will be changed significantly.

I know a blog is not the place to display dozens and dozens of photos, but I wanted to give you a small sampling of the kinds of memories I’ve been re-living this week.

Here’s some of what I found, a solid bakers dozen for your viewing pleasure…

Mary Kate and Savannah Larson, little artists – 2001

Mary Kate and Brooklyn Larson, dancing in the rain - 2003

Mary Kate, Savannah, and Brooklyn Larson, in the backyard pool – 2003

Cherish Larson and I, looking young and gorgeous – 2003

Madison Larson, helping with the boys – 2004

Dallas Larson, helping with the boys –2004

Mary Kate and Madison Larson, dance recital – 2006

Mike, Whitney Larson, and Mary Kate, four wheeling adventure – 2006

Whitney Larson, Brooklyn Larson, Mary Kate, and Savannah Larson, in the snow - 2007

Jeffrey, Devron Larson, and Jonathan, snow ride - 2008

Cherish Larson and I, neighborhood bonfire - 2009

Mike, Devron Larson, Dallas Larson and the Boy Scouts of our ward, setting off for Scout camp (just one of many that Mike and Devron attended together) – this one -2010

Mike, Devron Larson, and Richard J – Yellowstone 2010

And just one more photo, for good measure…

Jeffrey, Mary Kate, Savannah, Brooklyn and Jonathan, just this winter – 2011

It’s true that a picture says a thousand words. After viewing this smattering of photographic evidence, you see what I mean…the Larson’s have been an integral part of our everyday lives for so very long. It’s proving impossible for me to even imagine everyday life without them living across the street. At the Dickey house these past few weeks we’ve shed many a tear and spent all our energy trying to block the visions of their moving truck rounding our corner for the last time and fading away in the distance.

Maybe I’m being a bit melodramatic, after all, it’s not like we won’t ever see them again, I know we will be friends forever, but I know it won’t ever be quite the same. You’ll have to forgive my sentimentality. I get attached, that’s the truth of the matter. I hate saying good-bye to the good parts of my life that make me (and my family) who we are.

Thank you Larsons. Thank you for the memories, all the good times. Thank you for what you’ve given our family over the years. True friendship is no small thing. I believe people come into your life for a reason and make their everlasting mark, for better or worse. Your mark has most certainly been for the better.

I have to throw in just one more photo, one of my favorite…

Larson family – 2011

We love you Larsons, we’ll miss you like crazy!!!!

Some of our most favorite memories…

…scrapbooking, canning peaches, backyard BBQ’s with Devron at the grill, Sunday dinners, four wheeling adventures, long walks and meaningful discussions, the day Whitney was born, Scout camps, wall papering, game nights, Cherish’s amazing food, learning to make bread, swimming in the backyard, sleep-overs with the girls, mornings and evenings of Elder’s ball, the good laughs, trick-or-treating in the snow, caramel popcorn, date nights, float tube fishing, carpet cleaning, tech support, puzzles with the girls, watching documentaries, moving to our new houses, decorating consultations, shopping with Madison, Young Women presentation fashion shows, birthday celebrations, hearing that Cherish was pregnant AGAIN, just being able to walk in your house, feeling so welcome in your home and in your lives, everything you’ve taught us about how to be good people, because you’re good people!

The Big Day

(Photo of Steven from Sonja’s blog)

My cousin’s Sonja’s son Steven is having his surgery today. The doctors will remove the cancer and do a procedure called Rotationplasty, to replace his leg. Will you remember Steven and his family in your prayers today? Thank you.

You can read more about Steven here.

Update:

The surgery went well. So far Steven is doing well. Thanks for all your prayers.

My Mama’s Birthday

If you live in New Zealand, it’s my mama’s birthday today. If you live here in the States, her birthday is tomorrow. So, whether it’s today or tomorrow…. I would like to say…

…Happy Birthday Mom!

To celebrate…a few pictures of her through the years…

Best baby hair ever!

Love the saddle shoes. Classic 50’s.

Mom and her only sister, Kathy. Circa 1966-67 (I’m thinking).

I love this picture; the expression on her face. I wish I could have known my mom back in her teenage years. I hear she was a popular one.

In the pictures above, I wasn’t even a glimmer in my mom’s eye…

…but here I detect a small glimmer. I believe this is her official picture as an Elementary school teacher. (Early 70’s) She taught a few years before she had me.
(My mom should always win the best hair award, don’t you think?)

Here, I’m much more than a glimmer. This is mom, early 80’s. I have very clear memories of her like this. She was always so classy. Still is!

(Late 90’s)

What’s up with the matching outfits? I don’t remember the circumstances surrounding our peculiar clothing choices here, and I can’t remember if this was before or after MK was born. (I’m thinking right after). Whenever it was, just know that we don’t normally make a habit of matching our outfits.

This is my mom just months ago, on a lovely beach, as a missionary in New Zealand. She’s just as beautiful as ever. I love this pictures of her.

My mom has lived a good life and has much more good life to live. Next to Mike, she is my best friend and I feel very blessed to be her daughter and to have shared more than half her life with her.

I love you mom. Thanks for being all that you are. Thanks for 61 years of a good life lived.

Happy Birthday.

One day, around the neighborhood…

The next day, around the neighborhood…

Spring weather in Utah is insane. We had snow last week, but this Saturday the temperature is supposed to be 80 degrees. Snow skis or jet skis? Make up your mind already!!

One of my favorite things about where I live is that I can walk right out my front door and see a spectacular view of majestic Mount Timpanogos. Isn’t it beautiful, in all its snow capped glory?

Check out that snow pack. The Wasatch Front is busily preparing for possible flooding this year. Sand bags are being filled right and left throughout the communities. Days of snow and then days of extremely warm weather make for perfect flooding conditions. We’re already having ground water problems in our basement. Major seepage. It should be an interesting Spring.

Each morning (almost each) I go for long walks in the shadows of Mount Timpanogos; partly to prepare myself for Pioneer Trek in June (Mike and I are going as Ma and Pa), but also because I have a goal to hike to the top of this mountain after the snow melts (sometime in late August perhaps). Mike has always wanted to climb Timp with me, and this year I’m determined to make his dreams come true. Do ya think I can do it? I’m not so sure. I’m NOT a fan of heights.

This post is an invitation to anyone who would like to to come and hike with us this summer. (Darin and Kim, you’ll be here by then, maybe Uncle Brad and family?) It’s going to be an adventure. I hear it’s quiet the view from the top. Beside, I think I’ll need the moral support, maybe a crowd to drag me up the last mile or two, people to administer smelling salts, or haul me out on a stretcher?  Who knows?