List

1. My friend Kelli and I packed up our kiddos plus one Waldron kiddo and headed off to the Great Park for one of their big balloon rides. We got there and walked right on after getting our "tickets." This is a picture of the entire gang after our balloon ride - Max (1), Jake (7, I think), Ethan, Chloe (3), Luke and Maxwell (4).

The balloon went up about 400 ft. We stood and watched our world get smaller and smaller as we got higher and higher. It was a perfect day for it too, so clear. 2. The boys, well actually Ethan and then Luke by default, have been invited to three birthday parties within the past week. Here they are at one extremely fun party at Pump It Up. Thank you, Lauren, for such a fun time! We have another one to go to in a couple weeks and then it will be Ethan's birthday. I wish I could find a group like my friend Jessica found here. I could not believe everything she got for her little Miah's birthday party. I would NEVER find that here in SoCal.

3. Ok, so this is probably the most exciting news I have to share....Sadie got her ears pierced. I took her to the Piercing Pagoda last Friday afternoon. I just couldn't wait any longer. I packed up the boys and left. We got there and I chose her earrings, sat her on my lap so I could hold her arms down, and bang! bang! pierced ears...voila! While I was choosing her earrings the nice lady working there told me "She will cry, Momma." My reply to her was, "I know. I might too so don't worry about us." She did cry. She probably cried for a few minutes. I should have brought a bottle to comfort her with but I didn't. She didn't even want her paci for a couple minutes. I felt like a bad mom but I'm over it. She's fine and I'm glad I did it now. This picture is in the car when we were headed home.

Here she is moments before the earrings went in.

4. Steve and Seegmiller Johnson played soccer this year. They went from being 4th place (I think it was) to winning the tournament in 1st!!! Way to go guys! The kids and I would go to any of the games that were at 7 and cheer our dad and team on. I didn't know how good Steve is at soccer. See what I mean? Another hidden talent Steve chose not to show me. I swear he doesn't want me to know how cool he is....but he's not foolin' me. We can't wait til the next soccer season. I did not take this picture and this is the best I could get the red eye with my VERY limited photoshop skills.

5. I have to say my two cents about Octomom. You may hate me for it. Don't read it if you don't want to know it. I'm so sick of hearing everyone berate her. Come on, people, get over it. Haven't you ever made a stupid mistake? Even a really big stupid mistake? I know I have. Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with it but you know what? Who cares? Those 14 kids deserve all the help her mom can be given. Even if she were married she would still need all the help she could get. Stop sending her hate mail and threatening to kill her, that just doesn't help anyone now does it?

6. Sadie is a green monster. I don't mean anything related to St. Patrick's day. She's got boogers galore. They are coming out her nose and they are coming out her eyes! What is going on?

7. Obama's coming to my town. He'll be right around the block from me. Maybe I should go see what change looks like....or something.

8. I went to Kindergarten orientation last week for Ethan. I still can't believe he's going to be in Kindergarten in the fall. I got to tour the school, meet the principal and PTA president. I wasn't very excited about Ethan attending this school for the longest time but I have to admit my attitude is changing. They have this really cool program called Jump Start that they do a couple weeks before school starts. One parent gets to bring their kindergartner to school for a few hours for 4 days. This way they can meet all the teachers and meet all the new students and make some friends. I think its such a smart idea. I think I might have to join the PTA....there's a thought.