Losing all hope for Spring-like weather

I can't believe it's almost June and it's snowing like crazy outside. Maddie was suppose to have a BBQ/swim party for soccer today. Every day is very unpredictable.

Tanner and Maddie's last soccer game

Even though the weather hasn't been good for soccer season, the games have been so fun to go to. I'm always a little sad when it's over...and happy. Maddie's team, the Tree Huggers, had a great season. Their coach is so positive, he's really helped Maddie like soccer even more, if that's possible. Her coach is moving next month so this really was the last game with this team for her. It's kind of sad.

Tanner had to get new shoes this season for his HUGE feet. The shoe guy said they just got some new cleats in, and wanted to see if Tanenr liked them. Tanner LOVED them. And it made it easier to spot him. He's improved a lot this year.

One player said their team name was the Giraffes but nobody agreed with him, dang. Go Yellow team!

Tanner's humor

Space Derby

For Scouts this year they did the "Space Derby" instead of the Pinewood Derby. Jon and Max used a potato peeler to shape the wood which was soft and very lightweight. We didn't know what we were doing, just like our first year of Pinewood Derby so Max's rocket did not do very well. Jon had to teach class in the evening that night and I didn't know how to wind it. Grandpa got there later so that helped a little but his rocket only went about 5 feet down the string. A lot of people had trouble with it.

Max still had fun and won the "Bumble Bee Rocket" award.

Dog gone lucky

Mimzy is one of those dogs that is tough and lucky. Good thing for her because she is an escape artist. The bad thing is Libby will dig the holes but can't fit through them so Mimzy will escape through them. Jon installed a wire around the whole back yard which took hours and is a pain to trim around. Then we bought the dogs collars that would shock them if they got close to the perimeter. That solved our problem for a while. But then when the battery goes out or the collars get chewed on by the other dog we have to go get another one. During that time Mimzy always takes the opportunity to escape. She always comes back or is brought back by a neighbor who recognizes her. Her favorite spots are any yard that has another dog or the goats over on the next block (I think she thinks they're large dogs.) She's so happy go lucky and wants to play with anything or anyone. A couple of days ago our neighbor brought her to us so Jon made a special trip to Home Depot to get a special flat round battery. The next day she was gone! I guess the collar wasn't working not just the battery. We drove around and called her but could not find her anywhere. The kids started to get upset. Max and Seth rode their scooters all over calling and crying. Maddie started getting upset after dinner and took a long walk to look for her and also returned crying. Tanner never cried but he did leave the garage door up a foot and put a treat in her bed. This morning I called the Animal Shelters and they said they had a dog that came in yesterday that might be her. I quickly drove over to it and sure enough, there was Mimzy. There were probably 75 dogs there and she was almost the last one I looked at. It was sad seeing all those dogs barking and whining. Some were really pretty. The kids are going to be so excited when they get home. She'll probably get played with a lot today.

Seth got on the bus crying this morning because of Mimzy. I realized he was only 3 when we found her (that's another story.)

Here's Mimzy tied up in the backyard until Jon brings home a new collar on his way home from work. Lucky Dog!

Karate belt test

Now that Seth is 7 he gets to move up in karate from the "Little Dragons" to regular karate guy. That also means he gets to test at the big dojo with Max. He loved testing there. I told him it took about an hour and he said it seemed like 10 minutes to him. He did a great job and now he's an orange belt.

Max is moving right along. Now he has his red brown belt. I called it his brown red belt and he was quick to correct me. Apparently it matters what order you say it. Great job, Max!

Jon's graduation

Jon graduated yesterday...finally. :) He actually still has to defend in Aug. so he's not ALL finished but he got to walk since there's only a ceremony once a year. Lots of his family came up for the graduation, it was fun to all be together and congratulate Jon, YAY Jon!!

Jon's sisters Sara and Becca and brother Joseph, his mom, my mom and dad and Tanner all came to the graduation.

This is Tanner after about an hour. It only lasted an hour and a half and Tanner did like seeing Jon get hooded, after that he was done.I let the kids decorate his car to surprise him the morning of his graduation.
Seth and cousin Sam both lost the same tooth on the same day.
Eating pizza after the graduation. The kids loved seeing lots of cousins.

Seth loses his first tooth

Finally! He's 7 years and 3 days old! One of the happiest days of his life!

Sew pretty

Maddie loves to sew. She's so lucky because she has my mom and Jon's mom that will sew with her. I did take a semester in 10th grade of sewing but that was a long time ago. Both grandmas also quilt which I may start to learn very soon. My kids are in school all day now and I feel like I have some time on my hands for such an activity. Anyway, Jon's mom came down for a few days and she and Maddie made a skirt for Maddie. It's so cute and Maddie LOVES it.

The sewing machine station.

All done!

Sethisms

Seth turned 7 this week but I have to say he seems older to me sometimes. I think, well I know actually, it's because he has older siblings that he learns from, for better or for worse. The other day Seth was in the back of the suburban and I was in the driver's seat about to go somewhere when Jon rushed out to get some stuff out of the glove compartment. I said, "Are you going to return all that stuff back to the car later?" And Jon said, "Of coarse, it's not like I'm a 1st grader." Seth, who happens to be in 1st grade said, "Hey dad what do you mean by that?" Then the other day Seth was telling me how he's being a good example at school. He said sometimes kids will come up to him and say he looks like a 4-year-old. "Even though this is offensive to me, I try not to get mad at them." Offensive, pretty good word. He also says "Crap" which my older kids never said at his age.

Seth's main present from us was a little motor scooter. He loves it!
Grandmas got him legos, a kite, bubbles, and cards with money, ca-ching!

So, my dragon cake looks nothing like the picture. I even put it in the freezer thinking it would be easier to ice frozen but it wasn't. Maddie helped and we were both getting frustrated, then Seth and Max came in the kitchen and said it was AWESOME! Okay, good enough.
We went to Boondocks with the extended family to eat dinner and play laser tag. Unfortunately the line was really slow but everyone hung in there.