Crazy with a capital 'C'

The last few weeks around here have been CRAZY!!!!! Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, its actually kind of fun to be running here, there and everywhere! Its also fun to feel like I've gotten stuff accomplished at the end of the day! So here's what we've been up to...

J.B.--He decided not to play baseball this spring so he really hadn't been doing much of anything until a few weeks ago when some friends told us there was a spot on their son's basketball team. We asked J.B. if he wanted to play and he said he did. So back at it, with practices and games. Thankfully our friends have helped out with carpools and stuff so it hasn't been too crazy! Its been fun to watch him play again, and on this team he gets the opportunity to handle the ball, which has been super good for him! He's also been practicing his shooting and we can tell! Its so much fun to see him work hard and continue to improve! Between that and his weekly piano lesson, homework and friends he's been keeping busy. He's looking very forward to BYU Father/Sons Basketball Camp over Memorial Day weekend and of course the end of school. And he doesn't know it but his Uncle Josh (who is 11) is coming to basketball camp with TJ's Uncle John! It will be a fun surprise for J.B.

Nanny--Nanny has been busy with her violin and soccer. Its been so so so fun to see her playing soccer again. If you remember she couldn't play last fall because of her recovering broken elbow! It seems like she's figuring it out again and is enjoying herself! The first few games were tough on her with all the running, but she's back into soccer running shape and is back to kicking butt with her speed out on the field. She's even scored a goal, stopped several goals and is learning how to play defense! Next week she's going to go to soccer tryouts for the competitive league so hopefully she'll get placed on a team for next year! Natalie is also planning a singing performance for the school talent show on Monday. First she'll sing in front of the entire 2nd grade, and then if chosen, she'll go onto sing for the entire school. TJ promised to buy her an ipod touch if she does it, so hopefully she'll have the courage to sing her little heart out! And if you're curious to know what she's singing, its "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift!!!!! Natalie is looking forward to summer and sleeping in and some girl time with me when Daddy and JB are at basketball camp!

Brady--Surprisingly Brady has been keeping me the busiest! He's been playing soccer, taking swimming lessons and takes Karate! With soccer twice a week, swimming every day and Karate once a week its been super super busy! Thankfully we have great neighbors and friends who don't mind carpooling. Swimming has been a good experience for him and hopefully through the summer he'll gain the confidence to swim without floaties...he is almost 6, afterall. He's taking a swimming lesson break right now but will do another 2 week session sometime in June! Brady has enjoyed playing soccer, for the most part and told me he wants to play again in the fall! He actually kicked the ball this time around, and wasn't so concerned whether or not we were watching him. (last time he played soccer was a disaster! he barely touched the ball and everytime he ran by us he'd wave.) There were a few chilly chilly games and there was one that he ran up and down the field yelling, "running is making me COLDER!!!!!!" But we learned that Brady is a great goalie and that he "runs out of batteries" if he doesn't have gatorade to drink! Even with all he has going on, Brady takes every opportunity he can to play with friends. I'm certain he drives our neighbors CRAZY as he goes from house to house looking for someone to play with! Brady is looking forward to summer and his birthday so he can get more Lego sets!

Reece--She has been in swimming too!!!!! It was very traumatic at first but after 4 lessons she had a turning point and now asks everyday if she gets to go to her swimming lesson. She has learned that if she can't touch or swim that she can float on back and kick her legs, and she's also started to learn the arm movements for the front crawl. We have this week off from it and she starts up with her second session next week! Other then that, Reece has been fairly low key. She likes to play with her friends at our neighborhood co-op and of course she likes to run around with me. She's a fun little sidekick to have and I just love her to bits and pieces, even though she's pretty much grown out of her naps. This summer we're going to focus on potty training and make the transition into a big girl bed! Reece is looking forward to going to pre-school in the fall (which will only happen if she's potty trained), getting Ziu-Ziu pets for her birthday and going to Disneyworld in September. Actually we're all looking forward to that but it does seem pretty far away!

TJ--as usual TJ is just busy busy busy with work! He's been traveling at least one night a week for the last 3 or 4 weeks, which kind of sucks, but I guess it could be worse! He's had the opportunity to work with the youth at church all through the month of March for our Missionary Month and then again last week on a dating panel! He'll also help in a few weeks for our Ward Youth Conference. The weather's been too lousy for him to golf a whole lot but not lousy enough to avoid yard work, so he's been busy busy getting the lawn looking decent. We're not there quite yet, but once it warms up we're hoping the lawn will thicken and fill in! The weather has actually been so bad that its difficult for me to comprehend that its warm somewhere in the world! YUCK!!!!!! Teej is looking forward to father/son b-ball camp with Jack and a Guilt Free Golf trip to Pebble Beach for the U.S. Open with my Dad and brothers! He's also looking very forward to the beginning of JB's Football season, with the first practice being held on AUGUST 3rd. WHAAAAT??????

Me--As for me I've been keeping busy doing laundry and cleaning and carpooling and trying to keep track of the other 5 members of the family. And in between all of that I've been helping to organize our ward's youth conference and been heading up the school's field day! I've also started running again and continue to try to get to the gym 3 or 4 times a week, even though the last 2 weeks I haven't been that great at it! Tomorrow I'm heading to the state PTA convention until Friday, and then Friday night I'll be babysitting 14 kids for our date night co-op! Aaaaaaahhhhhh, good times!!!!!! I'm looking forward to Youth Conference, Girls Camp and running the Wasatch Back Relay race. And most of all, I'm looking forward to a HOT, LAZY SUMMER!!!!

So that's what we've been up to! Like I said earlier its been crazy but its been fun! I'm just grateful that I have happy, healthy, active kids and an awesome, loving, supportive husband who is a fantastic father and my bestie!!!!!