School's Out...

The summer has begun...and so far it has been terrific!  The girls and I came up with a fun system that is going to help us all get our work done and have a blast at the same time.  Each time the girls do a chore or read a chapter in a book, they get a Chore Buck or Reading Buck.  Then they get to spend it in our Store which I've stocked with all kinds of little goodies.  I can't believe how it motivated them, but I shouldn't have been so surprised since it was their idea mostly.  We did a big housecleaning and the girls have read more than I think they did all school year.  Plus, it was FUN!

Today, the kids and Scott  and Blackberry have been in Holden helping Mom with a big backyard fence rennovation.  I would have gone too, but I need to be in Primary tomorrow. I'll join them as soon as church is out.  I'm going up to pick up Scott and Shaylie, but Taylor is staying up for a few days to visit Grandma, then my dad is going to pick her up on his way down to visit this weekend. 

I've just been enjoying a relaxing day at home...all by myself.  I was able to mop the floor and get some stuff done.  It was especially weird not having the puppy around.  I better enjoy it while it lasts. :-)

Last Week of School Festivities

Yesterday, Scott and I went to Taylor's fifth grade graduation program.  After a short presentation with talks and songs, she recieved a diploma and she came home with a Graduation balloon.  Today, Shaylie had her 1st grade program too.  Both programs were patriotic with flags, redwhite&blue, and much national pride.  The girls did a great job!  Taylor couldn't be more excited to leave elementary school far behind her.  I hope she enjoys Sixth grade next year.  She's definitely ready for a change.   Shaylie is glad for summer but will miss her class.

Hopefully (hint, hint) Scott will be able to put some pictures and videos online for you to see...he wants to try out putting something on YouTube.

And so it begins.........

We signed up Taylor for AYSO soccer over the weekend.   This is competition soccer and is spring and fall.  This week, Taylor went to Dance Camps with the hopes of trying out and making the Elite Team.  Well the cuts were last night and..........she made it!  Unfortunately, now dance will be two nights a week and cost A LOT more. 

Donations will be accepted for the "Taylor is now an Elite dancer and needs lots of money" fund. ;)

I biked 'round the corner.....

...and what did I see?  3 Deer standing in the street in front of me.

I was able to get within 10 feet of one of the deer, when the deodorant commercial of the rabid deer flashed in my mind.  However, it ran off with the other two deer.  It was pretty neat to see them that close.  Also saw a couple of roadrunners (real ones, not the baseball team) and as always, at least 20 rabbits.

 However, all is not well on the bike trail.  After two months of the trails finally being open and all the bridges being rebuilt, St. George has closed over a mile of trail that leads to the trailhead park!  Well, I guess I should be thankful for the 2 months, but it would be really nice to be able to use the trails instead of getting run over on the street.  I am going to complain to the city.

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope all the mothers I know are having a terrific day, and most especially my mom! I am never very good at expressing my deep appreciation for those I love, but I am and always have been so grateful for my mom's love and support.  Thanks Mom! You're the best!

My family has spoiled me as usual.  Taylor and Shaylie have both given me many homemade paintings and drawings for this special day and they surprised me with breakfast in bed.  Scott got me a Tool Set for girls (flowery and cute) and a magnetic board I've been wanting.   We all went to dinner after Taylor's dance concert last night too.  I am so lucky to have such a terrific family.  Thanks and I love you!

The Agony of Defeat...

We had a heartbreaking loss in the Championship Game.  Taylor's team played such a great game!  Taylor was amazing.  She made at least 5 awesome saves if not more...she just threw her body right in front of the ball.  The other team was made up of all sixth graders and they were much bigger than us.  Regardless, we got the first goal right away, then they scored on us and it stayed that way for most of the game.  They just happened to slip one by Tay in the last two minutes and we didn't have time to come back and score.  I personally was praying for NO Shoot Out...so I'm glad somebody won...I just wish it would have been our girls.  The coaches were so great at giving the girls encouragement and making them feel better about the loss. 

Tay has been struggling.  Goalie is a hard position, but she was brave and gave 1000% effort, but she still feels responsible.  I'm sure she'll feel better tomorrow.  We are so proud of her and her efforts this year.  Like everything else she does, she gave it all of her heart and completely dedicated herself to being the best she possibly could be.

Thanks to all of you for words of encouragement and support! Hopefully, she'll post some words soon.  Love to all!

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.... so far

WELL WE DID IT I MADE IT PAST THE SOCCER YEAR WITH OUT LOSING A GAME BUT THERE IS AN OTHER TEAM THAT DIDN'T
LOSE A GAME EVER SO WE HAVE A PLAY OFF GAME ON TUESDAY AT FIVE O'CLOCK SCARY RIGHT BECAUSE IF I DON'T DO MY JOB AS GOALY WE LOSE FOR SURE AND WE WATCH THEM PLAY ON SATURDAY AND BOY THEY ARE GOOD BUT WE ARE TO BUT GOSH THEY HAVE SOME BIG KICKS ONE THEY SHOT OUT OF THE EIGHTEEN YARD LINE AND IT WENT OVER THE GOALY'S HEAD AND THAY PLAY TRAP JUST LIKE US SO THAT WOULD BE WEIRD TO SEE BUT YOU CAN TELL HOW GOO WE AR E BECAUSE

WE ARE GOING TO CHAMPION GAME!!!!

Shaylie's First Campout

Shay's Girl Scout troop had their first campout last night.  They met at their leaders house for activities, they slept in a tent last night (Very Cold Night!) and they went on a hike this morning.  Shaylie had fun, I think, despite the fact that she said she was tired, cold, and hungry when we picked her up.  When I suggested that she not go camping again, she was very quick to tell me how fun it was.  I'm glad she had a good time.  But, it will be early bedtime tonight. 

Taylor will have a championship game on Tuesday night at 5:00.  Scott and Taylor went to see the other team play tonight.  They are good, I guess, but mean. Tay says they had 5 calls for injuries inflicted on the opposing team.  I'm sure we'll win for justice's sake.  :-)

I may not be able to make it to Mom's on Memorial Day to help with the fence.  It turns out that most of my Counselors will be heading out of town that weekend too.  If that is the case, then I will have to stay to run Primary.  I'm sure Scott will still come and help and the girls, although I'm not sure how much help they'll be.  We'll see what happens. 

Hope all is well...PAS

Undefeated!

Taylor's soccer team finished up the season without losing a game!  They were even far enough ahead that they pulled Taylor out of goal so a girl that wanted to play goalie could do it for a couple of minutes.  There is another undefeated team in the league that plays tonight, if they win, there will be a championship game either Monday or Tuesday, we will let you know.

Scott told me I haven't been posting enough...I pointed out that some people I know haven't updated their blogs since November & December...but that didn't let me off the hook.  So here I am...

It's May! My girls are looking forward very much to the end of school.  Especially Taylor...little does she know that she is going to continue lessons this summer, either with me (if I get on the ball) or with a tutor of some kind.  Her reading is not as it should be.  I do not want her to start 6th grade with below level skills.  So we will be working hard this summer. 

Soccer ends this weekend but baseball begins immediately.  Scott is the coach of Shaylie's team...they have games every Wednesday evening and Saturday except for Memorial Day weekend.  It's a very short season, only 4 weeks total.  It should be fun and over before it really gets too hot.  Taylor won't be doing swim team this year.  She enjoyed it last summer but she wasn't that excited to do it again.  It's very expensive and I didn't feel that it was worth the investment if she wasn't super passionate about it.  We'll probably sign her up for some advanced lessons so that she can build more skills rather than compete.

Speaking of swimming, we've been trying to put our pool up for the summer but it's been proving difficult because the pool was stored improperly over the winter and there are holes everywhere.  Scott's patched up quite a few but there is one we can't find so the ring around the top keeps deflating.  There is water in the pool now and the girls have been in a few times, but until we find the leak we haven't wanted them in it too much.   Scott thought I would have talked him into an in-ground pool by now so that he wouldn't have to put up the old one this year.  I can't talk myself into it yet, so I haven't even tried to work on him.  I have been doing some research into it and even went so far as emailing some local pool installers to see if they can come and give me an estimate of cost, but they haven't contacted me yet so I'm taking it as a sign.  From what I can tell, it will cost anywhere between $20K-35K (if not more) to put a fully landscaped pool in depending on what gadgets and materials we use.  It would mean a home equity loan which is what I can't talk myself into....so we'll enjoy our little inflatable pool for one more summer at least and I'll keep dreaming of paradise a little longer.

We are planning on heading to Mom's for Memorial Day this year.  She has been asking for help to move her fence back so it encloses the entire property...so we'll head up to see if we can give her a hand.  As for the rest of the summer....At the end of June, Taylor has Girl Scout Camp and at the beginning of August, Shaylie and I will be going to Mom and Me camp at Cloud Rim as well.  We have our big family reunion on 7-7-7 in Holden and Scott and I are celebrating 15 years on August 8th....although, we almost think it might be a bigger deal next year when our Anniversary will be on 8-8-8.  We've thought about some plans, but nothing concrete as of yet.

Well, I think I've done my duty....my ramblings are posted and I'll be back to do it again in a couple days or until Scott gets after me again...Love to all! Bye.