Par-tay....ward style!

We have the greatest ward party every summer! We go to this great spot where they have a huge waterslide, complete with tubes of all shapes and sizes. The kids LOVE it! (Well, everyone except for Luke that is.) The kids went down the slide, then ran back up the hill about a million times. We arrived at 3:30 and they didn't quit until it was almost dark. They maybe stopped for about 15 minutes to grab some dinner, but I can't be sure.

Oh yeah, they also had to take a break for the shooting of the candy cannon. Talk about kid heaven!

There is a zip line, swings and a trampoline, volleyball, a fire pit....you name it.

I made Luke go on the water slide with me a few times, thinking he would decide it really was fun after all. After the first ride down, he looked at me and said, "Mom! That was totally scary!"
Ben, however, went down the slide as many times as he could, and loved it!

Although Luke wasn't too hot on the slide, he had plenty 'o fun playing on the trampoline, making friends with all the "spectators", and chasing the girls to throw water on them!

Good times, I tell you.

Any Good Book Ideas?

Ever since I began motherhood, I have envisioned myself sharing a love of reading and good literature with my children. Unfortunately, life doesn't always go as you plan. For example, I didn't realize at the time how tired I would be when bedtime came around!

I hear people talking about reading with their kids, and always think to myself, "What a great idea! I should do that." But then life gets in the way. It's impossible to fit in all that we want to do, isn't it?! (Don't get me wrong. I read a ton with my little kids, but I was looking forward to enjoying good books with my kids as they got older, as well.)

Despite my many attempts to read books to the kids (not counting those millions of books I read/listen to with my kids after school for their assigned 20 min. reading), I have yet to get through an entire book....until now. It only took me, oh say, 7 or 8 years to accomplish what I intended to do! I guess I could give myself a pat on the back for not quitting, right?

Or not.

Wait...I'm having a flashback. I'm pretty sure I did get through an entire book with Scott and Josh when they were younger. I read The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe to them. OK, definitely a classic, but they were like 6 and 4 years old. Are you kidding me?! Not the best book choice on my part. I'm pretty sure the whole thing went right over their heads!

In the past few months I have started reading with the girls. We first read a Little House on the Prairie book, which they loved. Then we started on Anne of Green Gables. When we first started, I was afraid I was being overly ambitious (again). Perhaps the book was a bit much for them.

But we are almost finished, and have enjoyed the book very much. Even more so, we have enjoyed the time we get to spend together, just us girls. Every now and then, when the boys are engrossed in NBA something or other on TV, the girls will come snuggle up in my bed with me and we will read. With the end of school craziness and summer fun, our reading has been sporadic at best. But we only have a few chapters left! And we are very excited, because when we finish we are going to have a fun movie night....just us girls. There will be popcorn, treats, snuggling, and Anne of Green Gables, of course. Good times!

Soooo, the question is, what shall we read next? Any good ideas? What are some of your favorites?

Do tell!

For Moi?

Happy Birthday to Me!



What can I say? I rock!

Seriously.

Why else would they put a flag in my front yard on none other than my special day?




What? What's that you say? It's Flag Day today?!

Hmmmm....

(I guess we'll just pretend!)

Lukey Skywalker Pilling

Happy Birthday my little Lukey!

4 years old?! How can that be? It seems just yesterday I was holding you in my arms for the first time. You have been a joy and delight in our home from the moment you entered it. I think it would be safe to say that we all ADORE you!

Here are 4 (OK, maybe 5) of the things I love about you.

1. I love, love, love your smile! And I especially love the way you scrunch up your nose when you laugh. It is too cute!

2. I love the way you go around the house calling everybody a platypus. Do you even know what a platypus is? I'm thinking no.

3. I love the way you barter with me.
Me (at bedtime): Do you want me to sing you a song Luke?
Luke: Ummm, how about 5 songs.
Me: Ummm, how about two songs.
Luke: OK, how about two songs.....wait....how about you sing I Hope They Call Me On a Mission 4 times, and then sing one more song.
(You usually win and we sing your favorites--I hope they call me on a mission and Nephi's Courage--over and over. And Ben dances and squeals while I sing, and we laugh.)

4. I love the way you came into my room this morning to see me. I wasn't quite awake, so you climbed up on my bed and kissed me on the forehead. I love the way you climb into bed with me in the morning and snuggle with me (a summertime luxury).

5. I love the way you call yourself Lukey Skywalker. When I correct you and tell you your name is Luke Ammon, you strongly disagree. So, Lukey Skywalker it is!

I asked you today if you would please stop growing, but you told me no.

Darn.

I was hoping you would stay little forever!

I love you my little friend!!

Summer Begins

Summer has begun. The yard work is endless, and there is baseball a-plenty! But, our yard is finally looking beautiful once again (in my ever so humble opinion), and so far we have not had any freezing cold baseball games (big improvement from last year.)

A few baseball highlights of the week:

Syd made a double play tonight, catching a pop fly then tagging a runner out. Boy was she the hero of the game!!

Madelyn hit the ball! On purpose! She was so excited, and is getting better and better every game. She is starting to swing more normal and less like a girl (phewsh), and even chases after balls every now and then!

Josh pitched and did a great job! No runs were scored, and he had several strikeouts.

Even Scott who opted not to play this year, gets in on the action with church softball. Good times, I tell you.

Ben spends his time raiding people's dugouts. He commandeers a helmet, bat, and ball. He then hands me the ball and grunts. (In Ben language that means, "Throw me the ball mom so I can hit it." I am an amazing translator you know.) Ben's "hitting" consists of him holding the bat up, while I throw the ball at his bat and "hit" it. Sometimes Luke tries to get in on the action, but he is a bit more deadly with a baseball bat than Ben, who can barely raise the bat off the ground. Thus Luke has to be content to just run around.

Speaking of Luke, did I ever mention that he is hilarious? Yesterday morning he came into my room and said, "Mom, will you snuggle me? I'm so cold!" I, of course, could not resist such a request, and up he came. He snuggled right up next to me, then turned to me and said, "You're a platypus."

What a guy!