To Blog or Not To Blog?

In May, I got so busy with life that I didn't blog. I haven't added any new posts since May and it's now July 22nd. I thought I was done. I thought no one really checks it out anyway. But, now that life has slowed down, for a day or two, I opened it back up and it seemed appealing again. I started this for family that we never see. I love to stay caught up with family I don't see through their blogs too. Kids grow so fast and talking on the phone even seems like a hard thing anymore. So, I hope that this blog is good for someone. I don't really know. But, I hope you enjoy it for the fact of sharing our busy lives here and there with other.

Emily - The Saver

Emily is a persistent and dedicated saver. She doesn't spend her money unless she needs to. She is very controlled in her shopping. When grandma sends her money or gives her money, she saves it. She doesn't always spend her Birthday money right away....she saves it. What control! But when she wants something....she works, saves and buys! She has bought more for herself than I have bought for her....okay not really, but almost!

So Emily wanted a new camera. She has been borrowing mine and playing with photography. She likes photography. She likes my camera. So, she had quite a nest egg. She bought herself a new camera. Yes, a new Canon wonderful best one in the world kind of camera. Now, I am really jealous! I haven't even touched it. I can't. It's too much.

Not that she would let me anyway.

The good news is that she is taking some beautiful pictures.

Maybe This Time

The Spotlight Players had a showcase night called "Maybe This Time". It highlighted each of the seniors and few others. Rachel was lucky enough to be one of the others. She did a solo "Love You I Do" from Dreamgirls. She did a smokin job! They performed all sorts of numbers as a group. They are awesome kids and are so good to each other. It was a wonderful year!

Rachel belting it out!

A number from "Into the Woods"

Oklahoma!

Closing the program with soul!

Group shot!

Clyde - The Dog

Meet Clyde. Our new dog. He is a darling little golden lab pup. Curt needed him.....Emily helped him realize that. He will be loved and trained. He is just adorable. We snuggle him as much as we can right now, because in 4 weeks or so he will be too big.

U2 Cancelled!

The sad news came on the actual graduation day. :( Bono hurt his back and had to have surgery in Munich. First they postponed it, then cancelled it and have now rescheduled it for May 2011. Needless to say, Matt had a bit of depression for about a week. He will not be here in May 2011, he will be serving a mission and will not be attending. He was bummed, but has moved on.

He did indeed give Bono a bit of a tribute on the day of his graduation. You know when you hand your name card to the announcer at the graduation? Well, my son, whom I carried for nine months and named Matthew Curtis Paulson changed his given name to Matt Bono Paulson. Yes, he did. As he was starting to walk across and "Matt Bono Paulson" was announced, I thought, is that my boy? Well, immediately after that thought, was yes, of course. Who else would add Bono to his name? I won't be surprise if I have a grandson named Bono one day. I better snag my future daughter-in-law before her wedding day and give her the heads up!

Also, at Seminary graduation just a couple days previous, he graduated as Mathius Curtis Paulson. The teachers asked them to write down what name they wanted printed on their certificates. He thought that would be funny. He didn't think that they would really do it. I was quite embarrised about that one. Bono didn't really bother me though. Funny, funny.

Matt's Graduation

Matt graduated from Salem Hills High School on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010. Graduation was held on the football field. It was great! The weather was perfect, especially when the two days before were filled with rain. There were even sky divers bringing in the flag. He actually made it! :) He had a great of showing of support from family and friends. Thanks everyone!

We took he and McKenna out to dinner the weekend before their graduation to celebrate and to give him his gift. We got him U2 tickets. They are coming to Salt Lake on June 4th. He was soooooo shocked. I kept telling him that I would never give him such a worthless gift as concert tickets for graduation. He has loved U2 almost as much as he loves trains since I can remember. He has always dreamed of seeing them in concert. I never thought he would be able to, but here are the tickets. Lets just say he was very happy and very surprised. We had him quite fooled. Congrats Matt! Now on to bigger and better things! :)

Trying to believe they are actual U2 tickets in his hand.

McKenna got one too! :) Imagine that.

Ready to go!


Yes! They all made it.

Awe....cute.

The Singing Heart

Rachel has always sung. She has been singing since or before she could talk. My neighbor used to love to listen to her sing as a little girl while balancing herself on our red rocks. But, she has never been in choir. I have pushed, persuaded and then just let her do her thing. Well, Mr. Bills, asked her to join choir and about 2 minutes later I think she was down at the attendance office changing her schedule. Thanks Mr. Bills!

So, this was her first choir concert. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was lovely. I love and know a lot of these kids and that helps too. It was a wonderful night and for all the seniors, it was an emotional one too. Their last concert. Rachel has oodles of senior friends, so she was sad too. But, she will be there in choir for two more years and I coudn't be happier to purchase her the dress, shoes and jewelry for that reason. :)

Serendity women's choir.

Friends a plenty and Mr. Bills

Group shot!

Two good senior friends. Thanks girls!

Sanderson Sisters. :)

Mothers

Happy Mothers Day! I know so many wonderful mothers. I know it is the very most important job in the entire world. Nothing can replace a Mother in the home. I am surrounded by beautiful, strong women who know the value of being a Mother. They give me encouragement and stength. Some advice I have been given by some wonderful friends:

Let them dress themselves even if they don't match.

Hug and kiss them every day.

Praise, encourage and cheer them on. The world is a tough place.

Make your home a sanctuary.

Love them unconditionally.

When you are physically with them, remember to listen to them...pay attention!

Spend more time playing with them than cleaning.

Never leave them home alone overnight. Never.

And my favorite:

"Home is where you are loved the most and act the worst."

Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Matt's Senior Pictures

Can he truly be a senior? A graduating senior? I am so happy, excited and sad all mixed into one! Matt and McKenna finally went and took some senior pics of him. McKenna edited them and they turned out so fantastic! Thanks McKenna! I did gets tears in my eyes when I looked at them. They laughed, but my baby boy is growing up. It's a strange thing....but I like it.

Matt has many wonderful opportunities coming his way. I will try to stand back and let him live....I will try not to smother him or mother him too much. That's all I can do, is try.

My New Life

This is a must see! :) Enjoy.

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

Rachel had such a great experience and opportunity to be in this cast. She did an excellent job and the kids are just amazing. I apologize for so many pics but I have over a hundred. :) I'm that Mom that goes to every performance and I have to hold myself back on taking pictures. So much of our family and friends supported Rachel.....thanks to you all! Rachel's teacher, Mr. Bills, is so talented and the kids love him. We all look forward to more plays and music over the next couple of years! I can't believe her sophmore year is almost over. Good job Sally!

Rachel's cast with Mr. Bills

Snoopy loving his house.

The young women and teacher that came! Aren't they adorable?

Aunt Sheri and cousins Hayley, Jenessa and Kaloni

Grandma and Grandpa Frandsen

Group hug on closing night!

Matt and McKenna O'Driscoll

Sisters!

Grandma and Grandpa Paulson

Sally and Snoopy

Lucy, Sally and Peppermint Patty

Grma Ann, Rachel, Matt and Emily

Aunt Kara and Uncle Alan

Assassin

The kids in our chuch ward have been playing a game called assassin. Curt got this started with them last summer for a fun activity. Each participant received a name....a person they are suppose to "kill"....with a rubber band. The only catch is that there cannot be any witnesses. You have to be alone with your person and then shoot them and hit them with the rubber band. So, the game has been going since last June and he finally wrapped it up in March. Emily was the winner killing 9 people total. She was very tricky, even sitting in a truck with Curt for almost 2 hours waiting for an unsuspecting young man to get home from work. She has a blast tricking people and "killing" them. They just started a new game for the summer. We will see how she does this time....there are a lot people who want to get her!

Emi and her rubberband gun.

She even got a medal!

Student Council

Emily ran for student body again this year. Rachel helped her come up with this slogan and it fit her so well since she is Mommy to 26 chickens. :) After the voting, she made it in! I am so proud of her. She is an excellent student and a good friend to all. She has a great confidence about her and I can't wait to see what great thing she will do next. Way to go Emi!

I made her do this! :)

Poster at the school.