Weekend Landscaping Project

Memorial Weekend provided the perfect opportunity for us to jump right into out landcaping project for the year. As with every house project, it turned out to be a ton of hard work but we are close to being finished and thrilled with the result. Here are some of the things that went into this BIG project:

• 4 trips to Home Depot
• 3 trips to Gertens (which Brent calls the amusement park of all nurseries)
• 2 trips to Lowes
• 400 square feet of WeedBlock
• 5 bags of topsoil
• 3 bags of Miracle-Gro potting soil
• 100 feet of landscape edging
• 100 crescent shaped landscape stones
• 1 wheel barrow
• 2 large and 1 small shovel
  
• 1 good rake
• 1 trip to the recycling center to dispose of a van full of sod
• 2 tarps
• 40 trees, bushes and perennials
• 3 1/2 square yards of river rock
  
• 4 hard working family members (Riley did mow the lawn for us, although that was the extent of his contributions)

BEFORE

• 

DURING

AFTER

THE REST OF THE PROJECT!

We have these rocks to put in place and a few annuals to add to finish up our project! Anyone want to help???

Behind Closed Doors

So, it is a little scary to give a camera as a present to an 11 yr old boy.
I am a little worried about what I might see when scanning through his pictures and videos.
He has taken many shots already, some of friends,
some interviewing his sisters and some of his bedroom.
By far the funniest have been the shots of his stuffed animals and this hilarious video of them!
Make sure your sound is turned up!

Growing UP

With Riley's 11th birthday this week, I have been thinking quite a bit about how big my kids are getting. It is amazing to me how much they have changed! I have compiled a list of the Top 10 signs that your children are growing up! Enjoy!

10. Next year they will all be in school all day.
9. Conversations with your husband often center around the characters on Nickelodeon and Disney sitcoms.
8. The kids can take walks or bike rides by themselves and return at a designated time.
7. They are usually showing me how to work the electronic gadgets in our house.
6. They don't need help brushing their hair or teeth.
5. Most of the time they complete their homework without any help.
4. They remind me to read scriptures with them every morning.
3. Their favorite babysitter of all time just turned 21 and is getting ready for her mission!
2. All our Saturday chores and errands are scheduled around play dates, birthday parties, fishing excursions and school projects.
1. They can babysit themselves as long as all possible arguments are settled before Mom and Dad leave....i.e. which movie/tv shows to watch, which snacks they can have, what time is bed time and what emergencies can we really call Mom and Dad for.

I love them all so much and this is a very fun stage in their life...very busy too! As long as I can still give them kisses at bedtime, tuck them in and hear them call me Mommy every once in a while I can handle the growing up!!

11 yrs. old

Riley celebrated his birthday in a big way with a party last Friday night. The party started with 9 friends, lots of pizza and cupcakes, fun presents and then finished off with going to the theater to see Prince Caspian. It was a great movie, and the boys loved the endless supply of water, M&Ms and popcorn. Riley was thrilled to receive his first camera and has now pledged to stop touching mine!!

Kindergarten Program

Last Friday Sidney was part of Shannon Park's Kindergarten program Dream Big! They did an amazing job with some great songs like Dream Big, High Hopes, the Irish Fight Song, and the Shannon Park Song. Each of the kindergarten students got to speak in the microphone , tell us their name and what they want to be when they grow up. Sidney proudly declared that she wants to be a teacher! Mrs. Silk's afternoon class.

(Sid is on the back row, far right.)

3rd Grade Music Concert

Jamie and the 3rd graders at Shannon Park put on an amazing music concert last week titled A World of Music. They performed many songs and a few small skits. Jamie's favorites were Jeux d'Efants (Children's Games) which included dancing with American Girls and the song supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

New Pictures of the Kids

Jamie - 8 1/2

Sidney - 6 1/2

Riley - 11

5th grade week at a glance

Last week, Riley had a very fun week in 5th grade! On Tuesday, 4 elementary schools including Shannon Park participated in a Track and Field day. Riley had fun participating in the frisbee throw, the 70M dash and the shuttle run. Then on Wednesday, the 5th grade patrols were treated to a day at the new Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America. Mom had a great time chaperoning the field trip and watching the boys ride the log chute, the totally odd coaster and other rides. Then on Friday, the 5th graders finished off the week with a trip to Rosemount Middle School. Riley is excited for his big change next year and is especially looking forward to band in Middle School!

Piano Recital

Riley played Riley's Rhapsody.

This is Riley's 6th year of piano and he loved this 7 page song with lots of runs!
He played it perfectly...we had never heard it with the same poise and precision.
Take a listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qst8Y_fPkYg Jamie played Lickety Split Rag.
She has taken piano for 2 years and worked extra hard on this recital piece.
We are very proud of her diligence and talent!
Take a listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IINqyGZitWE

I was 'Tagged'!

Thanks Emily for 'tagging' me....
It has been a crazy, busy week and I have not had much time or the energy late at night to download all my pics and update the blog, but it will be coming in large quantities very soon!
For now, I will follow through on Emily's tag...

A: The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B: Each player answers the questions about themselves.
C: At the end of the post, the player then tags 3 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

10 years ago.
1. Mother of 1 yr. old Riley (he is turning 11 next week!).
2. Teaching 4 math classes (2 algebra, 2 pre-algebra) at Spanish Fork Junior High.
3. Helping Brent prepare to enter MBA school at BYU.

5 Things on my to-do list.
1. Update my blog.
2. Download pictures for my Mom.
3. Quiz Jamie on her states and capitals one more time.
4. Buy a new camcorder battery before the girls' school programs.
5. Vacuum.

5 snacks I enjoy.
1. Dark chocolate Dove bars.
2. Ice Cream.
3. Old-fashioned donuts.
4. Chips and fresh Salsa.
5. Anything baked at home.

What would I do if I were suddenly made a billionaire?
Pay off my house. Have the list of house to-dos completed by someone else. Create college funds for my 3 kids. Build a temple for the Church. Buy Brent a boat.

5 places I have lived.
1. Rosemount and Eagan, MN.
2. Provo and Orem, UT.
3. Bay City, Tx.
4. Martinez, GA.
5. Burlington, KS.

5 jobs I have had.
1. Mother.
2. Elementary School Volunteer Coordinator.
3. Junior High Math Teacher.
4. Campus Scheduling Secretary.
5. BYU Custodial and Set-Up Crew.

3 of my favorite books.
1. To Kill a Mockingbird.
2. Anne of Green Gables.
3. The Book of Mormon.

I tag.
Debra, Tiffany & Cathy

Sidney's Newest Creation: A hairstyle named the Chandelier

Rock Climbing

Sidney was introduced to rock climbing last week by Emily and she loves it. She made it all the way to the top the first time and rang the bell! This week she was a little more timid, probably because Mom was along to watch. She had a great time playing with Reagan and Nate and we had a very fun morning at REI and then Culvers for lunch.

5th Grade Band Concert

Riley and the 5th grade band have spent many hours preparing for the amazing concert they entertained us with last night. Riley has band 4 days a week with Percussion Ensemble on Mondays after school, Jazz/Stage Ensemble on Wednesdays after school, Band Rehearsal Thursday mornings before school and Percussion lessons on Friday afternoons. He even fills out the week with Piano lessons on Tuesday mornings! Riley played 4 different percussion instruments in the concert and especially enjoyed the opportunity to play the piano during 3 of the Stage Band songs. We are proud of his hard work and grateful that he loves music and shares his talent with us!Playing the xylophone.Playing the cymbals.Playing the piano.Riley with his band teacher, Ms Larsen.

The Last Track Meet

Track season was short for Jamie this year! Due to our FL trip and our horrible MN spring, she was only able to participate in 2 of the 5 meets. But, she still loves it and jumped/ran her heart out!

Look at this form!Jamie won 1st place for 3rd grade girls in the
Running Long Jump
with a jump of 10 Feet
getting readythe take-offcatching airthe landing!Jamie's school friend Amber was on her team!

Math Masters Competition

Riley and his team from Shannon Park entered the

Math Masters 5th grade competition last week.
He had a great time preparing for the event and said it was FUN!!
Yes, the apple does not fall far from the tree!