Run Walk 2012

 I still have memories of elementary school "jog-a-thons" with "Let's Get Physical" blaring over the loud speaker.  There is something really fun about this fundraiser.   I love seeing the kids run faster as they hear their name being cheered for "Wooo hooo....go Owen...Davis...Kate..."  The way their speed picks up when they know you are watching.  Man I love kids....And then there is of course our sweet go with the flow Gracie.  Always along for the ride. 

Really?

This is what I woke up to this morning on my floor.  Really?  3 out of 4 had come in during the night and I had no idea.  Man, I must have been TIRED!

Question

Question:  What do you do with the little sprouts that the kids come home with in a Styrofoam cup?  They get so excited about it, "I am growing green beans!", "I'm going to grow enough snap peas for us and our friends!" or in this case, "We are going to have the best corn on the cob!  I might even have enough to sell!"  Uh, ya....we have a grape vine (concord and table grapes), strawberries, 3 blue berry bushes, 3 pear trees, a cherry tree, two apple trees and 5 plum trees.  I do not have time or energy for a garden.  Our sweet neighbor Joe provides us with delicious home grown veggies and we give him fruit.  I am so grateful.  So, back to my question, what am I suppose to do with this little sprout that comes home from church, school, cub scouts, whatever?  I just opt to plant it in the only flower bed I really tend (yes, the one with strawberries, flowers, and a whole bunch of weeds....I never said I tend it meticulously).  Who cares if it is right by the front door, right?  Davis is beaming with pride that his corn stalk has grown and we are all shocked that it actually produced two ears of corn.  Not enough to sell, but he is satisfied.  It makes for a random entrance into our home, but it makes me smile.

7

I have discovered something about myself over the past couple of years...I am a complete and total book snob.  For years I have wondered why I fill my evening hours watching TV shows like American Idol, The Voice,  Design Star and White Collar rather than opening up a book and reading.  Then about a year ago I had an epiphany.  I watch TV at night because I can mulit-task while doing it...folding laundry, sorting school papers, making lunches, folding more laundry, eating ice cream (hey, it's still multi-tasking, right?).  Of course I do read some...my scriptures every morning...dozens of children's books throughout the week and then a few books throughout the year for myself.  It's okay if I count parenting type books as books for myself, right?  For this reason I am really picky about what I read.  I may be one of the only women on the planet who started the Twilight series and didn't finish it.  I got annoyed with the writing.  Seriously, I am a snob. I'll admit it, but a book has to really be worth my time for me to read it from cover to cover.  Hopefully someday I will make more time for reading for my own enjoyment.

Last Spring my sister recommended a book to me entitled "7, an experimental mutiny against excess".  The writer is a Christian Women's minister who tackles the "excesses" in different areas of her life.  Each month, for seven months, she concentrates on a different topic including:  food, clothes, possessions, media, waste, spending and stress.  I absolutely ATE this book up.  My friend Jen read the book with me and it was interesting how different parts of the author's experiment spoke to each of us.  For the month of May I tried to give away 7 things everyday, along with my sister, mom and my friends Kirsten and Beth (Jen is already an anti-pack rat and didn't need to tackle this area of her life).  What a  liberating month. I gave away two van-loads full of "stuff" that was not adding to my life or the lives of my family members.  I found a home for all of our baby boy things and luckily have a new little niece who was the recipient of our baby girl things. Jed read the book with me and, being a minimalist himself, was all over it. 

Purging "stuff" wasn't the only thing that I gained from this book, however.  I appreciated the opportunity to look at my life and see where things are out of whack.  Where could I simplify and make more room for the things that really matter?  At one point in "7" the author quotes her husband (also a minister) as saying that if you think about your life and see things that you "can't live without"...well, those are your idols....bam...I'll admit it...I worship sugar.  Gotta work on that...and a few other things. 

Oh, and just in case you are wondering, I am currently reading the "Percy Jackson Series".  Yes, I am screening it for my boys, but I am truthfully enjoying it.  

Priceless

This was my favorite of all of Davis' kindergarten work.  Priceless.

Nine

 Owen did it again...he insisted on having yet ANOTHER birthday...this time he turned NINE.  

I can hardly believe it.
(The sign above says "Happy Birthday Owen" and "Hippie")

 A few of Owen's favorite things...Money, the movie "Tin Tin"...

 Legos, Heros, Bionicles...all things produced by the Lego Company...

 Hardy Boy Books...

 Airplanes (really he loves the military planes right now)...

 Riding his bike...

Apple Crisp, Pizza, hamburgers, ice cream, SOCCER, Star Wars game on the computer, swimming, hiking, cub scouts, camping and outdoor movie parties.  

Love You Owen!

Kinder Soccer

 The soccer season is upon us once again and this year Kate asked if she could play.  

Week One: the first half is practice and that went fine.  Kate was a bit standoffish, but did well.  The second half is the "game" against another team.  Nobody keeps score.  No goalie. Just lots of parents cheering.  This pretty much sums up the second half for Kate....

She would have been fine if everyone could have turned away, but she was terrified with people watching her.  Sweet Owen was cheering from the sidelines and trying every bribe he could think of to get her to try.  

Week Two:  All the parents are asking, "Who is this child?" It's like another girl came with us to the field.  I guess she got it all out of her because she was in there attacking that ball...oh and pushing all of the other kids.  When I yelled from the sidelines, "Kate no pushing!" She yelled back, "But I have to get the ball!"  Uh, we'll have to work on that one.  She is used to playing with Dad and two older brothers.  Sorry that I don't have those pics to counteract those of Week One....