Monsoons

It started raining lightly.

Then we hoped it wasn't an acid rain ;).
Then we switched umbrellas.
THEN...it got worse. FAST. Hard. SHEETS OF RAIN.

But wait... the camera is still on, so she smiles. I love this smile. It is my fav.

This video is cute, but if you don't have time for it (44 seconds, come on people) look below at the pool.
The dimples or blurry-ness is the rain.
Somehow, we love it anyway. Monsoons come and go fast here, so we run outside when we have the chance.
And then we come in to dry off in the comfort of our home. There is no place like home.

Phoenix Library reading program

At the end of the summer (I can't believe I just said that the end of July is the end of the summer, especially since it will be HOT for another 3 months!), we go to the Phoenix Library and turn in our reading program chart. This is RHM picking out his free book as the final prize. Another great reward for completing the reading program - a Diamondback ticket. Travis will take the 4 kids to a game sometime in the near future. That is my reward for a summer of reading with the kids- a night alone. (Shh! Don't tell.)

Green and Cute

Notice:

1. The cute hair style. I got the idea here. Love the STAR! She is my superSTAR!
   
2. The green ends of her hair in the top center messy bun. Yep. Pool hair. YUCK!
3. The baby doll. My baby loves babies. Sincerely. Loves them (sometimes) too much.
   

Is that a watermelon?

We had our selves a watermelon good time on Saturday.

I saw a few blogs about watermelon and I just had to try them. If you want to learn how to make this go here.
We made a few changes. We scooped out of the top not the back. We bought a seeded watermelon, because they were larger. LOVED this watermelon. The kids think it looks like a pickle. So funny! This project was not practical and only worked in the beginning. The longer the watermelon lemonade sat in the shell, the more it leaked. Looking back I did skip this step: "Attach the faucet coupling locknut to the other side of the faucet (inside the watermelon) to hold the spigot in place." Maybe that would have helped.
Princess did most of the work by pureeing the watermelon for the lemonade we were making. She had to pick out all the seeds. She is smiling in the picture, but it is fake. She has a great natural smile, but this is her fake smile that she flashes as she sees the camera.
We decided to take a picture of the watermelon with Denise's watermelon belly. Denise's smile is real. She is a happy pregnant mommy. I think Denise's belly beats the real watermelon. She is due next week with her first girl! So happy for them.


NEXT PROJECT - COOKIES
I found this idea here. After planning on doing the watermelon fountain I just HAD to do the cookies too. They are simply sugar cookies with red food coloring, mini chocolate chips for the seeds, and dipped in a green glaze for the finishing touch.

Princess made the dough. I rolled out the cookies. RHM and Sweetie put the mini chips in for the seed effect. Princess made and dipped each cookie in the glaze. It was fun and I LOVE my helpers.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend, too!

Good things come to those who wait...

I recently gave up something that I love. Our family is not going to the beach this summer.
This is something I look forward to all year, but it was necessary. So instead of having a pity party, I have been counting my blessings.

1. NEW HIKING SHOES
2. a husband who has a job that appreciates him
   
3. glitter toes
4. a surprise refund check in the mail from the dentist (ca-ching!)
5. healthy children (yeah! Princess feels better.)

So, I may not go to the beach this year, but next year for sure!

JX Studios

JX Studios logo is copyrighted.
Any reproduction of this logo without written consent will be prosecuted. ;)
(not really)

When I download the pictures from my camera I am noticing more and more pictures from my kids. These are from my oldest boy - Agent J. He likes to watch youtube lego movies. It is actually quite amazing if kids are making the lego movies, but if it is adults - that's just creepy. Star Wars Lego movies are the favorite around here.

Anyway, I guess Agent J has formed his own production company. Who knew? I knew he was taking video and pictures to make a lego movie, but this was just too much. I had to post this.

Glendale Library

Princess and a friend made something special on Tuesday at the library.
Yep! That's a cake. First time using fondant and I think she did great.
You can do more than check out books at the library.

Thanks, Trevlyn for the inside information and reserved seats!
The girls loved it.

Now I need to do more stuff like this with my kids. SO FUN!

Ear Ache

• Wednesday 4 p.m. - Princess said ear hurt

• Thursday 11:15 a.m. - went to Doctor (after swim team practice, which she did, so I hoped it wasn't swimmers ear)
• 11:45 a.m. - found out it was a middle ear infection, allowed to swim, more painful when diving or laying down at night, pain medicine might be needed.
  
• 2:30 p.m. - picked up antibiotic (10 days of CEFDINIR 300 MG), but decide to take first dose after the swim meet since the drug might cause an upset stomach.
• 5 p.m. - SWIM MEET

Yep! She swam with that ear ache. GO PRINCESS! GO!

• 9 p.m. Thursday night - take first dose of antibiotics
• Friday - in pain during day and needs Tylenol most of day and I notice a sore in her outer ear. Weird.
  
• Friday 8 p.m. - take second dose of pills
  
• Friday night - can't sleep, up twice in night and sleep on my couch in my room. Had a Father's blessing.
  
• Saturday - I call every nurse, fireman, etc. that I know to make sure my baby is ok. Some wax stuff is leaking out of her ear. Maybe her ear drum ruptured, but I don't think so. She can hear her ear clicking. Found out it is probably fluid making the clicking sound.
  
• Saturday night - take 3rd dose of medicine and up ALL NIGHT! Sleep downstairs on couch.
  
• Sunday morning - still wants to go to church, started the night before taking Tylenol then Advil then Tylenol again.
  
• Sunday during sacrament meeting - she taps her foot the whole time - in pain. Take more pain pills during church. Ask a resident doctor, friend at church, to look at her. He reassures me that she might not feel relief 'til day 6 or day 8 of the antibiotics. YUCK!
• Sunday evening - pain pills all day, not better, had a blessing for the sick with Travis and our home teacher, took 4th dose of pills. Still up in the night - 4 times.
  
• Monday - go back to Dr., get ear drops to help with inflammation and infection, doubled dose of antibiotics to 600 mg. Dr. can't see in her ear. Too swollen. Can't tell if ear drum ruptured. Stay on pain pills, but use drops twice a day.
  

• Monday - Put ear drops in her ear and take this picture to show her what her ear looks like.
• Monday evening - more drops, double dose of pills, take pain meds all day and hope for a better night's sleep.
  
• Monday night - Up once for pain pills - huge improvement.
  

Tuesday morning. Not sure what today will hold. Hoping for the best. She will be fine, but I had no idea these ear aches were so painful. I feel so much sympathy for my babies when they had an ear infection. So sorry for adults that have them. PAINFUL. That Doctor friend from church said that most adults that get ear infection go straight to getting tubes in their ears because they can't handle the pain. Glad we are on day 6 today. 10 days will be here soon. I hope the end is in sight. I feel it is.

BIG DAY for braces!!!

Our oldest child got braces today. Mom - never had braces. Dad - never had braces. So...we had to document the process, every step. Yep! I am just that weird. Above is Agent J's last picture with NO BRACES. Isn't he cute? When we got to the ortho's office, Shylow, our lovely assistant took out the blue rubberband or spacers that made room for the metal rings or braces.

4 braces or metal rings were place in the back of his mouth.
Each metal ring was cemented in to his tooth.
See the brace/metal ring.
See the cement oozing on Shylow's finger.
See Agent J bite the suction straw on the tooth with the new brace. The braces were all cemented in his mouth, so I left to go finish reading my book.

**This was a bad idea. I was reading a Nicholas Sparks book and I was near the end.
I did what no descent human being does.
I cried in the waiting room at the orthodontist office.
Yep. No shame in crying over a good book.

When I returned - he had brackets on his top teeth. I missed the whole thing. I am glad I took these pictures, because to me he just looked blurry from all of my crying.
Once my eyes cleared up, he looked so different to me. Kind of grown up. Well, I had to stay around for the bottom teeth.

• STEP ONE - on dry, clean teeth apply the glue.

• STEP TWO - place the bracket. Yep, the orthodontist did this part.

• STEP THREE - apply UV light to active the glue. AWESOME!

Brackets and braces are on - time to rinse and check himself out in the mirror.
Now let's place the wire on the brackets.
Wire on the top, just the bottom left. Almost done. After the bottom wire was placed on, the rubberbands needed to go around each and every bracket.

This is a video of Shylow putting on the rubber bands. Agent J choose red and black. The black ones are on and the red are going on fast, so watch close.

This is my boy all done. I don't think he can make his teeth show without looking slightly evil. Gotta love him! So far so good. No pain. Yet.

The Straight Arm

Today in Nursery (church class for kids 18 months - 3 years old), Sweetie solved a problem.

There is a cute boy that we will call "Spike" has been literally tackling kids in nursery for weeks. The leaders have been trying to solve this problem and work with this cute blond boy. Today the problem worked itself out.

Spike tried to tackle Sweetie. Sweetie was wearing her beautiful oversized pink dress today that our friend gave us. She loves this dress and looked like a Princess. I even left her hair down today and did a few spiral curls. She was a pink fluff and a curly cutie, but don't let her looks fool you. She is also freakishly tall and able to leap small tables in a single bound.

So, I last left you that Spike was going in for the tackle. Well, Sweetie simply put up her arm with her palm up like a stop sign and he went down like a ton of bricks. Spike was up for the challenge. He got up and went in again. She straight armed him, again. He learned not to mess with Sweetie, but while he learned this lesson the others in the nursery were watching and learning.

Spike set his sights on the next victim. Gunner, cute blond small boy but #5 boy in his family, was the next prey. Spike went in for the tackle and Gunner put up his hand, palm up and stopped Spike with his arm. Spike went down again.

Spike was cautious and the leaders were hopeful that he had learned his lesson. Later in the nursery day, Spike tried one more time. He aimed for the smallest girl in the nursery. She saw him coming, put up her arm, palm up, and Spike stopped mid tackle. I think he didn't think it wasn't worth it.

Sweetie taught the nursery a great lesson today and we are proud of our future football playing daughter. Love ya Sweetie.

Glitter Toes, Movie, Ear Ache, Life isn't so bad

Friday evening was full...
Glitter Toes by Kristine was fun and different than I thought. She puts a clear gel on your toes, then glitter, then 2 coats of UV top coat and set the glitter under the UV light. She also files, clips, files your cuticles and does an excellent job painting your glitter toes.

What are Glitter Toes? Glitter Toes is a gel based application applied to your toes lasting 4-6 weeks. It cost $25 for adults and $15 for 5 - 14 yr olds. And the hostess is FREE!

I had a hard time picking a color. I really wanted a french pedicure, but I am MORE than happy with my charcoal gray glitter toes. Princess' toes look plain blue, but no, that is glitter.
Afterwards, my friend Amanda and I headed to a late movie. We saw Eclipse. Again. But for the first time together. We saw Twilight and New Moon together at the midnight showings. After seeing Eclipse with Amanda, the world felt right. (I know. I am weird.) I guess I really missed seeing the midnight showing of Eclipse this year.

That night I got home late to find Princess in my bedroom. Awake. With an ear ache. Travis was taking care of her. He is a good Dad. He gave her Tylenol and a Father's blessing. I offered to help hold her on the couch where Travis was sitting and he got defensive. He was taking care of her and wanted to continue. Adorable. I wasn't needed as a mother. It was kind of nice. I made sure they were fine, but eventually I crawled into bed. Travis came to bed too, but we left Princess sleep on our couch that night.

My life isn't so bad.

Swim wrap up party

popcorn buckets for swim coaches

Saturday evening there was a swim party for the swim/dive teams. It was fun and a wonderful wrap up to the season. The kids all received medals for the season and Princess and RHM received 2 for dive team too. They were walking with clanging medals around their necks all night. I forgot my camera, but a friend took pictures. Hope to post those later.

Details about our Phoenix Divisional Meet

So I thought I would explain a little about how these swim meets run, mostly for my mom, but really for anyone who is interested.

Every meet has certain strokes they are working on. For example the first meet of the season was freestyle and backstroke. At that first meet they ran 4 events, 2 strokes and 2 relays: backstroke relay, individual backstroke, individual freestyle, and freestyle relay. They start every event with the youngest age group, which would be RHM's group, boys first then girls. Are you thinking what I am thinking? "What ever happened to ladies first?" Well, that is a whole other ball of wax. Moving on.

Last night's divisional meet was held at our home pool and was against 3 other pools. Normally we race 1 other pool, so this was a BIG NIGHT! Starlight, Washington, Maryvale and DCU pools were present. On this night, we raced all 4 strokes and 2 relays; medley relay (back, breast, butterfly, free) and a freestyle relay. It was a full night!

RHM raced backstroke or the first leg in the medley relay:

Princess raced the first leg int he medley relay, too:

Agent J was lined up ready to go, but there were not enough lanes so his team got scratched.

Then came the individual events. Freestyle baby.
RHM freestyle -

Princess choose to race back and breast stroke, so she will be coming up later.

Agent J raced freestyle, but alas the batteries were not working on the camera. He did good racing against boys 2 years older than him. He has chosen this year to compete in the 13 - 15 yr old range. Brave kid. The problem with this is that he was 12 at the beginning of the season and turned 13 three days later. His ego wanted to race the kids his age, but he technically could have raced down. Oh well. He came in 7th and did his best!

Next came backstroke.

RHM raced this one too. This was his last individual event, well, sort of. You'll see.

Princess ran the 2nd heat of the this event in her age group. There were only 4 in the pool, but somehow the line judges didn't watch closely and gave her a first place. After she watched the video, she traded in her "first" for a third and was proud of what she earned. She did think the judges were slacking on their jobs.

Next came the breaststroke:

Somehow, I suggested to Coach Charlie that if there were any open lanes in the next event, RHM would love to race it. There was an open lane and RHM kicked butt!

Rylee raced this one. Came in a close 2nd. Great race.

Agent J did this one too. I think my kids like breaststroke. He looks so at ease in the water. He looks like he could swim for hours. Maybe he is a long distance swimmer.

Next butterfly. Nope that's about it. My kids don't like this one.

Last came the freestyle relay to close the night up nicely. (Can you believe I am almost done babbling?)

RHM did the second leg of this relay.

Princess did the last leg of this relay. It was too dark to video and the batteries were really dead. She swam her leg strong, but was in a weak relay team. Next year, Rylee. Next year.

Agent J swam the second leg of this relay and did great and staying with the pack. In the relays they race 13 and up, so he is racing sometimes 17 yr olds. Brave kid.

That's it. All in all a great meet.

RHM: 3-1st place, 1-2nd place, and 1 - 3rd place (keep in mind he is racing in the 6 and under group and he turns 7 in a month) It is a good year for him.
Princess: 1-2nd place in breast stroke, 3rd in back, 2-4th place in the relays. She is 11 racing in the 11-12 girls group. She has one more year in this group and she will be even stronger next year!
Agent J: 1 - 6th place in breast stroke, and 2-7th place in freestyle and free relay. He will be racing in the age group for many years and has no where to go but up!

Last swim meet - Divisional Meet

My friend Nancy has had a hard swim season, so I guess I will forgive her tongue hanging out at me - THIS TIME. JK. More about Nancy and her trials here and later in this post - the happy ending. Keep reading - there is more.My Sweetie stealing the Pages' noodles for her dinner too. Thanks Nancy - bet you didn't know you shared your food with us! :)
My friend Val. She provided the shade for our families and the Robinsons too!
Sarah and Janet Robinson playing with Nancy's youngest Emry.
GO CACTUS! (Let's hope next year, Deer Valley pool is open again! Phoenix rotates which pools are closed each summer to save money.)
Nancy getting Afton ready for the big meet!
Funny girls we know and love.
Ah. This is me, eating humble pie. This lovely girl above is Afton. Afton has been going to swim practice and all but one meet. She swims at practice, but not at the meets. Well, I never thought she would swim this year, but tonight SHE DID! She swam twice and did a great job! She really proved me wrong! WAY TO GO Afton!Princess top, Emily bottom. GO PRINCESS! She finished a close 2nd, even though in this picture she is in the lead. Great race!
Sweetie was a handful for Daddy. Sorry, honey. At least you were there to help out while I videoed. THANKS!
Agent J - watching and taking it all in. Preparing for the next race.
This was FUN! After the breaststroke individual event, the parents did a 4x25 freestyle relay. Great job, Dads!
Our wonderful friend Sarah, swimming butterfly. She has been a great babysitter this whole swim season while I walk during swim team practice with her Mama. She also had a birthday on 7-11 and turned 9 years old! She is GREAT!
4x25 freestyle - gettin' ready!
This meet went late, so late I had to stop taking pictures and stop videos. It won't stop the memories of these great nights of awesome races!