Seasonings

We had a quarterly enrichment night this week. It was called "My favorite, good things." Several people were asked to bring in something that they love or that makes life a little easier. I brought my "mom's planning calendar".

Anyway a friend at my table is from Louisiana, and she brought a can of "Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning." We asked her what she put it on, and she said everything, it makes everything better. Another friend at our table is Vietnamese and she said they put soy sauce on everything. When we were is France, the elders told us that "everything tastes better with some "herbs de provence" on it." It's interesting what different people from different backgrounds think that they can't eat without.

I gotta admit though, I put the herbs de provence on roasted potatoes and they were the best I'd ever had. Even my kids fought over who got the leftovers.

Use your bribbery's wisely

All the kids had a dentist appointment yesterday. They all needed some kind of work done. Some of my kids are jumpier than others, and Zach is just plain too scared to open his mouth. About while back he had to have a tooth pulled, and the dentist tried to give him demerol, he refused to take it and we had to go to an oral surgeon to have him put completely under.

Needless to say, I didn't want to go through that again, so I took Zach to Wal-mart, let him pick out his favorite toy, and told him that it had to stay in the bag until after he drinks his medicine. He was really anxious to get that toy, and even though he hated the taste, he pulled a face, and gulped down the medicine quick. Silly me thinking that the drinking of the medicine would solve all his anxiety problems!

They took him back, and also used nitrous oxide. Then they brought him back to me and said that they didn't do anything. He wouldn't let them. He wouldn't open his mouth, and he kicked and squirmed.

Then back in the waiting room he continued to happily play with the new toy!! What could I do? I told him he would get the toy if he would drink the medicine.

Next month he'll go a surgery center to be put under, to get the work done, and I won't be so free with the new toys.

By the way, everyone else got their dental work done, and they didn't even get a new toy.... not even from the dentist.

Summer Time!!

It's been a great start to a relaxing summer. It's nice not to have to run 3-4 times a day to a school, and nag kids to do homework at the end of each day.

We had the baseball team over to our house for the end of season party. The kids went swimming, but mostly they looked for ways to play baseball in the swimming pool. First they used the big plastic bubba ball bat, but after just a few hits with the splash balls, the bat broke. That didn't stop them, they kept at it until the bat was nothing but splinters and I took it away. Then they found a big plastic sword from halloween and played baseball with that. From then, I don't know what happened, I spent the rest of the party inside makeing sure there was enough food etc. I think they all had fun, they got their trophys and everyone was ready to go in under 2 hours. I hope the kids will come back and play in the pool with Ethan this summer.

Darian is at scout camp this week. This is his second year and he was so excited to go. Two nights ago Zachary was saying the evening family prayer. Now Zachary is the smartest 6 year old I've ever seen, but he won't say a prayer without help. He insists that he doesn't know how. I'm not sure what he's thinking? So Allen was helping him with the prayer. Allen said "bless Darian at camp, that he will get along with the boys." Zachary said "bless Darian at camp, that he will get along with the bullys."

Zach spent the first few weeks of summer break making books, and creating plans for things he wanted to make. He didn't know how he was going to make them, he just knew he wanted to. Then Zach was looking for something fun to play with when he found this big bucket of legos and kenex pieces. They used to be Calvin's, and we were going to sell them on e-bay, I just never quite got around to it. Zach quickly set to making his creations out of legos. I don't know how long it will last, but I'm lucky I didn't sell the legos. They may keep the summer from turning boring too quickly.Check out this pile of Legos.

A new calling!!

There are usually clues, when there is change in the wind. I had to teach the presidency message in Relief society June 1st. But I just couldn't get into preparing the lesson. I knew the topic, and did my research, but I felt like I was somehow out of place. So the night before I'm to give my lesson, I get a call to meet with the bishop 20 minutes before church (and my lesson). I was so nervous. I knew they were looking for a new cub scout committee chair!! Awww.

So when I met with the bishop, he told me that the whole R.S. pres. was being released. I can't explain how extatic I felt. YES!! It was like lifting a heavy bolder off of my back. Not that I didn't enjoy it. I love enrichment, and will always support it. It was just time!! Yeah!

Then he asked me to be the new Y.W. secretary. I was so relieved. I can do that. Take rolls, show up to activities. Get to know all of the Young Women, so I know who my boys are really talking about (or too).

So far so good. We made pajama bottoms last week, and went to play out at Lake Mead on boats today, and I am very quickly learning the girls names. This is more fun than work.

Of course we do have the best youth in the world right here in our ward!!

And I, the mother of 5 boys, finally get to go do girly things. What's better than that.

Baseball Season

Several months ago, the two youngest decided that if they couldn't do soccer (just try to get someone in the league to return a call) that they would like to play baseball. Yeah!! I loved baseball growing up. Especially going to live games! We haven't had a child in baseball since Darian was around 5.... he's now 13. Sooo, what a great opportunity.

Ethan played on a competitive team, with the absolutely best coach that ever coached baseball. Coach Robert took a total beginner, without a clue, and turned him into a real baseball player. Ethan hit balls, made runs and occasionally saved a play with a good throw to the in-field. I asked him what his favorite part of baseball is and he said "it's that moment when the ball hits the bat, and you feel the vibration of the bat in your hand." Yeah, I gotta agree. That's a pretty good feeling.

Coach Tad taught him to touch the bat to the top of the plate, to make sure your standing in the right position. Ethan learned a lot more than baseball this season. He learn how to listen and learn from other adults.

Zachary played on the beginner team "bubba ball". They played with plastic bats, and big rubber/plastic balls. It was hilarious. They were the cutest things out on the fields. Next year Zach will be ready to play some real ball. The second half of the season he became the permanent catcher. Not sure why, but thats the position he always played. It was great.

Kindergarten Graduation

Zachary Graduated from kindergarten. He had a great first year in school, and is so excited to be in first grade.