Baseball for Emily and Justin

June 2011

June brought lots of baseball and softball. Emily and Justin both played for the first time. We spent a lot of time at the ball field with both of them!

It was fun to watch Emily become part of a team. She did really well at first base. After a few strike outs she started to get a feel for the ball and started to make contact. I hope that she will play again, I think that she could really enjoy it.

Justin was just glad to get a hat-which was lost on the first day! He will be like his big brother and will become a good player. This year was fun because they are still so little that there is often someone running the wrong direction, someone doing cartwheels or sitting in the dirt.

They both had fun so all the dinners at the snack shack were all worth it!!

Summer at last!

May 30, 2011

I knew that summer had arrived when I looked out and Emily and Justin were playing-together-in the playhouse. They had blankets, chairs and anything else to help. They had all the Wilkinsen kids out playing with them.


Thank heaven for summer!

Emily's Grand American Award-May 20

Emily earned the Grand American Award!

Em worked hard to earn this award. She had to learn the Gettysburg Address, the Preamble, The Star Spangled Banner, all fifty states, write the Pledge of Allegiance,and


She is a great student, loves to read and remembers things well. We are so proud of her for doing earning this award!

March Dance Competition-Pocatello

A bit of a catch up!

We went to Idaho State Dance Championships in March so Emily could compete in her clogging/powertap.

She is on two teams this year. She is getting quite good. It is always so nuts at a competition to get there with all the hair pieces, clothing articles, makeup, shoes etc. Then while at the competition to be on the right stage at the right times!

Em's teams did super earning first on all dances and also receiving an Overall which is the highest award given!

Playing at Bubble Land --July 26,2010

My brother Royce and wife Rhonda live right next to the river. Across the railroad bridge and down a path leads to a place that has been dubbed "Bubble Land". Not sure if it is because of the lava rocks or the waterfall but the place is lots of fun. We went one evening, trying to keep everyone from getting on each others nerves. Justin was really nervous at first, the rocks are a bit slippery. After a few minutes he was right there with the other kids. Mitch wasn't going to go because he cut his toe, I insisted that he put shorts on in case he changed his mind. It didn't take five minutes for him to be in that water climbing across the rocks and playing in the waterfall. I didn't dare go across the river with my camera to get a picture of the waterfall but Em and Mitch were able to sit underneath it. Justin wasn't brave enough for that yet!

We even got Grandma Dalley to take her shoes off and put her feet in! As we were leaving the mosquitoes about carried us away!

Swimming Lessons June 2010

This was Little J's first time at swimming lessons! He did them with his cousin C and they had a ball! E had lessons as well with her other cousin K.

We went everyday for two weeks(8 times total). It is about a half hour drive so it seems like the entire day! They loved being in the water. J has been very hesitant about the water. I think it is because he has been on our boat, so he hasn't been able to walk into the water.

They loved it! They also loved the days that we would stop at Maverick and get frozen yogurt!!!

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY!!!!!

After almost 17 years as a Mom it still surprises me! How did that little

baby of mine get to be so big?

MissE turned ten yesterday--April 19, 2010! 10--that is a really big number.

Somehow there is something big about turning ten. It is like it is the official end of

being a little kid. You still are a little kid but there is just something different

once ten happens.

E helped me decorate her cake. I was happy because I got to use my cake stand.

Things just look prettier on a cake stand! I am so happy that they have come back

into fashion. They were out for a long time because they just weren't "practical."

Tupperware containers that transport things came into style. They did keep things from

drying out but they certainly weren't full of any style!

M is always teasing the little man. He always wants to dump him upside down--which J has hated since infancy. They are so so silly together.

The little man and his cousin"Jo" ---"Jo" just isn't quite up to speed on the silly game yet!

All in all I think that E had a happy birthday. I went to her class at school, played the crazy birthday song, got her class dancing and brought treats. She decorated with balloons and opened some fun gifts.

Here is to a great year! 10 is BIG!

Hope

Perhaps spring is actually on its way! MissE and the little man just had to go outside.

"Momma,come and push me high on the swing."

Everyone needs a little "Superman" in their lives, especially one in his p.j.'s and winter coat!

There is proof that a few things are beginning to wake up from their long winter slumber!

Even with snow across most of the yard, these two just knew that the sunshine was just for them. It needed to be enjoyed--OUTSIDE!

December Daily--December 13, 2008

December Daily--December 13, 2008

We left Boise early in the morning so that we would be back in plenty of time to pick up Mr. Man(#2) from the ski hill.

We ended up having to drive quite slowly in places due to icy roads. To take my mind off of the roads and let Mr. Sweetness drive without me panicking, I read out loud a new book we picked up. It is called The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren.

This is a non-denominational Christian book. It was definitely worth the read. I would recommend it to anyone. It isn't a light and fluffy Christmas book, however, it could be quite life altering if one took the things and really incorporated them into one's life. If you are a studying Christian at all these purposes are not new. We already know them, however, Mr. Warren has put them together in a way that really is wonderful.

Four hours later we were still running behind. We headed up a windy narrow canyon to get to the ski hill. The storm had been raging for quite a few hours so the roads were treacherous(as my Mom likes to say!) We actually lost control once on a corner and almost had a disastrous crash. Luckily, Mr. Sweetness is a great driver and was able to maneuver the suburban during the spin. We only ended up with a tiny scratch on the side of the car. The rest of the drive to and from the ski hill was horrible as well. Mr.Sweetness was a wreck when we finally got home. However, we had to rush into the house, change clothes and go to the annual Christmas piano recital.

Both Mr. Man and MissE were performing. We literally arrived at our house at 1:45 p.m., changed and arrived at the church at 1:55 p.m. That is cutting it close!

Both the kids played their memorized pieces well. I believe that this is the year that Man is going to really excel in his piano. He doesn't' realize it but I do. His teacher and I feel that he can really be pushed now.

My how I love a man that can play the piano!

December Daily---December 8, 2008

December daily --December 8, 2008

Today's focus changed suddenly--Little Man was horsing around while we were preparing for the single ward to come to our home for a special Christmas family home evening. He was climbing on the couch and came off of the back. The cry was different, then the whimper was as well. I looked over and knew that his arm was broken. Such timing! Ten minutes before 40 people are going to be arriving, rolls in the oven, chocolate to warm for the fountain, bananas and pumpkin roll to cut.

I head to the emergency room with the Little Man's arm on his Thomas pillow with Mr. Man and MissE there ---why were they there again? Luckily for us they take him right in. The ex-rays show both bones broken completely through, bent at about a 45 degree angle. They knock him out with what they call a conscious sedation. He wasn't thrilled about the i.v. and he jerked when the needle poked him so they had to do it again.

He has a temporary soft splint until the swelling goes down and then he will have a hard cast for about six weeks.

I guess that the party went well. There wasn't much food left. There were two slices of pumpkin roll-my first attempt ever! They turned out really good and were not hard at all!

Fired!

Our Tooth Fairy needs to be fired! The last two times that MissE has lost a tooth the Tooth Fairy has been late. Then we have to search and search hoping that she just hid the treasured coins in a not so easy to find place.

If your Tooth Fairy is for hire please contact us.

Family Fun Night

Last night was Family Fun Night! It is a fund raiser for the PTSO at our middle school. We have not attended before but #3 was supposed to dance so we went.

I use the term "Family Fun night" loosely. For me it was a school full of a million people running around with lots of complete chaos!

#3 and #4 had a ball. They had punch cards that they got to do cake walks, cotton candy, fish ponds and many others. The highlight of their evening was the hair painting. It was rather disgusting. Little man(#4) came to climb into my bed sometime in the night---I told him--Not with that hair! He slept on his pillow on the floor.

This is what he looked like before we washed his face to go to the gym.

This is a picture of the tub AFTER he got out! Eewh!

Just a few pictures from our Halloween festivities. I realized that I didn't take any pictures actually on Halloween! I have to search for other cameras and find some!

We had a carving party at Mr. Sweetness' ward so our little guy had a ball with Big Tim. He had all sorts of power tools.

I am glad that most of my children are actually able to handle carving the pumpkins by themselves. It isn't really something that I love to do!

Our Big Boy was there also--where are his pictures? I will have to add that to my to-do list-Find more pictures!

My sweet friend and neighbor had some gals over for lunch a while back. Another neighbor made these darling owl cookies. I just had to take a picture. I am not sure that I will ever attempt to make them but they were adorable!

Sometimes

Sometimes I get a glimpse of heaven. I am usually too busy with laundry and such to pay attention.

My sweet little man is in the kitchen just talking away--to himself. Mr. Man(#2) is sleeping soundly in the chair behind me. I can hear the bus coming up the hill to drop of MissE. Besides these noises it is quiet.

I am a blessed Momma.

Noise

I am in our den listening to #3 and her cousin and friend play Wii Rockband. It is one of those things that is so awful that you have to just laugh!

For those of you that are not familiar(yet) with Rockband--it is a computer simulated rock concert. It comes with a guitar, microphone and drum set. The idea is to hit the drums at the right notes, sing at the right beat and pitch and play the guitar. Well, Miss #3 is downstairs on mic---she is literally screaming! This whole Wii thing was something that I have put off/avoided for the last couple of years. Mainly because I think that video games and all things like them are the biggest time waster and brain drain around. I have told #2 that I want him to grow up to be a man not a couch potato. Well, we succumbed to the Wii recently. This Rockband is hysterical to watch--for about 30 seconds! That is how long I can actually stand listening to any of my children sing. Unfortunately for them, they sing like me. That is not really a good thing.

I will say that the Rock band has been a great thing to have the kids at MY HOUSE. They are also really working together, laughing, playing and just being silly. That is a good thing.

Now where are those earplugs?