4th Grade Track Districts 6-3-2010

Relay Track team! 1st Place! Can we say.....Booo-yah!



Nathan's 50 yard dash First Heat...Run Forest...Run! (blue shirt, white hair, on the right)



50 yard Championship Run! .....1st Place!!...District Champion!!...Love it!..Definitely from my side of the family...you're welcome Nathan...heh heh (can ya feel the sarcasm?)

4th Grade Track Qualify Round 5-25-2010

Relay Team Qualifying Run! Sa-moked it! Kaitlyn, Reilly, Jared and Nathan. Way to Go!



Nathan's Semi-Final 50 yd Dash...wooo-weee baby! Look for the platinum blonde dye job, that's our boy...thanks Aunt Keri, the hair stylist, for coming to town and having some "fun" with color.


Nathan's Final 50 yard dash! Going to Districts!



Reilly's 400 meter....Killed it! You da man!

Merry Christmas!

I am happy to report that this years Christmas photo's went MUCH more smoothly than last year. Jonathan was not happy to be there, yet he did not scream! I am sure it was due to the fact that our friends took these pictures at their photo studio, and Jonathan was able to sit on Mrs. Claus and not on some man- stranger with white gloves and a beard. And it also helped that he got candy after the picture. The whole drive over Jonathan kept saying, 'I not want Santa! No Santa".

Whatever it was that made this year flow...it was a success. The picture is adorable, and my nerves were not as frazzled. Halla-freakin-lujah!

Halloweens of ancient past

I am sitting here wasting time on the computer, and I run across these photos from Halloween of 2004. What a cute kid. These brought a smile to my face. Time is flyin by.

Not one, Not two, but three touchdowns! with a side of Pepsi

The first touch down of the game! Run Forest...Run!


I'd like to title this next video, "Turn on the burners!" You'll hear Trents dad continually repeating that as Nathan is running to the end zone. What...a..riot! We keep playing it over and over to just listen to him. And then at the end of the run, you hear my crazy cackle again...Nathan commented that I have never laughed like that before. He is right...because not only was I ecstatic about his run, but Chris knocked over my pepsi soaking my backside. Note to self...do not...I repeat...do NOT wear khaki's to a game. Pepsi+khacki's=nightmare. Looked like I had some diarrhea. Not a pretty sight having to walk around with Pepsi Crack. :) Say NO to Pepsi Crack.


This one is hard to see, but Nathan caught this pass in the end zone.

Football-Game 2

Nathan had another exciting football game. He was movin and groovin...and jukin and jivin...it was just really fun to watch. Here is my favorite highlight of the day. Nathan is #30 (Trents number was always 31...pretty cool)

Touchdown! That...was....awesome!! This next video is a great catch...which at this age, no other team does. It is rare that we have a quarterback that can throw so well in 4th grade, and then a kid (my kid! yeah!) that can catch so well. They call him "sticky fingers". At the beginning of the year each player picks out a nickname that they want to be called. Nathan picked T.D. short for touchdown...thank heavens he is living up to his nickname for never having played football before! WAY fun!!!

In this next one...Nathan runs all the way across the field to make this tackle. Some of the kids on the team told Trent, "Your sons got some wheels!" (meaning he is very fast in kid lingo)

End score 27-6. Winning is fun, but I find myself when we start getting too far ahead I want the other team to score, so we all feel warm and fuzzy. Guess my competitive heart isn't so hard and crusted anymore. :)

Nathan the waterskiing whizz

Watching Nathan learn to water ski this summer brought back memories of when I was his age learning to water ski. Boy oh boy, was it quite the process. Back then, we had training ski's that my dad held the end of the rope in the boat so if I fell down he could let go of the rope so I wouldn't be dragged all over the lake. Well...let's just say that my dad was not the best at remembering to let go of the rope after I fell down. I drank a ton of the American Falls Reservoir while learning to ski, and that water is nasty. *shiver*

The videos downloaded wierd and I can't figure out how to move them around...so Nathan's first try is actually the second video down. He almost got up on his first try! And then it went downhill from there. A week later, we went out again and he gave it another go around. Those are the next videos. Enjoy!

Getting closer.....

7 attempts later...we have a winner! Good job Nathan!

I "heart" Garage Sales

I have never been much of a garage saler type of gal. I have seen many "professional" garage salers in my neighborhood. I have always wondered what makes them get up early every Friday morning to go and scrounge the neighborhoods for sales so they can dig through someone's "junk" (the really serious ones check the newspaper beforehand!). Well my friends, I am not quite the "professional" garage saler, but my oponions have changed. My friend Robin has introduced me to this secret world of goodness and delight. There is nothing quite as thrilling as going to a garage sale and finding a kid treasure that is only 25 cents. "You'll sell me the whole bin of hot wheels cars for 5 bucks?" You bet. "Every book is only 50 cents each?" Hook me up! "My goodness...kids clothes for a quarter each?" Back my car up and I'll buy the whole table. Wow...I am no longer blind....for now I see. Garage Sales are a gift from heaven. I hit the jackpot one day last week and now Jonathan's (and part of Nathans) christmas is complete...all for under 20 bucks. I am feeling the garage sale love people. Here is a video of one of my purchases. I've already gotten my money's worth out of it. Five bucks for endless hours of entertainment? Priceless people...absolutely priceless!

Fooooooot-ballllll!

Nathan has started football this year. His buddies have been playing for 3 years now, but we just could not stomach him playing football at age 5, so he is the "new" guy. We had our first game on Saturday, and the first time Nathan touched the ball this is what happened...Check it out.



Yeah...could you tell that I was excited...my giddy laugh at the end is quite something. We all make fun of it at the house. It was SO fun to watch that. Nathan is a natural...just like Trent was. I didn't think I would get so into this football stuff. I love watching Nathan play all his sports, but I have to say that when I walked into that huge stadium with all the people cheering, I got all excited. It was quite a rush. It should be an exciting season.

Nathan's wedding day

Anytime we attend a wedding reception, Nathan cracks me up. He just makes himself at home hitting all the food tables. That kid LOVES going to those things...especially when they have a chocolate fountain...jackpot! The groom at this reception wanted to sing to his new bride. The dad joked that his son didn't have that good of a voice, but it came from the heart. He sang the song by George Strait, "Cross my Heart". Very sweet. In the middle of it, Nathan leans over to me and says...
"Man...he's not very good"
Me: "That doesn't really matter, it is very sweet that he is singing to her. Just think...on your wedding day, you can sing to your wife."
Nathan: "I am NOT going to do that"
Me: "Yes you will, and your new wife will LOVE it!. It'd be so sweet"
Nathan: "I'm totally not doing that" rolling his eyes, and feeling disgusted. Girls still have cooties don't ya know? :)
Me: "We'll see. It would sure be sweet"
Nathan: "Well..I'm singing "Eye of the Tiger" then." He busts into the song with gusto...'risin up...back on the streets...did my time...took my chances....'

What can I say? He's 9. Serenading his new bride with with the Rocky theme song? Why not.

My New Career

While we were driving in the car, Nathan asked me if I could have any career in the world what would it be. I first said, "Being a stay home mom, that's the best job in the world" (What can I say?, I was feeling all warm and fuzzy, the kids were pretty good today)

Nathan then said that the best job for me would be one that is from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. (We joke all the time that I am a day person. Not a night or an early morning person...but a day person. My best hours are from 10:00am -1:00pm...after that it is all down hill...heh heh)

Then he had an idea that he was tickled about. He said, "Mom...I got it...your perfect career would be taking naps!" (that immediately got my undivided attention) "You could be a bed tester and take naps on them" (That's my boy) "And then Jonathan could be a crib tester, and he could nap when you nap"

I never thought I would find a perfect career, but I have to admit, that would pretty much be THE perfect career. Getting to take naps everyday....AND getting paid for doing it. My kid is so stinkin smart. So if you see me in your local home department store, and I am snoozing and drooling all over the bed...don't disturb me...I'm working.

Drama

Every morning on the way out the door to the school bus, Nathan gives us a hug. Well...we lovingly make him give us a hug. As he was giving me his hug he says,
"Now I pause........for dramatic effect"
Huh...I thought I had to have girls to get the "drama". Guess I was wrong. At least we don't have to endure the whole menstrating thing. Phew...dodged that emotional bullet. I barely survived all my sisters. I love having boys.

Tender Moments

Wow...it has been quite the week. I have a lot to tell you all about, but I haven't quite had the time or energy yet to do it. Nathan had a "Grandma Day" with Brenda two days before she passed away. I'll write more about that later, but one of the things they did was play Monopoly. They loved that game. I, on the other hand, can do without that blasted game. WAY too long to play a round of that game. Give me Uno, Give me Sorry, give me any other game than that. Those two however, loved that game. Brenda went into the hospital that night, after a fun "grandma day", and they were never able to finish the game. In fact, after we came home from the hospital after Brenda passed away...there...on the table...was the unfinished Monopoly game. I have to say, that that was much harder for me to see, than seeing Brenda's body after she passed. It literally ripped my heart out to see that.

Anyways, since then, Nathan has been nagging us to play monopoly. Trent started a game with him on Sunday, until family showed up and they were never able to finish. Last night, at Nathan's game, while Nathan was in the dugout with Trent (it was Nathan's turn to sit out that inning, and Trent helps out in the dugout), Nathan became upset and cried, telling Trent something like, "You said you would play a game of monopoly, but we never finished it". yeah...stab us in the heart. This poor kid is grieving his grandma...big time. She has been a HUGE part of his life...his whole life. We even lived with them for 2 1/2 years. She has gone to every game, in every sport, yelling at the top of her lungs for Nathan.

So today, all of us took a "mental" health day and went and bought a monopoly game. While Jonathan napped, Trent, Nathan, and I played monopoly for 2 1/2 hours. Oh...my! It was kindof fun I have to admit, and Nathan is one sneaky fella talking me into things that I thought were good choices, but he was conning me the whole time! It was fun. The game is still on our table until we "officially" finish it.

Tonight as Nathan was going to bed, I walked in his room, and he was on his bed tacking up his crumpled up program from Brenda's memorial service up on his wall, right next to his head where he sleeps. That just about ripped my heart out. I found a new non-crumpled one and he hung that up. (just like the picture up on top) I have to say, that I have held it together pretty well, but after everyone was in bed tonight, I could not hold back the gut wrenching tears. My heart aches for my kids losing a grandma. A grandma that was such a HUGE part of their everyday lives. We all have great memories, and we will keep those alive. It just stinks...ya know? I can't get that picture out of my head, of Nathan lovingly hanging the program by the side of his bed. He has his sports heroes on the wall, he has many posters of his Book of Mormon heroes on the wall, and now he has his most favorite hero of all. His grandma. And because of that, Brenda...you are my hero too.

The Fah-bulous Four Generations

Brenda Kunz, Trent's mother, passed away on March 14, 2009. I'll write more about that after we get all the funeral preparations and things done. The funeral is on Saturday, so I'll fill you in next week. This picture was taken 5 days before she passed away. Trent and Brenda both have March birthdays, so GG (great grandma) came up for all the celebrations. We lived it up, and I am so grateful that we did. I am SO glad that I got them together to take this picture. It is just priceless now.

The poet

On Sunday, in primary (age 3-12 which I am the pianist for...LOVE this calling...I absolutley love being able to show up for church not having to prepare for anything and just being able to sit behind the piano and listen to the kids sing...it is the BEST!), the kids were asked to write a poem about mothers, and then asked for volunteers to read them. Of course Nathan was ecstatic to share his. Here it is:

Awesome Cook
Super Woman
Loves Me
Drives me
WICKED Awesome

He put a lot of emphasis on shouting the "Wicked" part. All the leaders got a good chuckle out of that one. (Speaking of Wicked...have any of you seen the Broadway musical Wicked? It is coming back here. If not...you should...I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it!)

Ding Dong Doorbell WHAT?

Last night we thought it would be fun to leave a treat at my friends house. She introduced me to a new heavenly treat...Mini Cadberry milk chocolate Eggs. Oh my heavenly goodness! She mentioned how we could buy some and split the bag. I bought the bag a few days ago and continued to eat one every time I passed the bag before I had the chance to give her, her half. Oops...only a few left. So, instead of just giving it to her, we decided to Ding Dong Doorbell Ditch. Nathan was ECSTATIC!! He could hardly contain his excitement at doing such a crazy thing. The poor kid...guess his life is pretty boring. It was great fun as he rang the doorbell, jumped off the rock wall thingie, and into our van as we sped away. Good times. Gooood times.

I have never been very good at those little diddy's like, "What would a woodchuck, chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood" type of things. So in my effort to say Ding Dong Doorbell Ditch in my excited state, I mispoke one of the words.

Let's do a Ding Dong Doorbell B*****. Oops. Big difference between Ditch and B****. :) Dull moments around here? Never!

Childhood Ruined?

Conversation with Nathan tonight
"Hey Nathan, could you please take this jug down to the recycle...." and he interrupts before I can finish my sentence

"Mom....are you trying to ruin my childhood?"

"What? How would taking the recycle down to the curb in the morning ruin your childhood?" (and now I am laughing, because it just struck me as such a funny statement)

"Oh...I thought you wanted me to take it down right now (as he is standing in his underwear before bedtime), and that would definitely ruin my childhood!"

Yep...that makes more sense. No one wants to take out the garbage in their underwear. What a funny kid.

Yo, bro

My brother keeps asking me when I am going to update my blog page. I think he is pulling my leg and does'nt really check the page. It has only been a few days since my last post...six days is still "few" right? Since our Rock band purchase, Nathan has totally been getting into the whole drumming thing. He is obsessed with finding the beat in every song. Our car rides are not the same. He is constantly saying, "Mom...LOOK, I got the beat!" As he is Air drummin like a mad man! He shows me his drummin skills on a daily basis. He is actually quite good. It has reminded me of my brother Rob. Any car ride with him was a toe tappin experience. I am not sure how his steering wheel ever survived all of his "jam" sessions, and how we never got in a car wreck when he barely had his hands on the wheel. I can still hear him pounding out his drums all...the...time...and he was even out in the barn. Don't get me started on the electric guitar! And then his whole band thing. (Every guy wants his own band, and they were good too) I have to say though, I didn't mind the band thing so much, because the members of his own band were totally "hot". (80's word). Good times. Goooood times.

I'm a Rockstar!

I am a total Rockstar now. For Christmas we as a family got Rockband for the Wii. We figured it was something that we could totally do as a family. And let me tell ya people, it...is...totally...awesome. We are having so much fun with this thing. Trent does the lead vocals, and Nathan and I switch off between drums and guitar. It is taking me a while to get use to playing them, because you don't strum on the exact beat, it is when the colored rectangles move across your screen. That part drives me crazy, and I consider myself somewhat musical, but I have to turn that part of my brain off and not concentrate on strumming exactly to the beat, but strum to the rectangles. It is tricky!

I wait for Nathan to get home from school now so we can have a mini jam session before his homework starts. Nathan loves that part, because he will do absolutely anything to put off doing homework and practicing the piano. My favorite song is Wanted, Dead or Alive. I can rip that up on vocals baby. Nathan will just laugh and shake his head as I am jammin and pullin out my 80's dance moves as I sing. It is some precious family time I tell ya. Jonathan even hits the drums sometimes, or strums the guitar in our session. He wants to be just like us. We are pretty awesome. Rock on!

Family Fun?

This year instead of gift for the grandkids, Trents parents bought gift cards to the movies and Chuck E. Cheeses. The kids had so much fun. I told his parents that they should do that every year. Good memories, and it gets the kids out of the house over the holidays. Have any of you been to Chuck E. Cheeses? Man...that place is always so chaotic, especially the day after Christmas. Nathan really enjoys that place. Let's just say that it is not my most favorite place. All the flashing lights, loud music/sounds, lots of screaming children running around with tickets and tokens or begging my kid for some of his tokens, cardboard tasting pizza, and did I mention all the noise? Heck...if I wanted flashing lights and loud noises I would go to a disco joint. I usually just choke down the lack of enthusiasm and enjoy the "moment". This time, however, I had an 18 month old that did not quite enjoy it. For 2- 1/2 hours...yes that is correct...2 and one half hours, I walked behind Jonathan as he was not digging the whole Chuck E Cheese Chaos. Here he is on a "ride". This shows his attitude about it all:


He did not crack a smile the whole night, and most of it I spent carrying him around as he was clinging to me and whining. Guess he shared my sentiments. Home is a much better place to be. The older cousins loved it so that is all that matters right?


Jonathan "loving" the Carousel as I am walking around and around getting dizzy as he cries.

My handsome boys

Wait...Is that a smile I see? He broke out the smile 10 minutes before we were leaving. *sigh*

Bustin their moves with Chuck E. Nathan is in the black jacket, of course. He is so shy. :)