Out Of Her Comfort Zone - Killer Bees

When the time arrived to sign Emily up for Fall Softball, I found myself with a dilemma. We liked the girls Emily had been playing with for the last four to seven seasons, but we also felt like Emily had been at somewhat of a standstill when it came to her progress in the game.

The way the league had been set up in the past there were two age groups. When Emily turned 11 she was supposed to move up to the older age group. I was really excited about her getting to play with older girls who would push her a little bit more. But when it came time to register we found out that they had now divided the league into three age groups. Putting Emily towards the oldest of the middle age group. The last two seasons we had her play in this age group. By the end of the last season I was a little frustrated that it was pretty much the same as playing in the younger age group, with not much development for Emily.

So this season I told Emily that I thought we should bump her up into the next age bracket just to give it a try. We talked about how this move might mean she will not get to play her favorite position as catcher, and she may spend a lot of time in the outfield, but in the end playing with the older girls would help her become a better player. She agreed. So this fall Emily played in the 15 and under league.

When I say 15 that means the girl was 15 as of January first. The fall season being in September meant some of the girls were 16. I took her to her first practice. I was a little intimidated by her new team. Most of the girls on her team were 15 and 16. A couple had played on the school teams, but there were also a couple of girls who had never played before. Her coach asked Emily what positions she likes to play. She told him catcher and 2nd base. So he had her try them out at practice.

After the practice Emily was really excited about playing. I asked her if she felt okay playing with the older girls. She told me it would be fine, and she didn't fell intimidated at all, because she knows what she is doing, and there were a couple of girls at practice who had never played before.

The coach must have liked what he saw in Emily, because she got to play catcher for at least two innings at every game. When she was not playing catcher he rotated her to 2nd base or outfield.



Moving her up to the older group turned out to be just what Emily needed. She really sharpened her skills this season. Her coach was very positive, and also really great at telling Emily how she could improve.
The girls on her team were great too. They made sure Emily felt like part of the team. It was a fun season to watch. We won a few games and lost a few, but the girls were all into playing, and that made the games really fun to watch.

A Right Of Passage

One of the things I love about being a mother is watching my kids discover the world around them. It is fun for me to experience things with them, and every now and then catch a glimpse of what they are seeing or thinking.

The age of two is often referred to as "Terrible", and there are many moments when I can see why, but while my two year old is making big messes every time I turn around, I also see that they are trying to learn. Often times they are mimicking the things I do, but they are just not quite old enough to understand what that is exactly.

I will admit sometimes this can be frustrating. Especially when you are trying to get out the door, and you suddenly realize that you are going to have to give them a bath before you can leave, because they can now open the fridge on their own and got into the sour cream.

However there are times when it is easy to sit back and enjoy their attempt at being big.

Yesterday was one of those moments.

Most mornings when I am in front of the bathroom mirror getting ready for the day I have a little shadow standing on the toilet next to me helping.

At first Valerie would just watch what I did, and play with things on the counter or in the drawer. As she has gotten a little older she understands what items I use every day. While I am getting ready she hands me the things she thinks I need to use. Every now and then brushing her own hair with the hair brush, or brushing her cheeks with the make up brush. I knew it would only be a matter of time before she took it to the next level, and yesterday it happened.

Valerie went into my bathroom, and came out with beautiful mascara all over her eyes.

I think this must be a right of passage for every little girl, because when Emily was almost this exact same age, she did the exact same thing.

Aren't they pretty?

First Day Of School

As summer is winding down and school is beginning our house is filled with all kinds of activity. I remember how I felt the few days before school started for me when I was a kid. The nervousness I had for the unknown, but the excitement I felt for the new adventures ahead. I didn't know that as a mother I would have these same feelings when my children started school every year.

This year is a big year for Emily. She is now in 7th grade and going to Middle School. So the unknown factor for us is huge. Needless to say we were both a little anxious.

I am so glad that Emily's middle school administration understands this.

Last Wednesday (before school even started) we had back to school night. After the initial introduction to the school and it's programs and policies, we were sent on a run through of Emily's schedule. We were able to visit each class for 5 minutes in the order she had them on her schedule. So not only did we get to meet the teachers, but she was also able to see most of the other kids that would be in her class.

Then Friday they had 7th Grade orientation. The 7th graders went for half a day and learn the ropes of the school without the 8th and 9th graders there. So Monday they were ready to start. Emily has at least one person she knows in each of her classes. She is also very lucky that her friend Lindsey is in three of them and they have lunch together.

Emily was very disappointed that she does not have any classes with her friend Tiana. In fact they might as well be going to different schools. They have different lunches and their lockers are on opposite ends of the school.

Emily's biggest struggle was getting her locker open, but by the end of orientation day she had it down. At the end of the first day Monday, Emily came out with a smile on her face. I think middle school is going to be okay. Emily seems to love it.

At the end of the year last year We had the chance to submit our first and second choice for teachers we wanted next year. For Emily I never did this and I was always happy with her teachers, but Joe is a different personality and I knew there was a teacher I did not want. As for the other two choices, I think I would have been happy with either one, but after many days of pondering which one to put first, I went ahead and requested the one I thought would push Joe a little more.

Wednesday the class lists were posted, and Joe got the teacher I requested. However, she was not the teacher Joe was hoping for. And to pour salt in his wound most of his friends were in the other two classes.

Having friends and being liked is a big deal for Joe, and to have a class without his friends was heart breaking. There were many tears shed that night.

I still had a few things to buy for school, so Friday I took Joe and Emily shopping to finish up. Joe was only interested in t-shirts with some kind of cool picture on it. We found some really fun ones. One was even a scratch and sniff. It smells like grapes. (I am not sure how long it will last.) That night I asked Joe if he was happy about his new clothes. He said, "Yes. They are very rare." Then a little quieter and to himself he said in an excited voice "popular!"

Monday Morning was the first day of School. Joe was feeling excited about school and told me he was not worried about his teacher. He still wished more of his friends were in his class, but it would be okay.

We walked up to school with his good friend Cooper. Cooper was also sad that they were not in the same class.

After School Joe was very happy with his first day. He realized he would still see his friends, and he likes his new teacher.

Josh is really excited to start school this year, and was very disappointed when he found out he has to wait another week to start Kindergarten.

Now that we have made it through the first day, I can happily say,

I think we are going to have a great year.

A Smurfy Birthday

For Emily's 12th birthday she wanted to go see the movie "Smurfs."

So we decided to have a Smurf party.

We even made a smurf birthday cake.

Grandma lent us her Smurf mobile to get to the movies.

There were a few Smurf Rules that had to be followed to ride.

I was not sure about the smurf movie, but it was turned out to be pretty Smurfy. (cute)

Her friends seemed to all have a smurfy time.

It is hard for me to believe that Emily is 12.

She is such a great kid, and I am so lucky to have her for a daughter. I am grateful for her willingness to help out. Her desire to do what is right and make good choices. She is such a good example to her younger brothers and sister.

Emily loves reading and enjoys learning new things.

She is so pleasant and easy to get along with. I hope that these qualities will help her as she starts Middle school.

I know that she is so excited to be twelve. I could tell on mother's day as she stood with the other primary children in sacrament meeting and sang the mother's day song, that she was ready to move on. Not just because she stood a foot taller than all of the other kids, but because she looked so grown up.

Emily you are a beautiful person both inside and out.

I love you

Happy Smurfy Birthday!

Twilight Camp

What is Twilight Camp?

That was my question when I was told the Activity Day girls in our ward were going. I am the leader for the younger girls (8 & 9 years old) It turns out Twilight camp is Cub Scout Day Camp, just later in the day, 3:00- 8:30pm.

the girls had a great time. the camp was divided into two sections. The Bayou and The Outback. the first day I got to go with the girls and we were sent to the Bayou.

So we started out at the swimming pool.

I could tell Emily is almost a teenager, when she came out of the pool dressing room and asked me how her hair looked.

Then it was on to the row boats.

I was a little nervous about this one, but the girls were a really good team and we did a lot better than I thought we would. Meaning, we did not just go around in circles the entire time.

After dinner, we tried a taste of Jambalaya, and Hush puppies. Then it was on to our craft. Of making a wind chime.


After the craft we learned some first aid, and then the kids had to act out emergency skits. These were very entertaining.

We finished off our day at camp, at the shooting range. This was Emily's favorite activity. I was surprised how good some of the girls were at shooting.



The girls had so much fun together. we missed the second day, but I heard it was just as exciting.

This was Emily's last activity before moving on to Young Women. I am so glad I got to go with her.

Family Fun Day!

We had kind of a rough start to the summer at our house. Just as school was ending the stomach flu began. At the rate that it was going I was not sure if we would recover in time for Family Fun Day, but by Thursday everyone was on the mend.

So after a week of staying inside we were really ready for some outside fun to kick off summer.

Family Fun Day is an event our Stake puts on every June.

There are all kinds of treats to eat.

A rock wall to climb.

A dunk tank....Joe was the only one of my kids brave enough to get in it.

Face Painting.

Building and launching paper rockets.

Bounce houses........This was Valerie's favorite part (along with the treats) She stayed in them for the first hour and a half.

And last but not least

The Water Slides

This is where the boys spent most of their time.

What a great way to kick off the summer!

6th Grade Graduate

It is hard to believe that Emily is finished with 6th grade. She finished off the year with her Country fair.

She chose to do her report on France, because that is where Ryan served his mission. She has been working on her France report all year, and she did a great job. Lucky for her Aunt Tracy visited France during the year and shared her pictures with Emily. Emily liked doing this report and I could not believe all of the things she learned and remembered about her France.

Then to celebrate the completion of 6th grade and Elementary school, the PTA threw a 6th grade party.

The rule was student attending had to bring a parent with them so that meant I got to go too. the party was basically a dinner and a dance. It was fun to watch Emily with her friends.

I got some fun videos of them dancing, but Emily does not want them posted. So out of respect for her I wont, but they are really cute.

The kids all had a good time and they are all ready to move on to Jr. high..........So ready or not here they come!

Emily the Actress

Emily had so much fun in "Up With Kids" last year that she wanted to do it again this year.

Her friends Lindsey and Tiana also signed up. Every Friday they worked hard learning their songs and parts, and they had lots of fun together.

About January they get to let the teacher know which parts they are interested in. Most of the parts are about the same size. Everyone gets a speaking line and they all sing and dance in the scenes, but there are a few larger parts. I told Emily that she should go for one of those parts, but she did not want to . She told me that she likes to be in the plays, but she does not like to stand out.

Emily was given the part of The 6 of Hearts. She was very happy. As you can see from the photo she was one of the lucky cards in the croquet game, but she blended in nicely. Just the way Emily wanted to.

May 14th was the day of the big show. This years play was titled "Alice in Wonderland"

The play was cute, and I could tell Emily loved doing it.

Emily has also been busy at school preparing to perform a shortened version of "Midsummer Nights Dream"

They got to try out for the parts they wanted, and again Emily wanted something simple that did not make her stick out to much. So she was Very happy to be Fairy #3.

She looked really cute in her fairy outfit, and did a great job on her part.

When the kids in the class were not on stage they had them sitting on chairs on the side, so I could see Emily the entire time. I am so glad I could, because the thing I loved the most about this play was watching Emily when she was not on stage. She sat with a big smile on her face, laughing, watching, and enjoying the play as her friends performed. I could see that she did not care about her part, but just being a part of something fun and good.

Easter Morning

Happy Easter

Heros and Hares

Saturday was Grandma's Annual Easter Party. The theme this year was "Hero's and Hares."
Each guest had to come dressed as either a Super Hero or someone they thought of as a Hero.


Uncle Keven came as Smokey.

Valerie came dressed as her brothers. She is always putting on their clothes and following them around.

Grandpa dressed as a member of his favorite baseball team, The Dodgers.

Asher was a Dinosaur.

Grandma came as a Gold Medal Olympian from the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Ryan dressed as Thor Hushovd, one of his favorite cyclists. He also brought his Thor Slurpee cup to represent his two favorite Thor's.

Emily dressed as Black Widow.

Josh came as Bumblebee.

Joe came as GI Joe. (Pun intended)

Alisa came as Elphaba

I followed suit with Ryan and colored my own t-shirt (with the help of Valerie) and came as Super Mom.

Grandma had a few games planned, and we had "Hero Sandwiches" for dinner.

Then it was time for the Easter Egg Hunt.

The eggs were all marked so the kids had to look for the eggs with their names on it.

They had fun running around finding all of their eggs and a few prizes.

After the hunt the kids dug into their Easter treats, And found a treat left by the "Easter Snow Bunny." Who is the Easter Snow Bunny? That is a post for another time ;)

It was a great party.

Thanks for all of the fun Grandma and Grandpa!

Coloring Eggs

Friday night we colored Easter eggs. My kids really get into this so I try to make sure they have enough eggs. This year I boiled 1 dozen for each kid. (4 dozen total.) They had them all colored in less than 30 minutes.

I did help Valerie with one or two of hers. (I like to color eggs too.)

Can you tell which one I did?

The other kids were not too happy and made sure they had BYU ones in their cartons, but for some reason those eggs did not show up as well in the pictures. Josh wouldn't dye any of his eggs anything close to red.

When we finished the kids all wanted to eat an egg. I took an egg over to the sink and started peeling it for Valerie. When I turned back around she had dug into another egg.

She figured out fast that eggs taste a little better peeled. Just now when she saw the picture above she said, "Eww Yuck!" I guess she won't try that again for a while.