Odds and ends of the last few weeks

 Scout Yard Sale (fundraiser for scout camp)

On April 7th our scout troop had a yard sale/bake sale/car wash to raise funds for camp this summer.  After spending Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights at the church getting it all set up we were ready for Saturday morn.  We started of the morning getting to the church just before 6:00am, soccer fields at 7:30 and then back to the church to finish up and clean up the gym after the yard sale then home get the kids showered and off to Jim and Nick's for Clark's birthday lunch/dinner and then home to get ready for Easter Sunday.  Yes it was a very busy day but it was a wonderful day!!

Inside the church where the sale took place.

Outside waiting for a car to wash.

Second week of soccer

I wasn't going to post any pictures except that Emma played goalie in her game and I had a great shot (if I say so myself) of Ryan.  Posting things here help me remember things that I might other wise forget.  Clark had a bye for last Saturdays games, which was great since it was also a youth temple trip. Yes, both Ryan and Clark went and didn't have to miss a game..  Ryan played an early game and a friend of mine took the boys home to get ready while Emma had her game.  Thank you for your help (you know who you are), I really appreciated it.

Andrew and his friend.  I was watching her while her mom was coaching another team and we turned around and it looked like they were dancing.

Some of Emma's great stops in the game.  She did a great job, they won 2-1. The goal that went by was a penalty kick and she went one way and the ball went the other.  Penalty kicks are hard but she did an awesome job stopping the rest of the goals!!

And we have a winner

On Monday I had gone grocery shopping earlier in the morning, I had been home for a little bit (making cupcakes for Em's school class) before I had to get to Emma's school to bring her cupcakes and pick her up for piano and I got a phone call from Publix.  I thought to myself what did I leave there, I know I put my card back in my wallet, maybe something fell out while I was there.  Nope, it was the bakery calling telling me that Emma card had been drawn and she has won a cookie cake and they wanted to know how we wanted it decorated.  Here when you go to Publix you can get a free cookie card that they punch each time you get a cookie and when it is full it goes in a box that they draw from once a month.  I was so surprised, one because she had won something and two it was her birthday.  So I had them decorate it with a birthday theme.  They did great, and talk about excited she was so excited when it registered what had happened.  I told her as we were getting in the car from the school to look in the box, her reply was you got me a cake?  No, you won it.  The bakery at Publix, they drew your name this morning for the cookie.  I guess it does pay to get free cookies at the bakery!!

Emma and her cookie

Way to go Emma that is awesome!!

Another year older :)

 Emma's had a birthday shout HOORAY!!  She was so excited for her birthday to come this year.  If you couldn't tell.  She mentioned she wanted an ice cream cake and when I didn't make it to the grocery store I had told her I didn't have any ice cream to put on the cake.  She said she would be okay with just frosting and if I could put it in between the layers.  We ended up celebrating her birthday on Sunday due to the busy nights we have with soccer, piano and church.  Back to the cake, I know she said she would be happy with just frosting but I realized I could put "Cookies and Cream" ice cream between two chocolate layers.  I decided to surprise her with an ice cream cake and she was so excited!

 

Andrew loves to be with the person opening their gifts.  It's a good thing they let him.  Even though the gifts aren't for him he loves to help. 

She just started reading "The Little House on the Prairie" books and has fallen in love with them.  Of course I still had a few from when I was younger, but I only had three of them and there are a total of nine, and I didn't even have the first in the series.  She was so excited when she opened his gift and saw these.

Pretty soon we are going to need the fire extinguisher to help her blow out the candles before they start a fire. (just kidding).  I handed her the cake and stepped back to take a picture and before I was ready to take a picture Andrew had already blown out some of the candles.  She was not a happy camper, I got them going and hurried and took a picture before he blew them out again. He is just do excited, but then he is just two.

I had to put this one here because it cracks me up.  I had tried to take a picture of her blowing out her candles but the camera wouldn't adjust.  So I made her pretend to be blowing out the candles and it looked so funny I had to post it.  I know us mom's an our cameras, but if we didn't have them we would forget everything!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EM!!!

Easter 2012

Sorry I am so late getting this posted.  Yes, I know Easter was last week but my week was crazy!  Easter has come and gone and sometimes I wish it wouldn't go by so fast.  I love the Easter season almost as much as the Christmas season. 

"He is risen! He is risen! Tell it out with joyful voice.

He has burst his three days prison; Let the whole wide earth rejoice.

Death is conquered; man is free. Christ has won the victory."

                                                                                    

Here are a few of the pictures we took.   I just realized that I didn't get one of just the kids, so I guess there will be another photo shoot here in the near future.  I like to get them all together so we can look back at how they have grown.  Enjoy!

Yes, the Easter bunny was crazy when he gave all the kids a water shooter (type thingy).  But the one time they used them (Em and Ryan) they had a blast.  He also brought a lot of candy and if I hadn't taken Andrew's away he would have eaten every last bit of it and given himself a tummy ache.  He did actually get the stomach flu last week.  I think the worst thing to see is a two year old trying not to throw up.  I felt so bad for him.  He had a fever and slept most of the day, but by the time I got back from piano (dad stayed home with him) he was up and running around and his fever had left.  Isn't it funny how fast energy comes back in a little one?  I wish I had energy like that!

The Easter bunny also brought the older kids a kite.  They love to fly kites, thanks to their cousin Majerle, who brought one up camping one year.  I had actually forgotten how much fun they are to fly.  Em keeps asking when are we able to go fly them.

Ryan and his basket of loot.

Clark 

He is getting older he didn't want to bother with his basket, so we just took a picture of this very handsome looking young man!

The Draper men.

Aren't they just so handsome?

Everyone keeps asking if Clark is taller then his father, almost about 1/4 of an inch till he reaches him.  I think Clark is looking forward to being taller than his dad.  One day is all we say!

Carrson and myself.  The kids wanted to take a picture of us.

The Draper girls. 

How beautiful?

Andrew trying to blow bubbles.  He got a spill-proof bottle but he has a hard time blowing the bubbles out, he likes the bigger wands.  But he was loving it when some came out so he could chase and catch them!

Dying Easter Eggs

 With Easter here and a very busy week we were finally able to dye our eggs Sunday evening (yes, I know it is Easter Sunday but we still did it before Easter was over).  I remember dying eggs before Easter every year it was a family tradition, we would all gather around the table and take turns dipping our eggs in the dye.  Each year we would get a little more creative with our eggs, it's fun to watch my kids realize there is more then just doing one color on an egg.  I have to apologize with as busy as our week was I wasn't totally prepared to do eggs, I did have a kit from previous years but the stickers didn't want to stick and the wax crayons have somewhat melted.  They were still usable but I felt bad after the fact.  If  my kids are like me they will remember have fun and being together as a family and not all the little mishaps.  So enjoy the pictures!

Andrew figured out ho to dip the eggs by himself and he didn't want my help too much.  He was having so much fun that I couldn't get him to be done, so we just started dipping the eggs he had already done in another color, he didn't realize they had already been done he just liked putting them in an getting them out of the cups.  (When he gets old enough to read this I will probably get into trouble, but he was having a blast, and yes did scream when we were putting everything away.)

Spring soccer games are in full swing!

After about five weeks of practice the kids have finally had their first game.  Em's team won, Ryan's and Clark's not so good, but they all did a great job. The kids are extremely glad that their games have finally started, they were getting ancy and wanting to get their games going.  One good thing this season is we only have to spend the day up at the field once or twice instead of almost all their games.  Yea!!

Sweet stop Ryan!!
He has improved so much this year.  They lost 6-2 and he let some easy goals go by, but as he told a friend, his defenders didn't help keep the ball out of the goal area. He really only had one of his defenders really trying to help keep the ball out of the goal.  A couple of the other teams goals were a one on one and those are tough anyway.  So great job Ryan, I am so proud of you!

Andrew and Mom.  Andrew looking cool in Em's glasses.

 Emma's reaction after getting hit right smack in the middle of her face.  She told me yesterday her nose still hurts.  But she did a great job, she bucked up didn't cry and went right after the ball.  She is one tough girl, she has to be because of her two older brothers that like to pick on her.

Clark was telling me I get the weirdest shots so I just had to put this on here just for him.

 Clark stopping the ball.  He did great in his game, there were times that he was chasing the ball and his dad commented that he'd never seen him run so fast.  He wasn't spectating as much (jk), I think he just gets better and better each year.  No goals scored hopefully next game.

I love watching the kids play, Clark will get after me after his practices about me not seeing an awesome goal or kick or even a trip because I was chatting or reading. I just tell him during practices is time for me to talk and relax and Saturday's games are for me to watch.  With Andrew that is tougher but I do it.   I just have to laugh, most of the times I do actually see what goes on in practice, us women can talk and watch at the same time didn't you know?

Easter Visiting Teaching

 

 I was browsing pinterest one day looking for a fun Easter idea to give the sister's I visit.  I came across this and thought it would be fun for there families.  I tweaked it a little to my taste and took it to them.  I wanted to have it done before Easter but as you know me I was a day or two late, but I am still earlier than last month.  I have seen a few different ways to do this idea, so if you have a chance to browse Pinterest have fun!   

Oh by the way, I got the jars at Michael's for a dollar.

Clark is what?

I cannot believe that Clark is Fifteen already!  It seems like yesterday that he was this little big baby boy, that it seemed like it took forever to get here.  Yes, he is wanting us to take him to get his drivers permit.  I don't know what to think about having my child driving, I don't feel like I am old enough to have a child old enough to get his learners permit.  We had such a busy week heading up to Clark's birthday.  Our Scouts were getting ready for their annual fundraiser. They did a yard sale at the church that took quite a while to get ready for.  We were up there Tuesday night, Wednesday Night and Friday night getting things organized and priced, it seemed like we were there all the time (boy am I glad it is over).  Then we had soccer, soccer and more soccer (I'm not complaining but we are at the field four nights a week for practice) on top of that so we did a little celebrating on his actual day and we were finally able on Saturday to go to dinner/lunch.  This year he chose to go to Jim and Nick's and boy was it tasty.  

Andrew had to be right next to Clark so he didn't miss anything.  Once I brought out the birthday gifts Clark was having to hold Andrew off from trying to open it before it was time.  He did let Andrew help him, and he was in heaven.

Clark got a really nice basketball and some well needed spring/summer clothes (shorts and shirts).

Man the fire alarms should of gone off with all those candles all lit up.  Notice Clark trying to hold Andrew off from trying to blow out the candles before he did.  What a great big brother he let Andrew help after all!

Happy Birthday Clark I hope you had a great day!!!

Easter Story time

 Today was story time at the library and the annual Easter egg hunt.  We hadn't been going to story time lately because the last few times I went Andrew wouldn't sit still and all he wanted to do was run and play, and when I tried to hold him he screamed for me to put him down.  I would get looks from the library staff and asked to go outside because he was being disruptive.  All I was trying to do was teach him that there are times we have to sit still, listen and be quiet.  So after three months I decided to try it again (a friend reminded me that it was the Easter egg hunt) so we went, and he did great!  He did try to talk and play, but all I had to do was look at him or remind him to be quiet, and he sat back down and listened.  He did get a little bit ancy after three books but other than that he did great (I did threaten that he I had to take him out because he wasn't listening he wouldn't get to hunt for eggs).  Needless to say he had a blast hunting eggs!

 

 

 Snacking on a cupcake

and some juice. YUMMY!!

What a fun morning, now maybe we can go to story time more often.

Spring Break has come to an end

 Man the last week went by so fast that the kids are back in school already. It was nice having them home but then it's great to have Andrew back on a schedule again.

 The boys ended their break with an air soft war at the park.  They had a blast the only reason they had to quit playing was the thundering, lightening and then the down pour.  It did sprinkle some of the morning but they played through it.  They even had the police called on them.  Talking with the officer, that came, he was told that the boys were shooting birds at the park, I mentioned to the police officer that I and another mother were siting there watching them and there was also another mom out on the field playing.  Once he heard that he said they were fine and he went back to his car.  Come to find out the boys had shot some air soft pellets up towards a building unintentionally and someone came out and yelled at them that if another one was shot up there they would call the cops.  I guess they didn't wait and they called them anyways.  I thought how crazy, I guess the person who called didn't have anything else better to do then ruin the day for the boys there playing, maybe if they realized that there were mothers there they wouldn't have done it.

 Getting their game plan together

 

 Playing on the rocks

 Swinging

 Sliding

Having fun at the park with friends--priceless!

 Andrew pouting.

I called him back from trying to leave and he huffed past me and headed back to the playground.  He cracks me up, he is at the age where, when he gets told no, he pouts and walks away or goes to the other room and pouts till I go after him or I call him back.