While DH was away

Thursday, May 17 - Sunday, May 20

While DH was gone for the Reach the Beach the kids and I watched the new muppets movie, The Muppets (loved it).  I also took the kids (minus M&M who was at a friend's house) to the Dollar Store to pick out a toy or treat for themselves.  We got Ring Pops for MJ and Kay and they both loved them.  Kay also picked out some bubbles and had fun playing with them at Luke's soccer game on Saturday.  There was a dog there that went crazy trying to catch the bubbles whenever she blew them and the kids all loved that!  It was Luke's last soccer game and his coach (& his wife) gave the kids some homemade brownies and a small cake that was decorated like a soccer ball.  Even though it was a rocky season, they ended with a win and the coach was a pretty nice guy overall.

Zoo field trip

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Kitty's 1st grade class went to the zoo on the second to last day of school and I was able to come along and bring M&M, Kay and MJ as well.  My parents also met us at the zoo and walked around with us some.  I also had two other kids from her class that I was chaperoning.  All I can say is that I am so glad that M&M was able to come with us to help out with MJ especially!  (M&M's last day of school was June 1st.)

They had just opened up a new exhibit at the zoo that has polar bears, black bears, seals, sea lions, and otters.  The observation area for the seals and sea lions was pretty cool!  Thankfully the weather was perfect for the zoo!  The day before we were up in the 90s, but on this day it was in the upper 70s/80s and we had a little bit of a cool front go through just before we left and the kids were actually a little cold.  I loved it!

Reach the Beach 2012

Saturday, May 19, 2012

DH participated in the Reach the Beach 100 mile bike ride from Portland to the Coast again this year.  This time around he and his brother did the first half of the ride and then their dad joined them for the last half.  I think they all really enjoyed it this year.

Doctor's appt

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

It's been a while since I have taken the kids to the doctor's office so I had an appointment today for MJ and Kay for a checkup and some immunizations.  At first the nurse came in and was doing all of the initial measurements and eye exam and then Kay asked when the doctor was going to have her sit on the table.  I told her that the this was the nurse that was checking her and the doctor would be in in another minute or two.  She then asked me what color skin the doctor has.  I wasn't quite sure what kind of an answer she was looking for so I asked her what color skin she has.  She responded that she has pink color skin.  I then told her that the doctor has the same color skin.  Then she said, "Oh.  I'm a little lighter."

When it was time for the shots, Kay went first and she wasn't too happy about them hurting.  After she was through and I put MJ on my lap for her turn, Kay tried to warn her that it was going to hurt and that she wasn't going to like it.

When MJ got her shot she at first jumped a little and then she said, "Hurts", and she didn't cry at all.  The nurse got a kick out of that.

End of Soccer Season 2011-2012

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Last Saturday we finally finished up another soccer season. M&M ended up with a winning season and I think she finally started to enjoy her team and coach by the end of the year, but it was nothing like the experience she had the previous year. If only we could find more coaches and teams like the one she had last year! Right now we are not sure whether she will play next year or not. The fall season is definitely out for her because of Marching Band, but she really enjoys playing and wouldn't mind playing for the spring season if we can find a team and/or league for her to play with. I'm not sure if the league we are currently with allows the kids to sign up for just the fall or spring anymore.

Luke enjoyed his practices and he had a coach who really knew his stuff, but the games were ridiculous... His coach had the hardest time keeping his cool during the games and at times really expected too much out of the kids (and the refs). It was really frustrating because he almost seemed like two different people between the practices and the games. Unfortunately his team had a losing season and many of us parents sat on the sidelines shaking our heads at how unreasonable the coach was acting. Finally by the end of the season a fellow parent and I talked about joining up to coach our sons next year and anyone else that wanted to join us. I wouldn't mind coaching next year but with my current health condition I am hesitant to head up a team in case my cancer comes back and I need to go through more treatments. The other parent has agreed to head up the team and I will be there as the assistant to help at practices and to fill in when he is out of town for his job. Things actually turned out rather nicely because after Luke's last game his current coach said that he will not be coaching next year and asked if anyone was interested so we could keep together the kids that want to play next year. So far we have several kids signed up with our team and there are a few others that we know who have expressed interest in joining us. I think it will be a fun group and I am looking forward to a better season next year!

Blondie's team was a little frustrating as well. I'm not sure why but they really struggled the whole season long and seriously bunched up at every game - so much so that they were exhausted by the end of each game for all the running they did chasing the ball around. Blondie says that she really enjoys playing, but we are undecided at this point if we are going to sign her up again and if so if we will keep her on a coed team or put her back on an all-girls team.

Kitty has also expressed interest in playing soccer next year, so we need to decide that as well. I have until Sunday to make our decisions and get everyone registered...

(I'll have to post more pictures of the soccer season at a later date.)

Memorial Day 2012

Monday, May 28, 2012

We had my sister and her family come over to spend Memorial Day with us this year (my parents were out of town).  We had a barbecue and enjoyed this fun cake again.  I made it first 2 years ago for Independence Day.  M&M, Blondie and Kitty designed and decorated the top of the cake.

Swimming lessons

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

If you follow my lemonade blog you will know that I have the 4 older kids in swimming lessons right now.  After the first day of lessons I realized that I was going to have an impossible time trying to keep MJ out of the water and sitting on the side of the pool for that whole hour so I decided to pay for myself and Kay to swim (MJ gets to swim for free).  I have had good days and bad days there with MJ at the pool.  On Monday she was in a grumpy mood and screamed and fought me every time I tried to help her in the water or tried to carry her in the pool.  She also thought it was fun to climb up the stairs to the alligator slide that they have there, but once she got to the top she didn't want to slide down.  Yesterday was much better because the smaller kiddy pool was open and she had fun walking around in there and getting more comfortable in the water.  Twice though she tried getting out of the little pool and walked over to the big pool by herself.  I always have to keep on my toes with her around (plus having to watch Kay at the same time who also has no fear in the water).  Twice while we were in the big pool, MJ lost her balance and went completely under.  Luckily I was close both times and was able to pull her out quickly.  Each time she came up out of the water she would catch her breath and then say to me, "Ya okay?"  (She kind of says that as one word slurred together.  It almost sounds like, "Yokay?"

M&M, Luke, Blondie and Kitty all did really well with their lessons and I think they all learned quite a bit.  I'm glad I was finally able to get them in some lessons - I've been wanting to do this for a while now but was never able to work it out with our schedule.  We'll have to take a break for the month of June and then I'll have to see if I can get them signed up with some more lessons after that.  I also think that I will sign Kay up for some swimming lessons during the day once school starts up again so she can do something while the older kids are at school.

Father/Son Campout - 2012

Friday, May 4, 2012

DH was able to take Luke on the Fathers and Sons ward campout this year again.  At first it was scheduled for Mother's Day weekend, but for some reason they decided just a week ahead of time to switch it.  I think that because of that there wasn't very good attendance.  A couple of Luke's friends went though and it was warmer than the scout campout and I think they both had a good time.  DH isn't a huge fan of camping so I have to do lots of encouraging to get him to go each year when he is able!  (M&M and I keep complaining that they should have a Mothers and Daughters campout!  Now that would be fun!)

While they were gone the girls and I got some dinner at McDonalds and then came back to watch Bedknobs and Broomsticks. We took a break partway through the movie and headed to Arctic Circle to get some shakes. The kids really enjoyed that. We came back and I put MJ and Kay to bed and then the rest of us sat down to finish watching the movie together. When we neared the end of the movie, the recording ended before the movie was finished! We were bummed! Now I need to try and check it out from the library so we can watch the end of the show!

National Junior Honor Society

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

M&M was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society at her school.  She had to apply for it by writing an essay and describing service activities she has participated in.  They also had to have a certain GPA to be considered.  Now over the next year she has to give a certain number of hours of service throughout the school year.  Quite a few of her friends also were inducted so it should be a fun group for her to participate in.

My favorite part of the induction ceremony was when the current NJHS officers (who are currently 9th graders) each got up and spoke about one of the character traits that the society focuses their service on. One of the officers got up and spoke about the character trait of "scholarship" and how important and nice it is for those about to go into college to be able to apply for and earn scholarships to help pay for their college. I just don't think that that was the correct definition of the word scholarship that they were looking for! I just sat there the whole time during her speech, shaking my head and smiling to myself. I think that next time the teacher/administrator in charge of the ceremony should review and/or help the kids with their speeches!

Kay talk

One day last week, Kay came downstairs after waking up and I asked her how she slept. This is what she told me:

"I had the most wonderful dream last night! I dreamt that we went swimming. I kept having more and more dreams. I had a dream about cookie monster."


Then one day after M&M got home from school, Kay wanted to play her ipod, but the battery needed charging. This is what Kay told me:

"I'm going to wait until M&M's ipod is alive - it's dead right now."