How Do You Spend Your Friday Nights?

This is how I spend mine.....

The kids and I pile in the car and head down to the High School. I put Soph in the Bjorn, we load up on hot dogs, hamburgers and chips and head to the bleachers. I appreciate the food at the game. I have no range in my kitchen right now, and cereal and sandwiches are getting old.

We spend the first fifteen minutes or so trying to attract his attention. I try and sit us in the same general area each time so he can find us easier.

In the second quarter Tyler asked Lindsay to Homecoming over the intercom. She said yes in the third quarter. High school kids are fun. Really, I have learned quite a bit about them in the past four weeks. Such as-they are all really touchy feely to each other. They all hug when ever they see one another, in such a way you would believe they hadn't seen each other in ages. Then they proceed to talk about the English class they have together. Most of them have cell phones. They talk to or text the person one row over constantly. They like to rotate where they sit every two or three minutes. And if a mom with kids such as myself asks them to stop using bad language in front of little kids, they comply quickly and seem a bit embarrassed.

These girls are Bella's favorite part of the game. She really wants to do this one day. I told her it's expensive, start saving. She really wants to have a box with her name on it she can stand on, it's hard to see in the picture, but all the girls are standing on big black boxes with their names. And more than anything else she wants some pom poms. The moms of the cheerleaders and dance or drill team ( I can't tell) all get to wear things that identify them as "cheer mom" or "pionette mom". Usually if you sit by them you will have more room after half time when they take off.


Jack is always very absorbed in the game. He is my own personal commentator. He recaps all plays to me and laments that his dad gets to be on the tower and have a much better view. He is counting the days until he is suited up and out on the field. I am the worst mom in the world for not letting him bring his football and go out during half time to play.

This one likes to be outside, but gee it's tiring. She usually naps for 45 minutes in the middle of the game. And I usually have to nurse her at the game, which I figure is educational for all the teenagers I am surrounded by. Actually they barely seem to notice-thank heaven. They are all way too absorbed in other things.

I must interject a brief bit of advice to teenage boys. First a bit of wisdom from Cher Horowitz:

"So okay, I don't want to be a traitor to my generation and all but I don't get how guys dress today. I mean, come on, it looks like they just fell out of bed and put on some baggy pants and take their greasy hair - ew - and cover it up with a backwards cap and like, we're expected to swoon? I don't think so."

I haven't seen too many baggy pants, but I have seen too many tight tight tight pants with little skinny ankles on boys. Please, please stop. Also to the boy that came in a wrestling singlet, please no. The one in the footie jammies, those were way too small for you. And my overall advice would be look in the mirror before you leave. Just pause, just for a minute and make sure this is the message you want presented about yourself. I actually like all the school spirit stuff they wear and adorn themselves with. I would wear purple and black striped tights all the time if I could get away with it. I love the purple hair, purple shoes, and purple necklaces. It all makes me nostalgic for our purple car. If we couldn't be blue (La Grande High and BYU) at least we get to be purple.

Sadly they lost tonight, making their record 2-2. It was close tonight and we held on to hope until the last few seconds. If anyone is keeping track, Bella's soccer team is 5-0.

Best Laid Plans

So this mess represents a tiny area of sub floor from underneath the refrigerator, not the whole thing mind you, just a small part. Count the staples, I dare you.

Not that it has anything to do with anything at this point as it is all sitting in a garbage can down the street. And the floor is actually coming along okay. We have finished the front room and are in the kitchen now. It's looking how I wanted it to look-well sans all the dust and dirt tracked everywhere.

Speaking of stuff every where, Nate came up with a keep the downstairs clean plan for Sunday afternoons. Fall is upon us and football is here. Jack could watch game after game with nary a peep if we let him. Bella hides under a blanket and proclaims her dislike of all things football. And really, by Sunday she has already been to a LHS game, and one of Jack's games, so I can't really fault her for being upset about it all. Well Nate told Jack a story about when he was young he did push ups and sit ups during commercials to bulk up. So he thought we should do productive things during commercials during the game on Sunday, push ups and sit ups weren't what he had in mind though. Laundry, toys, books, and other random things are what he wants to conquer. So the deal is, people get to watch football while also helping out around the house. Poor Bella, this situation does nothing for her, we will have to work on that later.

So looking around down here today I see some evidence that things happened, the couch is full of folded laundry, toys are in the toy box, no stray shoes to trip over. However there is a large amount of felt, thread, stuffing, and sewing paraphernalia laying around. Oh wait, is that my mess?!? Find out more about what I am up to here.

Hey Coach!

Bella is there in the striped socks. I couldn't find Jacks old ones and realized knee socks are way more fun. And there I am on the side, yes I have gone crazy and am coaching her soccer team. I have no prior experience, have never played soccer, and have never coached before. But we are halfway through the season and so far so good.

But also we have....

...this guy. Second season for him. He looks like a pro up there with the headphones calling plays. The kids and I try and get his attention during the game and he never hears us. He is soo focused on the field. So far they are 1-1. This week will be crucial in turning the tide. If they win it will help their confidence a lot and we will have a happy coach. If they lose, much moping will ensue. Did I mention my team is 3-0. Oh wait, so far I have a better record. Hmmm, maybe I should start a friendly competition, especially seeing as I am already ahead. Of course, my players are 5 and 6 and still listen, while he has to deal with teenagers, so I have an edge. But, all is fair in love and sports and bragging rights.

First Day!

Jack started school two weeks ago. I have been slow in posting because...

We tore up the floor. And are still tearing up the floor. More on this later. On to....

He was really irritated I made him stop to take his picture. He just wanted to get back to his class and then on to recess. He seems to like his teacher, and knew a ton of people in his class from previous years. He is pretty excited school is back in session, even though summer was short.

This one started Kindergarten on the 25th. She absolutely would not hold still, or give me a hug goodbye. She just dashed into the playground like a pro and went to play. She is having a ball so far. On Wednesday she woke up and said "Third day of Kindergarten, third day of fun!" I love that she loves it.

Now, back to the floor. We are putting in laminate in the kitchen and living room aka sewing room. The carpet was not so bad to tear up, but the linoleum has been a bit overwhelming. The people who laid it down used a staple gun every two inches or so all over the whole floor. I had no idea the kitchen floor was earthquake proof.

The things I missed

My camera decided to slowly die throughout the month of July. First I thought it was the battery, but alas no, the whole case had opened and I would need to replace it with another one. Anyone who knows me knows I must research as nasuem. So I thought I needed an update of the pictures untaken of the past month or so.

Last week, Nate set up the tent and he and the kids camped out. I nabbed the tent from my parents house about a year ago. They have extras and so I relinquished the big one. It's lovely and purple and has four rooms. We were relieved that we put it up in the back yard for the first try. It wasn't that it was really difficult, we just are slow. Next time we put it up we will hopefully be in the woods somewhere and be faster.

The camera died after one picture of Jack's last baseball game. He loved playing this year and wants to practice pitching everyday until next year so he can be the pitcher.

I only got two pictures of the trip we took up to Oregon for my Grandfather's memorial service. Granted, I didn't have a lot of time to be taking pictures with the quickness of the trip and all the stuff we did while there, but a lot of family was there and together and I will have to see if my mom got any good shots I can snatch.

Again, the kids and I went to Oregon for a week at the end of July. I wanted to snap pictures of my mom's dogs being terrified of Isabella and Sophie. They didn't mind Jack, but little girls are very scary you know.

And then there is all the day to day stuff, Sophie has started standing a bit, Jack playing Star Wars in the front yard. All the pillow and blanket forts in the living room, and a baby quilt I made for my new niece.

But the good news is I finally bought a new camera, just a point and shoot for now, and Nate has been busy snapping pics of Bella and I on the soccer field and Jack's first day of third grade. I have just about finished reading the book that came along with the camera (I know, I am the only person that reads that book) and will be back into the photo posting again, rather than borrowing other peoples pictures.

New Niece!

Welcome to the world Violet! The kids are excited to have a new cousin, number 14 overall for them. Violet was born last Saturday, and even though she and her mom had a rough go of it, she looked great. I am excited she and Soph will be in the same grade in school.

And speaking of school, Jack and Bella met their teachers yesterday. Both are sooo excited to begin the school year. I, on the other hand, feel like summer went by so fast I have whiplash. We still have a big list of stuff to get done around here before colder weather sets in. But in the mean time, I am going to just play with the kids and hang around with them. Jack and I have some Clone War plans we need to get to, and Bella and I may need to get a few accessories for Cinderella Bear while she waits for school to start (Why is it taking sooo long mom, let's just go today! I know my teacher is there!).

Until then, looking forward to seeing little Violet this weekend! Look at those cheeks!

She Flew

In May, our ward had an auction to raise money for the youth. One of the items up for bid was an introductory flight lesson. I bid, I won, I flew! Holly and all the Woodlings graciously escorted me to the Provo airport in the early hours of the day. I felt giddy with excitement, concerned about the size of my derriere when I saw the size of the seat in the plane, and thrilled when we gently lifted off the ground. The pilot-Rich-was a hoot. He let me fly more than I had hoped for and answered all my questions easily. We flew over Utah Lake and over our neighborhood in Lehi. I had forgotten to mention to Nate to come outside, but a few neighbors actually did see the little plane circling above. I loved it, I keep trying to figure out a way I could do this every day!