Happy Fathers Day Grandpa! You are the Grandpa that each of our children are excited to walk beside, to play with and visit. You are wonderful! There can not be enough said about how much of an impact you have on each of our lives. Some of the best memories in the Robinson house come from time spent with Grandpa (and Grandma)! We love you.

What is Jenny saying?

Add your guesses...

Very touching

Molly, I think you'll like this one.  He's very musical.



I actually get to buy guns and knives at work.  Hehehe.

Today is Vic's birthday! Happy Birthday to you!
We called him Michael when he was little. Do any of you remember that? My mom always remembered him as Michael and had a hard time switching over to Vic.
We are proud of you Vic and hope this will be a blessed week.
I remember feeling that you were older that you acturally were. Hense, I left you to babysit your brothers and sisters probley earlier that most do. You went to Education week when you were 12 instead of 14-the recommended age. But you seemed to "get it" and you wanted to go. You were smart  (but hated to do homework). I am so glad you came to our family, and that you have one of your own. We seem to be going through this life experience pretty fast.
Love you  and are proud of you.
MOM

May

May is my favorite Month! I'm not talking about holidays, memories of my children's births, specific events or seasons. Just months. It's May. It just says "love me". Too many things happen this month for it to be just another page in my calendar.  It happens to be the month I graduated from College, got my Black Belt, and found my first home.  You are already thinking of other big events, aren't you? Happy Birthday to Paul, Vic, Aunt Bonnie & Grandma Jackson. Happy Anniversary to Peggy and Thad, Paul and Kristyn, and Vic and Molly (in that order)!  Happy Mother's Day and let's throw another holiday in just for fun - Memorial Day. There are play try-outs this month, and Father and Sons campouts.  School lets out, and I just might take a couple of weeks off and travel to Utah. Why not! (I'm sure there is a heart to say that as well). I might just get another niece or two this month. Adam goes home this month with our prayers for his Mother and their success.
 And Lucy's graduation day. Her beauty and life adds a depth to this month and gives us perspective to laugh, cry and be generally grateful for our lives.
Are there other things I've forgotten this month?  I think May can handle it!  If I ever have another girl, May would be a name at the top of our list.

This week in Utah

Hi Family,
Just wanted to say hello and hope you are having a good week.
I wanted to tell you about mine.
I got to watch Peter Thur and Fri. He is one ball of energy as you can imagine. His haircut makes him look like a little boy-no more toddler for him. It is really a drastic change.
He talks more and that's always great when you can communicate. I bought him some ducks and
that was fun. He was very good about taking care of them.They sure are a wet animal. Either they spill the water a lot or they pee a lot. Not sure which. Molly is having to take care of them now so she will soon be the expert. They have a pond in their back yard if you remember.

I was so pleased and honored to be given the "silver bowl" award on Wed. It is awarded to one person per county. It is sponsored by UNICEF. I was given this because of the dictionary project Rotary does every year.
It was in the local paper here Sunday. Don't know if it will be anywhere else.

I have finished my school for this semester. Onward and upward.
I have a guest speaker for Rotary tomorrow, the Lady is running for Senate in the State. She's pretty sharp.
Our neighbors have left on their mission. The Howards are gone for 6 months to the Indian territory and teaches them to set up gardens. Plus help in the wards.We collect the mail for them.
My flowers are looking very well this year. I have peas planted, that's all until we rototiller the ground.
Oh, another big thing. We are taking in two exchange students until they find another place. They are from Chezch(?) Republic and Brazil. Two boys. They will be here about a month and then move to a home that works out better, probably one with High School students. We are called a "welcoming" home. That will be in Aug.
Glad to hear from you. We remember you in our prayers.
Love you all
MOM

Sick as Dead Dogs....

...rotting in the desert surrounded by buzzards, dipped in rotten lard, fried to a crisp and molding over lava made of boogers sitting on top of rotten potatoes and a clogged Jackson toilet in the middle of the Hunger Games Cornicopia.

WE HAVE BEEN SO SICK! Since our benefit concert. Since BEFORE our benefit concert. It's been ridiculous. Honestly, I think we might have pneumonia. And being pregnant on top of it...and chasing Peter (who rode his bike for two hours straight last week--roughly 2.5 miles with 8,000 adventures along the way--I'm telling you...this kid could solve the world's energy crisis)...its been a DOOZIE.

So Vic has been sleeping in "Lucy's Room" for over a week so we can both get better sleep as we are both coughing, twitching, snoring, tossing and turning.

I have started closing the door of his room so I don't have to look at the mess. I even asked him yesterday if he could "please clean his room". That's when I felt like I had a teenage boy. Which kind of made me smile for a second. Just a second. But then I realized, I HAVE TO TELL MARLENE! I have to tell her that I hope she never gets sad thinking that her first baby, her little baby boy went and grew up on her. HE DIDN'T! He is still a little boy and always will be so don't be sad. You can come clean up after him and take care of him and hold him and ask him to clean up his room anytime you'd like!

I can't stop watching this...

Dear Vic,

...and Sam, Joy, Wendy, Paul, and Peggy,

I thought about you while running. You popped into my mind around mile 9 when Tom Petty started singing on my Nano "well I started out down a dirty road, started out all alone. And the sun went down as I crossed the hill. And the town lit up, and the world got still. (are you singing yet, because I was) I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing."
Did you know I have that CD? It's probably yours. It reminds me of when we roomed together and I have great memories from that. I thought about all the things I've learned from you, from all of you. The important lessons you all teach, and the kindness you give when you allow me to learn things on my own, even when you watch me being clueless. Sam, I think about your struggles alone and wish we could all relay with you, taking turns sharing the strain. Joy, I am so sorry that you had to quit track in High School. I get how fun running is now, and I wish that I had taken you to DQ and commiserated together on the way life works out sometimes. I wish we could do that now, when we have hard days. ( I overheard Mackay telling someone "Sometimes I have a nice mommy, sometimes shes mean!") Yep, days like that. Wendy and Peggy, I heard stories about things you did with your roommates and wished I could have been your roommate, at least, longer than I was. Wendy, we are making up for lost time. Peggy I hope I get the chance. Paul. You are too cool for me, but hanging out with families of our own was super cool and I loved the ideas you came up with for your family. You play and hard as you work. I'm learning to do that too. Running has done that for me. I also thought of Lucy, and of Molly's marathon mantra and of the influence of in-laws.
Elder Bednar gave a talk that I really loved. Read it when you have a moment. He states that "Our physical bodies make possible a breadth, a depth, and an intensity of experience that simply could not be obtained in our premortal estate. "
We “accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize [our] divine destiny as heirs of eternal life.” ¹ Please note the primary importance of obtaining a physical body in the process of progressing toward our divine destiny."
I'm noticing my own growth in learning through running. There are times when I think, I'm gonna run an 8 minute mile today and then I get out there and realize, I don't run that fast! Then there are times that we've planned a 9 mile run and I think, 'I can't run that far', and then I do! It's as if having really physical experiences, enhance our intellectual growth as well.
Growing up in our family gave me, gives us, so many chances to learn. Running gives me more time to reflect on what I'm learning. It's a good mix.
I love you all. Thanks for withholding judgement ( to my face) and for talking, blogging, sharing your lives and experiences. I'm so lucky to be a part of all of you. I just wanted to let you know that, and that I thought of you all for at lest 3 miles, ...until I stopped thinking and sprinted to the finish line!
Love, Jenny

Some More Art

We all know how much mothers love the art their children produce (we have all been to Grandma's house and have seen the art wall). I know that sometimes we may be the only ones who appreciate these works of art. It is just so fun to see what is in their heads. But I think you will get a kick out of them.

First of all... does anyone know which park this is? Anyone, anyone? Do you recognize it? I love that Luke (and all of my kids) have happy memories of this park. Click on the photo to enlarge:
And this just made me laugh:
By the way, that is a fake tattoo on his forehead... which looks like he ran into wall.

Just made me Smile

Mom's post reminded me of this. It made me smile, maybe it will make you smile too!

Babies are just proof God loves us and trusts us. They mean life and future.

Did I ever tell you your kids are precious little people? They are noisy and don't always follow rules and make messes, and you have to let them run in the hall, but I am excited for you new additions.

I always used to wonder when my kids were born, who is this person? I ran out of patients and went to bed early sometimes,except when Jenny came and jumped on the bed, but you are the wonderful people I have dreamed about. So,

we wait to see the grandchildren develop and wait to see who they are. Don't you just love it?

Did You Make the Cut?

And the last page...
... ya. Neither did I.

Happy birthday Molly

Happy Birthday Molly! You should be eating a cake this nice! But since you are in California (and who wouldn't be for their birthday if they could) we'll have to skip the cake and just wish you a great day. Enjoy yourself

Thoughts that I should probably keep to myself

I have been thinking a lot about Lucy lately. As we approach Allie's baptism next Saturday I have a lot of mixed emotions. I am so excited and proud of her because she really wants this, it really is her choice. Part of me though also realizes that this marks the end of her innocence so to speak. She is accountable now. And WHAT IF she decides to make choices in her life that we are not happy about. What if she chooses not to follow the Savior later on. That is a real possibility and in the end it is her choice. Part of me feels... maybe a little of jealous of Vic and Molly? Lucy is theirs! Now all they have to do is their part. If someone gave me the option of living my life without Allie... well that is like asking "would you rather have you arm bitten off by an alligator or your leg bitten off by a shark?" Well, hellllooo- neither! There is no answer to a question like that. I am sorry about these morbid thoughts. This is a joyful time! Allie is going to be baptized!!!

But there you go. I just shared them with you.


This is a sculpture in Slovakia at a memorial for unborn children.