Seven Peaks

This is the first year we've been able to earn free Seven Peaks passes for all the kids. How exciting. How crowded!

Matt is so much fun at places like this. He loves the slides and doesn't mind waiting in line. Theoretically I like these places, but once I get there and the reality of dealing with annoying people and long lines sets in, I'm ready to go home. I did get in one slide and spent some time in the wave pool and lazy river, but mostly I spent the day waiting around. At least I could do some of my waiting lying down, relaxing in the sun.

I love that Ben's hair is still perfectly styled after a ride down the "toilet bowl" or whatever it is Seven Peaks calls this slide.

A little help? Poor Ben dragging the two man tube.

Zack wasn't into it very much at first. I tried to get him to go down some smaller slides with me, but he wasn't in the mood. He finally started having fun when Noah took him down some slides. Big brothers will probably always be cooler than moms.

I like Ben carrying tubes.

To my surprise Ben was willing to take a ride down the Boomerang. Noah had no desire, but Ben was excited. I was worried he would chicken out when he got to the top.

He didn't.

Hooray for Summer

Too Cool

The Discovery Kids Museum is the kind of place I would have loved as a kid. The main floor has a miniature town with all kinds of things like a construction zone, 

 

gas station, 

 

and grocery store. You can be a cashier (which I would have done the whole time)

 

weigh things or

play Subway sandwich builder.

Upstairs there are all kinds of fun toys to play with.

 

 

There is even a news room.

I just think it is a really fun place to go.

It's too bad that Noah doesn't appreciate the coolness. I am not sure what is wrong with that kid, but all he wants to do is hang out in the gift shop. Not even an actual helicopter can make him stop whining to leave. He will humor us for a little bit, make a paper airplane and check things out for a minute and then he's done. At least the rest of the kids had fun.

Family, Fun and Famous People

We had a house full over Memorial Day weekend. I love having family come and stay. I am so preoccupied talking to adults for a change that I barely even notice the kids. The boys have a blast with their cousins. They  fall asleep wherever, wearing whatever, at who knows what time. We relax the shower and toothbrush rules, eat lots of junk and everyone is happy.

Now that the kiddos are older,we are more daring about taking them out in public. But it's a good idea to check the business hours before embarking on a drive to a theme restaurant. Just because you want to eat lunch at noon, doesn't mean the restaurant agrees with your idea of lunchtime.  We did a make up trip the next day and it was a big hit especially because we had good seats and they did a lot of diving.

We also went bowling.

There was a big celebration at Timp Harley that the dads took the boys to. It had a little of everything: hummer limos,monster trucks, motorcycles....

There were carnival games, free drinks, prizes, a climbing wall and bungee jumping thing. They thought of everything!

 If all of that wasn't enough, they brought in some Jazz players. Which was the big reason our boys wanted to go. The kids all got autographs from our favorite player Deron Williams.

And Jeff Hornacek.

Some other stuff in May

Ben competed in his first ever rain gutter regatta. His boat looked good and he had fun.

And the weather was nice, which was a big deal considering that the morning before (MAY 24) looked like this.

Zack graduated from kindergarten. We love Miss Gurney. Zack had a great school year and is excited to go full time next year. 

Zack plays soccer too

No one works harder or plays soccer better than Zack. He told me so after every game. This season, his team was the Sharks. They had a lot of fun.

Zack's soccer skills improved. His throw-ins are impressive. He didn't cry if the coach took him out and didn't freak out if they lost. 

Even though they are just kindergartners sometimes the games get a little intense and I find myself getting a little carried away. This kid playing against Zack really got on my nerves. He was a pusher and I just can't stand pushers. By about the third time Zack went down, we (mostly Matt) were encouraging Zack to get a little more physical. Now we were walking a fine line here but I admit that I was glad when the kid started getting a taste of his own medicine. And by the way, Matt & I have some age concerns about that red-head. No way he's only six. No way.

Hope of America

Each year, 5th graders from around the state gather at the Marriott Center to celebrate America. They form a super cool American flag and sing patriotic songs. It was pretty impressive, especially when the lights went out and they performed a choreographed flashlight number. There was a disco ball involved, it was really something.  

In between the kids' songs they featured some Latin dancing. I found it a little odd that a celebrate America program didn't feature a wider variety of dancing styles. I mean how hard is it to throw in some clogging, a Virginia Reel, or a hula? They did include the dancin' grannies (not the real name) which the boys just loved. In spite of Ben's pleading, I didn't get a picture of the 93 year old lady doing the splits. Maybe it was the sparkling costumes or the catchy music, whatever it was, I try not to think too much about why they liked them so much.

Are you wondering where Noah was? He was wearing a red t-shirt. See:

Howl Like A Cub Scout

Ben earned his Wolf badge. The Cub Master lets the scouts give their "best (animal rank) sound" into the microphone once they get the award. For some reason, the scouts think it is hilarious to do something wimpy and lame like a meow. Well, Matt and I do not appreciate this type of humor so we had Ben practice a few good wolf howls before the pack meeting. But when his time to shine came, he was torn: should he please his parents or give into peer pressure? Let's just say he was a hit with the under 10 crowd--we were not impressed.

Preparing for a career with the USPS

Noah's so called spring soccer season starts in March. It's not consistently warm in March. In fact, most of the time, the weather is rotten--windy, rainy and/or snowy.  The games are flat out cold and miserable to watch and they are rarely canceled due to bad weather.

It was lucky that the snow was mostly on the sidelines at this game. It was really cold and the ball was extra heavy from absorbing all the water. The worst part was when the kids were getting hit with the ball. I can only imagine how painful it was to have get slammed with a soaking wet ball when your body is cold. At least the crowd offered a sympathetic groan every time a kid took one for the team.

Sometimes, if we're lucky, we can park right next to the field so we can watch from the warmth of the car.

Thank heavens the game they played in the pouring rain had convenient parking. It was inconvenient that I had to keep rolling down the window to wipe the rain off so that I could see.

After Noah was cold and soaking wet. You wouldn't know it from his expression, but they won the game.

I think there were only a couple of games that the weather was warm enough to actually enjoy the game. I can't figure out the logic in starting the season so early but at least Noah doesn't complain. That's how I know he likes soccer, because neither rain nor sleet or snow will stop him from playing.