Here we go...

Girl #1- "Do you know who likes you?"

Boy #2- "Yea, she totally told me yesterday."

Girl #2- "Do you know who has a crush on me?"

Boy#2- "Yea, but he has a crush on everyone."

Girls #1 & 2- "Who do you guys like?"

Boys #1 & 2- "We're sooo not telling."

Sam- "I farted."

Five year olds make the BEST chaperones...they can change the subject & break up a party in no time. Thanks Sammy!!

intervention...

Crap.

So apparently Miss "Julie's" career on the Love Boat ended with drug addiction.

Is this what I have to look forward to?

It's going to be a L-O-N-G Summer.

Jeni...when can he start???

just call me "Julie"...

Remember this chick?

Julie, the cruise director, from the Love Boat.

In two more days I turn in to "Julie" only we're not on a cruise, and there probably won't be a lot of love.

Every summer I feel like "Julie". It is my responsibility to come up with a daily plan of activities for the summer vacationers (my kids).

Wish me luck.

Where's "Gopher" & Captain Stubing when you need 'em?

look out kindergarten...

Preschool Graduation ROCKS!

However...that means 3 months of no school...

I'll admit, I'm a little fearful of what the next 3 months holds.

(check out the nose picker in pic #1...classic!)

Oh man...

What do you do when all hopes of sun, slip-n-slides, water fights, etc go out the window because it's doing this (yet again) outside...

...you make a few of these. (One ham & cheese, two salami & a p b & j)

...and you pack this up...

...and you have a picnic here.

I even bought these...impressive, huh??

It was a gloomy, rainy day, but we had a great time!

YUM!

Sunday night treats are a MUST around here. These whoopie pies were a hit! (and surprisingly low cal...seriously). The recipe is here. Try it. You'll like it.

what works???

I've tried charts, I've tried bribery, I've tried threats, yea, that's right, I threatened. The latest is this jar.

Here's how it goes:

If you respond to your mom the FIRST time she asks you to do something (even better if you say, you guessed it, "sure I can") you earn the privileges of picking something out of the jar. Me, in all my creativeness...wrote things on little papers that were small rewards (trip to the store with mom, ring-around-the-rosie with mom...not a popular one with the 9 year olds...mom will make your bed, and the ever popular...a slurpee, etc.)

Well, it worked a few times...then we were all done with it.

I'm just convinced all of my kids have hearing problems and that's why they don't respond quickly. That, however, does not explain the whining, complaining...

Really, I'm the one whining. I have great kids. They may not always respond ASAP, but they are cute little stinkers!

Oh, yes he did...

Mr. Potato Head as...

...Jesus.

Before you start with the "Ahh, isn't that sweet" comments, let me just be completely honest by saying that he KNEW he was being slightly irreverent and he thought it was funny. I have to say, I did too. (eventhough the mustache is above the nose) Hey, it could be worse...right????

"This is the place!"

Today was the 4th Grade Pageant and it was all about the history of the great state of Utah. Each kid had the opportunity of being an Indian, a moutain man, a pioneer, etc. There was even a little Brigham Young. The fourth grade has been learning things throughout the year about all of the many things that make up Utah, and were able to compile all of that information into a fabulous musical. That made up for two diaramas, two rock experiments, an oral report on Miles Goodyear (mountain man), etc. I'm serious, there were tears flowing on every row of parents!

Matt and Zach were so excited to be a part of this. They were each Mountain Men, and Matt got to help conduct the flag ceremony. Each kid could purchase a CD of the music for .50 and they have been singing their hearts out at home!

Say what you want about Utah, but I have never been more proud to live here. A Southern Cali transplant, or not...I love this place!

oops! I did it again...

In an attempt to regain my "cool" status, and TOTALLY ignoring what happened the last time I tried to sing along to a song in the car...

...the other day I had been in the car quite a bit and had heard the same Hannah Montana song two or three times and was feeling pretty good about my knowledge of the lyrics. They go something like this...

"the last time I freaked out..."

So, driving Matt & Zach home from the orthodontist we heard the song & I belted out the lyrics. Their response..."Mom, could you go "freak out" somewhere else...I'm trying to read."

Time, once again to just hike up the "mom jeans" & give up.

Birthday wrap up...

cupcakes for Preschool...check!

presents...check!

Birthday cake (skateboard)...check!

Oh yea, he made a checklist...and he checked things off as the day went on. I'm just grateful there were only three things on the list.

Gotta love him!

SAMMY...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM!!!

My little buddy is "5" today...

*Sam has a fabulous sense of humor and can ALWAYS make somebody laugh (usually not his parents)

*Sam is a thinker. His little mind is constantly working (sometimes a good thing...sometimes not)

*Sam is very good at entertaining himself (and others)

*Sam is an EXCELLENT big brother

*Sam has the BEST laugh

We LOVE you Sammy!!

pass the salt...

We have had so many yucky weather days. All winter Sam would tell me that if he were in charge of the earth he would make every day sunny & warm (I see a future of living in warm climates for this kid). He finally decided to make the best of one more gloomy day by tormenting...I mean playing with... some snails.

John & I were laughing pretty hard!

Strike three...

That's right...baseball is in "full swing" (he he) at our house.

I could NOT get one serious pic of them.

See?

The baseball field AKA, our second home has been good to us this season. The boys all have great coaches, plenty (but not too much) of practice time. Generous team parents that treat them to batting cages & lunch for 1/2 of a Saturday, and lots & lots of FUN...and a few strikes.

And I'd really like to thank...

the "SNACK SHACK" for feeding my family a healthy, cheap, filling meal atleast once a week. (ok, the cheap part is true)

PLAY BALL!