Monday, April 25, 2011

One Busy Weekend

Last weekend was such a whirlwind I am not quit sure how I managed to fit everything in....well everything that is except a birthday party that I had written down the wrong time for. It started Friday afternoon when the boys joined me in helping set up for my MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) rummage sale. They were so content to just hang out and even helped set up the toys that I let them each pick out a toy from the sale. After our volunteer shift was over we hurried downtown to the Salt Lake Expo Center where I had to pick up my bib number for a bike ride I was participating in the next day. We then met the Armstrong family at Squatters Pub for dinner before then heading over to the Energy Solutions Arena for a little indoor football. We met up with the Williamson family at the game where we enjoyed cheering on the BLAZE for a while before leaving early so we could get home and hit the sack.
My Saturday started around 4:30 a.m. when I had to get out of bed and out the door in order to make it to Sarah's house and on to the starting line for our 6:00 a.m. bike tour. This was our second year riding the Armstrong's antique tandem bike the 26 miles of the Salt Lake City Marathon course. One day I may be crazy enough to try running the 26 miles instead but until then I am content to sit behind Sarah and let her do all the pedaling. ;) JK!!!After finishing the ride in 1 hr. 40 min. Matt picked us up and took me back to the truck where I was then off to catch Lucas's soccer game. I was so glad I did not have to miss his game especially since he again scored a goal and we were joined at his game by Grandma Judy, Angi, Mia & Deja Williamson and Sarah, Sean, Gracie & Isabel Armstong. Lucas felt like such a stud to have so many loved ones cheering him on from the sidelines. Once the game was over we headed to Chic-Fil-A to grab some early lunch and let the kids play. When we got home I realized that we were late for our little friend Danee's birthday party because I had written down the wrong time. Instead the boys did yard work while I did stuff around the house.
Sunday morning I got up early to meet the Armstrong family at their church where baby Isabel was being dedicated.
After church Steve and the boys met up with us and we went to brunch at Blue Plate Diner. The kids got to play around outside while we waited for a table. The yummy food was definitely worth the wait.
After brunch we headed for home where the boys had a little time to play before it was time to get all gussied up and head to our friend Mia's 5th Birthday Party. Most of the kids got to ride in a limo to the Grand America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake.
Luckily it was nice outside so the kids got to run around and play in the courtyard. There were numerous fountains and yes Landon and Lucas decided to walk through a shallow one just as I was not looking.
After leaving the party we went and bought the boys new shoes and then it was finally time to head home to unwind. Luckily Lucas was about to start Spring Break so he had plenty of time to relax at home.

Monday, April 18, 2011

T-Ball and Teamwork

Last week Landon had his very first t-ball game. I was unsure of how he would do going out on the field with his coach and team without having mom or dad out there. As it turned out he did awsome and was fairly outgoing. He kept asking his coach when it would be his turn to bat and sat patiently on the sidelines with the rest of his team while he waited for his turn. Once he hit the ball he would then casually walk to first base and when it was time to advance to the next base he would again casually walk there. It was pretty cute and he looked as if he could not be bothered to run. In the outfield he sort of just stood around and watched what everyone else was doing. Towards the end of the game he did field a ball and managed to throw it close to home plate, as directed. We are so excited for his next game when he will also have team pictures taken and mom will actually remember to bring his baseball glove. ;)Landon enjoys showing off for our little friend Danee and being the "big" kid for a change. They play really well together which is a good thing since we will begin taking Danee on a more perminent basis this week for three days and then next week we will begin watching her every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The boys always love having playdates with the Armstrongs and their parents love the fact that my boys have taught them to take their shirts off while they dance around or wrestle. Luckily Gracie is still young enough that it is not a big deal for her to go topless.
This day the kids decided to start their own band, called the Power Rangers. They made a bunch of paper signs that they hung up all over outside on our house and the fence, (since they were unable to leave the yard) advertising for a concert their band was having. Sean and Lucas made signs on the white boards and even went as far as standing on the street corner trying to persuade passerbys to stop in to listen to their band. As Sarah and I watched from the front window the two boys were able to tell a couple of the neighbors about their band but fortunately for me no one ever stopped for the show. They were pretty cute out there and it entertained them for an entire afternoon. As a mom I couldn't ask for more.
We tryed to get them to come in and put their shirts on but they would not go for it. As you can see with the snow still on the ground it was not quit shirtless weather.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Spring Projects

In case you were wondering what I like to do when I am not playing with the boys, running around town (literally), reading, or doing household duties the pictures below will give you an idea. This apron I did for my friend Lori for her 30th birthday (even though I did not make it to her birthday celebration).
This apron I made for my sister Tonia for her 30ish birthday. I have been promising to make her an apron for the past couple of years and had really not seen any fabric that I thought suited her. When I saw this fabric I fell in love with it and her apron turned out to be one of my very favorites.
I love to make holiday pillows for my couch and had the pattern and material for these that my mother in law had given me but had just not gotten around to making them. For some reason I was intimidated by the thought of doing the applique but it really turned out to be quit easy.

I loved all three pillows so much I have not been able to bring myself to share them with anyone else. Maybe next year I will make more. :)

Sunday, April 10, 2011

A Surprise Visit

Last weekend we all had surprise visitors. Steve and I knew that my brother Robert was coming into town for the weekend but we decided not to tell the boys. There were multiple times I almost let it slip and did end up telling them that we had fun plans for the weekend and used that excuse to get them to mind. When the doorbell rang on Friday afternoon I let the boys answer it and there they saw Uncle Robert.We were all surprised to see that he had brought my sister Tina with him. She had never been to Utah to visit and we were so excited to see her. She kept asking Robert all the way out here if we would be ok with her showing up unannounced. We were more than ok with it!! Friday was such a beautiful day that we all hung out outside and had a yummy barbecue. We stayed up way too late just visiting and catching up. Saturday morning we got up early to go to Lucas' soccer game. He had a great game and managed to score a goal for Uncle Robert and Aunt Tina. Saturday afternoon Tina and I went for a drive to downtown Salt Lake and then on to a flea market. Neither one of us was too impressed with the flea market so we hit a couple of other stores before meeting up with the boys for dinner.
Again Saturday night we stayed up way too late playing Wii bowling with the boys. Come Sunday morning we tried to sleep in to no avail. We had a big breakfast before heading to a couple more stores to do some shopping.
Monday was back to school for Lucas as Robert and Tina prepared for their long drive back to Wyoming and Nebraska. We had such a wonderful visit with them and can't wait to see them in Wyoming at the end of May.