If the crown fits...

Stuff, and more stuff...

We had a crazy nuts day on Saturday. It was one of those days where the events of the week culminated into one day. Aliza went to her very first Activity Days activity. It was put on by the stake, so it was all the way down in Carrollton at the Stake Center. It takes about 50 minutes to get there! So I dropped her off at Sister A's house at 8:20 am to carpool down with the other girls.

Since Parker's game was cancelled on Thursday they had their makeup game at 9:00 am. We drove to Scott Johnson Middle School, but it was obvious that his team was not there. I vaguely remembered that we were supposed to be at Faubian Middle School, so we raced down there and Parker ran in as the game was getting ready to start. Parker's team lost. He was sad, the boys on the other team had double and triple teamed him to shut him down and he didn't think that was fair. Oh well, life is like that sometimes! He got over it and life goes on. I was secretly wondering how I was going to do everything that day if his team did make it farther in the playoffs! Aliza was supposed to have a make-up class on Saturday for Thursday's cancelled dance class, but it was while she was at her activity, so we didn't bother.

I picked up Aliza at Sister Egan's house at 12:30, then we ran home, she got changed and then we went back to Scott Johnson MS for the Basketball Shoot-out. Both Tyler and Parker were asked by their coaches to represent their teams for the foul-shot shoot out. They both did really good, but there was a 4th grader who got 22 shots in one minute! The next best got 18. Then there were a few (Parker included) who got between 12-15. Tyler also did well, but wasn't sure how many the 1st place kid got. The shoot outs were in enjoining gyms at the same time, so I stood in between the two and watched and took a few pic's. They are, of course, blurry, because I can't use the flash in the gym or they get dark, and without the flash they are blurry. So blurry wins!

Tyler making the foul shots.

Parker making foul shots.

Aliza's team played at 2:30. They also lost. Her last game is officially next Saturday, but we will be gone, so this was her last game. She has totally improved!

We took the kids on Saturday night to our favorite cheap theater to see "The Spiderwick Chronicles." I wasn't sure what I was going to think, because I had heard so many conflicting opinions on it. Tyler and I have both read the books and we loved them. Parker has read the first one. I can say that the books are definitely better, and of course there are a lot of details left out, but overall, I enjoyed it. It wasn't deep, more entertaining. Tyler liked it too, and although it was a little scary, it was understood that it was make-believe and Aliza was fine with it. We would recommend reading the books, then seeing the movie!

On our way to the movie, we were driving down Lake Forest and a big, black wild hog almost ran out in front of us. I wish I had had my camera, I would have loved to have a picture! But this is what he looked like. He stopped and ran back and waited for us to pass before he ran out in front of the car behind us. Crazy. We totally live in the country!I hate daylight saving time for the first few weeks until we adjust. It is definitely kickin' our butts this time! The kids even slept until 6:35 this morning! Then we will go to Utah for 2 weeks, where we will get totally adjusted to that time, which is the same as our time before DS, then come back and have to readjust again! Argh!

And finally, I am totally stressed trying to get everything ready to leave on Wednesday morning. I can't believe that we will be gone for two weeks. The kids are so excited to go to Grandma's and to see our friends and family that they have not seen for 9 months!

K. I'm going to go get the kids from school now.

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{week in a nutshell}

Summing up the week, in 4 pictures or less...

It has been one wacky wild week. Fortunately, when it snows in Texas, nothing else is happening. At all. I know this because when I turn on the TV to check out the news, there is nothing but weather and traffic. When it snows, nothing else happens in the entire DFW metroplex.

No robberies, no murders, no nothing.

Or surely they would report it.

But from 6:30 to 7:00 this morning on the local news, all there was to report was weather, and traffic.

This week in our world, it has been basketball playoffs...

Tyler's team played on Tuesday night against another Prosper team. I wasn't able to be there because of the JB concert, but Maris went and said it was a great game. And according to Maris, T did awesome. He was apparently was fouled 6 times and therefore got to take a lot of foul shots. Because they won, they move on in the playoffs and get to play tonight. I'll report on that later and try to take pictures. (When I am watching, I forget to use the camera.)

Parker's team played on Wednesday night and won in a nail biter against a yeller coach. We were ahead by only 1 point with 10 seconds left, we had possession for a throw in, and the ref let the clock run out. The other coach freaked and they had to put the 10 seconds back on and our kids had to throw the ball in and not cross the center line, and he called a time out with 2 seconds left, and we still won by 1 point. Same result, but that other coach saved himself from having a coronary. Whatever. Parker was supposed to play last night, but they had to cancel it until a later date because of the paralyzing winter storm that we had yesterday.

Parker also had his writing TAKS test this week. These are the tests that determine how well the teacher was able to teach and their retention and salary is based on whether or not the kids do well. The whole school was practically shut down for the tests being taken by 3rd-5th grades. Park's class had a silent lunch in their classroom, and the other grades had to be silent all day long. No disturbances. The PTO provided water and a healthy snack for the tested children. When Parker came home, he said he felt good about it and said that he said two prayers for help. I love that when he needs help, he turns to Heavenly Father in prayer.

Of course the big news is the weather. After much searching for snow pants, I think that we left them at my mom's house. If not, they are gone, 'cuz I can't find them ANYWHERE. The kids have had two delayed start days (the 2nd day is today) and one early release day because of weather. The snow was wet and slushy yesterday and this morning is powdery on top and frozen underneath. Aliza went across the street in the empty lots and got nice and muddy, so I need to have her take another shower this morning before school. Yuck. This snow is gross. Here are some pictures of the aftermath of our snowy week:

Tomorrow is Aliza's first Activity Days activity is tomorrow morning. It is a stake activity so it is in Carrollton. She is very excited.

Of course, we are all very excited to spend Spring Break in Idaho and Utah. I looked at the weather report and it looks like snow in Idaho. Yay. The kids will have a blast!

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What the?

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I blog, therefore I am...

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The echo of screaming fills my head....

So, Aliza and I went to the Jonas Brothers "Look Me In The Eyes Tour" concert last night!
I have never seen so many screaming little girls in one place, ever.

I have never been at a concert where the performers invited "all the parents out there" to get up and dance.

I have never (before last night) worn ear plugs at a concert.

I had never been to a concert where there were parents sitting in the lobby reading books waiting for it to be over.

I had never been to a concert where, when you drove into the parking lot they asked if you wanted "general parking, premium parking or just 'dropping off.'"

I've never seen my baby girl smile so much.

She was giddy. She kept saying, "I can't believe I'm going to see the Jonas Brothers live tonight."

Lea made this cute poster that said "We (heart) you guys!" but they made her throw it away as we walked in (no large posters rule.) I told her it should've said ""We (heart) y'all!"

After the snow storm that morning, it warmed right up and the weather was very pleasant to wait in the crowd of girls who screamed every time it looked like they were getting ready to open the doors and let us in. We took a little self portrait to commemorate the evening!

Liza likes the one on the right (when you are looking at the poster.) I think it is Joe. Or it could be Nick, but I know it isn't Kevin. They are wearing rings on their ring fingers, which I was trying to figure out, until a lady by us told me that they are purity rings. It is cool to see boys who are proud of their chastity. Hopefully it is real chastity and not Brittney Spears chastity.

Woo hoo! A Jonas Brothers shirt!

We went with Lea and Talia! They were sooooo fun to be with. Talia and her cool Garmin helped us navigate Dallas rush hour traffic to Grand Prairie...It took us just over an hour to get there! I can't believe how fulfilling it is for me to figure out how to get places here on my own. Well, with a little help from friends, navigation systems and Mapqwest.

Who's happy????

There were 2 opening bands. Menudo (yeah, that's what I said too.) and Rooney.

Remember Menudo when Ricky Martin was in it? Well, they were not 'Livin' La Vida Loca, they could dance, but not very good singers. Menudo came out and I told Liza that it wasn't the Jonas Brothers yet. When Rooney came out, she looked at me and said, "Are they the Jonas Brothers?" Nope. "When they come out, tell me, because I am going to scream!" She was just giddy and soooo rebellious thinking about screaming when they came out! Soooo cute. I just love her!

So, we waited...

and waited... and waited. And at about 10 after 8 (very quickly approaching our bedtime)....

...the Jonas Brothers finally took the stage!

We had agreed ahead of time that we would leave around 9, because it was a school night (I am a cool mom, but not that cool.) And Lea had a TAKS test this morning. Very serious here in Texas! I understand that our Elementary even sent out a note to the parents in 3rd-5th grades saying that they were hearing that a lot of kids were planning on going to the JB concert and that they hoped that parents would use discretion and not keep them out late!

So at a few minutes after nine, I asked Aliza, who now was sitting on the steps instead of standing, if she was ready to go. "Yep."

She still isn't old enough that she knows all of their songs and after they opened with "The Year 3000" she didn't know the rest very well. I'm sure they were saving the other more well known songs to close with. She is my baby who goes to sleep at 8 if she is holding still. Bless her little heart! I had so much fun with her and I just love her so much! I love that she is growing up into such a neat little girl and is so fun to be with. It is fun to watch her grow and figure things out!

When we left, we went back down by the tour bus, which was covered with little girl writing. So we signed the bus ( "Aliza" and "You Rock!"), and she touched the bus and said that she was never washing her hands again. After I told her that would not be a possibility, she rubbed her JB shirt up against it and said she is never washing that shirt. :)

And just so everyone can experience a little of the migraine I am suffering from today, I have included a couple of clips for your enjoyment...

We love you, Joe, Nick and Kevin! Thanks for the evening of fun!!!

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Happy Birthday, Aliza!!!

3 days late, but we've been preoccupied!

Happy Birthday, Aliza!

After Aliza's Baptism, we came home and had a little brunch, and she opened her gifts. Of course, the best gift she received was the Holy Ghost, but she was ok with her other gifts too!

She loved the Hannah Montana from card from the boys that plays music when you open it. She liked it so much that she let the papers inside drop into her lap.

And this is Aliza when she realized that those papers were tickets to go see the Jonas Brothers in concert. (we are going tonight!)

The Jonas Brothers

Here is Parker after Aliza hugged him so hard he fell to the ground.

Cute outfit from grandma and papa.

Alarm clock from Oma.

I'm thinking, did I not take a picture of the American Girl doll that Maris and I gave her? She got Mia, the girl of 2008, and she has light red hair, green eyes and sweet little freckles!

8 things about Aliza:

1. Aliza is a little bit girly girl, a little bit rough-n-tumble. I love that about her! She can hold her own in the toughest of circumstances.

2. Aliza is nice to everyone. She has tons of friends. She has so many things that she likes that she gets along with so many different people.

3. Aliza does really well in school. She worked so hard this last fall to get on the honor roll. She is very smart.

4. She loves music. She loves to sing, she loves to listen. Her favorites are Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, and the Jonas Brothers. She also loves to dance.

5. She is a great softball player and is getting really good at basketball. I was amazed at basketball practice yesterday to see her dribbling backwards toward the hoop and holding her arm out to block herself. I don't know if that was all the right terminology, but it sure looked good!

6. Aliza loves to play with dolls. She takes really good care or her little "babies." There is always something fun going on in her world.

7. Aliza is a great reader. She doesn't really like to read all that much, but we are working on that! Hopefully we will find something she loves soon, in the meantime, she sounds good!

8. Aliza was so excited to get baptized. She loves the gospel and the Book of Mormon and has a sweet testimony. She knows how to recognize the Holy Ghost, and tries to make good choices!