Thank goodness for school

Monday morning I took Jenny, Lydia, and Jack to school. I came home, and Mia took a nap. I had such a nice alone time. I was finally able to clean some rooms that really needed special attention (Jenny and Lydia's rooms).

Jack had a great time his first week of pre-school. The first day a girl brought her dinosaur named "Jack" for show-and-tell. The teachers were confused about whose dinosaur it was, and sent it home with Jack (he was wearing a dinosaur shirt and the dinosaur's name was Jack). He was sure excited to get a new dinosaur toy. He wasn't too disappointed when we took it back on Wednesday.

Jenny and Lydia started school in their new building. Lydia's 5th grade isn't considered part of the Junior High, but they have their classes in the same building and get lockers, too!

Weber County Fair

Jenny and Lydia both did well in showing the ponies yesterday at the Weber County Fair. Jenny's pony won first place in one class and "Reserve Grand Champion" in another (you'll have to ask her what all that means). Lydia's pony won third place in his class.

The final class was for showmanship. This time it wasn't the ponies being judged, but the girls. Jenny and Lydia were both in the same class. Jenny won first and Lydia won third.

On the sidelines, Jack, Mia, and I had a fun time, too. We walked around the petting zoo (trying to avoid touching any of the animals because they were too scary). Jack had to visit the toilet and I finally convinced him to stand up to do his business. In the ten seconds it took me to lift him up to aim in the toilet Mia disappeared. She ran out of the bathroom, and when I finally found her she was trying to run underneath a clydesdale (the largest breed of horse). Maybe it was so enormous that she couldn't see it, but she had no fear for that giant beast.

New Ward Boundaries

Last night our stake had a meeting and rearranged all the ward boundaries. Lydia's best friend got put in a different ward. She is very sad.

While Greta and Andrea were at our house, Greta, Jack, and Mia went outside without permission. Mia pushed Jack off the slide (which is on the patio when not being played with.) He fell on the steps and is lucky to have not lost any teeth.

Barker Family Reunion

Such a great time at the Barker Family Reunion. Jenny and Lydia had fun with their cousins.

back row: Jenna, Kati, Jenny, Ashlin
front row: Megan, Heidi, Lydia, Jordan





Day 5 of potty training. We're doing great! Jack has made it all day with no accidents (even through church).

We had fun Sunday evening when Grandma and Grandpa A. came over to visit. April, Karin, and Chris came over, too. David and Jenny played 2v2 soccer against Chris and Lydia. We had a tough time keeping Mia and Jack off the field



Mia enjoyed the Red Vines. She made a mess, but nothing a hose couldn't handle.



Jack with his "Hulk Out" tattoo and Hulk shirt. We are into the second day of potty-training. It hasn't gone too bad today. Yesterday we had quite a few accidents. I finally had to cut the 45 minute timer down to every 10 minutes. By 3:00 I had Jack sitting on the potty every 10 minutes. We finally had a breakthrough when Jack ran up and said, "Mommy, I have to go potty." We haven't had an accident yet today (but it's only 11:00am). We may be able to start pre-school next month after all.

Raspberries

Last week we pulled up the peas. In April I didn't think we would get any, but the seeds were just waiting to emerge when the sun decided to make a more permanent appearance. We've never had peas so late in the year. They were about 1 month late this year.

We got the tomatoes and peppers planted for the salsa garden. I also bought a cilantro plant this year. We'll see if it grows.

The raspberries are producing like crazy! Every other day we get about 2 cups. Sometimes we eat them. Sometimes I freeze them.

Fun at the Duck Pond

Jack was funny when he forgot to smile in a picture. He wanted his picture taken again, but he looked away. Silly boy!





Mia enjoyed walking with Great Grandma Flynn at the duck pond today. She is visiting with us until Marilee's wedding on August 2.

I don't have enough energy to think of a title

Today was one of THOSE days. Of course, that makes two in a row. I think that should be outlawed. The law should be that people are only allowed to have one of THOSE days per week or month, or better yet year. But with Jack and Jack Junior (AKA Mia) around I'm guaranteed two or three a week. Yesterday was a mild one of THOSE days. I lost my keys. I looked everywhere. Including the garbage that had been taken out and the garbage that hadn't been taken out. Why did I check the garbage? Because Mia likes the garbage can. This cool container with a cool lid is just her height and is her favorite place to put almost everything. After two hours of searching, I found it in Dave's night stand drawer (again an item the is just Mia's height with a cool opening.) I only missed one appointment.

This morning, Jack's buddies, Connor and Dallin, came over for a couple hours. I've been painting Jack's room, and I figured the boys would be entertained playing in Mia's room. Jack was thirsty and wanted me to make some Kool-Aid. He found a packet, and he and Connor opened it. What I saw was two funny looking boys spitting what looked like blood out of their mouths. That alone wasn't too much.

Lunch time came. I had just finished painting the window in Jack's room, so..

I'll finish this later.

Ok, enough time has passed that I can finish the story.

So I took a break from painting in Jack's room. I made some sandwiches and sat down with the kids for lunch. I took a book with me and read a book while eating lunch. Mia finished and wanted down, so I let her down. I continued to read my book, enjoying my lunch break. Then I suddenly remembered not putting the lid on the paint can. I sprinted to the bathroom and found Mia playing in the paint. Luckily for me, she had only just begun playing in the paint, and there wasn't too big of a mess. But she was not happy with me when I took her away from it and put her in the sink for a rinse.

A few hours later....

Jack and Connor were playing in the wading pool in the back yard. Jack has been rebeling against the idea of potty training, so when he started to fill his swimming trunks, I wasn't all that surprised. I took him in and cleaned him off. Then went to get a diaper. My mistake was not putting him on the potty while I got the diaper. I came back to a pile on my bedroom floor.

Looking back on this day I realize that events like this happen almost every day. But I usually only get one every day or so. It's tiring to have it happen in such rapid succession. I don't know how mothers with more children keep up the energy to do everything!

Gold & Bronze

We had a great time at the Utah Summer Games. Unfortunately Lydia's team had a couple errors in the semi-final game that resulted in the other team scoring. Besides these two major errors, the Rebels were the obvious best team there. Next time!

Jenny's team barely made it through to the final game with two wins, a loss, and a tie. They had to play for the gold medal against the team they had just lost to. It was an exciting game that went into overtime, and finally to PK's. At the point of the PK's there wasn't even a contest. Jenny's team scored their first three, and the goalie blocked every one of the other team's. It was an exciting finish to a very long and fun week.


Jack and Mia for the most part enjoyed being outside on the pitch all week. As we were cleaning up and leaving the field after the final game, Jack's "little blankie" was lying on the ground. I asked him to pick it up, but he told me he didn't want it. So as far as he knows, the little blankie was left on the field for a baby who needs it more than he does. He wasn't real happy about it at nap time, but maybe he's learned a little about choices and consequences.

Summer Games Schedule

Wednesday, June 11
10:00 – Departure
2:00 – Check-in at Hotel
(Exit 57. Left at 1st light, then left again at 2nd light. Hotel is on the left)
4:00 – Jenny’s Game (Field 10, 1150 W 100 S)
7:45 – Lydia’s Game (Field 15, 2215 W Royal Hunte Dr.)


Thursday, June 12
9:30 – Jenny’s Game (Field 10, 1150 W 100 S)
2:15 – Lydia’s Game (Field 19, 1925 Fiddler’s Canyon Rd.)
8:30 – Opening Ceremonies

Friday, June 13
9:30 – Jenny’s Game (Field 4, 1925 N Northfield Rd)
1:00 – Lydia’s Game (Field 19, 1925 Fiddler’s Canyon Rd.)
6:00 – Jenny’s Game (Field 14, 100 W 1925)

Saturday, June 14
8:00 – Lydia’s Game (Field 18, 499 W 400 S)
11:00 – Check-out at Hotel
2:00 – Jenny’s Game (1150 W 100 S)

Jenny's Team Schedule

Lydia's Team Schedule

Map of Fields

Trout Farm 2008

Despite the cold rain, the kids had a fun time at the trout farm. Jack helped Dad catch the smallest fish in the pond.
Mia enjoyed getting to know the fish. Check out this fish kiss video

Vacuuming

The smallest monster loves it when I vacuum. She chases the vacuum, then lies down in front or sits on it.

Columns

Finally, the reason the carpet has been delayed for so long is gone. The columns were put up yesterday. Tonight Dave and I put on the "grey coat" to make the styrofoam columns sturdy. Saturday we'll put on a hard finish, then we'll be ready for the carpet next week.

We all have our days...

Yesterday I was reminded of a time when Lydia was three or four years old.

We have an electric piano and a Light-Bright toy. (You know the toy with little colored pegs that you push into a device that is covered with black paper.) Well Lydia noticed a little hole on the front of the piano that was the exact size for a Light-Bright peg to fit. This hole just happened to be the jack for head phones. Well, when she put the peg in, the piano thought there were head phones in, and stopped making any noise at all. When I found the peg stuck in the hole I had no idea how to get it out. The peg was stuck tight, so even if I could tip the huge piano over, there was no way it would come out. Then my one brilliant idea of my life struck me. I took the rubber tips off a small bobby-pin. Then I used a lighter and heated the tips until they were red hot. I shoved the hot bobby-pin into the plastic peg, and left it there until the plastic cooled, then pulled out the bobby-pin with the peg stuck to it. I still have the bobby-pin/Light-Bright peg to remind myself on those days when I am feeling like a complete lump of useless goo, that if I just hang on and keep trying I can have great moments.


On another topic, Mia has had a runny nose all week, and I wondered if it was from teething. Sure enough, she has 4 teeth coming in. Poor kid

Thanks for the party

Jack enjoyed his party. He's been looking forward to it since Jenny's birthday in March.

Today Dave's family came over and helped us clean and install electrical stuff in the basement

Check out Jack's first attempt at movie making

Happy Birthday, Jack

Today is Jack's third birthday. We celebrated this morning by taking the mini-van in to have the brakes fixed. Jack, Mia, and I walked to Krispy Kreme's and had some yummy birthday doughnuts. Then we walked to Shopko and got new Spiderman shoes, Spiderman sunglasses, and a cool Spiderman hat. Tonight we had Jack's birthday dinner. His choice was hot dogs and french fries

Front Runner

Yesterday we took the Front Runner down to Salt Lake and walked around Temple Square. The train was FULL, but we had fun anyway.

Gloves

A guy in the neighborhood picks up stray gloves while he runs and places them on the fence post at the top of Fort Lane. In the spring of 2007 someone removed them all, but almost all of them have gloves on them again. Check them out next time you drive this way. There are a lot of gloveless workers out there!

Soccer Season Again

Jenny scored two goals in Saturday's game! Hurray for soccer season starting again. The cold winter months of playing indoor are finally over and we get to go out and brave the elements, whether rain, snow, or sunshine, to see our kids play soccer.

Dave's leg

Dave went in to have his ACL repaired on March 27. Everything went well and he is back up and walking around. Not quite back to normal, but the doctor said it would be about 6 months.