The Braves

  

Kya with the team ball

It's no secret that I am not a big fan of softball, but watching my daughter work so hard at something and play her heart out during every single game is just the best thing in the world.  Kya has learned so much about not only softball, but what it means to be part of a team.  Sunday was the end of the season pool party (finally) where they handed out the trophies.  Kya's coach had amazing things to say about Kya.  We are so proud of our little girl.  There is no doubt in my mind that she can be anything she wants to be because she works and tries so hard at everything she does.

Coach Justin giving Kya her trophy

Kya with both her trophies and her FIRST PLACE medal...

 Did I not mention her team won FIRST PLACE?!  So Proud:)

Palm Springs

 I love the sun.  My hubby doesn't quite share my love of the sun.  But, he loves me so much, that he let me plan a family vacation to Palm Springs...in the summer...when it's REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HOT! 

We watched the temperature go up from 66 degrees when we left LA, to 113 degrees when we finally arrived.

Needless to say, we spent most of our time in the pool...

When we weren't swimming, we were cooling off watching one of the 5 tv...

(Tyson's Room)

 (Jordan and Kya's room)

 (The Living Room)

 Eating at a restaurant because it was too hot to eat at the outdoor street fair, even at 8pm it was still too hot!

 There was a giant Marilyn Manroe statue and the kids wanted their picture taken from THIS angle!

 They all took turns feeding the horse! 

We had a great vacation. 
As much as I love the sun, it was nice to come back to our 70 degree weather:) 
I would definitely not want to live in a place as hot as Palm Springs!!

Graduation Day-Thanks Goodness it's just Elementary School!

 From tiny baby....

 

...to the first day of Kindergarten...

 

...to the last day of Elementary School!!

It all happened so fast!  Congratulations JoJo...we love you!!

Little Miss Sunshine

When Jordan declared herself "Little Miss Chatterbox"(I think she was 6yrs old), we searched for the perfect "Little Miss" character for Kya.  As soon as I saw "Little Miss Sunshine", I knew it was the perfect character for our sweet, smiley, happy, warm little Kya.  She has a Little Miss Sunshine shirt and figurine and NOW...a birthday party:)

 We celebrated Kya's birthday a little early this year, since we will be in Canada on the big day.  I used this picture for the invites, with all the details for her party printed on it:

This may have been the LOUDEST sleepover EVER!! 

They played in the (cold) hot tub...

 ...ate pizza...

...played a bunch of games (including a VERY silly mustache game)...

 

  

...opened presents...

 ...Jordan did every ones hair and make-up...

...sang "Happy Birthday" (with 9 candles, even though she's still 8 for a couple more weeks)...

 ...and of course, stayed up really, really, REALLY late...

Oh, AND the Karaoke Machine arrived just after the party was over:(

(just for the record, it was SUPPOSED to arrive in time to play AT the party...grrr)

 

JOG A THON

This past Friday was the school's annual Jog A Thon!!  The kids' classes all take turns running for 15min. straight, while parents and friends pledge money to the school.  After the classes run, school wraps up with a party filled with snow cones, popcorn, sack races, and water balloon fun.  Last year I was in no condition to help out (since I had just had my hip surgery), so this year I was determined to help out AND even run with my kids.

It was a HOT day!!  I was at school from 9am until 5pm and ran three races.  By the time we got home I was completely wiped out!! 

 I am sure there are dozens of very unflattering pictures of me running (which is why I don't need to post any!!)...

first in a yellow shirt (with Kya), 

 

then in a red one (with Tyson), 

 

and finally in a purple one (with Jordan).

 

 My kids did a fantastic job, but...surprisingly, Tyson was the winner of the most laps run (did I mention he's a little competitive?!).

This is Tys before he left for school.  I couldn't convince him to leave the headband on for the race:)  The little guy got to pick out a new Skylander for being the winner and Daddy took everyone out for ice cream, when he got home from DC.  What a great day!

May Birthdays

 Is it just me or are birthdays not as fun as they used to be??  I think I was excited for my birthdays up until I turned 30!  Anyways, we still try to make them fun with cakes, dinner, parties, and presents.  Seriously, how did we get so old?!

I tried to look younger and put less candles...I guess I am 4 years younger:)

This is what 39 candles looks like!!

 

3 Good Things

Before the kids go to bed, I usually ask them to tell me 3 good things about the day.  I know this is not a unique idea...a lot of you probably do something similar, but I really think it is one of my favorite things.  I wish I had been writing them all down because, it would be so fun to read what was said by 6 year old Jordan or 4 year old Kya or even 2 year old Tyson.  No matter how terrible the day has been, when we take time to think of three good things, we always come up with so many more!

3 Good Things

 (From the past couple night's)

Jordan's

Play date with Mia

Swimming

Losing a tooth

 

Kya's 

Watching the eclipse

Family Home Evening

Playing Volleyball in the backyard

 

Tyson's

Playing Handball

Playing Monopoly Cards 

Staying up late to watch a movie

 

I don't have to look very far to find my 3 good things!!

Nightmare Realized...well kinda

Yesterday I read a story to the kids at church about a young girl who was left to babysit her younger brothers, when the garage, and one of her brothers, started on fire.  One of the older girls said "That would be my biggest babysitting nightmare!!"

This past Friday night I had "My biggest "mom" nightmare" or at least I thought I did...for a few seconds.

Friday afternoon I was busy packing for a very special "Father/Son" camp out (why was I packing, you ask?  Well, because boys just don't know how:)).  We packed up the car, hugged and kissed our boys goodbye and started our "girls night".

 

After a little shopping, homemade pizzas, a lot of ice cream, and a movie, I tucked my girls into bed, locked up, and was asleep seconds after my head hit the pillow.

An hour or two later, I woke up to what sounded like a door slamming...I looked at the clock--12:30am.

I listened carefully...footsteps...more footsteps...loud footsteps.

It didn't sound like the girls quiet bare feet stumbling out of bed...it sounded like grown up feet...wearing shoes!!

My stomach dropped, I swear my heart stopped...this was my worst nightmare (well, one of them).

Whoever was in my house was coming up the stairs, slowly, but surely heading to my bedroom.

I opened my eyes slightly, just enough to see a silhouette of a man.

The man said nothing and slowly walked toward me...

What do I do??

Holy cow was I scare!!  It was that kid of scared when you think you've lost a child.  Pure Terror.

A few steps later, I realized it was my husband...coming home early from the camp out.  Of course, then my mind jumped to "was Tyson okay?".  Well, it turned out some crazies started a huge bonfire on the road and they kicked everyone out of the camp site in the middle of the night--pretty lame for Tyson's first father/son camping trip...but at least it happened after all the great fun was had (roasting hot dogs, s'mores, exploring, fireside, throwing sticks...and whatever boys do in the wilderness).

Needless to say, I couldn't get back to sleep for a couple hours after that ordeal.