A Pirates Life for ME!!

I am so excited - if you know anything about me you know I LOVE pirates, skulls, crossbones, the works! Pirate Island Pizza is coming to Layton! My brother went to the St. George location this weekend and they had a ball. It is a themed restaurant and it is all about PIRATES! How cool is that? They have a pirate show, the employees are all dressed like pirates and everything is decorated like being in a pirate village or ship. They have an arcade area and a gift shop (like the Mayan in SLC) but with an Amazing Jakes feel. I pulled some pics off the internet. They have several SLC locations opening soon too! They do have a website but there isn't anything there yet. www.pirateislandpizza.com Thanks Ty for sharing the info - it made my week!
Simple pleasures people, simple pleasures!

Home of the "Kracken" (Pirates of the Caribbean) a 24" pizza.
Looks good enough to eat - plus it's late and I am really hungry!

SOOOOO who's goin with me - we'll have a swashbuckling good time!?
Ok I made it to the end of this post without using any lame pirate lingo, but c'mon, I couldn't resist - It's a PIRATE POST!

Hardball

So our life has been all about BASEBALL for the past 6 weeks or something like that. Because of the weather our season is still going. Not that I am complaining though beacause I love it! Watching my kids play sports is one of my favorite things to do! The boys finished their games this week and Abby finishes next week. It has been a busy season with everyone playing on the same night (go figure). And of course every game (except 2) at least two of them were playing at the same time and very rarely in the same place! Add that to several practices a week as well as 6 games each week kept things interesting. And to add to the excitement and chaos Dayton coached Abby's team this year. That was quite the experience. I think it was a little harder than he thought. He really enjoyed spending the time with Abby but the girls, shall we say, are a little less coachable than the boys. I am ALL ABOUT girls playing sports - as I played sports all through high school - I have respect. However it was so amazing to me to see the differences in the boys vs the girls. We played Jantz up a year so he played with kids in K and 1st - same age as Abby's team. His team was MUCH better than hers. The girls just don't "get it" like the boys do. That being said, Abby gets it, she is very athletic, and she did a great job. Because I couldn't clone myself to have kids in the same time at different locations, I need to give a shout out to all the grandma's and grandpa's who helped me shuttle kids while Dayt was out coaching.
THANK YOU!

First off - I love this picture (now) but there were days of scrubbin these pants that I could've done without. Trust me - I TRIED to find grey! Apparently Jantz has a thing against white pants. I guess it is something like how I feel about having pants that have that "worn" feel, or maybe it's just that he really likes to slide! This picture does NOT do these pants justice - they were FILTHY! I love how the top part is so white where I have to fold down the top just so they will stay on. And how about the gatorade stains that turn to mud when he hits the field.

I am not just saying this but Jantz has some very natural athletic ability. I was a little worried at first because I had put him in the older age group - but he held his own! He LOVED every minute of it....he ate it up! I wish I had some pics of him playing up to the crowd by sticking his tongue out and giving a thumbs up while he runs into home base. Classic good fun, he was a ball to watch!

Here is J - check out the Babe Ruth pants - this kid is sooo skinny! He is all about baseball season. His baseball backpack was filled with seeds, balls, a bat, his mitt, batting gloves, some powerade and of course - he couldn't miss a game without his eye black! I gotta look for a pic of a close-up of that, he looked so tough! he he he

Sweet little Ab. Don't you love the kid on third freezing her tail off. What a weird season!

She has the athletic mind, she checks third and then throws to first. Gotta LOVE it! I hope she continues to play sports. Nothing against dance and stuff, but I guess I am a little partial to athletics and not so much of the girly girly costumes!

Sunburn or Hypothermia?

So crazy our weather this year! So far it has been the wettest June on record, it feels like April showers in June. We have had so many baseball games and arts in the park canceled because of all the rain. Add to the list of canceled activities....Father's Day BBQ! On the Saturday before Father's Day we have a get-to-gether at Dayt's mom's house and then off to my brother's house for a BBQ and water party. Last year, sunshine and sunburns...this year we had plenty of water...just not the kind we were interested in! The kids had been looking forward to the water party at Ty's all week. They have been a little bummed that June is almost over and they haven't been swimming outside yet. They kept hoping - crossing their fingers that the weather would clear by 4pm. They even brought all their swim gear! So sad! It rained and rained. We went to Grandpa Mac's to wish him and the rest of the guys Happy Father's Day and then off to Ty's. I can't even tell you how many times they asked me to go out and swim. After we ate dinner I said I didn't care what they did, I mean it was 50 degrees outside with wind and rain. Who would take the plunge anyway......uh yeah, that would be my kid outside with hypothermia!

Don't you just love a good cannonball in only 4 inches of water? Only Josh would try that!

Jantz always quick to follow his older brother, and just as fearless...and brainless maybe! I wouldn't even go outside it was so cold...I took pictures from the top of the deck. And YES it was raining during these pictures!

The girls were a lot smarter, they just tested the water with their toes and took off back inside!

Here are some pics earlier in the week of the kids working on their Father's Day project. They each made some hearts with special messages on them to stick on Dayt's car.


Do you love the I-pod in Abby's ear and Josh and Jantz turned toward the TV...kids of this generation! :)
But what do the hearts say about their personality...

Here are Abby's hearts - laid out in a pattern, and cut as perfect as possible.
Josh's pile - no organization whatsoever, all different shapes and sizes

Jantz's hearts - all the same color, and could be the cutest pile ever!The kids were so excited to sneak out on Saturday night and decorate the car. I was working on my lesson and Dayt was reading a book so I told him I needed to some paper to make some wordstrips for part of the lesson and grabbed the kids and ushered them outside to work on the car. I gave them some window crayons - showed them how to use them, gave them some tape and then went back in so Dayt wouldn't be tipped off. I gave them a few minutes and then I went out to get them. I peeked into the house, coast was clear so I sent them to their lockers to put away their shoes. I told them to stay quiet while I made sure Dayt was still in his room before they made their way down the hall and into their bedrooms. Dayt came around the corner just as the kids peeked out of the mudroom. They all started shrieking and running for their rooms. Dayt just looked at me funny and said what are all you guys doing? Jantzen says....uh uh mom made us get out of bed to put our shoes away and then we just had a snack - like one peanut! (So random!) Josh said at the same time - we just fed the cats. I was laughing!




Dayt was a good sport the next morning. Although I am sure he was a little embarassed in a way, he still drove us to church in his car. The kids were thrilled! On the way to church Jantzen said, "Dad remember when I told you that we were putting our shoes away and having a snack and eating a peanut last night...that was funny. You can lie to your dad on Father's Day!"
Who doesn't love this kid?! The rain had washed away all their artwork by the end of church, and dashed all their plans for the day. They had spent so much time planning their activities to do with their dad today. I felt sad for them. But we made the best of it! Dang rain!

We had planned to blindfold him and take him to our favorite spot in the south fork campground and set up a little 3 man tent and have a picnic lunch. We were going to do a little hike down the river and then the kids each planned a special activity and worked hard on all the preparations by themselves. Abby came up with a water balloon game for us to play, Josh made some targets so we could shoot bb guns and Jantz chose to play tuna toss. Considering that everything is covered in mud right now we canceled the mountains and went to the park! We still had our picnic lunch. The kids picked out special items for Dayt including some of his favorites, PB&J * Fritos * Coke* Better Cheddars crackers. Then they packed them some lunchables and sprite to go along with it. We played at the "castle park" on the playground and walked through the trees down to the river. They played tetherball and soccer too. I thought this was a cute picture of Dayt and Josh having a contest to see who could jump out of their swing the farthest.
All in all it was a good day.

FiReWoRkS Anyone?

Hi everybody, this is Josh. I am selling packages of fireworks as a fundraiser for my new soccer team. Wasatch Soccer Club. We are trying to earn money for our uniforms. If you are planning on buying fireworks for the Fourth of July these packages are just a bit cheaper than the fireworks stand. Please let me know if you are interested. I have three packages to choose from small, medium and large. The prices are $10, $20, and $50. They have different varieties of fireworks in each package. I will be walking around the neighborhood or you can give me a call. I will deliver the fireworks to your house from June 29 - July 2nd.
You can write a check or pay with cash.
Thank you.

Cute kids saying the darndest things!

I love my kids! Some of the things they say just put a big ol smile on my face. I know I have a hard time trying to live in the moment sometimes, but I am working on it! I wish I could write everything down, but here and there, it's a start.
Some of these things I don't ever want to forget....

We were talking about her getting married one day and Abby said, I will HAVE to say yes. I said no you don't, and before I could finish explaining she said, yes I do! I have to say yes or I will hurt his feelings! After I explained what I meant, we had a lengthy conversation on "how" she will know if he is the one if she should say yes to, what if someone just asks her and she hasn't had a chance to make up her mind! She is so cute. I love how she is always so concerned about other's feelings. She is a very thoughtful girl. Being thoughtful, is that just a female trait? I don't see that as much in my boys! he he he

Today Jantzen asked me if kidnappers are real. Loaded question right? I don't want to scare him but I want him to be aware, so how do you do that without heading in the wrong direction? Well I said yes, but quickly followed it up with all sorts of good information on why he will be safe from kidnappers. To which he replied with slight attitude in his voice...You can't protect me! You don't even have a weapon! Busted!

Loading into the car to head to t-ball games I was handing all three their waterbottles. Jantz says, is mine filled with gatorade again? I said yes. He says with a huge smile and tilted head - I love you mom! I wish that was all I had to do everyday to get that response!

Jantz telling me about his lunch with grandpa...I had a roll and grandpa had a roll and grandpa had a banana and I had the other half and then we "bof" had some strawberries! The strawberries were wonderful! I said I bet grandpa loves having a little buddy around while grandma is at work so he doesn't get lonely. He said mom, I am not his buddy, I am his grandson!

In scripture study the other night we were reading about when Abraham was asked to sacrafice Isaac his only son that they had when they were 90 yada yada yada, and the questions were coming about age and why you can't always have a baby when you want to. Dayt was fielding the questions mostly and he started saying something about how women only have eggs into thier late thirties or earlier forties (Josh is really the only one that is understanding what we are saying because he is the only one that has had the "whole talk") anyway, they all beg me to have a baby all the time - especially Josh, and he looked at me and said with urgency....mom! And then quietly and disappointedly, you are almost out of eggs. ha ha ha. I was laughing so hard!

Jantzen is obsessed with the touch and brush, you may have seen it on tv. Actually I LOVE the idea, just not sure if it would work as claimed. Anyhow, it is a dispenser for toothpaste so that you always get the "right" amount and don't get toothpaste all over. Our family could really use this! Especially Jantz. Well everytime the commercial comes on he tells me how much we need it and that maybe he will get it for my birthday. Not a bad choice I guess. He must actually "comprehend" my complaints about all the toothpaste in the bathroom where it shouldn't be. Well the other day he was watching the commercial and I heard him say. Oh man! You have to be 18 to buy the touch and brush! Dangit!

Jantzen and Dayt having a conversation at Lagoon, I can't remember what ride Jantz was telling him about and Dayt playing cool said, is that it (pointing to a ride) and Jantz said, yea, and I am going to sit with you buddy!

Spring Soccer

Just wrapped up the spring soccer season last Saturday. I am missing it already! I love to sit and watch the kids play. They are both so much fun to watch. Josh likes soccer so much he tried out for the Wasatch Soccer Club competitive team and made it! We will be watching a lot more soccer in the months to come and I couldn't be happier! Plus, Jantz starts this fall...that should be great entertainment. Those of you who have seen him play t-ball this season know exactly what I am talking about! :) Here are a couple of pics from their last games..

I was a 1/2 second too late taking this shot, Josh is in the orange closest to the goalie, he just scored!

I think this was a pass to someone in the box, again I'm a 1/2 second too late - they just move too fast! Kinda a funny shot. I felt bad for this cute little team, we beat them in double digits.

Here's Abby with her team. Their cute coach had a medal ceremony after their game.

Here is Abby on a breakaway to the goal

And Abby playing defense