The Greatest Show On Earth!

We were able to go to the circus on opening night! It was fun...although a little late for my kids (especially the big kid...Benson) but we had a great time. We started the night at the pre-show (which is an hour before the show where the kids can go on the floor and there are a bunch of activities and circus performers to see up close)!

Sammy wanted a picture with this guy...but she didn't want him to get too close (I don't blame her...freaky)

Sammy loved trying on the circus costumes! She also loved the trapeze (not going on one...just watching)

Ben riding the horse (I didn't get very many pictures of Ben because he wasn't feeling photogenic tonight). Ben's quote of the night was "I have NEVER seen that before" (he said that after every trick)!

Nathan LOVED the circus for about 15 minutes...then he only liked the animal parts. He took a little rest and got a second wind...and then he probably said "mom, cricky (tricky)" like 1 million times. He was cracking me up!

Sammy was so excited to meet a clown...Nathan was supposed to be in the picture but he couldn't turn around because he was enthralled with this clown!

Who doesn't love to see the elephants do their tricks? Amazing!

We went to the circus with the Fosters...Sammy was so excited to see her friends!

During the intermission Nathan wanted to try out something "cricky"

We had a great time...but nobody tell my kids the circus is every year :)

What we do to cool off (besides swimming)...

The kids had some friends over to play today...so we decided to have a little water party... Who needs Sunsplash...we have our own waterslide!

Nothing better than a water gun fight!

Playing in the sprinklers

Dumping water onto the slide and playing in the pool!

Finish it off with some otter pops, of course!

Just a little funny story...for lunch I made a frozen pizza and Brendan (Ben's friend) informed me he "only likes pizza from the store" so I told him this was all I had as far as pizza goes and we tried to figure something out for him to eat..after I gave him several options he told me "I just like junk food...do you have that?" So sorry Jenn, Brendan had Oreos and Otter pops at my house for lunch!

I am pretty Quirky...

I was tagged by Maren and I am supposed to reveal some of my quirks. Here are the rules
1. Link the person who tagged you (Maren and Barry on my sidebar)
2. Mention the rules in your blog
3. List 6 UNSPECTACULAR quirks of yours
4. Tag a new set of 6 bloggers and their links (on my side bar)

So here are some of my quirks...

1. I have to brush my teeth right out of the shower. Even if I eat breakfast, brush my teeth, go to the gym, and shower I still have to brush my teeth (even though I didn't' eat anything and I already brushed my teeth in the morning)...it just doesn't feel right to be clean and not brush my teeth.

2. I have to check my email RIGHT before bed...as if I am getting some super important email that can't wait until morning and like I haven't checked it all day. I seriously have to check it.

3. I am a pretty good sleeper except when I have any sort of schedule change. Seriously, I can't sleep until I have the kids signed up for the right gymnastics class or have the soccer team organized. I am so NOT a procrastinator because of this. If I have any extra thing on my "to do" list...I have to get it done (sorry to everyone I harass about carpool, swim lessons, soccer, dance, etc...I just have to organize it for my own sanity)

4. I make my bed (and my kids bed) EVERY day...I usually make them right when I get up. If anyone ever comes over and my beds aren't made I am probably really sick (even when I am sick I usually make my bed).

5. I love to crack my knuckles (and do it at least once a day...okay twice)...it is a super bad habit but the best feeling. I love when my shoulder or hip or something cracks by itself...love it.

6. I bite my nails..another bad habit. I don't know why I do it but I have never cared to have long nails so I have no motivation to stop. If I ever notice my nails getting long I bite them off...I guess I am too lazy to use clippers.

Pretty unspectacular...but pretty quirky I guess.

I tag...
Jenn M, Jenn K, Courtney, Brittany, Arian, and Amy
I know you all have quirks and I want to hear them!!

Swim Party

On Saturday our ward had a family swim party at a local pool! It was tons of fun and I just had to document it because Benson NEVER wants to go to ward parties! I wasn't able to take too many pictures because we were either swimming or chasing kids the whole time but I thought this one of Nate was so cute! The best part of the whole party is that we were FREEZING! The water was nice but when we got out of the water we were all so cold...that doesn't happen too often in June in AZ!

In other news, I took the kids to Hobby Lobby (love that store) today and Sammy said "this is the best store...I could stay here ALL DAY!" She is a crack up!

Lion King

This week Sammy and Ben were in an AMAZING theatre camp! Sammy loved every minute...she was singing the songs and practicing the dances all week long. Ben was less then excited about the whole thing (seriously, when am I going to learn?). Today they had their performance and they both did AWESOME (I knew Ben would love to be on stage...even if he hated going to the practices)! They performed THE LION KING and it was so cute...I couldn't believe that they actually learned songs and dances to 4 songs in a week (especially considering it took them a whole year to learn 1 dance for their gymnastics recitals!) Sammy really wanted to look like a lion so I drew some whiskers on her...when I tried to draw some on Ben he insisted that it was only for girls!

Sorry the pictures are so dark...I need a fancy camera :)

Girls Night Out!

Friday night, Sammy and I had a GIRLS NIGHT OUT! We had been wanting to do this since "the boys get to do everything" (ie Fathers and Sons Camp out). We started off getting pedicures and a little place by our house. This was Sammy's first pedicure and the second we sat down she said "when can we do this again" she loved being a big girl and she was super excited that I let her pick her nail polish color and flower and that I got the same thing as she did (she loves to match with me...she really needs a sister!)

Then we ate dinner and went to As You Wish to paint pottery! Sammy is such a good artist and she DID NOT inherit that from me! When we got there I decided I wouldn't paint because it is kind of expensive and I don't ever like anything I paint. So, Sammy picked out her crown and colors and I got her all set up and as we sat down she said "mom, what are you painting?" I told her I wasn't going to paint my own thing...just help her. She was kind of sad and said " maybe you can paint the 'I love you' thing and give it to me"...I said ok and decided to paint with her. We had a great time painting (even though it was BLAZING hot in there and Sammy kept saying "Mom, I think it would colder OUTSIDE"...which is saying something since it's like a million degrees outside!) Anyway, as we are checking out the lady says "one kids paint time and 2 pottery's is a total of..(whatever it was)" At first I was like SCORE they didn't charge me to paint but then I decided it wasn't worth the guilt so I told her that I painted too and she said "that's ok...you just helped her" and I said " well you didn't charge me to paint" and she said "no, parents can help they just can't paint there own thing"...seriously, I had to drop it for my own self worth...the lady thought Sammy painted both things...I knew I wasn't a good artist! That is why any time I make an Enrichment craft or anything I NEVER hang it up because it doesn't look good...now I know...I paint like a 5 year old!

My favorite part was on the way home when Sammy said "Mom, you sure are my best friend!"

Book Update!

Thank you for all your book recommendations! I took my boys to Barnes and Noble and we were able to find TONS of books that they were interested in (I don't know why I thought they had every boy book there was) anyway, turns out they loved so many books we had to eliminate some and save those for next time! This is what we ended up getting... Sharks, Dinosaurs, snakes, planes, trucks (we already had the train book from this series...and Nate has it memorized) and a workbook! Ben has already picked a pirate, predator, and fighter plane book for next time!

Natey- Nate

This has been a pretty bad sleep week for Nate...Sammy and Ben have been in a theatre camp that starts at 1 pm and that is about 1/2 hour into Nate's nap...then I have to go and get them an hour later. So, lets just say Nate has been catching his zzzz's in some pretty bad places this week. On Tuesday, we were at summer movies and I look over at Nate and this is what I see.... I was SO MAD! Seriously, the best way to screw up your afternoon quiet time is to realize your 2 year old is sacked out at 10 am!!!

Today, we were at Payless (Sammy needed new ballet shoes) and we were looking around (since it's BOGO right now) and Nate comes around the corner with these Lightening McQueen slippers on and he is strumming his Hannah Montana guitar purse and totally "singing" (more like yelling)....it was really funny and luckily I had my camera handy :)

I need a recommendation...

Alright, I need some book recommendations for my boys! I love to read and I have instilled a love of reading in my kids! They LOVE to sit and read with me. I have so many cute girl books (ie Olivia, Pinkalicious, and of course Fancy Nancy) but I am looking for some books that my boys will love...they are totally into trucks, trains, pirates, dinosaurs, etc. I feel like I have some books that deal with this topic but I am looking for the super cute books like the girls have but for boys...does anyone know what I am talking about? Anyway, give me your ideas...please!

Where have I gone wrong?

This evening my house was in complete disarray...I told my kids to clean up the toys that were strewn about the whole house..."whoever made this mess needs to clean it up...and I think its all of you so CLEAN IT" (I wasn't yelling just talking loudly). All 3 kids are looking at me like a deer in headlights and Sammy says innocently "usually the kids make the mess and the mom cleans it up!"...I seriously sat there for a full minute not knowing what to say...it is true but that is not how it should be! Oh, she will live to regret that phrase!

Game Night = Bowling Night

Saturday night our game group went bowling. We went to the new bowling alley in Gilbert...that is seriously high-tech bowling! All the girls played on one lane and the boys on another (right next to each other). It was so funny because the guys got so serious and were totally competitive and cheering for each other. Mid way through the girls started doing it too...it was fun! I know I have said this before...but I love our game group! I think it's my turn (right Sarah?) to plan next month...does anyone have any great game ideas? Jenn, Sarah, me, Michelle, Amy

Benson bowling in his "bowling shirt" (seriously, who has a bowling shirt?)

Jenn modeling the ball for us.

Steve was mad at us for cheering and "distracting" him.

Some of the boys...Derek, Steve, Rob, and Benson (and Michelle).

Splash & Sprinkles

Today, I took the kids to Tempe Beach Park with a whole group of friends! I don't know what Nate liked the best....getting wet, drinking the water, or making his friend Blake laugh.... Nate and Blake trying to run away!

Ben going down the slide...I don't think they designed this slide very well...the kids go down SO FAST!

Sammy is so sweet and was such a huge helper with all the little kids!

Maya, Sammy, and Ben getting soaked!

Since we were practically in Scottsdale...we decided we HAD to stop by Sprinkles. Since I heard it had opened...I have been OBSESSED with going. Let me just say...it did not disappoint (you know I ate Red Velvet...sooo good)! The store wasn't very kid friendly so we ended up going outside to eat our cupcakes on the sidewalk. The kids were of course being angels since they were stuffing their faces with sugar...and as we were sitting there these 2 ladies walked by and said "oh, look a little field trip...what camp are you with? I seriously bust out laughing in her face "uhh...these are all our kids..no camp!" Seriously, only in Scottsdale!

You are looking at $18 worth of cupcakes....and worth every penny!

On our way home Sammy said "Mom, that was so fun! Let's do it again tomorrow!"

Goggles

I finally bought the kids goggles today (I know, aren't they so deprived?)! Of course, they were DYING to try them out so we decided to fill up our pool in the backyard and go for a "swim"....since the pool is so large the goggles were definitely necessary!!

A little SHOUT OUT...

On Bensons Birthday he competed in a Triathlon. I wasn't able to go and watch him this time (this is his 4th) because I had a meeting to go to (plus it started at 6:30 in the morning). Anyway, I had to steal these pics of him off the website...but I just wanted to share that I am so proud of him...GO BENSON!!