Last day.

Phew! It has been ONE emotional day for a certain girl in the Starnes home. It all started with dropping Dallin off at the bus stop this morning. I teared up as I watched him climb on the bus for the last time as a first grader and the last time as a student at Spalding Elementary. Then my friend Nikki turned her car around and she started to cry as soon as she saw me which of course made me start to bawl. Not a good start to the morning. :)

Then my mother in law and I went to work packing the house up. My mom in law is a SAINT and I don't know what I would do without all of her help. Having her here has helped me not only get ready for the move but she continues to make me laugh and try to focus on the positive. Her outlook and shared experiences really helps me to keep a long term perspective.

Packing up my house and watching the walls return to a bare state reminds me about how excited I was to move into this house 3 short years ago. As we have cleaned we have found all sorts of little treasures. We found Landon's baby binki, Tilly's (our short term puppy) leash and collar, funny pictures of friends under the fridge, old invitations to birthday parties, and my lost lost patriarichal blessing. What a tender mercy that I needed today.

Picking Dallin up from school was another HUGE emotional experience. The duty lady told me he was crying at lunch. Knowing that this is difficult on him really hit me hard. When I walked in to his classroom to take some pictures he was surrounded by his classmates. They kept hugging him over and over again.

One little girl said, "Dallin helps me with my homework every day. He is the smartest boy that I know."
One boy said, "Dallin was my very first best friend I ever had." I had to keep my sunglasses on while INSIDE the building.....trying to hide my tears.

Here is Dallin with Ms. Buch:

She could be a supermodel she is so pretty. (Dallin thinks so too!)

Here is his class:

When we got outside we HAD to get a picture with Miss Spaghetti the bus driver. (No that isn't her REAL name but that is what she is called and ALL of the kids adore her!) She is one incredible woman who LOVES her job. As Dallin would ride the bus 45 min to and from school every day I would have NO fear that he was in great hands. She even cleaned up some Dallin puke a few months back and she was more concerned about Dallin then she was about the mess. We'll really miss Miss Spaghetti!

Tonight I was able to get away to enjoy dinner with a good friend and I recieved some yummy treats from more friends when I got back home.It has been a really good night. I'm blessed. I'm so very blessed.

Tomorrow is moving day. It is already here and it came SO fast. It has been really hard but I'm ready to say goodbye to my house and ready to be HOME with my family. No matter where we go.....

home is being together.

Over and out until we get our internet up and running at the new house.

1st Piano Recital

He has worked hard this year....and he did a great job at his recital last night! It is funny watching my child play in the SAME place that I had recitals growing up. All things come full circle!

Too cool for school.....typical Parker.

Yesterday was Preschool Graduation for Parker and his fellow classmates.

I deocrated the house:

We signed little stuffed animals for each other so we could always remember the kids in our class:

I made caps and gowns for all of the kids:

Hey.....isn't someone missing from the picture???

O, yeah......its Parker. He is embarassed to be seen wearing this silly outfit.

He said....."MOM...that isn't even a HAT its a PLATE."

Here is where Parker spent the majority of the graduation:

Sometimes I wonder why I even try.

Luckily he came to his senses after all of the GIRLS left.

All good things must come to an end...

We're wrapping up lots of events around here....and packing up lots of boxes too!

The boys finished out another soccer season:

Our friends threw us a going away party! It was supposed to be at our park but with the 40 degree temps and the pouring rain we decided the church would be a much better option. I say it all the time but we really do have incredible friends and we will miss them all dearly. They made us a sweet farewell book with pictures and letters. I was crying after reading ONE page. It is a gift I will treasure forever.

Add in a bike race, a BBQ with friends and hanging out at the Perry's until 1:00am....no wonder I am tired tonight!

Then Nate packed up and left for Idaho Falls for the last time alone. 5 more days until we don't have to be apart all week! It's getting really old....and it's been pretty hard on our Dallin boy.

 "The best part of the day is when you and me become WE."

                                                                                                             -Winnie the Pooh

I'm looking forward to being WE again.

Friends

There are tons of things I love about my boys. One of the silliest reasons I love them is becuase they are FANTASTIC sleepers.They slept right through all of the laughing and screaming of 20+ ladies at my house last night for an American Idol and Ice Cream Par-tay. 

My boys are awesome and so are all of my friends in here Boise. I'll miss them SO much it makes me a little sick. It has been such a joy getting to know all of these women who are all so different, talented and SO inspiring. I have learned so much from each of them. They make me want to be a better mom, wife, and overall person.

I'm thankful that we moved into this house in this neighborhood. I feel like I have never really lived somewhere where I have connected with other women until we moved here. Having this huge support system with women who truly care about each other has been such a blessing in my life. It makes me happy to know that no matter WHERE we go.....true friends are still friends.

I told Nate I'm not moving. I love my house and my friends too much.

He told me it was either my friends and the house or HIM.

I guess I'll choose him. :)

* I wish I had set my camera to the correct setting last night. My pictures didn't turn out so well.
*I wish I had taken MORE pictures.

*I wish I had actually taken a shower yesterday. :)

Crazy busy

I'm looking forward to life slowing down a little bit in a few weeks....or at least I am hoping it will. Doing the single mom thing all week, keeping the house clean, trying to pack our entire house and making sure the boys are dressed and ready for all sporting, music, church and educational events is exhausting. Throw in trying to be a good mom and traveling hundreds of miles on the weekends to see your spouse and you've got one tired mama. We're in survival mode and the boys are lucky to get a well balanced meal at the end of the day. Mac and cheese and cereal can be good for you....right?

It must be documented though! This is life and gosh darn it...we will remember it and record it!

Last week we got some free hocket tickets to the Steelheads game so I took Dal, Parks and my brother Jason. It was the first time the boys had been and they were fascinated by all of the body slamming into the glass walls. It was so much fun to watch them.

For Parker's preschool class we went to the MK Nature center and checked out the fish. We've had lots of fun doing a co-op preschool this year. Emily and I wore the same tank top! Great minds think alike...right Em?

This weekend I took Landon and Parker over to Idaho Falls to get some things ready before we move in a couple of weeks. We cleaned and painted the new house. Sorry ketchup and mustard colored room....you just HAD to go. So did the bright red kitchen.

Nate and I called my brother and his g-friend, Sierra. They came over and we painted until 1:00AM. We had a blast! There is something very soothing about painting and seeing a room come to life. I'm so excited to see how everything turns out when my furniture and decorations get over there. A house isn't a home in the Starnes family until there are a couple of chocolate colored walls!

On Saturday we hooked up with James and all of his college friends and took the boys skim boarding. The boys had an absolute blast playing in the water. Nate helped Parker ride it a couple of times and how he is officially hooked!  He talked about getting his own skim board the entire drive home! The sun was hot and the water was warm. Maybe eastern Idaho won't be as horrible as I think.

Time to get ready for yet another busy week!  

Shouldn't I be somewhere???

September 19, 2007 through May 5, 2010 my Wednesday nights have been spent primarily over at the church with the Young Women in the Desert Ward.
May 12, 2010. Today. I thought I would feel "free" in a sense. I don't though. I'm actually feeling a little bit lost. Sunday was my last day as the YW President and I've got to admit.....it has been really hard on me. Harder than I thought it was going to be.

When I look back on this crazy roller coaster we've been on these past few months and I ask myself WHY Heavenly Father would have us in Boise these past 4 years, I know without hesitation that one of the main reasons is because I needed to learn how to serve. I needed to learn how to love.

I thank the young women for teaching more than I ever thought possible. They have been such a light in my life. They have taught me more than I could have EVER taught them. They reminded me how fun it is to be a GIRL! I have been lost in a world of boys for so long and I think Heavenly Father knew that I needed a good dose of femininity. The girls have taught me about patience, joy, service, silliness, and love. It has been an amazing experience to watch them grow into such beautiful righteous Daughters of God. I will miss them so much and I hope the void in my heart will heal soon.

What to do with all of my time now? I guess I'll try to focus more on my origianl calling...YOUNG Young  Mens leader......Starnes style. :)

A post for dad.

Nate always tells me that when he misses us (while is over in IF) he will pull up the blog and look at pictures of the boys.
So this post is for you Nate. We miss you too!

We are so glad that you made this trip home to see us this past weekend. We were all jumping for joy!

Our dinner at Asiago's was fantastic!

We know you are sad that you have missed so many of Parker's baseball games so here is a quick recap.

Landon will sit and watch the entire game...cheering for both teams. Parker LOVES to play 1st base and loves to hit.
Dallin just sits behind us trying to stay out of the wind. He usually just works on his workbook underneath a blanket. (Gotta love our little geek-boy.)

Oh....and check out this picture I took of Landon. Not nearly as good as Missy but I'm getting better! That is one handsome kid if I do say so myself.

We're looking forward to seeing you this weekend!
Love,
Your fam

9 years

Our 9th year of marriage on the 9th of May....AND on Mother's Day?? It must be GOOD LUCK! This past year has brought about a lot of stress and heartache like we have never known. Those things have done nothing but bring us closer and help us appreciate each other all the more. Together we can tackle anything!
Happy Anniversary to the best husband, father, and friend I could have ever dreamed of.

Blessed to be a mom of boys.

Dallin came home from school with all sorts of Mother's Day goodies. My favorite would have to be the worksheets where he fills in the blank with what he thinks about me.
He did get a lot of the info correct however, I'm pretty sure I am taller than 36 inches and weigh just a smidge more than 4 pounds. Oh...and I LOVE desserts....I just don't love what they do to my thighs!
My favorite part is the sentence that says: When my mom daydreams she thinks about DAD. Right on the money my son.....you know me VERY well!

Gotta love the flower too:
I'm so lucky to have such sweet boys in my life. People often tell me how sorry they feel that I don't have a little girl. I'm not saying it wouldn't be fun but really...there is NOTHING to be sorry about. Today I couldn't help but smile as I looked down at the army band aid on my finger. I sliced my finger and the only band aids we have in the house are army colored.  I wake up every day surrounded by my own little army. They are protective of eachother and especially their Momma. I'm blessed beyond words and so thankful for the opportunity I have to be a mom to my little men.

Boys in my House

There are boys in my house - and Spiderman shoes

And 200 papers in various blues.

There's Bob (he's a builder) and Thomas the Train,

There's a fireman coat to wear in the rain.

They have cars on their shirts and frogs on their hats

There's a glove and a ball and a red plastic bat.

There's dirt on a face and a smudge on a nose;

Grass stains on knees and sand between toes.

There's bathtime at night with bodies to scrub,

And when we're all done there is dirt in the tub!

There's bandaids and bruises and curious bumps,

There's smiles and laughter and sometimes there's grumps.

There's odors most icky; there's boogers so green

There's more yucky things than I'll ever get clean.

There's piles of laundry; there's stories at night;

There's bedtime and bathtime and dinnertime fights.

There's cars and there's trains and there's books about trucks

There's Scoop, Lofty, Dizzy, and Travis, and Muck.

Sometimes there are bugs, and sometimes there are frogs;

Sometimes they are lions, or dinos, or dogs.

There are cute little vests and darling neckties

Dragged right through the mud - oh what a surprise!

There's running and climbing and jumping and falling

And laughing and crying and hugging and brawling

And rolling and losing and finding and creeping

And whining and stealing and sometimes there's sleeping.

There's tantrums and time outs and extra loud noise -

There's love in my house shaped like three little boys.

A trip down rollerblading lane.

6 weeks of constantly hanging out with my spouse felt like a long time. 2 weeks apart feels much, MUCH, longer. I do get a lot more done when he is gone but I miss my BF every night once the boys are asleep. American Idol isn't nearly as much fun to watch alone, folding laundry is much more fun with a helper, and no time to myself kind of sucks too.
Dallin has taken his new role as "man of the house" very seriously. A few lines I remember from the last couple of days: "Mom, do you need any help with anything?" or "Parker and Landon, please take your plates to the sink."  It's nice to know that I'm always being taken care of and the boys are so willing to help out.
Parker said something really funny I wanted to write down. (It's totally random, but hey, its Parker) He said, "I have 3 favorite church songs. They are I am a Child of God, Popcorn Popping, and the Iron Man song." Luv that kid.
Landon is sick and tired of all of the packing and cleaning going on in this house. Every time I pack one of his toys he freaks out.....like he has even played with that particular toy in ages.
One good thing, I'm decrapifying my life with this move. If I haven't used it in a year it is OUT OUT OUT!
Case and point:

 Nate and I bought these sweet roller blades back when we very first started dating. Or I guess I should say, Nate bought both sets. He was trying to impress me or something. :) I remember going to Sports Authority and picking them out together and then rollerblading that night through the streets of Provo hand in hand. Oh....the romance! haha.
Honestly, how many times have we rollerbladed since them.....probably never.*

 So WHY do we keep dragging these things from house to house? I guess its the memories attached to the "things" in our lives. I just might hang onto them....rollerblades could make a comeback right?

In other news, we got an offer on our home. Yippy Skippy! It makes me sick to my stomach to think how much these buyers will get MY house for! I picked out everything in this house....the colors, the trim, the appliances, the upgrades.......BUT the house is just a thing too. The best THINGS in life aren't THINGS right?

*Quick side story: I actually did go rollerblading once on the greenbelt next to the Provo River with Dallin in his jogging stroller when he was about 2 months old. I was going a little bit too fast and started to lose control. I started to fall and the stroller just kept on rolling and almost went right on into the river. Yeah...that would have been GREAT.  I guess I have good and bad memories attached to the blades. :)

Women's Conference

Women's Conference was fabulous this year. (Except for the CRAZY weather)  There were great talks, lots of laughs, very late nights, very little sleep, and tons of shopping to be had. I can only hope that I will be able to find women as amazing as this when we move in a few weeks. They're FUN and UPLIFTING to be around and I am so blessed to have them in my life.

It is always so much fun walking around the campus that has ties to memories from my past. BYU was a great place to go to school and I love being able to go back to go back and continue to learn...even if it is 7 years later!

I hope to implement some of the great lessons taught into my own life. I really want to prioritize better and remember that there are "essential things" I need to be doing, there are "necessary things", and then there are the "nice to do" things. Moving will be a great time to get those priorities in order again.

Suz was the hostess with the mostess. Thanks so much for having us again! We'll do it again next year for sure! Just remember....what happens at Women's Conference.....STAYS at Women's Conference!! :)

How can it be? Already 3?

My baby is 3 years old! He had a fun day starting with a birthday breakfast at Grandma Lee Lee's with all of the family. We had ymmy pancakes, waffles and homemade Magelby's syrup! MMMMM!

Then we drove home to Boise where we had ANOTHER birthday party with my family. We had a pizza and Buzz Lightyear party.

My Landon,

You continue to bring us so much joy. It is a wonderful experience being able to watch you become a handsome and sweet little boy. Here are some of your favorites at 3:

Favorite toys: anything Buzz Lightyear, your stuffed animals (monkey, bunny, mouse), blocks and cars, baseball bats and balls

Things you LOVE: your blankets (still), your 3 wheeled scooter (that mommy accidentally drove over but luckily Grandma Rock hooked you up with a new one!), your brothers, your sippy cup, playing outside, throwing balls to someone who is about 2 feet away and hitting them in the head :), you love to sing

Favorite foods: pizza, PICKLES (you eat them ALL the time), hamburgers, fettuccini, granola bars, cereal, pancakes, cheese roll ups

It is hard for me to believe that my BABY is 3 years old. I absolutely love running errands with you while brothers are at school and preschool. You are such a great helper to me. You always want to help get the groceries into the house and you love to help wash the windows.

Happy Birthday big boy.

Mommy loves you forever.