The last week of May

I really didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked to last week, but here is what I did end up with. (Every time I pull out the camera Kate always ends up with it and I forget to take it back and take pitures!)

This is Emma's Kindergarten celebration (graduation) night. I know she has on her fancy "high" sandals, but look how tall she is!

I love that smug little smile. I should have taken a close up to show the top front tooth she lost and the other one that's hanging by a thread. She always waits until the teeth fall out on their own- that's exactly how I was too!

Landon right after the choir assembly. Landon had a solo this year and did a great job. He sang "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better" with a girl in our ward and they were so cute! I love watching him perform and he loves to sing!

Mrs. Johnson and Landon. She is the principal and also the choir director. She does a super job and I really hope she sticks around for a few more years because I want all my kids to be in her wonderful choir!

Daniel at the Dance Festival. Each grade does a dance and this year they all painted their Tshirts. Daniels grade danced to "Bicycle" and he was so cute to watch! We loved his shimmy best!

This was his super cool ending pose!

Landos was so cool and smooth with his dancing. The 5th grade danced to Surfin' USA and we loved his moves!

Saturday morning the boys had an air soft war in the back yard. Richard learned first hand how bad it hurts to get shot after he shot Landon and Landon quickly retaliated and shot him back. Notice the duct tape on Daniel's crotch. He was doing his best to protect himself.

Richard is such a good Dad and a good sport! Later on in the day the boys had another friend join them and Richard let them stand on one end of the yard and shoot at him while he ran around the swingset. I was watching from an upstairs window and laughing while he was being hit and screaming and running. He came in the house with some pretty sweet welts on his chest!

Our plans were to head to Mt. Pleasant on Monday but the weather changed our plans and we ended up going bowling with my family. My Dad whooped on all of us and had the highest score. I was 2nd place and had probably the best game of my life. But that's only because I was bowling on the same lane as Dave and Jon. They are SUPER competitive and athletic and they both did terrible and I BEAT THEM! Aw yeah!

Sure love this little cutie pie!

Dave and Jon- the losers.

I have a disorder.....this is pathetic

Seriously. It's called contestenteritis. Every once in a while I hear about a contest and I enter it because I just know I'm going to win. I know there are others who have this same disorder, or even worse cases of it, but my problem is that I obsess about it and let it consume my thoughts. I'm not going to share all the things (there's not that many) I've entered (and lost, mind you) but here's one. Better Homes and Gardens $25,000 home remodel make over. I've already planned what I'll do with the money- an addition on our home. I could totally win, right? The last thing I entered was the Dove Close-up challenge. The winner received a week long trip for 2 to Hollywood, a week of dance lessons from a DWTS personality and a commercial spot to be aired on the DWTS finale to debut the dance they learned. Plus, the winner received a $5,000 check. I was sure I would win. I mean, why wouldn't I? There were probably only thousands of other girls just like me that entered. I submitted my 60 second video and obsessed about it for a few weeks. I had my trip planned out right down to what I was going to wear on the airplane, the celebrities I might bump into and the way the California morning sun would stream into my hotel window. Of course, I didn't win. Last night I saw the commercial spot. The winner was average looking, I don't know what set her apart from the others, but hurray for her. At the end of the commercial she said, "This has been the best week of my life!" Yeah. I bet it was.

Enough of the rain already!

I know all this water is good in a way, but I am so tired of it. I'm ready to wear flip flops and capris instead of boots and jackets every day. The only thing I appreciate about the rain is that all our baseball games were cancelled last week. And it looks like tonights game might be cancelled too. Maybe Heavenly Father knew I couldn't cope with the stress of all the games and having Richard gone, and trying to help Landon campaign for Student Council so he sent the rain to give me a little break. But I'm ready for the sun and the warmth! Landon made Student Council. His campaign was an Alvin (the chipmunk) theme. For his assembly skit he sang like Alvin about how he would do his best (John Huff recorded the song in his authentic Alvin voice) and the students loved it! There are only 5 boys and 5 girls on the council for next year and he is really excited about it! Way to go Landon! This weekend I sang at a wedding in Alpine that must have cost an insane amount of money. It was at a home that was almost in the mountains and when I pulled up in my car I was greeted by a golf cart to shuttle me to the home. Amazing decorations, a ridiculously huge and beautiful home, fabulous food, pretty good music...of course- I was singing! (John too!) and it wasn't raining. I love singing at weddings like that! This week brings more fun with the choir concert, the dance festival and field day. I must remember to take pictures!

My little sunshine

This girl really is my sunshine. She makes me so happy. And frustrated at the same time. But mostly happy. She is so much fun to have around and is always making us laugh and just feel good. She can be a handful when she doesn't get a nap, and when her potty training turns into major failure, but other than that, she truly is a JOY! Here are some things I love about Kate.

* She loves to wear dress-ups and pretty things.

* She loves to spin and twirl and dance and bow.

* She gives the best hugs and kisses.

* She loves to be naked and I love to squeeze her little nakie bum.

* She says "balicious" when she really likes her food.

* She asks Richard to make her "a biiiiig omelet" every morning.

* She says, "I obeyed!" when she does the right thing.

* When she is having a hard time and needs to cry, she will cry in her room until she's done and then come out and say in a happy voice, "I'm done crying Mom!"

* When I hold her really close she notices little things and tells that my hair, or my eyes, or my earrings are beautiful.

* She loves nursery and the gym day care and goes so happily every week!

* I am amazed at how beautiful she is.

* I love that little girl to pieces and I can't get enough of her. (But it's always a big relief when she goes down for her nap and bedtime!)

Kate and Willa being silly

Kate and Willa watched Tangled about 10 times this weekend and had to wear their purple Rapunzel dresses!

Oh baby!

My brother, Jake, and his wife, Traci, had their baby yesterday. This was a total surprise, as she was not due until the last week of June! She had their sweet baby 6 weeks early and so far, everything is going well. He is in the NICU at IMC and will be there anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks. He weighs 4 lbs. 8 oz. and has a head full of black hair. I've only seen a picture, but he looks just like Jake. He is precious and we are all praying and hoping for the best! They named him Jude Ryan. Don't you love that? Jude for Judy...I love it! Welcome, sweet baby Jude!

Recap of the last few days

Starting with yesterday and going backwards, we have had a busy and fun past few days. Mothers Day was nice, even though I longed for my Mom. (Pretty much like I do every day) However, church was so busy that I didn't have too much time to get emotional and the Relief Society lesson was on missionary work, so I just sort of tuned it all out and escaped to my own mind. I visited my Mom's grave on Thursday and brought some flowers. Shopping for her has become very limited. Richard didn't have bishopric meeting yesterday so I got to sleep in until 9 am and woke up to lots of wonderful home made cards from the kids. I also got Harry Potter 7 from the kids (just kidding, I bought it for myself and threw it in a gift bag!) and the Tangled piano book. The kids abandoned their breakfasts to join me at the piano while I played and they sang all the songs at the top of their lungs. I loved it! We were able to go to Mt. Pleasant last night for dinner so Richard could see his Mother. On Saturday my family ran in the Race for the Cure. It was a great way to honor my Mom and then we went to the Little America brunch afterwards. This is a great tradition that we started last year and only the adults participate. We had a wonderful time and were able to get together again that evening for a BBQ and so the cousins could all play together.

All the grandkids enjoying dinner

Dad and the girls. Michelle is pregnant (due Sept. 15th- my Mom's birthday) and Traci is due the last week of June! I'm sure my Mom is loving getting those little boys ready to come down!

Jenny, Jake, Dad, Dave and Jon. Sorry, Dave and Jon, guess you forgot to smile.

I love how Jon personalized his shirt.

Jenny and Richard

Dave and Michelle

Traci and Jake

Michelle is awesome to walk around and gather as much of the free stuff that she can hold!

FRIDAY night we went to my cousins wedding and had another cousin sleep over so she could watch our kids while we were at the race. No pics of Friday!

THURSDAY was Emma's dance recital. I thought she was the best dancer in her class. She acts so shy about dancing, but when that music came on she rocked it! She was so cute and was dancing like a pro! I loved watching her!

She's wearing socks over her dance shoes to protect them...the socks were NOT part of the outfit!

Emma, Kate and Ariel

I had to do make-up on her for the recital and I've never put mascara on her. I couldn't believe how long they are! I just had to take a picture! Jealous? I know I am!

WEDNESDAY we went to Landon's Hope of America program. It was wonderfully done and we were so happy he was able to participate in such a neat event! Thanks for letting me steal your picture, Jessica!

It was a busy yet wonderful week!

How do you stay sane?

Okay, I'm not saying every day is like this, but lots of days are. Today is particularly crazy (and yet I found 5 minutes to blog!) and I know lots of you wonderful mothers out there have days just like this too. I'm wondering what keeps you going? What keeps you from not going crazy? How do you stay sane? I want to know!

8:00 Wake-up (I know, I'm lazy...my kids don't start school until 9:15!)

get ready, eat breakfast, sign papers for kids to take back to school, etc.

9:00 Take kids to school

9:15 Drop off Kate at gym day care

9:30 Go to step aerobics

10:45 Get back home, do some laundry, clean up a bit, etc.

12:08 Pick up Emma from Kindergarten

12:30 Feed girls lunch

1:00 Take a shower!

1:30 Put Kate down for a nap

2:15 Pick up Landon from school (5th graders had a different schedule today)

2:45 Teach 2 piano lessons (today is my light day...only 2 lessons!)

4:00 Pick up Daniel and Sophie who had to wait 1/2 hour and started walking...I didn't know they didn't have choir today!

4:05 Send Landon off to Scouts

4:30 Take Daniel to baseball game and hope he makes it to his friends afterwards

5:00 Do hair and make-up for Emma's dance rehearsal and pictures

5:30 Feed everyone something

6:00 Drop off Emma for dance and pictures and hope that she makes it to her friends afterwards

6:05 Drive to BYU for Landon's Hope of America program

6:45 Drop off Landon and go meet Richard somewhere for a quick bite to eat

8:30 Head on back to Lehi and pick up Daniel and Emma

9:00 Begin the bed time routine/process

10:00 Kids in bed and asleep........aaaaaah!

11:30 We're in bed and asleep!

So here's what helps me stay sane.

* Diet Coke

* Zumba

* Food in general (okay, mostly chocolate)

* A special visit to Starbucks for a treat and/or drink for me!

* Going to the mall (not necessarily buying anything)

* Shopping (other than grocery)

* Day dreaming

* Playing the piano and singing (sometimes at the same time)

* Reading blogs

* Watching mindless TV at the end of the day after the kids are in bed

* Laughing with Richard

* Hugs and kisses from my kids

How about you? Do tell!