Fort Herriman Days!

We gathered (conveniently, right at the bottom of our street!) to watch the very exciting Fort Herriman Days Parade Saturday morning, 9:00 am sharp!

Here are my kids...Getting too big for their britches, every single one of them!

(Sydney-12, Megan-10, Spencer-7, Michael-5, and Tory-9)

The fine trick-ridin' police officers of our fair city...They rode single file right past all the kids so everyone could "High Five" them as they passed!

Luke, so well behaved in public. (You saw his head in the soccer pictures from yesterday, too.) We never had a dog we could actually bring places...well, without them barking and straining at the leash every time the saw another dog...or even a person...moving!

Ooh...Fancy...Herriman's royalty!

This entry was funny...Just some random patriotic citizen, decided to enter and walk between two floats...Dressed as an Eagle!

Giant cowboy boots...Just because...

Lee and I had looked at the parade route the night before to make sure it was still going to go past us at the end of our street. That route also showed where the parade entries were supposed to show up to wait...and it said there were entries numbered up to at least 60...!

So we started laughing when we realized EVERY organization at Herriman High School put an entry in! There was a Lacrosse float, a Football float, a Drill Team float, the Marching Band, the Cheerleaders...On, and ON...And good for them! The parade would have been a downer without them!

Down side...? Sitting at the end of the parade. 'Cause everyone was totally out of candy! But all in all, good time had by all!

Having a Ball!

Saturday we had our last two soccer games! We'll miss watching them play, but now our Saturdays can be free for some other fun...Camping, anyone? :D

The situation this year was unique! Both boys had the same coach, and the same jersey color. (Their coach, Shane, is in the picture above...He was great about encouraging the whole team, and giving great, positive feedback to all the kids!) This was an action shot of Michael making a corner kick!

If you look close, you can see Michael up there running for the goal! :D

More of Michael in action...

Okay...I need a refresher in the fairness department! This is the only picture I have of Spencer...sitting out, and eating an orange. (sigh...) Too bad, too...Because he scored his only goal of the season at this game!

Farewell to soccer...It was a riot!

Scoop...

Shameful! How could I let 3 weeks go by without blogging?!

I'd blame it on how busy I am, but...

Okay, but seriously...My little brother left on his mission! He's in the MTC, and in his first letter home, he said it was like Disneyland! (I'm not sure if he's talking about the same Disneyland that I love, but I may beg to differ...) But I am so excited to hear about HIS excitement! And also, some of my kids have already written letters to Cody...Now I can send our first letter. (I'm trying to send something every week...should be do-able, considering there are 7 of us in this house!) Thanks heavens for dearelder.com! Genius!

Sydney has been arranging trips to the temple to do baptism once a week. She and a few of her friends have been going, as part of a personal progress goal, for 3 weeks now. I'm proud of her for taking the initiative to set a goal, and make all the arrangements to keep it. Awesome. She's a pretty special kiddo!

Spencer lost another tooth...Too bad the adult tooth to replace the FIRST tooth almost takes up the entire TWO tooth space...Sorry for the Giant Crabb Tooth Gene!

We're nearing the end of soccer...Spencer and Michael have both been playing this season. Michael is on a team of preschoolers...He's 5 1/2, so he may be the biggest (or one of the biggest!) kid on the team. He is not afraid of the ball. At all. And for the first couple of games it didn't matter WHO had the ball, he would take it and run for the goal. Then we explained that maybe the kids whose shirts were the SAME as his could have a turn with the ball...And now at least he doesn't steal the ball from his own team! :D He is their best scorer, and fun to watch! Spencer has an awesome kick! That ball just flies down the field. He jokes with his friend Tommy, a school friend on his team, while they are out on the field. He's played goalie, and had a truly awesome save where he fell down on his side, arms extended above his head and blocked the ball. Classic. We've enjoyed the games...But not the weather! (Does anyone else feel sad that spring forgot to come?!)

Yesterday Sydney went to swim at her friend's house (yeah, in a REAL pool...!) and so the rest of the kids busted out their swimming suits and squirt guns and raided the back yard. They had fun...But it seemed to cool off pretty fast! It was a win/win...the back yard really needed a little extra water. (Which is crazy, what with all the RAIN we've had...?!)

We've been off track for a couple of weeks now...Just two more days left and we head back for a grueling 14 days before summer! And there is a lot more summer to look forward to, since we are on a traditional schedule next year and that gains us the month of August, too! Yay!

So now you sad people that felt so in the dark (there might be one...), you are pretty much up to date on my "super exciting" days! I'll try and scare up some soccer pictures...that would be fun...!

Pajama Day...

It should not be that hard to stay in your pajamas all day!

I got the cutest ever Pajamas for Mother's Day, and decided that since today I had nowhere to go I was going to revel in their comfort all day long. I took the kids to school...in my jammies! (Then, while I was out, I remembered that Lee had called in a prescription refill to the WalGreens...So in sticking with my "comfy all day" plan, I may or may not have driven through their drive thru in said pajamas...! (Don't judge me...Only the pants REALLY look like jammas!)) Then I came home, and realized I needed to run to the store...No drive thru there...So I got dressed and headed out. (It was a WalMart...I probably could have pulled it off...! But come on, I've got SOME pride...)

Then I came home, determined as ever to lounge...Well, do some laundry...but VERY comfortably! But before sitting down to watch last night's American Idol (final 3...Yay!) episode I went to put the dinner together (Chicken Heavenly...Yum...It is aptly named!) and put it in the oven, but noticed I don't have any sour cream. Bah! Now I need to go put on REAL clothes again and go back to the store...But this is the last time. If I find myself needing to go out again, I'm just going to throw some rollers in my hair

(to complete the Pa-"glam"-a look!)

and make a run for it.

Sheesh. Pajama Day is really hard work!

Tater Sauce...

I was at work and came across a woman standing by the frozen foods.

"Excuse me!" she said. "I was just looking for the Tater Sauce. Do you know where that would be?"

I asked her to tell me again what she was looking for...Again, she replied that she was looking for Tater Sauce...And that's when I happened to glance behind her at the FROZEN FISH she was standing by...the stifling a chuckle, I replied,

"Tarter Sauce is down aisle 2!"

People are funny.

Something to Chuckle About!

I came across this hilarious video (Thanks to Sydney...She's always trying to look up new things on youtube, but silly me, I insist on parental guidance...) and haven't been able to quit giggling! :D This will link you to the first one, but if you've got the time, watch the other 3...Worth your time, I'd say!

They are clever, creative, and...well, FUNNY!

(Please watch...I can feel myself quoting already. The jokes just aren't as funny if I'm the only one who gets them!)

Ode to Mothers Everywhere...

Mom's Love

Love is scaring away monsters in the middle of the night, then again at 1:00 am, 2:00 am, 3:00 am,...

Love is reading the same bedtime story for the 999th time.

Love is a hug around the knees.

Love is watching Mr. Rogers instead of All My Children.

Love is a refrigerator covered with creative works of art.

Love is standing in line for 2 hours for Raffi tickets.

Love is not grimacing through the dirtiest of diapers.

Love is trading in the Camero for a station wagon.

Love is the magic kiss that heals all "owies".

Love is cuddly kid in a blanket sleeper.

Love is the first kick, first smile, first laugh, first step, first anything.

Love is your child pointing to a picture of Christie Brinkley and saying "mama".

Love is your child sound asleep, any child sound asleep.

Love is a macaroni necklace.

Love is wearing the macaroni necklace to church with pride.

Love is a peanut butter kiss, a syrup kiss, a chocolate kiss, any kind of kiss.

Love is a bouquet of dandelions.

Love is the smell of a baby's neck.

Love is saying "No" at the right times when it is easier to say "Yes".

Love is saying "Yes" at the right times when it is easier to say "No".

~Author Unknown

I appreciate the examples set for me by so many moms. My two moms, Kathy and Sydney, who between the two of them know everything, great Sisters-In-Law (Anna, Kendra, and Rhoda) who are amazing moms and wives, cousins (Natalie, Stephanie...) who have an amazing way with little ones...and I'm lucky enough to have so many fabulous women around (Jen, Heather, Kelly, Danna...well, this list could go on forever...!) who remind me to go ahead and be the FUN mom sometimes! Thank you to all of you, and I hope your Mother's Day is full of sticky surprises!

As for me, I'm so blessed to have a job I love so much! What more can I ask for than to know God, have a hubby who loves me and cares for me so well, and kids who (for now!) still call me:

"PER OSOMNIS"

(That's "Pure Awesomeness", for those of you who are not first graders!)

Happy, Happy Mother's Day!