Soccer and Spring

Spring gives me a lot of reasons to rejoice. On Saturday, Samuel had his first Spring soccer game. He has really come into his own and has grown a lot since last season. He played really well. It was fun to see his progress. He was a passing, dribbling machine and had three assists and almost scored 3 goals. He plays his positions as well, which is rare for his age...I was proud of him.

Later that afternoon, we saw Maggie play in her indoor soccer championship game. The game was intense to put it lightly...the opposing team was undefeated and we have never won them before in any indoor game or outdoor game or tournament. The girls played extremely well and after tying 2  to 2, two double overtimes of 2 minutes each, they did a shoot out and we WON!...it was awesome...the girls were so excited and deserved the victory. Maggie played half back and full back and was key to moving the ball up the field for the tying goal. I don't know who was more sweaty after the game, the girls or the parents!

We ate lunch together as a family at our local Smash Burger and celebrated with half-price shakes. I had to laugh at Sadie as she chowed down on her Smash Burger. She is picky right now, but she'll eat a hamburger. On the way home, we stopped at the Feed/Farm store to look at the baby chicks and ducks. They were so cute and the kids almost convinced me to bring one home.

The warm afternoon was spent working in the yard. Maggie helped me plant pansies in the pot on the front porch. The flowers smelled so good when I walked past them at the store that I couldn't pass them up. We racked leaves, set a trap for an annoying squirrel who has been digging out our rock wall all winter and living off of our acorns. We ended the evening with a pizza dinner at our neighbors house, smores at the fire pit, and watching the kids run wild, like it was summer! Bliss!

Letting Spring In...

Today it feels like Spring outside. The air is crisp and the sun is warm. I opened the windows earlier to let Spring come in, the wind blew the doors back and forth in my bedroom as it whistled through the shutters. My crocus', the first bulbs of Spring, are coming up in the front yard, and yesterday, I saw the first purple bloom. I heard on the radio that because of the mild winter we had this year, the bug populations are expected to thrive because the ground never had a deep freeze...that should be fun for summer...ugh.

I am finally catching up on the laundry from a week's worth of vacation. On Monday, I couldn't even walk in the laundry room...today is different, thankfully, but it did take almost a week to get it all washed and put away...(and now writing a day later)... the laundry room baskets are full again, seems like that happens over night. I noticed a day ago the first trees starting to get their green leaves and today, the first popcorn blossoms coming out, I always look forward to those blossoms. I couldn't help but sing, "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" as Sadie and I drove in the car to run errands. She let me finish that song, but when I chimed in to help her sing "Twinkle Star" she told me to "STOP Mom"...and she finished the song in her cute two-year old voice.

At night she asks me to sing, "Twinkle Star," "I am a Child of God" and "Bus" (her interpretation of "The Wheels on the Bus"...she makes me laugh and is my best, little hugger. Two weeks ago I took her for her two year old photos. She is still camera shy and gave the photographer and his helper a run for their money. I removed myself from the studio and stood outside the door because Sadie was clingy and kept saying she wanted to go home. After a 45 minute camera shoot, (with all sorts of crazy, annoying sounds coming from the room as they tried to get her to smile,) Sadie, the photographer, and his helper emerged. Sadie seemed as happy as a lark with fruit snacks in hand, the photographer and his helper were sweating and looked like they had just ran ten miles on the treadmill, no joke. I was happy with the photos, they turned out much better than I thought. At church on Sunday, I was told that Sadie is called a Rainbow Child...because she came to our family after we lost Caleb. She is special to us and makes me grateful everyday for the ability to endure and overcome trials because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and our Savior's atonement. Sadie brought hope back to our family, the gold at the end of the rainbow, so to speak.

Week 2 of Spring Break

We surprised the kids with a trip to Southern California's Disneyland and Disney's California...The crowds were crazy as always, but we got all the rides we wanted with Fast Passes and getting up early. The kids had a ball, Sadie enjoyed herself and actually learned to nap in public, a miracle in itself. The kids were troopers about all the walking to and from the hotel and just rolling with things. We headed to Long Beach one day to escape the crowds and relax...it was heaven sent, although a little cool. We were lucky to have great weather and no rain until the day we left...it was a fun trip, but Brian and I both came back feeling like we needed another vacation! The kids' two weeks of Spring Break flew by and now they are already back in school...where does the time go? Really, where does it go?

We did a lot of waiting in line, but the fast passes really helped...

Sam got chosen out of the crowd for Jedi Training and he took it seriously...

Sadie most enjoyed the simple things, the waterball, the ducks, cotton candy, the Carousel and the Parade 

She was thrilled with the Teacups...Maggie loved all the rides, her favorite being
Thunder Mountain Railroad and Indiana Jones

Sadie also enjoyed getting eaten by a whale on the Storybook boat ride...

Sam's most memorable ride was Splash Mountain and he also enjoyed Woody, Buzz and Thunder Mountain Railroad

And of course, they always enjoy the beach. Maggie collected an entire pocket-full of shells and Sam and Maggie collected specimens of seaweed and danced in the waves.

Spring Break

The kids have two weeks of Spring Break this year. This week, we are hitting all of the places that are normally busy on weekends and Spring Breaks, but lucky for us, no other schools are out yet, so these destinations, that the kids have chosen, have been mostly empty. We started the week at the Living Planet Aquarium. Sadie loved the sharks in the tank, Sam's highlight was the octopus and Maggie loved the otters, it was the otters' 2nd Birthday on the day we went.

Frog Legs anyone?

My little penguins

The Amazon river fish were bigger then Sadie

On Tuesday, we did a little shorts shopping as both Maggie and Samuel have outgrown all of their warm weather clothing. We ate lunch at the mall and ran a few errands which included getting Sam some new soccer cleats as he has also outgrown those.

Today, I got Sadie's two-year old photos taken in the morning, she was less than cooperative and would hardly give a smile; however, the photographer managed to get a few cute ones and half-smiles. After the photos, we headed to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. Other then a few other moms, we had the entire place to ourselves. Maggie and Samuel were in heaven. They had the entire sand/water/erosion area to themselves and the digging for dinosaurs bones as well. It was a good day. Afterward, we headed to dentist appointments and cub scouts and now Maggie is at soccer practice. I enjoy having my kids home...they are growing up so fast.

The Paleontologist looked up from his work long enough to smile at the kids

Water, Sand, Erosion and Dinosaurs

On the agenda tomorrow and Friday...I haven't figured that all out yet, another dental appointment for Sam and maybe a climbing day at Momentum or swimming at the gym...we'll see how much energy I have...maybe a movie...The Lorax or John Carter. 

Sadie Turns TWO

For Sadie's 2nd Birthday, I decided to invite some friends over for lunch, a playdate, and a cookie exchange. The kids played and ate while the moms talked and ate. I served chicken salad croissants, guacamole and pita chips, and fruit. The party was a lot of fun, simple, but perfect for turning TWO! Sadie knew she was having a party and knew something was special that day. For dinner, we met Brian's family at Red Lobster to celebrate Brian's Grandma's 92 Birthday, she and Sadie are lucky enough to share the same birthday!

Sadie and her friends sat at the kid-sized table for over 20 minutes and ate

The Cookie Exchange, Yum!

Brian is always making Sadie smile. I can't believe she is TWO!

Sadie and her Great Grandma Theresa share the same birthday. Mamma Theresa turned 92!! and Sadie 2! 

Blowing out the candles

Eating the Cake, that's what birthdays are all about when you're TWO!

St. George

We headed down to St. George for President's Weekend. Maggie participated in the President's Cup Soccer Tournament so we rented a condo and made it a vacation. The weather was better in St. George then at home. We had a few warm sunshine days and managed to hike a little bit. Brian trained for his Ironman St. George coming up and rode part of the bike course one day, doing one loop of the two loop ride. Maggie's team played well and had a lot of fun together in the evenings. The trip was a great break from the humdrum of winter.

Our Patio

PreGame for Maggie

After the Bike Loop and Run

Hiking in Snow Canyon, The Butterfly Trail

Hiking, an amazing backdrop

My Dad and Mom came down for the weekend as well.

Maggie found a lot of Mokki Marbles on the trail

Down in the Lava Tube

In the Lava Tube 

Looking out from inside the Lava Tube

Sadie like holding rocks and flowers in hands

We stopped in Veyo, a tiny little town near Snow Canyon. The raspberry rhubarb pie was AMAZING!

Maggie's last game, she plays fullback

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We celebrated with crab, caprese, (a blue cheese, bacon, iceberg lettuce salad) and sparkling Lorina Lemonade variations. The Valentine Heart visited the kids later that evening and brought them a few simple gifts. The Valentine Heart has been coming around on Valentine's Evening since I was a little girl, ringing the doorbell and leaving gifts behind.