MeG cAn DaNcE!!!

Saturday, May 16 was Meg's 5th dance recital. She has been studying at Joanne Fryrear School of Dance since she was 5 years old. She started with just ballet and tap but the last two years has added Jazz to her repertoire and, needless to say, jazz is her favorite. I, as her mother, love to watch her do ballet.

Meg posing in her ballet costume.

She looks too grown up with make-up on.

During the performance. Meg is doing a "p k turn" (that is what she said it's called).

In her Jazz and Tap costume.

Meg is so great at posing for me.

Tapping.

The boys playing their Gameboy games during Meg's dress rehearsal. When I asked Sam how he thought Meg danced he said, "Did Meg already dance?"

Molly coloring with Grammi while we waited for the performance to begin.

Gammi has come to every one of Meg's dance recitals for the past 5 years.

Our family after the recital.

Rusty Get's 2nd in Duathlon

This past Memorial Day weekend we went to Maysville, Kentucky, home of Heather Renea French (Miss USA 19???), and George Cloney. Other than those two claims to fame, the town is exactly what you would think a small town on the Ohio River in Kentucky would look like--quaint, and COUNTRY. We have gone the last three years for Rusty to compete in the Buffalo Trails Triathlon. This year, however, due to a major bacteria count (aka fungi) in the river, the "tri" was canceled and Rusty had to lower himself to compete in the "du".

I had packed the boys' clothes and when I went later to put them in the duffle bag, I saw that Sam had added to the piles. He made sure that both he and Ben each had a book and "Webkinz" stuffed animal.


We went with our friends the Millers and stayed the night in the hotel that overlooks the race course transition area. We had a blast. We started our adventure on Friday and stopped at the Gap Warehouse Clearance Center to shop. You have to DIG at this place, but can and will find some great deals if you have the patience. I do, Rusty does not. Therefore, he droped me off and went and got gas and the kids a treat and potty break to give me a head start with the shopping. It was nice, but not enough. Anyway, two hours later and after trying on 53 pairs of capris and jeans (I only bought 2 pair) we were on our way.

Next stop, the French Quarter Hotel, Maysville, Kentucky. We called ahead to Dominoes Pizza so the second we checked in they were there. As you can see, Molly enjoyed her pizza--we didn't quite get her face clean.


After the pre-race pizza (Rusty's choice) we decided to walk around outside at the race area. Just outside the hotel they have these amazing murals of Maysville history. After walking around for a little while, we decided to hit the hay. After we got Molly down (we put her in her pack-n-play bed inside the bathtub--it was HUGE), we watched our favorite family show "Man Versus Wild." If you don't tune into this show you are definitely letting one of the best things in life pass you by--especially if you have boys. Then finally bed.

The race began at 8 a.m. and we were out cheering on our dad. Rusty's the one in red visor in the middle of the pack.

After Rusty came back from the first run and hopped on the bike (I missed pictures of the transition because the volunteer told me the wrong location), we had about an hour to kill so the kids started their own races. Molly was the official and started each race by yelling, "Ready, Set, Go!!!"

The kids waiting for the bikers to arrive.

Rusty coming back from the bike portion of the race.

Rusty taking off on the last leg of the race. The final run.

Molly yelling, "go daddy, go!!!"

Waiting some more at the finish line. This is one of my all time favorite pictures of all my kids.

Dad giving Meg five right before he crosses the finish line.

Our family in front of the Ohio River after the race.

Brian Miller with Rusty.

Rusty took second place in his age division. He's AWESOME!!!

MoLLy'S sUnDaY bEsT

Molly liked the ribbons/pig tails in her hair, the purple dress that "twirled," and her "princess shoes" (they are just white shoes, but one Sunday I wanted her to wear them and she wouldn't, of course, so I told her they were princess shoes and she's worn them ever since). Anyway, I think I have her trained well, because she asked me to take her picture before we left for church. Because of the photo session, we walked in during the opening song, but I felt like it was well worth it.

Yes, if you were wondering she is saying "Cheese Mom" in not a very patient voice.

Tuesday (a few days late) Tell All--One Word

I've wanted to do the Tuesday Tell All for so long, and just haven't.
So here goes my first one.

Answer the following with only one word.

1. Where is your cell phone? Van (I hope)

2. Your significant other? Rusty

3. Your hair? Ponytail

4. Your mother? Selfless

5. Your father? Hardworking

6. Your favorite thing? rovomobrosomo

7. Your dream last night? none

8. Your favorite drink? Diet Coke

9. Your dream/goal? Grandma

10. The room you're in? Office

11. Your children? amazing

12. Your fear? death

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? dreamhome

14. Where were you last night? Baseball

15. What you're not? mellow

16. Muffins? Chocolate

17. One of your wish list items? Italy

18. Where you grew up? Provo

20. What are you wearing? Running gear

21. Your TV? Off

22. Your pets? none

23. Your computer? Necessity

24. Your life? Blessed

25. Your mood? happy

26. Missing someone? friends

27. Your car? Odyssey

28. Something you're not wearing? shoes

29. Favorite Store? Target

30. Your summer? Pool!!!!!!!

31. Like someone? Ryan Seacrest (don't laugh)

32. Your favorite color? Green

33. Last time you laughed? Today

34. Last time you cried? Weeks

Randoms

*Meg has NEVER once been excited to attend one of Ben's baseball games. . .until last Monday night. She was sitting there watching and cheering the entire game. I knew something was up and quickly realized what it was when the fourth batter on the Royals got up to bat. It was THE boy in Meg's class that she "likes." Already boy crazy--I don't know where she gets it. Don't answer that mom.

*Also, at said game, Sam had to use the restroom. When he came out he said, "Mom, this kid told me a joke in the bathroom, wanna hear it?" I'm thinking "Do I really want to hear this, and what else is Sam going to "hear" the next time he goes into the bathroom?" BUT I say, "Sure Sam, hit me." Well the joke goes like this. A girl tells her teacher she has to go the bathroom. The teacher tells her she can go after she recites the ABC's. The girl recites the entire alphabet with the exception of the letter "P" (you can see where this is headed). When the teacher asks her what happened to the "P," the girl says, "It's running down my leg." BTW, I've heard this joke about 12 more times since the game. If you see Sam in the next few days, I'm sure you'll hear it as well.

*Molly is definitely a girl who isn't, shall we say, "easy going." She knows what she likes, how she likes it, and when she likes it (again, no clue where she gets this from). One of the things that she cracks me up about is holding her hand. Every time I tell her to hold my hand because we're in the road or the like, she almost always corrects the hold. I rarely, no matter how many times I try, hold her hand "correctly" the first time. She'll say, "don't hold it so high." or "MOM too tight." Trust me when I tell you it's rarely "just right.

*Today we went to Ben's baseball practice at a park that has a ton of playground equipment. It was interesting to see what happened when we pulled up. First, Ben wanted to ensure (3 times) that the team we saw in the distance was really his team. Finally, when I confirmed this to him (also 3 times), off he ran and we didn't interact again with him until after practice (which I saw some improvement tonight--YEAH!!!). Meg, who was extremely excited to go to the park to play (I even gave her the option of staying home to watch a movie), took one look at how many kids were on the playground and decided she suddenly didn't want to play. Sam, however, was off before I could get the door opened. Next thing I know he ran up to me with this juicy piece of playground information. "Mom, you see that kid over there with the hair that's red, but not as red as mine? He isn't eight years old like he looks, he's only 6 and a half." I was wondering Sam, thanks. Anyway, Sam has two friends instantly. I predict it's because he's watching them in utter amazement that they can STAND on top of the covered slides, "Meg, look at this kid. Isn't he awesome?" In a very LOUD voice. Molly, like Sam, barged in (albeit nicely) on a little girl pushing her brothers on the merry-go-round and asked the girl to push her too. Meg cautiously tried to get Molly to not go on it, but Molly wouldn't have anything to do with that. Meg warmed up after a few minutes and got on the swings with me and Molly, and later started climbing on the equipment with Sam.

I only tell these events as an observation. I have a sister-in-law who is such a great example to me about not labeling her children. Which I'm trying to follow suit. I just find it interesting to see their personalities and behaviors in different circumstances.

*Sam was DISTRAUGHT today. He wore a new outfit to school. He's kind of in between sizes so of course I'm buying a little big. He's wearing a 6-7, but is barely in a size 6. Anyway, these shorts that he was wearing were a little big, but I thought they would worked, that is until he got home from school. Sam demonstrated for me and Meg what happened. He said, "I was speed walking in the gym and look what happened." Exactly at the moment (while speed walking around the kitchen) his shorts dropped to his ankles. With Meg laughing hysterically, Sam said, "Mom, 10 people saw it, Ms. Lori, Ms. Mary, Annie, Jordan, etc." (But he didn't say etc.). He named every last person that saw his shorts down around his ankles. He asked me to sew them, and when I told him I had to help Ben with a report and then take Ben to practice but would sew them another day he took matters into his own hands. He came downstairs with a belt on (BTW these shorts are elastic basketball gym shorts that have no belt loops). The belt he choose was the belt Ben had made at Cub camp last year and didn't have a belt loop to hold the end of the belt. Therefore, it was sticking straight out. I wish I would have taken a picture. Good Ole' Sam!!

Molly's First Trip To The ZOO

A couple of weeks ago we went to the zoo. I'm embarrassed to say that it was Molly's first trip to the zoo (well, we did take her once when she was about 9 months with our other kids. Does that count?) Anyway, when Meg and Ben and even Sam were little, we weren't doing three different schedules. It was easier in some ways because I wasn't torn in a million different directions and I could plan how the day went. Now it seems like many days are already planned for me. Well, I've said this entire school year that I wanted to take one day a week and do something fun just for or with Molly. It hasn't worked out like I had intended. It seems that there is always an errand, visiting teaching, accomplishing something for Cub Scouts, laundry, grocery shopping, going to the school, or the like that has kept me away from taking Molly to do "fun" things.

Better late than never!!! A couple of weeks ago the zoo, last week lunch with Rusty (she LOVED this), and tomorrow we are heading to the park. I have turned over a new leaf.

Now for my disclaimer (more for Molly when she grows up and says "mom, you never did anything with me"). I didn't ignore the poor girl every day. Trust me, she would NEVER let me even if I wanted to. She has a weekly playgroup with her friends, and we do some sort of activity (play-doh, painting, coloring, playing with "barbs" (Barbies) and babies etc.) as well as read every day right before I put her down. I do have to admit, it isn't near as much as I did with Meg and Ben. Rusty always says Molly will get her time at the end of her stay with us, when the other three are out of the house. Again, I'm sure SHE'LL see to it.

Molly was so curious where the "ma ma lion" was. She had no interest in looking at the "daddy" one.

Molly thought it was so funny that this gorilla eats lunch like we do. He is "eating salad just like Benny." BTW Ben loves salad.

Waiting for the polar bear to jump in the water. Still waiting. . . we finally had to leave. Molly crying of course because she never saw him jump in the water. I wondered why I even bothered telling her that the polar bear most likely would jump in the water. I really need to learn how to avoid a screaming fit.

Watching the hippo. We went with our friends the Larsens.

Molly on the drive home. I gave her a sucker so she wouldn't fall asleep and think that was her nap for the day. You can tell how content she is. We had a fun day. As a side note, it was really weird just having one of my kids with me doing an activity like that. It was GREAT. Of course when Sam found out we went to the zoo, then I had to deal with another fit.

Mother's Day 2008

Rusty and the kids really took care of me this Mother's Day. I had breakfast in bed (but decided to forgo it so I could enjoy breakfast with everyone else), a wonderful dinner (no dishes or cleaning up--YEAH), a brand new SLR Nikon D60 camera, and the pièce de résistance, the "CHOCOLATE DEATH CAKE!"

Church was great too. The talks were about mothers, and the kids sang to us (Meg thinks she is too cool to REALLY sing so she kind of just mouthed the words while looking down), and our primary presidency every year asks the kids a bunch of questions about their moms and puts together a little booklet. Here were some of the answers from my kids.

If your mom could go anywhere, where would she go?

-Meg--her friend's house in Washington D.C. (Isabel's)
-Ben--Paris (he knows that Rusty and I want to go to Europe)

What is your favorite Meal that your mom makes for you?

Meg--Ravioli

Sam--Chicken noodle soup
Ben--Chicken Enchiladas

If you could give your mom anything, what would you give her?
Sam-- A new car, her old one is broken (he's sick of climbing over Meg since one of our van doors is broken)
Ben--The Primary song time calling (obviously he sees me covet this calling when I'm asked to substitute--it's not that I can sing, it's just fun to interact with all the kids and be crazy).

Meg--Chocolate (ohhhhhhh, she knows me so well).

What is your Mom's favorite TV show?
Meg--Gilmore Girls
Sam--American Idol

What is your Mom's favorite song?
All my kids--Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

If you could spend a whole day with just your mom, what would you do?
Sam--Go shopping at Michael's for new toys (those darn "toob" of animals--he's obsessed).

Meg--Go shopping

Ben--Do puzzles

What does your mom do after you've gone to bed?
Meg--Watch TV and does Cub Scouts.

Sam--Blogs

What is something your mom is really good at?
Meg and Ben--Running (I run at a 9 minute mile pace, but once I ran a 7:15 with Ben so she thinks I'm "super" fast).
Sam--Sewing (he just saw me fix Meg's costume for her dance recital and he said "Mom, you can sew really fast--I have these kids fooled).

One of my favorite dinners--Alice Springs Chicken (a la "Outback Steak House:" grilled chicken with bacon, bar-b-Que sauce and cheese on top--YUMMMMY), baked potatoes, orange rolls, salad, and watermelon.

Dinner is over and the kids are VERY excited to give mom her presents.

Molly giving me her present. She was was super excited as you can see.

Sam wanted present time the second I woke up. He couldn't wait to give me the pictures he made me at school and home.

Ben taking a picture of me with my old camera with my new camera.
Yes, here I am enjoying the best cake in the world. Chocolate Death Cake (it includes three types of chocolate and oatmeal--what more do you need in life?)

Rusty and Sam about to dive in.

Molly's Song Debut

Molly sings this song (it's really a portion of a "puppet show" from one of Sam's classical music pieces from his music class) randomly all day long at the top of her lungs. Obviously, Sam had a hard time "sharing" the spot-light.

Sleeping Arrangements

This is something I don't want to forget, but Meg would DIE if she knew I posted it (when she decides to read my blog years from now, hopefully she'll forgive me). Ever since we moved into this house (a little over three years ago) Meg has slept with the boys. We moved her trundle into the boys' room and put it on the floor next to Ben's bottom bunk. To be honest, this picture is a little deceiving. She usually talks Ben out of his bottom bunk so she can sleep there, and he gets the mattress on the floor (little does she know that all the mattresses are EXACTLY the same), but she's sure it's more comfortable. Also, Sam's quilt for the top bunk is exactly the same as Ben's, but due to too many "accidents" on the quilt I folded it up and put it hanging over the end of the bunk. I still need Melissa's expertise in helping my poor attempt at a window treatment. I have many more bandannas, I just need a little guidance on how to make what I'm envisioning. As soon as it's complete I will show the finished product.

My favorite thing is to listen to them after we put them to bed. Meg says, "Did you guys remember to say your personal prayers?" Then after the prayers, she says, "I love you Ben; I love you Sam," and the boys respond in kind.

This picture could be an "I spy" for little girls. Find, Bitty Baby, Dora, Dora pillow, Dora Blanket, Cinderella barbie, Giselle, MOLLY, etc. How does the girl even sleep?

Knock-out

Meg and Ben have teachers that have a Jack-and-Jill "workroom" in between their classrooms (their classes are 3rd and 4th grade mixed), and Meg's teacher is Ben's teacher's mentor. They do lunches together, recess, field trips, homework etc. It is great because it's the best of both worlds--they aren't in the same class (which they would hate), but they work on the same projects and have the same homework, so it makes my life much easier. This arrangement is also great if I want to go to lunch with them (can you say killing two birds with one stone?). Well, like I said they have recess together every day and the "in" thing this month is to play basketball, more specifically a game called "Knock-out." The object of this game (if you're basketball illiterate like I was) is to be the last kid standing. There are two lines and one kid shoots the ball and has to make a basket before the kid in the other line makes a basket--if he/she doesn't then he/she's out.

Anyway, this afternoon Meg was in the van alone with me (this in itself is a small miracle) and she told me that today they were playing Knock-out and she happened to be in the opposite line as Ben. In fact, he was right before her, so if she made the basket before he did, he would be out. After she told me the set up she said, "Mom, Ben usually gets out in the first or second round, so I kept missing on purpose so he could stay in for a while."

Later I was making dinner while Ben was setting the table and he said to me, "Mom, guess what?" "What Ben?" "Today we played Knock-out again, and I stayed in for the longest I've ever stayed in. It was my best game ever. I can't wait to play tomorrow."

His confidence was lifted by his sister and only I as their mother will know the importance of a little game called "Knock-out."

Derby 134

Wow, do we celebrate the Kentucky Derby in Louisville!!! I wouldn't have it any other way. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do many of the festivities leading up to the Derby this year. We were in Utah for Spring Break when "Thunder Over Louisville" (firework and air show) took place. Then we had baseball games during the "Great Steam Boat Race" and "Balloon Glow." And pack meeting was the same evening as the parade. We tried to make up for it however, by attending Sam's derby parade and race at school, going to a cook-out on Oaks Day, and had a little Derby party at our house. We were able to have a few families, but not as many as I would have liked. I was just talking to a friend the other day about how we are at a stage in our lives that our families are getting larger and unfortunately, due to this fact, makes us have to limit the number we can fit comfortably in our home.

Sam with his "AWWWWESOME" Derby float.

Sam in racing position with his "horse", Jockey "silks", Jockey hat, red rose (for running for the roses), and his blue ribbon (every kindergartner got one of these).

In art class Ben made a Derby hat.

Meg and Dominique eating hamburgers at the Oaks party.

Molly and her friend "Aba" (really it's Eva) eating a Popsicle near the end of the party (as you can tell by their clothes, hair and faces).

We set up the projector so we could really get into the spirit of the Derby.

Everyone cheering on their horse (we had a drawing--no betting).

The actual Derby was eventful. Out of a 20-horse field, Big Brown, the odds on favorite won by several lengths. Eight Belles, the only filly to compete in the Derby in many years, (it's a race for boy horses) placed a strong second and then suffered double compound fractures in both front legs and had to be euthanized right on the track within minutes after the race.

By George, I Thinks She's Got It!

Molly is finally potty trained. With an emphasis on FINALLY!!! She's not quite to the point when she tells us she needs to go, but will always (she may cry a little first) go when we sit her down on the potty. She's only had a few accidents this entire week!!! I was a little worried about the #2 business, (it sometimes takes kids longer to master this act), but she has done it twice this week on the potty.

I was not above using bribery to get Molly potty trained. I put a jar of Starbursts (out of reach) where she could look up from the potty and see them. She would get one for going potty, and one for washing her hands. She also stared at a "Sleeping Beauty" Barbie for weeks waiting to earn it by going #2. She is now sleeping with it.



The upside to having Molly potty trained

1. No more buying diapers
2. The summer should be so much easier--no swim diapers, no changing swim diapers.
3. I don't have to clean up smashed pooh halfway up her back (this was Rusty's).
4. I have changed diapers for almost 11 years straight and now no longer.

The downside to having Molly potty trained

1. Having to find a place to take her when we're out and about (I didn't leave the house very much last week, but had to go to the Scout store to buy awards for our pack meeting. I had one of those "moments" that you know you will always remember. . .she was sitting on the "big potty" and I was kind of squatting down holding her. Her arms were around my neck and her head on my shoulder while she sang, "I love mommy she loves me, we love daddy yes sirree. . ." It was great--too bad it had to happen over a toilet).
2. Washing the underwear and clothes when there is an accident.
3. Cleaning up the bathroom floor when she misses.

Well, another stage is over for the O'Brien mob and I couldn't be happier.