Happy Conference!!

Wow. This conference was amazing, and for the first time I can't wait to get the Ensign Conference Edition to re-read the talks. Morning sessions I took great notes or I wouldnt be able to move because I was so engrossed in what they were saying, they spoke with such conviction. I would put a star by their talk so I can go back and read it again.
And, wasn't it incredible to hear the brethren talking to those who were not members of the church but were listening to find out more about our beliefs? And, wasn't President Monson's announcement incredible? Cache money will be going on a mission right after high school. Crazy yes?  And Tj will be going in less than three years....closer to two. Wow.
I love the message of living the gospel with pride. I AM A MORMON. I KNOW IT. I LIVE IT. I LOVE IT.
And Uchkdorf's talk about being happy and rejoicing no matter your circumstances. There were several amazing messages, it was beautiful.

a little love moment.

Today was Cache's first day of pre-school, but that is only part of what this post is about. First of all I will say what all parents say, but I understand it so much better now, they really do grow up too fast. 

I was kind of sad this morning not being able to take pictures and make Cache a special first day of school breakfast but Steve took good care of that. Though, he did say Cache was too excited to eat, but he did get a picture up on facebook :). Steve, by the way, is amazing. In every aspect of his life. 

As I was teaching this morning I kept glancing up at the clock, when it hit 10:00 I knew Cache would be there. Just around the corner, and down the hall from my classroom. Then it hit 10:10 and I thought to myself, I guess Steve isn't going to stop by to give me a report of the morning, I was anxious. 

Shortly after that I saw Steve wave to me from the little window on my door. I told him to hang on one second as I got my 29 students set to go on their next objective. Steve started to tell me about how Cache had done this morning...then I noticed something that made my heart just swell, he was teary eyed. I looked up at him while he getting a little bit choked up and said, "Babe are you crying?" of course he said, "no" and smiled. I will never forget that moment because I knew for a fact that I gave my children one of the best gifts I could ever give them, an amazing father. He loves us so much and he is so cute with Cache, they have a strong relationship. It was so cute to see my 6' 4" husband tearing up because his little boy was growing up so fast. The only complaint I had was that I had to walk back into a room of 29 sixth graders when my eyes were tearing up. 

As I was getting ready to leave guess who returned to school, Steve. He didn't want to miss picking up Cache from school and seeing how his day went. When I was talking to him he said, "I think I was way more nervous than Cache was this morning." 

Just look at these two. I am so grateful to Steve. He is a truly amazing father and I know our children will know they can go to him for anything.

My little boy

The very first thing Cache does every morning:"Good morning mom, how was your sleep?" The second thing he does is get dressed. He runs to his room and comes out with a shirt in hand, shorts on (occasionally on backwards), undies on (often backward), and then he will put his shirt on his head and have me help weave his arms through. For the most part we get some pretty amazing outfit combos. After he is dressed he says, "ah, I forgot socks!" Then he races back to his room and his opens his sock drawer and tippy toes to see over and grabs a pair of socks....or one sock from each pair resulting in mis-matched socks. That always reminds me of how much he has grown, at the beginning of the summer he would pull himself up to see into the sock drawer. Then he would quickly hold tight with one hand while the other hand grabbed a pair of socks. I had to put a stool there so he wouldn't break the drawer. Now he doesn't even need it. Lately he has been really wanting a basketball jersey. I asked him what kind and he said, "A number 5 jersey. There will be a #5 on my back and my tummy. Dat will be cool, huh mom." When we got him his football jersey he loved wearing it to play football. There was a time I banned indoor football because I got tired of thing getting knocked over with the ball. But that didn't stop cache. He had an imaginary football and he would narrate the play by play. When is such a fun person to be around, we just love his personality :)

The secret to stopping time.

Since there is no special secret this is what I do: I take (literally) hundreds of pictures a month. So when Cache is 16 I can look back and remember the morning that he was so determined to get himself ready all by his big boy self.

I try my best to enjoy every moment. I write things down. I blog about it. I facebook it. I hold him tight. I listen so carefully to his little, deep voice telling me stories. I try to soak up everything.

...but I still wish I had a time machine to take me back so I can actually relive those moments. 

:)

The most wonderful time of the year

Nope, not Christmas (that is pretty wonderful as well). But I am genuinely in love with summer. Everything about it makes everyday feel like a little celebration. The best part is getting a little taste of being a full time mom :) I know that I am very blessed to have a career that gives me these little tastes here and there. I have to tell you, it's like my favorite treat (guri-guri) I just can't get enough.
There is also the lazy mornings, the afternoons spent in the sun, the extra time spent with family, parties, late evening walks through our little countryside, sun kissed cheeks and Cache's wicked tan line.

This picture began my summer vacation:)I went to put some of my workbooks away and when I got back Steve had all of my presents on display. For me, this was very heart warming, not because of what he did, but because of what he said. He always has positive, uplifting words for me and often lets me know that he is truly proud of me. Thanks babe.

Cache just being the great helper that he always is. 

How could I not love getting home from the gym and seeing these two studying together.

Steve was doing his continuing education for his Insurance Agency and Cache said, 

"Oh, hey mom. We just workin real hard. Dad workin on insurance and I'm workin to help Mickey get ten ducks."

Fantastic.

These two are the best of friends. I love that I not only married a great man, I married a great dad too.

Here's to summer and all of the fabulousness that lies ahead.

:)

Teaching. It sometimes makes me LOL.

Somedays it makes me want to shake my fists or throw myself on my bed and cry. But, more times than not it makes me laugh. Through everything that happens, teaching inspires me. 

The school year is coming to an end. As much as I can't wait, I always feel a lil' bit sad to say good-bye to my 6th graders. This year's bunch was a fantastic group. 

I have read some amazing journal entries, there is one that has stuck in my mind for months:

(In response to JFK's inaugural address): I can help the United States become a better place by doing baptisms for those citizens who have passed. 

Today I was taking the kiddos to lunch when one of my girls who was on hall monitor duty ran up to me with the most distressed look:

"Mrs. Bourne, there is this little kid who put both of his legs behind his head and he is going down the hall like that..."

"Is he stuck?"

"No, he is going down the hall with his legs behind his head, scooting on his butt with his hands and he won't listen to me!"

...Sometimes ya' just can't help but laugh.

20 minutes later two of the 6th grade boys ran to Mrs. Anderson and said, "Man, we just had to help this little kid who had his legs stuck behind his head."

One thing I have noticed this year that I have loved...I have two students who say a prayer before every test. I noticed it during end of year testing. I see their heads go down, eyes close, just for a little bit and then their heads come up slowly and they take a deep breath and you can tell that their little prayer made them more at ease. A little bit of relief sweeps over their face and they start answering questions. 

I love to see that! 

Babies

My cousins are the best and let me practice taking pictures of their precious babies. These to darlings are just 3 days apart :) I just love them and I LOVE my cousins. They are AMAZING and have been like sisters to me since I was a baby. I have been very blessed to have them. 

I had SO much fun taking these pictures. There are lots and lots but these are a few of my favorites :)

I couldn't leave this new big sister out! 

He's a big boy now.

Cache Money.

I bought a book the other day that is called, If I Could Keep You Little. I bought it because  I think of the many conversations we've had about you staying little. You always have very strong, valid reasons about why that is not possible.

Today you told dad, "I do my chores, I pull up my own pants, I can dress myself and you still won't let me drive." 

One thing is for certain, we LOVE you. We love how helpful you are. We love how silly you are. We love how caring and sweet you are.

The other day you and I were playing football and you clocked me right in the face. It kinda hurt. You said in the sweetest voice, "Mom, I told you to catch it." Then you ran over to me, gave me a kiss on the cheek and said, "Sometimes you just have to do it again. This time catch it." And then you threw it to me the way threw to you when you were a baby. I caught it and you cheered for me like I just won the super bowl. Thank you for that  :) Just so you know, your mom does know how to play sports :).

I never want to forget that you love to talk in third person right now. When I correct you, you will say, "No, I love to talk in the fird person!" So I let you. You can be crying your eyes out, pause, look at me and say, "I think he's way sad." Then you'll go right back to crying.

I also want to remember that you are very aware of relationships. For awhile now you have been coming up to me saying, "Mom, you're husband is home from work!" or "Dad, you're mom has sleeping bags at her house!"

You are finally sleeping in your own bed! HOORAY!

You also change your clothes about 5 times a day. Drives me nuts. You climb your closet, pull down clothes (or get them from the dresser) and you'll come out with the proudest smile. Your shorts will be on backwards and you'll hold out your shirt for me to put on, or you'll put it on yourself.

You LOVE to wear socks. You even wear them to bed.

You LOVE sports. You can kick the soccer ball up the steep hill in our neighborhood. You are fast. You can throw like a champ. You can slam dunk on your little tikes hoop and Uncle Tj is helping you become quite the golfer. :)

You say amazing prayers and for the most part you listen to me.

I think you're great. I am blessed to have you!

I love you a whole lot!

Spring Break 2012

I can't believe April is just a day and a half from ending. Spring Break was amazing. AMAZING.

First of all it started out with Easter Sunday, then, my cousin returned home from his mission. Then Dorie had her baby then Darcie had her baby :)

Momentous, right?!

Cache has had babies on his mind ever since he asked me about Auntie Dorie's tummy and I told him there was a baby in there. He was a little bit concerned but then he decided it was really cool and he couldn't wait to meet his two new little cousins!

Cache loved hanging out with Gwenie! Thanks Darcie for letting Gwenie hang out with us!:)

Children's Museum

 "Welcome back to Studio 5 where we are witnessing an upset