Home Family Stories Friday’s Report: Fun Motherhood Moments from this past year

Friday’s Report: Fun Motherhood Moments from this past year

by Jamie

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, I thought I’d take a moment to reflect on some of the things I loved about being a mother this past year. I have written posts like this in years past (you can see one here) and have found it therapeutic for my own mother heart! It’s always good to look back on the positive things, right? I am not a perfect mom, in any way shape or form. I get grouchy, hover over my kids a little too much, feed them too much sugar and sometimes (more than 99% of the time, if you ask them) fall asleep when they come in at midnight wanting to have a heart to heart conversation.  Late nights aren’t my thing. 🙂

But, we have had a lot of good times this year. I feel so grateful to be a mom, even on the hard days. As my sister Alli says “No stage is ideal. The trick is to love the great parts, and make it through the tough ones.” She’s a wise lady, yes?

Here are a few of the things I’ve loved this year…

Both of my daughters had the opportunity to go on a music tour to California this past spring (Anna went with the high school Choir and Emily went with the high school Orchestra). As a fund-raiser we made Chocolate Dipped Strawberries the day before Valentines Day and sold them to our neighbors, family and friends. That’s a lot of berries, right?

We dipped and sold 1,300 berries. It was actually so much fun. All 7 of us pitched in, washing berries,  melting chocolate, dipping berries, packaging them and selling them. I loved that they were all willing to help in the effort. It was a great couple of days.

I love watching these twin boys of mine. Theirs is a relationship to be treasured. They have their disagreements, but I am continually amazing at how well they get along and how much they love each other. They are by far my most easy-going, patient children. Must have something to do with learning to “share” since conception, right?

Funny story about these two.

A couple of months ago the three of us were studying the scriptures together while they were on a break from school. I asked them (as I do every once in a while)…

“Boys, I just wanted to check in with you again and see if you have seen any bad pictures recently. Please know you can come and talk to me about that kind of thing any time, I am always here for you.”

They both just stared at me with frustrated looks on their faces.

Oh, no…I thought.

Then Aaron piped up with…

“Ok, seriously Mom? We don’t even know what that means. What are the bad pictures you keep asking us about. Like, really disgustingly ugly food pictures or pictures that are out of focus…or what! We don’t get it.”

I had to chuckle in my heart (and sigh a big breath of relief, truly).

So I gave them a few very brief and vague examples of what pornography might be and we had (what I thought) was a great, open discussion on the subject and the importance of internet safety, making sure they come and talk to me if they see anything inappropriate, etc…

I patted myself on the back. Job well done, mother.

Then my daughters came home from school and said…

“Hey, boys. How was your day today?”

Nate replied in an exasperated tone…”Well, our day was just okay. You never know what Mom is going to tell you while you are reading your scriptures. Be ware. She gave us this totally disgusting talk about choreography. Seriously. So gross.”

Choreography, my friends. Dangerous stuff, there.

Last summer we landscaped the backyard of our Bear Lake Cabin. It was a hot and dusty job, but these kids helped like troopers. Loved seeing it all go down.

This is Emily, my daughter of 15 years. The girl has more quick wit than anyone I know.  One day I asked her to please pluck her eyebrows. Here response was this…

“No thanks. I’m growing them out to keep me warm. Do you realize how cold the basement is? I have to sleep down there, you know.”

My son Mark traveled back to Tennessee this spring (where he served his mission) to go through the temple with this cute lady he baptized while he was serving there. We were so proud of him! Many of you know that Mark only served for a couple of months, and came home early from his mission due to anxiety. (You can read about that HERE.) We were so grateful for the opportunity he had to go back for this wonderful, amazing event.

My girl Anna, has had a fantastic senior year. We’ve loved going to the high school to see her perform with the Ballroom Dance Team, Chamber Choir and Musical Dance Theater Class.

The girl can sing and dance like no body’s business.

We are her biggest fans. 🙂 Lots of rewarding days with this girl of mine. So proud of her.

I’ve loved watching my girls attend high school together this year. They have their disagreements, as all teenage girls do…but they have worked them out and developed a beautiful relationship and for that I’m so grateful. We are going to be one-lady-down, when Anna goes away to school in the fall! Sniff. Emily and I are going to try to be brave!

This picture represents a day I loved immensely this past year. One of these people is me (the chubby one :)). The names of the  other two beauties will remain anonymous, but suffice it to say…they are two of my dearest friends. A couple of months ago when one of these three ladies was having a particularly sad and lonely day (some days are like that, right? Sad, lonely and meh) we opted to shake off the blue mood. We put on these costumes and proceed to play Just Dance on a Wii gaming system while our children were at school.

We danced, like it was 1999.

In the middle of the day, dressed as Napoleon Dynamite (times three).

It was hilarious. Side busting, hilarity is what it was.

Nothing like a mid day pick me up, right? Also, it was calorie free. Ha!

I snapped this picture in late July. We’d spent 6 hours in the car together on the way to Bear Lake (a trip that usually takes less than 3) and our temperaments were feeling a little bit frazzled. It was hot. We were tired and spent. Some days are like that. Many days, actually.

Love this quote President Gordon B. Hinkley shared at a LDS Conference…

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise…Life is like an old-time rail journey-delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.” (Deseret News June 12, 1973)

Feeling grateful for the ride, today. With all it’s bumps and jolts…and all of its beauty as well.

Hope you have a great weekend with the people who you love. 🙂 Love to all of you great moms out there! Put your feet up and eat some chocolate, won’t you?

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10 comments

Cecilia Vanisky May 12, 2017 - 11:59 am

A delightful glimpse into your family and inspirational views for the upcoming Mother’s Day celebrations.
Happy Mother’s Day to a blogger who is beautiful inside and out.
I love your site.

Reply
greg February 10, 2022 - 8:44 am

nice thanks a lot and i am here

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Dorothy HarwellSmith May 12, 2017 - 6:41 pm

I LOVE READING ABOUT YOUR SWEET FAMILY, ALSO YOUR DELICIOUS FAMILY RECIPES

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Erin R. May 12, 2017 - 9:00 pm

I loved this post. I love Anna’s cherry dress, Emily’s eyebrow growth, your Napoleon picture and that excellent quote from Gordon B. Hinkley.

Reply
Susan May 12, 2017 - 10:29 pm

Jamie: You are such a special family–It’s so fun to have an “inside” glimpse once in a while. You, however, are an amazing mother! AND businesswoman! Thank you so much for sharing! Happy Mother’s Day!

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Menu Plan: May Week #3 May 13, 2017 - 12:31 am

[…] Happy Weekend, everyone and Happy Mother’s Day to all of you wonderful ladies out there. I hope your people treat you well! ? I wrote a post yesterday highlighting some of my favorite Motherhood Moments from this past year. You can see it here. […]

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Barbara June 5, 2017 - 6:46 am

Thought you might want to know that this is the post that comes up on your home page on my computer. This post is also the latest one that shows up on my cell phone. I thought maybe you have been on vacation. Appears you still have issues because my daughter says you have updates on facebook. Think of the traffic your blog is missing.

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Jamie June 5, 2017 - 6:44 pm

Hi Barbara,
Thanks for your comment. If you go to my home page on your computer and click the refresh button, it should solve the problem. If you go to my blog on your phone and pull the screen down, it will refresh it there as well. Hope this helps!
Best,
~Jamie

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fnaf June 14, 2020 - 9:33 pm

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Alex21 April 14, 2021 - 10:03 am

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