One more down . . .

Another coaching season in the books for Jason. He coached Kali & Meg's U10 team this summer. Meg is technically supposed to be in U8's, but they let her bump up since Jason was coaching Kali. It would have be cRazY this summer if they didn't let us, making us have soccer 4x a week vs. just 2x.

We'd like to say that we were the best of the best this year . . . BUT . . . unfortunately we weren't. We actually didn't win a game at all. SAD I KNOW!!!! BUT, we were the team that improved 100 times over!! We played each team twice, and the first time we played each one, we got CREAMED!! {literally, 10-1!!!} The second time we played each team, we lost only by one or two goals. The other coaches were shocked at how good we got so fast!!! All the parents were appreciative to Jason for coaching, even telling him that their daughter was so shy to come that she literally felt sick to her stomach to come; and another that thought she would hate another year of soccer but later told her parents that she LOVES it now! So for all the games that we lost, THOSE are the more important things!!! Good job Jas!!

Help Me Advertise . . . Get Free Product

So many of you know that I am a Scentsy Consultant, have been for a year now. It's been a lot of fun, and I'd love your help getting the word out!!

I posted on FB to all my blogging FANS, that if they incorporate into a post on their Blog, stating what their favorite Scentsy Scent was, along with where they can get it "at Lisa Smedley's Scentsy website @ www.cravescents.com" something about "a friends candle website, check it out" with a link, then sent me a link of their post, they would get 2 FREE BARS of their choice!!!

Sounds good right!? If any of you readers out there, that aren't my FB FANS, you are welcome to participate. Just do the same thing, and leave your link in a comment below. And if you WANT to be a FAN, click HERE.

If any of you are SUPER FANS, and want a quick link on your blog to my website, grab my button HTML on the left column . . .

Who Knew

Growing up I never enjoyed reading. Well, I take that back. In Junior High I ONLY liked to read these thriller books by Lois Duncan. They were about a girl who had ESP. And that was it! Done, didn't like to read. I never finished books in H.S., just got CliffsNotes to pass the class. After I got married, I enjoyed some inspirational books like John Maxwell & Stephen R. Covey, but NEVER a novel! That all just recently changed, when a friend of mine gave me a book to read a few months ago. I was doubting myself to read it, but when I started, I couldn't seem to put it down. I was shocked! And ever sense then, I have been reading up a storm! These are the books I've read, in order & there are 5 more in the works!

I've also created an account on Good Reads, so if any of you are on there, let me know . . . I need some friends!

A Bigger Boy

Owen couldn't wait any longer to be a 'bigger boy'! He has talked about turning 4 for quite some time. He started counting down during the winter saying that when the snow melts he will be 4. Then two weeks ago, he wanted to count down the days. This morning he asked if it was zero more days. {He always makes me smile!} We had a fun filled day starting off with a birthday breakfast. Then moved on to his present that was super exciting until both times he ended up flying over his handle bars!! Then we ended it by going to Toy Story 3. I CAN'T BELIEVE he will be going to school in a year. It makes me so sad! I love this kid!

What He Loves

Lately Jason has been EXTREMELY busy with life. He recently finished coaching varsity girls high school soccer, while at the same time has been jammin' with his shirt business. Life around here the past three months has been cRAzY!! He'd come home from work . . . kiss my in transition to soccer . . . come home . . . kiss me in transition to the garage . . . then kiss me goodnight. With soccer over, life has somewhat mellowed.

At any rate, SMEDS Apparel Design is alive, is in full force, and he's loving it! Become a FAN on Facebook here, and catch up with him if you need anything!

Summer Fun

The kids & I like to get out, especially on a day like today when it's so warm! One of our favs is to ride along the highway where they can go as far as they want, as fast as they want. Our norm is 3.5 miles RT to a bench, and back again.

Owen finally got off his razor and 'got huger' by riding his bike without training wheels. And cute little Nash, {we have to call him 'little guy' cause Owen says he's 'big guy'} rode along and was EXCITED as could be {boys & their outdoors!} while I jogged next to Owen. What a great day!

A Little Crush

This is one of Owens best friends, Sienna. They are a crack up together! Last year at soccer they would be found walking to the playground hand in hand. It's adorable. It finally got warm around here, so they got their swimming suits and had a hay day. As you can see, they are friends with benefits! They love to kiss each other! {i accidentally deleted the one where they kissed each other} To my WHOLE family's dismay, they are moving. We love you Sienna, Owen will miss you!!!

Super O

Owen is my little buddy! He makes me laugh so hard sometimes! And in turn, I can make him laugh pretty hard! {it must be because i have two older brothers, i.e. torture} Silly games like torture tickle, or even 'stop hitting yourself' make this kid crack up!

One of his favorite things is having me make up stories at night while laying in bed with him. His favorites are about a boy that becomes a super hero named 'Super O' who helps little kids.

The latest thing Owen and I had a conversation about went like so:
{Owen is picking his nose}
m: Owen, your supposed to get toilet paper to put that on, then throw it away
o: Or do this . . . then we can't find it {while flicking his fingers}

And The Volleyball Begins . . .

Life has been SO BUSY lately! One out of the MANY things we have had going on was Kali's volleyball. She was so excited to be old enough to play volleyball this year, we couldn't say no. She was the tiniest on her team, but was highly motivated to get her serves over the net! For some reason, every time she served it over, she aced it.

Throughout the season, the League doesn't keep track of points or wins. But they do have a tournament at the end of the season. They ended up taking first place in the tournament!!! They were ALL very excited! To say the least!

Then it all went down with ice cream sundaes to end the season!!! Yum!

Sitting Up

Nash is almost 6 months already! Time has FLOWN by. It's bitter sweet that's for sure! With the crazy life of four kids, I am trying to savor every moment I can with Nash. Those memories of sleeping with him as a new born are in the past.

He's been sitting up for about two weeks now, and everyone says he is looking more and more like Meg. It's those darn kissable cheekers he has!! Despite those heavy-laden cheeks, he is surprisingly small weighing in at a whoppin' 5th percentile.

Pant Head

I know this is really random, but for some reason Jason has had this thing with ALL of our children, that it is now a tradition. When he changes their diapers, he takes their pants, puts it on their heads and makes them 'Pant Head-Kali, Meg, or Owen," and now Nash. He has even made himself 'Pant Head Daddy' while changing their diapers! They LOVE that one! Nash was just too cute to pass this up. He was sticking his tongue out the whole time making us all laugh! He is too cute! We love him!!!

Ididarod

We FINALLY made it to the Ididarod! This is the world famous sled dog race to Nome, AK. We planned on going down town to watch each musher start, but decided it would be less crowded if we watched from the middle of the race. The kids were so excited to see all of the mushers, and thought it was so funny that all the dogs tongues were hang'n out of their mouths! Kali & Meg thought it was so cool to have a musher toss out autographed dog booties {with candy inside} for them to keep! Poor little Owen though. He worked SO HARD, and waved SO LONG to each musher in hopes to get his own 'booty'. He kept yelling in his quiet voice, 'booties, booties, booties' to each musher hoping to get lucky. But the poor kid came home empty handed, and quite frustrated. Next year we'll have to make him a sign that say's "Dump Booties Here"!

Addicted

Our kids are addicted to staying at 'the hotel' now that we've had Kali's birthday party there, and also went for two nights during Christmas break. Meg wanted her birthday to be at 'the hotel' as well {apparently ANY Marriott is 'the hotel'}. So we took some of her friends after school to swim for a couple hours, had cake & presents, and then had the room to ourselves. We of course ordered in pizza, and were glued to the TV watching the Olympics.

One of the things Meg asked for her birthday was cooking lessons. I had NO clue how to make that happen, UNTIL I had a YW pres. mtg. My president used to be a professional caterer, and my kids LOVE her. So I asked her if she would teach Meg how to cook. She was SO excited, and planned three days to teach her three different meals, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Jason and I completely forgot to tell Meg about this present until the day she was supposed to start. It was absolutely HILARIOUS when Meg found out where I was taking her. She said over and over ... "Mom! I was like FREAKING OUT, like FREAKING OUT. I fell over in the car and was like FREAKING OUT when dad told me where I was going!" She STILL to this day tells me "I can't believe you finally got me what I've always wanted for a birthday present!" {If you can't tell, Meg is uh, just a little dramatic!!}

So here is what she made, ALL from scratch:
Breakfast = Scrambled Eggs, Raspberry Muffins, & the best French Toast EVER
Lunch = Homemade Mac & Cheese, Chicken Salad Sandwiches, & Chocolate Chip Cookies
Dinner = Chicken Strips, Rolls, Potatoes & Cake

Apparently on Megs first day there, she told Bonnie that she wishes she could stay there FOREVER and cook with her ALL THE TIME until she turns 16!! She even told me she is a "CHEF" now . . . what a crack-up!

One Minute

The primary in our ward held a talent show where each kid was to perform a one-minute talent. It was EXTREMELY last minute on our part with what our kids were going to do. Kali has been teaching herself piano, and played 'Book of Mormon Stories' that she memorized . . . Owen {all by himself} walked up each piece of gear one by one, plopped them on the table, and finally said . . . 'I like playing hockey with my dad' . . . and Meg decided to bring her xx skis from Jr Nordic. It turned out to be really cute & we came home with flavored popcorn balls!

Ice Fishing

I never knew that ice fishing could be a field trip! All year long 2nd graders are learning about the life cycle of Salmon. They are still Alevins growing into Frys at her school. And now they get to go catch them in the frozen lake! Each kid got their own hole and pole and whatever they caught they could take home to eat. Kali caught hers in the belly and barely got a picture with it before it jumped back into the water. I wasn't able to go because Meg woke up sick and couldn't go to school, so Kali called my brother to see if he wanted to go. She was so excited that Uncle Jeff went . . . and he even brought her Hot Cocoa for the bus ride home!

A Good Day

Jason thinks Kali has his blood of designing! She always comes upstairs from her room with clothes that she has altered . . . making dresses into skirts . . . long sleeve shirts into halters . . . I'm constantly telling her to stop messing with her clothes because she'll ruin them. Today she wanted to do even more. She came BEGGING me to teach her how to sew! We are making the girls a bunkbed for their American Girl Dolls similar to the girls'. Kali wanted them to have a similar quilt as the ones I made. So we grabbed all the scraps . . . I cut them . . . she laid them out how she wanted . . . I sewed two pieces together . . . then she INSISTED she do the rest!! All I did was quilt it together and bind it. I thought I would be dreading this LONG day of doing a project with my daughter, but instead it turned out to be so fun and a DANG cute quilt!!!