Illness, Flag Football, Canning and Parties; Oh My!

It has been a hectic week and a half since I last wrote. A week and a half full of sickness, flag football, canning, parties and more. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are flag football days. Both Zach and Josh have been practicing quite a bit. Each of them has a game tonight. They sure do enjoy playing and the rest of us enjoy watching. It has been a lot of fun to see them learning and getting better at playing. Still, I know there will be some chuckles tonight as we watch seven and five year olds play football.

After flag football, we usually get home about 8:15. Just in time to get dressed into pajamas and head to bed (at least the kids anyway). Recently I purchased some new superhero jammies for the boys. They love to wear them and "fly" around the house saving the world!

Since I last wrote, we all have been sick with a cold. It wasn't the nicest of colds (as if any of them are) with a fever, congestion, barking cough and sore throat. Josh was the last to catch it on Friday, but is feeling much better today. In fact we all are feeling pretty good save for the never ending cough that was left after. I think it will be one of those coughs that hangs around for weeks after you are actually better. Oh well, at least we all feel better!

Friday, several ladies in the ward and I went to a friend's house and canned some fruit we ordered. We canned lots of jam. It was extremely tiring, but rewarding at the same time. I don't know if Troy enjoyed the final product near as much as I did, since he ended up watching all the kids most of the evening while we finished up. Still, I love finishing a project and ending up with something yummy or pretty!

Saturday, Melissa, Heidi and I threw a baby shower for Beth and little Sarah who will soon be here. As a testament to Beth at least thirty people showed up. It was a lot of fun and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.

Hope your week is healthy and full of fun, laughter and flag football!

It's Game Time!

I know I said once a week, but better late than never is my motto! Yesterday Josh had to come home from school with a fever. He didn't seem to be bothered too much and this morning he didn't have a fever so off he went to school again. I guess we'll see if I get another call. Troy took both Zach and Josh to school since he didn't have a patient first thing this morning. It was so nice to not pack everyone into the car. After they left, I realized that the house is quiet with only two kids. Maybe I should say, relatively quiet. Matt is so cute with Emma and she is just beginning the rocking back and forth on her hands and knees. It won't be too much longer and she will be crawling. Watch out world!

At the end of the month BYU plays TCU here in Texas. Of course Troy couldn't pass up the opportunity to take the boys to their first BYU football game. So two weeks from today, we will pack everyone up and make the four hour drive to Fort Worth so we all can go cheer BYU. Afterward I think we'll spend the night with Matt Jackman (Troy's good friend from high school) and his family who recently moved to Sherman-2 hours north of Fort Worth. It is going to be a lot of fun and most likely exhausting, but we are all excited. Hopefully Emma does okay at the game!

Both Zach and Josh started flag football season this week. They are very excited and seem to have excellent coaches who are interested more in the kids enjoying the game then the outcome. At this age all they really need is to realize football can be fun. Once they see the joy of playing, then they try their hardest! Troy is so excited about flag football. He often will tell the boys right before a game, "What time is it? It's game time!"

Other than that, the week has been the same old thing. Everyone is pretty much healthy; Zach and Josh are doing the school and homework thing; Troy is working; and Matt, Emma and I are running around trying to accomplish things. We hope your week is happy.

Happy Birthday Josh!

Here it is, another Monday, and I thought I would update you on what has happened the last week. Both Troy and I remarked to each other that the week was kind of busy and crazy, but better to be busy than to sit around doing nothing.

Wednesday was a hectic day mainly because Troy and I both decided we had to get our home and visiting teaching done. Not to mention that our home teachers also wanted to come by. So after all the appointments were said and done the day was gone.

Thursday was Joshua's fifth birthday and since the next day was a school day we decided to just have a few friends over to celebrate. Mike and Beth along with Joe and Melissa came over for some cupcakes and ice cream. The day before was Mike's birthday so we celebrated both the birthdays together. Josh opened up his present from Grandpa Mike and Grandma Karen. They gave him a T Rex (dinosaur) that moves and roars. You can see it in the picture. I think that was his favorite gift, although he also thought a motorized Spiderman on a motorcycle was "Totally awesome!" It was a lot of fun!

Friday was another fun day. Joe and Melissa's little Emma turned one and they invited over friends and family for a birthday party complete with pizza, homemade rootbeer, cake and ice cream. It was a great party, but I had to leave early because our Primary had a talent night at 7pm and I was in charge. The talent night was so cute. It was amazing and fun to see the wide variety of talents both performed and displayed. Troy came a little later with the rest of the family. Mike and Beth also came and it was a good thing because I was the MC and couldn't help regulate kids. So Troy, Mike and Beth all helped parent rowdy children. Zach and Josh both displayed artwork and I think everyone had an enjoyable time.

Saturday morning Josh had a party with all of his friends to celebrate his birthday. The kids went on a treasure hunt for goodie bags and we of course opened presents and had cake and ice cream. It was a lot of fun for the ELEVEN kids who were there. I think, even Troy and I enjoyed ourselves. Later that evening there was a Cub Scout get together for the beginning of the year. That's right, Zach will be eight in April and will be able to start going this school year. I can't believe that Zach will be turning eight, but even harder to believe is that Troy and I are old enough to have a child that old. Where did the time go? The Cub Scout party was a pool party and even Josh and Matt got to go in the pool. They had a wonderful time playing, splashing and jumping off the diving board with Troy close by. The only down side was a little boy almost drowned but everything ended up okay. I guess the lesson to learn is always keep a close eye on your little kids at the pool.

Sunday we went to church and then later in the evening had a potluck dinner and games afterward. This has gotten to be a standing tradition with Joe & Melissa and Mike & Beth . We'll even have the occassional new couple come. We always end up eating, laughing, talking and playing way too much! But I wouldn't trade it for the world. Often it is the highlight of the week.

And now we are at today. We are going to have a small barbeque and then Troy has to get to bed early so he can make the two hour drive to Austin in the morning. Hope your shorter week is full of fun and laughter.