Ding-Dong

It' s 4:00am, everyone sleeping peacefully in their beds. All of a sudden, someone is at the door, ringing the doorbell and knocking on the door like there's a national emergency!!! Matt jumps out of bed, throws on some clothes and races downstairs. Several scenarios are running though my head;

A) Sister-in-law Kristin is in early labor and they need to drop their two boys off as they rush to the hospital

B) We left our garage door open overnight and everything is gone

C) It's all a part of a home invasion scheme and Matt's being attacked -- should I go down too?

Matt came back upstairs (whew! it wasn't case C!!) and said that it was a POLICE OFFICER letting us know that we'd been TP'ed and was making sure nothing was damaged or stolen. SERIOUSLY?????! I mean, I guess I'm glad that cops are patrolling the neighborhood (there have been minor crimes here and there), but it must've been a REALLY slow night for them to wake us from our slumber for TOILET PAPER!!!! Thank goodness the kids slept through it all or I would have had some words for that officer!!!

Here's the handiwork and the culprits have been identified as a couple of Young Men that Matt works with through church (*ahem*JJHolcombandJakeStevens*ahem*)

We're flattered. Really, we are. ;)

Another baseball season in the bag

Baseball season is officially over. We survived once weekly practices and twice weekly games (most weeks). Thankfully, the weather cooperated nicely and we didn't have to endure melting temperatures this year!

Brooklyn and Blake both made good strides again this year, but it seems like just when they are getting into a good groove, the season comes to an end. The "word" is that next year they *should* be moving up to Minor league (kid-pitch) but I don't think they are quite ready for that so we'll probably do one more year of coach pitch. Anyhow, as per tradition, the team had a little shindig at the park at our practice spot with pizza, drinks, cupcakes and TROPHIES!!!
Here are the league photos I'm just getting around to scanning in - - - - - -
Next year should be interesting with Gavin starting t-ball and the twins playing as well! I really want to move Brooklyn over to softball when she's old enough, which I think will be next year, but I don't know how in the world to get three kids to three different places!! She really was sad about being the only girl on her team this year, but there were other girls on other teams and I'm thinking about keeping her in baseball for one more year with coach pitch before switching. It's only gonna get crazier from here on out!!!!

Make a Splash - Leap into Reading!!

In the last couple months, I kinda got out of the habit of going to the library weekly. In fact, there have been several occurrences when Brooklyn wanted to pick a book to read as part of homework and she'd loudly proclaim,

"Mooooooooooom!! When are YOU going to go to the LIBRARY
and get some more BOOOOOOKS????"

As if we don't already have our very own small library of kids books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday I sat down with the kids to kinda set up some summer plans (so excited about this!) and we decided that Monday would be our library day. So off we went this morning! :)Now we've got a whole laundry basket full of books to dive into!We signed up to do the summer reading program, which we will finish in no time. It has spaces to read 24 books. Are you kidding? We read 24+ books in a WEEK!

It's no secret that we're reading-aholics over here, me and the kids. I've challenged each child to read (or be read to) 100 books this summer and I have no doubt that they'll accomplish this goal!! Blake is hooked on the Magic Treehouse series, which I buy 8 books at a time from my good buddy Amazon.com. Brooklyn is completely enamored with the Rainbow Magic books and we own three different series of those now. One thing I will never turn down is a request to buy more books!!!

BTW, I'm currently reading Catching Fire, the second book in the Hunger Games series. I'm trying to take it slowly because the next book doesn't come out until August!

Let the summer reading games begin!!

Blogasbord

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Definition: An often large heterogeneous mixture of blog topics discussed in one place

I've taken pictures of random events here and there during May and never got around to blogging about them, so I'll just dump it all here. :)(:

Mother's Day -- Matt got me a couple gifts for Mother's Day; a pretty pair of earrings and a Pioneer bonnet. What??? It's a running joke between Matt and I that I'm no Pioneer woman (as I frequently refer to my mom as). I love my modern day conveniences and don't prefer engaging in manual labor if I can help it. ;) So Matt presented me with this bonnet that I can wear on days I might feel especially Pinoeer-ish in my accomplishments! LOL!

I'm grateful I have the opportunity to be a mom to these four smart, healthy, sweet kiddos!!!

I can't believe these four kids are MINE forever!!!

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Spirit Week @ School -- CrAzY hAIr DaY

We went CrAzY cute with Brooklyn's hair :)
hairstyle from hereAnd mildly CrAzY with Blake's hair

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Riding horses -- My sister, Becky, has horses at her house and Brooklyn has been asking for MONTHS when she could ride them. She finally got her chance!!

We all took a turn....

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Father's & Sons -- Matt didn't take the camera, but I got this picture from a ward member. While the boys were on their overnight adventure, Brooklyn and I (and Preston) went browsing/shopping at Michaels then met up with my mom for dinner at Applebees and ice cream sundaes from McDs afterward. P.S. What is the deal with the peace sign fingers???? Dunno about that.

Brooklyn slept in my bed that night and I gave her a little mani/pedi in the morning. Next year it'll be just the TWO of us, since Preston will be old enough (family rules, 2 years old) to go with Daddy and the boys! You can bet we'll be all over the town doin' girly things!! Can't wait!

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Little Helper -- I love baking and do it frequently during the week. Gavin is my little sous chef, always right there with me right down to the very end! This day we were trying a new zucchini bread recipe to use our overabundance from the garden.

^
This

into

This ->
recipe from here

Last Day of First Grade and other School Musings/Ramblings

In 2.5 hours, Brooklyn and Blake will be returning home to me, having completed 1st grade. Another school year gone by.

Walking to the bus stop for the last time

In some ways, I feel kind of guilty. We knew this school would be temporary so I kind of justified myself in not helping in the classrooms, plus I would have to get a sitter for Gav and Prest so I just didn't go. I sent in supplies, food and money whenever needed because that I could do. I made sure to attend award assemblies and I'm pretty sure my kids know that I love them very much and are proud of what they have accomplished.

I didn't get to know either one of the twins' teachers on a personal level, but I have no complaints this year. I know Blake has had his struggles with behavior and attention, but he is a very bright student. I don't think I ever mentioned this here, but during the first semester, he tested into the gifted program and has enjoyed going to L.E.A.P. three days a week for more enrichment learning. Brooklyn is a "teacher's dream" according to her teacher. She is definitely a people pleaser and a bit of a perfectionist. She also has done really well academically this year and always has her nose in a book. Apparently she is little miss popular as well!!
While our experience at the neighborhood school hasn't been entirely a negative one, we want something different for our kids. The school seemed a little unstructured with a LOT of movies, treats, etc. and not as big of a push on penmanship, phonics and other things that I'm used to. It's a fine school (no offense at all to those who send their kids there!), but Brooklyn and Blake could do a LOT more than they were doing in 1st grade and they needed a push, a more accelerated pace.

Ever since we left Benjamin Franklin South Elementary School in Mesa (due to the drive from Queen Creek), we've been on the waiting list at the Benjamin Franklin Charter School out here (no affiliation with the previous Franklin). I was really, really, really hoping that we'd get in sometime during 1st grade, but I knew our chances were slim, especially with TWO students needing spots. The first week of April, I finally got a call from Franklin Charter saying that they had two spots for us for 2nd grade next year!!! I was ecstatic to say the least!!!!!!!!!!! I actually screamed once I hung up the phone! ;) Big sigh of relief. I got them all registered a couple weeks later and we were all set to go for next year.

Enter Legacy Traditional School. This school is going to be BRAND NEW for the 2010-2011 school year. There are two other existing campuses in the valley, this NEW one is being built in the subdivision across the major crossroad from us. The curriculum is nearly identical to Franklin's. They are excelling schools. All the neighbors, ward members and baseball team parents are buzzing about this Legacy school. Matt starts in, "Babe, why don't we look into Legacy?" Me: "I thought we'd already made our decision!" Matt: "Please just look into it." Me: (stubborn as can be) "I know all about it. I'd rather we just stay with Franklin." I did my research, had my opinions and was sticking to my guns. Yes, this school would be actual buildings, as opposed to portables at Franklin. Yes, it would literally be a 3 minute drive, but I could handle the 10 minute drive to Franklin. Uniforms at Legacy??? Ugh. Not my thing. I like buying my kids' clothes too much to have to limit what they wear every day to school. I can tolerate long pants every day of the school year at Franklin. I talked with people, listened to their viewpoints, asked questions.

THEN, I heard that Franklin doesn't have a computer class at all. They can survive without it, although those skills are pretty much vital nowadays. THEN, I heard that Franklin doesn't have a school LIBRARY!!!!!!!! That was it for me. What school doesn't have a library??!? And we are a book-loving family! I printed out, fill out and send in our pre-enrollment forms for Legacy right then. At this point, I was sure we'd be wait-listed since it seems like EVERYone is flocking to this new school. But, we weren't. We have two spots for 2nd grade next year! And I've even already purchased our first uniform pieces for next year. ;) I hope we're making the right decision. Both Matt and I have a good feeling about this. It's so hard having to make choices like this that can affect your kids so much!!!

And on another school-related note, I can't believe Gavin has a whole 'nother YEAR before he gets to go to kindergarten! It seems like he'd be ready this next school year! Of course the trend is to put your kid into preschool for two years beforehand, but I just don't think it's necessary. Plus, I'm not willing to shell out the big bucks to do it! I like having my kids home with me (as much as they do drive me crazy!) as long as I can because I only GET 5 short years before they are off to school full-time for the next 12 years! I'm not one to homeschool, but I'm considering being part of a co-op preschool with a few ladies from the ward. If it pans out, I think it'll definitely be a good thing. But if not, we'll just do some basics to make sure Gavin is ready for kindy in Aug 2012. I have no doubt he'll do just fine when the time comes, just like Brooklyn and Blake did without the aid of preschool. He loves to be involved in what I do and he's also a smart cookie.

Mother of the Year AWARD, right here! *snort*

Preston.

Preston, Preston, Preston.

If he wasn't such a cute little booger, I'd be tempted to sell him on the street corner!! {kidding, of course!}

The boy loves to be "side." (outside) If the back door it open, he's out. A couple days ago, the kids were playing on the swingset and Preston was right there alongside his big sibs. He discovered that he can climb up the slide, and I'm not talking up the ladder. I thought it was cute, so I ran inside, grabbed my camera and snapped some pictures.

Exhibit A :)Pretty proud of himself

Imagine my horror when all of a sudden, Preston took a nosedive face first off the top of the slide!!! I watched the whole thing happen, HEARD him hit the ground and instantly freaked, thinking he'd broken his arm or neck. I gently set my camera down ;) and ran to him, picked him up, gave him a once over and comforted him. THANKFULLY he was *ONLY* scared and not hurt in any way.

And today, I was in the office while all four kids were playing in the family room (which I can see from the office). All of a sudden, I hear Preston start crying. I immediately got up to see what was going on, turned the corner and saw blood dripping from Preston's mouth!!!!!!!!!!!!! I scooped him up, got to the kitchen to clean up the blood and see what the damage was. He had bitten into his bottom lip and I panicked because it wouldn't stop bleeding. I got Prest a cup of crushed ice (one of his faves!) and the bleeding finally subsided so I could see that it wasn't as bad as I originally thought. Another THANK GOODNESS!!

Matt and I are already taking bets on when Preston's first MaJoR injury will occur!! He keeps us on our toes, that's for sure!

Backyard Encounters

With only two more weeks of school left, I'm getting lazy with our schedule, especially the bedtime routine. The kids have been playing outside while the sun is up longer and it's still cooling off a bit in the evenings and I absolutely hate dragging them all inside. So, tonight I was giving the garden an extra bit of watering and it was running into the grass, causing a mud puddle. Of course that caught Preston's attention and he went splashing away!! I think this was his first ever experience with mud! Then I got the grand idea to give him the hose. Haha! I told him to take a drink and he listened! And I didn't even notice until I was downloading these pictures that there is a LADYBUG on his left thigh!!!!
Cute guy was so mad when I turned the hose off and hauled him inside for a bath. ;)

Learning new skills

Brooklyn was invited to a birthday party at Skateland this evening. Thankfully, my sis watched the boys so I could go with Brooklyn and experience her first time on roller skates.

Whoa nelly, was that ever interesting!!!! I don't know why I just expected her to get out there and be a natural????? I held her by the arm and her feet were going willy-nilly, frontward and backward, all over the place! I tried to explain how to glide forward, right then left, but she could barely hold her balance at all. She cried, saying she wanted to be good at skating like everyone else that was there. I reminded her that this was her very first time and it takes practice to be able to skate. She had plenty of falls and we took a break every time we made it around the rink. She was determined to get it, though, and I was there by her side every "skate" ;) of the way.

Check out the death grip I have on her arm!!!!! *blush*

The wall was her best friendWatching her feetGetting more brave....There's a smile!! ☺

We were there for about 2 hours and FINALLY by the end, she was cautiously skating along, a little more upright with her arms spread wide. I was SO thrilled when she actually started moving forward, on her own without holding onto anything(wall)/anyone(me)! My eyes brimmed with tears as I watched her bravely do it all on her own! Go Brooklyn!