Sydney can spell!

Sydney decided to participate in the 3rd grade spelling bee. It was held the 3rd to last day. I had gone to the temple with my Mom that morning and had to miss it. Sydney said it was fine and that I would probably make her nervous if I was watching. We studied a list that ended up being the wrong list! Even with that, she came in 4th place! We are so proud of you!!!

Kindergarten Graduation

Oh, playing catch-up! It's been a busy couple of weeks and there is no end in sight to the busyness! First, let's talk about Brandon's Kindergarten graduation! I started crying as soon as they played, 'Pomp and Circumstance'! I'm sure Mike was thinking, oh no...it's going to be a cry fest! I did pull it together. I just can't believe that we are to this point with our baby and I'm dreading having him gone all day in the fall. I know some stay-at-home-moms can't wait for this day, but not me. I really do miss my kids. Sure, I hope to get a bunch of stuff done when they are all at school or maybe even find part-time work during the day, but I will miss being home with my buddies.

There were so many cute songs with actions and Brandon even had a speaking part! He did a great job! His part was 'And every season, too' I took a lot of video with my camera and I'll have to figure out how to load it someday.

A few pictures of Brandon and his friends: Brandon, Nick Sharp and Spencer Harwood

Brandon's teacher, Jeanne Hoddenbach. She has been so good to Brandon. She didn't let him pout when he didn't get his way (totally our fault...he learns it from being the only boy and the baby), but would cheer him on when he was doing what he should. She was fantastic! She also has 2 girls and a boy. Her son just left on his mission and she told me that watching me with Brandon reminds her of how she is with her son. :)

B and Ruby Jane Hollingsworth. They were born a month apart (RJ was first) and her Mom was one of my first friends after moving here. Since we moved in when I was 5 months preggo with B, I was glad to have made a fast friend!

B and Ben Petersen

Our big boy!

I watched Brandon and Mike leaving the building and I just loved this picture! My boys!

We decided to celebrate and go to lunch. Brandon picked sushi....surprise!!!

We are proud of you and we love you, Brandon!

Wasatch Champions!

Amanda has been playing in the Wasatch Tournament since last Thursday. Even though her team has struggled during the past season, they won every game in this tourney!

Including the championship today!
We woke up to rain and snow in the mountains......we wondered if we'd even get to play...but the sun came out in time. The field was still full of water and muddy as all get out!

Amanda playing forward.....
My parents surprised us by coming to the game! We were excited to have them there and Amanda was really happy they came to see her play! Grandpa is busy on the phone being Bishop.....

They won 1-0 and the last 2 minutes were intense. The other team was making a run at tying the game, but we were able to hold them off! Great job, girls!

Amanda and Keslee

The Wasatch Shock!

Abby (the keeper) and Amanda listening to Danny Remme (the guy in charge)

Amanda just received her medal.....her coach (and now he's the assistant coach), Matt is handing out the medals...

One last 'Wasatch' Cheer!

On top: Maddy and Keslee. Middle: Abby, Jill, Britlynn, Daisha, Kenzie. Bottom: Sydney, Signe, McKenzie, Catilyn, T (Katie) and Amanda!
The winning pyramid!

Oh the mud! Afterward, we had a team picnic and it gave the girls a chance to hang out and celebrate! We got to hang out and talk to a few people and Brandon and Sydney played on the playgrounds. We were glad it wasn't raining, but it was cold.....we are ready for June to be warm! We are proud of you, Amanda! Way to play hard!

6th Grade Dance and 3rd grade 5K

Amanda's dance was on Friday. The kids dressed up in their dressy clothes and entered 'Fablehaven' The group of moms that put this together did an awesome job! The gym was decorated so beautifully and they had great refreshments for the kids. The teachers have been teaching the kids dances all year long...some line dances, some group dances and then 3 dances where they have a partner. So smart! Then, there was actually dancing happening at the dance! Our 6th grade teachers are the best! Above, Amanda is 'drinking the milk' If you haven't read the books, you have to drink the milk to see the fairy creatures, etc....it was actually pina colada sobe, I think....the fog machine made taking pictures difficult...

Hailey, Julia, Susie, Manda and Liz
Susie and Liz....drinking the milk....

Susie, Julia, Manda, Maddy and Liz

More pictures of the kids....below, Nate Norton and Jake Bisk wanted me to snap a photo....

When I ran out to help with the 3rd grade 5K, Abby and Sydney came running by! They had done 3 or 4 laps already! Go girls!

Here is the new jr high going up just east of Snow Horse! It will be open in time for school to start in the fall! I'm so glad that Amanda gets to start 7th grade here...

Cute Sydney!

Sydney's almost done! This time her running partner is Addie! I then went back into the dance just in time to see this cute dance! She is dancing with Ethan Nelson. Her friend, Erynn, is glaring at Manda because she loves Ethan. Anyway, this dance was so darling! They taught the boy to spin the girl and it was so cute I almost cried! I love that they gave her one of the tall boys! It happened on one other dance, but the third dance....they gave her a partner that was about as tall as her elbows! WHY? There are plenty of tall boys! Anyway, it was so fun to see her dancing and I'm so glad I decided to sneak in to spy on her!

A conga line!

Hanalee and Suzie-some of my former Beehives and Amanda's friends

Amanda has also been playing in the Wasatch Tournament this week. It started on Thursday with a win! Then, Friday night they won again! She also babysat after this game for Kirstan and didn't get home until midnight. Saturday, she had to be to her game at 7:15AM! It was an early morning for a weekend for both of us. But, we had more fun that Mike, Brandon and Sydney because they had to clean the church at 8am! Amanda's team won again! Yea! Now we were in the championship bracket. One more game to go this afternoon at 11:45a, and they won again! We are playing the championship game on Monday and having a bbq with the team right after! After this game, Matt-former head coach, now the assistant, stopped us and told us that he has a plan for Amanda. He said she is the best at controlling the ball and is especially valuable because she can do it right or left footed! He said if we can get her speed up that she will basically become the rockstar on this team! Amanda and I had been talking this week because some girls are leaving them team (and soccer), some are leaving for other teams...I told her that this is a great opportunity for her if she wants to play offense to move to forward. All she needs to do is get a little faster! Well, Matt told us that he used to be a sprinter and that he is going to teach her the tricks she needs to know and really work hard this summer with her and a couple of girls to increase their speed. This is such an awkward time for these girls that are getting used to growing bodies....but I think this extra practice will really help and Amanda is determined to accomplish this goal! We are proud of her and glad that her coach has recognized her potential! Should be a fun year in soccer!

Game face on!

As the end of the school year is just around the corner of next week, there are so many fun things going on with the kids and I don't want to miss a thing! It is so much fun to have these darling kids in our lives. We are blessed to be able to be their parents. I have written many times how I dread the day that they move on .... out of our house .... and start a new chapter in their lives .... but for now, I'm going to focus on being there for them and sharing as many important moments as possible. More to come!

Random silly kids!

Friday was the 6th grade dance for Amanda. She was all dressed up so pretty and I wanted to take her picture. Well, she didn't want her picture taken, so I told her I would show up at the dance to take some pictures later. Then, B and Sydney, who enjoy getting their pictures taken, were begging me to 'take one of me, Mom!' So, here are some random pictures from a Friday in May.....

Sydney's 3rd Grade Program

Sydney had her 3rd grade end of year program this past week. Mike was able to run home to see it and then had to head back to work. It was a cute program and you could tell the kids were very prepared! They all had a little speaking part and they did some dances in which they partnered up with another class member. Very cute and entertaining!

That's our Sydney! We are proud of you Syd Syd!

During a popcorn song. Sydney wouldn't look at us because we were making faces at her.....
Sydney and her class with the teacher, Mrs. Rodda. Sydney has loved this year and Mrs. Rodda has been a fun and enthusiastic teacher!

Bounce Birthday!

It rained all morning! The sky was dark and dreary. We prayed and hope and lo and behold-it cleared up just in time for Brandon's party! We got a deal on a bounce house.

Mike came home to help and stayed the rest of the day! It made me so happy! I just feel more peaceful and calm when he's around. I needed that with the 8 little boys that were here for the party. It was our turn to have playgroup, so we decided to throw Brandon's party during our playgroup. By the way, this is the last playgroup I ever have to host....ever....

The bounce house was a HIT! Those boys played and played and played! I had to stop them to do presents and cake and ice cream. I made rockets out of ding dongs, etc. and we had ice cream cones. Brandon has such nice friends and he loved every gift!

The boys would climb up the slide together and then all slide down together and laugh and laugh and laugh. When the party was over, no one wanted to go home!

This was the easiest party we've ever had! We then invited the neighbor kids over to bounce and they had a ball! It's all they could talk about today.

Then, another big day for Brandon....the kindergarten trip to the zoo! I was lucky enough to go along! This is the first time I've ridden a school bus to one of our kids field trips. Not so fun. Brandon didn't want to sit by me on the way there. On the way home, he wanted me to sit by him and we snuggled the whole way home! Nice to know he still loves his Mom!
Ryan and Brandon

Brandon, Ryan and Kaden by the girafees.

By the end of the trip, I had two more boys to watch as one of the Moms had to make a high school graduation. I was sure glad it was for a short time as three of these kids were wanderers....I was so happy that we had perfect weather!

And speaking of snuggling....I just had to throw this in. While I was starting this post, Brandon had climbed up on our bed and was snuggling up to his Dad.

Mike will love this next picture, but he was laying across the bed resting and Brandon climbed up on him and watched some tv......

Another side note: We did get some new bedroom furniture. We knew we needed a new bed, but once my Mom commented how terrible our bed was after staying here with the kids when we went to San Diego, we made it a higher priority. So far, there are two really great benefits of having purchased the new stuff:

Mike is sleeping! He was waking up every night and not being able to go back to sleep. Sometimes he would get back to sleep and then wake right back up. So not good for you and soooo draining! Now, he sleeps better than a baby!

And, our kids love to hang out in here with us. We'll all climb up on the bed and talk or watch some tv and unwind. It's something both Mike & I have commented to each other that we are really enjoying!

I'll say again, I wish we could freeze time right now and get to enjoy our children like this forever!