Thursday, May 29, 2008

My new toy & a couple of my little boys

Nate making a funny face underwater for me. He said I made the spa too hot to open his eyes. The pool is just way to cold for me to get in.


4 of my pretty birthday toes underwater. Hopefully I'll get better with my skills.

Baby Al kickin back and of course making faces. Why can't they ever just smile?

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

School's out for summer!

It's over. Another year of fun school. My kids are so happy. The fighting has already began. I better get some chore charts made and lay down the rules.


DUUUUUUUUHHHHHHH!!!!
That is all I can think of when I look at this picture of Zach and Jared from this afternoon. I hope they spend more time outside than in front of the tube this summer. On the flip side, Zach and Jake finally got their XBOX 360 after earning straight A's all year (deal with Big Daddy-my little bragging moment).

I had a little fun with Benny and his buddies this morning while they wrapped up Kindergarten--can't wait to do it again next year!

Hannah, Benjamin & Owen--aren't they cute?

Jake with his little posse. Tough 5th graders now.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

29 Again


Thanks to all of my wonderful friends and family who helped make sure I had another great 29th birthday. I had fun with my supersonic pretty kitty girlfriends yesterday without kids at breakfast. Today my mom took the day off and we played all day. We started off at the kids talent show. Britton got down to Neil Diamond on his electric guitar and Jake gave it his all on the piano. Great entertainment. Then we hit breakfast and the grocery store. Very exciting. Next we hit 7-eleven for Slurpees to keep the 3 little boys happy while we enjoyed a pedicure--thanks Kim and Dana! When I got home I found some wonderful chocolate treats from Allie and a cute wooden star her talentness whipped up for me. Thank you Allie, you always make me feel loved!
My dad made a great dinner and baked me a cake and my brother and Michelle came over with 3 of the girls to help celebrate. It was a good day and I look forward to another year of fun!

We obviously wore out baby Al. When we got home tonight he went to potty and the next thing you know--loud snoring is echoing from the bathroom! I love that boy!

Monday, May 26, 2008

Now if it would only warm up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I am so excited--I just got a cool new camera for my almost birthday that is waterproof. SO if it would only warm back up I can take some fun pictures of the little animals underwater! Of course the 50 degree temperature drop since last week has not stopped my smart children from swimming. But there is no way I am getting in!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

It's almost time!


I know I am not like lots of my favorite mom friends, because I get so excited for school to be out. But I really can't wait. I love when I get to have all the bratty boys to myself. I love when we don't have to be on such a tight schedule and they don't run out the door every morning to hang out with some other lady.

I like to be in charge. I like to know who they're playing with. I like to know what they're eating. I like to know how they're acting. I like to know who they're talking to.

We usually start out the summer with great intentions of doing lots of fun and exciting things together. Beach trips, movies, friends. It doesn't always end up that way, but hey we try. Summer just flies by too fast. August 18th will be here before you know. And who knows--I might be really happy to kick them out the door by then!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

For my loyal fan........



This post is for you. You know who you are. You crack me up!

Since having my camera stolen while on our cruise adventure, I have had a hard time finding exciting things to share with my family far away and friends here and there. Usually my silly pictures are the inspiration for the blah blah that comes out of my mouth.

(I hope Big Daddy reads this one) I have been shopping for a new one, and have been overwhelmed by the choices out there. I am working on downloading pics from our video camera and will update soon. We have been VERY busy and there is plenty (that probably only my mother-in-law JoMama will care about) that has been going on around here.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Nice Day

Mother's Day turned out to be a very nice day! We had breakfast with my parents, my brother, his girlfriend, her daughters, her mom and brother. It was nice not to cook or clean up. Then we went to church, and came home to everyone swimming & bbqing in our backyard. It was a beautiful day outside and fun to spend time with our family.

Rob gave me some big ole shiny diamond earrings in a flower design? The boys gave me stuff they made at school, and my sweet Jake wrote this poem I have to share:


MOM

Mom is the best
She likes the color red
Mom doesn't like fish
She likes to lay in bed

Mom cooks
Mom cleans
Mom is busy
Mom isn't very mean

Mom is mean when she's in a bad mood
Mom makes me play piano
Mom makes me do chores
I hate it when she sings soprano


Mom likes chicken
She likes Italian
Mom has 5 children
She wants to ride a stallion

Mom is nice
I love her such
She is so sweet
I love her so much

by JAKE


The poor kid, I could not stop laughing when I read this. I completely lost it when I read I want to ride a stallion. Sweet Innocent boy--TOO FUNNY!

Friday, May 9, 2008

OK....I take it all back

So I did get a set of handprints already.................................

but I also got a really awesome bracelet and a beautiful tissue paper flower.

I went to Nate's school for a Mother's Day Tea Party. It turned out to be a great lunch and pink lemonade, all with the cutest boy ever (and his girlfriend). It made me eat my words from my earlier post and I had a great time. The kids all sat on their moms lap and their teacher read I Love you Forever. It was wonderful. It made me slightly teary and very grateful I get to be these dirty boys mom. Forever.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!

I can't wait for Sunday. Mother's Day is always a perfect day. The house always stays clean by my family,my kids never complain or fight, I always get some really cool poem (or like 3 or 4) with a handprint attached. If I'm really lucky I'll get a nice homemade coupon book or a nice list of reasons why they like me (you're a good cooker, etc)or maybe even some flowers from my own garden. The topper one year was a fishing pole?

Don't get me wrong, I love a nice handprint preserved in plaster to cherish forever and I would even like to go fishing sometime. However, I just would like a nice day to rest, relax and be indulged in someway on some deserted island.

Really I just have to gear myself up NOW to handle what will go on. I can't believe I'm so negative, but every year I seem to have a melt down at some point. I think I should just plan to go away every Mother's Day weekend and avoid being a crappy mom. At least Rob usually takes them camping on the father/son campout every year---except this one of course because we have 2 baseball games tonight!

Why can't we just skip Mother's Day? How do all you handle it? What are your plans?

American Elementary Carnival


After lots of work, phone calls, emails and craziness our school carnival took place on Friday night. I always wonder why I get myself so involved in projects that don't focus on our family or home. But when they are over it is so rewarding to see the happiness on the kids faces that are enjoying my efforts ( and those of a few other great moms!)
Zach on the student body officers WALL of FAME (he's the activities director)

Our theme this year was "Hooray for Hollywood!" I helped by organizing all the games, booths and volunteers. We made around $9000 profit, so that wasn't bad either! My kids had a great time, and I even talked Big Daddy into skipping Coaching Benny's game to come. I'm still amazed about that! He was a great help to me, and stayed until everything was completely cleaned-up.

I enlisted the help of the Farnsworth's to make some new games that our new school could keep to reuse. They were so great and creative to make a PLINKO game, Tic-Tac-Toe and a spinning wheel. I am grateful for great friends like Robert & Amy!


I did have the opportunity to meet some really great parents at our school. My kids have had a hard time loving this new school, but I think it's getting better (for me too!).

A few of my favorite kids, Jared and Hannah all glammed up, and Olivia as cute as ever!