Spring Sing

Last month Franklin East Elementary had there end-of-the-year Spring Sing! Each of the six classes participated in musical numbers. It was held at Mountainview High School.

Now, for the last month or so, Zachary kept talking about going to music class... "Yeah, I saw the music teacher write MY NAME, along with another kid's name, down on a piece of paper. I think I WILL BE THE ONE with the solo Mom." Well, I kinda' agreed with him and smiled and wished him good luck!

Then the afternoon came, "Mom, I DO HAVE THE SOLO!" I about fell over! That's wonderful I exclaimed! I will be sure to bring the video camera. And of course it's video-taped (thanks to Glenn) but I still haven't figured out how to get it loaded (that's Glenn's job), but I did take pictures while he sang.

Picture this... 3 pigs...

And the song begins to tell the story of how the three little pigs make their way into the world... they run into the big bad wolf...

Who will... huff and will puff...



and will blow your house down...



will huff and will puff and will blow your house down... will huff and will puff and will blow your house down... and make me some piggy pie! (notice that pig on the end)


So, look for a YouTube link in the near future... when Glenn figures out this VIDEO-THING! (I know Glenn knows how to do it (he's making me type this) but it's just finding the time to DO IT!)

Joys Of Motherhood

Today was a GRAND day. It began with breakfast in bed followed by a plethora of cards and letters from 4 wonderful boys and a beautiful princess!

During family prayer, which was said by Christopher (4 1/2), he graciously blessed the food and then continued on by saying... and please bless Mother's Day... and please bless my Mom that she will get bigger... (long pause)... and then she can be a train driver... (longer pause)... and she can drive the train and give me rides... He said this all as seriously as possible while Glenn and I were biting our tongues holding back the tears and laughter. He is SUCH a sweet and caring little son.

So, off to church we go... of course the Primary Children (about 70 in our ward) were asked to come to the front of the church and sing a few Mother's Day songs at the pulpit. WHO is the one to stand RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE? You guessed it - Christopher! AND OF COURSE, THE BISHOP DID NOT TURN off the microphone? YEP! You could only see his forehead from the audience and it was busily bobbing back-and-forth talking to a neighbor kid.

Occasionally you'd see a hand reach up and move the microphone... testing as it were... "What would happened if I TOUCHED IT?!" Of course, with that swarm of children, and standing where HE THOUGHT no one could see him, NOTHING happened when he touched it! So, he did it again... and again... move it to the right and then... move it to the left... still no adult reaction for the leaders were all busy getting the other kids in line! :)

THEN THE MOMENT OF TRUTH CAME -- WAS IT ON? "Well, let's check," thought Christopher! "H E L L O" said Christopher! Suddenly, there WAS an adult reaction! :D But the victory was already won by a charming 4-year old! And after the beautiful songs were sung, this beaming boy came triumphantly marching down the steps, grinning ear-to-ear and asking me, "Mom, Mom, did you hear me at the microphone?" Of course he spoke loud enough, in typical Christopher Fashion, that most of the chapel could hear his gleeful gloating! What a lark! That's our Christopher!

Happy Mother's Day to ALL!

Green French Fries!

Last night we had a delicious dinner of beef stroganoff and green beans! My previous post boasted of the wonderful plants in the garden. They were doing wonderful UNTIL the heat stepped into the picture! (Now the plants are a beautiful YELLOW but the beans are still coming.)

Next year we'll plant them at the beginning of March and have many many more beans! They sure are tasty and EVERYONE likes them! (We don't use utensils when eating this veggie!)

Daily Things

Spring has been wonderful in Mesa! A few weeks ago I was complaining when the heat began to rise. We did run the a/c for a few days. But then a few weeks back, some rain came through. This rain has made the past week and a half so so beautiful!

As soon as we get Ben, Zach and Nick on the bus - the rest of us head outside and enjoy the beautiful temps. We have had fun watching the beans grow! The tomatoes are looking great too. The zuccinni isn't getting enough sunlight, but I think some of it will pull through!




After we get done with our farming check. We head for the streets with bikes or scooters or the infamous JEEP! (Will this thing EVER die?!?! I sure hope not! The tire tread is pretty thin and reverse is dead! Not looking good - may need to get that Barbie car yet!)

Today after we got the three older boys on the bus and Christopher off to preschool, Emma and I went back home to pick-up from the morning. I unbuckled Emma and she insisted to "get out by myself." I said "fine" and went on in. Time passed and NO EMMA! I kinda' forgot about her actually.

There she was, still in the van, filing her toes! She was so excited about that! (Night and day between her and the brothers!)

Baseball Season has Begun

When we were at Legoland last week I dropped our digital camera (nice job huh)... I've been using my phone camera since, just not as great quality as that digital! So, I'm on the hunt for a new camera.

Anyway, I will post pictures later of our baseball players. This year we have three of them. The season started tonight! Zach played and sent one to the outfield. Ben is currently playing under the lights as I write this. Nick plays tomorrow night.

Where will our family be till the end of May? Nearly each night we have a game! To the ball field we go! Each son has two games each week. That's SIX games a week. The league does not play Sunday; it does play Saturday though!

Oh my, what have we got ourselves into! And Christopher is already talking about next year when he'll get to play too! On a team of his own! UGH!

Spring Break Cont...

Off to California... let's just say our trip went WONDERFUL! After spending a bunch of $$$ at Legoland... we asked the boys what the BEST part of the trip was. The responses:

Ben - Goin' to the beach and havin' Paige make me constantly laugh!



Zach - Goin' to the beach with cousins, by far!



Nick - Goin' to the beach... HE, Mr. Nick, was the one, when we got to the beach, that said, "I'll just wait in the van while you guys go out. It's a little too cool for me!" Boy did he make a GRAND TURNAROUND!







Chris - Playin' with Garrett... Chris cried as we walked out of church and left Garrett behind. "But he has to come with us; he's suppose to sit right there." (Pointing at the carseat where he usually sat because the other boys went with Paige & Kate.) He patiently awaits his arrival in May... and keeps asking, "Is it May yet?"








SO, what did Glenn and I learn... LOTS!

1. We MISS California really bad!

2. Even if Eldon is out of town, Mindy throws a NICE party that is !

3. Musical beds should be played at EVERY birthday party sleepover - it's a HIT! (We'll lend anyone a great air mattress - it's all in the air mattress. And, we'll even throw in a couple of kids! We have some GREAT players!)




Glenn went biking on Saturday morning and came back with the biggest grin on his face, covered in mud. Mindy took me jogging on the beach... NOW I'm back to my canal running, with dreams of mist spraying in my face (at least I have the orange blossoms for a few more days)!



As for Legoland... well, the burgers are good!

Spring Break

Well, I believe that SPRING BREAK is actually a time for Mother's to take a "dry run" of what Summer Break may have in store (kinda' a precursor)... AND IF IT'S AT ALL TRUE - I may be doomed! Let me explain...

Glenn leaves Monday morning at 6am for San Jose and will be back late Wed night (why are we taking a business trip during Spring Break???). Of course ALL want to tell him BYE BYE so EVERYONE is up by 5:30am... Day 1 begins.

Ben comments, "Mom, I just want to do what you do when we're gone to school." Zach agrees. I explain that since it's Monday morning we usually do a little house cleaning from the weekend. Zach is instructed to begin vaccuming the toy room, then move onto the boy's bedroom and then into the family room. After he's finished with the toy room he comments, "Do you do this every day?" I assure him no but then look at the quality of work that is being done and comment, "If it can't be done better than this, than I guess you'll be vaccuming every morning." (He is not amused.)

After a breakfast of Lucky Charms and Cocoa Pebbles (it's Spring Break) we hit Joe's Barber Shop and walk out with 4 of the handsomest looking boys in less than 20 minutes! WOW!

Off we went to the Train Park in Scottsdale with the Adam's Family (plus cousins). THIS IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR THOSE WITH BOYS AGES 1 THRU 80+ plus it has a wonderful park with misting equipment and shade screens too... real nice. One problem, I lost Nicholas. But we found him. Another story sometime. We took our lunch and had a great time with the Adam's Family.

Off to home we go... realize, we are in the truck for Glenn took the van to the airport. This was my idea - I wanted to be able to load bikes, baseball equipment, etc. easily and the truck is the way to go.

So, picture Emma in her big honkin' carseat in the middle seat up front with Ben next to her; the other boys are in the back. Her feet are just the correct length to kick the gear stick (P R N D). We're on the on-ramp, just about to hop onto the 101 and she kicks the gear stick from D to N... not realizing this I step on the gas (for there's a semi comin' up from behind) and the engine REALLY REVS UP (you should've seen the dials)! The semi swerves and honks and of course Nick and Chris and Zach are all asking, "Mom, Mom, was he honkin' at us?!?!?" It wasn't that close but I nearly broke my daughter's toes and calmly BUT STERNLY told her to never ever do that again.

So, what does she continue to do each time we get into the truck for a ride - kick the dang gear stick! (When you get past 4 kids I believe the patience just wears thin and isn't really there. I feel like no one listens.) Anyway... her toes are just the perfect length to press all the radio, CD presets, etc, etc... the music can get kinda' LOUD in a truck.

Later that evening we decided to play baseball in the front yard. Ben and Zach are playing catch. No problem. The problem - a 4-year old walking around with a bat! NOT GOOD! Let's just say, I am very very grateful that Emma had her bike helmet on and buckled. Chris was just swinging around, missed the T and nailed Emma. WOW! Did it crack! She cried, but thank goodness he didn't hit the flesh. (That really could have been a bad one.)

Day 1 has ended! We are all still alive and together!

Today was Day 2 and it was a bit better than yesterday. We had gymnastics in the morning for Chris and Emma. Then we had gymnastics in the afternoon with Nicholas. Ben and Zach commented, " This is really boring stuff Mom. I wish Dad were home so we could just stay at home." (YES, we are all spoiled with Glenn working from home.)

This evening, Zach had coach-pitch practice and the coach was happy that I brought Ben and Nick, for they helped out since a lot of the boys didn't make it (Spring Break). Chris and Emma and I practiced our T-ball on the adjoining field and had a blast!

Tomorrow is Day 3 - a slow day. Ben has piano lessons in the afternoon. THAT'S IT! We'll make a grocery store run - that's always fun.

Then, off to CA on Thursday and Legoland on Friday... it's getting better and better each day! :) We should ALL survive!