Track Stars

Friday was a track meet for first grade.  The girls were so excited about it that I decided to take 1/2 day off so I could go see.  Olivia was so happy to see me.  She's waiting patiently for her race.

Emma was so excited too, she also waited patiently.  The PE teacher decided which kids did which races...each kid got to do one main race.  They did the 50 meters, 100 meters and 200 meters.

Emma and Olivia were both signed up for the 200 meters!  They had to race each other!  They did amazing.  Emma took first and Olivia was close behind taking second.  We were so proud.

Immediately after their 200 meters, they were signed up to run the first grade relay.  The fastest two girls and two boys in each class made up the relay...Emma and Olivia were the fastest two girls in their class (again..so proud).

Emma started on her team...she ran 100 meters and handed the baton to the first boy on her team.

Then he handed it off to Olivia (the boy in yellow was on their team...Emma actually beat the first girl to him but he wasn't quite as fast as the boy in the other class).  Olivia ran as fast as she could and handed it to the other boy in her class...they ended up second, but it was close!

Nice job girls!!!  You are track stars for sure!

Mother's Day Art

I was in Boise for most of last week and came home at midnight Friday and saw this beautiful creation as I drove in the driveway...that put a smile on my face and made the long drive not feel so bad...I had to get the artists with it the next day.

Marc laid the kids down and traced their bodies.  Then they decorated themselves...Marcus did a great job!

Olivia drew striped leggings and a cute skirt...looks just like her!

She also drew our whole family in another part of the driveway.

Emma's wearing a cute skirt too...looks like her as well!

The entire driveway looked like one big card...what creative kids I have!  I'm so blessed!  Happy Mother's Day everyone!  Hope yours was as good as mine!

Picture Day

Yesterday was picture day at t-ball...I just love this one as they are getting set up...Olivia was so excited that she got to stand by her Daddy. 

Here's our team!  Look at all those girls!  Pretty cool.

Game 2 was also last night.  I actually had my real camera this time (last game was from my phone).  Emma up to bat.

Great swing Emma!

Marcus has one of the hardest swings we've ever seen...when he connects with the ball, it flies!

Emma played 1st base again...Marcus was close beside her.

Olivia did so awesome!  She even made a play that got the runner out at first.  It was so cute, she got the grounder up quickly as it was hit towards her, she stood up and threw right to first to our friend Kaydin who was playing there at the time.  Kaydin actually caught it and put her foot on first base.  The both looked at each other in amazement then just started to giggle...too cute!

Olivia in ready position.

and "five" from Emma to Dad...they did awesome again...we've got a pretty good little team this year!

New Room!

A few months ago, Marcus started to notice that he was the only one in the basement at night.  He started to complain that he was scared...so he slept with Emma in her full size bed.  Then he started to notice it was pretty much their room still and he didn't seem to have a room.  Emma also started to complain that he moved around too much and always woke her up...so we decided it was time to redecorate...


After a few nights of all three in the basement like this...

We turned the girls room from this (flashback photo from 2009 when Marc first built these beds)...

to this by day (yep, Marc re-built these beds...such talant!), which turns into....

this by night!  Just like magic (I have such a handy husband)!

Olivia is still on top (notice the zebra on the wall).

Emma is in the middle (she wanted elephants).

And Marcus gets the roll out trundle bed.  PERFECT!  Look at that happy boy...he finally has a room to call his too...and there is no pink or purple around!

We went with a jungle theme...that is what we could all agree on.  We painted all of the furniture black (minus one dresser that I didn't want to ruin...the others were already painted).  We only had to buy one mattress, the wall decals, the paint, bedding and curtains.  The other twin mattress was a hand-me-down from the Starks (thanks!)...what a great and inexpensive room makeover perfect for a boy and two girls!  Smiles all around (and much better sleep for all too I might add)!

T-Ball is Back!

Tonight was our first t-ball game. Marc is coaching again and we are the Tigers again. The night started out a little rough; we came home from work to find one of the cows was out...we literally have less than 1/2 hour to get the kids fed and to the game so it was quite stressful. Marc called in his friends and I hustled the kids to the game...


We made it just in time. Marcus was first up to bat...he hit it out of the park, literally! Everyone was in awe...I was giving Marc the play by play over the phone (by this time Marc was on his way). Marcus is a natural!
 

Emma is a natural too; she is so precise in everything she does; it really makes her a good little athlete.  And she's fast!  I've never seen anyone run those bases at this age like she does.

Even Olivia is a little natural.  She hits well and runs just as well as Emma...all of our kids run the bases fast.  Marc commented how amazed he was at our kids...there's a bit of a competitive edge in all three of them too...it's so great!

Olivia got to be the first catcher on our team.  I must love these kids in this catcher's gear.

Marcus did great in the infield.  He is way more interested this year.  He's grown so much in just one short year.  Makes us so proud. 

Emma started out at first base.  All balls are thrown to first base so she was busy.  She did great...she threw to home every time.

Marcus almost caught a ball that was hit straight to him.  It was amazing.  He is determined to catch one.

Kaydin is on our team again this year.  Actually we have 7 girls and only 4 boys this year!  Last year these three were the only girls.  Funny thing is the twins 1st grade class has 17 boys and only 6 girls!  I learned that our t-ball team consists mostly of Kindergartners...so I guess that's where all the girls are! 

Easton is 1!

Sunday was filled with Birthday Fun!  We went to the Tilla's house to celebrate an important birthday.  There were lots of bubbles...

Olivia got the hang of this right away...love the bubles!

Here's the birthday boy!  Easton Michael is ONE!!!  Hard to believe.

Ice cream cake for all!  Aubrey was there too.  Happy Birthday Easton!

Girl Day

Marc and Marcus went to Raymond's on the west side of the state today.  So it was just the girls and me.  These poor girls had to run around town all day with me.  We started at 9:15am and headed to the car dealership to get my 20K mile service.  That took almost 2 hours!  As a reward for being good I took them to McDonalds for lunch and playland.  Then it was shopping time.  I'm determined to finish their room makeover; we've been working on it for months now (more to come in a future post).  We went to 5 different stores!  As a reward again for being so good, I took them to Cold Stone for ice cream!  They were in heaven.  It was actually a lot of fun today...if you know me you know shopping and fun are not usually used together.  I see future mother/daughters shopping trips on the horizon :-)

Teamwork

A few days ago, Marc and Marcus went towards the back of our property to set up a feeder and a motion censored camera to see what sort of animals we had in back.  They set up the camera first and then set up the feeder (which Marc said is VERY heavy)...Marc pulled the memory card from the camera today and found these...they sort of tell a little story of a boy and his dad...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marc said Marcus was a huge help and he was so proud of him.  Lately Marcus really has stepped up...he feeds the cows twice a day every day and has been really responsible lately.  I do have to say, some of these pictures made me a little worried about little Marcus; but I have to admit; I'm pretty proud too.