Thank You!

A huge "THANKS" to Jerianne, my cute and multi-talented friend, for helping me with my beautiful new blog header thingy. She also walked me through a step-by-step tutorial for beginning and succeeding at digital scrapbooking. I'm ready to get started after I take a trip to Costco for a new software program. I'm very excited to start and not keep racking up the unfinished years of photos of my adorable kids. (Lucy, at the moment, is thinking she is hilarious by putting her various body parts across the laptop keyboard while I type. If I have misspelled words or type incoherent sentences, it's her fault. Little stinker. Her laugh is so cute though!)

We went to the new Jump On It indoor trampoline place with cousins today. The boys--especially Shea--loved it. They have around 60 rectangular trampolines joined together by pads in a huge warehouse. My kids spent two hours running across and jumping on the
tramps. We'll definitely be going back.
After the sweaty play time, we all went to Riverside for dinner. Yum. The extra bonus was not having to clean up after the 12 kids we had with us!

Just some thoughts...
Is it bad that Camden told me once that he doesn't like kindergarten? Is it just the day?
I know they are so tired on Tuesdays and Thursdays when they have both Learning Dynamics and Cedar Ridge. Am I a bad mom for making them do both? Will they get used to the schedule?
Five days a week (19 hours) is a lot of time for a 5-year-old to be in school. It's a part-time job!
Is anyone else experiencing this with their kindergarteners?

Kindergarten

Cam
Coop

We did it. When I say "we" I mean the boys and me too I guess. We sucessfully said goodbye at the door with no tears and big smiles. I haven't cried yet, but I am finding myself counting down the minutes until I get to pick them up. I know...that will wear off quickly, but I love those boys! I am excited for them and their new adventures. I will be excited (and more productive) once I get used to this new routine.

Lucy, on the other hand, is not excited; nor is she happy about being home alone with me for so long. She sat herself down at the boys' kindergarten table and refused to leave. She screamed when we left the school, and she cried most of the way home. Poor baby. What a change to go from spending your time with your two older, cooler, more active brothers to spending your time with your mom who runs errands, cleans, and does other not fun things. No wonder she's having issues.

If I can get her to decide a nap would be good at this time every day I could be really productive. I could try the new family file stuff for genealogy, or I could learn digital scrapbooking (which is on my list for this week), or I could do household chores.The possibilities are endless.
I did smile as I walked down the hall after handing in the boys' medical reports and seeing several neighborhood kids headed to the library or somewhere. They were excited to see a familiar face I think.

Happy 12th Birthday to Chase! He is one of our favorite cousins...who unfortunately lives too far away now. Thanks for always being such a good example to Cam and Coop and for playing with them. We love you. Have a great day and we'll see you soon!

A busy week and a Sunday evening

I've checked my blog every day to see if I've posted anything new. Nope. I've wanted to and have even sat down a few times to do it. So, here I am at the end of another week. It went fast and was pretty busy for the most part.

Camden and Cooper spent the first part of the week meeting their new teachers. So far I have been impressed with both of them. I was so impressed, I guess, that I signed up to be the kindergarten room mother for their class. I only have Lucy at home, and I am lucky enough to have a husband who works from home and is great to help out whenever I need him. I can leave Lucy with him while I attend to my room motherly duties. I like to have duties. They make me feel needed.

Friday was the dreaded visit to the doctor. I really liked our new Dr. Whiting, but I'm not sure I'll ever convince Cam and Coop to go back. They have been traumatized by their "pokes." They had to get four plus a prick on the finger. Not fun when you're only expecting one. They now ask me if they ever have to get any more shots and at first I told them no. Then Shea chastised me for lying, so the next time they asked I told them the truth. That set them off on a 30 minute crying and whining session, so I think I'll go back to lying. Since then I've pleaded the fifth. I'm not talking about it with them or with anyone. They have to have a hepatitis booster in 6 months, and I'm already dreading it.

Saturday was the boys' first soccer game. They both did so well! They both scored goals, (not that anyone keeps score) and they ran faster and longer than the other kids. They were way more aggressive than I thought they would be too. They stayed right with the ball and the other seven kicking children. A few times they broke away with the ball and kicked it the length of the field. The game was fun to watch, and my boys were very coordinated. I was proud.

They have been wearing their soccer uniforms--shin guards, cleats, and all--for three days. They have already been washed twice since Wednesday! They only take them off to put pajamas on, and when that happens, Lucy has the jersey in her hand and wants to wear it. She ends up wearing it until I slip it off her when she's asleep. Silly girl.

I'm looking forward to the boys' first day of kindergarten on Tuesday! They are very excited and very ready. If I think too much about all that kindergarten entails by way of how they've grown and changed since I carried them in my tummy...I get really sad. My babies are growing up and entering the world. I'll be sending them off on missions before I know it.

I've got to stop that train of thought right there...

Happy new week!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I love you for always thinking of others before yourself, for loving my babies and my husband, for teaching me almost everything I know, for showing me how to serve by doing service, for having so much fun doing girl stuff, and for being a wonderful mother and friend.

Her birthday was actually yesterday, the same day Shea and I celebrate our anniversary, but with it being Sunday...

My parents had a fireside at their home where Cam's friend Nobuaki told his conversion story and sang songs about being the light. It was a great evening. Since we had that going on (and the fact that we get done with church at 4 and Shea doesn't get home until about 5:30) we celebrated this evening with a Baskin-Robbins mint chocolate chip fudge nut cake--minus the cake. We're not a big cake-eating family.

Lame excuse as to why I'm a day late with my post again, but that's the truth.

The boys toured their school today. They were very excited about the library and fascinated with the office and why a kid would have to go there. They are excited to meet their Learning Dynamics teacher, Mrs. Medved, tomorrow and their kindergarten teacher, Miss Allen, on Wednesday. They are also not as scared for their doctor visit on Friday since they found out he is Boston, Audrey, and Brynn E.'s doctor. Somehow, that makes shots not as scary. Phew!

Our 7th Anniversary Dinner

Our anniversary is on Sunday, so we decided to celebrate last night with dinner at the Tree Room at Sundance and a movie. We had such a great evening together. We both realized what a wonderful seven years it has been, and we are both looking forward to the next seven.

Dinner was delicious. We started with gnocchi and portofino mushrooms with a light mushroom sauce and shaved parmesan. We also had a bowl of creamed eggplant soup with Jamaican Jerk seasoning and a mango drizzle. For all you Rumbi soup lovers, you would have LOVED it. It was yummy!

Next we both had the Sundance salad with plumped currants, candied pecans and the house viniagrette dressing. My main course was halibut over creamy artichoke risotto with fresh green beans and squash. Shea had the buffalo flank steak that was cooked over the apple wood grill with an ancho chili lime glaze. Both our entrees were delicious!

We ended the evening with the fresh berries and custard.

My mouth is watering just thinking about how wonderful our food was!

We then drove to Wynnsong to see Stardust. Neither of us knew very much about it besides seeing a few previews of it. It was so good! It is a fairy tale story, and we both loved it. It wasn't too girly, and it wasn't too bloody. Actually the only swear word I remember was a d... somewhere. So, it was very clean.

Thank you to Nana and Papa for watching our kids last night! They love being at your house, and we love how attentive and fun you are with them! We love you!

School Days...

The boys are getting so excited to start school next week! We have a meet-the-teacher or a tour of the school or something from Monday to Thursday next week. They start actual Kindergarten on Tuesday the 28th. Yea! We took these pictures last week when we went to go find out what their teacher's name is. Lucy is going to miss these guys!

I can't believe my babies are growing up...

And I love this picture of Lucy and Aunt Olivia. Cute girls!

Happy Birthday, Cameron!

Again, I'm a day late, but...

Happy 21st Birthday, Cam!

Blah

Shea just checked our online credit card statement. Someone has stolen his work AMEX number and charged well over $12,000! I am just sick that someone would actually do something like that. Seriously, the pit in my stomach...
Of course he called and canceled the card. The fraud lady reassured him that we wouldn't be responsible for any of the charges, but still. Who are these people who steal credit card numbers? Who raised them? Why are they such idiots?
I feel so naseous right now. Ugh.

He's home!

It was so wonderful to see Cam again. He's so darling! We loved spending the evening together with the whole family. Lucy, Audrey, and Eli didn't know what to think, but they're warming up to Cam quickly. Cam and Coop were excited, but a little shy. Today will probably be a different story. Cam was back to teasing and playing with them the minute he stepped off the plane.

T minus 3 hours...

Until we get to hug Uncle Cam at the airport!

Sleepover and Chuck E. Cheese

My boys are darn lucky. They know to ask their Aunt Shannon for a sleepover, and she can't say no! She immediately plans the date, the menu, and the next day's fun activities! My boys always show up and have more fun in 18 hours that they have in a normal week! (I'm kidding, but it is a fun-packed, fast-paced party time!)
They showed up and got Boston's new fish all settled. Then they got jammies on, ate cereal and cookies before bed, brushed teeth, and played Nintendo until they fell asleep!
Today I met them at Chuck E. Cheese. Aunt Shannon bought 200 tokens for Boston, Camden, Cooper, and her babies to share. They were running around like crazy kids! They had a great first trip there. It was so fun!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Shannon!

Two more sleeps until we see Uncle Cam...

Mamma Mia!

My mom took me, Candy, Kelly, Shannon, and Matt to see Mamma Mia at the Capitol on Saturday. It was so fun to hang out with the girls and Matt! (He is such a darling stud muffin, by the way.) We had a great time dancing in our seats to the ABBA songs. Kelly and my mom had fun reliving the 70s. (Crazy stranger picture taker lady took a blurry pic. Sorry!)

Thanks, Mom!

And a HUGE thank you to Shea for taking such great care of the kids while I was out. They were all happy and fed when I got home. He is such a good dad.

Saturday night we went to our friends' house for dinner and games. We had a great time, and the kids were crazy together!

Church was good today. Lucy slept through most of sacrament meeting and sunday school. Yea! She was ready to leave by RS time though. She kept grabbing my finger and trying to drag me to the door. When that didn't work, she stood at the door and pushed it repeatedly to try and get it to open so she could escape. No such luck.

We had our Taylor FHE at our house tonight. We had great food, but really missed Todd and Jane and kids, Jake, and Judd and Candace who are on vacation. It wasn't the same! Hannah and Reese were with their other grandma, so they were missing. We only had 9 adults and 7 kids! We're usually 32 people!

And for those who are counting down with me...5 sleeps until Cam gets home from Japan!

Audrey Rose

Happy 1st Birthday, Audrey!!!!

It was actually yesterday, but today's her big party. We're going swimming and having dinner and Ben and Olivia's clubhouse. The boys are very excited. Adam and Ashley will be there, and Olivia's brother, Richard, just returned from his mission to Russia/Georgia (the country) last night!
Seven more sleeps until we pick up Uncle Cam from the airport!!!

(I have to run upstairs to post pictures from that computer...)

Cheeseburger!

That's what the boys yell as they are about to steal the cheese from off the counter while I'm preparing a meal. Then all three of them sit around and do this...

Cutting slices of cheese from off the block doesn't help. I've tried. They still prefer to take enormous bites out of it. I'm going to attribute this little quirk to Shea. He's the cheese lover, and he's obviously passed it on to the kiddos.

I got out of the shower the other day and found this...
So sweet!

And lately, Lucy has been in love with her Daddy. It is the sweetest thing to see her grab hold of his finger and walk him around the house. He gets her whatever she wants, and they laugh and play together a lot! Those are rewarding mommy moments!