The Feminine Side of Life

Isn't this the greatest present ever! Now, I know she (Josie) doesn't always feel this way about me, but even that she does occasionally really makes my heart sing. She surprised Jared and I one Sunday afternoon with these awesome, best-ever chalk art drawings. I wish they could have permanently stained the sidewalk. Nope, no such luck, that would only happen with play dough and silly string. :)

These next two pictures I think are so typical of my girls.  Josie is always having a good time and playing with others, trying to make sure everyone is happy.  Jainie is a typical youngest child (no offense to anyone:)) she always has to be included in what others are doing or she pouts.  I was trying to get a pic of Josie with these drawings and Jainie wanted to be in it.  Jake told her she couldn't, it was only Josie's drawing, to which Jainie insisted she had been drawing too and wanted to be in the picture.  This 1st picture is Josie trying to console her after her little feelings were hurt.

And, this is when Josie told her she would give her candy if she smiled.  Voila! Magic!

Aren't kids great!  I love both my boys and my girls.  I don't know what I would do without any of them.  But, I have to say it, it is sure nice to have a couple girls to cheer me up and just make my day.  I love em!

Baseball anyone?

So, for the past 2 weekends we have headed down to sunny St. George. For what you ask, well baseball games, of course.  Yes, Jaxon and Joshua are both playing on little teams that travel around.  So far I have loved it!  We get to leave Richfield, which has been cold and rainy both weekends and stayed in SG overnight, where we have been toasty warm and gotten sunburns!  Josie and Jake have decided it is too hot and are ready for winter again.  To which I said, "Perfect!  Let's head back to Richfield then."  And, again this weekend we will head down and it will be rainy/snowy here.  The biggest problem is that we never get anything done.  We leave the house looking like a tornado hit, get home and rest on Sunday & then run, run, run all week, just to pack up and do it all over again.  WHEW!  Exhausting! Good thing there are a lot of plusses:

Jainie got to try out her new sunglasses she just HAD to have for Easter.

Jaxon is loving it and getting lots of good experience - and doesn't he look cute in his uniform!  (Minus:  lots of RED dirt + sliding = miserable laundry!)

Joshua loves pitching and getting a good back stretch out of it. :)  Cute in his uniform too.  But all white?  Who thought of that?

Jared gets to sit on a bucket and relax while having a front row, unobstructed by fences, perfect view!  You'd think he might get a tan, but no - he rubs himself down with SPF 50 before getting dressed, we will have no skin cancer here.

Josie and Jainie get to rest under the umbrella and talk about girl things while drinking Gatorade and enjoying the good life.

Where we are playing there is a great water feature that Josie and Jake have loved.  As you can tell, 80 degree weather is wonderful but maybe not in freezing cold water.  Nothing will stop Jake though, Josie just tries to not get as wet. :)

Some of the families from Jaxon's team get together after the games and play.  We decided to stay last week and play with them.  So, after a dinner at "Brick Oven", we went to the Fiesta Fun Center.  The kids had tons of fun.  Jared and Jaxon were the only ones tall enough to drive the go-carts so Josie rode with Jaxon and Jared rode with Joshua.  It was great, I am quite certain Jared is more competetive than Jaxon, you will have to notice the look on Jared's face in the next picture. :)

Jake and Jainie decided it wasn't fair they didn't get to go in a car, so they got to drive these.  It was seriously so funny! (oxymoronish, don't you think? serious and funny)  Jainie couldn't keep up with Jake - they only had one speed - she said Jake was a better driver because he was a sheriff and she was just a driver.  They still talk about it, but her finger still hurts too. :)

Josie and Josh wanted to try these bumper boats, which they loved - here they are shooting each other.  Josh said, "Josie and I were just shooting each other but then some Mexican families decided they wanted to get us, so we turned and got 'em good."  We need to work on a little pc with Joshi.

Then, it was time for a round of mini-golf.  Jaxon had already gone ahead with his friends.  So the rest of us went together.  I couldn't believe it, there wasn't even any crying.  I think we are finally growing up.  sniff sniff

Afterward, we went to our hotel and went swimming.  I think this picture sums up how we all felt.  It was a fun but tiring day!  So until next week - good-bye St. George.

Luau

Josie had the funnest daddy/daughter date ever with the Activity Day girls and Leaders. She was excited about it for at least a month, refused to be late, and was so ecstatic when it finally arrived. She had her outfit planned out for at least a week and instructed her dad to dress appropriately. I think he did a great job!  So adorable - I, of course, had to sneak in and take some pics!  (That's what Mom's are for!)

As you can see, it was a luau.  Decorated so cute, they ate, played games, hula hooped, I am actually not sure of all they did.  I have kind of been discouraged from coming by Jos - just Josie and Jared's special time.  No interference from me.  I think it is good for them to spend time together so I go along with it.

These are the 4 best leaders ever, Tammy Fitzgerald, Connie Belnap, Casey Dyreng, & Kathy Christensen.  They are amazing!  I am so grateful to have them in my child's life to help guide her and encourage her to be her best.  I don't know how anyone can raise their kids without other awesome people helping them.

This is after the party was over.  Josie is quite a poser, but isn't she cute.  Jared doesn't quite know what to do with her.  I warned him this is just the beginning. :)