Swim & Flag Football

 Andrew & Ryon played in their first flag football game on Saturday.  It's really not football as most people know it, although, a football is used to play it.  It's a totally different game than they are used to, but they made the adjustment well.  I enjoyed seeing them fall into their rolls from last year, without the coach even knowing what they played (Andrew quarterback and Ryon center).  Andrew pulled more flags than any other player, and threw to a receiver for their only touch down of the game.  It is a 3rd & 4th grade team, so our boys are on the young end...being in 2nd and 3rd grades, but you wouldn't know it from watching them play.  Besides being in the sun and over 100' F it was a fun game to watch!

Swim season is full swing.  I watched Savanah swim on Wednesday, she did a great job!  I'm so proud of the progress she has made this year!  I am still not used to swim meets.  I can't figure out what anyone's time or place is...  You can't tell by the photos because my camera zooms really well, but most of the swimmers seem to sport the same suit, and same cap, and a nice big bun under her cap...  Good thing Savanah comes to say, "Hi" to us in the stands, then I don't take my eye off of her after that.

Andrew's Hair Is Long Again...

It's hard in photographs to see the depth of spikiness Andrew's hair obtains when it gets long, but it has body all on its own. Andrew's long hair in February.  I guess it always amazes me that my boys have so much body in their hair...mine seems to get more limp as the years go on.

Fun Family Time!

I spent a wonderful week in beautiful North Dakota with my amazing sister and her fun family.

They fed me delicious food!  Jen and Todd both cooked for me, and I ate the most delicious barbecued shrimp!  We dried tomatoes from their garden, which was packed with them.  We made guacamole, from 20 of the 60 avocados I brought in my carry on "purse".  Jen took me to Nicole's for a delicious hazelnut chocolate "cake/mousse" deliciousness!  And the Noodles and Co. coconut curry soup was amazing, too.  I'm pretty lucky I still fit into my clothes this week!

  I enjoyed getting to know my niece and nephews better.  They are cute, smart, and funny!  In contrast to me, they didn't eat very much this week, but I guess that's how one keeps the slim figure they all sport.  I loved participating in family scripture reading and their family prayers every day!

 On my last day in ND we drove out to Todd's work forest/ grove/ orchard/ garden/ farm...I don't know what to call it, except beautiful!  I enjoyed seeing the trees in alphabetical order, so many people don't organize THEIR trees in alphabetical order now a days.  After driving his new bobcat around for a few minutes, Todd gave us an exciting and bumpy quad tour of the orchard.  We got to taste test apples that taste like pears, more crab apples than one should probably taste in a day, and the most delicious black grapes that have ever been in my mouth!  At the end of this day we went to a delicious Indian food buffet and then ate one last Nicole's treat before my time in North Dakota came to an end.  I'll definitely be back...Dan said I could stay in his room (because I leave tips, just a suggestion for future visitors ;)).

Thanks Jen and family!  You are amazing hosts!  I felt right at home from the moment I walked in the door!  Because I came with an empty bag I really appreciate you letting me wear your clothes and supplying me with toiletries, you were so giving and wonderful!  Thank You!  I love you all!

Eli is Allergic!

Ugh!!!  Eli is a great lawn mower for me, but he's like sweet nectar to our neighborhood bees!!!  He gets stung almost every time he mows...and well, that's not going well for him!  Last time he swelled up instantly, including his top lip, even with an immediate dose of Benedryl.  So, I think he has to retire from being my lawn mower...at the ripe old age of 14...because I would really like him to live to 15.  It's been a week since his sting, and his hand is still swollen, which could have a little to do with the fact that it "popped" in football practice 3 days after the sting, so it had a lump on top of what this photo shows.

I VOTED TODAY! Why Should I vote for Romney?

"I VOTED TODAY" that's what my new little sticker says.  Actually, I turned in my absentee ballot, and Ryon's and a teacher's from my little boys' school.  I took a lot of time to study out the candidates this year.  Just living here for a while has helped me be a better informed voter, we run into candidates at the baseball fields and other events, I have gotten to know who I trust...and well, who is really just a stereotypical politician.

I'm voting for Romney in the November election. Next President Mitt Romney  Obviously the "he's a Mormon" discussion is a mute point for me.  Seriously, the Mormons I know give to their community, religion, and schools more than any other collective group I know about, we believe in educating our people about everything worth being educated about from the arts to the sciences to history and religions (yes, we study all of them!), we read to our children every day, we live on average about 10 years longer than the average American (because we don't drink alcohol or smoke, maybe?), we try our best to emulate our Savior Jesus Christ (giving to our community and also to our church, which gives to the world), we worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we believe there is a life with God after this life-and we want to live worthy of that life, we believe nothing is more important than our families and raising them properly with values and virtues, we work hard because it is a virtue, when we are called to leadership positions in our religion it is not to gain glory, but to give service.  Romney appears to have done those things, and done them well.  To me, that means he can be trusted.  And that's a quality, I'd like to have in my next President of the United States of America.  

It helps that Ryan, from my homeland Wisconsin, joined his ticket (and that he seems to be honest, and he studies history...I personally think it repeats itself).  I think the number one reason for my vote is my frustration with Obama's immature understanding of world finances.  It appears to me that of all the past presidents he is a front runner in thinking America's pockets are endlessly deep...and I'm worried for my children.  Savanah is already discussing how the medical career she has wanted to pursue is changing for the worse, and how the future of medicine and taxes could kill her dreams, short of socialized education...it's probably coming, right?  She did a short internship this summer at a Dr.'s office and the Dr. was pretty upset with the new health care system Obama has supported. 

Also, I'm decidedly pro-life.  I once asked my little children, when I was pregnant, what they thought of getting rid of our unborn baby...guess what their answer was...tears, lots and lots of tears.  Are you kidding me, we shouldn't be taking the life of an unborn child, unless? what?  I've known a lot of pregnant women in my little life.  And I've had 2 friends that gave birth and kept children conceived from rape.  I've had a friend keep a baby with a chromosomal deformity, he couldn't function on his own, and I watched her give her everything for 4 months to keep him alive, she grew immensely from the life changing service, and wouldn't trade it for anything.  I've seen a friend keep a defective baby, only to find out that the ultrasound that showed 1/2 of his brain was missing wasn't able to show that the 1/2 that was left  functioned for the whole brain...he was a smart little boy, even with 1/2 a brain, amazing!  I know at least 6 adopted adults raised by parents other than their birth mother.  And I treasure those friendships.  I believe in life, it is not ours to give, or mine to take, and if it is free to take, Americans will take it.  I believe that you can use birth control (if you want to)...I did, why do you think I only had 6 kids in 9 years instead of 12?  But I believe if you use it, you should buy it yourself, it's a better thought out decision when your hand is getting the dollar out of your own pocket.  And I know self control is almost obsolete in our society, but it could have a come back!  It's a less discussed option, but none the less the most effective.

I'm also voting for Romney, because I know what his service for his country, community, business, family, and church mean.  It means he is going to look out for the best interest of our country.  It's a hard job to juggle all the aspects of being president.  There's a big world out there that is in a lot of turmoil...but America doesn't have endless resources to help everyone.  I believe American aid is critical in helping around the world, but it has to be carefully thought out!  There are ripples from American aid, it hurts some and helps others.  And Romney has had the experience with giving and the repercussions that Obama is lacking. 

Ultimately, I'm judging Obama on his last 4 years...and I don't think he deserves another four years, I'm not willing to risk him using his Presidential powers to put into action new ways of doing things that we the American people have voted against, and that the congress has voted against.  Obama is the president, but when his voice is not the voice of our people, I am betrayed when Obama chooses to do what he wants to be done.

I'll continue to follow the campaigns, but my vote is decided.

Yesterday and Today Ryon

   The baby on the left is Ry Guy...in both photos.

I titled this post very loosely "Yesterday and Today", as you can see by the photos.  So, I don't literally mean it was yesterday or today...it was the "other day".  Truly meaning, I have no idea when it happened, but it did indeed happened, and for the lack of a better word, it happened the other day.  Like the most current of these two photos.  I actually took it on Ry's birthday and the older photo we pulled out of a photo album on Ry's birthday, inspiring the kids to re-enact it to perfection.  It was quite humorous actually, but you probably had to be there to enjoy it like all of us enjoyed it.

My baby is now 7 years old.  We celebrated his birthday with his friends a few weeks ago, and here at home last week, I think.  He is growing faster than a weed!  (How many weeds do you know of that weigh 93 pounds?  Seriously!)  He is athletic, and super fast, and smart, so smart, and kind!  He got 229 correct out of 230 for his timed math test (with 3 1/2 minutes to spare)...the one that you are supposed to get 230 right on the last day of school.  His teacher was concerned because there's not much progress to be made in the next 200+days, so she is sending him home with some extended learning that is fun for him...although, it's really just fun for him to be the best in his class, but he is humble, very humble.  His older siblings don't leave many areas for him to be the real shining star here at home, so I love that he gets that chance at school.

He has a lot of friends, 1/2 in 2nd grade and 1/2 in 3rd grade.  And he's bigger than all of them, except his brother, Andrew.  He loves to play Heroscape with Eli, Nathaniel, and Andrew.  He loves to play basketball, soccer, and baseball.  He doesn't love to empty the dish washer, but he loves taking out the trash (he says it's easy).  He loves to draw all the time and when he gets a chance he likes to watch "Phenius and Ferb".  He may have a favorite food, but I don't know what it is, he likes everything except maybe lasagna and curry, but he eats them any way.  He requested and got Papa John's Pizza for his birthday dinner and a huge birthday breakfast with sausage, bacon, biscuits, waffles, blueberry compote, strawberry compote, and plain scrambled eggs...and best of all he is considerate enough to know it is difficult to make all of that on a week day, so he wanted it delayed until the Saturday after his actual birthday, so we "can enjoy it slowly and all together".  So, I made blueberry muffins for him on his actual day...which I loved, but they are not his favorite, and that huge spread for him on the Saturday after his birthday.  We are so glad Ry's a special part of our family!  We wouldn't be the same without him!  Happy Birthday, little guy!

His birthday cake was a race car, his birthday date was with Ryon and me to "the Lorax" at the Dollar theater and then to Cheesecake Factory for chicken nuggets and Oreo cheesecake.  He does love to eat.  He was torn between the White Truffle Raspberry Cheese cake and a different one (not including the Oreo).  I had to laugh...I love chocolate truffles and get them for my kids at Christmas time each year, I didn't really think about them loving truffles, too:). 

IHOP

My friend affectionately labeled my home IHOP...not because we make a lot of pancakes with strawberries and whipcream, even though we do, but because our exchange student from Brazil arrived today.  He is very shy and kind.  We already like him.  Oh, yeah, International House of People.  That's what IHOP stands for around here.

Summer is almost over for my little people.  This year I have 2 in high school (3 including Gabriel), 2 in middle school, and 2 in elementary school.  It's going to be a busy year!  But I'm excited for the adventure that it will definitely be for me.  Today was the last day for Buddy and Jeremy to come over.  They've been coming every week day all summer.  I'm sure we'll miss them, and their sun screen (not because we used it...but because we don't really do the sun screen thing, which you can taunt me about when my kids get skin cancer) but because they were so religious about applying it daily and waiting their 15 minutes before they got into our pool.  I think my kids got to swim about 50 hours more than Buddy, Jeremy, and Alex  did this summer if you add up all those 15 minutes.

I'm sure I'll blog more once school starts...Wednesday.  But for now, we're all doing great, the heat is on high here (outside), but it's dry and we can handle that!  Every day is one closer to fall and I love fall.