Spring Swim Championships

Last night Brody and Case finished their spring swim season with a championship meet at Moon Valley Country Club.  Brody chose to swim freestyle, Butterfly and the 100 IM.  Case chose Breaststroke, Butterfly and the 50 freestyle.  Case ended up with medals in all 3 events while Brody metaled in butterfly and the 100IM.  Jeremy and I were so proud of them both and all their hard work this season. Way to go Brody and Case!

Case showing off his medals.  Third place in the breaststroke, Sixth place in the butterfly, and eighth place in the 50 freestyle.  For a minute there I thought I might have to rescue my little 5 year old from the 50 free.  He barely made it but hung in there and didn't give up!!

Brody got a 6th place medal in butterfly and an 8th place medal in the 100IM. Now that he is 7, he swims in the 7-8 age group.  I hate it cause he is the younger of the group and the other boys TOWER over him!! No big deal though for this awesome swimmer!

Case had his game face on last night!  He was all business!

He had just perfected the dive and then they made him go off those tall starting blocks.  They are way high to a little guy!! Check out the dude in the black and green suit in the lane next to him!

Brody has finally decided that going off the starting blocks gives him a head start rather then going straight down from the side of the pool.  Again, check out the rad dive from the dude two lanes down from him!

The best part of the night was not those shiny medals my hard working boys won.  The best part was when Case happily handed over one of his medals to Katyln who was crying because she didn't get one and said, "Here Katy, you can have mine, I already have 2!" He happily let her wear it all night and even to dinner at Nellos.  He didn't even say anything as we were loading up the car to go home until I brought it to his attention.  We flagged down Kim and Case asked if he could have his medal back.  Katyln handed it over and we said good-bye again.  As we walked away, Case said, "Mom I was worried that Katy might cry if I asked for my medal back." He may act like he doesn't have a clue what is going on around him.  He may seem goofy and silly, but you know what... he is kind, loving, caring, and sweet. He is in tune with others and their feelings.  He gets IT and he will go far because of his sensitive, caring nature. He would give you the shirt off his back and that is why I love this kid.  I can only hope that next year his Kindergarten teacher will see his strengths and love him for who he is.  This was the best moment of the whole meet! Way to go Case Felstead!  Way to go!

Yep folks...We survived another baseball season!

I'm really not sure how we did it, but we survived another season of baseball.  It is really hard to have 2 boys playing ball at the same time. Having games 4 nights out of the week about killed us off!  I can't imagine what we will do when Ledger starts baseball too! Case finished his season last week and had his party tonight, which I was in charge of but unable to attend due to swimming championships.  Brody finished his season last night and had his party at the park right after.  It was tons of fun and I am so relieved that it is over.  Both boys made great progress from the beginning of the year until now. They had awesome coaches who really worked with them and encouraged them to do their best.  It was a great season for both Brody and Case!

 The Express 2010 Coach Pitch Team

Eliza B. Brody, Troy B., Jackson, Tyson L., Tate L, Kailey A.,

 Ryan C., Drew S., Drew H., and Cal S.

(Not pictured, The coaches son Cole C. who broke his arm before the first game!)

Eliza's Mom was in charge of snacks after the last game and she brought an ice chest filled with water guns and extra water for the kids to shoot each other with.  Boy did they think that was fun...especially since they soaked Coach Kent!

The party at the park was a huge success.  We grilled burgers and hot dogs and everyone brought something to go with it.  The kids played and soaked each other more!  I made picture books for all the kids on both teams again this year and I think they really liked them.  Jim got great shots of the kids hitting, catching and running.  I hope they will treasure them as they get older.  They have made such great friends and memories this year and last!

Look Out Beethoven!

Tuesday night Brody and Case had their "Let's Play Music" recital at Poston Jr. High.  How weird is it to be back at my old Junior High watching my own kids perform?  WEIRD!  Case performed first using his tone bells and awesome voice.  He LOVED singing B-I-N-G-O leaving out a letter on each verse. He did super when he had to play, "Three Blind Mice" using his tone bells. Even though he had his grouchy face while up on stage, he did great and really did have fun! Brody was next to perform. He had to write his own piano composition that he titled, "The Peace Of Music."  "Not the piece, like a piece of something.  Peace like how it makes you feel inside." He did so good and we were super proud of him.  It was fun to see my little Men on stage sharing all they've learned this year.  Good job boys!!

Case stayed right with the beat when he had to play, "Three Blind Mice" on his tone bells. 

Look at the intensity on his face!

Case really enjoyed the puppet shows in music class this year.  

He loves doing the actions with the songs.

This was a super embarassing thing for Case.  He about died when we asked him to sit by his awesome teacher Miss Debbie for a picture.

When it was Brody's turn to play he got on the microphone and said, "My name is Brody Felstead.  The name of my song is "The Peace of Music" and I like my song cause I like the title...

Then he walked right up on that stage and played all his chords just like he had been practicing. We were super proud of him and all his hard work!

Sugar and Nanny came to watch these cute boys perform.  Brody was thrilled that he got a trophy for completing his third and final year of Let's Play Music.

Brody loves Miss Debbie because she is so enthusiastic and kind.  She loves teaching Let's Play Music and loves the kids.  She is the best.  Brody cried himself to sleep after the recital when he realized that he wasn't going to get to see Miss Debbie each week.  He really loves her!

The BEST Mother's Day ever!

You are not going to believe what I did for Mother's Day!  Last night, I went on a date.  Not a typical Saturday night date though.  Last night I went on a date with my Guys!  All 4 of them!  I was picked up in a limo (or limbo if your 7, 5 or 2.5 years old), treated to dinner at City Hall in Scottsdale, and taken to Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall to get an outfit.  I didn't end up getting an outfit, but I did get a sweet chair massage at Brookstone!  The boys LOVED the limbo ride, especially since there was a no car seat policy.  They were like floppy wet fish in the back of that limbo.  Every time the driver would go, they would fly to the back of the limbo.  Every time he stopped, they flew to the front of the limbo.  It was hilarious!  They blasted the music and danced all around.  The changing colorful lights were beyond exciting!  They would fade from one color to the next creating ooooohs and ahhhhhs all night long.  They never got tired of it!! Dinner was awesome.  Case and Ledger shared a filet while Brody got the chicken.  No dinner at a fancy steak house would be complete without lionnaise potatoes, sauteed broccoli, lettuce wedge salads and shoestring potato fries.  Jeremy had been prepping the boys all week on manners and behavior so they did super.  The best part had to have been the trips to the bathroom.  Jeremy gave each boy a 5 dollar bill to put in their shirt pockets.  This was to be used in the restroom as a tip for the restroom attendant (what are these people called any ways?) So first up to have to go to the bathroom is Case (no surprise there!). He walks in the restroom, does his business and heads over to the sink to wash his hands.  He lathers up, rinses, flicks the water into the sink.  He then proceeds to reach into his shirt front pocket and whip out that 5 dollar bill.  He hands it to the attendant who quickly grabs a towel, dries my 5 year olds hands off, gives him a mint, a squirt of cologne, and sends him on his way.  Well, Case comes running across the restaurant (mind you, a FANCY restaurant as we here folks call it) yelling to the brothers, "Guys they have candy in the bathroom!" Brody and Ledger hear this and of course want to go potty.  Luckily our food arrived and we tell them they have to wait until after dinner. Next up to use the bathroom...Brody and Ledger, together.  Jeremy takes them to the restroom where they proceed to get their hands dried off on cloth napkins (for $5.00 mind you!)  They receive a mint, a squirt of  cologne and off they went. They LOVED it!!  If only I received $5.00 every time I dried my boys dirty little hands off...I'd be RICH!! One of my favorite moments from the night was when we first got in the limbo and Brody shuts the privacy partition between us and the driver and tells everyone to say on thing they love about Mom.  Case says he loves that I'm so pretty.  Jeremy says he loves that I am pretty and...well I can't tell you what else he says, but don't worry, by now the boys are discovering something new about the limbo and aren't paying attention to Jeremy.  Brody says he thinks I'm really really really nice and Ledger chimes in with "I love Mom." It was perfect! I can't believe I got to go on such a fun Mother's Day date with all my Men.  It was definitely a night I will never forget.  These kiddos make being a Mom worth all the wrinkles they have caused me.  I am so lucky that I have four of the most awesome kids ever.  I love them so much and am so lucky they chose me to be their Mom. Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's out there.  

What a surprise to be picked up in a limo for a date with my Guys!!

Case was a dance maniac!  He blasted the music and rocked out as we drove down the 101 freeway to Scottsdale!

Of course Ledger copies whatever Case does so he showed us a move or two!!

Here they are.  Sorry ladies, they're taken...by ME! 

Me and my Guys at City Hall Steak House.  

Fun Friday

Jefferson, Ledger, Tayla, Sage, Jackson, Priscilla, Brody, Chloe, Megan and Madison.  

Not pictured:  Case and Brooke

So you all know how crazy our life is right now right?  Well we do have a little fun ya know!! On Fridays, I let the boys invite their friends over for a little Fun Friday, just to play and be kids.  Before they go to school, they tell me what yummy goodie they want when they get home and I make sure it is here.  Some of the most popular yummies have been Root Beer Floats, Sprite Floats, Krispy Kreme Donuts, Ice Cream Sundaes and just good ol snacks (pretzels, fishies, fruit snacks).  The kids play on the tramp, swing on the swing set, and play hide and seek and tag.  It is tons of fun for the boys!  Feel free to bring your little cuties over for fun Friday (but please call first so I can make sure I have enough junk, I mean treats!)