A Super (busy) Saturday

Saturday is a Special Day - 

It's the day to pack in everything we can.

I started out the morning with an awesome boxing class.

A great way to get invigorated! 

Then after chores and getting everyone ready for the day, John took Christian to two back-to-back birthday parties  (he was in heaven!) and 

Madison, Brooke and I headed out to the valley for the annual Ho'olualea Hawaiian Festival. 

Amber and Danika were dancing in it.  

We had a great time watching the show, seeing family and friends, enjoying the cuisine,  and checking out all the carnival attractions.

If you haven't ever seen the website"engrish.com" you should check it out.  It's hilarious.

I bought the kids this little Japanese treat. The cookie sticks had trivial facts imprinted and I about died when I saw this.  Notice anything peculiar?  I think I should submit it to engrish!

Danika (1st on left) and Amber (4th) doing a fabulous job dancing! 

They were great!!

After the festival, we went over to Dre's (my sister Andrea) apartment.  We've never seen her new digs since she's been married.  We missed Adam since he was working.  She made wonderful smoothies for us, then we headed home to get to our annual Maple Family Days Carnival!  

The girls were invited to ride in Brianna and Heather's float for the Maple Parade.  It was so cute!  I'm glad the Millers took the time to create a fun float.  I didn't get around to it!

As soon as we arrived at the carnival, Madison as attacked by a swarm of boys (it's happening already!!) wanting to 'play tag' and also put her in "jail".  You had to pay 3 tickets to put someone in jail, then someone had to pay 3 tickets to get them out.  After a couple of times, daddy got involved and scared all those boys away.  I bet it won't be the first time he'll have to intervene!  Oh My! I don't think I'll ever be ready for that . . . nor will he.  We're happy with her staying 9 forever!

Maple Awards Assembly

The last Friday of every month is our school's Awards Assembly.

This is Madison's last for 3rd grade. 

She received the award for People Respecting Others

For showing respect, kindness, consideration and good sportsmanship for her fellow students and teachers.

And got a certificate to In N Out Burger

Brooke with Mrs. Zdenek

The girls have absolutely loved their teachers and had a phenomenal year! 

It went by too fast! 

Backyard Fun

I love the feel of summer approaching.  

I love how the backyard is getting used everyday. 

I love how we can eat dinner out on the patio.  

I love how the kids can go out and play (and not be in the house!)

I love the cute little bunny that visits our yard every day.  He's so tiny.

I don't love how the bunnies think my yard is a salad bar.

I love how the kids play together.

I love watching one of them take the initiative to swing with Ashlyn.

I love how Ashlyn cracks me up!

I love how she grabbed the broom and said "I vacuum!"

I loved having Madison home from school one day last week for a 'sick day'.

I love how she felt better soon and we could enjoy the day.

I love how she interacts with Ashlyn.

Don't sweep her up!

A Week in Review

John hired a bunch of Youth to 'act' for an upcoming

video commercial that will be on YouTube. 

They had a great time destroying equipment, acting crazy, and eating pizza.

It only took about 1/2 hour and they left with $30 cash, dinner, and a t-shirt!  Not bad!  He's got a lot of editing to do!  I'll post it when it's ready.

Brooke was in the "Peter Rabbit" play.  It was so totally darling.  She was one of the readers and did quite an excellent job.  She has such the personality for stage and speaks so clearly - she was in her element and loved it.

I'm feeling a little bit stressed . . . my next editing project is due this week (picture below - it's a lot of paper!  The first little stack on top took me 2 hours on Saturday) and I have to prepare a talk to give in Sacrament meeting.  Let's hope Ashlyn sleeps so I can steal a few minutes to work! 

On Saturday night, I took Madison and Brooke to see the production of "Narnia: The Musical" which our friends were in.  It was a cute rendition and I loved how our little 10-year old friends developed a cockney accent for the parts of  Mr. and Mrs. Beaver.  

Looking forward to seeing the movie "Prince Caspian" but Madison has to finish the book first - that's the deal!  She's almost done so we may make it there this weekend.

Mother's Day Weekend

Mother's Day Weekend started on FRIDAY afternoon with the annual Father and Son Camp Out!

John was so excited about taking Christian to this for the first time that he planned to come home from work early.  Christian could barely contain his enthusiasm and I had to create a calendar for him this last week so he could count down the days.   He knew that after his nap on Friday, he would go camping.  So, at 9:00 a.m. he asked to take his nap.  My sister Andrea was over with the kids she nannies for a playdate and at 10:30 he wanted to go take a nap.  

When naptime finally arrived, he went willingly and awoke at about 1:30 (a bit too early).  After about a 1/2 hour, he looked up at me and said so seriously, "Mama, I guess Daddy forgot."  Nearly broke my heart!  He is so adorable.  

John took a few pictures and in each one Christian is 

wearing this cheesy, super-excited grin.   

At the breakfast

Throwing rocks in the stream and learning how to fish.

They made it home in time for the last track meet (and the longest).  Saturday night we went on a hot date to chaperone the Stake Dance!  That brought back memories.

On Sunday, I was spoiled with breakfast in bead (orange-cinnamon french toast, and my favorite scrambled eggs) and loads of wonderful homemade cards.

Church was fabulous and even my class cooperated nicely.  

Andrea and Adam and my  mom and dad came for dinner John made another tantalizing meal:  grilled tri-tip and salmon, cooked to perfection and Andrea made a scrumptious salad.  

John outdid himself playing chef, maid, mom, and dad all day.  

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

John Got Tubed

People are always asking me what John does and why he has to travel so much.   For that matter, people often ask if I work (yes, I have four full-time jobs, plus one on the side).  For information on the company, please check out Xirrus to see about the company, and click here to see what I've been doing in my free time.  (I write all the Customer Deployments, among other things).  Doesn't the website look great?  John and his brother Matt did an excellent job!

John's latest project is to film 'commercials' or 'skits' about their product to put on YouTube.   We've been brainstorming some fun ideas.   While searching YouTube tonight, it turns out that it's already been done . . . at the show last week in Vegas (where he was all week), someone from China wanted to interview him and it turned up here!!!

 

He is totally surprised.  It was at the end of a very long day, and he didn't know it would go anywhere and now he's having a fit over what everyone in the office is going to say tomorrow.  Let's just say there's a lot of teasing that will be occurring.  

Stay tuned for more [better] YouTube videos posted!!

Sleep Walking

In recent weeks, Brooke has started doing strange things at night with no recollection in the morning.  At first I thought it might be night terrors (because she shakes and shivers), now I'm leaning towards sleep walking.  Maybe a combination of the two.  Some nights have been down right hilarious, putting me into extreme fits of the giggles (I wish I got a picture of what she put on in her sleep!).  However, we are a little nervous that she can actually walk outside or something equally dangerous.  

After another episode last night, where she came downstairs and wandered into the dark bathroom (even though we were in the family room with the lights and tv on), we got out the annoying baby gate and installed it at the top of the stairs.  Even though she knows how to do the gate, I'll at least be able to hear it in case she ventures downstairs while I'm asleep.

Has anyone dealt with this before?  Any advice?  It's kind of scary!