Preschool Graduation

Parker graduated from preschool last night! Actually, he's going back next year, so Andrew says it's not really a graduation.(: My sister, Kathy, Gary & Trudy, and Grandma Joyce were able to come and Parker was so excited to have them there. He has loved, loved, loved school this year. I'm so proud of how well he's done and what a good little friend he is to his classmates. He loves his teacher and it's nice because she is in our ward so he can still see her this summer. The kids did a little program with some cute songs and said the Pledge of Allegiance. His teacher made all the kids a video of the pictures she took during the year and a scrapbook of their year in school. Each child's scrapbook was just pictures of them. I was touched that she loved the kids enough to go to all of that work and I'm excited that Parker will be going there next year. So there you have it. Our little guy is growing up! I am so happy to be his mom and to be able watch him as reaches all these milestones. He is such a precious gift in my life.

Grandma and Grandpa Barnes

Parker and Kathy

Parker and Grandma Joyce

Grandpa Barnes

Parker's teacher, Miss Carol

Parker and Makenna

The kid loves pickles

This is what we found when we checked on Parker one night before we went to bed. Yes, that is a pickle under his chin. We go through a big jar of pickles a week.

Good deal on sunscreen

I think most people know that my mom died from melanoma and that a predisposition to melanoma is something that runs in my family. So, as you can imagine I am very vigilant about protecting my kids and myself from the sun. Blue lizard sunscreen is widley acknowledged to be the best sunscreen out there but it can be hard to find and a little pricey. I found a good deal on Blue Lizard at drugstore.com. Seven dollars off their 9 oz. bottles and free shipping on orders over $25. I also looked up a coupon for $5 off your order and free shipping just by googling "coupon codes for drugstore.com". It is for new customers only. When it was all said and done, I got free shipping and $19 off my order. I thought I would share this just in case anyone wants a good deal on some great sunscreen. Trust me, it's so worth it!

Happy Mother's Day

We went out to the cemetery Sunday morning (hence the reason my kids are still in their pjs) and the kids got to draw pictures for grandma Stephanie on the cement around her headstone. They really got into it and even drew some pictures for my sister Briana too. It was nice to be there together honoring my mother. It was actually a nice day. I pretty much kept it together. Andrew cleaned the whole house for me Saturday night and gave me a cute new shirt and some shorts. He is always so thoughtful and I love his sweet, simple gifts. We had Andrew's parent's, his brother, and a friend of mine who's husband is in Iraq over for dinner. I love Andrew's parents and it was wonderful to spend the day with them. Later that night I couldn't sleep so I watched the video that I made of my mom for Parker before she got really sick. I loved hearing her voice again and seeing her beautiful smile. I sure do miss my mom more than I can explain, but it's worth it to have loved her the way I do. I am so lucky to be a mom myself and have two of the sweetest kids I could ever hope for! I guess it's all about trials and blessings in life and as a mother.

A few stories about my mom

I thought I would share a couple stories about my mom for Mother's day. Maybe just a glimpse into the person that I love and look up to.

Parker was born in WA and we moved back to UT when he was about 3 weeks old. When we got back to our little duplex I walked into the cutest nursery I'd ever seen. My mom had painted the walls and gotten decorations and had everything set up just perfect for her precious little grandson. And she had done it all (with a little help) while undergoing cancer treatments that left her feeling like she had the flu constantly. She was so excited to be a grandma I don't think anything could have stopped her from decorating that room as special surprise for her grandson and me.

In the last few months of my mother's life, her body and her mind began to betray her. I think that probably one of the hardest things for my mom was when her mind started to go. She was always so intelligent and full of wit. Not to mention very educated. Just one smart lady. I always admired that so much about her and it's one of the reasons I'm going back to school. Even though my mom never really complained about all the things that the cancer was robbing her of, I know she must have been frustrated.
One night I was trying to feed her some pudding and she didn't understand what was going on. She kept telling me that I didn't have pudding, and I tried to explain that I did. After a few minutes of trying to help her understand, I realized that I was making her sad and frustrated and so I changed the subject. The cancer invading her brain made it hard to really grasp what I was doing. Then my dad walked in. Whenever my dad came into my mom's line of vision it was like everyone else disappeared. She was glued to him and always wanted him near her. Everyone that was with my mom at the end watched my mom's eyes light up when my dad was around. I always knew my mom loved my dad, but she loved him a in quiet and less demonstrative way. When she got sick it was like their bond became so strong it was almost tangible.
So, after a few minutes I left the room but was quickly called back in by my dad. My mom looked troubled and she told me now sorry she was for being short with me and that "she was just having a bad day." I was speechless. That even with all the physical and emotional pain she was in as she watched her life slip away from her. She was worried that she may have hurt my feelings. And she hadn't even been grumpy at all. Then I realized that that is just my mom. So very kind and such a loving mother. Most days I feel so far from being the woman that my mom was, but I sure hope that someday I can get close.

Motherless daughter get together?

You guys know who you are and I'm pretty sure that most of you read my blog so I'm posting it here. I was thinking about Mother's day and how difficult that day can be. Then I was thinking about how much all you ladies have helped and lifted me and I thought that maybe we could all get together this Saturday night and go to dinner or something? Just chat and be together and support each other. What do you think? No worries if it doesn't work out, I'm just throwing it out there.

Boat racing

It's pouring rain here today and instead of being bummed about the end of our nice weather, Andrew and the kids embraced it and went "boat" racing in our gutter. The boats were really just the tops of plastic bottles and one little plastic chicken, but nobody seemed to mind.

A new generation of teaching

My little sister, Jamie, graduated from UVU with her degree in elementary education yesterday! I'm so proud of her! She is the first Densley to ever graduate from college. I know my mom, who was a school teacher for almost 30 years, was thrilled to see Jamie following in her footsteps. Love you Jamie!

Parker the patriot

Parker walked up to me a few days ago with this little invention. Then he asked me to put my hand over my heart and started saying, "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America." That was as far as he knew, but I couldn't help but feel proud of my little boy who thought enough of the Pledge of Allegiance to make his own flag with a broken golf club and a wet wipe and put his hand over his heart in respect for it. We recited the Pledge together a few times and I said a silent prayer that this country would still be "one nation under God with liberty and justice for all" when he grows up.