Relay for Life 2011

This year my team raised close to $1,000. Much more than my initial estimates would have guessed. We were out at Forrester Acres in Smithfield this year. The track was .69 mile. We bought Sam some lap beads & had about 18 by the time we left (around 12 miles). Nash got to stay at the site with me this year. This was his first year getting to stay. I also had Brookelyn with me the whole time. Travis stayed for much more than I anticipated he would. He kept Caleb with him since Caleb had his tonsils & adenoids out the day before.

What the final lap looked like.

Caregiver garden:

Closing ceremony:

Balloon release (you should have heard the earful I got from a lady who felt that releasing balloons isn't an effective way to send our thoughts to heaven. Rather it's a littering event & should be given a $200 fine....)

Our team shirts (orange for Cindy & kidney cancer)

Getting balloons to release:

B slept quite a bit (much better than screaming, right?)

B had a pink onsie because they didn't have orange ones (boo).

I ask my husband to take 1 picture! I wanted a picture of grandma & Cindy when they walked by & this is what I get. Thanks dear...

Survivor lap:

Caleb watching Sam & Jade dance (after the 20 min. rain delay)

1 day I will get Amber on my team! She was diagnosed at 27 yrs old & just reached her 5 yr survivor mark! Way to go!!

How cute is this baby?

4th of July

We had a full 4th of July this year. Sam, Nash & I were in the Hyrum Parade. Yes, I know...stupid, stupid, stupid. It was however for a good cause (Relay for Life). I also did a booth at the Hyrum Square. Didn't make much money (my mom did though). We watched the Logan fireworks on the 1st out in North Logan. I took the kids out to my in laws house & we were the only ones there for the party (weird - that never happens). I need to copy some of the pictures that she got on her camera (my hands were full of Brookelyn so I didn't get any on mine). We watched the Hyrum fireworks on the 4th at the Rodeo grounds with my in laws & the cousins. I need to copy some of those pictures from my mother in law too! Even without the dad around, we managed to have a pretty good time.

The kids watching fireworks at Grandpa Larry & Grandma Terri's house.

Brooke was happy at the Hyrum fireworks - she had a binki, her beautiful hairbow & a fist full of those glow in the dark things.

After all the excitement at the square on the 4th we got home & I asked Sam to watch Brooke so I could unload my expedition so we could put the back seat back in & go pick up Caleb. This is what I found about an hour later (notice Sam's feet):

Miss Festive herself looking mighty cute

I hate coming up with titles for my blog entries!

Completely random, has nothing to do with my post BUT, can I just say that I hate figuring out a title for all my blog posts!

2 weeks ago I did a yard sale as a fundraiser for my Relay for Life team. I netted about $120 in that one sale. I decided to do another yard sale because I still had a bunch of stuff left after the first one & didn't want to load it up to haul it off! I ended up doing a yard/bake sale this time. I even had more than 1 person come by to help me pull it off! After 2 Saturdays worth of work, I've netted about $240 for my Relay team. Not bad, but when you consider that the first yard sale fundraiser I did for Relay 3 years ago netted $1300 in one day, not too great either. Oh well, I'll take what I can get! I'm doing a booth at the Hyrum square on Monday the 4th again this year. 50% of my proceeds from that booth will go towards my team fundraising as well.

Last time I went shopping I found this onsie. I thought it was too cute to pass up.

Today my dad offered to take the kids down to the river at Grandpa Maughan's and go fishing. Mind you I've been telling dad that the kids have been asking me if Grandpa would take them fishing since December. You should have seen how excited they were when I told them Grandpa was coming to take them fishing on the river! Forget Santa! Grandpa & fishing CANNOT be beat! Caleb didn't go because he was sound asleep. He was kinda bummed when he woke up 4 hours later and found out!

From what my dad told me, Sam had 3 bites but was unable to get any of her fish out of the river. Dad said he thought she was worried she was going to get pulled right into the river! Must've been big ones! Nash had a really nice 20 inch brown out of the river & laying on the bank. As my dad was getting his pole ready for him to cast back in, Nash decided to play with his fresh catch. Apparently the fish ended up flopping down the bank & back into the river! Luckily he caught 2 more. Unfortunately the 3rd fish he caught broke the line right as it got to the bank. Great Grandpa Arol didn't even get a bite! He did however get tangled up in the trees though! Grandma Lea must've been sitting on the kids' shoulders showing them the ropes! I know Grandpa was thrilled for them.

Getting this picture of Nash was a chore. He apparently thinks "fish are gross." He was worried the teeth were going to hurt him. I had to hold the fish first & show him there wasn't anything to be worried about -- because we all know if mom can do it so can Nash!

After Grandpa Larry & Nash got his fish cleaned & ready to throw on the grill we went back to the house. We had a nice fire going and Grandpa cooked steaks and hot dogs and Nash's fish. The food was quite yummy. Weirdly enough NONE of the kids would try Nash's fish! Little weirdo's! They usually scarf fish right up!

After dinner the kids cooked s'mores for everyone. Even Caleb cooked marshmallows (very near perfect all by himself I might add!).

After we had our fill of s'mores (can you really ever get your fill of s'mores?) Grandpa Larry lit fireworks for the kids. He was quickly dubbed "genius" by the kids & I. Why? Multiple reasons really - 1. The wind was blowing so he was lighting fireworks right next to the fence. 2. One of the fireworks didn't have a fuse so he tossed it into the fire to light it!!! 3. He wouldn't "run for your life" like Caleb told him to do after he lit the fireworks.

We did go watch the stadium fireworks last night. I didn't get any pictures this year though. My arms were full of baby & we didn't go into the stadium. We did have fun though and in fact, the boys spent the night at Grandpa Scott & Grandma Kris's house afterwards so it was just us girls here for the garage sale this morning.

Monday is full of festivities in Hyrum. Sam & Nash & I are walking in the parade & throwing candy for Relay. I promised them I'd only make them walk in the parade until we reach city hall (I didn't figure I'd actually get them to walk the entire parade route & then back up to the square as well. Heck I'll be doing excellent to get them to the city square!). My mom is helping me run my booth. I'm hoping I sell some stuff but I'm a bit worried because my booth is set back not on the main path this year. Here's to hoping anyway! I figure I can always post stuff that doesn't sell on my etsy site & it's a good motivator to get some projects finished!

Travis comes home on Tuesday & Caleb is suppose to get his tonsils & adenoids out on Thursday. Relay for Life is Friday & Saturday out in Smithfield. Could be a week full of insanity! Guess that isn't too out of the norm these days though! Happy 4th of July!

Entertaining ourselves...

For some unknown reason (perhaps insanity) my mother gave my children impromptu golf lessons the other day. Yes, all 3 of them. Was she surprised when they wanted to hit an actual golf ball rather than the wiffle balls? Not really. Was I? Not really. I think that if the clubs had been a bit shorter, they would have had some killer shots. Even with the clubs being a bit too big for them, they got some nice shots in. Luckily I was able to hide the actual golf ball so they used the bright orange and yellow wiffle balls instead without too much complaining!

Chalk...I have a love/hate relationship with chalk. I love to draw with it and I love that it entertains my kids. In fact, I've been wanting to try that 3D chalk too. I hate it because my children inevitably end up chalking where they probably shouldn't. Like here for example: These were Sam's purple "tap shoes"

And who doesn't like a little chalk on their nose now and then? I love this picture. Look at her eyes!

And how could I be mad about the small amount of chalk on her nose when her little brothers looked like this: (Hulk & mini me) Of course, if you ask me how they got this way, I'd have to tell you that it was Samantha that colored them! At least it isn't Sharpie, right?

Nash had his last t-ball game tonight. Could I find the game? No. Did I go to both Nibley Elementary & Heritage Elementary? Yes. I even went back to Canyon Elementary. No one was to be found. I feel bad he missed his last game!

Last week when the weather was nice we too the double stroller and the bikes and went down to Lincoln to play on the toys. Nash is destined to be a stunt man I tell you. At least he had the good sense to take his flip flops off before we went across like this! As for Caleb copying this stunt? Surprisingly, he didn't even try!

This little girl is bound & determined to get her entire fist into her mouth. She loves her binki, but when she manages to pull it out of her mouth she sure gets her fist in its place in a big hurry!

I have been dying to put this dress on her! It is a 3-6 month size, but I couldn't wait any longer! She looked mighty cute in it too. Now I need to put the one that is like it but has stars on it on her!

I can't remember if I already put this picture of Brooke up or not. I love this picture. We were sitting on the couch one night & Nash was off to my left talking to her. She loves Nash. He can get this girl to just sit and grin at him for ages. In this picture I was able to catch (sort of) one of the grins she was giving him.

Nervous

Last week I was contacted by an attorney representing one of my former colleagues. Apparently my former colleague is now suing one of the school districts I worked for. I was asked to testify on her behalf. After discussing it with Travis, I called to let them know I'd do it. I spoke with the attorney today and feel a smidge better about the whole ordeal. I just hope he's able to make it so the former principal I worked under isn't in the room at the time. I told the attorney I had typed up a letter to go with my exit interview but had never sent it in because I feared retribution. I offered to send him a copy of the letter in case it might help with the case. The attorney asked if I'd been able to find full time employment. I told him "No because you have to have a letter of recommendation from your previous employer and she refused to write me one even after saying she would. I've sent in applications for about 6 positions in Weber district, but they won't even consider my application without that letter of recommendation." Anyway...tomorrow I get to go testify. Oh goody.

And, on a random side note, on Saturday I'm doing another yard sale as a Relay for Life fundraiser. Don't know how much help I'm going to have this time. Sounds like more than last time, but we'll see. I'm going to try & do a bake sale along with it - food always sells!