My Mom

(I love this picture of Brooke and my Mom)

Today is my Mom's Birthday and I thought it's the perfect time to let everyone know how awesome she is. I don't even know where to start because the list is endless of how awesome she is. I am so blessed to have the worlds best example of how to be a great Mom. My Mom is the most selfless person that I know. It doesn't matter what she has planned if one of us kids call and needs something she drops everything and comes to our rescue. She has taught me so much but most of all she has taught me how to serve. She has served her whole life whether its been in the church, her friends, or her family. I have never known her to complain about anything. Not only is she the best Mom, but I think she's an awesome Grandma. My kids ask me weekly when they can go see Grandma and Grandpa. My Mom has the knack to make you feel so special that you are the most important thing in the world. No wonder why we all gravitate to her.

Thank you Mom for everything you have taught me and for the example you are to me.

I asked the kids what they love about Grandma and this was their responses...

Brooke ( a total Grandma's girl) - She's the best ever ever ever! I love everything about her especially spending any and all spare time with her.

Spencer - She is happy and always wants to spend time with me. She uses her own time to do stuff with me like I'm the only thing that matters at that moment.

Tyler - I love my Grandma she likes to play Uno with me. I love it when she invites me for sleepovers at her house. I know she loves me.

Jake - I Love Grandma's purse and all the candy I finds in it. I love giving Grandma HUGE hugs.

Love You Mom and
Happy Birthday!

Brooke the Cook

All I can say is YUMMY!

I bought Brooke this amazing cookbook (Martha Stewart's Cupcakes) filled with over 200 recipes of just cupcakes. What was I thinking how can I stay on a diet with all her amazing desserts...a whole lot of self control on my part. However the boys and Mike are absolutely thrilled with her new cookbook and are constantly asking for more cupcakes.

So far she has made: Streusel cupcakes (Mikes favorite), raspberry marble cheesecakes, flourless chocolate cupcakes, mint filled brownie cupcakes (her favorite), and Boston cream pie cupcakes (shown above). She amazes me on a daily basis at how well she can cook and follow complex recipes.

So if anyone has a craving for a great cupcake just ask Brookie.

Tyler is Student of the Month

Monday was the first awards assembly of the year and I got an email from Tyler's teacher to make sure that I would be there because Tyler was getting an award. Both Mike and I were able to be there and watch Tyler get a little embarrassed as his name was called for Student of the Month. Tyler is really enjoying first grade and loves his teacher.

This is what Tyler's teacher wrote about him which was read in front of the school as he was getting his award...
"Tyler is polite and kind to others. He turns in all his homework and class work on time. He is very neat and cooperative. I love having Tyler in my class."

Way to go Tyler!

Brooke's Team Soccer Pictures

Well it was time for the annual soccer pictures for Brooke's team and all the girls were having a great time. I don't think anyone was camera shy that day. The girls couldn't get enough of the camera and of course that made me very happy since I love taking pictures.

Crazy Girls

Brooke had a couple of friends over last weekend, and boy were they having a good time. I really enjoy seeing Brooke let loose a little and enjoy being a kid. She is always so mature and cautious so this was very fun to watch. Brooke and her friends Beth and Taylor decided to give each other crazy makeovers. They were giggling the entire time and couldn't wait to pose for the camera.

Good Times!

And So It Begins...Soccer

Soccer is back in full force - So sit back and get comfortable...well at least that's what I tell Mike and Jake.
Tyler is in his second year of playing AYSO. He is so much fun to watch and a little too competitive (we're working on that). He has 2 of his good friends on his team which will make for a very fun season. His first game last week was on his 6th birthday so before the game started he said he wanted to score 6 goals. I kinda of laughed and said go for it. So in the first half of his game he had gotten all 6 of the goals he wanted. He was all over the field trying to do everything. So the second half of the game I told him he had to work on his passing to get his team involved. He was so obedient...he would be a couple inches away from the goal and then turn around to find one of his players to pass it to.
Spencer is now in his 4th year of playing soccer. He is by far my most aggressive kid on the field. He is not afraid of anything or anyone. He plays sweeper which is basically the last defender back. Of course he can't handle not being in some of the action. This last game he got the ball and dribbled from end of the field through all of the other team to the other side of the field and scored. Now defenders rarely if ever score so he was beyond excited. Spencer has great timing on defense and usually frustrates the other team when he keeps taking the ball away from them.
As far as Brooke I think shes been playing soccer as long as shes been walking, but officially this is her 8th year playing and her 4th year playing club. Brooke also plays defense usually left back however her coach has also been having her play in the middle. She really enjoys playing halfback its just a ton more running. Basically you help with the offense and still are expected to go back and help with the defense. Running the field is not a problem for her she is in such good shape and hardly even breaks a sweat. Her club team was undefeated last year so they moved up a division and are now a silver team. This should be a fun and challenging year of soccer for her and her team. Brooke is amazing at reading the field and has great anticipation to completely frustrate the other team.
(We had a little talk about elbows)
Now if only Brooke could take after her brothers and get a little more pushy she would be unstoppable. Mike is always yelling from the sideline at her "chicken wing" which is his code word for put your arms out and hold your own. She is small and petite and because of that she gets pushed around a lot on the field and Mike just wants her to protect her space. Now as you can see Spencer and Tyler have no problem holding onto their space on the field. At times they can be a little pushy. I am trying to tell the boys to mellow out a little and Brooke to be more pushy this is crazy...wheres the middle ground.

I love watching all my kids playing all their different sports. At times we are crazy with so many practices and games, but it's worth it. I have been thinking a lot lately about the benefits of playing team sports. Here's what I have seen with my kids, their coaches, and teammates: Good sportsmanship, leadership, positive attitude, being gracious, great physical shape, healthy, strong, friendships, being an example, discipline, encouragement, hard work, and accomplishment. I could think of many more, but my point is I think what they get out of playing sports is priceless and well worth the sacrifice.

Tryouts?

Brooke has been looking forward to trying out for her Junior High's basketball team for months. I was cautiously optimistic that she might make the team. Brooke being just a sixth grader I knew the odds were not in her favor to make the team. The team mainly consists of seventh and eighth graders who are much taller and bigger then she is. As I came to pick her up from tryouts I went in the gym and saw that there were 40 girls trying out. So of course I was trying to think of ways to console her when she didn't see her name posted in the girls locker room. Now don't get me wrong I think Brooke is a great basketball player and very talented, but size and experience does play a big part in making a competitive team.

This story has a very happy ending...SHE MADE IT!

I don't think I have ever seen Brooke more excited in my life. She worked very hard and practiced a ton and it definitely paid off. When she told me we both acted like little kids and screamed in the car as soon as we closed our doors :)

Tyler's 6

The day finally came - that's right Tyler had his birthday. He was beginning to think that it was never going to happen. He asked me daily since about June if it was August yet and then when August came the question changed to is it the 29th yet? Tyler is the sweetest little guy ever. A day doesn't go buy without many hugs and I love yous from him. He is always thoughtful, caring, and my most tender hearted kid.
Tyler almost always lets Jake win whenever they are playing sports or racing each other. Jake loves his big brother he always calls Tyler his buddy.

I love that both Spencer and Brooke asked me almost every day last week for me to take them to the store so they could buy Tyler a birthday present. They are so thoughtful I didn't even remind them they really enjoyed picking out that perfect gift for him. Spencer knows how much Tyler loves basketball, and found a nerf basketball set for him to play in the house. Tyler loved it and they have been playing it nonstop since Saturday. Brookie got him one of the coolest "huge" bouncy balls I have ever seen. All the kids have been wanting a turn to play with it. It's awesome to see the joy that giving brings to my kids rather then always receiving.As you can see Tyler was just a "little" excited about one of his presents (crash of the titans wii game). I loved that I was able to capture the pure joy and excitement in his reaction. You can almost here his reaction from these pictures. Tyler was also very excited about his other presents as well. He has recently gotten into Pokemon so he got some cards as well as money from both his grandparents.

I sure love this Tyler of mine!

Happy Happy Birthday Sweetheart

Tyler's 6th Birthday Party

(why am I jealous of my 6 year olds muscles...he is so ripped LOL )

Tyler has been wanting to go to the water park all summer. So I thought it would be a perfect place to go for his birthday. We invited some of his friends and as soon as we walked in the gate they were in the water and didn't look back. This park was a lot of fun for the kids...I think it was mainly geared for younger kids, but no matter the age they all loved it. They had a couple of slides and a ton of toys to play on in the water as well as another large pool to swim in. Tyler did not want cake or cupcakes for his party he wanted cinnamon rolls. My friend Nikki makes the best cinnamon rolls ever so I went to her house and we made them together. They were awesome as usual great choice by Tyler!
I'm always a little sad when Tyler's birthday rolls around, because then I know that summer is over and school is here. However he has the best birthday date for anything fun in the water, pool, or beach. It was a very fun day and I'm sure we will visit this water park again.

Jersey Mike's

So as many of you know Jersey Mike's is my all time favorite place to eat. Yesterday I decided to go have lunch there with my little guy Jake. If any of you have ever been there they always ask you if you want your sub Mike's way or not. After being asked that Jake looked at the guy and said "I don't want to have it my Dads way...I want it Jakes way!" I was laughing so hard I was almost crying. He was so matter of fact that the whole place was cracking up. They all loved Jake and of course gave him a free cookie.