Last day of school

Today is the last day of school. Yay!!! Or maybe not. I really don't like the idea of my kids growing up. I want them to stay just how they are!!! They grow up way to fast and it makes me wish I had alot more. I guess I can see why that Duggar Family has 18 kids. She never has to feel like her kids are growing up. I may look into that theory a little more. Oh wait, I can't have more kids. Oh well. Back to the last day of school.

This morning Madi woke up at 6:30 which is very unusual. I am usually pulling her out of bed after 7:00. Both kids were so excited to get going, only 1 hour and 45 minutes left of school. Mimi is coming to get Madison this morning and she is going to hang out with her and grandma Linda and Kennedee is going to one party after another. And she has soccer practice today. She will crash come sunday afternoon. I am very happy that my kids are happy.

Let the summer begin.

Madison is such a crack up. She keeps me entertained. When we ask her about Kenedee's old boyfriend, she tells me about his beautiful blue eyes, his shaggy brown hair and his big beautiful smile. You have to see her say it to get the effect.

Madison is going to play on the Celtic Storm Developmental team. She is excited to get her own team and she was excited to play for the same club as Kennedee but maybe in a few years she can. Madison's skill level at her age far exceeds Kennedee's and that is because of the awesome coach Madison had and because Kennedee has helped her so much. It cracks me up, Madison doesn't wear her glasses to play soccer and she pretty much can't see out of her one eye, (she can but it is blury), but she has such a strong left foot and she rocks it.

Kennedee the social butterfly is not so happy that school is almost out. She has really enjoyed this last week of being a sixth grader. They have had a dance, field day, a mess around day and awards. For some strange reason they go to school tomorrow from 8-9:45. Why? Who knows. Kennedee has parties from the time she gets out of school until saturday evening. She already has a cold and she is going to crash on sunday. She loves it though. She is so social and has so many friends. She has a lot planned for the summer and she can't wait. Madison on the other hand has complained all week about wanting to be out of school now. She doesn't want to go on friday for the short time, she wants to stay home. How can two kids from the same parents be SO different. :)

I am so proud

I am always saying how proud of Kennedee I am, well today my heart is overflowing with joy for her.
I got a call from her teacher a couple of weeks ago about an award they were giving her. I had to keep the secret from her for two whole weeks. It is a Hope of America Award. Each of the sixth grade teachers chose a boy and girl from their class for this award and Kennedee was chosen in hers. The Hope of America award is for students who show outstanding excellence in academics, leadership and good character. It is given by the Kiwanis foundation. My mom and dad and Scott came to watch her get her award. We were told to go into the gym and hide behind the curtains until they announced her name. Well we all got to school and someone in her class saw me. They ran in and told Kennedee her mom was in the hall, so she runs out to ask me what I was doing, and she saw all of us. I told her that the principal called us to come meet with him. She freaked. Grandpa really played it up and she went back to her class in tears and shaking because she couldn't figure out what she had done. When they called her name she was relieved but mad at us for telling her that. :)
While I was at home waiting for her to get there, I got a phone call from the coach of the Sparta Premier team. He said he had been trying forever to find Kennedee because he wants her to come to his team. Why is this so cool you ask? Well Sparta has won every game they played. They just won State Cup and they are going to Hawaii, they played up an age group because they won all the U-12 season games and the U-13 season games. They are an awesome team. He said Kennedee is such a good player and he thinks she will fit in well with his team and he can take her to the next level. Scott, Kennedee and I talked and we are going to check it out. As a parent this is such a great opportunity that we can't let it pass up. She tried out and she decided to go with Sparta. We head to San Diego in July with the new team.
Kennedee I am so proud of all your accomplishments. Your determination and leadership will take you far and I am very happy to be along for the ride.

There was no way I was adding the picture of me and Kennedee. We were both not to cute..

Indiana Jones

So we got sucked into the Indiana Jones hype. Last night a friend organized a showing of the movie so I bought tickets and Greg and the kids and I went to see it. It was fun to have the whole theatre sold to friends. I worried that the movie would scare Madison but I only had to cover her eyes a couple of times. We haven't seen the first 3 but now I guess I better watch them. The movie we thought started at 8:00 but it was really 8:30. We all stayed out way past our bedtime.
This morning Kennedee jumped out of bed early and Madi and I dragged a little but we all made it on time. We are all so happy we have a three day weekend and we get to sleep in. YAY!!! I just wish it would be warm.
Only 4 days left of school. The girls are so excited. They are planning all their summer plans and Madi is SO excited to stay at Grandma and Grandpa's while Kennedee is at camp. She is so happy to stay she is staying for 2 weeks. Oh what will I do with my spare lonely time. :)
Stran loves to watch Dora and I know Madi will be so happy to watch it with him. (just kidding she hates Dora). But she is excited to play with him for 2 weeks and to play with her old friends.

The weekend is over

What a nice warm, relaxing warm weekend. Did I mention warm? Oh yeah!! It was in the 90's. My kind of weather.
Friday night Madi had a birthday party and Kennedee hung out with her friend. Saturday morning Kennedee had an early soccer game. Her team lost but it was a good game. Kennedee is trying hard to get back in shape and be where she wants to be. Madi had a morning game to and she scored 4 goals. She is loving it.
The rest of the day we did nothing. I sat outside most of the day and read a book. The sunburn I got doesn't bother me a bit. The kids played with friends on saturday evening and I chilled. Sunday was the usual. Go to church and do nothing. We did go for a bike-rollerblading-skate board ride in the afternoon and even though it was so hot, it was wonderful to finally get outside.
It looks like this week may be a little slow. A soccer party and a movie date is all we have planned. I love it, but I also get bored. I guess I will have to actually work on my scrap book.

Reflecting

I was just given some news that makes me reflect a little bit about how precious life is.
I have watched my grandma get cancer and heart failure and I have watched her go down hill very slowly but still down hill. I look at her at 97 and although I am so sad to think about her dying, I am so happy for her to be able to complete her journey here on earth and to be able to be with her loved ones on the other side. I can imagine her reunion she will have. She has been without Grandpa for 40+ years and the thought of her being with him makes my heart swell.
Knowing they are waiting for her makes it so much easier to deal with the loss. She is in my thoughts and prayers always.
On the other hand. I have a friend who lives by me that I have become fairly close to. The girls and I have watched her kids and her and her husband have made me feel welcome and made sure I had someone to hang out with at church events. She is 28 and at 24 she was diagnosed with cancer. She has had many surgeries and had more chemo and radiation than I can imagine. Ever since I have known her, you would never know she is sick other than loosing her hair and the bandana's she wears. She always has a smile on her face and always is going. She went through chemo again during the holidays and the outcome looked grim then but she beat it and although she was knocked out most of the time she made it through. She has had radiation and just when she thought it was gone, they found more. She had surgery this week and I was told this morning it has spread and she is terminal. It makes my heart break. I don't feel the same way that I do with my grandma. It just makes me think about how precious life is. Cancer has no age limit and no mercy. I know it is all the lords plan but the thought of her not around and her three young children without a mother breaks my heart. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family and I am hoping for a positive outcome. My thoughts and prayers also go to Josh and his family and to all those who have to deal with this horrible disease.
Don't take life for granted and don't put off what you can do today. Live like there is no tomorrow.

The game went well. The two teams tied. Neither team played that well. Kennedee played ok. She got hit and went down. I cringed, I thought for sure it was her ankle again. She told me later that she got kicked in the knee. I am to old for this. I worry way to much. She has another game on Saturday morning. She has been working out everyday taking it slow but doing what she needs to.
Madison has been sick and yesterday we stayed home from work and school so she could rest. It was just what she needed. That was the second day she has missed all year. She said she feels better and her eyes look a lot better.
Both girls have field trips today. Madison is going to Cabella's and Kennedee is going swimming at the Legacy Center. They were both very excited this morning to get to school. 10 days left of school. (if you can count the last day)

Go Team!!

Today is the big game. Kennedee plays her old team again in this tournament. The last time they played Kennedee's team beat them 5 or 6-0 ( I know by alot). This time they will be out for blood. Kennedee only played about half of the game on saturday. Which is good, she isn't ready to play the whole thing. Both her coach and I are worried about her ankle. Kennedee has been working out but she still has a ways to go. She is taking it slow. It has been 2 1/2 months since she broke it so hopefully if she takes it slow and only plays half the games, she will be able to hit it hard in the fall. Having an injury sucks. She says her confidence level is down and she is feeling bad about it. A win tonight will be great for her and her team. Hopefully we will be going out for ice cream after.
Good luck Kennedee, kick some butt!!!!!!


Only 13 days of school left. Madison has been sick this week and the last thing she wants to do is get up and go to school. It is harder to do homework and go to bed early. They are both planning their big end of year parties and they are so excited to hang out at the pool all summer with their friends. I am so glad we live where we do. The kids and I are so happy here. I can't believe I have been at my job for almost a year and I was doing that horrible commute last summer. This summer will be so much nicer and I will be able to spend lots of time with the kids, unlike last year.

I have the most wonderful kids ever!!!

Today was Mother's Day and my kids are the greatest. Saturday was a crazy day. We got up early and ran Kennedee to her game in Orem, (she played, and they won). Ran to Madison's Mother Daughter date, ran back to Kennedee's game, went Mother's day shopping, went to lunch, went to Madison's game, ran to the store, came home and cleaned up the car super good, and made dinner. Oh my gosh. We ran all day. By saturday night we were all so tired.Madison has come down with a cold so she needs rest. Sunday Madi and I woke up and she said she was tired and maybe needed some sleep. So I told her to go back to bed and get to feeling better. I danced back to bed and feel asleep. At 11:00 I hear the two of them come in to my room singing. They brought me breakfast in bed and flowers. They cleaned the house, did the dishes and let me sleep in. The wrote me letters and gave me a crown to be queen for the day. They even said I could do what ever I wanted, because it is my day.

We all got ready and went to Grandma's and Grandpa's. Had dinner and roasted marshmallows. We all had a great day together and I have the most wonderful kids ever!!! Have I already mentioned that.. Here are some pictures of our fun day together.

Does life ever slow down

Kennedee got her cast off yesterday. Emotionally she is so ready to play, physically she isn't. What to do? Her team plays in a tournament the next two weeks and she wants to play so bad, but I don't want her to get hurt again. Decisions, decisions.
Madi had a game last night and she scored two awesome goals. Right over the goalies head. I don't think a taller person could have got them either. She is playing awesome. She is showing those boys who the boss is. She loves it.
Tonight Kennedee has a birthday party to go to and a sleep over. On saturday she will go watch her team play. (hopefully just watch). Madi and I have a mother daughter brunch at church and Madi has a game in the afternoon. Sunday is Mothers day and we will go up and spend time at Grandma and Grandpa's. We all get excited to spend time together and hang out. Madi informed me the primary is doing a program at church on sunday and she actually wants to sit on the stand and sing songs for Mother's Day. I can't wait to see that happen.
Mother's day should really be all about the kids. Without them I wouldn't be a mother and being a mother to the most awesome kids is the greatest gift I could ever have.

Today's the day

I am such a sucker. Kennedee cried the other night after painfully watching her team play soccer. She hates sitting on the side lines. She has had so much going on lately that soccer is her outlet and she hasn't had that. She has had migraine headaches almost every day. It breaks my heart. She told me her cast feels like mold is growing in it and it does stink. The doctor told her if it drives her crazy she could get it off early. So we are going today to get it off. The last cast she pulled off because it was falling apart. This one is on better so she will have to have it cut off. I have my camera ready. In second grade she totally freaked out when she got both casts off her arm. Hopefully she is a big girl now. :) And just a word of advice, don't ever get a black cast when it is hot outside.
Kennedee has a big soccer tournament starting this weekend but I still wont let her play and she knows that. I am so nervous she will hurt it again and it will never heal. She has been working out with the team and trying to get into shape. That will help. I think last time we pushed a little to hard. I guess we will see after today what happens.
Soccer tryouts for both girls are the end of the month and she wants to be back by then. She has the determination to get there.
Madi has a game tonight too. She is kicking butt. She loves to play. She may be a little meaner than her big sister. Kennedee has taught Madi very well. I guess all those times of the three of us playing together, Madi is used to going against bigger people and the little kids don't know what hit them. I probably shouldn't encourage that but oh well. :)

What a crack up

Sunday night Kennedee couldn't sleep. It was about 10:30 and she comes in and bounces on my bed and says "I am here now, what are your other 2 wishes". All I could do was roll my eyes and laugh. She is such a crack up.
We were getting dinner on the table sunday and Madi was sitting at the table with her plate and I said Madi don't eat before we say the prayer, she says, Gees mom do you have eyes in the back of your head? I just smiled to myself.
Last night Kennedee went to Logan to support her soccer team. They tied. I had to pick her up in Orem at 11:00. Today we are all a little tired. She has another game tonight in Layton. It is killing her to just watch and not play. 1 more week before the cast comes off and hopefully her ankle is healed.
Cross your fingers for her.

The weekend is over

We had a nice relaxing weekend. After being on the go all week, it is so nice to be able to relax on the weekend.
Friday Brent picked the kids up from school so they wouldn't have to walk. I got off a little early and I met Darci, Brent, Jessica and the kids at the movie. We saw Nim's Island, after the movie we all went to Wendy's for dinner. The kids loved the movie and had a good time.
On Saturday Madi had a game at 10:30, her team won 10-0, she scored 6 goals. I had a couple people come ask me if she had played before because her corner kick went across the whole field. I said yes she had and I can thank Heidi for most of what she knows and Kennedee for the rest. Tryouts for The Lehi Strykers are May 19 and although she is nervous she wants to tryout for the team.
Grandma, Stran and Mimi came to watch the game, and after we all went to lunch. It was nice to have them come down to our neck of the woods and spend time together. Stran is getting so big and the girls love to play with him and make him laugh.
Kennedee didn't get to go watch her team saturday but she is going to Logan tonight and Layton tomorrow to watch and support them. 9 more days before the cast is off. State Cup starts May 10 and I will only let her play after her cast is off and if she is in shape. She is trying hard to get there so she can play.
Saturday night we had movie night and popped pop corn and watched 27 dresses and chilled. I love those moments.
Sunday we went to church and hung out all day. We played soccer and did all the laundry.
This week starts Madison's test's at school and they are on the home stretch to be out of school. Only 19 more days and summer begins.....

Every parents nightmare

Every one thinks they live in a safe neighborhood and you really never think about it until something happens. Well, not that "something" happened but something did happen. Last week the kids brought home a paper saying there was an attempted abduction up the road from where we live. Madison was very upset and I had to talk her into going to school the next day. Kennedee convinced her she would be with her and everyone would be ok.
Today I get a parents worst nightmare phone call. Kennedee left a message on my phone in hysterics because someone cry cry cry. That was all I could understand. I called her back and she said a man was taking pictures of them and talking to them, her and Madi and her friends ran home scared and called the police. The police was at her friends house when I called back. I talked to him and got the story from him and he said Kennedee was very upset. I left work pretty quick to get home. When I got home they both come down the stairs and as soon as they saw me they cried and of course I did too. Kennedee sobbed on my shoulder and was shaking. They were pretty shaken up by this.
We all went home and talked about it and when the police came back I talked to him. What they fail to tell you after the school sends notes home telling about an attempted abduction is if they caught the guy. They did and it wasn't what it seemed to be.
The kids and I have talked about what they would need to do in this situation. They did just as they have been taught and although you never want them to have to go through it, I know if it ever happens again, they will react the right way. I am very proud of them. The police will patrol the area tonight and tomorrow and the kids gave them a good description of the guy.
We are not sure why he was in the area, there was a humvee that rolled down the hill north of our home and he said that is what he was looking for. Unless they catch him , we will never know. What I do know is I will hug my kids a little tighter tonight and as a family we will lean on our Heavenly Father to help us get through the scare. We will say our prayers and thank him for keeping them safe. I am very grateful for the police and the dispatcher who kept Kennedee calm and made her feel safe until the police could come.