Frightmare's at Lagoon

 Cari is so awesome. She is our favorite aunt. For lot's of reasons. One reason is that she always treats us to a day at Lagoon in October. Erin and Brynlee especially look forward to this every year.

 Jer and I took Err and Bryn for a while so that Lyns could actually ride some rides (last year she was prego with Mason). Bryn kept telling us she wanted to ride the boat. So, we took her on the mini-tidal wave in the kids area. As soon as we sit down, she points to the "big boat" (tidal wave) and says "not this boat. That boat." So, we took her on that one. She was so excited.. look - no hands. Until it really started to go. Then that ride wasn't so fun. She is so much fun. She will try anything. There were a few rides that she said weren't good and so we didn't go a second time, but she was willing to give them all a chance.

 Jer, Josh, Devin and Mason were there with us. They just don't love posing for pictures. Shocking.

Thanks, again, Care! It was so fun!

Crazytown

I'm still not thrilled with the fact that Summer is over. I love Summer.

School started on August 27. There were a lot of things on our list of things to do during the Summer that were skipped. There just wasn't enough time. I know I felt like there wasn't, but the kids probably wouldn't agree. They had a lot of boring summer days this year. With both Jer and I working, they were left to entertain themselves part time. Having school start was a good thing, right?

Emma was a little nervous on the first day because she wasn't sure who was going to be in her class and she has a new (to the school) teacher. But, once she got inside and found out that her teacher is the class clown, she relaxed and has loved every minute of sixth grade. Mr. Pendleton is good with all those 11 year old dweebs. Joking about poop a lot seems to keep them all on task. Em is really having a great year so far! No anxiety. No stress. She is all smiles. I couldn't be more thrilled with how far she has come!

Erin spent her last week of Summer counting down the days till school was starting. She went with that beautiful smile on the first day. . . and must've left that smile at school. She is doing the Emma thing all over again- school phobia. Even though Erin is shy, she has never been so attached to my leg before. The anxiety has actually landed her in the hospital already this year. She has worried herself sick. So sick that she spent Wednesday at Primary Children's Hospital with doctors worried that she might have appendicitis. She comes by that naturally - the anxiety part. Darn! I was hoping that would skip her and she wouldn't have to go thru what Emma did.

Josh handled the first day of 8th grade like there had been no summer. He continued with his tradition of wearing the current ManU jersey on the first day of school. For being a kid that doesn't care about girls or fashion -he sure cared about what he looked like on the first day.

Sadly, this picture is the only B-day picture I got of Joshie. His Birthday was on a Saturday this year and he had a soccer game that day. So, we opened gifts that morning and I promised no pictures in his jammies. He had a great Birthday this year. He scored in his game that day (first goal for him in 4 years since he's played defense till this season), he got bacon and spam from the B's (and $ for college), an Amazon gc from the J's, earbuds from Cari, FIFA and a Panda gc from Jer and I and as always, money from Grandma Morton. He really could have gotten nothing and he would have been happy. Josh is an amazing kid. He was ordained a Teacher in the Priesthood by his dad on Sunday and we had family over for dinner. I can't believe my Joshie is getting so old (and BIG-taller than  me). He really is everything a mom could hope for in her son. (Even though he changes the password on his sisters iPod often just to irritate her. Last time he changed it to "I'mnottellingyou" so that when she asked what it was he would tell her and laugh as she cried because she couldn't figure it out).

 Sunday, September 9 was my big sisters fortieth birthday. Wow. We are getting up there. :) Her best friend threw her a Surprise Party on Saturday night and then we had a family party on Sunday.

 I found this cute idea on Pinterest (a major addiction of mine) and turned it into my own thing. It was cute and hopefully made for some fun decor in her office after the party.

 Mom had fun finding all of Cari's best pictures and displaying them all over for everyone to laugh at.

Erin keeps changing her smile. She is losing teeth like crazy lately. I do love her smile - teeth or no teeth. I mentioned before that she  has worried herself sick lately. It's killing me. She is such a mommies girl any way, but the last couple of weeks have been really hard. She's been working with the school counselor and today she got a candy bar from her for going to school 8 days in a row!

 She spent Wednesday at the hospital having tests run (found out she has an intestinal blockage due to stress) and as if that wasn't enough torture, I took her to the dentist on Thursday for two root canals and three fillings. This wasn't my best idea. Her stress level is already off the charts. So take her to the dentist? Ugh. After an hour of her clinging to me and screaming, I caved and said I would just suck it up and pay the extra for the laughing gas. She calmed right down and watched an entire movie while they drilled and poked and filled her cavities. I do wish I could have her suck on some laughing gas every morning before school now. Is that so wrong of me? If we could use it to calm her nerves just until she gets over the morning anxiety she might not feel so sick all the time.

 On a whole other subject - I moved branches last week so that I could have more hours at work. After my first day of a "long" shift, I was on my way home and a teenage girl did this to my car:

I wasn't hurt. She wasn't hurt. But my car that I love so much was definitely hurt. I hate driving it around like this. It looks so WT. The insurance adjuster is supposed to come do an estimate next week and I will probably have a rental for a bit while my baby is in the Acura hospital. So sad. But, I do love my job and the new branch. It's so not convenient as far as location, but it's a fun job with lots of benefits that make it worth it.

So that was a super random update, but at least I can sleep tonight knowing I finally blogged. ;)

I'll take a Super Cheese, a large fish, two Arctic Pups, a Footlong with extra sauce and a large Cherry Coke.

This summer has been so crazy weird. I've never been a working mom during the summer so it's been a huge adjustment for me as well as the kids. Now that it's coming to an end, I hope the kids are feeling like it was fun and everything our summers always are. I've tried my darndest to fit all the same activities as always and even though there have been days where the kids sit around in their jammies till I get home, we have still had tons of fun!

Josh played in the Freedom Festival 3v3 Tourney over the 4th of July. It was so hot! The games were only 25 minutes long, but in 100+ degrees, that was plenty long. I had to work on the 3rd so Jer took the kids and then when I got off work, I headed straight there. I missed the first game (which was painful - I don't miss his games).

The best part may have been dinner after the games. We took the girls to Cari's house for a sleep ovuh and then Jer and Josh and I went to Glades in Spanish Fork. Oh baby. Just typing the title to this post made me crave it all over again. It's my fave!

The girls went to the Provo Parade with Cari on the 4th and then hung out all day until the Stadium of Fire! Cari is the best aunt ever! She entertained them for two days! And Grandma and Grandpa B. got to party with them at the Stadium of Fire! Erin slept through it all, but Emma loved it all (even the Beach Boys).

Jer and I had to work on the 24th so the girls went with my mom and dad to Spanish Fork for the parade and fun at the fire station. So glad my parents and Jer's parents have been able to spend time with the kids this summer! Every chance the girls get, they walk to Grandma B's to hang out.

The girls have had a couple of sleepovers with Grandma J. Emma said she had TWO pb&j sammies at midnight last time. I asked her if grandma knew she was eating that late and she said "Yeah! She made the sandwiches for me!"

A couple of weeks into the new job, I went out to go to work and discovered my car had been broken in to. We reported it to the police, but here's the weird thing: they didn't take a thing. I'm still confused as to who/what/why... but grateful that nothing was taken. They just emptied the console and the glove box out onto the seats.

(?, Jace, ?, Aiden, Ethyn, Erin, Ceyara, Jaxon, ?,  Ms. Nielsen)

Erin LOVES her teacher from last year so much that we had a play date with her during the summer! She is so awesome! We would love it if Erin could just be in Ms. Nielsen's class until 12th grade. They had so much fun at the park! They had a little water fight - which was actually a good thing since it was SO STINKING HOT!

When Josh is at soccer training, the rest of us try to entertain ourselves. It's too far to drop him off and go home, so we usually walk the track, wander Target or go to the Lake at Daybreak. We finally found a way for the girls to actually look forward to soccer nights. Last time Erin took bread to feed the ducks. So fun!

Emma had a dance recital at the end of her dance year. It was pretty disappointing - not because Emma didn't do a great job, but because the whole thing lasted 10 minutes. She has been wanting more in the way of clogging lately. So, we did a summer dance camp with another clogging team and she loved it! It was 4 days last week and that was more what she has needed.

Josh has played in the Freedom Festival, the Impact Tournament and the Utah Invitational. He also spent a week at Camp Tomahawk with the Scouts. Busy summer for Joshy! He got 8 merit badges while there and  brought back SO MUCH DIRT! We have one more Tournament to go before school starts - the Adidas Cup. Should be another fun weekend full of soccer and sunshine!

We spent a few days at the cabin and the girls are getting ready to go on a camping trip with the B's this week. I have a lot more blogging to do to actually get caught up, but this is a start.

It's the Closing Ceremonies for the London Summer Olympics and I'm sad it's over already! We've had fun watching the USA take Gold in so many sports!  Emma decided her favorite part was the "stick jumping." Josh loved that his practice was canceled so that they could all watch the Brazil v. Mexico game. And Erin loved the "twirly gymnastics with hula hoops." I love it all, but the BMX track was fun and the women's US soccer team ROCKED in the semi's against Canada!

Well I didn't tell anyone but a bird flew by so what I done is set up a nest outside....

I don't know that I have ever let myself go that long without blogging. I'm feeling so bad about not keeping up it. We have kept plenty busy and I have had tons of "I gotta blog this" moments, but I have honestly not had a minute to spare since before school got out. It's in the a.m. now and I shouldn't be up, but if I don't blog now, I may never.

This Spring was crazy town around our yard. The birds moved in and they tried to take over. We had a nest in the front yard in the tree. This nest was very neatly built and we were entertained for weeks as the birds came in and took over. Every time one of us would go out to move the water we would be dive bombed by the ma or pa. We were so so careful, but one day after school, the kids found the nest on the ground and no birdies to be found. So sad. I'm not sure if a cat got to them or what, but we found three dead birds and an empty nest. The nest became a great show n tell at school, but had a sad story attached to it.

A couple of weeks later, my dryer was giving me grief. I seriously was having to run it 3x to get the towels dry. Jer got up on the ladder and cleaned out the dryer vent. Sure enough, there was a nest. Unfortunately, that did not fix the dryer. So, a few days later, Josh and Emma got brave and went out to look at what was blocking the airflow. Josh reached in and quickly pulled his hand out after feeling more than just a nest.

 They took turns getting up on the ladder (notice the incredibly inconvenient location of the vent) and taking pictures of the little buggers. I called Animal Control but they were no help. So I called a Bird Rescue lady in Logan. She said they were Starlings and needed to be moved. She said the heat from the dryer would kill them. She told us to carefully move them to a box with their crappy "nest" and then hope that mommy bird finds them.

 Emma was amazing! She got up on the ladder and with a glove on her hand, she carefully lifted the baby birds and set them in their new home. Unfortunately, we did exactly what Bird Rescue Lady said to do, but mom abandoned them anyway. So sad. Emma was so so sad. The babies didn't survive the night and we had to bury them.

This was as close as Erin really got. She did get on the top of the ladder to see the birds and was super helpful once they were in the box, but the whole thing was kind of sad. My dryer works now.

 On June 1, we had to say goodbye to some of or favorite people. It was the last day of school and the girls were not ready to part with their amazing teachers.

 

 Mrs. Selman with Emma.

 Mrs. Pleuger with Emma.

 Erin with Miss Nielsen.

We cried. We loved our teachers this year!

 That night, we had to celebrate the end of the school year so we went to the Drive-In to see the Avengers (and all the crazy people that put their kids in the back of their truck on an air mattress... not just for the movie, but to drive to and from as well). It was fun. We will definitely be doing more of that this summer.

 Erin started swimming lessons the very next week. She did so great and keeps asking when the next session starts! We also got to have a little cousin time since Jamie had rhino plasty on June 5.

 On June 6 and June 8, Josh had soccer tryouts. Long story short - there was some serious drama and crazy nerve racking talk, but at the end of it all, Josh made the team. Whew!

 My Birthday was the next day and Jer woke me up and took me on an early date. We went to the Farmers Market and to lunch. It was so fun to have time with the two of us. I took the girls to the mall later to go shopping and then that night I went out with the crazy ladies in the picture below. I love spending time with these women! We saw Snow White and the Huntsman (so so good) and then over to Yogurtland for some "dinner."It was a great birthday!

 We haven't wasted any time with getting to our Summer projects this year. The girl's tie dyed t-shirts...

 We went to the Copper Mines to show the kids how amazing the whole thing is. We didn't stay long. It was raining and cold. :(

 We got our Pass of All Passes and went to have some fun in the sun at Seven Peaks....

 We had a cake decorating contest...

 We went to lunch with all the B's for my Birthday....

 And I got to see one of my best friends (Nicole) while she was here for her brothers wedding. Her hubby is a doctor so it's not often that I get to spend time with her! These are our "babies" on our laps. I love that she is always the same Nicole she has always been and even if five years goes by, it feels like it was only two days. The only difference is now she has a money tree in her yard. Ha Ha.

 So that almost gets me caught up on my blog. That was lots of pics and not much detail - but that will come in the next post I suppose.

We Are THE CHAMPIONS, Ma Friends!

USA White Division 2 U-13 Team

What a season! The boys did it! This team has been a Division 2 team for four years with the goal to move up to Division 1. Every season they work so hard and it has finally paid off! Monday night was the last game of the Spring season. The boys had already played well enough to be moved up to Division 1, but in order to take First Place in the League, they needed to win this game. It was against Sparta. They played well, but our boys played the way they have been and pulled off a win 4-2. It was SO exciting!! As soon as the whistle blew, the boys were celebrating - cake, "champagne," silly string, and even a dance they had been practicing for that moment. It was so rewarding to see the smiles on their faces. I stole the picture above from the USA Facebook page, but they have been featured on the USA website as well!

So what have they done to "work hard" for this? These kids are committed. They played in the Fall and Spring outdoor seasons, 8 tournaments, two indoor futsal seasons, trained 3 times a week as a team and did 1-2 hours of PPR (Personal Practice Regimen) at home every day. They also helped run a USA Rec camp and traveled from Logan, Utah to Mesquite, Nevada and everywhere between. They had personal and team goals that were tracked on a spreadsheet for an entire year. While Josh missed the second season of Indoor Futsal, he added his physical therapy to his schedule, played FIFA on the PlayStation and studied the footwork of the pro's on the Fox Soccer Channel. His latest personal achievement is juggling the ball to 412. But, more importantly, playing soccer for a season without an injury!

This accomplishment is HUGE! Well done, boys!

A Lesson In.... what?

Winter is always too long, if you ask me. But, this Winter was SOOOO long! Josh's hip injury (that happened at a tournament over the holidays) kept him off the soccer field and in the physical therapy room for way too many weeks (sixteen)! He was a trooper and survived the torture, but Jer and I worried. For a thirteen year old boy that has been on the soccer field since age four, it was just as mental as it was physical for him to stay away. We tried to attend as much of his team events as we could, but to go to a game and sit on the bench was worse for him.  There were two different times when the therapist gave him the okay to go back but only at 50%. Both times he came away hurting and it set him back. His hip continued to heal with all the therapy and stretching, but at the same time he was growing like a weed. His back started hurting and locked up on him on two different occasions causing him to be in a lot of pain. His poor muscles couldn't keep up with his bone growth and were pulled so tight that he kept getting hurt. The therapists have done some serious magic on his fragile little giant body. He's had heat, ice, massages, bone popping, stretching, ultra sound and shock treatment. At one point the therapists put a "fragile" label on his chest. Each time we went, Josh went with the hopes of good news. Any good news. Even just an okay to participate in gym at school was a step toward healthy.

We honestly have spent as many hours in this room than we would have on the soccer field. I've decided that to be a physical therapist, you have to have a great sense of humor and a positive attitude seven days a week. The whole crew is hilarious and Josh and I always walk away laughing.

About two weeks ago, we were told to go ahead and let Josh go to training - but again at 50% and eventually at 75%. He did okay. Each move is stressful for me to watch. He made the first couple of training sessions but lasted only about an hour before feeling pain. He continued going to therapy, participating in everything with his team and being faithful to all his stretches. Finally, he was okay to play in a game. He played Monday, April 23 for the first time in months. He only got about 15 minutes each half in order to not push our luck. His coach has enough experience to know where to play him and for how long considering the injury and the time off. The best part of that game was on the way home when Josh said he had no pain.

On Tuesday, April 24 he went to training. This was some crazy training and there were several drills that made me anxious (leap frog, piggy back relay, cartwheels...). But, he did it. And he wasn't in pain the next day. Sore muscles, but no injury.

On Wednesday, April 25, he went to physical therapy. We were told we can go two weeks before he has to go back! Yay!

On Thursday, April 26, we had a game in Herriman against the Gladiators. The weather was perfect soccer weather. Josh was feeling good and the team was ready to play. Okay, not really. He was feeling good, but the team had a slow start. They looked terrible. So, Josh got out there and tried his best. But, he wasn't really having a great game either. It was like there was a full moon or something. Everyone was off their game. Josh's boot came off in the middle of a play and he had possession of the ball... he left his cleat in the middle of the field and continued the play. So stinking funny! At the beginning of the second half we were down 2-1. Josh tried dribbling through a couple of players that were on him. One of the players went down on the ground but Josh didn't slow down. There was no foul committed, but the ref apparently didn't like his aggressiveness and gave him a yellow card. I am a spaz of a mom and a spectator so I couldn't help but cheer at the card. Next thing I know, the ref is carding our coach. And then - he gives him a red and throws him out! We found out later that the coach was defending Josh and said to the ref that it was "unintentional." That got the first card. When coach questioned the card, he pulled the red one.

So now our coach is gone and Josh is on a yellow card. The boys start getting a little fired up. This is good. It takes a lot for our boys to get fired up. We tie the game. Then we score again. And again. Can you believe it? We are up 4-2.

Gladiators pass the ball long and their fastest forward gets it and has a breakaway. Josh is right behind him and all he can think it to stop the play - don't let him score. And without realizing how much he has grown and that he is two steps behind the player, he reaches out to pull on his jersey. This, by the way, happens a lot and is rarely called a foul if your hands are down. Josh's hands weren't down. He meant for them to be. ;) He totally clocked the kid and took him down from behind (horse collar). Straight red worthy. We all knew it was coming. He was already on a yellow. Josh went to the player to make sure he was okay, but the ref wouldn't have it. He lifted the yellow and then the red and told Josh to get off the field.

 So, let's back up a little. Josh has been out of the game for .. how long? A long time. Too long. So I was a little excited to have him playing again. And then to go from losing to winning. And then he got a yellow. I was happy to see him be aggressive. So when the red card came - I cheered. Proud of my boy. Not proud of the play or that the other player may have been hurt. Proud that Josh got his first red card and that he sacrificed himself to stop the play. Apparently, the other coach thought I was cheering about the injured player. Really? C'mon. Is any soccer mom really going to cheer when someone gets hurt?  I named him "Coach of the Year" for being such a dumb shi* and in the end teaching his team poor sportsmanship by not having them shake hands with our team.

 

Unfortunately, they scored on the free kick. But, we still won 4-3. Down a player and a coach. Take that Gladiators. So Josh was asked to leave the field immediately and was suspended for today's game in Park City. That part was tough. We couldn't even attend the game today to support our team. So, they played today without him and without their head coach. They went. They played. They conquered - 6-0! Rock on USA! We play Brigham City on Monday and I'm thinking the fire has been lit in our boys.

From therapy to red card. I love soccer.