A Pin Ball

I found this post I had done back in May and don't know why I didn't publish it. So here is a flashback:

On Friday Emma had her class Father's Day party at school and Mark loved going and getting spoiled by Emma. Her teacher, Mrs. McGinnis is very thoughtful and the kids had a great time. They served muffins, juice and fruit to the Dads and gave them the things they made for them in class.

Makayla had her 4th grade rendezvous to end the year-long study of Idaho history. She said she had a blast and went on and on about the crafts, teepee's, canon ball firing and trading post items she got. The only snag was that there were so many schools and kids participating that the buses were late getting her home. She had piano group class at 4 and a tournament soccer game at 5:30 on the other side of Boise.

When Makayla got home, she rushed to get her uniform on and while I was collecting things to take to the game, she ran down the street to her piano group class. Jared happened to come sauntering in carrying a little bag of peanut M&Ms and was chewing one in his mouth. (He is highly allergic) I grabbed him and rushed to the sink and started washing his mouth out. Emma went and got Mark and he hurried down to help get some Benadryl in. He is such a little monster about medicine and no matter how much we tried (mashing it with applesauce, forcing it in with a syringe, mixed with yogurt) he kept spitting it out! Finally Mark took him out to the swing set as he was crying and crying and started pushing him on the swing. He settled down and was having a good time. Mark held out his hand with a couple pieces of candy and a chewable grape Benadryl. He ate them all! I took Derek and rushed out the door to go get Makayla from piano and take her clear across town to her game.

Only Jared's lips had swollen up and his cheeks were red. He was breathing normal and nothing else was swollen so Mark loaded him up in the car with Emma and headed to Makayla's game. By the time he got to the game, he handed me Jared and Jared promptly fell asleep in my lap. Nothing like Benadryl! (on a side note, he stayed asleep the rest of the night and woke up at 7:15 this morning! That's over 13 hours!) Right after Makayla's game, I rushed home and dropped off Makayla and Jared and then took Derek over to Emma's game that started at 7.

Makayla in a tournament game

Emma in her last season game

The next morning, Makayla had a game at 9:30 across Boise again. Mark took her to that one while I worked in the yard. When they got home, I took Emma to a birthday party and Makayla to her last PAL 1:30 game. Once that was over, I grabbed her to head to her 3:30 game across Boise. After grabbing her from that one, we shot back to attend her piano recital at 5. Holy smokes I burned some gas that day!! Finally at 6:30 I sat down and ate some pizza with my grandparents, Makayla and my niece, Casidy. I was sunburned, starving and exhausted!

Makayla in her last season PAL game

Makayla in another tournament game

I felt like I was the ball in a pinball machine!

Fiddle Recital

Every year I have a fiddle recital in my backyard for all my students. I usually have it the first part of June but since we will be out of town, we had it on Monday. It was kind of early but some of my students got out of school on Wednesday and were leaving town this weekend.

My niece, Casidy, my mom on the right and me on the left

I love getting my yard all ready and gearing the kids up for this. It's a chance for them to play in front of people and a chance for the kids that are playing in the contest(s) this summer to practice playing their contest songs. I have everyone bring a blanket or chairs and a picnic dinner. I provide ice cream and brownies for dessert after they sit and listen the whoooole time. :)

This year I had 17 kids playing, including Makayla and Emma, so I was a little worried it would be kind of long for everyone. The parents all said how much they enjoyed it and loved being outside and letting the little kids run around and play on the playground. There was no pressure for them to keep a crying child out somewhere. We did, however, have my two boys and my nephew constantly riding trikes through the "stage" though but I don't think anyone minded to much.

Jared making the rounds

Makayla playing her contest songs

The kids all did great and we had a really good time.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day at pre-school is one of my very favorite days of the year. All the mom's of the kids get to go and be treated to lunch and "entertainment" for an hour. We get seated on these tiny chairs in front of a tiny table with place settings for each person. We wait for the kids to come in and perform their program.

Derek made the placemat. It's Derek, me and our house

It's so adorable to watch all these little kids come in single-file with aprons on the girls and men's dress shirts and ties on the boys. They sit in their chairs and sing a couple of Mother's Day songs.

You Are My Sunshine

After singing, they file out again and come back in each carrying something in for the lunch. They go around and serve each Mom with what they are holding. We had chicken salad sandwhiches, fruit, veggies and dessert. Derek got to carry the "to-die-for-800-calorie-a-bite" fruit dip and veggie dip.

The good stuff is on the left...

Enjoying our meal!

We all sit around and visit and the kids are just thrilled to have Mom come and eat lunch with them. I had the lady across from us take a picture of us and she kept saying, "ok, one more! Derek, look at me! Let's do it again!" Here is why:

I swear he does this in every picture..

Kind of creepy sometimes (his eyes, not me...)

This will do!

Happy Mother's Day!

Easter

Yeah, I know it's like a month and a half later...

Easter Sunday the kids woke up to find their Easter baskets on the couch. They got a new Sunday outfit, a book and a toy. I put an extra Angry Birds shirt in for the boys which they loved!

Then we moved outside for the hunt. This year it was actually warm outside so it made it all the more enjoyable. We choose a color for each kid for the eggs. Makayla was orange, Emma pink, Derek Blue and Jared Green. Obviously we (Mark) hide the eggs harder for the girls and it always takes forever for them to find them. They always need help at the end and we try and remember all the spots we put them.

Morning at our house

Since our ward split in March, we only had sacrament meeting for several Sundays. Easter was one of those so we only had 1 hour of church. It was really nice! (as I peer around quickly for lightening bolts...) My mom always has a fun Easter planned so we headed out to her house after coming home and changing.

Dinner was a-mazing! as usual and we had ham, potatoes, rolls and veggies. A slab of butter and lots of garlic is her key :)

Jared eating after the aftermath. He fell asleep on the way there.

The kids had their egg hunt afterwards with every kid having a color for themselves. It's a lot of fun and when they are all done, they get to choose prizes from the pictures inside their eggs at the "prize store." There were bubbles, books, little stuffed animals and of course candy.

Finding eggs in the prickly roses

the hunt is on!

Cashing in at the "prize store"

Enjoying the loot

What a fun day!!

Baby Bowling

Jared was cracking me up one day when he set up the bowling pins in the pantry and became the bowling ball hinself to knock the pins down. He has been watching Derek do this and thought he'd try it out for himself. I happened to have my camera.

Angry Birds

When Derek likes something, he usually becomes obsessed. The latest source of entertainment for him has been Angry Birds. He talks, sleeps, watches, plays Youtubes and breathes Angry Birds. Recently when Mark came home from one of his business trips, we took Derek to the store to pick something out. Of course he headed straight for the latest Angry Birds game. So I came down the stairs one afternoon to find him deep in the middle of an intense game. (Of course no rules are followed and there is no multi-player option)

I now have to keep a safe watch on the eggs in the fridge so they aren't mysteriously taken by a little thief...

Emma's Baptism

Last month Emma turned the "great 8" on March 3rd. Her birthday happened to fall on the first Saturday which is the same day as the stake baptisms. It was a neat thing to have her birthday and her baptism on the same day.

Mark's parents, Paul and Rita, came up for the event and stayed for a few days. We love having them come and they are a great support to our family. They happened to "conveniently" arrive after Emma's friend party Friday night :)

Saturday morning I took Emma out to take some pictures. She was so fun and happily posed for any kind shot I was trying to get. Here are some fun takes.

We had lots of family and friends come and support Emma including my parents, Rick and Tamie, my grandma, Rhea, my brothers, Richard and Justin and their families, Justin's in-laws and great friends of ours, the Mortensens, Jen and Julia Butikofer our besties, and several other wonderful people in the ward. Jen and I were able to play the musical number for the program and the talks were wonderful.

Gma and Gpa

GGma

The group with a lovely row of chairs in front

Emma and Julia

Emma is such a wonderful girl and I am so proud of the girl she is becoming. She loves her family, the gospel and always tries to do what is right. I hope she continues on the path she is taking and I know she will turn into a lovely young woman some day. (really far down the road...)