Isosad

Total bummer. I take my camera everywhere lately as you can tell from all the blogs. I even bought a new memory card to take all the long videos. Since I got a bigger card I don't have to unload my pictures so frequently. I have pictures from this last week of Rory's birthday, the Discover Science center, the lagoon, the pool, Roger's birthday, and our day with "stranger's from a far away land" to share. I brought the camera with us to our ward's annual corn roast last night and it disappeared with our KFC bucket. There were sooooo many people at the beach last night it took an hour for people to park. Major, major, major bummer! Last time my camera broke I did not get a new one for almost a year. Isosad.

Backyard Broadway!

Last week Rory had a great time with friends dancing, singing and you can tell from Rory's performance, acting. She had a fabulous time! She is not in all of these songs but I wanted to add them to share with the families of the other girls. Don't worry, if she is in the song you will know, I promise. I don't know where she gets it from (back of hand on my forehead) If you really are having a hard time picking her out, she is the shortest and has pigtails.




(She is not in this one)




(She is not in this one either)

The Return of Hero Camp

2 weeks ago the kids went to Hero Camp again(see last years synopsis) It was organized by two friends, Amber and Stephanie, who enlisted the help of all mothers of children participating. Each Mom volunteered for at least one day doing either a lesson, craft, or physical activity, and signed up to bring a treat one day as well. They put soooo much time and creativity organizing into the week.

This year’s theme was “Mission Possible - Operation: Divine Love.” Every child was given a T-shirt on the first day and spent Monday through Thursday from 9-12 accomplishing various missions. The children were put into groups according to their ages which were named: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc. Rory's age was split in to 2 groups.




Their first day's mission was called “Love of God.” They walked along the iron rod toward the Tree of Life past the temptations in the Great Buildings.

The next day was “Love of Family.” As part of this the parents wrote a letter to each child telling them why they are an important part of their family and about the attributes that make them special. I was in charge of the activity that day and I used my Recreation Therapy major to have the kids play cooperation games to remind them to help people around themand be aware that people are helping them.

Wednesday was "Love of Leaders". The bishops from the wards came and talked to the kids. Then during craft time the children decorated paper hearts and hung them on the office doors of the bishops and stake leaders.

On Thursday the mission was “Love of Neighbors.” All week long the children went through their clothes, pantries, and toys to bring in things they don’t need for those less fortunate. There was also a coin jar where they could donate money to the Wheelchair Fund for children around the world who need wheelchairs but cannot afford one. I was finally was able to part with some of the little people toys I have clung to even though my kids do not play with them much. We were also the ones that got to deliver the food to a local Families Forward group. That was great to for my kids to see.


On Friday there was a closing ceremony where every child received their “Great Choice Award” and a book with some of the papers from their lessons and also the letter written to them from their parents. There were three impressive songs that the kids had worked on throughout the week to sing for the parents. They were written specifically for camp, amazing! Then we went to the lagoon!










Every Mom filled out a “Great Choice Award” Certificate for each child and told of a good choice they had recently made.

My kids loved it and I loved being involved. It was a great week!

My Sister Michelle and Her Kids

My sister and her kids drove from Houston to spend a fabulous week with us. We went to the beach where Andrew had to be rescued twice by a lifeguard because he was in a riptide. We got us all into Universal Studios for $30. We went to a local playground and got muddy and just had a blast together. Thanks for coming Michelle!!

Titmi Family Reunion

Roger's family got together for a week of fun (not much sun) in San Pedro Ca. We had 19 people running around the house which sat on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

River Rafting

Our family went rafting with friends and Roger's brother Cory and his wife Andrea. We drove up to Bakersfield to River's End Rafting. The water was not high which made it perfectly slow enough for the younger kids but gave us plenty of rocks to get stuck on. We had a great day!!

Joshy's Kindergarten graduation

Our first child's first year of school is over! He loved it soooo much and we all(and everyone in the class) loved Mrs. Whippo. She was a fantastic introduction to the public school and I would never expect anyone to exceed her. Funnily enough we have been looking to buy a home and we say "Rory, do want to go to school with your girlfriends or have Mrs. Whippo?" No contest for her. She picked Mrs. Whippo.

Preschool graduation

Rory had her preschool graduation last week which she was soooo excited about because not only was it at Chuck e Cheese but also SHE IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO KINDERGARTEN!! Last year I was bawling about Josh. This year I know she will be in good hands with Mrs. Whippo. The girls loved this song. I need a bigger memory card so I can get more than 15 sec videos on my camera.

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Father's Day Weekend

Our awesome ward has a Father's Day golfing activity every year. Each class's teacher makes a golf hole for it. Roger especially put time in on our hole and had lots of fun doing it. Unfortunately I had the camera at the swim meet so this picture comes from my friend's blog(thanks Audra). The rest of it did not make it on the picture but it was a ramp(waves) the ball goes down after walking the plank until it hits an island the kids search for treasure on(bubble gum coins). It was a hit!

Joshy has his first swim meet his weekend and had a blast! It was at the same time as the golfing. We were there all morning and will be all summer. All my kids have loved swimming everyday.



The kids did the thing they do. Here they are bringing breakfast to Roger with out help. Well, ok I helped a bit. I had them make sourdough preztels we formed into #1 Dad the night before. Were they edible? I don't know, I didn't try them.



And finally, ignoring my kids making out, we have Joshy's begged for haircut. With all the swimming Joshy was becoming nappy headed so Roger buzzed it off. We will see how long it lasts.

Hundred Day Challenge

My friend Amy has challenged all the people who frequent her blog to a 100 Day challenge. You can find her page at http://heymaughans.blogspot.com/ for details and to start the challenge. For 100 days I will not use unkind words to my kids or watch TV (except for the occasional movie with my man and watching National Bingo Night to see if we are on which incidentally we have been). So what do you say? Can you accept?

Good Job Rory

Rory has worked really hard in gymnastics not only at skills but also paying attention. Previosly she was in a class where she mastered things faster than her peers and she would goof off and frustrate her coach. Her coach moved her up early and she is doing much better. Their skills are tested biannually and she was just given 2 levels of certificates and is moving onto the next class. Good job Rory!

The egg has cracked!

Joshy has finally done it. He has finally misbehaved at school enough to have a minute of recess taken away. With 2 weeks left he has shown his true colors which before he was 100% behaved at school. His awesome teacher knows how insanely obsessed Joshy's is about his report so she mentioned if he kept up his behavior she would have to write not so perfect things on his report card. That threat did not work as well as my threat of losing Friday night dessert. He must be 6.

And yes, we are still in school.

The Many Changes of Kelly

Like most women, I have had changes to my body since giving birth to 3 children. My changes have linked me to my parents and siblings. Growing up I felt, well like I was adopted which I guess is also common. Most of them had super curly hair and bad allergies. I had straight hair and no allergies.


Since Simeon's birth my hair has become curlier and curlier resulting in the thick locks in the picture. Someone at church said "Oh, you have straight hair!" after I straightened it that day and I thought what a strange comment, I have always had straight hair. Not to her apparently.

As I foreshadowed, I have been whining of allergies for 2 years now. They were really bad last month which led me to the allergist. Roger was not sleeping well because of the snoring which I have only done since having allergies so he sent me to get it checked out. (You who have bunked with me may protest. I don't know!) That day I was more clear than I have been in a long time so I was worried I had been spreading colds around the world. He did the scratch test and determined I was off the charts allergic to grass, extremely allergic to molds, and fairly allergic to trees. I thought it was dust or animals but the reaction to those was non existent. Go figure. So at last I have bodily peace.

Father and Sons' Outing

May brought the yearly ritual of the males in our family going to a soccer field with other males to set up tents and camp with the sounds of freeway lulling them to sleep. Apparently my men can not sleep close as Joshy needed his tent set up in the big tent and Simeon's portacrib is hiding to the left.



Roger absolutely loves our bike trailer and uses it often and heavily. It is tearing on the bottom but no worries, cover it up with a blanket and it can last through many more hauls (like wood for the annual corn roast)


Although Roger envisioned more Father/son time, Simeon went to bed early and Joshy participated in stick wars, a much anticipated past time.



So, what did Rory and I do you might ask. We went swimming, went out for yogurt with friends and stayed up late with other male "deprived" females. We talked for a long time about girl things and then saw more nature than our husbands did. Our lovely Lisa hostess set up her HD big screen TV and we watched a recorded "Planet Earth" episode in the dark and loved every minute of it.

Joshy's Talent Show

Our fearless Josh was at it again! He was the only Kindergartener to participate in his school's talent show a couple weeks ago. He performed in front of three audiances with only a few mistakes. He is really intrigued by the piano and spends a little time learning a song a long time tweaking it to come up with new sounds.

and yes, I know the ending is not there. He just repeated the beginning.