Yeeeeeesss!

One thing that I never want to forget is my kids saying under their breath, "yeeessss" to the most simple things (which I know will change all too soon). This is something that seriously happens at least 3-5 times a day per kid. For example:

Running with Ben today (we went two and half miles and he totally kicked my butt)
Ben: "Mom, when we get home can I have a Propel?"
Me: "Sure, Ben."
Ben under his breath in a whisper: "Yeeessss."


Meg: "Mom, can we jump on the tramp for a little while as a family after dinner?"
Me: "Sure."
Meg while moving her hand in downward motion: "Yeeessss!"


Sam: "Mom can I bring two big soft guys on the trip and one little one?"
Me: "That should work."
Sam under his breath: "Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessss."

Ben: "Mom, can I have a CFDC (caffeine free Diet Coke. . .we make a lot of things in our house acronyms)?
Me: "Okay."
Ben: "Yeesssssssss."

You get the idea, but some of my other favorite "yeeeeeeeeesssss" include:

• Meg getting extra magnets for her locker.
• Sam being done with chores after only picking up the shoes in the "mud room.'
• Molly and Sam getting to eat a bag of chips on the deck AFTER dinner.
• Molly getting to ride in dad's truck with the green car seat instead of having to go in the van with me.
• Ben getting to play the old Nintendo in my room because the other kids were watching "Zack and Cody on Deck" (I mean really, Disney had to move the entire show from a hotel to a cruise ship? New episodes. . .more $$$).
• Sam getting extra honey on his Honey Nut Cherrios.
• Meg getting to text her friend on my phone (we haven't given in yet. . .middle school begins soon."
• Ben getting to order a Sprite at the pool snack bar instead of just an ice water (many of Ben's "yes's" have to do with beverages and food. . .like father, like son).

Meg's Dance Recital--May 2009

Tap and Jazz costume.

Ballet costume.

Grammi has come every year since Meg was five to see her dance.

I always arrive about an hour early so that I can sit on the first or second row. Grandma Kathy comes to help me save seats (and to see Meg dance). Hey, I pay good money all year and want a fabulous seat to see my investment.

Molly's First Haircut

Let me just start off by saying I hit that point that every mom hits when your 3 or 4 year old CRIES hysterically every time you brush their hair. Therefore, I began "prepping" Molly for the "bob." I got out the home videos of Meg when she was 4 years old and showed how Meg had a cute "short" haircut and never cried when we brushed it out. Molly's response, "mom, Meg can't wear a bow, her hair is too short." Which was true. She had it just bob just a little below the shoulder. . .oh how I loved it. After viewing more footage of Meg, Molly conceded and decided she could get a "short haircut, but not a bob." Great, whatever you want to call it. I did not hesitate. The next morning Meg, Molly and I were waiting at the door of "Shortcuts" when they opened. I wasn't about to have Molly watch "Enchanted" or "Little Mermaid" and change her mind about the "short haircut." Here is Molly, stringy hair and all (why waste another morning combing out that mess. . .I opted to let the highly-trained hair technician deal with the snarls).

The first cut. She got 5 inches taken off the back.

Getting it styled.

The finished product. No I didn't put bug spray on her. . .hence the bug bite on her forehead, but I did put sunscreen on her and she still got burned.

The back view. She was so mad and threw a MAJOR fit when Rusty came home from work because I had already left for a meeting and it wasn't combed and styled to show Rusty.

She's very happy with her hair cut. I just dread the next time when Molly watches "Little Mermaid" and sees Ariel laying on the rock as her long hair flowing blows in the breeze.

4th of July

Cousin Adam and Grandma Kathy came for a 4th of July party (on July 3rd) at Uncle Mark's and Aunt Valerie's.

Molly striking a pose at the pool's 4th of July party. btw, Molly has a "flag" swimsuit but refused to wear it because it made her look "ugly" (her words not mine).

Our swim coach (Scott) is also a children's minister for his church and always goes the extra mile with all the kids on the swim team. He genuinely loves to be with them. Since the weather was cool (68 degrees) and not many people came to the party, he helped Ben and Max with some of the requirements for their Webelo Aquanaut pin. Here Ben is "saving" Max's life while Coach Scott is "saving" both of them.

Just freezing at the pool on a Kentucky 4th of July. I'm taking pictures while wearing a sweatshirt and definitely not getting in the water.

Card playing and making a fort (it started sprinkling) was a better option than swimming.

Monkey see, monkey do (Rusty's not the monkey). Molly needed a "fort" as well.

Since so few people were at the party the DJ gave us many of the awards and prizes. Now we own 6 lays, 4 mini-American Flags, a bunch of red, white and blue windmills, a new beach ball ("Yet one more inflatable that takes up space in the third bay of our garage." Rusty's words, not mine), and many more little trinkets that will end up in the garbage before next Tuesday garbage day.

Oh, and "flag glasses." Rusty spent about 10 minutes explaining his "Elton John" reference to our kids.

Sparklers in the rain. Is this a safety issue?

Molly discovered "Pop-its" this year and was extremely meticulous about "popping" them one by one.

4th of July gear. . .

We celebrated both July 3rd and July 4th. July 3rd we went to Aunt Valerie's and Uncle Mark's annual party where we ate, visited with old ward members and played games. On the 4th after the pool party, we went to the Miller's house and had a cook out and fireworks.

Sam

Sam performed in his second recital. He is my only kid that will just go to the piano and play when it's not "practice" time. Unfortunately, it's the same few songs from his repertoire that he seems to delight us with, but I am happy he likes to play.

Sam and Ms. Shelly, our piano teacher who comes to our house every Monday afternoon and plays fun games like Hangman with Sam to teach him the notes.

On the 4th of July our pool had a massive party (unfortunately, we were only able to stay a few hours due to rain and cold. . .68 degrees; what is up with that?). There were two inflatables, one with a huge slide. Sam hit Ben's head and took two chunks out of his tongue going down the slide. Later that day he asked me if it would heal in an hour so he could eat a cupcake.

About an hour after the "tongue drama," Sam went down the same slide, hit the seam of the slide and ended up looking like he crashed in the Tour de France (which began yesterday to Rusty's delight). At this point in the day Sam informed me that it was "the worst day of his life."

Earlier this year, during baseball season, Sam took a one for the team and stopped a ball with his eye. He did however, finish the play before he started crying and was taken off the field. This is about an hour after he got hit.

The next day .

Sam was drafted by the Colorado Rockies this year (by his dad). Sam and Rusty (Rusty has been Sam's coach since t-ball) have ALWAYS been the St. Louis Cardinals, but another coach choose that team name first this year. So, much to Rusty's dismay they had to go with their second favorite team's name.

Sam played third base a lot this season. He made a few good plays, but mostly just loved being on a team that his dad coached. As a consolation prize for not being the "Cardinals" at least they got to wear their favorite color purple.

Sam also tried his hand a catcher. He didn't love it, and there was many a time I heard not only the coaches , but also parents, "remind" him to hurry and get the ball to the pitcher as boys on the opposite time were stealing the bases. He was finally getting the hang of it when the season was ending.

Sam has the stance perfected.

Sam, for some reason, thinks when he "repents" he needs to write a formal apology. Here is the latest I found on my floor one night after coming home from going to dinner with Rusty. Meg was baby-sitting and said that Sam got in trouble, and when Meg put him in time-out he said that he wished he hadn't been born because all he does is make mistakes. Meg explained that Heavenly Father doesn't like it when he says stuff like that about himself. Hence the note.