Kiddos Fall 2013

Loved Today!

Lucy finally started preschool- not sure why it has to be two full weeks after elementary starts and it is further unclear why I have to pay full tuition for half a month... But I'm not complaining. I just had 10 hours completely to myself ( yesterday and today combined) and it was glorious!  I went to a super fun class at the gym called "Soul Grooves."  This is pretty much the only way a mom who doesn't hang out at bars can get her groove on.  Had lunch with some awesome ladies and even watched a good chick flick.  ahhhh zen!

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This time to myself is pretty much a first since having kids, although I did get a 2 month break when Dan was in preschool and I was huge miserable pregnant with Lucy.   Last year was such a whirlwind with homeschool, Rodan & Fields and all the other normal stuff that usually ensures a mom's insanity. Lots of people have asked if homeschool was "worth it" and I would definitely have to say yes. Just talked to a bunch of moms with college age children and they all agreed that time accelerates once they hit 8th grade and suddenly they're gone. I'm so thankful that we had last year with Jonah. We really made some amazing memories and just had so many conversations that we never would have had time for. We were both nervous for him to go back to school but so far things have gone really well.  I keep trying to take credit for his test scores but really, for now he's just a kid who sees the big picture and gets that if he works hard in school he'll have more options later in life.

Wonky Star Quilt

I did manage to get a little sewing done this year.  This is the only quilt I made.  Sent it to my dear BFF from college! This one was actually a lot of fun to make and I spent forever picking out the fabric- trying to stick with orange, green and blue.  The backing was a dark blue on green polka dot.  And just because they make me so happy, some of my favorite collage pics of the girls hanging out at the House of Pain!

Yosemite

 

Our road trip to California was amazing!  We didn't even mind the 70+ hours in the car.  Yosemite and the Sequoia National Forest were everything we had dreamed.  We want to go back and stay for a week.  We also had a great time visiting Disneyland and Laguna Beach.  A huge bonus was hanging out with my brother Richie's family and my old roommate, Dani and her adorable 3 kids!  Definitely a trip to remember!

Happy Birthday America!

The month of June is just a blur of swim team and scout camp.  More on that later.  Our Independence Day was actually really nice.  I usually invite several families over for swimming, BBQ and fireworks but was just not up to it this year.  But we did still go to our annual flag raising at the church at 8am!  It was a lot of fun and all three of the boys helped with the flag ceremony.  Then we all ate a potluck breakfast and watch the young kids ride their decorated bikes in a parade.  Lots of fun- I love my church family!

That afternoon our whole family went to see "Despicable Me 2."  I actually still haven't seen the first one but everyone else has and adores it.  The second one was hilarious.  Loved.  It.  We wanted to see it at the new Katy Palladium but I think everyone else had the same idea and their online purchasing wasn't working.  So we slummed it the mall.  Seriously after going to the Palladium everything else seems lame.  Huge comfy chairs, tons of great food  you can take into the theater (including suchi and gelato!), bowling downstairs and did I mention that you reserve your seats online so you don't have to wait in line for new movies!?

Anyway, back to July 4th.  I was planning on sort of a lame dinner but then our neighbors invited us over and that was so much better.  The kids swam while the adults talked and played bean bag throwing (which I stink at btw). 

Then we decided to try and watch fireworks this year instead of doing our own.  So we drove to the top of a parking structure and it was awesome- great view and no crowds getting home.  We still miss 4th of July in Excelsior, MN with all our friends, watching fireworks on Lake Minnetonka.  But this year was pretty dang good.  Happy Birthday America

Swimmania

Whew! Made it though swim season.  This year seemed crazier than usual, probably because all four kids swam and none of their practice times were combined.  Isaac's soccer team also made it to the playoffs which extended his season by two weeks.  We also got a stomach virus six times during April and May- ridiculous!!

So why do we participate in this crazy busy sport with its 5 hour meets in the blazing texas heat? I actually need to answer this question for myself so I'll sign up again next year :)

1) swimming is a fantastic sport!  It's a lifelong sport, something you can do when old or pregnant and something we can do almost year round here in texas.  I also love that my kids are super confident swimmers- I definitely did not have their skills as a kid.  Or today for that matter

2) I love our team.  We are the pirates and we meet at a swim club.  We have a bunch of church friends on the team, which is so fun bc we are all too busy to chat at church so now we get to hang out on a regular basis.  I also absolutely adore the other team members.  So many amazing and strong families.  Families with kids that I want my kids to hang out with.

3) The kids adore our coach! And our parent volunteers are the bomb!

4) Time at the pool = time not playing video games

5) We get to dress up like pirates

6) We dance

It's definitely got its trials as does any organization that relies heavily on volunteers.  It's easy to get upset when your child is discouraged by their times or they got left out of a relay or another swimmer left early leaving a relay short... Lots of ways to get frustrated on swim team.  But it's also a great opportunity to learn patience and to serve and give.  Of course my favorite part is working with the swimmers.  I love getting to know this terrific group of kiddos!

Happy Father's Day!

Thinking about my Dad this weekend.  I love that we have holidays to help us stop and reflect on our parents.  I have so many wonderful memories of my Dad- thought it would be fun to share a few:

 

 

I worked as a secretary/organizer at my Dad's State Farm office for a few summers.  It was mostly just my Dad, his secretary (pronounced sec-a-terry) Ann and me.  My Dad literally whistled while he worked and would often suddenly burst into song.  I remember one day giggling as he sang "She's Out of My Life" by Michael Jackson with a bit of a southern twang.  He was very warm to everyone he spoke with on the phone and always quick to share something about his faith at any time in the conversation.  I would sometimes walk into his office and find him lying flat on his back on the floor, just taking a little stretch/snooze.  Sometimes we would walk (hand in hand) to the French Bakery down the road and pick out something sweet (I still dream about those cherry turnovers) but mostly he ate a healthy lunch packed lovingly by my mom in his large metal lunchbox.

 

My Dad loves science and is always interested to hear about any new discoveries or just to discuss chemistry or physics.  I think he's more of an earth science guy- don't remember him loving biology as much.  And I am the same way.  LOVE science and I wonder how much of it was learned from my Dad. Sometimes I regretted asking him a science question because he always gave me the answer and then some! By the way, the moon is supposed to be amazing on Father's Day.  Can't wait to see it!

 

I love how quick my Dad is to make people feel welcome.  Often after sacrament meeting at church he would ask me to come along with him and shake hands with someone new or visiting and help them to feel welcome.  Just this week I had a few friends tell me that one of my strengths is that I help people to feel comfortable and wanted.  Pretty sure I learned that from my Dad. 

 

My Dad's faith is so important to him and it shows in everything he does.  He loves God and his son, Jesus Christ and is a scripture studying machine.  When I was younger I loved to sit by him in church and watch as he carefully used a red velvet pen and a red colored pencil to marks scriptures that touched him.  Then he would take notes with a black velvet State Farm Pen in the margins.  He has always taken his role as a teacher of faith seriously and doesn't hesitate to educate his family about the gospel.  I love hearing stories from when he was a patriarch.  He had some amazing experiences giving blessings and interacting with people.

 

 

My Dad was always doing some kind of unusual project in our yard.  I look back and wonder what the neighbors thought.  I remember painting our chain link fence silver one year.  And of course working in our MASSIVE garden to pick zucchini, tomatoes and peppers to name a few.  He built us kids an awesome playset that I'm pretty sure he designed himself.  And you could often find my Dad tinkering around in the garage, fixing something that others might have just thrown out.  We would sometimes be driving through the neighborhood and he would stop the car in front of someone's garbage pile to check it out.  I was pretty mortified at the time.... but now I do the same thing.  I also HATE throwing things away and usually try to find another use for it, fix it or find it a new home: courtesy of my Dad.

  

 

My Dad always stayed after at church events to help clean-up.  I don't even think he considered not doing it.  And he was quick to volunteer to help someone move or just help wherever needed.  I'm so thankful for his example- these are only a small sampling of the many wonderful memories I have of him.  Thanks for everything Dad.  Wish we could hang out for Father's Day but instead here's this big cyber hug!! LOVE YOU!

PS: So thankful my husband is carrying on the tradition :)  Love you too Curtis!!

Cub Scout Day Camp Den Leader Info

So Cub Scout Day Camp is here again!  I've mostly served as a Den Leader and love this job so that's what I'm doing again.  I took a few notes from years past and hope this is helpful to new den leaders.

 

Each den leader is responsible for about 8 boys.  You need to contact them the week before to let them know a few things (below) and to find out if there are any allergies or behavioral issues you need to be aware of.

 

1. Cubs need to wear their camp shirt everyday (they will receive it on the first day of camp)

2. Cubs also need to wear close toed tennis shoes.  Yes, they will get wet and muddy!

3. Each boy needs a lunch packed in a gallon zip lock bag with their Den Color and Number on it (den leaders should have received an email with this information and need to phone each cub to let them know as well).  Nothing from lunch can be saved and don't pack too much- the boys aren't very hungry in all that heat.  Please don't pack soda or too many sugary treats for them.

(There is more info but they will email it to you!:)

 

Den Leaders take home all of the boys cups and neckerchiefs each night for washing!  If you want to make them really happy, get the neckerchiefs wet and stick them in your freezer for a cool surprise the next day.  :)

 

Den Leaders also need to bring a wagon decked out with PVC pipe (or some other creative building stuff) so that they can carry around  papers, beads, ribbons, their Den Flag (which you will be decorating together at camp) and of course the boys' cups!  Lots of examples below.  It's nice to have some sort of bin inside your wagon too.

 

 

 

 

As a Den Leader, you will be rewarding your boys with beads many times everyday.  Make sure to reward them for drinking and going to the bathroom (with a buddy of course), helping out, being friendly, etc...

 

I use a bead organizing box and write each boys' name on the outside so I can throw his beads in there.  Then when we are back at our den table the boys can put their beads on their lanyards.  I like to have a fishing bobber thingy on the end of each lanyard to keep the beads in place.  Day Camp provides regular beads but you may want to buy some special ones of your own.

 

 

Mostly have fun with these adorable boys!  They are so sweet and Cub Camp is just a great opportunity for them!  

It's May?

Seriously time flies.  I looked at my blog and could not believe I hadn't posted in well over 3 months!  So obviously things have been busy here.  But mostly good.  It has been such a beautiful spring and the weather is actually still not too hot!  More later...