First Soccer Game

Today Josh played soccer for the first time ever. He had a lot of fun and did very well. His coach is so good with the boys, making sure each boy got a turn to do certain things, and game was very relaxed with no pressure. They didn't even keep score. We look forward to the next game.



This was his turn at the second half starting kick

Father and Son Trip/ Girls day out

The last weekend of August Graydon took Josh on a trip...just the two of them. Josh was so excited. They left for Wyoming early Friday morning. Josh got pretty bored on the long drive to Cheyenne, arriving there around lunchtime. There they had an appointment to see two large, working steam engines with a personal tour given by the conductor. The tour included the turn table and roundhouse along with a very fancy coach and the machines used to make replacement parts for the engines.

They were able to visit a park see Cheyenne's Big Boy Steam Engine and chase ducks and squirrels and stay in a very nice hotel room with a fully-equipped kitchen.

After the boys left on Friday the girls went to the Boondocks to have fun. We spent time crawling around in the Kiddie Cove, playing mini golf, bowling, and playing in the arcade. We finished the day with dinner at Olive Garden and going home and painting our nails.

Saturday, Graydon and Josh left early to head to North Platte, Nebraska. Here they were able to go to the Golden Spike Tower and observe the largest train yard in the world, Bailey Yard. It is 13 miles long and two miles wide and moves around 10,000 cars a day. Josh was able to sit and watch the freight cars roll down the hump as they were sorted. He also got a new toy train and enjoyed picking gifts for his sisters.

Sunday was the wonderful day that they had to drive all the way home. However they made good time and arrived just in time for a family party.

The funniest part about this trip is that Josh and Emily wanted to constantly call each other. They probably called each other 3 or 4 times a day. Then as soon as they arrived home, after the party, they started to fight.

Still Waiting

I had a doctor's appointment today and I was hoping to find out the gender of our baby. Last month he was guessing it was a boy (60%)and all my cravings have said boy, they are similar to what I had with josh.

This morning he said it was a girl (90%). I am not completely convinced yet, the baby was not in a very good position and I could barely see what he was looking at. To me, it looked like the baby was keeping its knees together. Not very helpful.

Anyway, I am going to have to wait until my 3-D ultrasound in four weeks to be absolutely sure of the its gender.

I can't wait to see which of my two names I will get to use.

Mission Memories

About two weeks ago we had the chance to have a FHE with a family that Graydon had taught and baptized while on his mission. He had a great time reminiscing and seeing how they had changed and what they were doing now.

Dinosaur Park

Monday, Aug 16, we went to the dinosaur park with Cindy and her girls. It was so nice to spend time with them and the kids had a great time. Thanks Cindy for inviting us.

County Fair

Yesterday we went to the county fair. It was opening day and they offered ride wristbands for a lower price. The kids had a lot of fun. Emily was excited to be able to ride the larger rides by herself. Laurie only liked one ride...the boats (and she only rode those after a lot of convincing). She refused to ride the others. we did get her on the motorcycles, but she soon decided that she didn't like it. Graydon was a good sport to accompany Josh on the larger rides. Then they all had fun on the bouncy toys.

We also went to the petting zoo, rode the ponies, and watched a tiger show. It was a fun day.

I want them back in school!

So yesterday was the kids' first day off track until the first week of september. At first I was excited because then I would get to sleep in a little, but the excitement wore off when I had to grocery shopping with all of them. While at Macey's I found whole chickens on sale and purchased three of them. This was when the fun began.

I arrived home and fed the kids lunch and told them to go play while I cut up all the chicken. They decided to go ride bikes, but to do this I had to replace Emily's front innertube. Then Laurie insisted on riding her bike, which I have to help or she can't go anywhere (we are working on this problem). This activity took 45 minutes.

Just as I got into the house Emily and Josh come in and want to play with friends, but all their friends are on different tracks and had school. They found some kids who attend the charter school and won't start until monday, so soon my house was full of six kids instead of three.

I finally started to prep the kitchen to cut chicken and got one wing off when Josh and Friend needed help setting up a car track which also required finding new batteries. I get that done and cut up one chicken.

Starting on the next chicken I am inundated with requests for help with a computer game, drinks, snacks, and wanting to go swimming. I tell them that I can't fill up any pool until I am done with the chicken, and I keep working. I then get asked if they can go to their friend's house and run in the sprinkler. This idea sparks a search for their swimsuits. I keep telling them they are going to have to wait because I was all messy.

Long story short. I finally get the chicken cut, sorted, bagged, marinated and in the freezer. While keeping track of where the kids are and what they are doing. I also fill up the pool in the back yard and find all swimsuits.

I never thought that cutting up three chickens would be so hard. I do have three pounds of legs, two pounds of breasts, and a quart of chicken broth. Is it time for school yet?