Football Season begins......

Since football costs $225 per child, I thought I would be so smart and save some money this year. I had a feeling Ethan wouldn't really like football, and once he got a taste of it at a football camp, he would refuse to play football again. Not that this has happened before or anything......for example.....like a fishing class or something.

Anyway, I thought $30 per kid for football camp for 4 days might actually save me money in the long run. WRONGGGGGG! Ethan loved football camp and insisted on playing football. I have to admit I have been a bit nervous as Ethan is a bit smaller than Brandon. But how can you deny your children opportunities they so desire. $450 later......OUCH!

And anyway, what better thing for any parents to do with a 3, 4, and 5 year old than go to TWO football practices each night during all of Fall for 2 hours a night that really ends up being 2 1/2 hours. And kids are SOOOO fun that time of night (6-8/8:30pm).

(Don't tell anyone, but this is when I really don't mind working 2 nights a week from 6pm-10pm. Cause that means I am OFF-duty for that fun for at least two nights a week. Thanks Brandon, you are father of the year.)

Anyway, the boys had tryouts this week, and are SOOOOO excited to find out what team they are on. And so are we. I am secretly hoping Ethan gets Brandon's coach from last year, who was SOOOO fantabulous; Coach Williams. He is coaching his younger son this year who is Ethan's age. Cross your fingers for us....... I love a coach who is truly a coach. Full of encouragement, kindness, and motivates by example. I am so grateful for these coaches who give up their whole Fall life for these boys.

So, to all my friends, I love you and hope to see you in about November. Take care of yourselves. Let's plan a great girls night for November sometime! Or feel free to join us at a football field every night and on Saturdays.

I am such a cheezy Mom. I may not have a clue about Football, but the kids look so freakin' cute in their uniforms.....AND last but not least, we have their Halloween costumes covered for this year. SCORE!

Oh, and by the way, Ethan wants to be called E-fighter from now on. And I am banned from calling him angelbaby, sweet angel cakes, cutie-petutie, and other fun names on the football field. Seriously? Could I be as bad as the Mom from Diary of a Wimpy Kid?

Parent Teacher Conference--Brandon

The things you learn in parent-teacher conference. Brandon has great grades, but always wants to do the "worm" in class. He is his father's child.

Geography...

Facebook is my new blog, but one day I will publish this...so I am posting some of my facebook status and comments.

So we were talking to our oldest son about pornography and the dangers of it. He says, "I haven't heard about pornography, but I've heard about geography." Oh, nine year olds are so cute. I figure with four boys we better start these discussions.

View Feedback (16)Hide Feedback (16)John Patrick Neil, Rachel Dekker Moody, Kristina Meyers Stewart and 3 others like this.
Margie Stryker Hamberlin Oh yes, we had the talk with our kids (so far at 8-boy and 9-girl). Good job! There are lots of dangers of geography, too :) So cute!
6 hours ago · Tina Loveland Sudweeks HAHA - geography... too funny. I think those talks are SO IMPORTANT these days!! We start even younger than that.... sad hu.
6 hours ago · Sally Miller Cannon Good job! It's sweet how innocent they are!
6 hours ago · Laura Bartholomew Woodruff We have had a lot of other discussions, but not the stay away from naked pictures talk till now. And then it gets into cellphones, etc. Wow. Our world is so much different now with the internet and technology. There is a lot more to beware of. I hope I can prepare my children for the pivotal moments of life.
6 hours ago · Jennifer Cox Geography...lol!! We started all these conversations with Sydney when she turned 8. We figured if she was old enough to be baptized than she needed to understand geography and all the other stuff that goes along with it.
6 hours ago · Shauna Scott Rideout I love it!!!
3 hours ago · Angie Jones Barzee not looking forward to having to 'go there' with my boys. . .sometimes this world really sucks with all the crap they throw out there that I have to worry about for my kids.
3 hours ago · Laura Bartholomew Woodruff The sad part is not if they are exposed to pornography, it is "when"----so I want them to be prepared. And with all the kids with cellphones.......
3 hours ago · Rachel Dekker Moody Since he's already been exposed to geography you know it's going to be soon! :)
3 hours ago · Angie Jones Barzee ick. I know. I hate the thought of my kids seeing that. It seriously makes me ill.
3 hours ago ·
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Santa baby

Someone is going to be Santa at school today for his class. He is SOOOOO excited! Like father, like son. Brandon is a ham (just like his Dad)---hee, hee. I love seeing his excitement. I love how each child in a family gives different talents to the family. Brandon gives us the gift of enthusiasm, assertiveness, love, and joy. He is such a good little boy. He is a great first born son. A great example for his siblings. Love this boy!

Ward Christmas Party

I have to laugh. My oldest son Brandon is not shy. (Just like his Daddy:) Let's just say he is my child who insists on bearing his testimony at the pulpit every fast Sunday without fail. Anyway, they were looking for a not-so-shy child to play Joseph in the Nativity. They didn't want a boy who would be shy about being "with Mary". They are at that age where they can get mortified by such things. Well, Brandon fit the bill, so he was the "Joseph". And of course, as usual, he was not shy! brandon is the one with the white bathrobe and teal towel on his head!






I am grateful for our ward and all the wonderful people who make it a great place to be. The ward party was a lot of fun. Thanks for all who made it so wonderful!

The chorus children and my Maddie.

Ute Conference Champions!!!

I am so proud of my little Brandon. They were undefeated this season!!! His football team had an amazing coach; so positive, encouraging, and inspiring. It is quite a commitment. For the first month, they have 2 hour practices every day. Then it turns into 3 days a week, not to mention the commitment on Saturday's to games, etc. It probably wouldn't be too bad if it didn't involve taking four other kids to all these events. Since I work two nights a week, that means that my husband has to take all four kids to and from practice, etc. Quite a gig. But so worth it.

I am amazed also, at the importance of practice. As the coach said, when we practice and work hard, we get better and achieve. True words. Talent is helpful, but hard work is more helpful. Brandon has come miles and miles from where he was last year in Football. It's amazing what that type of practice can do to improve skills. I am grateful for the important life lessons he is learning. I am also grateful for the friendships on his team, and the type of kids on this team. Last year was an opposite experience on so many levels. It has taught me as a Mom to not give up on experiences even if there is a bad year, as the next year can be opposite. Anyway, good job Brandon! I love you and am proud of you.






















Me and my husband had to laugh. My husband Brandon told little B, "I'm proud of you." Little B said, "I have always wanted you to be proud of me." My husband asked me later, did he (little B) really not know I am proud of him? I hope our kids do know how much we love them and how proud of them we are. I think we are all those kids sometimes, just wanting our parents to be proud of us.

Little B sang "We are the Champions" all the way home!

Undefeated!

My son's team has won all their football games this season! Congratulations Brandon! He was captain of today's last game! Now for the playoffs and tournament! I am proud of you little B; for all your hard work and effort! Their season ended 9-0, and he is #90! This team has done such cute things for them every week. Aren't these personalized football cookies so cute?

Older Brothers

Brandon (9) has taught Benjamin (4) to shine a flashlight in your eyes and say "Stop the Vehicle now." A great way to start out a Monday morning.

Kid Combinations

I love my babies. They all have such distinct personalities. Beautiful, loveable, precious, tender-----sweet children. I love my babies.

"Mom, I have decided I want to go into the National Guard. One day I want to be on one of those walls. (You know, of the dead soldiers.) I want to fight for my country. I will be remembered forever."

Yeah, I don't really like hearing that my 9 year old son wants to be on a wall; for dead soldiers.

Daddy, you have been glorifying war too much. Daddy, you need to stop telling all your war stories.

What did my husband tell me? "I would be so proud of my son fighting for our country. I am trying not to glorify war stories, but my heart isn't really in it." Uhmmmm, yeah, I can sense that from our sons new desire.

I reminded him that if our son ends up on a wall someday, he will have to live with me afterward. I also reminded him he probably doesn't want to live life as a monk.
Although, sometimes in a chaotic household with five kids, the definition of monk may not seem to bad: a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work. That might not be too bad. What is the female version? Oh, a nun. Imagine. Complete quiet. That would be nice...for a little while.

My nine year old has been scaring his Mommy with all his newfound thoughts and desires. Scared. Scared. Scared. Oh crap. I have four sons.

Word association: war; monks and nuns.

"We have to do what we have to do, girl." -Brandon (9) tells me as he walks into our house upon coming home from school. Maybe he can give me all the answers to the way boys think. Now, what is it that he has to do?

Little Brandonism

So my 9 year old busted my chops the other day. We had to get up at around 6am on Saturday to be at football practice at 7am. At about 6:15am, I had gotten dressed and semi-ready, so what do I do? Hop on facebook for a couple minutes. Little Brandon busted my chops, saying, "You have 15 minutes Mom, use it wisely."

He is so on to me.

Reading Time

(This blog entry is extremely boring, but hey, some of these little routine things I may want to remember some day) and I will always want to remember their little faces sitting at the table during their reading time. Ethan and Benjamin both reading aloud, although only one of them can read, which makes it highly amusing, as little Brandon is just trying to concentrate and get through his 30 minutes.

So, we are getting back into school routines. LOVE IT! We have figured out the boys need to practice piano in the mornings, and then make their lunch, besides breakfast and all the other morning fun. I had to specifically talk to Ethan (7) about checking the tag in his shirt when he gets dressed as he usually has his shirt on backwards. 3 days without a problem. Sweet!

Anyway, my boys get back from school at about 4:05. They have a snack, chill out for a sec, and then at about 4:30 we do reading time, as we have to leave for football by about 5:30 and need to have dinner done by then. (And two nights a week I work, so that adds some fun into the mix.)

I am just loving quiet, relaxing nature of having the boys do their 30/20 minute required reading schedules from about 4:30-5. It keeps down some of the noise level. I was enjoying having them reading as I cooked dinner. Brandon was reading a Hardy Boys book, that he tells me he does not like---I'm trying to change that, since I loved all the Alfred Hitchcock, Nancy Drew, and Hardy Boys books growing up. Then Ethan, starts to read aloud a book. Then Benjamin, in an attempt to imitate his brothers, grabs a book and starts reading it aloud. I don't know how they could concentrate, but it was darn cute, and they are getting a little used to this new routine, and it is working out. YAY!

Cheers to school, a bit of structure, and some routine! The joys of motherhood! Maddie and Benj start preschool September 1st. They saw their preschool teacher today. She is so nice and they/I am SOOOO excited. It will leave just Dylan and I. What will we do? IKEA may be calling my name. And Target. With only one child----I might just pee myself.

Foozball Boy

My little man works hard at practice! I am proud of all his hard work! He is growing up so fast it is scaring me a bit. 4th grade sounds so old. He is a great kid and I am grateful to be his Mom!


Brandon is far left (in pictures below, the white jersey!)