To answer the question...

Could he be any cuter?

I really don't think so!

Surprise!!!

So, this has been one of those weeks. You know the kind that I am talking about... PTA, Book Fair volunteer, student teacher conferences, canning, helping friends with kids and projects, Activity Days for church, two nights of soccer, cranky baby, blah blah blah. I am frazzled and ready for my husband to be home more than 10 minutes. All the while praying that my Martha Stewart spirit will prevail. I have to say I have been very even tempered, that is until I had to venture to Walmart today. There is something about that place. It is like a drug. You know you hate it and that it probably isn't good for you, but you just can't seem to quit it. So as I am hustling to grab the two items I need, Tytan decides to scream for 15 strait minutes about a soccer ball. I have no idea! I can't find one, can't see one, and don't want to go looking for one. Then Matt, is complaining that the treat I got for him wasn't good enough. So, I told him that he just didn't need one. If he couldn't appreciate the fact that I was willing to get him a little goodie, than too bad. Say it with me... you get whatcha get and you don't pitch a fit. I escaped and made it home safely. Well the evening wound down and I was feeling it. As I was cooking dinner I noticed that I hadn't heard anything from McKenna and Matt for quite a while. I figured they were just in the play room. A few minutes later they invited me to come upstairs. They had a SURPRISE that was going to make me feel all better (I guess they could feel the stress). Below is the theme of my room and what I like it to represent.

And this is what was waiting for me...

A PARTY OF COURSE!

complete with decorations YEAH

You can't have party without food

What party is complete without a serious game of Pin the Tail on the.... donkey? 

Thanks guys for helping me remember we're never too busy to have fun!

Rah Rah Ree!

Well, I didn't know if I would ever see the day where McKenna would have a pair of Pom Poms in her hands, but my friends...the day has arrived. McKenna had the chance to do a cheer clinic and then perform at the varsity football game at Payson High where Lloyd coaches. It has been over 10 years since I have sported my D.O. colors but I have to say that there was something about Friday night that brought out the old cheerleader in me. Maybe it was the cool Fall air or the sound of the PA system doing play by plays as the band played their rendition of "We will Rock You" that brought back the memories. Or it could have just been seeing my baby girl down on the field shaking her stuff to the Spice Girls that made me rewind time a bit as I saw a little piece of me in her. Whatever it was, we had a blast! It was a little surreal, if you will, to see her down on the track doing cheers and then looking out to the field to see my Lloydie yelling at the top of his lungs at the REF for the lack of knowledge that he apparently had. Followed by the penalty flag my dearest received for being a bit too mouthy. Shocking I know! It just made me all warm and fuzzy inside. 

What more could a girl want? 

G. O. Let's GO LIONS!

Mckenna and her cousin Matilda, who also performed.

Matt kept informing me that McKenna was going to cheer for him when he was a big stud football player. I didn't have the heart to tell the kid that he would probably have to be over 5 foot 3. Who knows maybe he'll surprise us!

Cousin Sarah was also part of the crew that night.

Quote of the Day

So Lloyd and I were talking about his upcoming football game for the high school team that he is coaching. They are playing on Friday Night against a really good team.

Lloyd says,"It is going to be a blow out!"

followed by McKenna's response, 

"Why dad? Is it going to be super windy?

Our Vogue Girl

McKenna came to me on Friday and informed me that she wanted to cut her hair. I was really shocked because she has been growing her hair out for like 3 years now with the vision of looking like Rapunzel. Then, all of a sudden my little girl grew up. I reluctantly made the appointment. So, Monday came and she couldn't wait until after school. I was way more nervous than her. But I have to say... she's a babe. I love it! And needless to say she loved it too. In fact we had to endure an entire evening of flipping, shaking, even a little dancing as she muttered over and over "I love my hair" and "I love my hair mom" or "I love my hair and always want it like this mom." It was too cute. She was so excited to pose for her little photo shoot. She's a big girl now!

The much anticipated glasses!

Well some of you may have noticed that our little Tytan has one eye that crosses a little in some of his pictures. Well I took him into the eye doctor who told me that Tytan was severely far sighted and that he would need glasses. I looked at him dumb founded and then explained to him that it would be easier for me swim the English Channel than to keep glasses on this kid. Well I have to say that he has surprised me. He has been pretty good about keeping them on. The only thing is that when he gets mad at me for something, he thinks that taking off his glasses is the best form of punishment for me. Yesterday I told him that he couldn't go outside, and so he took of his glasses and drop kicked them across the kitchen. Good thing that I sprung for the flexible frames and shatter/scratch proof lenses. 

I have to admit that he looks pretty cute! My sweet baby boy.

Pickin' Berries!

So Grandma Thompson called today because she thought it would be fun to go pick raspberries with the kids. She found a cute little place only 10 minutes from my house where you can pick your own berries and it is only $2.00 a pound. So we all piled into the car and headed out!

McKenna, Matt and their cousins Matilda and Sarah. SOOOOOO EXCITED!

Matt had started out wearing his baseball helmet for protection, you know just in case...

He finally decided that it would be safe to go without. Matt picked the best berries, he would only pick the biggest and juciest berries.

Bless his little heart. He can look a little goofy with his new glasses!

Grandma was having so much fun and found tons of good raspberries.

All of us gathered together to weigh out our berries and see how much 1 1/2 hours of picking got us.

Aren't they pretty! 7 pounds total. 

Not bad considering all of the spills that we had!

Onion Day Festival

Oh the beloved Onion Day Festival in Payson! McKenna and her little dance group marched in the parade and did a little performance in the pavilion afterwards. Again another little moment in time that catches me off guard with how fast she is growing!

Kudos to Aunt Amy and her magic tape. She had a fun time keeping the kids occupied while waiting for McKenna to go on stage and perform.

 Need I say more?

Soccer, Soccer, and more Soccer

The craziness has officially started. McKenna is a babe out on the field. She does her best to keep up with the boys and has a blast doing it! She is super intense and doesn't like losing or getting beat to the ball. 

Tytan couldn't help but give Aunt Amy some smooches!

Matt has proved to quite be the little athlete. When he is not too busy doing 

his ninja/power ranger moves on the field, he does really good. We have dubbed him happy feet due to the fact that he can't help but dance around and smile towards the sidelines. 

1st Day of School

There is something about this time of year. Maybe it is the change in the air that brings with it the promise of fall or maybe it is just something about newly sharpened pencils and a brand new pack of crayons that makes me giddy. As this school year started though I found myself not so sure about things as my two big kids rode away. There was a part of me that wanted to call them back- steal them away to the park to feed the ducks and for an encore run in the sprinklers while eating watermelon. I have to admit . . . I kind of freaked out. It never has felt more real to me that time really is flying by and these moments won't last forever.  The kids of course were full of smiles as they kissed me goodbye and headed out the door.