Happy Birthday Eric

Happy Birthday Eric! We had a lot of fun tonight over at Eric and Kandi's. It is always so fun to be with family, and the kids sure love to be with cousins. Trevor and Hailey were up, Royce, Bret and Kristy, and Taylor and his friend were there. We had dinner and visited. The kids mostly played outside. Jaron and Emily found mud (surprise).
We do love having family close.

We be jammin'

Hey I got my jam made today. 22 containers! It is sooo yummy. Today is a beautiful day. I am guessing it is in the 80's and the sun is shining, but luckily there is a breeze, so it is perfect. We were able to get a lot of jobs done around the house today, so I am grateful for that. I need to find a better way to motivate and teach the kids to help around the house. They are motivated by money it seems, but I sure would like them to realize that some things just have to be done just to live. (Dishes, make beds, laundry etc.) Maybe I am expecting too much. I guess the key it to do the jobs with the kids, but then I don't have time to do my jobs.

Sean and Nate mowed the lawn today. They are now out on a ride to a park. Jaron had a soccer game today, and he made a goal! Jaron and Emily are playing on the tramp in their swimsuits with the sprinklers on. I decided it was time to get back on my blog. It is so exciting to finally see myself journaling. I gave up on scrapbooking, because I just don't have the time to spread it all out let alone get anything done.

Yesterday was Eric (Seans brother) birthday, so we are going over to their house in a while.

Thank Heavens for friends

Yesterday I went to Jarons puppet show. It was really cute. They learned about Ireland, and used their puppets for the presentation. It was kind of funny because during his part he got a little wild and ended up hitting the puppets head on the stage.
Last night Danielle and her boys came over for dinner. It was great to have some face to face adult company. I was unable to find a parent to come with me for scouts, so I cancelled it. Jaron went off to soccer practice, and Nate went to his baseball game. I tried to tidy up the house a little before the kids came home. After dinner, we went outside and I fed and watered the plants. I am sure praying the raspberries do well.
Today has been a full day. I did the carpools 3 times today. (Nate and Savannah had a party) Tanner and Emily Hunt came over to play with Emily. Jennifer took me out for lunch today. Matt is in training for a couple months, so it is really comforting knowing I am not the only person missing my husband.
I think that Dianne is coming over tonight to use the internet, so it will be great to have some more company. I am feeling pretty tired right now, so this blog is pretty boring!

Berries anyone

Today is a berry wonderful day. Can you tell that Emily and I have been watching Strawberry Shortcake? Between that and Superman!
It is also a "berry" day because I got some raspberry plants. I know it will take time, but the way the store prices have gone up, we figure it would be a great time to try our hand at a little gardening. Hopefully we can get them planted alright.
BiLo has strawberries on sale for $1.25 per package. Sean and I like to make freezer jam, and that is a great deal for berries. So I have been cleaning and slicing them today.
Nate is playing at a friends, and Jaron is playing with Emily. This is a blessing, because she is a little tornado. I have to stay with her all day long so I can minimize the damage.
Sean has been in class all day (San Antonio), so hopefully I will hear from him before long. You will also see that I have created a blog for Nathan. He was very excited when he came home and started working on it. I will need to help him a little with the typing, but I look forward to seeing what he does with it.
Tonight is a nice quiet night. that is good, because tomorrow is chaos. I am still trying to plan scouts. Can you tell I am dragging my feet? It is hard to keep track of the boys by myself without Sean. While I am at scouts I will need to find someone to watch Emily, Jaron will be at soccer and Nate will be at Baseball. Thank heavens for carpools! I find it is great to be busy, because you appreciate it when it is slow, and after a little of nothing you are ready to hit it hard again.
It is kind of crazy, on Tuesday the 27th, both boys are having a school campout. Nates group will be about 10 mi away, and they are having a family dinner. Jarons will be about 40 mi away, and they need moms to chapperone. I know I should offer, but the idea of 2 days and 1 night camping, freezing in May, without Sean, in a tent with six 7 year old girls is not to appealing. But they did mention they might go swimming, then mama bear comes out and says "I am definatly going wether they like it or not." .....WHY DIDN'T THEY NEED DADS......
I guess if Sean could drive a bus full of kids thru Yellowstone for a week I should be able to handle it, right?
Is anyone up for having a 3 year old little girl nicknamed "tornado" stay at their house for 2 days and a night? Just kidding...Well kinda.
Have a wonderful day!

Mothers Day Off

Since it seems many people are blogging now I thought "What a great way to keep in touch. "

Today is Mothers Day. We took Sean to the Airport,he is doing his flight training in San Antonio Texas. Then we visited my mom and Dianne for a while. After, we went to Grandma Royces to drop off her Mothers Day gift.

On the way home I asked the kids if we should be naughty and go to dinner at Texas Rhodehouse (moms shouldn't have to cook dinner today, right!) Good thing Nathan was a good boy, because Jaron, Emily and I were all up for it! But we were good and came home and did the "Single parent dinner".....MAC and CHEESE you wonder......close.....CORN DOGS! Yuck, I know, but at least I didn't have to do dishes. It seems there is a bright side to everything.

Last night Sean and I had a date night. Thanks Anne and Jason! We had a nice evening at home. We got an 89 cent movie, had dinner and watched the show downstairs. It is such a wonderful and rare feeling to be in a quiet home all by ourselves. Sean and the kids gave me a flat of petunias for Mothers Day. We planted them yesterday, so if we get frost this week, you can blame me.

Emily had her soccer game Saturday. This is the second game she has played in, so of course that means the season is almost over. I have to keep telling myself "She's only 3, She's only 3". She is so hilarious out there. She is totally Jarons sister. She acts just like he does. She was running with the pack of kids after the soccer ball with a big smile on her face, hair blowing in the wind, wearing her sunglasses upside down.

So I am wondering, Does she stand out? Just a little?

Nate had his birthday last weekend. He is now nine years old. I told Sean that that makes HIM REALLY OLD. Nate has started his countdown until school is over. I think it is now down to 12. He thinks it will be really great, but about 10 minutes after he gets home he'll say "I'm Bored".
We have been busy running kids to school events, Jaron has soccer, Nate has baseball, Emily has Soccer and Sean and I do Webelos.

I am just crossing my fingers that I can make it thru this week with a smile on my face.