Saturday

With 3 boys in flag football, our Saturdays are CRAZY!  Yesterday was no different.  The morning started off (7 am) with the ward family picture and breakfast.  After that we had our primary program practice and a surprise party.  We chose a carnival theme complete with popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy.  We played a few fun games and made a huge mess in the cultural hall.  It was a good morning. I have the best calling in the ward.  I love being able to work with such amazing kids and teachers.  Our primary program is going to be so wonderful.

 We had a station set up with  hula hoops.  It was one of the favorites.

 Scooter races proved to be pretty exciting also!

 Ledger is a good little hula hooper!

   After the practice and party, we ran home, changed our clothes and headed to football games.  It was hot again this weekend.  I was exhausted. I REALLY want some cooler fall weather.  I saw that we are going to have above average heat all week.  I am a little upset about that.  I am ready for jeans and boots.  I'm a boot girl!

Today, Case and his team played cousin Madden's team.

 Up next was Brody's game.  Still wish we would have put this boy in MAC swimming instead of flag football.  Enough said.

 Brody and his cute friend Jackson (far right).

 Last but not least was Ledger's game.  By 2:30, we were all hot and wiped out.

Ledger and his cute friend Ethan.

Berkley had a ball playing with Jordan and any other girls she could find!

After football, we came home and I headed back to the church with my amazing counselors to set up (again) for the primary program.  I also met our AMAZING 5th Sunday teacher at the church to set up for her lesson.  She is the BEST! What do you do on Saturday's?

I Spy

Tuesday Show and Tell days are a favorite for my cute Preschooler.  It's hard for a little lady to decide what to take.  Here is what she emptied out of her backpack before deciding on the 3 new lip glosses she got for her birthday. If you are up to the challenge, here is a fun game.

I Spy:

A Hello Kitty Sticker

Spiderman

Megan Stradlings Pink Bakagan

Pink Nail Polish

A Doughnut

Bobby Pins

A Green Dinosaur 

A Pirate

Sparkle Nail Polish

A Blue Crayon

A Grey Dinosaur

A Pilgrim

Baby Jesus in the Hay

A Motorcycle

A Red Crayon

6 Star Wars Action Figures

2 Hello Kitty Lip Glosses

A Kitten

106 Degrees

 That's how hot it was  Saturday when we were outside for 4 plus hours watching each of our boys play flag football.  It was hot...and gross... and made me grouchy.  It's the end of September and I am DONE!  Done with the heat and humidity.  I'm ready for jeans, sweaters, boots.  I love winter! Today started off with Ledger and Brody's games.  Jeremy and I double teamed taking turns walking back and fourth between the two games so we wouldn't miss out.

 Brody did a great job rushing the quarterback today.  He is having an interesting season to say the least.  Jeremy and I should have gone with our instinct and put him on swim team instead of flag football.

 Ledger's games are just fun.  His coach is awesome and he is having a great time. I love how patient and positive the coach is with Ledger. 

 Ledger has no problem running right through the other teams players.  It is so funny!

 Getting directions from the coach.

 This kid will smile anytime the camera is pointing at him.  Here he is coming off the field.  What you can't see is the whining and fussing that was going on on the sidelines because it was so hot and the mosquitos were biting like crazy. It was pretty miserable today.

 Next up was Case's game.  There is never a dull moment at his games.  Case did fantastic and scored the only touch down of the game...and I missed it.  Uggggg!  I left when Case's game started to go to a stake baptism and missed some of the best plays of the year.  It's ok though, the baptism was awesome and I will get to see Case play next week.

 Jeremy said that Case juggled the ball for quite sometime before gaining control.  Then he jumped and turned and ran all the way down the sideline.  SCORE!!

 This picture is hilarious of Case's best bud Jefferson picking him up after the touchdown.  I love how happy all the team mates are in this picture.  

Oh Jefferson...you are the BEST!  Case is glad it wasn't you that scored the touchdown because he says there is no way he could have picked you up like this! Go Broncos!!

A "Devil" Of A Good Time!

 Can I just tell you how much I love football season?  It is really one of my favorite times of the year.  Last night Jeremy and I took the three boys to the ASU/Utah game.  We met up with H and Presley along with Jeff and McKenzie at Matta's for dinner and then off we went to cheer on our Devils.  It was scorching hot last night but we still had a fun time.  

 We were all a little delirious on the drive home.  We had been outside in the 106 degree weather for 4 hours while the three boys each played a flag football game and had team pictures taken.  I think Brody's favorite part of the football experience is the halftime show that the ASU marching band puts on. He gets super excited when it's halftime.  I can totally see this boy playing in the band one day.  He loves music.  I love seeing him get so excited about something so simple.  Love this boy!

Case eats everything in sight at these games.  Tonight is was popcorn and frozen lemonade.  I had to laugh when 5 minutes into the game he turned to me and said, "I forgot how fun these games are mom." Love that this boy is so into sports and the excitement of the game.

Cute Presley!  So happy we got to go to the game with you!

We have the best seats in the house.  GO DEVILS!!

Poor Presley fell sound asleep before half time.  Poor H who had to hold her until we all left.

In case you can't tell by the sweaty man walking past my brother, it was HOT!

Mr. 4 a.m. Ledger was out cold by half time. This poor kid needs to learn how to sleep in!

Are You Ready For Some Football?!?!

 Football season is in full swing around here!  We have Ledger who is a 49er, Case who is a Bronco, and Brody who is a Cowboy.  

 Ledger looks like a pro in these pictures!  Can't believe he is playing on the 5-6 team this year!

 Apparently Ledger really likes his coach this year. I have no idea who this coach is,
but he seems like a nice guy! :)

 Case is all about football, or any sport for that matter.  He is playing on a new 7-8 team with Coach Kelly and his friends Jefferson, Josh and Zack.  They are a good little team even though they lost their first game.

Case can sure hustle!  This boy is quick and really pays attention to the plays.
Brody also had a game on Saturday.  We are playing at new fields this year and we just so happened to pick the wrong place to sit...therefore no pictures.  Brody's team got killed on their first game but Brody had fun rushing the quarterback.  It is going to be an interesting season for Brody.  Stay tuned!

Learning To Choose The Right

 This year in Primary, our theme has been, "Choose The Right."  I have loved this theme and all I have learned about the many ways I can Choose The Right each day.  I have especially loved hearing how the primary children Choose The Right at home and school.  These kids I am teaching are so amazing and smart.  Their knowledge of the Gospel along with their testimonies have strengthened me each and every week.  When I say that Primary is the best calling, I am really not kidding.  There is no where else I would rather be each Sunday then with these amazing kids. I have the best calling in the ward!

 On Tuesday, I was inside making dinner when Case and Jefferson (who were out front playing basketball) came running in telling me I needed to come outside right away.  I quickly ran outside to find that my front yard had been CTR'd!  There was a darling note on my front door and colorful CTR shields all over my grass.  Can I just tell you how happy this made me?  It sounds silly, but this simple act made me feel so happy inside.  I felt so appreciated and loved by these amazing activity day girls who had CTR'd my house.  My phone began ringing and I loved hearing from each of my counselors and secretary how happy this made them feel too.  We have the most amazing three ladies in charge of our activity day girls.  I am so grateful to each of them and the service they render each and every week.  I am especially grateful for the opportunity to serve with these girls and for the amazing example they are to me.  

 My budding photographer Case obviously missed the memo about getting the CTR shields AND me in the picture!  

This is the sign that was hanging on my door.  It makes me happy just looking at it! The truth is, these activity day girls teach me about choosing the right each Sunday.  They are an amazing group of young ladies with amazing leaders! Thank you for making me feel so special girls!

Under The Sea With Berkley

On Saturday, we celebrated Berkley's 3rd birthday with a "Mermaid/Under The Sea" Party at my Mom's house.  This little lady has been excited about mermaids ever since she got some mermaid pj's  from Gap Kids.  Although I was excited about throwing a mermaid party, I was having a hard time with this party.  I think the color scheme was throwing me off.  I really didn't want to use blue as my primary color considering blue was the ONLY color in our house for many many years.  As you will see from the pictures below, I did end up using blue as my primary color and it turned out nice.  Berkley is already asking for a princess party next year so I think the primary color will be PINK which makes me giddy just thinking about it!

 My mom has covered her pool table with ply wood so she can sew and craft with friends.  This really makes the perfect set up for serving food at parties.  As you can see, not much to this table.  I do however love the ribbon back drop hanging in the back of the table.  I think the ribbon makes the table look "oceany" and pretty.  It was quite the chore getting the ribbon up, but I do like the way it turned out.  As you can see, I just had to throw some PINK into this party.  Although it looks a little like a baby shower for twins (boy and girl), I was NOT going to have an all BLUE party! The food was simple for the little mermaid. We went with pizzas, subs, fruit and veggies...EASY!

The centerpieces for the table were little fish bowls with the letters BERKLEY coming out of each.  This was by far the worst idea for centerpieces I have ever had.  My mom and I spent hours trying to find the perfect way for these letters to stick to the bottom of the fishbowls.  In case you decide to do this for your next party, hot glue and E6000 will not work!  By the end, my mom was chewing up gum and using that to stick the letters into.  (FYI...do NOT use PINK gum! It will turn your water pink!) I then took some raw sugar to use for the sand and some cheap sea shells to spruce the centerpieces up.

 The best part about these centerpieces were the live fish swimming inside.  Not only did these make fun centerpieces, but they were the perfect party favor as the guests were leaving.  You can thank me later parents!

 No party would be complete without a "candy bar." Such things as, "Fishing Poles (Sugar Pixie Sticks), Salt Water Taffy, Buried Treasure (candy necklaces and ring pops), Worms (Gummy Worms), and Fishing Bobbers (Tootsie Pops) make the perfect treat for all Mermaids and their Friends.

 I love the way my mom's back patio turned out.  She took this big fat wired ribbon that I purchased at Michaels and strung it all across the patio.  It was the perfect touch for a mermaid party. (We won't tell Jim that she hot glued some of the ribbon to the pillars.  Looks like we may need some touch up paint on those!)

 The birthday girl requested PINK cupcakes from her Aunt Missy.  Smart girl Miss B.!

 This was a small, family party.  I love how all the cousins (and brothers) are standing around the little Mermaid as she gets ready to blow out her 3 candles. I think she was enjoying the moment herself!

 There was plenty of swimming and craziness from the boys.  The birthday girl and her cousins had more fun playing in Sugar's play room.  It's your day little lady!

 Cave and GG eating strawberries.

 Some of the boys playing, "The Match" game in the deep end.

 Cousin Jake and Pax.  Yummy spoon Pax!

 The birthday girl enjoyed opening presents with the help of Katlyn, Anna and Ledger.  Some of her favorite gifts were:  dance clothes, tap and ballet shoes, mermaid barbie, Princess Aurora book and friends, new winter clothes from Sugar, a grocery cart with play food, mermaid doll, and money from the grandparents.

 Berkley immediately put on her new dance clothes from Nanny and Papa and away she went, dancing all around the grass to her favorite song, "You Don't Know You're Beautiful."

The little mermaid can hardly wait to sign up for dance class now that she is three.

Pure bliss on her third birthday!
Hope you had the best birthday ever my cute little mermaid!