My Little Soccer Players

We played soccer this fall for the first time. Bud has been begging to play ever since he played baseball. Beaner decided to do dance instead so I don't have any pictures of her, but she did say she wants to play soccer next year. I think she had just as much fun going to all the practices and games and Big D and I did. She made a lot of new friends and was never lonely or bored.



Bud was in Heaven. He plays soccer with his friends all the time at school so it was pretty cool to play against some of them at games. Bud was so funny to watch run down the field. I used to say he danced when he ran when he was younger. It made me sad to think he'd grow out of that. Well, he didn't. He was just so happy to be playing he'd dance as he ran. Toward the end of the season he got pretty good, not at dancing but at soccer. I would say he was one of the top players on his team.



Bug started the season off on a high. She scored a goal her very first game. She also has been begging to play soccer. I don't think this is the last time we sign them up, it's a good thing there is Spring and Fall soccer seasons. Bugs team did great, but they got cocky and lost a couple. I think it was the best thing that could have happened to them because it helped them to focus back on the game. She did great the hole season and loved every minute.



Bear was very entertaining to watch. All these five year olds and none of them really know what they're doing. Sometimes they would make a goal in the opposing teams goal, but we still celebrated. Sometimes they would forget which side of the field they were suppose to be defending, but we still celebrated. Sometimes they would get tired and sit down in the middle of a game, and we yell for them to get up. Sometimes they would get in water fights on the side lines, and we all laughed.

It was a great season, the weather stayed beautiful for us, and I can't wait to watch them play again in the spring.

Stormy Chicago

Before we left Pittsburgh I told Big D that we should intentionally have a day layover next time we are going through Chicago so we can go and explore. We are always flying through but we've never been able to get out of O'Hare.



I think I spoke too soon. Coming in to Chicago we had to circle the city for about thirty minutes waiting for a storm to break. These are the storm clouds from above.



They really don't look bad from this angle but I guess under them there was torrential rains mixed with a few tornado warnings. The news was saying this is the worst flooding they've seen in 137 years, according to CNN. They had streets washed out and flooding up to peoples waists.

After circling in the air for as long as we could we finally got diverted to Fort Wayne, Indiana (I've never been there either). It was a small airport that had actually just closed and every one had gone home. They had to open it back up, but of course there was no food.

Big D and I cuddled on the floor and watched a movie until our flight was called out, which was about an hour. The flight back to Chicago was amazing for me, Big D slept the whole time so I can't say much for him. There were lightning storms going on out both sides of the plane. Huge lightning that would light up the entire sky. It was like the clouds parted just for our plane. We still had to circle a bit before we could land but we finally got on the ground and then the circling on the tarmac began. We were stuck in the plane for forty-five minutes waiting for a terminal. Some of the passengers were getting pretty frustrated because they missed their connections, we all missed them.

They were setting up cots down K wing for stranded passengers but Big D and I decided to get a hotel so we could get better sleep. The ride to the hotel was our first experience with a taxi and our driver was authentic. Watching TV and the way they portray taxi drivers, I thought it was a bit of an exaggeration. Nope. This guy was a crazy driver and I could barely understand his broken English.

I asked our driver what he did for fun in Chicago and he said he goes downtown and gets drunk and some how that led into him saying he never goes to the South side because its bad really bad. Three cops had been shot just in the past month. Gang bangers have been walking up to cops and shooting them point blank.

I thought I was going to start crying right there. I no longer had a desire to explore Chicago, I just wanted to go home.

And I don't know how this worked out but it cost us $50 to get to our hotel and only $27 to get back to the airport the next morning. Hmmm, I thinketh we got screwed.

After a wonderful five hours of sleep, we showed up at the airport only to have our flight get moved back by two hours. I was starting to get ansi, I just wanted to get home to my babies. Once we were in the air I was a lot better, and so was Big D because he was out cold before we ever even left the ground. How does he do that?

There is nothing better than seeing your children after a week away. They actually liked me for a few minutes, especially when they find out I bought them some toys from the Amish community I visited.

I found out that Bug got bucked off a horse and landed on her head. The hole side of her face was scratched up and bruised. Grandma Honey didn't want her to tell me what happened because she didn't want me to freak out. So she calmed me down by telling me that Bug did every thing she was suppose to, when she landed on the ground she jumped up and ran as far away as she could as not to be trampled. I don't know if this makes me feel better, but seeing Bug in one piece, that makes me feel better. And Grandma made her get back on the horse right after she got bucked off so she wouldn't develop a fear of horses, thank goodness. What a good Grandma! I do think it was a good thing not to tell me some thing like that over the phone.

The kids had to tell me how Papa Guy shot a coyote. I'm pretty sure that made Bud feel better since he's always scared of coyotes at the ranch. Of course, the kids had to go and see the dead body. They told me how there were already bugs all over it and his eye was missing. Papa didn't want them messing with the body so he tried to get them off the hill but they wouldn't listen so finally he yelled that the coyote's brother was right behind them. They were off that hill in two seconds.

Grandma bought the kids a new swimming pool that they practically lived in the whole week they were there. Ahh my little water babies. They had a good time and they were sufficiently spoiled. Thank you very much Grandma and Papa. I could not have enjoyed my trip with Big D without you.

Baseball Season

The kids played baseball this season. Beaner wasn't really excited about playing but she was a good sport about it when she found out her BFF was going to be on her team.



She never whined about going to games. She just didn't have her heart in it. I don't blame her, I wasn't in to sports at her age either.



She was a little scared of the ball but she did get a few hits and even made it around all the bases a couple times.



Now Bud was another story. I don't know if it's just a boy thing but he was so excited to play baseball he'd stand in the outfield dancing as he'd wait for the ball to come to him.



He took direction very well. Every time his coach or I yelled at him to try some thing he did it and he was great.



I'm not going to lie to you, I did have to yell at him to stand up a couple times but I think that comes with the age.



Bear was so excited to play baseball. He was so patient watching his siblings participate in sports and all sorts of fun stuff that he's been too young for. This being his first year playing sports he was super excited to learn what to do.



He was a little distracted by the female players on the other team, the little flirt. Every time he'd get on base he'd start chatting up the other team players. I'd have to yell at him to run so his teammate could take their rightful place on base.



His coach was really good about giving the kids a turn at trying to catch the ball. The hard part was teaching the kids what to do with the ball once they got it.



Of course, Bug had to tell me at every game how unfair it was that she's the one who really wanted to play baseball and she's the only one who didn't get to play. In my defense I really tried, her age group started their season a whole month earlier than the others. So, Bug had to come up with other ways to entertain herself. I think she did a pretty good job.

Bud's REAL Birthday Party

This is Bud's year. It's his year for a birthday party. He had a nice party with the family, the hike, and this is his party with his friends.



Even though 90% of the party goers are family, he still had a good time.



One of the down falls to a summer birthday is there is no way to invite the friends he wants. It also didn't help that the party was on a holiday weekend.



Despite the lack of friends he still had thirty people show up to his party.



We reserved the gym for two hours and ended up staying for four. Boy were we tired.



The chaperon at the gym was pretty cool. He came up with lots of games for the kids. The kids got to do some ju jits su and break boards.



They got to jump over some ever growing walls and they also raced through obstacle courses.



Our 4th of July friends came down to see us instead of us going to Montana. We went to Malad, when we were done at the gym, and watched fireworks.



Bug did some awesome tricks into the it.



Beaner had a wonderful time showing us tricks on the tramp.



Bear had fun running around like a maniac jumping, breaking, and laughing.



Bud had fun opening his gifts. He was very gracious.

Bud's Birthday Hike

We asked Bud what he wanted to do for his family birthday celebration, we gave him all sorts of options and he came up with a hike.



So we called the family up and invited everyone to go. There was a nice turn out.



Uncle Itchy came with his kids. They all did really well, even Jo his youngest.



Uncle Brook and Auntie Andy came with their kids. I think the kids all loved the fact that the trail followed a stream so it was nice a cool plus we could play in it when we stopped for lunch. It's amazing how kids gravitate to water.



Of course we all had fun too. It was a great idea. I hope Bud felt very special with how many people showed up to help him celebrate his special day.

Anyone Need a Contractor?

A couple years ago Big D and the kids were wrestling on our bed when Big D put his foot through the wall. I thought a quick patch job is all it needed until I started taking down the broken sheetrock and discovered black mold. We were in no position to fix it so we didn't bother it for awhile, I know that probably isn't the smartest idea but when you don't have the $$$ what are you going to do.

I finally decided to tackle the wall and see just how far this mold went. I was scared it went all the way into our restroom and up in the ceiling. I ripped out one complete wall and it kept going and so did I. I had to rip out our closet but it stopped before it reached our restroom, yeah! It also didn't make it up to the ceiling, few.

In order to fix our bedroom, which is in the basement we decided it is a good time to upgrade at least one of our windows and make it an egress window. Long story short we had to move out of our room to get every thing done that needs to be done.

We ended up getting rid of our toy room and turned it into our quiet room/office. The former quiet room is now our bedroom, yes, that would be upstairs :0(



The last time the toy room was painted was ten years ago when it was our oldest, Bug's room. We took every thing out and I figured I could live with patch marks on the walls before I could live with big holes every where.



So our little contractors in training helped patch the 150 holes. Grandpa would be so proud. I think construction is in the blood.

Needless to say, all our bedroom project has told us, is we need to redo our whole house. Thank goodness we can do it one room at a time.

Primary Activity

We took all the kids, that were interested, to the temple for a tour and a picnic. A lot of people thought we were crazy for wanting to take that many youngens to the temple grounds. They all did fabulous!



Bug standing in front of the Baptism for the Dead entrance which is going to be remodeled starting next month.



Bear and Bud standing next to one of the oldest trees. It is a Linden tree and it will probably be ripped out in the near future.



Beaner is standing in an arch that they use to take bridal shots.



Bear is standing in front of the temple holding his card he received from the visitors center after we watched movies about sharing.



Beaner enjoying being center of attention. She's going to make a b-e-a-utiful bride one day.



Bug hopefully practicing for when she comes back to get her bridal shots in front of the temple, but not for at least another ten years.



Bud showing off his card as well. I don't know why they felt like they needed to hold those up, maybe they were just proud of their trip.

A Day of Haircuts

The Primary Presidency took all the kids from Primary to the temple for an activity. We had a nice tour of the grounds where they showed us plants that aren't grown anywhere else in Idaho Falls (just because they won't grow) Flowers that are going to be ripped up next month to make a reflecting pool, and the entrance people usually use for Baptisms of the dead which too is being remodeled next month.

We watched some movies in the visitors center, learned about nebulas (places where stars are born), and how tiny our planet really is in the grand scheme of the universe and all the Lord's glory.

On our way home Bud got ahold of some putty which ended up in his hair, so guess what we got to do when we got home?



We get to cut hair. Since I had to cut Bud's I figured I'd torture Bear as well. If you look close you can see the putty in Bud's bangs.



This is how he looked after I just removed the putty. I asked him if he wanted me to leave his hair like this, he said probably not.



I usually shave both boys head, and Big D's too, but I wanted to leave it a little longer on top with Bear, Bud didn't have that choice anymore. I think they turned out pretty cute. It will be a nice summer haircut, at least for two weeks until we have to do it again.



The girls and I decided we wanted nice summer dos too. We looked at a bunch of different hairstyles on the internet and which haircut looks best to match the shape of our faces. Each girl picked the cut they wanted and we were off to the barber.



Beaner chose a cut pixie haircut. She has so much trouble with her brushing her hair, it's so thick and gets rats nests so easy. She gets mad every time I make her brush her hair ten times before it looks good. I think this is the best choice for her, I'm glad she decided on this one.

Bug and I actually chose the same do, a layered bob. I think it makes her look so much older, which I tell her every day she really must stop doing. This will be nice because she wanted it off her neck, which it is, but it isn't too short as to accentuate her round face and make it look rounder (if that is even a word).

Both girls have already had a lot of compliments and I can't quit running my fingers through Beaner's hair, because I can.

Now the only one who needs a haircut is Big D, where's my razor?

Big Weekend

It was a big weekend for us. We went out to Papa Guy and Grandma Honey's to help with branding their cattle. The kids went out the night before and I waited until Big D was done with a service project of cleaning the cemetery. By the time he got home he was so tired he didn't want to go. He asked me to cut his hair right as I was getting ready to leave and I told him I'd do it that evening when I got home.



Branding went pretty quick because they had a lot of help. Not me of course, I was there in a documentary position only. I think one guy ended up with a concussion from being danced on by one of the calves. A couple guys ended up a little bloody. My Uncles Mike and Jeff got diarrhea shot all over them. There are many MANY reasons I stay on the other side of the fence.



This little man, Aiden, belongs to my cousin Rachel and her husband Jared. I thought he was so cute watching his dad wresting with those cows. He looks like a future cowboy. Who knows maybe a couple more years and he can be in the pin with the big boys.



The darn shoot kept breaking down. I think this was about the fourth time. Some of those cows were trying to escape so hard that they would slam against the on side of the shoot and lift the other side off the ground. No wonder it kept breaking.



This is Bear watching all the fun. As you can see from his bum, the cow pies did not elude him.



When we got home from Papa's I was surprised to see Big D had taken the shears into his own hands. Every time I looked at him I'd bust up laughing.



He had this perfect one inch white stripe around one ear, circling the of his neck, and back up over the other ear. I think next time he will be more patient and wait for me to get home. I asked him if he learned his lesson and he said probably not. Some how I believe him.



As if the tooth fairy hasn't come to our house enough this week, Bud decided the first go around was exciting enough to want to do it again. He showed us at Church today that his other front tooth was loose. I told him the more he played with it the less it would hurt and we were definitely pulling it when we got home.



He didn't want a repeat of the other night so he worked really hard to get it as loose as possible. It worked, Big D didn't even need floss this time. He reached in and yanked. There were no tears, no losing the tooth (once it was pulled), and very little blood. He is going to make the tooth fairy have to take our a small business loan if he doesn't slow down. I think he really wants to enjoy himself in Florida. Too bad the tooth fairy will be too broke to enjoy herself.