Summer Fun.

Here are a few fun things we have done this summer.

Our very nice friend, Michelle, let us come in her back yard and pick cherries. We had a great time picking them. Roo liked watching for a while, but she got a little bored with the whole event.
Jman had to count every cherry he picked. I think he had over 350 cherries.
Mr. T wanted to be as big as his brother, so with a little help from Mom he had almost as many cherries as Jman.

Eating otter pops at Uncle Richard's house

Nate's work party is a high light of our summer. The kids love playing bingo, the bouncy toys, eating dinner and having fun.


Too cool or what?

Father's Day

We had a nice Father's day this year and one of my favorite parts was all the kids wrestling with their dad.




The boys had so much fun making this candy bar poster for their dad. We spent all week looking for candy that would make great sayings on the poster. Their favorite line was the one that said "Mom thinks you are one 'Hot Tamale"

My bowling prodigy

Saturday I took my three oldest kids bowling while Nate stayed home with Roo. It was nice to be inside during all the rain, and we had a lot of fun.

Why, you may ask, is this worthy of a post on my blog? Because Boo, my THREE year old bowled a 103!!! I couldn't believe it. We did use the bumpers but not the little ball roller. She had two spares and a strike! Yes, I said a strike, and she didn't even use the bumpers to get it.

We were all amazed at how well she did. She beat both her brothers soundly (I won't embarrass them by telling you how much) but it was more than 10 points. Maybe I have a future bowler on my hands, or maybe she just got incredibly lucky. Only time will tell...

Boo's First Swimming Lessons!

Boo just finished her first swimming lessons. I was a little nervous about putting her in them. She is so hot and cold when it comes to the water. One day she loves it and the next she won't put her face in the water or even think about swimming at all. She LOVED it! I've never seen a child smile much while she was in the water. It was fun to watch. She passed and will start level 2 in a couple of weeks.

Some of these aren't the best pictures, but moving child in the water, lots of glare, what can you do. Maybe I should have Brock come and take some pictures for me.

Swimming lessons

Mr. T. did so well in his first session of swimming lessons this year. His teacher told him he had the best breast stroke in his class! He passed to go into level five for his next class. It was fun to see him do so well. There was no complaining about swimming lessons which was nice coming from him.

I love to watch him swim he just floats in the pool. I don't think he could ever drown, because he always just bobs back up to the top. His teacher tried to teach him how to touch the bottom and he said, "Mom I really tried, but I just kept floating back to the top." That's our Mr. T.

Machine Pitch Baseball

Tman has been playing Machine Pitch Baseball this year. For the most part, he has loved it! But, he hates getting ready and swears he doesn't want to play, and he hates it, and why do I have to make him go; you get the idea. Once he gets there he loves it and we all have fun hanging out with neighbors and friends and visiting.

He had a hard time hitting at first, but Nate really worked with him, and the last game he had three hits! I was so proud of him.
Some of the fans watching the game.

Okay, 3rd post in one day, but when it rains it pours right?!

I was playing a game on the floor with Boo, when my neighbor came over and asked if I could help her jump start her car I said sure and headed over. (Side bar, what ever happened to opening your hood and just connecting the cables to the battery GEESH!!!) Ten minutes later we called another neighbor to come show us HOW to put on the cables and we got the car started. When I got home this is what my living room looked like...





Then I told the kids to clean this mess up before they all died while I ran to the bank and to Walmart. I wasn't gone more than an hour and instead of a clean living room I came home to Boo's room looking like this...

I was excited for summer vacation why?????

This is the Place...

We recently went to This is the Place Memorial Park. It was my first time there and I was really impressed with all the things to do and see. It was baby animal days. Cute cute!

Things I learned yesterday...

1. When you know ahead of time you will be late for something, at least 5 things will happen to make you even later.

2. Being in a hurry always makes me forget things. (5 additional trips into the house to gather forgotten items.)

3. Hydroplaning does happen (luckily not to us.)

4. Hydroplaning causes major accidents on the freeway (5 car pile up, one upside down.)

5. Lots of emergency vehicles have to pass to get to major accidents on the freeway.

6. If your child has recently eaten an orange, his puke doesn't smell quite as bad as normal puke.

7. Nothing is on sale when you have to emergency shop for clothes on Sunday at Shopko for a child covered with puke.

8. It is better to shop for clothing not on sale than to have to clean up puke all over the van.

9. Putting the wrong address into your phone will not get you to your desired destination if you follow the directions it gives you.

10. Tempers may get a little heated after too many things go wrong on your way to anything.

11. Spending a good time with family can make up for a lot of things that have gone wrong.

PTA Convention (CELEBRATE CHILDREN)

In case you don't know me very well, I'm heavily involved in our grade school PTA. I've been on the board for several years now and don't see an end any time soon. Lots and lots and lots of hours spent at the school in many different areas, but I secretly love it.

One of the funnest parts of being on the board is PTA convention. Two days one night, no kids, friends, fun, food, motivational speakers, lots of free stuff (this year there was even a $20.00 gift card to Applebees,) and if you are lucky you might even learn something about your new job for next year. I'll be the treasurer. If you know me please don't laugh too loud; my accountant husband has promised to help. (I'll just write the checks.) Anyway, back to the real subject; Convention. If you have never been, I strongly recommend getting involved in PTA just so you can go. It is the BEST!!!

My personal discovery

Don't you love it when you discover something by accident? I was using Lime Away on my soap holder in the bathtub last night, trying to get rid of some build up. I put it on and planned on letting it sit for a few minutes and fell asleep on the couch.

The next morning when I remembered it was there, the little ring where the water goes out was coated in it, and I thought I'd ruined it. Imagine my surprise when I wiped it off and it was perfectly clean! For years I've hated my bath tub because the faucet and ring were so stained and I couldn't get them clean. I coated the faucet and left it for a long time (had to do it a couple of times) but it is now clean!!! I couldn't believe it! I've used Lime Away my whole life, and never knew it could do that.

Dumb I know, but it was a great find for me.

Wet pants

I'm feeling a little frustrated right now. My darling 7 year old who I love dearly has now wet his pants three times in the past WEEK!!! This time at school and he told me he couldn't go to the bathroom because his friend D. told him it was haunted. I'm trying to find out if there are underlying problems here, but it is hard not to just be FURIOUS!!!

Willy Wonka Jr.

Life at our house has revolved around Willy Wonka Jr. It has been so much fun listening to the music, helping with costumes, watching the kids practice, and getting ready for the big production.

Well last Thursday was the 1st big night! They did a great job! Mr. T was an Oompa Loompa and a squirrel (so cute!). Jman was Augustus Gloop. I tried to get Jman to let me stuff his whole body, but he drew the line at his shirt.

Jman did a great job on his song and so did all the other cute kids. Veruka did such a good job she blew the speakers with her scream!

One performance down, and Friday night is the final performance. It will be nice when it is over, but I think we will all miss it.

Free food

Ever have one of those nights out where few things go right, yet you have a great time anyway? That was our dinner Friday night. Nate and I had a very rare date night and went to Texas Roadhouse. We had a Restaurant.com coupon and I was so looking forward to a night out.

When we got the restaurant there was a 60 to 70 minute wait, which we had been expecting. We went shopping and just talked while we waited. Finally we got to our table and they made a big deal about it being my first time. The manager came to welcome me and gave us a coupon for a free appetizer on our next visit.

We ordered our food, got our drinks and I just didn't like mine. There was nothing wrong with it I just didn't care for the flavor. So I asked our server if I could trade it for something else. No big deal. Well, a 1/2 hour goes by and no food, 40 minutes, no food. Finally our server comes by and asks us again what we ordered. We tell him and a minute later he comes back and tells us our order has been lost. The manager comes over apologizes profusely and gives us another $25.00 gift certificate for our next visit. Wow! I'll take it, since we were really enjoying having a chance to just sit and talk anyway.

Our dinner finally came and I cut into my steak that I'd ordered medium... WELL DONE! I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to say anything because they had already been so nice to us. Half the steak was fine so I ate that and enjoyed the rest of my meal. When our poor server came and asked how the meal was, I didn't say anything, but he could tell by the look on my face that something wasn't right. I showed him my steak and he was appalled! He apologized again and the next thing I know he came with our bill $0.00. I told him that definitely wasn't necessary, but he insisted as did the manager who came to our table yet again.

It was a series of misfortunate events, but they were so great about it. I definitely would recommended Texas Roadhouse and we will be going back again!

Sick baby

Just for journaling purposes Roo has been sick again. It started about 5 days ago. Low fever, runny nose, raspy voice. She is on antibiotics and allergy medicine. Hope to find an answer soon...

Why?

Why do we get so wrapped up in the frustration of the moment? When if we just sat back and looked at the whole picture we would find it really isn't such a big deal after all?

I make such a HUGE deal about things that really just don't matter and I try to make my problems the center of the universe when they are really just grains of sand on a vast sea shore like everybody else's problems and no where near the center of anything.

Let's just say t-shirt orders are trying to get the best of me. When really it is a small problem in the grand scheme of the entire school play. Live and learn, live and learn.

Good times

I'm in charge of the t-shirts for the school play. This wouldn't be that big of a deal if people would just turn in their order forms when they were asked to turn them in, but alas, life can't be that easy.

So instead I get to make daily or 2 or 3 time daily trips to the school to gather forms and get them turned in. On Tuesday it was a big deadline and I had to get the orders in that morning. So I'm at the school with Boo, Roo, and the 15 month old I babysit running around trying to get things done. We headed out into the pouring rain and I hustled to get all three kids in their car seats and tried to stay dry. I hopped in the van and took off. We got some lunch, went to Walmart (it's Jman's birthday and he wanted donuts) and headed back to the school to do the stage crew's orders for shirts.

When I opened the trunk to get out the stroller, no stroller to be found! "Someone stole my stroller!" was my first thought. Then I looked around the parking lot to where I had parked earlier and imagine my surprise to find it sitting in the rain full of water!!!

This means I got to take 3 little ones into the school with nothing to keep them confined. NIGHTMARE! I had to make copies and deliver them to the individual classrooms while trying to heard two babies and a 3 year old along with me. I'm sure we made quite a sight and I felt like I had a truly good work out by the time I was done.

I WANT MY MIND BACK!!! If anyone knows where I left it please let me know. I think it is divided between all my children.

Sick baby

Okay, this post is for me because I use this as kind of a journal. I decided to track exactly how often Roo gets sick. Her fever today is 102 degrees runny nose and all around crankiness. Everyone sigh on my behalf (just kiddin.)

New background

I just found out one of my good friends is secretly doing blog backgrounds! Isn't it cute? She just came out of the closet and posted it on her blog! I love them Ashley! If you are interested in checking out her cute designs here is the link http://dottydotdotdesign1.blogspot.com/ Cute, cute cute!

Need a pick me up?

So on those rough mornings when you can't get your kids out of bed, things just aren't getting done, and you are really FRUSTRATED... post cute pictures of your family on your blog and then look back at all the awesome comments from other people.

Thanks everyone! It was just what I needed this morning.

I got the pictures taken at Target. I think they do a great job at a reasonable price, if you can decide what you need without buying what you don't need. (I didn't do well on that part this time.)

Anyway, thanks again for the nice comments and if you post cute pictures of your family on your blogs... I promise to leave great comments for you too!