Excitement of the Day

Okay, maybe this should be titled excitement of the YEAR! We don't usually have this kind of excitement around here! Our backyard neighbor's willow couldn't take the wind last night and split in two. It crashed through the fence, smashed the boys' pitching net and the swingset. We are sad to see the tree go. It provided great shade!! But, we may get a new swingset out of it!

A Commentary on the Olympics

We LOVE Michael Phelps. He has inspired Devin even more then he was already inspired to swim. Mark took him swimming on Saturday morning after he begged to go every night after watching swimming on TV. Too bad school is already in session, he would have been several times by now. Mark said Devin even started off the wall, arching his back and going under the water...only he doesn't know the backstroke, yet.

Mark is fiercely loyal to the American athletes, but when it comes to the USA basketball team, aka spoiled, over paid, whiner babies, he is hoping they get their butts handed to them on a silver platter. He doesn't think they belong in the games because they don't appreciate what it takes to be an Olympian. They don't have to try out, like all the other athletes, even though try-outs probably wouldn't change anything. They seem to make a mockery of the games by the comments they make. (Just for the record, I haven't heard D. Will say anything...:)) Mark is expecting fierce opposition to this opinion from KC, Chris, and Travis. Bring it on!!! It comes down to cocky arrogance for Mark. Last night Usain Bolt won the 100 meter dash, and he pulled up toward the end, pounded his chest and looked around like he was all that...okay, he did break the world record, but he could have had an even better time if he would have actually ran the last 10 meters of the race. Mark was really disgusted at that. Just be humble people!!! Appreciate where you are and who you are representing. Every American, and many others, I'm sure, dream of being an Olympian. Represent.

But, for every cocky jerk, there are those great athletes everyone can look up to, like Phelps, Dara Torres, Nastia Lukin, Shawn Johnson, and the 33 year old German woman who competed in gymnastics!! That is awesome.

GO USA!!!

Keime Time

We returned from the Keime Family Reunion in Pueblo, Colorado on Sunday evening after an ever boring ride back through Wyoming. I loved what Pace said about Wyoming, "I never, never, never, never, never, NEVER, want to come here again!" At least the boys kept the trip from getting too boring. Mark didn't even ask me to drive because he didn't want to be the one passing treats, drinks, tissues, movies, wipes, and what ever else back and forth every five seconds! I swear I was in and out of my seat belt at least a hundred times! Nothing like a 9, 6, 2, and 6 month old trapped in a confined space for hundreds of miles. Oh, well. That's the joy of the road trip, and I do love them.

Anyway, the reunion was really fun. Thanks Vivian and family for putting it on! The park was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the rides were so fun for the kids!! I wish they had something like that in Utah, it was like a mini Lagoon for kids and the rides were 25 cents a piece!!! You can't beat that! The kids loved staying in a hotel and swimming every day with their cousins and second cousins. It was so good to see cousins we haven't seen in at least a decade! We have a wonderful family and I wish we could get together more often. A fun time was had by all, and we have some pics to prove it. Count down to the next road trip...anyone game? :)

Dancing Queen

A few friends and I went to see Mama Mia! on Tuesday night. It was THE funnest show! I couldn't stop smiling, and it was all I could do to keep myself from jumping out of my seat and dancing! I love to dance, but alas, I am 30 something, and dancing is just not something people want to see a mother of four doing. But, inside me there still lives a Dancing Queen. I guess if Meryl Streep can do it, why can't I???? I can't stop singing all those great Abba songs. My kids think I'm crazy, which isn't far from the truth. Here's to all us Dancing Queens!!

School's in Session

Okay, so I'm a bad Mom. I didn't take a picture of Devin and Sam on their first day of first and third grade!! I even thought about taking one on the second day, but here we are on the third day, and still no photo. I will attempt to remember to take one when they get home. Anywho...Sam was SO cute on Sunday night. He was so excited to start school that he got up at 3am and started getting ready. I was feeding Noah and told him that he still had a few hours before he needed to get up. I braced myself for a hysterical fit, but that didn't happen! He just said, "Oh, I thought it was time." He slept with us the rest of the night, and eventually even Devin came in and kicked Mark out on the couch. They woke up every hour or so until it was actually time to get ready. When Devin was in first grade he struggled so much with the long day, but so far Sam hasn't complained once! He is so social that I think it is a dream come true to be around friends all day. Although, when I picked him up from school he informed me that Mrs. Golde doesn't want them to lay on the floor (!) I guess I should have warned her that he got up at 3am! He also said he cried because he was so hungry before lunch. On Tuesday I sent him with a baggie of crackers in his backpack in case he needed a pick-me-up at first recess. Devin got used to the long days by the end of 1st grade, he enjoyed 2nd grade most of the time, and he seems to like 3rd grade, so far. We had a family meeting for FHE on Monday and decided on a homework, piano practice, and scripture study schedule for the new school year, and so far, so good. Two nights down 173 to go!!! :)

One Last Hurrah

We were invited to go boating at Pine View with some friends in our ward last night. There were five families all together, three of them have boats...I told ya, we live in the ghetto of the Hansen Meadows Ward!! We DON'T have a boat OR a half a million dollar home...oh, well...we like it that way. Okay, back to the topic. Our boys had never been out on a boat before, Devin had complained all day saying that he was afraid of getting on a boat and that he wouldn't get on the boat...but, when it came right down to it, they all got on the boat. Mark tried to Slalom, but couldn't get up. Then he tried skiing and got up. It was fun to watch, NO I didn't even attempt it. I haven't skied since my Aunt Joe and Uncle Bob used to take us out when I was a teenager. Then Sam wanted to try. They had kids skis so he got in the water with Marci (one of our friends) and she helped him get the skis on. He tried once and biffed hard, and he wouldn't try again. He was really upset. I think he thought he would just get up right off. Then, surprise, surprise, Devin said he wanted to try. (Just between us, I don't think Devin would have tried if it weren't for Sam going first). He tried five times before he got up, and he just wouldn't give up. It was awesome. Devin is our cautious child, so it was fun to see him do something so daring. Ty loved riding in the boat and he got to hold the flag when the skiers fell down. He didn't like to see Mark, Devin, and Sam fall though. He would scream and get this concerned look on his face. It was so cute! After that we played on the beach and then went back to camp and ate dinner, roasted marshmallows and all that. It was a great time. All the other families spent the night, but we aren't quite up to camping with Noah, yet. It was a great last fling before school starts.

Memories...

"The difference between false memories and true ones is the same as for jewels: It is always the false ones that look the most real, the most brilliant"- Salvador DaliLet's see what can be conjured up. :) Here are the rules:1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! If we're only blogging friends, write about a post that is most memorable. If you don't have a blog and don't know how to sign in, please comment as anonymous.2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It is pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll be sure to write one about you...either on your blog, in my comment box, or I will email you back!3. If the memory happens to involve my husband, please include him!4. If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all (Only nice false memories, please). :) Okay, let's see what you've got!