Goodbye to Tricia

Since we had to race out of the party, we didn't really get to say goodbye to Tricia who went back to Texas today so the kids and I went to my mom's to see her one last time before she left. It was fun to spend a little more time with her before they had to leave for the airport. My kids really love their aunt Tricia, it's sad she lives so far away. We all miss her and always look forward to the next time we get to see her. I'm very happy because I don't have to wait very long to see her again since Jim and I are going to Austin in September for the BYU/Texas football game and to visit her and Tim for a few days. Yay!! I can't wait!

Ally's Arm

If you didn't read my novel of a post about my grandma's party, Ally fell in the middle of the tribute to my grandma and hurt her shoulder so we left early to head to Instacare. The party was in Lehi so we went to the North Orem clinic. My family kept Andrew with them at the party and Vanessa came with us. When we got to Instacare Ally was still crying quite a bit and just wanted me to hold her. Luckily there weren't many people there so we got in to see a doctor quite fast. The doctor wanted an x-ray to rule out a broken collar bone so we went to get an x-ray. Ally was brave and strong and did everything the technician asked her to do. We went back to the waiting room to wait for the x-rays to be developed. When we were called back to the room Ally wanted me to carry her again. When I went to pick her up she screamed out in pain again. I felt so bad because I had caused her pain. We got back in the room and I just started crying. I really try to be strong for my kids while we are in the middle of the crises' we have faced and fall apart when it's all over and done with but this time I just couldn't do it, especially since I had caused her so much pain. The doctor showed us the x-rays and said there was no sign of a break. She said it was most likely muscular and possibly a jammed joint. They gave us a sling and told Ally to wear it for a few days and then start using her arm again. We picked up Andrew and headed home. She slept pretty well all things considered but is still in quite a bit of pain. I hope it heals quickly. It's so hard to see my usually happy, always wanting to play and have fun girl in pain and just wanting to lay around. She is miserable which makes her mom very sad.

Grandma Stay's 80th Birthday Party

Every year we do a family party for my grandma's birthday but since this year was a big milestone party, her kids planned an even bigger, surprise party for her which included her sisters and an open house for people in her ward to come visit and celebrate her amazing life. The evening started with a thunder storm which put some kinks in the plan for kids, a very long slip-n-slide. Ally freaked out because of the thunder so Grandma comforted her.

And Aunt Tricia helped out too.

Everyone enjoyed lots of yummy food and getting to visit with one another.

While we were eating the weather finally cleared up which meant it was time for some slip-n-slide fun.

Vanessa had fun with some of the younger kids. She met her match with my cousin Lacy's little guy Krew. It was so fun to watch them play 'king of the disk,' as my uncle called it since neither of them would give in and just kept pushing back and forth.

They also had a fun game of follow the leader.

All those games wore Vanessa right out! It was time for some rest and relaxation.

It was then time to honor the woman we all came together for, my amazing grandma. My grandma is such an amazing woman. She is one of the strongest women I know. She has seven children, of which my dad is the oldest, and lost her husband when my dad was just 16. She married my Grandpa Stay a few years later. She has many, many grandchildren and great grandchildren and was and is at everything and anything she can attend, including blessing, baptisms, dance performances, plays, games and many more activities. She loves each and everyone of us and always makes everyone feel special and important.

It was so fun to see each and every one of her kids get up and say such sweet things about their wonderful mom. They shared memories of growing up including my dad and my uncle knocking all the windows out of their house with the butts of their toy guns playing cowboys and indians. My dad once took the money she gave him to buy some groceries and used it to buy plastic army men. The fact that she had five kids after my dad and my uncle Don is a testament to the type of women she is, I can't believe she (and they) survived all they did. They all expressed their love and appreciation for all she did, and continues to do for them.

My aunt Carin decided to be shy (I know where I get it from) and just tell her mom she loves her and wasn't up there long enough for a picture, that's why she's not pictured above.

Next each of her sisters (the three that could be there and the other sent a letter) got up and shared memories and their love for their wonderful sister!

Then

Then it was my grandpa's turn.

I'm told my grandpa did a great job but we unfortunately missed it. In the middle of her second sister's turn we heard very loud screaming and knew it was Ally. I went out to where the kids were and she was crying that her left shoulder really hurt. My cousin's husband was with her looking at it trying to find out what was wrong. She could move it pretty well so we figured all was fine with it until I went to pick her up and she screamed out in pain at just being touched. So we were off to the Instacare. I was really sad I had to miss the end of my grandma's party! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful grandmother and I am grateful we get to spend as much time with her and my grandpa as we do! We love them both!

Texas T in Town

My sister Tricia came to town for my grandma's 80th birthday party (post coming). Everyone is always so excited when Tricia comes to visit, probably because it's usually only once a year we get to see her. This visit was no exception. It was different because Jim and Andrew were in Boston for the majority of her visit but that just meant more fun for the girls. We had a great time eating food (way too much food), hanging out at my parents' house, having a girls only sleepover at my house, and of course lots of talking and tons of laughing.

We had such a great time! The time went way too fast, of course but we cherished every minute we got to spend with her.

Babysitting Cousins

The girls and I went and helped my mother in law watch the twins while Dorothy had a dentist appointment. They both loved being with the babies and the time they were able to spend playing with and spoiling them.

Here they both are with Paisley

Here's Ally with Oliver. Ally enjoyed a sucker of some sort thus the color of her mouth.

Vanessa decided to find some entertainment while it was the babies' nap time. It was so cute to see how she lined up all the stuffed animals to watch the movie with us.

The kids really love the time they get to spend with their cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents. One of the MANY benefits of living so close to most of our families. Especially since we have such wonderful families!

Pillow Pet Fun

The kids pulled out their pillow pets again for some more play fun. They still love being wrapped up in their pets.

But this day they decided they were also going to 'fish' for the pillow pets over our banister.

They had a ton of fun but were extremely disappointed because their fishing line kept breaking. They kept retying it and trying again and again. Who knew a pillow pet and some yarn could create so much fun for so long?

Lego Love

I have said it before and I'm sure I will say it many, MANY more times, Andrew LOVES Legos! I have known this for a very long time and I've seen him build the sets he gets very quickly but I am always amazed at the things he creates on his own. This one is no exception...

He created the race track with three tracks and a starting line which he spelled out 'START' with Legos. He really never ceases to amaze me.

Endangered vs. Extinct

Andrew learned about endangered and extinct animals at scouts today. He was listing the animals that are endangered and what animals are extinct when Ally piped up from the back of the car stating she knows what extinct means. I asked her what it means and she said 'you are no longer living.' I told her that was right and she said 'Nana (my grandma on my mom's side who passed away two years ago) is extinct.' I just started laughing. I thought it was so cute she would think that. She really cracks me up sometimes. She comes up with some of the cutest and funniest things.

State Baseball Tournament

Andrew's baseball team took second in their division so they got to go to the state tournament.

He unfortunately got hit by a pitch for the first time during the first game, right in his hip. I was really proud of him 'cause he just shook it off and took his base even though you could tell it hurt.

What do you do when you are a two year old forced to go to baseball game after baseball game? You play Barbies,

climb the fence,

and try to climb the tree

Unfortunately they lost their games so they didn't progress any further in the tournament but the boys had fun together and it was a great experience for them. It was a great season and we look forward to next year. Now it's time for soccer.

Cousin Phin's Birthday Party

Kelly's son Phin turned three and we, of course, were invited to his party at North Park in Provo, the one right next to Veteran's Memorial pool. The kids loved playing at the park, watching (and helping) Phin open his presents and the yummy cupcakes. Aunt Kelly gave all the kids the paper blow horns. It took Vanessa a bit to figure hers out

but once she did, there was no stopping her.

She also loved the cupcake frosting.

After the party we all went over to the pool for an afternoon of swimming. It was a lot of fun for all of us. Hopefully it was a good day for 'Ninnie' (as Vanessa calls him) too. He is such a sweet, fun cousin who we love spending time with!

What Do You Get at Little League Practice?

Well, if you park too close to the field you get...

yep, a shattered windshield. Jim went to pick up Andrew from practice yesterday and one of the boys hit the ball over the backstop and right into Jim's windshield. So not fun! We are just glad it hit the windshield and not the hood since we figure it's cheaper to replace a windshield than it is the hood of the car. Yep, we can find the positive in things. ;) ;)

Summer Art Classes

Each summer our city holds an art camp for two weeks for kids. There are various classes to choose from art, dance, singing, writing, etc. Last year Andrew and Ally both took classes and loved them. This year we were having some issues with the two of them constantly fighting so I bribed (yes, I believe in bribery) them that if they could go one week without fighting I would sign them up for the class of their choice. Ally chose art and Andrew, Lego art of course since he loves anything with the word Lego in it. They both were amazing for that entire week, not one fight among them. When it came time to sign them up I quickly realized to get them each in the class they desired I would have to be down at the high school four times a day. I was not looking forward to this and was trying to come up with a compromise, some other way to repay them for their getting along. When all was said and done, I signed them up for the art class they chose and spent each day in the car going to the school four times. They earned what was promised and deserved the chance to take their classes even if it inconvenienced me. They both loved their classes and enjoyed the projects they were able to create.

Andrew's sweet teacher took pictures of the kids' and their projects and posted them on a website for the parents to go see what our kids were doing. Andrew was even lucky enough to make the newspaper.

Yep, that's him in the back in the Texas Longhorns tee shirt. Don't comment on the shirt, it was a gift from his Aunt Tricia and he LOVES that shirt!

I'm really glad I signed them up for their art classes although next year I will be up at midnight so I can get them signed up for classes at the same time.

4th of July

I love the 4th of July!!! I don't know if it's because of the memories of the parade, water fights, barbeques, and fireworks from my childhood or the reason we celebrate the holiday, our freedom and the things we get to enjoy because of it. We, unfortunately don't take advantage of all the fun events around for our kids to help them enjoy the day. I really feel bad for them but we don't have a set spot at the parade every year like we did as kids and they just don't have as many cousins on either side for the fun water fights we had. But my kids are always up to the task of creating their own fun, including face painting.

They got together with the neighbor kids and before I knew what they were doing they were covered in paint. They had so much fun! I love watching them create and use their imaginations. After face painting it was off to Grandpa and Grandma Davis' for yummy food and of course fireworks. My Grandpa and Grandma were there also. Can I just say how much I love the holidays even more now because my grandpa and grandma are always there to celebrate with us and I love creating more memories with them and the memories my kids get to create with them also. My grandpa and I were even remembering our wild water fights from the past. My kids love my grandparents and the attention they get from them.

While writing this post I realized I didn't get any pictures of my grandpa so I'm going to have to make up for it at my grandma's 80th birthday party in a few weeks. We had lots of yummy food which was enjoyed by all.

My dad even made his famous pineapple upside down cake.

When it came time to sit down and eat dinner somehow my dad got stuck outside with all the grandkids. Doesn't he look thrilled?

After dinner it was time for sparklers.

The kids then decided to go for two sparklers each and become fighter jets flying around the yard.

Jim kept trying to get Vanessa to hold a sparkler

but she just wanted to chill by Dad.

Even with all our warnings and precautions, Phin burned his hand, Ally burned her thumb and I burned my finger. What would sparklers be without burns? Luckily none of them were too extreme.

It was then time for dessert. The kids had some very interesting dessert which consisted of pineapple upside down cake, Popsicles and corn on the cob.

Aunt Kelly brought some glow sticks for the kids to wear during the fireworks.

We did fireworks in the rain

and enjoyed the new Utah fireworks law which allows anyone to do above the ground fireworks.

So many people were shooting them up we really didn't know where to look. It was so much fun! We really had a great 4th of July and hope you all did too!