Playing Catch-Up...AGAIN

I seem to be having a hard time keeping up this summer. So much has been going on, which should give me plenty to write about, but I just haven't. By the time bedtime rolls around for the kids, I just want to veg with Dave. Not that that's a bad thing, but everything else on my list just stays on the list.

I'll back up to Pioneer Day when Jackson's baseball team, the South Jordan Slammers, played their hearts out and WON the Pioneer tournament. Unfortunately, I've given up on trying to get to every game. There are several reasons, but mostly it's just hard to do with 5 kids, especially when there are double headers. I miss going and wish some things were different so I could *sigh*. But Dave gets to most of them and that's what really matters to Jackson anyway. I did get to the championship game and loved watching them obliterate the Renegades. Way to go Slammers!!

School started for Seth and Spencer and both of them have really good teachers. I'm so pleased and I'm expecting this to be a great year. Spencer made the decision to leave the ALPS program this year and I've been very nervous about that choice. But he has a great teacher that will continue to challenge him while allowing him more time outside of school to pursue his other interests like piano and sports. Seth is continuing in the ALPS program and has a new teacher this year. I couldn't have asked for anyone better. She has a great love of learning and seems to "get" gifted kids. Yeah!!

Davis went to the kindergarten open house and will be starting tomorrow. He is so excited and already seems to be older. It's still hard to grasp because he's my little baby that had so many problems and tried to die on us a few times. How grateful I am for good doctors, nurses and prompting from the Spirit. I'm sort of sad that he's getting so big, but I'm looking forward to having some "girl time" during the day.

Last Saturday our stake had a Family Fun Day. We all paraded up to the park for a HUGE breakfast, games for the kids, bounce houses and a train. The kids had a blast and I was amazed at how much work they put in to making it a fun day.

Laurie and her boys made it back home safely. Kent and Jace are just the cutest little boys and we all enjoyed the time we spent with them. It's just too bad they live so far away.

Happy Birthday, Tiara!

Happy Birthday to my sweet little girl. Tiara was in all her glory today while we celebrated her birthday all day. She woke up bright and early at 6AM to check for balloons and presents. Sure enough, hanging in the center of the family room were 4 balloons with 4 presents beneath them. Dave and I weren't quite ready to get up that early, so we made her wait until 7:30 before she could open them. She was ecstatic to find some Barbie furniture, HSM3 Barbies and a Baby Alive. What a lucky girl!

I helped her get all dolled up for church and she was happy to inform anyone around that it was her birthday. They sang to her in Primary and she loved all the attention.

I made her favorite meal (spaghetti) for lunch and she got to "help" me make her cake. She's really into Barbies right now and wanted a Barbie cake. The toughest part was choosing what color to make her dress. After several color changes, we decided to make it the same as her dress. It turned out very cute except for the half melted bodice. I guess I wasn't thinking and did that part last and the frosting was a little warm from my hot little hands. Oops!

We took the cake up to Grandpa & Grandma Martin's to share with everyone. She loved having everyone sing to her, but the best part of her day was having her "handsome prince" (aka Daddy) home with her all day. I hope she doesn't expect him to take the day off work for every birthday!

Happy Birthday, T! I am so proud to be your Mommy. You are such a fun little girl and I love spending time with you.

Another Busy Summer

With year-round school our summers do 2 things - they last forever and they fly by so fast. I say they last forever because the kids get 3 weeks off starting with Memorial Day weekend and then another 3 weeks in July and yet another 3 weeks off starting with Labor Day weekend. But even with all that time, it seems to go by so fast because I try and pack so much into the 3 weeks off in July. Each summer seems to get busier and I promise to not do it again the next year, but I do. So far, in the 2 weeks they've been out of school we've gone to Lagoon, the beach, a splash park, Silver Lake, Discovery Gateway, and This Is the Place park. We've had basketball camp, 5 track meets, Cub Camp and a baseball tournament. The kids have marched in a parade and we've made several trips to the park. The slippery slide has been well used and is ready to retire. Dave's been gone on scout camps for 3 of the last 5 weekends and I've yet to spend the entire weekend with him home. I'd love to say maybe next weekend, but there's another baseball tournament. We've gone to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house, but can't find time to get to the temple for real. And next week doesn't seem to hold much promise for peace. We have 2 BBQs, fireworks, a family dinner, the zoo, 4 baseball games and as much fun as I can cram into the last few days of summer...

Because bright and early next Monday morning, it's back to school. Spencer starts 4th grade, Seth starts 2nd and little Davis has his Kindergarten open house. As much as I look forward to things calming down around here, it makes me sad, too.

Here's some pictures from our latest adventures...

Lagoon

The Splash Park

Discovery Gateway and the Olympic Fountains

Days of '47 Youth Parade & Family Festival

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Life's A Beach

Isn't that what they say? It sure was today at our house. Yes, even in Utah you can go to the beach. We have one only minutes from our house. Where, you might ask? At Daybreak. There is a huge community that Kennecott is building right here in South Jordan. They actually made their own lake, complete with a sandy beach!

We had never been there, but I had heard great things about it, so we packed up the sand toys this morning and headed to the beach. Grandma Carol came with us and we all had a blast. The kids loved swimming in the lake... ...but the best part was all the sand. Seth & McCall are the only kids that have actually BEEN to a beach. They came with us to Ft. Lauderdale last summer, although McCall was only 1 so that really doesn't count. We've driven by the beach in California, but never spent the day there, so this was a "first" for everyone but Seth. They LoVeD it! Just feeling the sand in their toes was quite the experience. They shoveled and scooped and had so much fun making and destroying their sandcastles. But burying each other in the sand had to be the highlight.

Based on the smiles I saw, I'm sure we'll be spending many more summer days at the beach.

This was one of those great days that remind me how much I love my kids and how much fun they are.

Day of Independence

Our 4th of July was a busy day. Last night, Dave & I were thinking we wouldn't have much going on today. Jackson had gotten hurt in his baseball game yesterday and we thought he may have broken his arm. Turns out that it wasn't broken, just very swollen and very bruised. His team had a game in the playoffs this morning at 9:00 in Heber, but not thinking he would be able to play, we didn't really want to drive all that way to watch him sit on the bench. But Lortab is a great drug. He warmed up with his team and was ready to go. We headed up to Heber a little late because Dave had to help set up the flags for our ward with the Young Men. We got to the game about halfway through to watch them beat a higher seed team. Go Slammers! Next game at 1:00...

So off we went to have lunch at the Dairy Keen. It's a great burger place in Heber that has trains running all around the ceiling and whole Hogwarts display with an "I spy" game for the kids. They love going there and playing with the trains and watching them run over their heads.

We still had some time to kill before the next game, so we took the kids to play at the park. They loved being able to run wild and play. I don't think they ever get tired of playgrounds.

Back to the next game, with the winner going to the championship game. It was a tough game and they fought hard, but ultimately lost. It was a bummer, but this is the farthest they have ever gone in a tournament and we were very proud of the boys.

We thought we'd try something new, now that the kids are getting bigger and more independent. And Independence Day seemed like the perfect time. We drove from Heber up over the mountain and down to Brighton and Silver Lake. The drive over the mountain was dusty and bumpy, but the kids thought that was the best part. The view from the top was amazing!

We spent the rest of the after noon at Silver Lake. The trail around it is very easy and all of the kids walked it without any problem. It was beautiful and made a great setting for some pictures.

We headed home after a long day and finished the night off quietly. Dinner, baths, and a few fireworks at home. Everyone commented on what a great day it was and how much fun they had. It's so nice to be out of the baby stage and be able to do a little more as a family. Today was just a taste of what we can do now with older kids and I'm so excited. Today was one of the best days we've had together. I love the independence that we now have both as a family and as a country. I'm so grateful for the freedoms we enjoy in this land. Happy Birthday, America. We love being a part of this country.