Category: Uncategorized (Page 68 of 118)

1. YOUR REAL NAME: Paige

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME (first 3 letters of real name plus “izzle”): Paiizzle

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME (fave color and fave animal): Green giraffe

3. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name and your street name): Jess Sampson

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 Letters of your first name, first 3 letters of mom’s maiden name): Eripagag

6. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Red diet coke

7. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (father’s middle name and mother’s middle name): Eloise Eugene

8. YOUR GOTH NAME (black, and the name of one of your pets): Black Zuzu

I must admit that I’m not the best soccer mom around.  I don’t go to every game for every kid.  I do my best to make sure that THEY are to most every game, and most every practice, but I’m not all that into it.  I don’t know all the rules, and am always asking the other parents things like “what is off-sides?” In fact, even when I’m there at the game, I’m really only paying attention about 1/2 of the time.  I’m either watching over or taking care of younger kids, chatting with other moms, or whatever.  But I must say, Saturday’s game with Megan was a bit different.  I got her there way early to find the field, and she and her teammates were pretty excited about the game.

   

This team has been together for two years, but this was their first year in a competitive or AAA league (whatever that means, right?) They’ve had a good season, but by no means did they win every game.  They’ve done pretty well in the past two weeks of tournament, though, so this was the championship game.  They were playing a team they had beat before, so that was a little bit of a comfort to them.  They started out great, and scored a goal in the first half.  In the second half, they scored two more, and shut out the other team.  Megan is a “sweeper”, so she’s the last line of defense before the goalie, and that girl can run!  She’s not a goal scorer, but she does her job well, and loves the game.  When the final whistle blew, it was very exciting!

 

Here they are right after the win, and then getting her trophy from her coach.

It was so great!  I was very proud of her! The guy who was awarding them their trophy was so cute.  He said, “In Region 5, Triple A division, 11 and under girls, there’s no team better than you!”   Here’s one last picture of her with her team, all proud with their shiny trophies!

In other weekend news, Jenna’s dance recital was very cute.  Need proof?  Well, here you are:

   

On Saturday night we attended the Butler Stake’s production of the Wizard of Oz, and it was very well done.  I had a few complaints about the boring character of Glinda, but then again, after seeing Wicked, I expect greatness, I guess.  It was a fun show, and the kids really enjoyed it.  John sat still and watched the whole thing, which was kind of surprising.

We had a lovely Mother’s day, too.  I bought myself the kids gave me some nice presents, including the new Donny Osmond CD (what a shock!) and a lovely new watch that I just LOVE.  They also made some cute cards, and Cole even made me a movie!  It should have been titled “a bunch of bad pictures of mom set to music”, but who am I to complain.  He made it with love.  Church was really great, with great youth speakers in Sacrament meeting and an awesome Sunday School lesson, and my lesson in RS went well.  We got some pretty pansies as our Mother’s day gift from the ward, and of course they had extras, so I let the kids choose some, so we’ll be planting those today.  We went to my mom and dad’s for a fun barbeque, and had a very nice day.  We should have Mother’s day more often than just once a year, don’t you think?

My mom taught me many great lessons and has given me some wonderful advice. In fact, she’s still teaching me things about how to be a better person and a better mom. But one lesson I remember wasn’t really something she taught me in words, but in her actions.

(Now my memories of this story may not be the most accurate, since this happened a long time ago, so, Mom, if you are reading this, feel free to add any details in or correct me if I’m wrong.)

My mom had been to visit a neighbor and I went along with her. I wasn’t very old, probably around 5. As she and this neighbor were talking in the front room, I wandered back to the kitchen, and spotted the two loaves of freshly baked banana bread that were cooling on the counter. That bread smelled so good and looked so pretty, I was drawn to it. I guess I thought if I just picked a piece out of the corner, no one would notice. It wasn’t like I was taking a piece off the very top or anything. That piece tasted so good, I broke off another little piece and ate that, too. I don’t remember how much of that bread I ate, but basically ruined both loaves. If they were meant to be a gift for someone else, they were no longer give-able. If they were meant for her own family, they were somewhat mangled, what with little nibbles picked out of the corner.

The ladies finished their visit and we went home. I’m sure it wasn’t long before my mom received a phone call from this woman letting her know what her daughter had done. When my mother asked me about the bread, I of course denied eating any of it and suggested that it must have been a mouse. My mother didn’t yell at me, but prompted me to tell the truth. She was teaching me patience and honesty right then. I guess I broke down and told her that yes, I had eaten it, and I was sorry. My mom must have made some bread or some other food to take to this neighbor, and when we took it over to her, I picked some flowers and gave them to her and told her I was sorry that I had eaten her bread. My mother was teaching me that it’s not enough to just say you’re sorry, but you have to make it up to them, if possible. Although I felt terrible from what I did, and my mother must have been so embarrassed by my hungry little actions, I was not punished. There was no spanking, no time-out, no yelling. She let me think about what I had done wrong, and I punished myself for my actions. Mom was teaching me to develop my own sense of right and wrong.

After we came home, my mom hugged me and told me that I had done the right thing in apologizing, and she hoped I had learned something. By her loving actions, I learned more than I would have if she lectured me for hours. How grateful I am for a mother who taught me important lessons in life. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you.

Congratulations to Megan, and her soccer team, the Tsunamis.  They won their game on Wednesday night, and they will play on Saturday to determine if they are the 1st place team or the 2nd place team in their division. Go, Megan!

And congratulations to all soccer moms out there, for surviving the soccer season.

I don’t want to skip over this month, I just hope we can all survive it.  We are just SO busy!!  Last night was Megan’s first softball game,so that ushers in a new era of softball.  Plus, this week she’s still got two more games for soccer.  Natalie’s got a soccer game tonight and one on Saturday.  Jenna’s got a dance recital on Friday night, and pictures for that this afternoon.  Cole, Ryan and John have the father’s and sons campout this Friday night.  And that’s just this week!  Oh, and did I mention we’re watching two of our neighbor’s kids for a couple of days?  We are.
Next week is my concert for bells, as wells as Natalie’s concert with the Highland Children’s choir, which I will not be attending, because I have rehearsal almost every night next week.  I honestly don’t know how we are going to make it to everything we need to.  I need an assistant.

Some friends were trying to schedule a dinner out, and I seriously had to say no to every available date until we get into June.  Then I hope things will slow down a bit.  They have to!  I don’t want to skip all the fun end of the year things at the school, I just don’t know if I can make it to them.  This week alone I have three different things at the school to go to.  Then come field days, programs, Kindergarten graduation, pre-school graduation, etc. etc.  I guess I just have to rely on friends and other moms to share the load when I can, and get myself really organized.

Or order pizza every night, which is what’s happening tonight.

Wow! I had a wonderful 2 days of “filling my bucket” at Women’s Conference. Although there was no class on dandelions, I attended some fabulous classes taught by really neat people. There were so many fantastic topics it was hard to choose just one class to attend some hours. The theme of the conference was taken from Esther 4:14 “For such a time as this”, and there was a lot said about how this is our time. We have been brought to the Kingdom for such a time as this to do things that only we can do in our situation. Very inspiring! I heard talks about raising small children, the power of prayer and creating a masterpiece of my life. We heard from Bradley Wilcox and Wendy Watson Nelson, also Jeffrey and Patricia Holland. And one talk called “Are we enough? Of course we are!” It was truly a wonderful experience.

One of my favorite sessions was Friday morning’s general session, where they had a wonderful show of speaking, dance and song called “Arms around my sister.” It is described in the booklet as “In an original musical presentation commissioned for this year’s Women’s Conference, we look inside the hearts of women from Old Testament times, early nineteenth century, and our present day. Each addresses the timeless question: Was I sent to the kingdom for such a time as this?” It was so well done and very touching.
The weather could have been more cooperative, as we had very cold temperatures and lots of rain to make our trek around BYU campus a little bit less comfortable than it normally would be. I took advantage of the learning service rooms to do little projects for charity while I listened. I made 3 Christmas stockings and blanket stitched one and a half baby blankets.   
Robin and I had a great time! Each day we came home exhausted but happy. We were glad we had taken our umbrellas, that’s for sure.    
This morning, we braved the cold (it’s REALLY cold for her, since she’s up here from Arizona) and went garage saling, but we only found about 5 garage sales and didn’t buy all that much. At one, however, we both picked up jackets and put them on and wore them for the rest of the time. Luckily, that was a really cheap garage sale, with a grocery bag full of clothes only setting you back $2. We decided to bag the bargain hunting and go and get pedicures. And on the way home, it was actually snowing. Who knows if we’ll be able to wear sandals tomorrow and show off our toes if it’s this cold.

I’m so glad that Ryan held down the fort so I could attend the Women’s conference, and if you haven’t ever gone, you should try to go next year. It’s really worth the time and effort it takes to go.  (And here’s a picture of Whitney Hall.  Anyone else remember that place?)  

AT 5 minutes for Mom, you can enter to win a Mother’s day IPod. Well, who wouldn’t like that? I ask you.

Speaking of Mother’s day, they just had some Mother’s day ad on the radio, and I casually mentioned to my kids, “Mother’s day is in a week and a half. Buy your presents early!” And their responses were:

“Presents for Grandpa,” that was John. It was recently Grandpa’s birthday, and we gave him a really cool blow up skee-ball game. I’m guessing John was very impressed by that giftl

“I don’t have to buy a present, I’ll make one,” from my little craft/recycle girl, Jenna, who, on Cole’s birthday, gave him one of her stuffed animals that she was tired of.

And Cole and Natalie got into a conversation about how it’s unfair that Mothers and Fathers have a special day and there is no “Kid’s Day”. I must have let some snide comment slip out about how maybe they would be happier to not have a mother, and they picked up on that and debated about how long Mom will live and that when I’m gone they won’t have to buy me presents anymore. Although, really, they don’t buy me presents now, so I guess the only difference would be that they would actually have to WORK.

Oh yes, the joy that is Mother’s day. Bring it on.

I actually will be teaching the lesson in Relief Society on Mother’s day, and the RS president mentioned to me that we might be having all the moms come in to enjoy the lesson, so that the only one who would have to be working would be….well, me. But I don’t think that would work. What with staffing the primary and all, and isn’t that when the kids make all those sweet card that hopefully contain chocolate? So, I get to teach a lesson on SERVICE to the Queens of service–the Moms. I’m trying to brainstorm and think of a way to make it really fun, like my last lesson, but without it being so much work. And prizes. I need some cool prizes. Any ideas?

Oh, and speaking of cool moms (were we speaking of cool mom? hmmmm), I’m picking up my good friend Robin tonight, and tomorrow and Friday we are going to Women’s conference at BYU. My kids are so excited to have Robin come (although they are sad that her kids are not coming with her), and Cole has even cleaned his room and is prepared to sleep in the basement. When we were talking about having Robin come, one of the girls said, “That means Robin will clean out our pantry and we get to go to the Spaghetti factory for dinner!” I don’t think she’ll have time to clean our pantry–that’s an all day affair–but we’ll try to work in a trip to the Spaghetti factory.

I haven’t studied the list of classes yet, but I’m really hoping that there’s one on How to deal kindly with your teenager even when he forgets to hand in his assigments and you receive a deficiency notice in the mail or Potty training without the yelling, and no guilt. I could also use one on Just because you have dandelions in your grass that does not make you white trash, or the one on Making dinner when you really don’t feel like it—ever. And I was looking for the class titled How to appreciate your husband for the things he does, and not just grumbling silently when you look at his large pile of unfolded laundry, but I didn’t see that one in the schedule, either. But I’m sure I will find many classes that will deal with just the things I need to hear so that I can be a more patient and loving mother and wife. And I really appreciate that Ryan is going to work from home those two days so I don’t have to find and arrange for child care for my little ones. Hopefully we’ll have nice weather, be uplifted and have a great experience. And if you are there, too, and happen to see someone that looks like me but her name tag says “Jess”, say hi anyway.

Overwhelmed with Joy is doing a book giveaway. If you are interested, go and check it out.

And I have to just mention that I did something for the very first time tonight.  I voted for an American Idol.  Yep.  I had to vote for my favorite idol, miss Melinda.  She’s awesome!  So, yes, I took that first step and voted.  I feel so American now.

Yesterday I spent the day digging.  This should have been the soundtrack of my life yesterday.  You remember when they are on the chain gang?  Yep, that was me.  Digging in the garden.  My sister will be proud of me, since she’s already caught the gardening bug.  I had to dig trenches for watering in our HUGE garden plot.  I also planted a flat of petunias and some snapdragons. Then I went and bought some little plants and seeds, and last night for Family Home Evening we planted our garden.  So, out there we have:

two nice sized rhubarb plants (Thanks, Dad E.) that we actually picked enough for at least one pie last night,

3 little cabbage plants,

12 tiny tomato plants,

9 very small zuccini plants,

and 6 little lettuce plants.

We also planted (from seeds) corn (wishful thinking, I know), carrots, little pumpkins, big pumkins, butternut squash and watermellons. I  have some chives, chamomile and peppermint to plant, too, but ran out of room so they may have to go in a pot.
I know from past failures that the planting is just the beginning and that I have to actually water and weed the darn garden all summer long, but I have a good attitude this year.  I think I can do it.  I have no babies, no toddlers, no long vacations scheduled (sad, I know), so really, there’s no excuse other than laziness to keep us from actually keeping the garden alive.

But Boy am I sore!  I sunburned the back of my arms and my neck, and my back and arms are sore from all that digging!  I do NOT want to be a farmer.

I’ve spent my morning listening to an interview with Donny Osmond on Kosy. They’ve been playing songs from his new album, which I think I need to get ASAP! But now it’s time to get my kids (and me) dressed and get on with our morning.

****

updated to add–still not dressed, but I did order that CD, and they also mentioned that Mr. Osmond will be in concert in August at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City.  Who’s going with me?