Caden's first band concert

Guess what we got for Christmas:~/

No, not a new Uncle Jimmy . . .

And not a backhoe . . .

A NEW WATER LINE!!!!!

This is how a ballerina eats!

Fondue night

Yay for bananas, marshmallows, brownie bites, pretzels, cinnamon rolls, and anything else you can poke with a stick and dip into the milk of human sustenance.

These aren't supposed to be creepy pictures, but Garrett had his face painted earlier that day and even the most well-mannered adult will get a little fondue on his face . . . .

The lamp isn't for mood lighting, Aaron's incredible strength yanked the chain out of the light on our fan.

The Final Harvest 2011

We do stuff. I promise. It just takes me a really long time to transfer proof to our blog. At the beginning of the afternoon, our tomato plants were taller than me. Since it was the last harvest, I let the kids climb through it and have a grand old time.

How 'bout them onions? Look closely - some were over 6 inches in diameter.

Better days

I just wanted a different post at the top here.

Hmmm . .

We finished St Luke today as a family. Yay!!

Etiquette

Seriously. What spectator walks across a stage with a cart full of basketballs while a group is performing? The Winterfest spectator. What spectator talks the entire time the performance is going? The Winterfest spectator. What spectator leaves in the middle of a performance? The Winterfest spectator. Of course, if the Winterfest was held on a stage instead of in a GYM, things would be different. MMMMMMMMMGH!

I had to get that off my chest. Learn some manners, people.

:)

I should wait until I can say 179, but I just can't!!!!

181.5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to my personal trainer, Dr. Haynie. He is only responsible for 2.5 lbs. The rest I did the old-fashioned way: diet, exercise, and food poisoning. I should be eating solids pain free by thanksgiving.

Today . . .

Conference weekend was really nice.

Weston did an entire painting project all by himself on Friday (except for the little bit he let Lydia do). Caden practiced the piano 45 minutes without being bugged and then went to his dad's office to study football. We all went to the Granger game that night, where Lydia performed in the halftime show. She was an adorable, very talented "Mini Excalibur".

Caden finally got to play in a game on Saturday. he did fine and has a few welts but otherwise, no worse for wear. The boys played soccer as usual and had fun.

I decided President Monson spoke later than planned just for me, because just as I turned on conference after the football game, the temples and the temple attendance fund were announced. What a blessing.

We had orange rolls, bacon, eggs, and juice for breakfast Sunday morning. Then the kids brought in all the bean bags and blankets to sit on during conference. Shortly after conference began, they were all banned from "the pile" and forced to sit on the couch or the fireplace. They bore it well. We are still looking for ways to anxiously engage them all so they can get more out of conference, or at least sit and listen.

Garrett learned to make friendship bracelets and how to tie his shoes during conference. Caden listened to a lot. Lydia played with beads and toys. Weston coveted his Roald Dahl books. When he received them last Christmas, he had no desire to read them. Luckily, he has found a love for them in the past month and has now read at least 7 of them start to finish and picture walked all the others. Yay!!

After conference we ate chicken and rice and zucchini. Then we played And it Came to Pass outside on the grass. Garrett and Weston won by a lot. It was beautiful weather, but it was 85 on Friday and the high is supposed to be below 60 Wednesday. Crazy!

More happy fall . . .

Caden's broken rib (3 1/2 weeks ago during a football drill) continues to annoy, and the insightful doc thinks it best that he not play on it for three more weeks (to prevent punctured lung). Weston developed his first cold sore (aaaaaaaaaugh!). Weston also got roseola. (Sounds bad but it wasn't.) Lydia got the hives same weekend. Two days in a row. Garrett is healthy and decided to do his 20 minutes of nightly oral reading from the hymn book. He sings every verse of every song to the tune of Praise to the Man.

Caden Played for the Yankees . . .

he keeps asking if he can burn his hat and jersey . . . but he had fun.

Kindergarten Graduation

Garrett pulled faces at me from across the room while we waited for the program to start . . . 

The medals are for reading and doing well preparing for standardized testing.

Baseball - Weston's All Star Team

 I've got to get better at this picture taking thing. Weston's all-star team played for over a month and did pretty well. These are the best pictures I could find. . . 

Chloe's Blessing

Sprinklers

First Day of School and Creepy Caden

Happy Fall!

So since it takes me forever to post pictures, I thought I would add that pictures later and at least write a few things.

My last day of work was Saturday, August 21. It was lovely. I even missed it a tiny bit the following week. But there wasn't much time to miss it because of school.

Lydia starts preschool on Tuesday. I put her in our elementary's school, which is four days a week. I will use the time to help in the kids' classrooms and maybe be a good housewife. Maybe. Lydia is also going to Irish dance and ballet. Busy girl. She is my motivation at home in the mornings "mommy, let's do the dishes," "mommy, let's run 10 miles today!" "mommy we haven't done our yoga yet!" She and I are also reading James and the Giant Peach. She is so patient, eight chapters isn't enough for her!

Garrett started first grade and has a "very serious teacher." She has told me this herself and Garrett reiterated it after his first day. I think it will be a good experience. You've got to be strict to keep TWENTY-NINE first graders in line. I can't believe his class size. Poor teacher. Garrett is also playing soccer and learning a lot. He reads well and has quite the explosive personality. Garrett's current musical triumph is "Books in the Book of Mormon" on the piano.

Weston has a great fifth grade class. He is loving soccer. Honor Guard (a military prep club at our school) and choir start next week. He just earned his readyman pin for his WeBeLoS. Weston is our lawn mower and our bathroom cleaner and does a great job at both. He has an amazing memory and can recount most scripture stories for you in great detail. He is also learning three or more new songs every day in piano!

Caden started 7th grade and junior high this year. He is really in his element. He has a little more freedom to move ahead and more options as far as what he is learning. He choose band and the teacher is allowing him to count piano practice which is such a blessing because I don't have to nag him.

Aaron is working on his master's degree which is not super fun, but I get to pitch in a bit and I love editing so yay me! He is also teaching AP classes for the first time. His high school (Granger) had their inaugural game on their brand new beautiful football field last night. Caden is really torn over whether to attend the local high school (Cyprus) or where his dad teaches. Especially after Granger beat Cyprus 52 to 14.

I've been hugging my kids extra hard lately. They are just growing way too fast. When I push down on their heads, it does nothing to slow them down. Caden's feet are size 13, Weston's are bigger than mine, and Garrett is like a little puppy who thinks he is one of the big dogs. Lydia has her daddy wrapped around her finger and keeps the rest of us in line.

I am really looking forward to going to bed before 3:30 am tonight. That was my saturday night bed time for the last 16 months. Getting to church on time is so much easier now.

State!

The Boys' teams both made State! It is not that hard, but it sounds good!!!!

comeback

Weston's team came from behind (0-6) to win their first district allstar game 12-7. It was great. Great great great.

Weston and Caden both made allstars!!!! Yay two more months of baseball!!! Caden hit a home run Monday - so awesome. Weston pitched a week ago in a clutch situation to clinch 3rd place for his team.

Caden the Neglected . . .

Yes, I do neglect Caden becuase he has passed the "cute" stage and is now more into the "I am growing up and I am not cute anymore but look at me look at me look at me stage!!!!! And Lydia found a way to ruin my memory card on my camera, so no pictures of caden until I buy a new one.

Here is the Cadenupdate:

He used to cry when he struck out. Now he cries when he doesn't hit a home run. Okay, not real tears but it is funny. He is so so so so close!!!!! He hit a ground rule double yesterday. Maybe the rain will stop by tomorrow.

His Elementary Saga is coming to a close, highlights including:

100% on science CRT (standardized test)
office helper (they love him there)
Student Body Secretary
Awesome friends, except when they act like 12-yr-old boys. He he he he.
Losing a lot of the remaining baby teeth, one in the middle of a choir performance, one forced out by "the Dentist."

Plus he is the best big brother there ever was.

Love that boy.

. . . and he just turned six!

So just in case any of you got the wrong idea about my sweet little boy, here are a few snippets from the weekend . . .

We went to a stake event entitled "Walk with Christ" on Saturday. Upon reading the place cards on the table in the last supper room, Garrett turned to me and asked, "Where is John?"

Not to insult your intelligence, but this means that he:

a) Can read well,

b) Can read fast,

c) Has powers of deduction beyond his years, and

d) Knows the names of twelve disciples!

Then in church on Sunday, he was LISTENING to Bryan Whitehead's talk and turned to me as Bryan was quoting a scripture and said,

"That's the scripture they wrote above Jesus' tomb!"

Yes, that was the same scripture that evidently Garrett read while we were in the resurrection room on Saturday. Wow.

I am delusional in a good way

I get these big ideas and can't seem to rest until they have been carried out to completion . . . or partial completion. I am beginning to accept that it is part of who I am, but I don't know if I will be able to reign myself in. . . .

My delusions have nothing to do with the headshots, I just happened to have the discs in my bag when I went to the library so I thought I would share.

We did go to an audition on Saturday, but Weston will tell you that the Blue and White game and football clinic he went to later that day were a lot more fun.