Quiet game....

If you know Kaylee, you know she LOVES to talk. She doesn't care who she is talking to, she doesn't even really care if you're listening, if their is a body there, she will talk. This is a fabulous quality (to some extent) because she has met so many fun people because she is not afraid to approach anyone. Well yesterday she was talking to me, and I figured out where the madness comes from. She is being influenced! She said:

"Mom when I'm trying to sleep at night, my head won't stop talking to me. I try to play the quiet game with it, and it always loses!!"

Easter 2011...

Easter this year was fun with the kids. They didn't anticipate the day like they do Christmas. They slept til their normal time, watched TV for a little bit, then asked if they could find their baskets. Brayden and Kaylee even got dressed for church before they started looking.

Brayden's basket was hiding behind some pictures.

 Kade found his underneath his dirty clothes.

 Kaylee's was in the pantry behind the sugar.

 Kade was THRILLED that he got new "lucky" cleats and shin guards.

 Brayden got the hat he's been wanting, one with a flat brim.

 Kaylee was extastic that she got a gift card to go shopping at Justice.

We were able to attend a couple Easter egg hunts, spend time with family, and yummy food. Brayden informed me that this will be his last year "hunting" for the eggs. He wants to hide them next year. We'll see how he feels about that when Easter rolls around next year.

ELA's got talent!!! It's Homework time...

Every year, the kids school has auditions for the school talent show. My kids have been insistent on trying out both years now. Brayden prepared a hip hop dance with his friend Kaylie from school. They did a nice job, but unfortunately didn't make it. Kaylee decided to sing Justin Beiber's "Baby." They however were not so prepared. This did not hold them back from trying out. I wish SO bad I would have video recorded the audition. It was awesome. She did not make it either. However, Brayden's class wrote a parody/dance to the song "Dynamite." The whole class decided to try out with their version called "It's Homework Time." It was so cute! And...they made it! Their teacher was so awesome to spend so much time working on this with them, and even participated with them the night of the talent show. Unfortunately my video camera didn't take great video the night of the performance because it was awesome! They redid the parody for the morning announcements and I was lucky enough to get the link of it (it's not as good as performance night, but you get the picture. Brayden's over in the bottom right hand corner.) Their song is the first 2 minutes of the video.




Hopefully Kaylee can prepare a little better next year and make it (they only choose 10 so she will really have to prepare.) She's feeling sad that Brayden has made it both years now.

Kade turns 5!

We were reminiscing today, looking through our blog and all the fun things we've done over the last couple years. Kade got a little sad and asked me where his birthday was? I felt awful that his birthday was two weeks ago and I have yet to post about it. So for my favorite little boy, here's the celebration we had in honor of you, and how special you are to us all.

We had family in town from Brazil and Montana so we planned a Brazilian Churascu (think Rodizio) for his birthday. He was thrilled to have all the family over, a couple friends, and YUMMY food! He didn't even ask for a friends birthday party this year (YES!!!)

Party theme: Red, Green and Blue

THE.BEST.CAKE.EVER!!!

When in Brazil (or at any Brazilian shops around here) the best treat to get is briggadero. They are usually tiny little chocolate balls made with sweetened condensed milk, but thanks to an amazing baker here in the valley, he turned it into a cake. It was so moist and YUMMY! 

Kade could not believe all these presents were just for him. He was in heaven (don't mind that he couldn't put the food down for a picture...I wouldn't either.)

Thanks to Niles for is amazing cooking skills. I took him to Costco the day before to buy all the meat, and he did the rest. I think this is the first time he's ever cooked Brazilian BBQ in the snow.  

Niles and Mike

Luckily the food did not disappoint the birthday boy. Our dinner consisted of: Koshina, Pastel, Pasta salad, green salad, fruit with dip, arroz e feijão (rice and beans), BBQ chicken, sausage, steak, coconut balls, and brigaderro cake (wish I would have taken a picture of the food spread.) We were so full by nights end.

Kade felt so loved by all who came to celebrate his birthday. We were so lucky to have SO much family come. But of course, I failed to get pics of everybody.

Kaylee and Kade

Camila and Kaylee

Sonia and Niles 

Top left: Kade and Clint Top Right: Josh, Zach, and Brayden

Bottom left: Kaylee and Lauren Bottom right: Clint and Kaylee

Mike, Camilla, Nate, Rodrigo, Chad, Sonia, Niles

I failed to get pictures of my Dad and Laura, Mom and Kenny, Ryan, Jenn, AD, and Teresa,

PRESENT TIME!!!

Kade got so many fun toys! He still plays with them all daily

He loved the idea of all of us singing to him...to begin with 

Then it became too much and he wanted us all to stop. He couldn't stand the attention. I was laughing at him, and I missed getting a picture of him actually blowing out the cake.  

Clint content with his sucker, just watching the kids play. Whenever he comes over now, he goes right for this bench and chills.

Of course the night would not have been complete without a little Michael Jackson. The cousins from Brazil loved it. I think almost everybody got suckered into playing at least once.

Pinata! AD's boyfriend was nice enough to bring this (He was a little confused and thought it was the Brazilian parties that always had pinatas. The kids were grateful for his mistake.) As you can tell, we don't do many pinatas around here. We had nothing to hold the pinata from, or a bat to hit it with. Thank goodness for the big boys and muscles! I should have gone next door for pinata gear...they are champions (their culture is one that DOES do Pinatas.)

Candy time!

We had such a fun time. Those Brazilians know how to party ALL.NIGHT.LONG! It was around midnight when everybody cleared out for the night. It was the first time the cousins(ages 19 & 20) had ever seen snow let alone played in it. So before leaving they bundled up in our snow clothes and went sledding for the first time ever. Yes, at midnight.

Happy Birthday Kade! You light up our life and make us smile every single day. Their isn't a day that goes by where I pick up the phone to tell someone about something you said. You are so loving, caring, and sweet. You are constantly take care and looking out for your family. One example of your sweetness/humor: Yesterday you were telling me, "Mom, I love you to Brazil, to St George, to Hannah Montana (he thinks this is where his cousins live) to Filmore and back.

I am scared for this next year when you head off to Kindergarten. I don't want that to change you. I don't want you to grow up.  I don't want the outside world to start influencing you. I hope you remember all the fun times we've had together, just you and I. Our dates to IKEA for meatballs and mash potatoes, our bike rides to the park, cuddling up for a movie, trips to the library, they will always hold a special place in my heart.

Love you buddy to Brazil, to St. George, to Hannah Montana, to Filmore, clear around the moon, and back!

Soccer...

As always, most of our time is consumed with soccer. We have always been busy with Brayden's demanding schedule, but now we have another boy who loves soccer just as much. I think this kid has a successful future on the field.

After attending so many games and practices, I forget to bring my camera to capture those moments. So thanks to some good friends for still being interested. Because of you I get to benefit from these photo ops.

Kade playing indoor. They actually had a pretty good team this year, it was fun watching them play. I may have gotten a little wound up during one of the games, I know they're only 4, but something had to be done! I will add, I have NEVER yelled at a ref before (at least to their face.) I was just trying to protect my little boy.

Kade and Trey

Come on....try and get it. I dare ya. (with all the soccer games we've attended and played in, how could WE forget shin guards?!?)

Love that Allison captured this goal. Right between the goalie's legs. 

This pic is my very favorite. Kade has this very serious/macho face he gets after scoring. And after a minute it spreads into a grin, when he realizes how proud of him we are.  

Kade is a big goof on and off the field. I'm not sure what Kade was doing here, but I think he is trying to cheer Trey up by his infamous "tickle, tickle." 

Stars of the team Lucas, Kade and Trey 

Outdoor season starts. Kade loves playing with some of his very best buddies Evan, Bennett, Mason, Elijah, Carter, and Lauren

Kade and Evan

Kaylee loves attending the games for the social aspect. She always has a friend or makes a friend while the boys are playing. Here is Katrina, Kaylee, and Gracie



Me, running???

It's official. I have started training for this race.

For all you marathon runners out there, Don't mock me. Yes, I need to train for a 5k.

I have had the goal for about 3 years now to run a 5k (yes, that is how good I am at setting and achieving goals.) But I never do it, because I don't have a plan. I go out running and after 5 minutes my throat is bleeding (have any of you ever felt that? Mike thinks I'm making it up.) And I never go out again, because I hate every second of it.

Well, thanks to an awesome young women's group and an awesome training schedule, I KNOW I can do it this time. I have girls that will be showing up at my house twice a week to run, so even if I don't like it, I'm committed. If I back out now, I will be letting them all down. So, I'm committed.

We ran last night for the first time and it was awesome...except for the fact that I have shin splints now (thanks Mom!) Shins splints and all, I will be back out tomorrow night.  I am trying my best to help our family be healthier (actually Mike is the motivator behind that. Have you seen him lately? He looks awesome!) And with much research, I have decided that much of Brayden's hyperactivity that he is struggling with, is coming from the foods we are eating.  So with regular exercise, and a shift in our diet, hopefully we can become a happier healthier family (really, I'm just worried that my husband is going to be smaller then me...can't let that happen.)

BLAH....

I just want to write a post that says  

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...blah, blah.

That's what February and March feel like.

In fact, Bruno Mars even wrote a theme song for my life.

Getting Ready...

With spring approaching, and the end of school coming to a near, I am starting to get mixed emotions. I had to submit my youngest babies name to the school as being a child that would start kindergarten for the 2011-12 school year. I cried as I hit send on the email. I had to fill out registration forms so he could attend. I cried as I turned them over to the school. I had to take him for his kindergarten check up. I cried more then he did when he got his shots. He was a tough little boy. He scrunched his face up while they were injecting it, and then said, "that kinda hurt, but not weally."  I will miss having this goofy kid hanging out with me all day.

Here are his stats as of 2/24/11

Weight- 43 lbs  75th percentile
Height - 41 inches 25th percentile
Body Mass- 95th percentile

When this kid sleeps, he sleeps hard! The moment his head hits the pillow, around 7:30, he is gone! He doesn't wake up until around 8:30. We had to discuss his sleeping issues with the Dr. because he sleeps so hard, he can't wake himself to go to the bathroom. Therefore we are still using pull-ups. The Dr. said, "Don't worry he should out grow it by the time he's done with elementary school." What?!?

Here is Kade sound asleep, listening to "I'll catch a grenade for ya..." Over and over... I laughed at his little set-up. I'm so glad he set his alarm for 7:30 since he has such pressing things to get to in his day. I'm not sure he would even hear it when it went off?

Here are a couple funny things Kade says that make us laugh.

About a month ago Kade said to Kaylee: "Kaylee, in the night time you are awke!" (meaning, Kaylee you are up in the night!)

On a daily basis we have this conversation with Kade at dinner time.
Me: You need to eat 2 more bites.
Kade: One
Me: Now it's 3
Kade: One
Me: Now it's 4
Kade: How bout 5 or 6?
He obviously doesn't get the negotiating thing! But it's every night, and he usually ends up eating everything that he has left on his plate. Maybe that explains why he's in the 95th percentile?

College Road Trip...

This past weekend we took the Laurels on a college road trip. It was so much fun! We started on Wednesday night by visiting the U of U institute. The girls got a tour of the building, information about the classes, learned about the importance of institute, and also got to hang out in the game room eating treats. After when we were just hanging out, one of the teachers was talking to the girls. He asking questions such as: What do you think about the facility?  Where do you live? What grade are you in/When do you graduate? And what school do you want to go to? When he got to the last two questions, he turned to me and wanted a response as well! I passed as a high school student! MADE. MY. NIGHT! I told him I was a senior, and I thought the U had a great campus. I couldn't really hold a straight face though, so who knows if he believed me?

We continued with the road trip starting Friday morning. We went down to U of U and met with some of the departments that the girls are interested in. They got information about how to get into programs, different things they would study, and prerequisites for the program. This helped the girls get a feel for what would be required of them.

We then took a tour of the a campus. It was amazing! They took such great care of us. The girls learned more about the application process, financial aid, and enrollment for the school. They provided us with free t-shirts, jamba juices, and lunch afterward. We were there during lunch time, so the girls got a feel of campus life. They were all ecstatic and checking out every boy that walked by.

We were lucky enough to meet with Pres. Holland (Elder Holland's son) after our tour. He was so cool to talk to, very down to earth. He talked about the importance of an education, and the rising demand for women to be educated.

We then hopped in the cars, and went up to USU. We stayed in a college apartment. The girls loved the feeling of "college life" hanging out with their friends. We played games and laughed all night. 

Saturday morning we went to the USU campus. There they gave us housing information and a tour of some of the dorms. And again, they fed us lunch as well. We got royalty treatment all weekend. Before we left Logan, we went to see the Logan temple. We talked about the importance of secular education, but the most important is our spiritual education.

We then hopped back in the cars and went down to UVU again. We got to attend the basketball game that night (tickets complimentary of UVU.) The girls loved the school spirit, and sitting in the student section. I'm sure they weren't very thrilled to have their leaders there with them.  

This was an amazing experience. This fired the girls up for school. Before we left their were some not sure if they would go to school, if they could afford it. But by the end of the trip they were all pumped and excited for their college life! I even got some information to take some classes as well. We'll see....

Birthday Girls...

Happy Birthday Lindsay and Katie!

Thanks for paving the way into 30's for the rest of us. Love hangin out and eating! Yum Texas!