HALLIE'S BIRTHDAY

Hallie's birthday was yesterday. It rained so much we couldn't do anything she wanted to do. But she had a fun weekend so I don't think it mattered too much. Her party was Friday night. She definitely got spoiled. Thank you everyone who spoiled her! She hasn't stopped playing with her toys yet.

She of course loved the barbie things. She has had to eat every meal at the Dora table. And the Dora tent is all over the house. Once I took out the portable CD player, it was with her all the time. Asher fights over it with Hallie. Now he needs his own.

She wears her charm bracelet all the time and wants to take it every where. I just don't want her to lose it. She keeps telling me she is a big girl and responsible, but I still think she should only wear it at home!

Hallie is very excited that she has Polly Pockets just like McKenzie and Kelsie. I think she'll lose the shoes and small parts, so for now all she gets are the dolls and the horses. And with what Mark and I bought her, she can be a real cowgirl, rope and all!

PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

Hallie's preschool program was last Thursday. She was pretty cute. I think she was the best singer there. As I said before, Asher and Hallie's preschool teacher is the best!

Hallie is in one of Onda K.'s worst classes. Next year I'm putting her in the afternoon class which is one of her best classes. Hopefully she can make better friends. Right now she is friends with the brattiest girls and most annoying boys! I've tried to encourage her to be friends with other kids, but I think they are too quiet and shy so it is hard for Hallie to get to know them.

Now that it is summer break, I'm not quite sure what to do with all my time. I always hear moms say they don't know what to do with their kids during summer and I never understood until now!

Anyway, here is a picture of Hallie doing the waltz with Nathaniel. He is about the only one of Hallie's friends that I actually like! It was really cute to see her dance with a boy. I'm really sad about Asher not being in the same class as all of his preschool friends, but with Hallie I'm so excited to put her with other kids. I think next year will be a good year.

PRESCHOOL GRADUATION

Asher's preschool graduation was tonight. His last day was today. He has been so excited for Kindergarten that he didn't even care about preschool anymore. Today after we got home he was in his room for awhile and he came out bawling. He said he missed Onda K. (his teacher). It almost made me cry too! Asher was so sad! Anyway, I told him it was okay because we would still see her next year when we took Hallie to school and with a baby on the way, we might see her a few years down the road. It made him feel a little better, but not much. So I told him he would get a great new teacher for Kindergarten and he could learn to love her like he did Onda K. It is so hard when good things change, but we can't be the same forever! I think just knowing it's not goodbye forever made him feel better. He was so cute doing the graduation march! Kids are funny no matter what they are doing. The girl he is with in the picture is named Abby. She is Asher's best friend at school and cried all week long because Asher will be going to school in Idaho Falls and not Ririe! They are a funny pair. Abby cut her own hair super short and her mom told her she would have to look like a boy for awhile. That made her upset and she was afraid that Asher wouldn't think she was cute anymore! They were inseparable at school. Too funny. Once in awhile you meet those people who really affect your life, and I know that Onda K. will be one of those people for my children. She wasn't just any preschool teacher. She truly loves and cares for each child and their well being. People think I'm crazy to drive to Ririe every day for preschool, but with a teacher like her, it's worth it.

FAMILY GENERATIONS

Today in sacrament meeting, the speaker was really awesome. He had great things to say about temples and family legacies throughout the generations. The thing that I thought was wonderful is he mentioned something about how we can learn from our ancestors. I just thought of my childhood and how much of an influence my Grandma and Grandpa Turner were to me. Honestly, I don't know where I would be without them. My Grandma always sent me letters and birthday cards and she would always write that I am a daughter of God and He loves me. She wrote I needed to be a good example for my family and I needed to go to church and read my scriptures. I always thought it was preachy, but I found all the letters after both of them had passed away, and I realized that it really affected my life. I knew I was loved, not only by Heavenly Father, but also by them. All of that "preaching" finally sunk in and even though I didn't realize it at the time, it gave me direction in my life. I don't think I would have known as strongly as I do that I am a daughter of God and he loves me if my Grandma didn't tell me that all the time. And how would she have known that I needed to hear that if she didn't learn it from someone else? I will be forever grateful for what my grandparents did for me when I was younger. I wish I would have realized it more fully when they were still alive so I could personally tell them thank you. I'm sure they know. I just wish I could tell them. What a great legacy to live up to. They were the strong happy family that I didn't have growing up. Even though they weren't there every day, I could feel their love for me and my brothers and sisters. I miss them terribly, but I am so thankful for their love and support they gave me while they were here. I can only hope to be the same kind of person they were. But I have their example to learn from.