Spring Break 2012

 This last week has been Spring Break for the kids and we have not done much.  Last Friday I woke up with a hoarse voice and didn't feel too great, it progressively got worse and I wasn't up to doing too much.  I had entertained the idea of visiting my sister and her family in St. Louis but decided Thursday that I probably needed to save some money.  I am glad I did because I would not have had fun with a chest/head cold that was draining me of energy.  Finally this morning I went to the doctor (I woke up with goopy eyes and decided I probably better be seen) and low and behold I have a massive sinus infection.  Well now I am on medication and hopefully I am on the mend.

I hope the kids have enjoyed there break, like I said we haven't done too much but they have been able to go with friends and hang out (as they say). Ryan has had an air soft war with friends, Clark had a friend over and played Xbox, both Clark and Ryan went to an Xbox party, Emma has played with friends and had a sleepover with a friend, Clark and Ryan had/have soccer practice and tomorrow the boys are planning on another air soft war and maybe the park (if the weather holds out, we are supposed to get some rain).

 Emma and her friends having a water fight, they started with water balloons and resorted to dumping water on each other.  Crazy girls!!

 I had told the kids we would go to the zoo this week and I figured today would be the best (in case we received rain tomorrow).  Because you know when you mention it they think you are saying I promise we will do it.  We had invited Emma's friend to go with us and the boys decided they didnwe had't want to go (Xbox is more important didn't you know). They did have to do some chores since they chose not to go with their family, but that didn't discourage them.  That's okay we had fun anyway.

 Waiting for the train

 Andrew was so excited to ride on the train, he was a little nervous when it started to go but he was loving it.

 

 They had a new exhibit this time.  It's called Parakeet Cove and you can go inside and try to hold the birds.  First you have to buy a stick with bird food on it and then try to get a bird on your stick.  They had a blast, they didn't want to leave.  Andrew kept trying to kick them, I had to put a stop to that real quick.

 

 A parakeet landed on Emma's hand and another one tried to climb her shirt.

 

 Andrew decided he would try to pick up a bird.  Emma had found a lost stick and gave it to him.  It was so funny to watch him, he would almost get a bird on it and lift it up and then the bird would fly away.  He was determined to get one.

Eating my shoes and laces.

Andrew loved the "efalumps" (elephants).  He climbed out of the stroller so he could see them better.  Then he wanted Em to hold him up higher he loved the baby one (or the five year old one).

He kept asking to see the monkeys.  When we would want to move on and Andrew didn't want to I would say let's go see the monkeys they are coming up and he would hurry and sit down.

I hope they had fun, I am now worn out (I am feeling a little better, but then I have had a few hours in the afternoon where I felt a little better an then it would hit again) and ready for a nap but that is probably not in the forecast.  Now it is time for dinner and for soccer practice (I only have one tonight) thank you to spring break Emma hasn't had practice all week.

Spring band concert

I am late at posting, last week Ryan has his Spring band recital.

Ryan performing in the Jazz Band.  To be in the Jazz Band 1: you have to be in eighth grade with the exception of the bass keyboard and 2: you have to try out for it.  He made it and has loved being in the jazz band.  He is the bass you hear in the video.   Sound familiar?  (Pink Panther Theme song)

 Jazz Band

 Beginning Band

Ryan is sixth chair in the clarinets, which is awesome because there are twenty plus clarinets and I was never that good.  One of his good friends is in fifth chair and it seems where he goes she is still one up.

He loves band, I wish he would just practice more.  He could be so much better maybe even first chair.  Ryan is very talented in the musical field, he is an awesome clarinetist and pianist.  I hope he sticks with it, he could have some awesome scholarships if he keeps it up.

Being Pretty

A friend of mine posted this article about being pretty found here.   I thought it was great. My nine year old has already come home with the concerns of what she hears how she is supposed to look.   I think it is sad how the world views women, I personally would rather be pretty than hot (as the article states).

Easter is on its way!!

Last night our ward had our annual Easter Egg Hunt.  Yes, it is quite early but because we have spring break next week and the week after that the scouts are going to be getting ready for their yard sale, last night was the only available night without having to have an extra activity (Tuesday's is when our ward has young women/young men etc.).  It was a fun activity.  The primary presidency planned it, the young men and women had games for the kids, the bishop had a wonderful devotional and then cookies/ brownies for refreshments.

The teachers were in charge of the "cupcake walk" and Clark had to take a dozen cupcakes.  This is what we decided on, a cupcake with a "peeps" bunny on top.  I tried to get a picture of him working but it didn't turn out and by the time I realized it they were finished.  The deacons did a "peep pig-out" they dangled "peeps" and the kids had to hold their hands behind their backs and eat the "peep" without any help.  The kids loved this.  Alas, no pictures either, I didn't realize till they were done cleaning up.

Emma and Andrew taking turns at the egg walk.  They didn't make it to all of the games because of their turns to go hunt eggs.  But they had fun anyways!!!  Notice Andrew (cheating), he couldn't get it to stay on the spoon, so he took off with the spoon in one hand and the egg in the other.  Smart kid!!!

Andrew thought finding the eggs was great.  He would run from one to the other.  Even while we were out picking up the empty eggs some of the children opened the egg, took the candy out and discarded the empty egg on the ground he still was so excited to pick them up, even though they were empty. The joy of a child!!

I didn't get very many of Emma but here she is picking up an  egg.  She stills enjoys the Easter egg hunts, and it is fun being able to watch her grow and enjoy life!!

After winning  a cupcake Dad and Andrew were enjoying them!!!

Soccer has started

It's that time of year when I/we spend our evenings at the soccer fields.  The kids were so excited to get started.  They have been practicing for a couple of weeks already but they aren't starting games for a couple of weeks still.  I think they are trying to get spring break out of the way.

Ryan's team has already had a scrimmage game to get them ready for the season, and he is looking really good at goalie.  His coach has already taught him a lot.  Ryan's coach played goalie in college and a little after, so Ryan is getting some good coaching skills, and I have already seen a lot of improvement in his game.

 Oh yeah, they won 6-1.

 

 Emma and Andrew trying to stay cool and out of the sun.

 Our spring/summer is already here in full swing (we think).  It has been in the 80's for the last couple of days, I hear it's going to be a hot summer!!

Why??

I had to write this because it is one of those things that I know I would forget as my child got older. One Andrew is two and a half years old and he shows it.  And two, every night just after I get Andrew dressed in his pajamas and ready for bed he has disappeared and comes back completely undressed down to his diaper.  Then, we get up in the morning and get dressed for the day and he walks out of the room takes off his clothes (down to his diaper, thank heavens he is leaving the diaper on) and comes back into where I am all proud of himself.  Argh, well at least we don't usually go anywhere.  Talk about frustrating!  The only problem is he is so darn cute when he comes back into where I am with the grin of I did it, that I have to laugh (without him knowing).

Also some of his favorite things now (while I am typing) are
*Cars (the movies)
*Lightning McQueen and Mater (sometimes he will actually call him "Tow Mater" he cracks me up. 
*Jake and the Neverland Pirates
*Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
*Babar (actually it's Badou, Babar's grandson: Disney Channel)
*Anything Pirate (it was funny "Little Einsteins came on and they were being pirates so he stopped, watched and started with his pirate sounds, argh, yo ho ho and he was even doing the thing with his arm when he said it
*Soccer, soccer and more soccer.  He is always kicking a ball around the house, I am going to have to ban him from that before he breaks something. His kicks are getting too powerful.
*Macaroni and cheese (he doesn't eat much, but mac and cheese and it has  to be Kraft).
*Dora the Explorer (what is with her)
*Caillou
*Cars, trucks, blocks, Duplos, Little people the floor is always a mess.  As soon as we get it picked up they are back out. I don't think he likes a clean floor.  So I apologize if you come for a visit, I promise the floor was clean before you stopped by.
*Pizza, he loves to go to Cici's
*Bananas
*Apples (he won't even let me cut up the apple, he wants to eat it like "Wryn" (Ryan).
*He loves his brothers and sister so much that when they are getting off the bus, he is usually waiting for them and running out the door to greet them.

These are some of things I can think of right off the top of my head.  I will have to think some more so I can add them to the list.

Oh and by the way soccer starts Monday, so it is the end of my nights for the next three or four months.  It has been really nice not having to be gone but the kids are looking forward to practice and maybe I can actually finish a book (I am reading "The Help" (good book) or maybe get my Gospel Doctrine lessons finished before Friday night.  Well see.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

With today being Dr. Seuss' birthday the elementary school let the kids dress up in one of their favorite Dr. uss characters, or they could just wear "the Cat in the Hat" hat that the school was selling (we actually have three of them already).  As you can tell Emma chose to be "Cindy Lou Who".  This is her second year doing this and she was so excited to go to school looking like this.  Isn't she adorable?

I love the Dr.Seuss books.  They are fun and they stick with you! Like every time I hear 

him mentioned I think of

"one fish two fish, red fish blue fish".
I know that is crazy, but that is the first thing I think!

Here are some of my favorite quotes from Dr. Seuss
Why fit in when you were born to stand out? Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one. I meant what I said and I said what I meant. A person's a person, no matter how small.  Today you are you, that is truer than true.  There is no one alive who is youer than you. You'll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.  Today is your day!  your mountain is waiting.  So...get on your way. Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.  THINK! You can think any THINK that you wish... You are you. Now isn't that pleasant?

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!