Arvy Easter Egg party

Without Grandma and Papa here, we were a little slow about getting together for Easter.  We met a few weeks after Easter, but wanted to continue the tradition of the Easter egg hunt!

 Scott & Kellie offered to host and made a great dinner!  Then, after the eggs were hidden and most of the parentals were talking, the kids quickly hunted down all the eggs!

 It was great fun! It was fun to have Matt  & Alisa back and good to have Andrew and Jace with us.

Watching Storms

The first or second day of spring break, we had been working in the basement cleaning up after James and his crew were done.  Plenty of dust to sweep up before the girls could move down into their new rooms.  There was a huge thunderstorm passing by.  We could hear the big booms of thunder shaking the windows even in the basement.  So great!

Pretty soon, the girls disappeared. I went searching for them and found them out on the front porch, snuggled in blankets, watching the storm.  My heart melted right there because this is something Mike and I love to do and it took awhile to convince the kids that it was cool to be outside during the storms (They used to be scared of thunder and lightening.  Chalk it up to a couple of bad storms in our Murray house that knocked down trees and terrified them when they were just little).

It made me realize that the kids are picking up on some of the things we do that make our family 'our family'  Our traditions....our uniqueness....

During these busy few months heading into summer break, when I feel so inadequate as a Mom because I can't keep things straight, finding this picture today helps me to realize that I'm doing ok.  That Mike and I aren't just getting through each day, we are making memories even when we don't realize it.

This week, I thought I was so on top of things.  Brandon and Amanda both had soccer. Brandon had a game and Amanda had practice. Both had to be to the same field (at the jr high) at the same time.  I adjusted piano lessons so that I could drop them off, gave Amanda instructions to help Brando find his team and rushed back to teach.

About 45 minutes later, I get a phone call. It was Brandon.  'Mom, I can't find my team.' he said in a panicked voice.  I'm thinking that the game has started already and what can be going on?

I ran into the kitchen to look at the email from his team manager again and realized that I had him at Centennial Jr High and the game was at Centerville Jr High.  ugh.....

I told Brandon he was at the wrong field and I was coming right now to get him.  He was devastated because he was missing the game.

Then, Brandon's team manager called me and asked where Brandon was.  I explained to her my mistake and told her we were on our way.  I quickly texted Mike and told him the correct field, canceled my last 2 lessons and jumped in the car.

The story does not end well.  We got to Centerville Jr High-about 10 minutes away-just as the game ended.  Our crushed little 7 year old crying because of my mistake.  I apologized a million times and told him I wouldn't make that mistake again.  Mike promised to go on a bike ride with him when we got home.  Cute soccer parents told me that they've all been in that situation before, but it didn't make me feel better.

Eventually, Brandon was fine.  But, he isn't forgetting yet.  Just yesterday he said to me, 'Mom, when it says Centerville, take me to Centerville, not Centennial!'  Thanks, bud.  I will.

It's been another insanely busy week.  I've worked for a gal who had a sick daughter for 3 days.  I've been running kids back and forth. I went to the Mummies field trip with Amanda's Nat'l Jr Honor Society group and got back with 5 minutes to spare before I went to see Brandon's presentation on Komodo Dragons.  I've been getting Sydney's 'market day' items which have changed 3 times.  Finally she decided on Pace's popsicles that I need to take over to school in an hour.  I've been teaching.  I haven't been cleaning, but I did get the laundry and ironing done.  I have been trying to be present.  Trying not to act harried.  And reminding myself that I'm enjoying the journey and busyness of life.

Livin' on a Prayer!

Rockin' it 80's style with our friends at the Bon Jovi concert!  Scott & Jen (bottom right corner) hooked us all up with tickets.  It took a little convincing for Craig & Amy (bottom left corner) to come. The texts that flew back and forth between this group should be made into a book. So funny!

I forgot to put this concert on the calendar. We've only planned it since December!  Because it wasn't on the calendar, Mike planned a business trip with the owners which would have made him miss it! Amanda was excited to be on back-up, but when Mike told Kevin, Barry and Spencer about the concert, they changed their trip!  Spencer told him, "You have to go!"

A quick dinner at La Jolla Groves...well, not so quick-but yummy....and we were on our way!  Casey & Nicole are next to us. Great night with great friends!!!

Cell picture dump

Random pictures from our life

Amanda photo bombing after Sydney's last cheer comp

 Amanda with her friend, Maddy, got dance team pictures done when we got back from St. George.  I picked them up and we headed to Sugar Daisy bakery to pick up some treats for their friend who was having a birthday and I told them we should go to my favorite wall and take their picture.  A creepy guy came by and wanted to be in the picture with them, but we sent him on his way.....

 Beautiful girls! This shot was taken with Amanda's iPod using the studio's backdrop and lights.

 Maximus

Amanda and Maddy after their first dance comp. They took an overall trophy, 1st in 2 dances and 2nd in the 3rd dance....

 Then, I rushed Amanda to her indoor soccer game!  See how she still has her dance hair in?  She scored, too!  Her cute friend, Keslee is to her left.

 I have been in charge of lunchtime activities for the jr high for the past 2 years.  I organize volunteers to come do games for the kids during 2 lunch periods.  This group brought a twister board that filled the entire stage area!  We probably had 40 kids playing at the same time.  The prize was a pizza and root beer.  Super fun!  I love this jr high!

 My friend, Elise, organized a last minute neighborhood egg hunt for Thursday afternoon before Easter.  It was great fun and I loved it more than the previous year's hunts.  Brandon came home loaded! The girls were both at dance and tumbling....

 The Saturday before Easter we went to the REAL soccer game with D & Kat!  Our friend, Boston, was also a ball boy.  It was great fun! Our kids love going to games with their uncles because they yell the funniest things!  REAL also won! Yippee!  (Sydney is with us, just not in the picture)

 Did I say I love this jr high? For multi-cultural week they invited the Taco truck to come at lunchtime!

And cute Sydney will sum it all up! Love our life!

Surprise!

Since Mike had to work during spring break, we decided to schedule the carpet to be installed in the basement rooms we just finished.  We also decided to tell the kids that it wasn't going in until a week after we got home. So, when we arrived home on Sunday evening, Mike sent the girls to the basement to 'turn the water on' and pretty soon we heard screaming from the basement!  They were so excited! Then, we started moving them in so they could sleep there immediately!

 Here's a quick look. We have a lot of decorating, etc to still do.  My Mom and I are working on pillows for Sydney's window seat. My Mom's friend, Karen, is making us the cushion that goes on the window seat.  We need to find baskets for these deep and wide cubbies below the window seat....shutters, along with wall decor.  But Sydney LOVES having her own room and is making her bed and keeping room clean.

 Amanda's room needs more work. We are giving her our old queen bed, but want to buy a new mattress.  So, she has been sleeping on a queen box spring with a twin mattress, but she said she doesn't mind at all.  I'm refinishing a desk for her and we need shutters and wall decor, but her IKEA light in the corner is so awesome!  She loves her room, too!

And just for fun, here is the hall with carpet.  It's so fun to see it this part of the house finished!

Dad makes it to Spring Break!

 We were able to fly Mike down to St. George on Saturday morning using our sky miles.  Brandon and I went into the airport and up to the observation room to watch his plane land. He was so excited to finally get Dad with us.  Honestly, we all were!

 We quickly ran back to the house and dropped off Mike's bag and then headed out to catch up with our friends, the Laws, at the Glitter Pit.  This huge area just outside where Amanda played in the Ice Breaker tournament is full of these 'crystal' rocks.  We'll have to figure out the correct name. Anyway, you can take as many as you like, but the formation in the rocks was really cool to see!

 A little farther down the road there are some Indian Pictoglyphs (is that right? My brain is slow this morning).  We climbed all over the rocks and Dad even caught a lizard. The kids named him Max Jr after our dog.

Max Jr.

Even though we are in denial about this, Amanda can get her learner's permit in 6 months!  We took the opportunity of dirt roads in the middle of nowhere with limited traffic to teach her how to drive.  She was really nervous, especially when cars would come the opposite direction, but she did great!

That smile just says it all, right?

Spring Break 2013

We were sad because Dad had to work and couldn't come down until Saturday morning. We had a few friends that were vacationing in St. George also, so we were busy...

 Swimming with the Lloyds and Jarmans.  Brandon had a great time with other boys around.  He is around too many girls all the time!

 We took long walks in the bright sunshine and warm weather.

 There is always a really big hill to climb to get back home.

 More swimming with the Lloyds

 We Swigged....Swig is uber popular down in St George right now.  We went every night.  Drinks, smoothies, snow cones and really yummy sugar cookies!

 We saw a movie. Not Monsters, but The Croods. It was so cute!

We went swimming with the Laws, too!  We visited Kay & Bud and love spending time with them. We also went to dinner with Jarmans at Pizza Factory.  More to come!

Gibby Easter

Ugh, I cannot get going today.  We just got back from St George and the weather is cold and I have no motivation....

 So, it's a good time to update the blog!  We spent Easter Sunday at my parent's house for dinner and an egg hunt.

I had sharing time for all of March. The sharing times focused on the life of the Savior.  We learned so much during this month and it was so appropriate to end on Easter Sunday.

 We played Mad Gab to help my parents prepare for the activity with their O & A kids.  It ended in a tie....good thing, too...

 Papparazi

We had a great day and the kids love spending time together at the grandparent's home!!