Student of the Week

So Friday the kids came home and said that Ethan was on TV. What? Of course, I wasn't believing a word of it, until they explained that he was on the TV at school. Their school has TV monitors in each classroom, where they do morning announcements, messages from the principal, etc. I'm sure they also use them for showing movies while the teachers take a nap. Ha! Ha!

Anyway, apparently the school has started this new "golden ticket" system. When the kids are showing good character, their name goes on a golden ticket, which goes into a drawing. They choose a handful of tickets each week. So here are Aubrie and Boston watching the announcements and hear Ethan say his name in his little baby voice, "Efan", as they are asking the students to introduce themselves. Apparently Student Council (the ones doing the announcements) thought he was cute and loved his freckles (according to Ethan).

So what does he get out of this? Cutting rights!!! He gets to cut in front of the lines all week. I let him get lunch in the cafeteria and he said it was totally cool that he got to cut to the front! I'm so glad that Ethan got picked. It meant a lot to him. He is doing so well in school. He loves his teacher, and loves to go and learn. He loves all the things he is doing...soccer, karate, music. He works really hard, and is very focused.

Ethan and Aubrie had their first soccer game Saturday. Aubrie did very well, considering she had no idea what she was doing. I was impressed that she just jumped in and did things, without acting fearful or nervous. I think if I was 9 and played my first soccer game with girls who had played before, I would have butterflies in my stomach. She was very aggressive, and also willing to play goalie. I think she realized that position wasn't where all the action was, and wanted to get back on the field. Once she gets her positioning down, I think she will do GREAT!

Ethan did very well, too. He was a little tired at first. He had just sat in the sun for an hour watching Aubrie's game, and kicking a ball around with Emmy. He also went to bed at 12:30 the night before. Once his adrenaline started going, he was a machine. He was all over the ball, and sometimes all over the players. He was just focused on kicking the ball no matter where it landed. One time he accidentally kicked a coaches hand as he was picking up the ball, and he also kicked it out of boys hand who tried to pick it up. It was kind of funny, actually. Ethan finally got his Karate Gi and equipment. He wore it for the first time yesterday. He did so much better than he has ever done. Everyone (the other Mom's and the instructor) noticed it. Amazing how having his uniform on helped him do much better. He was so cute, and I didn't even get a picture. I'm taking one on Wed, for sure, and posting it.

Afternoon Taxi Driver

Last week went way to quick. I honestly can't think of anything I did besides run kids to activities, go to Young Women's and watch the season premier of House (my favorite TV show). I'm sure I also got some Glen Beck in, too! The weeks just pass by so quickly these days. Before I know it, it is Friday and I'm gearing up for another week to come. It's all very good, but also very exhausting. I think I'm about to paint my car yellow, and start talking in a New York accent! I hope the kids really do love all their activities, and I'm not running them around in vein.

Growing up I wasn't involved in anything, until I got into Jr. High/High School. I remember spending my days, after school, out with the kids in the neighborhood, watching TV, playing in my room, etc. I wonder what produces a happier childhood, and if it really matters. I was a happy kid. Of course, times were much simpler then. Now our kids lives are filled with video games, computers, etc, when they are home. Especially if you live in Arizona. There isn't much playing outside unless you are swimming! (Well, for 8 months out of the year anyway.) Where am I going with this? I just hope at the end of it all, all my time and energy (along with all my kids time and energy) will help at producing more well rounded adults!

I'm posting our weekly schedule for family history's sake. I'm sure the kids will love looking at this someday, and it might be helpful for me, too, when I'm a Grandma and wondering why I don't see my own Adult children very often! I'm sure I'll also look back at this schedule in a few years and think how easy I had it! Ha! Ha! BTW, if there is some bad person stalking this blog, we have 3 doberman pinchers and all of my kids are black belts in Karate!

Monday

4-6 Aubrie's Dance

4:30-5 Ethan's Karate

Family Home Evening

Tuesday

4:15 Aubrie's Activity Days (every other week)

5:00-6:00 Aubrie and Ethan's Soccer Practice

5:30- 6:30 Boston's cub scouts

6:30-8:00 Young Womens

Wed (my easy day)

4-5 Aubrie's Tap

4:30- 5 Ethan's Karate

Thursday (the killer day)

4:30-5:30 Aubrie and Boston's piano

5:30-6:30 Ethan's music class

6:00-7:00 Aubrie's Hip Hop class

7:00- 8:00 Boston's Soccer Practice

Friday....NOTHING!!!!!!

Saturday

3 Soccer games at random times, and sometimes a dance practice

Ben...maybe you should print this out;)

Single Mom for 4!

Ben takes a trip up to Utah once a year for a "college friends" reunion. This year I told Ben to stay an extra day and go to the BYU game with his brother Matt, who had field seats. BYU started off a great season this year, with a win against OU! I knew Ben would have a great time at the game. (If the don't choke) So that put him gone Thursday- Sunday afternoon. So four days of golfing, playing cards, and hanging out with some of his best friends. I'm glad he gets the chance to do it.I really don't mind when he goes. I'm used to him being out of town with all the travel he did with IBM. I run a tight ship, so things get done with or without him here!

Thursday was a little hectic, but not bad. Normally, Ben and I have to shuttle kids to after school activities at the same time. My Mom helped out, by taking Ethan to his music class. Aubrie didn't feel well, so she skipped her 6:00 dance class. So that left plenty of time to get homework done.

Friday, Boston had Grandparents Day. He was so excited. My Mom went. The kids sang songs, and made them a hand print poster. Then the Grandparents were asked to share what life was like for them when they were Boston's age. Because it was Grandparent's day, Boston got to come home early. My Mom and I spent time playing Jenga and Don't Break the Ice with Boston. After school, the kids decided they wanted to paint. I was in the other room, and so Aubrie got everybody set up on her own. Aubrie is so responsible when it comes to stuff like that. Here are the pictures they did.

Aubrie added Ben later, in pencil, to her family portrait! Guess he wasn't there, so she forgot to put him in. Nice of her to think of it later.

After painting, we went to McDonalds for dinner. The kids had fun playing. There was a family that had a son on Ethan's T-ball team last season. So they had fun playing with him, too.

When we got home we watched Free Willy, while we frosted Sugar Cookies. LOTS!!

Then they watched Dragon Slayer (not sure it was the best pick, but they liked it best), while I caught up on journaling.

This morning, Aubrie woke up early to surprise me with breakfast. She made scrambled eggs and pancakes. I made Danny's special buttermilk syrup to go on the pancakes. YUM! After breakfast and a few cartoons we all did chores, piano practicing, reading, etc. Then my my Mom took Aubrie to the library, and then the rest of the kids out for ice cream. Aubrie spent a lot of time playing dress up with Sophia. She painted her nails to match her outfit and everything.

I spent some time getting my handouts for my lesson ready for tomorrow.

Tonight I'll go over the lesson and probably watch more movies with the kids. So far all has gone well. Tomorrow will be the real test; getting 4 kids ready for church all by myself. I guess that will give me a glimpse of what it's like to have a husband in the Bishopric! LOL

Some pics of Sophia at JuJu Berry.

Brain Freeze!

#6

The number 6 represents how many times we have now taken our kids in for stitches (gluing, or staples). Aubrie, Boston and Ethan all split their chins at 3. Aubrie fell off a hammock that her Grandparents had over cement. Boston was chasing a friend in the house and ran right into the arm of the couch. Ethan's chin slammed on Boston's head, as he jumped off the waterfall in our pool at the same time Ben was throwing Boston across the pool. Boston also tore his knee on the staples in the carpet last year, and Aubrie took a golf club the the chin this year. We were all getting ready to hold our breath when Sophia turned 3! We'll she beat them all to it. It wasn't her chin though, so we are not sure if this one counts!Wednesday night, Sophia wanted to take a shower with Ben. She stepped in the shower, lost her footing, and went down on the back of her head. I wasn't home yet, and when I got home I heard Ben calling me from the shower. She wasn't crying. Ben just wanted me to take a looksie and see if I thought it needed stitches. I always err on the side of caution because of infection. I told Sophia she had to go to the Dr. and she started jumping up and down in excitement, saying, "Yeah, yeah, Dr., Dr,!"

Ben took her while I held the fort down and got dinner going. We always take

the kids to an urgent care place, unless they are closed. Ben was in and out in a half an hour. They gave her 3 staples, so they didn't have to shave her head. Ben said she did REALLY good. She didn't even cry. They had to wrap her up in a sheet like a burrito (something they always do there to the younger ones). She didn't even protest that. Every time they put something on her head, (ie antiseptic, numbing agent) she would say,"Yeah, I'm all better". She did whimper and say "Ouch", when she got each staple. But since then, she hasn't complained. What a big girl. She hasn't even asked to swim since since she got them!

Here is the after picture!

Something that happens when the kids get ahold of the camera, "Dress up Sophia and take pictures"!

Finally a "Soccer Mom"

Though I have kept the kids busy doing a variety of activities, soccer never made it on the list. Something about tournaments, Sunday games, and seasons that never seem to end, always kept me at bay. Finally, after much asking by the kids, we signed them up with a Rec. teams that had practices and games within minutes. Tuesday was Aubrie and Ethan's first practice. Conveniently, Ethan and Emmy practice together, and Aubrie and Maya are on the same team. They both had a GREAT time, and did great! Aubrie was working really hard to do her best, and I could tell she was really enjoying herself. I was a little concerned about her taking up soccer since she has so much dance every week, but I think this will be really good for her! Ethan has fun doing anything athletic!

The Forgotten Camera

We always forget to download Ben's camera on my computer. Here are some jewels we found!

Labor Day 2009....in no particular order!

A fun game of kickball!

Or not! He must have gotten out!

It must be time to eat!

We had the Lorenza's over, too! (Marco and Juan's parents)

I love kids helpings. Small and no variety!

Marco's yummy ribs!

Some more "Back to School" pictures!!!

Time in the Sandbox! (in the summer!!!)

Fun times on the Slip and Slide.

Sophia joined in the action this time. We only pull it out once in a blue moon, because by the time we are done, the grass underneath is destroyed and our lawn is a swamp!

Fathers and Sons 2009....

the place where boys run free, eating what they want, playing what they want, and get dirtier than they ever are allowed by their Mothers!