Six Year Old Portraits

What a little darling!











I'm off to New York City! Yipee! Five whole days . . .what to do, What to do! Stay tuned for posts from my adventures in the Big Apple!

Saturday is a Special Day

It's the Day We Spend at the Soccer Fields!


Brooke is thoroughly enjoying her second year playing. This time, she's a Lucky Clover on the U6 Division.


Madison plays on the Patriots and being U10, is the first competetive year, on a big field, with practices twice a week. This is her 4th year, and she's had the same coach each year. Needless to say, we've become close with that family.










Rain or shine, it's time to play soccer! It rained all night last night, but the fields were open and we were there at 7:15 a.m.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Crazy rocker chicks!
My friend had tickets that she couldn't use to a local club to see Pat Benatar - so she gave them to me. I brought my good friend Marie - someone who is an excellent musician herself and appreciates live music.
The two of us dressing up to hit a club on a Friday night was hilarious . . . we didn't even know where to begin! Marie's six-yr-old daughter gave her a great compliment: "Mommy, you look like a teenager!" We were probably the most modestly dressed teenage-looking people around.

Arriving at the club, and being highly entertained by the clientele alone, we felt nostalgic that we should have our other friend, Kim with us. We called her in Utah to tell her what we were doing and we all had a great laugh. We wish you were there, Kim!


The concert was great and we had a perfect view of center-stage. We were amazed that his woman can still belt out her ballads as she has done for the past 3 decades. We also liked how she and her husband (pictured) have been married for 25 years, and she dressed and acted appropriately for her age.






By 10:15, we were ready to go . . . that's about all the partying these rocker chicks could handle! :-)

Five Seconds of Fame

Yesterday morning, my friend Tina and I walked our kids to school. Usually we walk at 6am, but John was leaving later this morning to catch a flight, so we took advantage of him watching my littlest littles while we took the older ones, then continued on for a couple of miles. Along the way, a news van was stopped and the newsman wanted to ask us some questions. (Honus! Why didn't I put any lipstick on??!!) He asked if we were committed to our sunglasses . . . um . . . YEAH! Hello! No make-up!

Anyway, most ended up on the cutting-room floor, but this little segment aired a couple of times on two diffenent channels. Pretty funny! I just wish it was for a better topic. Unfortunately I couldn't really let the kids watch it all the way through (a teenage girl was raped last week . . . this is a "doesn't happen here" segment).

Keeping It Real

Last night we went to an event called "Keeping It Real" http://www.keepingitrealusatour.com/ with amazing performances from a Cirque du Soleil artist, local celebrities, and dancers. It was very inspring and my favorite, (besides of course my coach Robert's) was Dennis Prager's "Happiness" lecture. He's on a national crusade to rid the world of unhappy people. If you ever get the chance to hear him speak, he's awesome, hilarious and right on the mark. I have a few (a few too many, that is) people that I want to give this book to.

It's Luau Time!

This is overdue, but I have been very busy lately and haven't been able to dedicate much time to blogging. I wanted to document the fun birthday party we had last week for Brooke. The invitations we made turned out so cute, and we had fun shopping together for the paper, and also making them.

The luau snacks were fruit on skewers, and cheese on skewers, Goldfish, and lemonade in coconut shaped cupes with palm tree straws.
The craft table.

The birthday girl with her fun beach ice cream cake

Present time!

Christian relaxing on the decorations out front after a long fun-filled party day.

Two of my nieces dance and sing beautifully. They performed 3 numbers for the girls, and then taught them a dance to "The Hukilau"

Our neighbor, Makani, came and danced the "Haka" dressed as a Maori Warrior

John got creative at the last minute with the decorations . . .

We made a couple of crafts: painting windchimes and decorating a mermaid. The kids all had nametags with their Hawaiian names.

Happy Birthday Brookie!

September 21

The birthday fairy (a cousin of the tooth fairy) visits our home on the eve of each child's birthday. In the stealth of night, she creatively decorates the bedroom with streamers, signs and balloons, even making a curtain in the doorway. Unbelievably, this tradition is extremely anticipated, even more than the presents and parties.

What a great treat! I got to help in Brooke's 1st grade classroom on her birthday, thanks to my MIL being in town to watch my other littles. I love helping in the class and seeing them in that environment.

Here are SIX things about YOU:

1. You have an infectious smile and laugh

2. Your energy amazes me

3. You are so smart, witty, quick and completely terrified of all animals, regardless of size

4. You love and are such a good example go your brother and sisters

5. You are a thoughtful, considerate friend, a great missionary, and totally darling

6. You are a great companion to look at model homes with

Happy Birthday Brookie Cookie! I love you!