We had lots of friends over yesterday. After school Blaine came home with E. They played Mario Kart with DH and then swam.
My friends Angela and Good Life came over with their kiddos too and we had a fun time in the pool together. I love when people call to ask if they can swim. We always love the company and that is way no stress for me. If I call someone and ask them to come over I feel more pressure to be entertaining. I don't know why.
H got to have two friends spend the night. She chose her friend Payton from school and K. The girls got along so well. They swam, then came in and got ready to go to the movies. We ate pizza and then headed over to the dollar show to see "College Road Trip". The girls loved it. Payton cried and wanted to tell her dad she loved him (so we called). She was so sweet. I thought it was like a disney channel tween show that lasted an hour and a half instead of just half an hour but I didn't hate it, I expected that, and it was cute.

Mom and Dad left for Utah yesterday. They still haven't gotten their call so I guess I will be the lucky reader. We are sad to have them go. The five months they lived here went really fast. I will miss dad washing the dishes and mom folding the clothes :) but I will also miss their company. It's different when you share every day life with someone than when you are just visiting. Working together and spending down time together is meaningful and enjoyable. I love to visit with family that we don't see often and the vacationy fun time together is awesome, it's different than being together every day though.

One week of school left. We can't wait!

Splash Day!!

Today was kindergarten splash day. I went early to help set up. Then DH and I both went back to watch the kids play and "help". It was very fun. They had several stations set up~ a watermelon eating/seed spitting station. Side walk chalk. Shell art. Spray paint on paper. Bubbles. Sponges. Water Toys. Snow Cones. Little pools with water toys. And musical chairs.


E pretty much ran around throwing sponges at his friends for two hours, taking a small break to eat three pieces of watermelon and then another break to have a snow cone.

At the end they had relay races and a water balloon fight.

Very fun!

Splash Day!

Haiku ~for the contest

Guileless Aunt Elner
Knows more than the worldly wise
See truth through her eyes


to enter your own click on Maggie!

This is from Fannie Flagg's Can't Wait to Get to Heaven BTW

here's the princess

We harvest!!

Last night when H and DH were coming home from karate they made a stop at the garden and found veggies. That we grew!! Whoo Hoo!!

Of course the kids wanted to take pictures with the squash and zucchini.

I love their different approaches. First we have fanshionista and veggie companions.

Then we have veggies as weapons.

Finally we have a princess and her zuch!

remembering last year, looking forward to this

books

Wow, It's kind of rainy and over cast outside. I am surprised.

Reading non fiction books has been really different for me. I am still working on West with the Night. It is beautifully written, the language is so lovely...yet I am kind of trudging through it. I think I am suffering from some kind of mental atrophy and it's hard to slosh through. I will finish it though and then start my much lighter southern authors, which will be perfect summer reads.

I recently read, well mostly, some I just skimmed through because frankly I just couldn't take it, Peace Mom. It was depressing and anti-American and profane really. I hated it. I recognize that I can not truly feel her pain since I have not given a son to freedom's cause but her reaction seems extreme and her anger a little misplaced. Her son volunteered and it seems to me that she is actually going against his own intentions and efforts in this zeal to bush-bash and her extreme pacifism. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and I hope she finds peace, it just made me sad for her and the wreckage she made out of her family in her inability to move on and find peace. Ironic.

In contrast I have been reading The Benjamin Franklin reader and I am thoroughly enjoying it. He was a delightful writer and a great thinker. I am only about half way through but it's been fun to read. Also his writing is wonderful, I love the way he puts words together and the pictures they draw in my mind.
I loved his rules for living :

1. It is necessary for me to be extremely frugal for some time, till I have paid what I owe.
2. To endeavor to speak the truth in every instance; to give nobody expectations that are not likely to be answered, but aim at sincerity in every word and action, the most amiable excellence in a rational being.
3. To applying myself industriously to whatever business I take in hand, and not divert my mind from my business by any foolish project of growing suddenly rich; for industry and patience are the surest means of plenty.
4. I resolve to speak ill of no man whatever, not even in a matter of truth; but rather by some means excuse the faults I hear charged upon others, and upon proper occasions speak all the good I know of every body.

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!
We always love a Monday off. Toady is important too because we owe a great debt of gratitude to those who have fought/and who do fight to keep us free.

Our little cub scout troop have a great fund raiser. At the end of summer last year we signed up for their flag planting program. They come every holiday and put up a flag in the yard. So we started the morning with a flag in the yard. Which was nice. They also come by in the evening and take it down and store it until the next holiday.

Our good friends invited us for a memorial day BBQ. We were very excited to go. I made a yumm-o corn and tomato salad and fun red white and blue cupcakes.

We went and spent the afternoon swimming and jumping on the trampoline and eating delish food. The kids played croquet and ran around. Everyone had a great time at Casa de Guisador.

I had a very fun time visiting with everyone and watching the kids. It's so nice because everyone, regardless of age, plays so nicely with one another. At one point brother was swimming under water and Chandler (15) reached down and pulled him completely out and said "Can you swim" and then chased him across the pool. Which I am sure Brother loved.

Lu got to sit with "other G" (4), H (8) and Britt and Alexis (10) and eat a picnic. Again brother jumped with boys much bigger than him and they helped him and looked out for him, later in the afternoon he was playing with Austin and Lucy and he was the helper. It's just a real nice mix and a real good opportunity to learn from kids who are bigger and turn around and help littler kids. Babbling a bit I know but I appreciate that for them and am glad they have those kinds of opportunities and that we have such awesome friends.

wile away the hours...

after church the kids got changed and faced a long warm afternoon with no swimming and limited electronic entertainment. This is what they came up with. Tree sitting and talking. Uno. Rice krispie making. Not a bad day :)
Last night we went out to dinner at La Familia, which was so yummy. I had the fish tacos and enjoyed them. Then we went to see Indiana Jones. I liked it. It was entertaining and fast paced and clever. (the end of the search for the crystal skull was a little, dare I say it, unbelievable ~ because the rest could so totally happen ~not :) but I forgave it and gave it a two thumbs up anyway)
I totally saw the next generation Disney ride in the chase scene down the water fall in the car/boat. (and I will go ride it!) It was a fun night.

summer fun!

while I was hard at work by the pool

These two were loafing around the septic system.

what day is it?

I am hot and sweaty. I just logged hours 1 through 3 of "life guarding" the kids (of the projected 1,974 that will take us through the summer or at least through the month of June) and wiped down the floor~ twice so far today.

Summer is here. This is not a complaint, I love summer, I've been waiting for summer, I adore summer and long for it during the cold winter months. It's just that it's like when you find out you are pregnant, not the first time, that time is euphoric and scared and excited and amazed. No, I am talking about times 2-10 when you want to be pregnant, you go about "getting pregnant", then you take the test and see the plus and are thrilled and then it hits you "oh wait, I remember this~ the nausea, backache, heartburn, labor,sleepless nights, potty training, teaching to read, teaching to drive, waving good-bye of it all to come. I love it, but I know what's coming and I don't love all of it.

Summer is like that. I love it, but I don't love the wet floors, crying over sunscreen in their eyes, saying "close the door" a million times, hearing I'm bored, making smoothies and handing out Popsicles and being sticky from said sunscreen, warm sun, small bodies, Popsicles part of it. And the towels. Let's not even talk about the towels.

Sometimes it's all a blur and I wonder how I find myself here.

Then I remember that I am grateful to be here, and usually that only takes a few moments...but today it might take till bedtime :)

me graduating from seminary a million years ago :)

summer's almost here

What are these two little cuties doing up at 10pm? Smashing pancakes into the couch and laughing.
We had book club at our house tonight. Mom was the host. The book was "the Poisonwood Bible", which I liked. We made cookies and had veggies and dip and fruit and a chocolate fountain and yummy punch. Not very many people came, Kathy and Mom and I. Then a little later Robin and Rachel and Haylee and Britt came. We had a good time sitting around the table and chatting about all kinds of things..including the book :)

Today was my last turn to bring snack to E's class. The theme of the week was night/day so I brought in Little Black Sambo to read (because they eat pancakes at the end and pancakes are what you eat when night changes to day). And the snack was pancakes. I was so pleased, I made a huge stack and then stuck them in my insulated cooler and they stayed warm! The kids were so thrilled and said they were the best pancakes ever:) They ran up and hugged me; which I loved.

H had a field trip today. She went to the wax museum.

Tonight J went to her friend Paiges' birthday sleep over. S went to see Indiana Jones 4, which she said was awesome with her friend Sherylyn. E had baseball, Papa took him and then DH met them. On the way home they stopped at Wal mart and bought Wii games with DH's gift card from his birthday. They came home, stopped at the table for snack and then escaped upstairs to try out the new games. H, who was sitting with us and listening went up to play too.

Yesterday I went to H's school to help at their "yeah we passed the taks carnival". My job was to take tickets at the dunking booth. Two hours and many splashes later I went home with a sunburn and wet pants, but it was fun.

Today was the last day of seminary for the year! Yeah. Early morning seminary is tough. I went for four years and I loved it but it was ear-ly.

funny kid stuff

My kids crack me up, almost every day. For example, yesterday we were eating dinner and Lu liked it, for a change. She kept asking for more "fish". Which I gave her. Guess what her favorite kind of fish is...pork chops :)

Also yesterday M and lil P came over after school to play while K registered for kindergarten. We were out on the porch and the boys were racing all of E's cars down the roller coaster ramp. One car went much faster and farther than the others, I don't have any idea why. Finally brother told me "I think 'speedy' is the fastest because his wheels are the shiniest black". Okay, I am not an engineer but my guess is that's not why. However I thought it was so cute that he was trying to figure out why and that's what he came up with.

Peace in the Chaos

Maggie is having a contest. Frankly I'd rather win pecans but this would be nice too ;)

Rules:
Enter the first of five contests to win an autographed copy of Mudbound by Hillary Jordan!To play, look around your surroundings and create a name that best represents the ole homeplace. Hubby and I bat this pretentious tradition around quite a lot; lately, we have declared a stalemate over Weed Haven or Mole Rest.
When you decide, write a post about the new name and leave a link on Mister Linky. The drawing will be May 30! Here's your chance to put on airs and have fun!

Peace in the Chaos

We rented a cabin a few months ago called "Peace in the Woods". Which is was. It was very lovely. I would like to have that same feeling here in our own home...which is sometimes always a little chaotic. So we strive to find peace in the chaos, and sometimes do :)

love notes from 5 year old boys

Right now brother shares a room with his two sisters. We have a big bunk bed with a single on the top and a double on the bottom. E shares the bottom with Lu. This is fine except they can't always fall asleep together. When they have trouble we often put brother on our bed to fall asleep and then move him when everyone is snoozing. Tonight while "sleeping" he drew us some love notes.

That's our family, and three dogs and hugs and kisses all over. He's such a sweet little guy.

what's really important in life

dessert :)
Tonight I made Banana Blueberry Pie. It was yummy.
Yesterday I thought Chris was going to come over but it turned out that S didn't so much invite him as mention something to him so he came tonight instead, which was fine. We also had previously invited the missionaries and J had friends over to swim so we had a houseful for a while. The girls left before dinner.
The evening was fine. Chris was nice, kind of quiet. I guess if I was 17 and meeting 11 people I would be too. We had BBQ and the kids did karate and DH and the Elders and Chris and J all took turns breaking his practice board.

recipe

a pkg cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups whipped topping
3 med. firm bananas sliced
2 pastry shells, baked
1 can blueberry pie filling
fresh blueberries and additional sliced bananas

In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Fold in the whipped topping and bananas. Pour into pastry shells. Spread with pie filling. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
Just before serving garnish with bananas, blueberries and mint sprig.
Yield: 2 pies

dessert tonight and #3 read accidentally

1 stick butter, softened

8 ounces cream cheese, softened (recommended: Philadelphia)

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon water

1 (13.8-ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust dough (recommended: Pillsbury)

1 (12-ounce) bag frozen peach slices, thawed (recommended: Dole)

1 (12-ounce) bag frozen strawberries, thawed, sliced (recommended: Dole)

1 (12-ounce) bag frozen mixed berries, thawed (recommended: Dole)

Set up grill for direct cooking over medium heat. Oil grate when ready to start cooking.
In a mixing bowl, combine softened butter, cream cheese, sugar, and almond extract. Beat with hand mixer on low speed until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
Combine honey and water in a small bowl. Stir until honey is dissolved. Set aside.
Unroll pizza dough onto hot oiled grill. Cook for 4 minutes on each side. (TIP: use a cookie sheet as a big spatula when flipping the crust and removing from grill.) Brush with honey mixture and cook for 2 minutes more. Remove crust from grill. Spread with cream cheese mixture and arrange fruit on top.

INDOOR: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly spray baking sheet with cooking spray; set aside. Carefully unroll dough and place on prepared baking sheet. Press out dough with fingers to form 13 by 9-inch rectangle. Brush dough with honey mixture and bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until crust turns golden brown. Remove crust from oven and top as directed.

I did it indoor with store brand everything and drilled honey over the top of the fruit after. Everyone loved it. A two thumbs up for sure!

My sweet sweet visiting teachers brought me a cute little book for Mother's Day. It's called All Rain, No Mud by Sharon Larsen. I put it in the bathroom, really it's a little book, and browsed it a few times and before I realized I had read the whole thing, and it's a non fiction so there you go #3 done. It's not an earth shaking deep book but it's a very sweet collection of antidotes and life lessons learned by Sharon. (mother of two, wife of one, sister of Janice Kapp Perry, traveling companion of Sheri Dew, etc) I enjoyed her perspective on life and her upbeat attitude.

Here's one of my favorite passages: pg 66 "The epiphany came when I noticed that my activities and involvement could exhilarate me. I had a choice. I could choose to live deliberately and consistently with what I valued, independent of outside pressures. This paradigm has energized me and given my confidence and permission to choose. I have never been sorry that I let the phone ring while I read bedtime stories to our son or while we were eating dinner as a family. I have never been sorry for the times I walked in the rain with our daughter, or arranged my schedule to be home when the children came home from school. An appointment with my husband is the most important appointment I make, and I keep it. I have missed book clubs, and dinner groups, luncheon engagements and symphonies, for higher commitments."

We are busy in our lives, everyone, the important thing is to make sure we are busy with the things that matter the most to us. That's what she was saying and I agree.

in summary

H was invited to a fun birthday party yesterday. It was for her friend Ellie. She bought her a jewelry making kit and also a super cool shirt that she got a matching one to so they can be matchy at school.
The party was at the movie tavern and they got to eat pizza, while watching "Prince Caspian". She loved it and had the best time.

J went out with Sofia. They went to watch volleyball and then hung out and this morning went to the cheerleader's pancake fundraiser.

S went to her "boyfriend" Chris' house for dinner and movies with his fam. We get to meet him on Sunday. It's kind of weird having her like a boy, they are not serious but she is having fun.
Today she had to work at the clinic this morning and went to a life guard training inservice this afternoon. It's down town. She parked and then walked and then got lost and then called me on her cell and I got on the Internet and found where she was and where she wanted to be and "walked" with her telling her where to turn. What did we do before cell phones and the Internet??

While everyone was gone last night DH and I took the two little ones to McD. They loved it. Then we stopped by the Blacks and they got to help Rob gather eggs, which they thought was cool and they got to watch the buffalo pee, which the boys thought was cool. We came home and watched Indiana Jones, we're preparing for the new one coming out this week.
This morning we went to brother's baseball game.
The YMCA just stinks at sports, I'm am sorry to say but they are so ridiculous. They dumb the game down soooo much that it's not at all competitive or fun and even the players are bored. There are no outs, everyone runs, everyone gets a million hits. It's like batting practice with a lot of people standing around waiting. Painful! I understand the motive to make a non- threatening learning environment that is not solely focused on winning and athletic prowess and I am good with that...to a point. It should be competitive without being full of pressure and the bad sportsmanship that you see in older players yes, but don't play down to the lowest common denominator so everyone is bored and hates baseball.

Went to the grocery store today, traded a kidney for a week's worth of food. Crazy!

DH and papa and Grandma and I are going to the temple this afternoon. J is babysitting for a bathing suit:) Whatever works.

Bringing Up Boys by Dr James Dobson

I just finished book two for my non fiction challenge and I loved it. This is a book I think every parent should read, and especially any parent of a boy. Parents of just girls would benefit a lot from it as well however.

I didn't agree with every single thing he had to say, which is okay, most of what he said was awesome. Just an aside while reading and seeing the wisdom and the good council that he was giving I felt so grateful for a living prophet who gives 100% good council. I never have to worry about filtering anything. What a blessing.

Anyway, back to the book. It was very alarming. The world our boys are growing up in is not very conducive to producing moral, successful, productive young men. The role of the father is so critical and often lacking. Male bashing is a popular "sport" and one that is taking a real measurable toll on our young men (and probably older ones as well). And our job as parents is tough, especially tough as we try and turn the tide on the negative influences that bombard our kids and help them learn who they are and what they need to stand for.

My favorite quote was on page 77 in the middle of the chapter on Fathers and Sons. He said:
"I know the suggestions and ideas I have offered in this chapter put great pressure on us to be superdads but that's just the way it is. I felt it too when our kids were small. Frankly, raising kids was a scary responsibility for Shirley and me. We knew we were inadequate to handle the job and that no one is capable of guaranteeing the outcome of that task. That's why we began praying diligently for the spiritual welfare of our children. Thousands of times through the years, we found ourselves on our knees asking for wisdom and guidance.
Then we did the very best we could at home. Somehow, that seems to have been enough.
....Our heavenly Father will also answer your prayers for you kids if you turn to Him. He will guide them through the storms of adolescence. But He will not do for you what you can and must do for yourself, and that is what we are here to talk about."

I loved that he acknowledged that yes this is tough and unfortunately it's not for the faint hearted or the lazy. You have to be super dad or super mom that's just the way it is. However we will all fail at it, being human. So we get up and try our best again the next moment. And we rely on the grace (Divine means of help and strength) that is available to us. It is amazing to me the past few weeks as I have thought of the all encompassing nature of the atonement and what a tremendous gift that really is to see how it applies in so many situations that I had not previously considered. And it most certainly applies in parenting.

The whole book was full of good advice, hard advice, but good. I am going to give it to DH and have him see what he thinks.

spa night

Tonight DH took brother to baseball practice and Papa took J to piano lessons and S took herself to lifeguard training so I was home with the girls. We decided to do a quick spa night. I brought out the foot bubbler that J so nicely gave me a couple years ago and the girls took turns soaking and massaging their feet. When they were dried off I lotioned and trimmed and painted and they relaxed. They thought it was a special treat and I enjoyed pampering them a bit.

last time to teach preschool

Today was my last turn to teach preschool for the year. We did a bird theme. The kids painted and heard stories and sang and moved to songs. We talked about birds and did a little project. Then we ended with snacks on the grass and playing outside. It was a lot of fun.
In other news my car is in the shop and needing some pricey work done. At least I have back up transportation if I need it...and the gas is a lot less :)

back in black

We were supposed to go to the zoo today. This morning, however, my car gave me a warning message that I couldn't ignore. We had the same one about a month ago and I took it to Valvoline to have the fluids checked and stuff. They said my something fluid was almost gone and filled it up, then they warned me that it might be a crack in the radiator and to watch it. Well now the message is back so I didn't want to drive it anywhere until I have it fixed and I couldn't have it fixed today because I had kids to pick up at school etc. I was bummed because I really wanted to see the new penguin exhibit.

Then Nikko called to tell me she was planning on meeting me and ended up offering us a ride which was so fun. We had fun chatting there and back and we still got to go! Yeah. Kathy and Holly also met us with their kids. The weather was perfect, the crowds were small and everyone had fun.

The photo is of Emma, Mya and Lucy looking at the penguins. Their exhibit was nice. We also looked at the monkey and the snakes and the flamingos. We ate lunch by a waterfall and watched the birds and squirrels brazenly hop up to us to share bites of food. The kids thought that was funny and laughed.

I'm glad we got to go. Thanks Nikko!

Papa playing with the kids

Papa taught Lu how to take him for a ride, for a change. They both cracked up at the joy of it!

book review non fiction #1

Today during Lu's preschool time I went to the library. After all I have two reading challenges ahead of me and I was anxious to get going on it. I wandered through the non fiction aisles, where I rarely wander, and was happy to see several books that looked good. So I chose the required number and a few back ups in case I hated something I chose and brought them home.

I have finished the first one "Cancer Schmancer" by Fran Drescher. The best thing I can say about it is it was a quick read. It's 236 pages but completely lacking in any substance so you can easily get done in an hour or two. Some cancer books are touching, inspiring, funny, poignant, life lessons learned kind of books. This was not. It was egocentric and shallow. She is well now, and I am happy for her. The end. Don't read it the only reason I did is I had it with me in the car while I waited for E and that got me a third of the way through and since it was going quickly I kept going thinking it might get better. It didn't.

Our weekend was good. It was mother's day and the kids brought me cute gifts. We had Ben and Shellie over for dinner and then the Blacks came after and joined us for dessert. We had a fun evening and a good talk that kept us up way to late:)
Yesterday we celebrated DH's birthday. Last night I finally got to watch the season finale of Survivor. I can't wait for the next season, they are going to Gabon. That will be cool to see.

...off to take out the trash or start another book since it's early yet and this one was so unsatisfying.

Happy 38th Birthday

Today is DH's birthday. Yeah! Happy Birthday. We will have a small family celebration tonight. Last Saturday Mom and Dad took us out to dinner in honor of the big day.

So in tribute to reaching this milestone:) and to indulge my love of the list here is 38th things about my husband.

1. He is really smart.
2. He is a great coach, he started coaching soccer a few years ago as an assistant and now is the coach and he does such a good job. He's really put a lot of time into reading about how to coach kids and he teaches skills and the kids love him.
3. He plays the trumpet, which makes Millie whine but is fun to hear.
4. He also has a nice singing voice.
5. He is the grill king at our house and often does not burn the food;)
6. He is an avid reader and remembers lots of details and facts about the things he reads.
7. He follows politics closely and knows a lot about the candidates and the issues and the world climate.
8. He is not a tree hugger.
9. He likes to play video games with the kids.
10. And to swim with them.
11. His new obsession is karate and he's soon going to earn his green belt.
12. He wishes for a cool sporty car but drives an old beat up pick up because he loves his family.
13. He's a night owl.
14. He is a fish in the water.
15. He has good balance.
16. He loves planes.
17. He is a hard worker.
18. He is a diligent home teacher.
19. And also is diligent in his callings.
20. He is a good friend.
21. He is passionate about his beliefs.
22. He doesn't like Survivor but is hooked on "24".
23. He also likes the Cobert Report and some equally boring shows.
24. He loves Dennis Prager, and has finally figured out that listening to his show is not a romantic start to an evening at home.
25. He loves fruity desserts.
26. He showers twice a day.
27. He likes yard work.
28. He does a lot of yard work, even when it's no longer fun.
29. He is strong and works hard.
30. He doesn't love to clean in the house, but will anyway.
31. He thinks he's very organized, and I believe him at work and in his calling, but at home I beg to differ:)
32. He is a loving dad and step dad and thinks about what the kids need and what is best for them all the time.
33. He is strong willed and not afraid to stand up for what he thinks.
34. He loves water activities.
35. He can draw great airplanes.
36. When he says he'll do something he does.
37. He likes to research.
38. He is a blessing in my life and the lives of our children.

last game

91 degrees out,

it's hot and they've played hard and long alllllllll day.

A half time moment to help keep everyone cool.

It was a fun season:)

random things I love

1. the smell of Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen
2. the feel of a little warm body, sleeping next to me
3. the smell of early morning
4. molten chocolate cake
5. friends who call up and say "hey what's for dessert?" and we'll be right over
6. summertime
7. lazy mornings
8. clean sheets
9. a new book to crack open
10. laughing with the kids
11. sharing a story
12. reading from the Book of Mormon and seeing one of the kids "get it"
13. cool blue water
14. talking on the phone with my sisters
15. the smell and squeak of a newborn babe~ so sweet
16. white wicker furniture on the front porch
17. BBQ on the backyard grill
18. small daily miracles
19. nutella
20. cold milk and warm cookies
21. libraries
22. Vera Wang Princess
23. getting a phone call from Dani
24. watching brother excel at sports
25. seeing any of the kids succeed
26. spending time with DH
27. hearing Papa explain Nibley (who I don't get on my own)
28. baby ducks swimming behind their moms
29. the zoo
30. hearing my favorite Wicked song "Loathing"
31. peeking in to check on sleeping children
32. pants that fit
33. a new dress
34. friends I can count on
35. sinking my toes in warm sand
36. fairness
37. quiet
38. taking a walk
39. the smell of crayolas
40. mi familia

all sports all the time

Our first game was this morning. The kids looked so cute in the uniforms. I guess I have never really watched baby baseball before but it's a bit on the slow side. Not like the fast paced action we are used to with soccer. E had fun though and made a home run so that was fun.



Now the kids and DH are in the pool. In an hour they'll leave for karate, followed by the last soccer game of the season. Tonight we are going out with Papa and Grandma. S is at 6 Flags and J is mourning with friends.


Yesterday was drill team tryouts. She didn't make it. I am 100% sure it was my fault though. She is really good and got called back four times. Finally on her "no" paper it said she didn't have on enough blush and her left split was a little off the ground and during some move her toe was too far forward. I know it was because I wrote that email about her costume a few months ago that she didn't get chosen. The coach is truly a empire building nazi, and I could cite about 100 examples of this without even trying . To her credit she does build an awesome team who win all the time. Anyway, J is sad but will get over it. I feel badly. I regretted sending it the moment I did but I felt I had to (said completely without blame) DH was extremely upset about their costumes. J and I didn't love them but didn't really feel as strongly. He said I needed to say something or a) he would and b) she couldn't dance. So I did. I think it would have been really fun and a positive experience for her.



We got home from tryouts about 1am. J was supposed to get up early this morning and meet her venturing crew for a hike. We were just too tired and ended up letting her skip it. Early in the evening DH was like you're not going to make it there and back on time, and it's too far & gas cost a million $ and our schedule is too packed; but we were going to try. She loves her camp outs but we just couldn't do everything (shocker I know)

Yesterday DH got a phone call from his friend Ben (who lost his wife and children last summer in that tragic car accident). He is in town with his "significant other" and wanted to meet up for dinner and the evening. I was reluctant to go. I like Janine a lot and thought it was tad early to be dating again. I went, and I ate my words. Shellie is really nice and we had a fun evening, and a)(again with the lettering) it's none of my business and b) after talking with them and hearing their story and his year I am so happy for them. Just goes to show I should never make a judgement because often I am wrong and haven't walked a mile in their shoes.

I'm reading The Host. It's not Twilight but I am hooked. Hopefully it will be good to the end.

uniforms~ check

First baseball game ever, tomorrow!

practice~ check

Preschool ~Our House

The Letter "Z"

We read some zoo books. Played a game about and elephant and another about a frog. Sang some songs, made some puppets and had a picnic with animal crackers and juice.

The kids played and I think everyone had fun.

The croc puppet was glued on a little clothes pin so it's mouth could snap! I attached a little poem to it.
"If you should meet a crocodile
Don't take a stick and poke him;
Ignore the welcome in his smile,
Be careful not to stroke him.

For as he sleeps upon the Nile,
He thinner gets, and thinner.
And whenever you meet a crocodile,
He's ready for his dinner. "

flood

We had a flood. Our cowboy bathroom's toilet has been running. DH actually had the parts in his truck to fix it and it was "on the list" for that evening, sadly it was too late. I was in J's room talking with her around 7ish and heard a noise, I looked in the bathroom and everything was wet. If I had been barefoot I would have noticed that the carpet around the hall and into both those bedrooms next to the the bathroom was wet as well. And the toilet was over flowing, obviously for a long time. J and I grabbed towels and cleaned it up. After I unstopped the toilet and got the water to stop. Then Papa mopped the floor and I washed the rugs and towels. Then we got out the carpet cleaner and spent two hours+ vacuuming up water. We got 9 buckets out of the carpet.

Today after preschool I need to see if I can borrow a box fan...or go buy one:( Which I really don't want to do. Stinks.

Southern Reading Challenge

"We moved to Mississippi in 1995 and I still don't quite get it. But, through reading southern literature in my rocking chair on the front porch, I'm getting closer to this sense of (strange new) place.
Come join me on the porch this summer and I promise you will meet some of the strangest characters you have ever read while scratching behind my big dog's ears.
It's time for our hot, sweaty summer of reading Southern Books! Are You Ready?!?
The rules are easy: 3 Southern Setting Books by Southern Authors in 3 Months beginning May 15 through August 15!
How can you pass this amazing challenge up? Incentive you say? A tin full of yummy tasting pecans will be sent to a lucky participant every Friday. I'll also be linking y'all's experiences as they come in, just like last year. Sense of Place Contest? Oh, Yeah! Dead Mule Society List? You Bet! Click here for southern book suggestions." Maggie

I did this last year and it was so fun. I love Southern Authors, I don't know why, and summer is the perfect time to read them. So jumping in with two feet here's my list:


Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
The Watermelon King By Daniel Wallace
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, actually a novel by Ernest Gaines

*subject to change if I can't find them or start one and don't like it and want to switch or something else pops up that I'm dying to read.

The button's a link if you want to play:)

BTW, I am still searching for my five non fiction. I plan on doing both challenges. I just haven't gone to the library because we have one book MIA and I need to find it before I can check out. The good news is I returned the others so it's just the one to worry about.

Gas Hog

Why don't they make a hybrid Suburban? It cost us $98.88 to fill our tank yesterday. Ouch! I can't wait until summer for many reason, not the least of which is we won't have very many places to drive.

I wonder if we could do three days a week where we don't drive anywhere? Might be a good summer goal.

hot wax and hot cookies

Last night we had a soccer make up game. The weather was iffy and sprinkly so I was worried they would reschedule again but they didn't. It was a fun game. We won 17 to 4. E got 3 goals, Madissen got 1 and so did Lindsey. The rest were shot by Ryan super star King. He's a bullet. Afterwards we went to Home Depot to buy some paint and they kids were looking at the samples and they picked "the room they want in Maryland". Brother chose a "Cars" theme room picture which totally surprised me. When I asked him about it it turned out he wanted the scooter in the picture and they all thought you could buy the whole thing done and ready. Funny.

Today Lu had preschool and it was raining. During class I decided to go to the nail place and get a pedi, I had some birthday money left and I love them. The little Asian grandma who was there said "you want wax?" "very bushy". Ummm, okay. I actually have always wanted to wax my eyebrows but never have so I figured this was as good a day as any to give it a shot. And, a) ouch! b) it looks nice.

H had Brooklyn come play after school and brother had Blaine. Blaine told me "my mom said you make cookies every day". Really? would you like me to make some? "YES!!" It's funny but somehow I got a reputation in the kindergarten set as a baker/chef. I have had several comments this year from different people and twice when I have met the parents of different kids they have said first how nice E is and second "oh you're the cook". I guess. I do cook...that's why I'm a perfect size 16 ah-hem. What do other people eat I wonder?

sunny Sunday afternoon

How to keep the Sabbath day holy and not just sit in the house is always a challenge. From time to time we will take a drive and find a park and spend some time enjoying the fresh air and each others company. I hope this is acceptable.
Today was one such afternoon. We had a lovely time playing together and seeing spring bloom.

*this is not the picture I meant to select, the thumbnails are so small when the shots are so similar.

my favorite 8 year old!!

my favorite bow~ for baseball season

Primary Carnival

The youth in our ward did a really fun service project. They put on a carnival for the primary.

They did a wonderful job! I know the young kids had a blast and I suspect the big kids did too.

J was the face painter. She created scary tigers, cute puppy dogs, snakes and butterflies and even a santa clause. Whatever the little ones wanted.


The Priests brought their climbing wall. This was a hit. There was always a line and everyone had a chance. Even Lu climbed it and "repelled down" with a lot of help. H went several times and really got the hang of it. Brother did a good job as well. I love these two shots because of Joy's Z. He was up at the top helping the whole time and making the kids feel safe. He was very encouraging. I hope brother will grow up to be as nice a young man.

They had lots of games and food for the kids.

Probably the best part, like always, was hanging out with friends.

Here's S and McKinzie manning one of the games.

H and her friends Amanda, Belle, Alexis and Olivia.

Lu and her friend "other G"