Soos Creek Trail

It was a beautiful Saturday so we headed out on a family bike ride on the nearby Soos Creek Trail. We had a great time riding for miles in the cool crisp air after a warm, sunny day. We look forward to many more bike outing this year.

Maritime Festival

My brother, Jeff, and my parents came into town. We headed to the waterfront for an afternoon of fun. We all enjoyed the Maritime Museam. We also taste-tested several clam chowders in a cook-off. And the kids got to make wooden boats and float them. It was a gorgeous Seattle day.

High-Centered

Paige is still high-centered on her tummy at 7 1/2 months, but she can scoot backwards a little bit. She is finally sitting up pretty well, and she did actually roll over today. I'm pretty sure she'll eventually do all of these things and even walk, but for now we'll just enjoy how sweet and immobile she is.

Little Slugger

Bradley may be small, but he a good little slugger this year. It is his first year on 'coach pitch' baseball. He loves hitting. It's fun to watch him because you can see how hungry he is for that ball.

Peas and Carrots, Carrots and Peas...

I guess I've been listening to a little too much Super Why.
I've also been making baby food for Paige. It's really easy to do, especially with my new Vitamix. Paige has tried all sorts of fruits and vegetables because it's so easy to puree them whenever we're eating them. I've also been keeping more on hand now that I make smoothies so often. I made carrots, peas, and prunes in large quantities and froze them in ice cube trays. Then I just pop them out and store them in a freezer ziplock. It turns out to be about a quarter of the price of canned baby food and it's really easy to do.

Bear Rank

Tyson's earned his Bear Rank in scouting. It's exciting to see him excel and enjoy scouting. We're proud of you Tyson.

Kate's First Talk

Today Kate gave her first talk in primary, on baptism. We have opening exercises in the chapel so it was up at the podium with the microphone. At first when I told her about the talk she said "no, I think I'll just give a prayer or something." (which I can only imagine what she would come up with to say. I'm sure she wouldn't want help since she knows well how to pray). Then I told her that in our family we get a candy bar for giving talks. After that she was all for it. We practiced a few times. The first time, instead of repeating what I said, she just finished the sentance. But she got it after that and she did it all. It was very cute. And amazingly enough she was so proud of herself that hasn't even remembered about the candy bar...yet!

A thought I want to remember...from an apostle, L.Tom Perry

Instruction in the Home
"The final desire of the Prophet Joseph Smith was to build a community of spiritual Saints. This begins in the home. The most important instruction our children will ever receive will be that which parents give to them in their own home, if parents diligently teach their children the way our Father in Heaven would like them to follow. One instruction our leaders have given us is to hold regular family home evenings where we can meet together weekly, learn gospel principles, and build family unity. Here we can counsel together, read the scriptures, pray together, and play together. Our greatest goal is to become an eternal family. We build a community of Saints one family at a time."
L. Tom Perry

Meridian Elementary Artwalk 2009

Friday night we took my parents and brother, Jeff, to the Artwalk and their school. Tyson was in a recorder performance. Their class played for 25 minutes. Towards the end I noticed that he was doing a duet with another boy in his class. Before they played his music teacher said that Tyson was one of the few kids that has been playing the recorder for two years (because he is in a 3/4 split class) and that last year he wasn't really into it, but she was surprised this year that he was really good and would make a good band player. They played 'Morning Song' and 'The Lion Sleeps'.

It was fun to walk around and see all of the kids' art. The school looked great. My family was very impressed. There are a lot of dedicated volunteers and teachers helping to make it happen. It was a nice evening. I'm sure the kids' favorite part was tapping grandpa's wallet for endless rootbeer floats and cookies.

Happy Mother's Day

These beautiful stawberries cut into hearts are what I came down to for breakfast on Mother's Day, along with French Toast, bacon, and a smoothie. It was a wonderful treat. Thanks kids (and Rick), I sure felt loved. Kate gave me a cute card from her preschool and Bradley gave me some sweet messages with candy from school. Tyson had been sick and missed three days of school so he hadn't made anything. Instead he gave me the gift of service. He willingly set the whole dining room table for dinner. It looked beautiful, thanks!
For dinner we had my parents, Jeff, and the Hatch's over. It was nice to spend Mother's Day with my Mom. Thanks for being such a wonderful example Mom. And thank you to Rick's mom for raising a great son, Happy Mother's Day.

My new Duds

I ran into Value Village the other day and saw a whole rack of cute jeans that were about my size. I don't usually shop for clothes for myself there, but I have been wanting new jeans for a long time so I figured, why not. It looked like someone had pulled a bunch from the rack, tried them on, and left a stack behind. One pair was my favorite, but I decided I might as well try them all. The pair I liked the best were the only ones that fit. I bought them and then decided I should check online for fun to see how much they were worth since I wasn't familiar with the brand. This is what I found, a used pair on a resale website.

Sacred Blue "Candice" bootcut jeans - $70
SIZE 26 (US 2)

MADE IN: USA
POCKETS: 5
COLOR: dark denim blue
STYLE: wide leg “Candice”
BELT LOOPS: yes
CLOSURE: front zipper with button
APPROX. VALUE: $185.00

Wow, pretty good since the marked price was $9.99, but it was yellow tag sale day, $.99!

My Little Storyteller

This afternoon Tyson was frantically looking for the neighbor's mail key (he's been taking in their mail for 2 weeks). It had been in the van this morning. I told Tyson to take it from Kate and put it away. When we got home from baseball the neighbors had arrived home from their cruise so we started looking in the van for the key. Kate said she had put it in her pocket and lost it at the ballfield. The last thing I wanted to do was take four kids in the pouring rain to look for the lost key. After about ten minutes of agony we found the key right where it was supposed to be. So, Tyson forgot, and Kate fabricated a story. Not her first....

After the ordeal I brought Tyson in to read this email that I got from a friend this week. It gave us some comic relief.

Summer Classes for Men at

THE ADULT LEARNING CENTER

NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVELOF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM

Class 1 How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays--Step by Step, with Slide Presentation. Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 2 The Toilet Paper Roll--Does It Change Itself? Round Table Discussion. Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.

Class 3 Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub?--Group Practice. Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 4 Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor--Pictures and Explanatory Graphics. Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

Class 5 Dinner Dishes--Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?Examples on Video. Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginningat 7:00 PM

Class 6 Loss Of Identity--Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other.Help Line Support and Support Groups. Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM

Class 7 Learning How To Find Things--Starting With Looking In The Right P laces And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming.Open Forum Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours. Class 8 Health Watch--Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health.Graphics and Audio Tapes. Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 9 Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost--Real Life Testimonials. Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined

Class 10 Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?Driving Simulations. 4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.

Class 11 Learning to Live--Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife.On-line Classes and role-playing Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined

Class 12 How to be the Ideal Shopping CompanionRelaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques. Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 13 How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy--Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late. Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 14 The Stove/Oven--What It Is and How It Is Used.Live Demonstration. Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.

Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to the survivors.

Anyway, yesterday Kate had done her hair in pigtails with barretts. She walked to the Gealtas house, when she got home she replayed this conversation.

Rebecca: "Kate your hair looks cute"

Kate: "I did it myself"

Rebecca: "Wonderful"

Tyson said it wasn't true, I asked Rebecca, sure enough, there was no conversation about her hair!

Today at baseball she showed me a red mark on her hand and said "Did I get this at the zoo when a panda bit my hand?" She didn't get me on that one atleast!

It's beginning.....

Paige, my sweet baby, that I have endearingly nicknamed "Pudgy Paige", threw her first fit last night (at 6 1/2 months). She was playing with a paper towel. I wanted to walk away to do something and thought I'd better not leave it in her hands because she'd probably eat it and choke on it. She totally started balling..... Here we go!

Although I call her Pudgy Paige for now, I have promised myself I will not keep it up, because my mom and grandma used to sing to me "Fatty, fatty, two by four, can't get through the bathroom floor, so she did it on the floor." Probably totally unPC now and it always gave me a complex, what do you know, I became a Dietitian.

3 going on 16 and beyond

Today Kate decided she wanted to drive so I told her she would have to be 16. As she got dressed and did her hair I kept telling her she was getting older (6, 8, 10 etc). It worked great she giggled and giggled while usually she has a hard time getting dressed in something I choose. And at Costco she was telling all the 'sample ladies' that she was 16.
Kate: "Do I have to sit in a carseat?"
Mom: "Of course."
Kate: "How will I get a car?"
Mom: "You'll have to get a job to earn money, and then buy a car."
Kate: "No, I have a better idea, Dad can ride in the van with you, and I'll drive the car."
I'm sure her entitlement attitude will not be changing in the next 13 years. I just want her to stay the cute little girl she is right now, in the little pigtails she put in herself tonight.

Earlier this week the boys told her she could be in Sydney's family if she married Logan. Her eyes lit up!
Kate: "Mom, I'm going to ask Logan to marry me, and then I'm going to kiss him!"
Kate: (a few hours later, lying on the couch looking forlorn) "Mom, I want to ask Logan to marry me, but I think he's going to say no."

She did sound three today though as she pointed out the gatorade at Costco and said "let's get some alligator mom."