A Busy May!

May is the craziest month of the year besides December. As a mom, it seems I never sit down! We rush from one event to the next, but I feel grateful that my kids can be a part of so many great experiences where they are using their bodies, minds, and talents to grow! 

They did a wonderful job at their piano recital. It was their best one yet! One week before, I did not know how they were all going to pull it off, but with a lot of focus and forced practice, they were amazing! It was great to have dad and grandma there too. I am so proud of them for sticking with the piano and making slow but steady progress. It makes me happy that these three get to experience so much of life together.

Their kind and patient piano teacher had done a great job with them!

For the first and probably last time ever, these 2 played on the same baseball team. They were our little Angels!

This boy is dying to get bigger. Every morning he wakes up, puts on his cleats and asks me if he is 4 yet, because when he is 4, he gets to play soccer. He says, "When I am 4 I will play soccer, and you guys will all come cheer for me!" He is so right!

Parker got to train with the RSL pro player, Luke Mulholland. It was pretty awesome. 

James' PAL program did the most incredible opera. It was called Fractured Fairy Tales, and with a grant from the Utah Opera, the students created, wrote, composed and executed an amazing performance. We were all shocked at the quality of the music and performers. such a proud moment! James didn't think he wanted a speaking part, so he took a very small one. After all the practice, he wished he would have had a bigger part. He loved every second of it (even the heavy stage make-up!)! We feel so blessed he is part of such a wonderful educational experience.

The day after the play, we got some bad news. I had a call from the school to tell me that James might have broken his arm. I am not good at that kind of thing, and when I walked in to see him, my knees went weak. We rushed him to the doctor, where they confirmed the break. Then we headed to have it set and cast. They didn't have any anesthesia for children there, so James could choose to go to the ER, or to tough it out while the doctor set it without medication. He chose to tough it out. I was so grateful that Mike walked in right before. He held James' hand and talked him through it while I had to turn away. James was so incredibly brave. He cried for the 60 seconds, then gathered himself and was just fine. The doctor and nurse were so impressed. We got the diagnosis of 6 weeks in cast. We were all super bummed about missing all that baseball :(, but were relieved to know that he would only have a cast for one week of the summer.

Tough boy...had to keep it elevated for about 72 hours and he was super diligent about it. Glad he had a head to rest it on. 

Cafe Rio and Cupcakes after the ordeal.

Katie and I started a little online business called KAT & LOU. It was A LOT of work and a little bit of fun. We will see where it goes, but we are both pretty sure we don't belong in the retail industry.

Parker was the fastest boy in 4th grade running the half mile in 2 minutes and 49 seconds. Incredible!! His metal and physical tenacity consistently impresses us!

This boy got a Strider bike and it is the best purchase we have ever made. He loves it so much he tries taking it every where, including the hallway and up the stairs. he wants to ride it constantly, and it is super light, so we just throw it in the car every where we go. He is crazy fast and coordinated on it. We love this little guy!

I took a picture of this toilet stall so I would remember the conversations we have. For one, Pierce always has to check out the restroom every where we go. He likes to go in by himself and lock the door, which is often problematic if he needs me. One particular day at Hobby Lobby, he chose the middle stall. While he was using the bathroom, two women came in to sit by him. He says in a really loud whisper, "Mom, remember, girls don't have weiners, right?" I say, quietly, "Right, buddy." Then I hear him say, "I am going to wipe myself. Ooops, I got poop on my finger, wait, now it is off." 

I was cracking up. I hope it made the other two ladies smile too. I'm sure they felt better about it when they saw us vigorously washing his hands ;).

I also got a new niece!! I was able to meet Mitch and Kelly's little baby Abbey! She is so cute and tiny. So much fun to add more babies to the family...finally another girl.