We've Been Hit!

WE've been HIT....WITH THE STOMACH FLU

we went relatively unscathed with minor tummy issues this winter

BUT Dacie got a FULL BLOWN case LAST NIGHT!

She has not had the flu badly since she was a few months old...and we just got hit with the diaper part of it then--

BUT NOT LAST NIGHT

I have never had to worry about hair getting in the way with the boys.
I was trying each time to get her hair up and out of her face

AND to stay that way while she got sleep in between--

AND this is the rubberband, headbanded, clipped mess I came up with!

Not old enough to EVER make it in the bucket we kept close by...
SO we went through four loads of laundry last night alone
AND we are suppose to go to Grandma's tomorrow
AAARH!

We INTERRUPT this MONTH and a HALF...

(Colton's first and only game to pitch)

We interrupt the regularly scheduled program (LIFE) for a month and a half...

for Emergency necessary BALL playing

(Colton hitting the ball-this was his first year on coach/kid pitch--he played on a team with his good buddy Dallin, and much sought after coach)

(Colton pitching UNDEFEATED Sidewinder-his team name-style)

The SORENSEN FAMILY could be found on the ball fields, at 2 games, at 2 practices, at parks, team pictures, preparing team snacks, taking their shift at the snack bar, attending 2 end of season parties, in the car, coordinating schedules, earning money for 2 team pictures-trophies-and coaches gifts, IN THE DIRT,
EVERY NIGHT for the last month and a half...
IT'S BASEBALL SEASON!!!
(Sterling was the TALLEST kid EVER in T-Ball)

SORRY if you have been the recipient of the Sorensen's negligence during this time-
THEY STILL LOVE YOU!

(Dacie being pushed by her pal Addison at Sterling's end of season party at the park)

(Sterling had the GREAT experience of being on a team consisting of ALL of our favorite church and playgroup buddies--I certainly did NOT mind going to watch him play!)

We can now return to our regularly scheduled program

(of SUMMER chaos)

The video below is for all our grandparents out there--who could not make it to a game--it is Sterling's final hit of the season (Colton's is on our cell phone)

HAVE YOU SEEN ME...

LOST:

One School Library FABLEHAVEN BOOK

Last seen in the hands of this boy on the playground, last seen being enjoyed in this clubhouse

If FOUND please contact this boys piggy bank--its funds are in the negative since he loses pretty much most ANYTHING!

Give me AWAY!!!!

Being a parent can be tough sometimes--when you have to follow through ALL day long with the consequences for your discipline plan.

Apparently it is harder to be the kid of those parents.

On Sunday I kept hearing crashing noises coming from the front room. When I went out to investigate I found the boys throwing their newly acquired stuffed animals as far and fast as they could. I told them if I was too see that again (as we were minutes away from breaking something) that I was going to take their stuffed animals and put them in Goodwill to give away to children who do not have stuffed animals and would treat them better.

A few minutes later I heard fits of laughter from the boys room. When I walked in I found the SAME BOYS throwing their stuffed animals into their ceiling fan to see how far they are flung!

NOW we have had to replace the ceiling fan in that room already and they have HAD SERIOUS consequences for throwing ANYTHING into the fan--

To top off the naughty'ness they were throwing the exact animals I had just warned them about.

SO the animals were quickly confiscated and put into the goodwill tub in our garage. The wailing and nashing of teeth erupted.

Ground Colton from video/computer games and you got him where it hurts. Take treats and food away from Ryland and that is his-BUT STERLING, take away his favorite stuffed animals and he melts.

Colton got over his consequence quickly telling Sterling that is the way it is. Sterling was distraught.

When Sterling really gets mad-his mouth runs from him and he can say the meanest and funniest things. Today was no different.

After realizing I could not remove the consequence he started yelling..."Give me AWAY too!" "You need to give me away too!" To which he promptly went out to the garage and placed himself in the tub for Goodwill. He sat there for sometime while Dan and I laughed and his brothers took pictures. Then the tub fell off the shelf.

That did not stop his passionate rage. He started yelling, " I am going to travel the world and find the kids who gets my animal and take it from them, I really am mom--I am going all over the world!"

When that solicited much unwanted smiles he started saying, "I need him because I am not going to remember him" "the cartoons and my pillow of blues clues will NOT remind me of him--I will not be able to remember him, I need him back."

Sometimes I am amazed at the thought and ingenuity that goes into their thought process when they are desperate.

The animal is still in the give-away tub with the potential of earning it out before we give it away in a month or so...I have had somewhat of an angel boy on my hands since!

It's HARD being a KID!

Father & Sons (& Grandpa) Camp-Out 2009

Every May the boys head over to the mountains (50 minutes away) for a ward sponsored Father and Sons Campout.

Living close to Grandpa the boys ALWAYS get an extra special treat having him come along.

That is one attribute I want my children to learn from their Grandpa is his LOVE for the outdoors!

He spoils them by providing TONS of FOOD, driving them in his COOL truck, and providing MOST of the CAMPING gear--he's got the good stuff

AND I LUCK out because Grandpa knows HOW to take PICTURES and send them to me!

So here is their trip--the pictures say it all!!!

QUEEN For a DAY!!!

Oh, how I LOVE being a mom...

despite the fact that it has been the hardest and GREATEST life experience since a mission!

However, I always say a mission was THE BEST 18 months of my life

...the harder you work for things the more you LOVE them

AND I LOVE MY CHILDREN

Mothers Day gives me sweet reminders of how LUCKY I am to be a mother.

It's like, for a day I get eternal perspective on life--much like when their is a newborn in our home--I am reminded how all the daily things I can get "lost in" absolutely contribute to the bigger picture.

The kids kept banging on my door all morning trying to get in, they were too excited to share their presents with me, since I got to SLEEP-IN! When I FINALLY opened my eyes and opened my bedroom door... this is the EXACT picture (above) I had waiting for me. At that moment my heart became very full. Here there were little faces looking up at me with such love and admiration, and I kept asking myself..when did this happen? When did I become a mom of four? Life really does happen and I am grateful for days to help me sit down and remember to take it all in.

I felt like the rest of the day was eating and sleeping. Dan made me breakfast in bed. At church, we got See's candy bars, I came home and took a quick nap with Dacie while Dan got dinner ready...and I enjoyed an evening with my family with no commitments. I got a collectors Barbie (from Dan) and 80's movie (from the kids) and some more chocolate. I hate chocolate...can you tell? I got to talk on the phone with no yelling in the background, and watch home movies of our early married years until I got tired. It was just a day of sweet remembrance. I realize that my children are not going to be all mine forever. Until then...I'll enjoy the chaos

Dacie had a HARD time giving this crown to me that she made in Nursery for the mom's!
After all, she is the real Queen around here!

Preschool Graduation!

Last Night 5/19--

we held our Preschool Graduation Pizza Bar-B-Q at the Hoggards House!
It was a Choclatey FUN mess!
We each brought our own pizza and contributed pot luck sides-
We handed out certificates of completion and the kids came up and gave the teachers a high five, handshake or hug.
Ryland opted for the kiss...while I was talking at the same time- ha ha
Happy Graduation RYLAND!!!!!
(even though he will be in preschool again NEXT year...one more year until kindergarten, sorry BUD--he is SO READY for kindergarten)

SiLLy Faces of PrescHool!

Oh HECK! We have F-U-N in Preschool.

This was one of my favorite photo sessions...

we were taking pictures to put on the buds in their moms flowers and I told them to make Crazy faces- ha ha ha ha

Hope these made you LAUGH-cuz' we sure did making them!