Memorial Day Fun!

My Pirate Name

Bloody Jenny Vane

Every pirate lives for something different. For some, it's the open sea. For others (the masochists), it's the good. For you, it's definitely the fighting. You tend to blend into the background occaisionally, but that's okay, because it's much easier to sneak up on people and disembowel them that way. Arr!

Go to www.fidius.org to find out what your pirate name is. Arrrr!!!

Play list

Hey kids. We are trying to get with the times. We have added a playlist to our blog. Let me know if there are any songs you love or hate, or if there are some new songs we should check out. I feel like a DJ looking for all these songs- but we have been loving having all our favorite songs in one spot. I know this is not a "new" concept- but we don't have MP3 players so this is new to us! Lots of these songs have special meaning to me and remind me of someone, or a certain time in my life. There is a HUGE range of genre which might seem weird, but that's me! Eric picked some of them- but I picked the rest.

We had NOWHERE to be today. I was weird. So we had to invent some things to do. So I started organizing our laundry/storage room- it had turned into a gigantic donation pile and the garage was spreading into it. So the car is full of stuff to take to DI and the tools are a bit more organized and ready to go back into the garage (which is another gigantic project- maybe for tomorrow). Eric started leveling the yard for our brick patio. He had to put in a retaining wall around the area we are going to use. I didn't realize how badly sloping our yard is. But it is going to look so nice when it is done. We also found some patio furniture that will be great around the fire pit. I think we will just put sod in the rest, but we are kicking around the idea of a zen"ish" gravel area. I guess we will decide after the patio is done.

Sierra went to spend the weekend with her dad in Houston. They are going wakeboarding in the ocean. How fun. Be careful girl. The little ones have been living it up running from one friends house to the next. Holiday weekends are the best!!

What a Day!

Today is a big day in our family. It is my parents 39th anniversary today. Wowzers! My mom told me that she hates to tell people at work how long she has been married because they make such a big deal about it. It really is an accomplishment these days. They are such a great example to me of how to make a marriage work. I love them so much. Congrats you two love birds. It's Grampa George's (Eric's dad) birthday today! So you think you can dance- our FAVORITE TV show begins tonight! The new Indiana Jones movie comes out today- we are so excited to see it. Eric is such an Indie nut. Also, Montana is suppose to have a double header game tonight- but we will see if it gets cancelled as it is raining off and on. So there is a lot to be excited about today!

Yesterday Justice took another Tae Kwon Do belt test. He did such a great job. I am so proud of how hard he works in class. He concentrates and stays on task. He is very strong and loves what he is learning. I am sure he passed and will move up but we will let you know next week when we find out.

Montana is going through a very emotional phase. She is extremely frightened by wind, rain, fears of floods, and weather warnings on TV. She squeals with excitement about Hannah Montana, and the Jonas Brothers whenever anyone mentions them or if they are on TV. She cries when I give Justice or Sierra any kind of praise unless I praise her as well in the same sentence. I love this girl! She wears her heart on her sleeve. But holy smokes- I can't wait for her to grow out of this stage- it is exhausting.

Sierra is excitedly planning her 14th birthday coming up in a couple weeks. My baby is growing up so quickly. It makes me weepy when I think about it. It seems like she has turned into a woman overnight. I love my family!!

Sunday Fun!

Montana gave a talk in primary yesterday. She was so nervous about it. She cried all morning thinking she would freeze and look dumb. I told her I knew she would do a great job and that everyone gets nervous when they have to do this. Well she went up there with a terrified look on her face, but she got through it and did a fantastic job. I sat there listening with tears running down my face because I was so proud of her. She doesn't realize how smart she is. She is an excellent reader and has a very good story telling voice. The kids were all listening and into the story she was telling. She was glad it was over, but even more glad that she did it, and did it well!

Eric wasn't home from Naraya yet and it was about 85 degrees yesterday, but it felt like 100 in the house because we didn't have the air hooked up yet. (Gotta love swamp coolers). We had dinner out on the back patio enjoying the breeze. Popsicles helped keep us cool- but when daddy got home and hooked up the air- we all praised him like never before. We love you daddy!!!

Sierra's Dances

Wahoo! Here are Sierra's dance team performances. You will love them!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=926vbrlVVaI (Send me and Angel)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unjHxKbkza0 (Lifeline)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJlN8FC6CYo (Her Solo: I like the way you Move)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOkmMhmfiqk (Hide N Seek) I posted this one earlier but put it here for convenience.

Enjoy!

Competition Weekend Pt 2

Well yesterday went much better for Sierra. Their team is absolutely amazing. They work hard all year and it shows. Her teachers and director are so talented. The ideas and choreography they come up with are genius. When they perform everyone in the room stops and is mesmerized. Sierra is very lucky to be a part of this team and we are thankful for all that they do for her. Her team took high point in Jazz, Lyrical, & Show. Also they won Sweepstakes for the Region. They of course were on cloud 9.

I was asked to judge several divisions (that Sierra was not in) during the day. I was glad for the diversion because it was a LOOOOONG day. It was fun but it is always taxing on the brain and hand. Trying to write down everything you want to say before they go on to the next move can be challenging. I felt good about my decisions.

Mom came and spent the day with us. But for the first time in 30 years, Grama Dodie wasn't able to come to the Regional competition. She has been such a big supporter all these years. Hopefully she will be able to make it to Vegas for Nationals, but we will see if she feels up to it. We really missed her. I told Mom I was so thankful that she was able to come with me. I would have been sitting there all day by myself. Boring. Dad agreed to watch Justice and Montana all day. So it was just her and I- and occasionally Sierra would pop in. Mom always writes notes in the program about each routine. What they wear or if she liked it. Then when awards are announced we write down the places of each team. I think its more of a way to pass the time then anything else. Although our backs and butts are sore from sitting on bleachers all day, we have fun at the competitions.